Against the Odds Annual 2012 : Forlorn Hopes

Forlorn Hopes: The Campaign for the East Indies, 1942

Publisher: Against the Odds / LPS, Inc.
Publication: 2012
Design: Paul Rohrbaugh
Development: Lembit Tohver
Graphic Design: Mark Mahaffey
Players: 1–2
Complexity: Medium
Playing Time: 2–10 hours depending on the scenario
Period: World War II – Pacific Theater
Location: Dutch East Indies, 1942
Language: English

DESCRIPTION

Forlorn Hopes simulates the Japanese campaign to conquer the Dutch East Indies in 1942, a strategically important operation aimed in particular at securing the region’s vital oil and mineral resources.

The game covers the entire two-month campaign and integrates air, naval and ground operations within a single system. The Allied player must attempt to defend a large territory with scattered forces, while Japan must exploit its advantages while dealing with a demanding operational timetable.

Both sides face important strategic decisions. Players may choose to increase their available forces, but reinforcements come at a Victory Point cost. This creates a constant trade-off between committing additional resources and preserving the points needed to achieve victory.

The system is derived from Paul Rohrbaugh’s previous ATO designs, including Chennault’s First Fight and Operation Cartwheel, while being adapted to the specific circumstances of the Dutch East Indies campaign.

MAGAZINE CONTENT

The 2012 Annual includes a substantial selection of historical and analytical articles in addition to the main game.

Editorial content

• Forlorn Hopes: The Campaign for the East Indies, 1942 – Paul Rohrbaugh
• Soldier Gods of the Sky: Japan’s Paratroopers – Paul Rohrbaugh
• Grim Determination in the Netherlands East Indies – John Prados
• The Empire Loses Burma – Mitch Williamson
• Toward a More Perfect Kursk Game – Chris Fasulo
• Beyond Beyond Waterloo: Some Experimental Rules – David Hughes
• Operation Cerberus: The Channel Dash – Paul Rohrbaugh

The Annual also contains the rules for Forlorn Hopes and the bonus game Hunt for the Graf Spee.

THE GAME: FORLORN HOPES

The operational theater covers the Dutch East Indies, including Java, Sumatra, Borneo, the Celebes, the Moluccas and Timor.

The Japanese player must make effective use of his forces and capture strategic objectives within a demanding timetable. The Allied player begins with forces spread across a large area and must decide which positions can realistically be defended.

Air, naval and ground operations are fully integrated into the game system, reflecting the highly interconnected nature of the campaign.

Forlorn Hopes includes several scenarios of different lengths as well as a full campaign game.

CONTENTS

• 1 full-color 22 × 34 inch hex map
• 288 full-color die-cut 5/8" counters
• 16-page rulebook
• 4 pages of charts and tables
• Bonus game: Hunt for the Graf Spee
• Against the Odds Annual 2012 magazine

The counters represent the air, ground and naval units that actually participated in the campaign, together with some units that could potentially have been committed.

GAME INFORMATION

Players: 1–2
Complexity: Medium
Solitaire Suitability: Average
Playing Time: 2–10 hours depending on the scenario
Scale: Operational campaign
System: Integrated air, naval and ground operations on a hex-based map

BONUS GAME: HUNT FOR THE GRAF SPEE

The 2012 Annual also contains Hunt for the Graf Spee, a mini-game covering the Allied pursuit of the German surface raider Admiral Graf Spee during 1939.

The game recreates the challenge faced by the Allied naval forces in locating and engaging a fast and heavily armed German surface raider.