THE WAR IN

VIETNAM
Rules of Play

~ by Neil Willis ~

The most immersive and intense simulation of the war

in Vietnam, 1965-1975 yet designed, a model of conflict
in Southeast Asia from all sides, thoroughly accurate and
without parallel. For one to eight skilled players.
 THE WAR IN VIETNAM
Rules Beta Vetsion Outline (Ver. II-B) prototype (core rules); game design, Neil Willis (c) 2016

STARTING THE GAME Ho Chi Minh Trail Placement Advantage

Inability to Place New Game Pieces
Winning the Game
Spaces on the Map MOVEMENT
City Boxes
North Vietnam Target Boxes Moving Game Pieces
Game Turns ARVN Effectiveness Check
Order of Play Land Movement
Road Movement
SET-UP Air Movement
Airmobile Movement
Villages River Movement
Event Decks Amphibious Movement
Allied Set-up Strategic Movement
Communist Set-up Moving Into/Out of City Boxes
Chinese Freighters IV Corps Zone
United States National Will Movement to and from North Vietnam Target Boxes
Trucks and the Ho Chi Minh Trail
EVENT DECKS Movement Distances (non-road movement)
Ambush
Communnist Event Deck
Allied Event Deck COMBAT
Event Card Usage
Event or Points Combat Order

