Guadalcanal (1966)

Guadalcanal is a hex based simulation of the land battle of Guadalcanal from August, 7 1942 through January 29, 1943, with battalion-sized units and a map scale of approximately one mile per hex. The naval and aerial combat that surrounded Guadalcanal are assumed to have their historical results so only historical reinforcements are available.

The "Basic Game" introduced the components: the map board, unit counters, victory conditions, movement, zones of control, and combat.

The "Tournament Game" the effects of different terrain types, reduction of units due to combat rather than wholesale elimination, ranged artillery fire, and point-based victory conditions.

The "Optional Rules" introduced hidden movement, supply rules, different ranges for different artillery units based on their historical composition, withdrawing units from the island, and specialized capabilities for amphibious tractor and engineer units. Records for step reduction were kept on paper side records, rather than using reduced units (as in Anzio); records for hidden movement were also kept on paper, rather than using screens to hide each player's view of the opponent's forces as in Midway.

The game victory conditions in the basic game were that the United States won if the Japanese were unable to hold Henderson Field for two consecutive turns between the September 25 and November 20 turns, inclusive, with the game ending on November 20 turn. The Tournament Game extended until the January 29, 1943 turn, with the point-based victory determined based on points awarded for eliminating enemy combat factors, occupying Henderson Field, or (for the Japanese) having Henderson Field in range of their artillery units.

The game is superior with a neutral referee for true double blind play.

Avalon Hill discontinued the game before assigning it a complexity rating; however, in the Avalon Hill ''General'', Volume 3, Number 6, Avalon Hill assigned to the game the following characteristics:

• Playing Time: 2-4 hours
• Play Balance: Even
• Complexity: Very Complex
• For Beginner: Very Poor
• Play-By-Mail: Poor
• Suggestion: Use of Optional Rules

The rules were revised to a small extent in their second printing in June, 1966. These changes were described in the Avalon Hill ''General'', Volume 3. Number 2.

from "The Avalon Hill General Index and Company History, 1952-1980"

Guadalcanal (1966) Discontinued 1972
Designed by Lindsley Schutz
Development by Larry Pinsky

Although innovative in many ways, GUADALCANAL was a failure as a design and as a seller. The huge mapboard was virtually wasted as 95% of the action took place on 20% of the mapboard. GUADALCANAL was discontinued after having sold only 27,000 copies. Its failure left AH with the impression that the Japanese were poor “box office” subject matter for years to come.

Magazine References:

The GENERAL Index Article List:

• The GENERAL Vol.2,No.6
  • Guadalcanal – “Guadalcanal - Available April 15th” (Commentary)
• The GENERAL Vol.3,No.1
  • Guadalcanal – “CONTEST NO. 13” (Strategy)
• The GENERAL Vol.3,No.2
  • Guadalcanal – “Guadalcanal Jungle Tactics” (Strategy) John E. Dotson
  • Guadalcanal – “Guadalcanal Clarifications” (Discussion)
• The GENERAL Vol.3,No.3
  • Guadalcanal – “Cover Story..."I Was Blown to Bits..."” (Commentary)
  • Guadalcanal – “Fast Hidden Movement for Guadalcanal” (Variant Discussion) Robert Dieli and Kenneth Hoffman
  • Guadalcanal – “Guadalcanal - Combat Power” (Variant Discussion) Steve Torkelson
  • The Question Box - Guadalcanal, Stalingrad, Blitzkrieg
• The GENERAL Vol.3,No.5
  • Guadalcanal – “Guadalcanal Hidden Movement - PBM” (Variant Discussion) Lee Trowbridge
• The GENERAL Vol.3,No.6
  • Guadalcanal – “Operation Sea Dragon” (Strategy) Hans Kruger
• The GENERAL Vol.4,No.1
  • Guadalcanal – “Navy & Air Force in Guadalcanal” (Variant Discussion) Richard C. Giberson
• The GENERAL Vol.4,No.2
  • Guadalcanal – “Hidding U. S. Strength” (Variant Discussion) Steve Torkelson
• The GENERAL Vol.4,No.3
  • Guadalcanal – “Navy & Airforce in Guadalcanal - Part II” (Variant Discussion) Richard C. Giberson
  • Guadalcanal – “Guadalcanal PBM Artillery System” (Variant Discussion) Steve Torkelson
• The GENERAL Vol.4,No.5
  • The Question Box - Afrika Korps, Bismarck, Gettysburg, Waterloo, Blitzkrieg, The Battle of the Bulge, Guadalcanal
• The GENERAL Vol.4,No.6
  • Guadalcanal – “Put a Little Imagination in Guadalcanal” (Strategy) Ray Johnson
• The GENERAL Vol.5,No.1
  • Guadalcanal – “Guadalcanal PBM Hidden Movement” (Variant Discussion) Capt. Richard R. Nichols
• The GENERAL Vol.5,No.4
  • Guadalcanal – “PBM Artillery Fire” (Variant Discussion) Capt. Richard R. Nichols
• The GENERAL Vol.7,No.2
  • Stalingrad, Guadalcanal – “Realism and Play-balance” (Variant Discussion) John Ellsworth
  • Guadalcanal – “How to Reduce Units Quickly” (Variant Discussion) Allen Davidson & David Drayner
• The GENERAL Vol.9,No.4
  • The Question Box - D-Day, Guadalcanal, The Battle of the Bulge, Blitzkrieg, Gettysburg
• The GENERAL Vol.10,No.6
  • “COVER STORY: Guadalcanal; The Campaign, The Island, and The Game”
  • Guadalcanal – “GUADALCANAL: The Campaign, The Island, and The Game” (Historical) Joel S. Davis
  • The Question Box - Anzio, Waterloo, Richthofen's War, PanzerBlitz, Guadalcanal
  • Guadalcanal – “Variant Unit Counters” (Insert)