Paper Wars 105 - Ebb & Flow: The 1951 Communist Offensive

Publisher: Compass Games
Series: Paper Wars
Designer: Ty Bomba
Type: Magazine with complete insert game
Theme: Korean War – Chinese Strategic Offensive, 1951
Players: 1–2 (solitaire adaptable)
Complexity: Low–Medium
Playing Time: ~2–4 hours
Historical Period: 22 April – 10 June 1951
Scale: Operational

 Overview

Ebb & Flow: The 1951 Communist Offensive recreates the Chinese Fifth Phase Offensive in Korea and the subsequent UN counter-operations during the Korean War. The campaign spans from 22 April to 10 June 1951, focusing on a pivotal period when Chinese forces sought to break Allied lines deep into South Korea before being halted by coordinated defense and counterattack.

The design highlights core strengths and strategies of both sides: emphasis on artillery and infiltration for Communist forces versus air power and maneuver exploitation for UN players.

  Game System

• Map scale: Each hex ≈ 8 km (5 miles) on a 34" × 22" map covering central Korea.
  
• Turns: 16 game turns of 3.5 days each (with some preparatory turns skipped in play).
• Units: Corps, divisions, brigades, regiments, and battalions — represented by 176 large 5/8” counters.
• Victory conditions
  
  Chinese victory by breaking into Seoul or further south.
  
  UN victory by holding lines and counterattacking to secure a frontline near the historic north 38th parallel.

Designed for two players with low–medium complexity and readily adaptable for solo play.

Components

• 34" × 22" full-color map of central Korea.
• 176 large (5/8”) counters representing the main combat units.
• Complete rulebook, player aids, and integrated magazine content.
• Historical articles and related analysis in Paper Wars #105.