BUILDING GAME PIECES AIRCRAFT MISSIONS

Recruitment Bonus Scrambling MiGs

Civilian Casualties Missions Types (Bombing or Interdiction)
Free Communist Game Pieces Aircraft Mission Loadouts
Laos, Cambodia, Thailand Anti-Aircraft and SAMs
Game Pieces’ Costs Bombing Mission Procedure
United States’ Game Pieces Costs Bombing a Combat Game Piece
ARVN Game Pieces Costs Bombing a North Vietnam Target
Communists’ Game Pieces Costs Bombing a Truck Game Piece
Deployment Bombing an Anti-Aircraft Game Piece
Bombing a SAM Game Piece
PLACEMENT Civilian Casualties
Bombs Gone
U.S. Placement of Game Pieces Interdiction Mission Procedure
ARVN Placement of Game Pieces Prisoners of War (The Hanoi Hilton Rule)
Communist Placement of Game Pieces
 to his subordinate players in any way he decides is best,
but the following configurations are recommended for
multi-player and team play:
GROUND OPERATIONS
Two players One person plays Communists
1) Ambush Ineligibility (NVA and VC).
2) Evasion Attempt
3) Fire Support One person plays Allies (U.S.
4) Close Air Support and ARVN).
5) Ground Combat (Attacker) Three players One person plays Communists
6) Fortifications (NVA and VC).
7) Ground Combat (Defender)
8) Conclusion of Combat One person plays the U.S.,
Civilians and one person plays ARVN.
The U.S. player has command
BOMBARDMENTS and decision authority over the
ARVN player.
Declare Bombardments Four players One person plays the NVA, and
Bombardment Procedure one person plays the VC. The
NVA player has command and
END OF GAME TURN decision authority over the VC
player.
Province Control Determination
South Vietnamese Control One person plays the U.S.,
Communist Control and one person plays ARVN.
Contested Control The U.S. player has command
Return to Base and decision authority over the
Withdrawing U.S. Game Pieces ARVN player.
Vietnamization
Game Turn Marker Five players One person plays the NVA, and
one person plays the VC.
END OF YEAR
One person plays the U.S.
Check for South Vietnamese Coup (the I Corps Zone and II Corps
The Sout Vietnamese Coup Zone), one person plays the
Check U.S. National Will U.S. (the III Corps Zone and IV
Empty the Losses Box Corps Zone), and one person
Check for Victory plays ARVN. The U.S. player (I
Replenish Event Card Hand Corps Zone and II Corps Zone)
Game Year Marker has command and decision
authoirty over the ARVN and
MULTI-PLAYER AND TEAM PLAY other U.S. player.
Six+ players One person plays the NVA, and
The War in Vietnam can be played with many players, one person plays the VC.
but when playing with more than two players, each
side must have one designated overall player who has One person plays the overall
all authority over all other players on his side. Allied commander, and all other
players are assigned according
The overall player may assign areas and responisbilities to the Allied commander’s area.
STARTING THE GAME
“Welcome to The ‘Nam!” - Infantry euphemism, 1967
Winning the Game
The Allied player will win the game if he has a
positive (+) US National Will value by the last turn of
the war.
The Communist player wins if he captures Saigon or
a total of 18 other cities throughout South Vietnam at
any time during the game. Failing that, the Communist
player will win the game if the US National Will value
is ever negative, even if momentarily or temporarily.
Sample map “space”
(Quang Duc province)
Note the Cambodian
border (in red), and the
III Corps Zone border
(in yelllow).
Spaces on the Map
All of the spaces on the map represent actual
provinces throughout South Vietnam, Laos, and
Cambodia. Game pieces occupy these spaces for
the purposes of movement, basing, combat, or other
activities (like conducting Population Control).
Each space shows a corresponding city which
represents the major population of that space. The
cities can be subject to Population Control efforts. It is
entirely possible to occupy a space but not control the
population of the city IN that space. For example, the
Viet Cong may control the outer lying countryside (the
space), but not have any influence over the population
in the city there.
There is no limit to the number of game pieces that
may be in any province space, but city boxes are
limited (see below).
Saigon street
scene circa
1966
City Boxes
Separate city spaces are located off-map for those
instances when a player wants to send any of his
forces into the city (instead of occupying the outer
lying space, for example). This can have operational
advantages, and it also helps Population Control
efforts (which will be explained later).
No more than ten (10) game pieces may be in any
single city box at
North Vietnam Target Boxes
North Vietnam boxes represent areas of North
Vietnam far beyond the area represented by the map.
They are equivalent to normal spaces except that they
are all mutually connected for movement purposes,
can only be entered by Communist game pieces and
Allied aircraft game pieces, and are not restricted to
any particular limit of game pieces like city boxes.
Game Turns
Each year of the game is comprised of four game
turns (You may think of them as Winter, Spring,
Summer, Autumn, although seasons and their effects
are only represented by Event cards, not a factor of the
game’s turns.) Each game turn involves the following
sequence of play, known as the “Order of Play”.
Order of Play
There are two player turns each game turn, an Allied
game turn (which is always played first) and then a
Communist game turn. Each player’s turn follows a
specific sequence as follows:
Draw (and possibly play) an Event Card
Build New Game Pieces
Deploy Game Pieces Purchased Last Turn onto the
Map
Move Game Pieces and/or Attack
Conduct Population Control efforts in Spaces with
a City
Return Aircraft to Base
SET-UP
Place the Year marker in the appropriate year box for
the current scenario (1965 for the Campaign scenario).
Villages
First, place a village game piece in all 35 provinces
on the map. The Communist player then places
a red token under the village game pieces in half
(rounded down) of those provinces. Those villages are
considered to be controlled by the Communist player
when the game begins.
Event Decks
Shuffle the Allied Event Card deck and place it off
the map near the Allied player, face down (which may
not be inspected by either player). Then shuffle the
Communist Event Card deck and place it off the map
near the Communist player, face down (which may not
be inspected by either player).
If playing with a group of players, designate one
player for each side to be the “boss” of all the players.
The boss draws his side’s Event Cards each game
turn and decides which one will be played. This is the
limit of his authority, however, except with regards to
ARVN Corps Zone set up (see below).
Event Card play will be explained later (See Event
Card Play below).
Allied Set-up
The US player must now place 12 of his Special
Forces (Green Berets) game pieces in twelve
different provinces. Special Forces have the ability to
potentially slow down and even ambush Communist
units that move into or through their spaces.
Now set up all but three of the starting US TAC
aircraft game pieces in Thailand, and the last three in
the Saigon space. Set up two US helicopters in the Da
Nang space.
Set up one aircraft carrier with its three gray naval air
units anywhere in the ocean.
Set up all starting US land forces in the US
Deployment Box along the east edge of the map.
Now set up all of the South Vietnamese (ARVN)
forces in the four Corps Zones (as shown on the map),
one ARVN division (see the Campaign Set-up) per
Corps Zone, but in any spaces within each Corps
Zone that the Allied player would like. If you have
two Allied players, the ARVN player decides how to
set up ARVN units. If you have many Allied players,
each ARVN player may set up his own division in his
own Corps Zone however he want, but the US player
decides which ARVN player sets up in each particular
Corps Zone.
If you want to set up ARVN units according to their
historic set-up, see the Campaign scenario rules for a
list of actual deployments.
Place a fortified counter in the Saigon city box.
Communist Set-up
The Communist player must now place 25 of his Viet
Cong (VC) game pieces, at least one in each space
with a Communist-controlled village (In other words,
villages with the red tokens.) Any remaining Viet
Cong units may be set up by the Communist player in
any provinces in South Vietnam (If no ARVN game
pieces are already there), not in Laos or Cambodia.
The Communist player must then place 25 “Unknown
Strength” counters – with their strength side facing
down (hidden from the Allied player) – under each of
the Viet Cong game pieces he has already placed on
the map. These counters signify the strength the Viet
Cong game piece they are stacked under.
Note: The Communist player may know the strength
value (“0”, “1”, or “2”) of each “Unknown Strength”
counter he has placed, but the Allied player cannot
(until discovered during the course of play; Special
Forces are useful for discovering the strength of VC
game pieces).
The Communist player must then place 4 of his mortar
game pieces in any four spaces of his choice where
a Viet Cong game piece has already been placed.
Mortars have no “Unknown Strength” counters, only
the Viet Cong do.
Next, the Communist player must place 2 North
Vietnamese Army (NVA) divisions (see the Campaign
Set-up) in two separate spaces in North Vietnam,
Laos, and/or Cambodia. Additionally, the Communist
player must then place a single North Vietnamese
Army infantry game piece in any three other spaces
within North Vietnam, Laos, and/or Cambodia.
Then the Communist player must set up one Anti-
Aircraft (AA) game piece in each of the North
Vietnam target boxes, and in each of the North
Vietnam spaces, and he must set up 1 MiG aircraft
game piece in the “MiG Bases” North Vietnam target
box.
Lastly, the Communist player must place 5 Supply
Cache counters in any five separate spaces of his
choice where there is already a Viet Cong game piece
(regardless of its strength), and then place 4 Supply
Cache counters in any four separate spaces anywhere
else on the map (if no ARVN game pieces are already
there) except in Thailand.
Chinese Freighters
Place the two Chinese freighters in the North
Vietnam Haiphong box. Chinese freighters that sail
to Thailand can act as a Supply Cache from Thailand
for Communist units near there, although Chinese
freighters are subject to interception by the U.S. Navy
(Task Force 77).
United States National Will
Place the U.S. National Will (USNW) marker at the
highest level on the U.S. National Will track. Non-
Campaign game scenarios do not use U.S. National
Will to gauge victory, but have specific victory
conditions.
Communist
and Allied
Event Decks
(26 cards per
Event Deck)
EVENT CARDS
When any game begins, each side is provided with a
separate deck of Event Cards (there’s a Communist
Deck and an Allied Deck) that must be shuffled and
then placed near themselves, facedown. From his own
side’s deck (only), a player must blindly draw five
(5) cards that will become his card hand. Each game
turn, he will be allowed to play one (only) of his five
cards each game turn (meaning that he will have an
opportunity to play one card each season of a year,
four in all.
Various Event Cards are played at different times
throughout a turn, and some may be played right when
a certain occurrence is or is about to happen (such as
combat). See the Event Card Appendix sheet to read
about each Event Card, what it does, and when it can
and cannot be played.
Event Cards can, instead, be traded in for points
to build additional game pieces (meaning that the
event itself is ignored, and that specific Event Card is
discarded until it is drawn again during a later game
turn). This is known as a Recruitment Bonus (see
below).
Communist Event Deck
There are twenty-six Communist event cards, all of
which are available during the campaign game. See
specific scenarios for which cards are applicable. In
either case, the Communist deck must be shuffled and
stacked separately from the Allied deck, ready to be
drawn when the game begins.
Allied Event Deck
There are twenty-six Communist event cards, all of
which are available during the campaign game. See
specific scenarios for which cards are applicable.
In either case, the Allied deck must be shuffled and
stacked separately from the Communist deck, ready to
be drawn when the game begins.
Event Card Usage
Each player begins each game year with five random
Event Cards from their own deck, and he is given the
option to choose one of his own five Event Cards each
game turn (there are four game turns in a year) to play
to give his side some benefit, or impose some penalty
upon his opponent...depending on the Event Card he
wishes to play each game turn. A player may only ever
play one of his own Event Cards each game turn, after
which he blindly draws a replacement Event Card to
fill out his hand back to five cards. Because there are
four game turns in a year, a player will only ever be
able to play four of his five Event Cards each year, the
last one being shuffled back into his own Event Card’s
discard deck at the end of the year.
Note: The opposing player is never entitled to know
what Event Cards the other player has drawn until the
other player actually plays a specific Event Card.
Some Event Cards are known as “Reponse” Event
Cards and are specifically available to be used by the
opposing player in response to certain occurrences
during the other side’s game turn. See each such Event
Card for specific instructions (See the Event Card
compendium in the Scenario Supplement booklet).
Event or Points
Each player may, if he prefers, choose not to play
one of his Event Cards each game turn and instead
exchange them for purchase points or National Will
points (in which case the event on that card is not
played); these points are printed at the bottom of each
Event Card and are provided in different quantities for
each nationality. In any case, each player is entitled to
only play one of his Event Cards from his own hand
each game turn. The active player is always mandated
to play his Event Card first before the other player
does.
Once either player has played all the Event Cards of
his own deck, he simply shuffles the discard pile as a
new deck, and he draws from that new deck again. In
this way, Event Cards can reappear in a player’s hand
and be played again (either as the Event itself or for
the purpose of points)
BUILDING GAME PIECES
All U.S. game pieces are bought with U.S. National
Will points (which are deducted from the U.S.
National Will total presently recorded on the U.S.
National Will track.) All ARVN game pieces are
purchased with Supply Points that are provided by the
U.S. player.
Note: The U.S. player must purchase “Supply Points”
to be used by the ARVN player to purchase ARVN
game pieces. The ARVN player does not receive
Supply Points of his own.
However, additional game pieces for the U.S. and/
or ARVN can be bought by using a currently played
Allied Event Card as “purchase points” instead (i.e.,
instead of playing that Event Card for its “event”); see
Event Cards below.
All Communist game pieces are bought by using a
currently played Communist Event Card as “purchase
point” (instead of playing that Event Card for its
“event”); see Event Cards below.
Recruitment Bonus
In addition to the purchase points that are available
for trading in Event Cards, one side or the other
will receive two (2) additional purchase points
automatically if, at the end of each game turn, his side
controls more South Vietnamese provinces than the
other.
Civilian Casualties
The Communist player will also automatically receive
one additional purchase points for civilian casualty
that has been caused by the Allied player during the
preceding game turn. Each civilian casualty that has
occurred during the preceding game turn will add one
(1) purchase point to the Communist player for the
Building New Game Pieces phase of the current game
turn.

Free Communist Game Pieces

The Communist player receives free game pieces (no
Event Card is required), explained as follows:

Every game turn, the Communist player receives one

free anti-aircraft (AA) game piece.

When any U.S. or ARVN division is bought by the

Allied player, the Communist player receives one free
North Vietnam Army division.

Every game turn, the Communist player receives one

free truck game piece (see Trucks below).

Laos, Cambodia, Thailand

Secondary countries are provided with game pieces
that simply arrive each turn in the respective country.
Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand have no ability to
purchase any game pieces beyond those that they
receive for free (see Deployment below).
UH-1 ‘Hueys’ (otherwise known as “Slicks”) after
debarking troops in a field of Elephant Grass. Notice
the M-60 Machine guns affixed to each side of these
helicopters (intended for potentially Hot LZ’s).

Game Pieces’ Costs

To buy any game pieces that are not free, the costs are listed as follows:

UNITED STATES GAME PIECE COSTS

Any one available U.S. Division from the U.S. Deployment Card = 3 USNW

Any one available U.S. Brigade from the U.S. Deployment Card = 1 USNW

Two artillery = 1 USNW

Two riverine (1967 or later) = 1 USNW

Two aircraft (except B-52 and AC-130) = 1 USNW

One B-52 = 1 USNW

Two AC-130s (1968 or later) = 1 USNW

Three helicopters (any types, transport, gunship, heavy lift) = 1 USNW

One aircraft carrier (with three naval aircraft) = 1 USNW
One battleship
= 1 USNW

Two cruisers = 1 USNW

Two destroyers = 1 USNW

Five Supply Points for ARVN = 1 USNW

Airbase Construction = 2 USNW

Port Construction = 2 USNW

Fortification Construction = 1 USNW

ARVN GAME PIECES COSTS

One infantry (any type) = 1 Supply Point*

One armor = 2 Supply Points*

One artillery = 2 Supply Points*

One mechanized = 2 Supply Points*

One helicopter (transport or gunship) = 3 Supply Points*

One aircraft = 2 Supply Points*

One riverine = 2 Supply Points*

*If Vietnamization has been declared by the U.S. player, all ARVN game piece costs are doubled.

COMMUNISTS GAME PIECES COSTS

One infantry (NVA or VC with any “Unknown Strength” marker) = 1 Event Card point

One armor = 1 Event Card point

One artillery = 1 Event Card point

One mechanized = 1 Event Card point

One anti-aircraft = 1 Event Card point

One SAM = 1 Event Card point

One Truck = 1 Event Card point

One MiG (any type) = 2 Event Card points

Deployment
Whenever new game pieces are purchased or arrive
for free, they are not placed on the map immediately.
First they must be placed in their own “Deployment
Box” printed on the map, where they remain for the
duration of that current game turn. They must then
enter the map as of the following game turn according
to the Placement rules (see below).
Exception: Airbase, Port, and Fortification
construction IS placed on the map immediately when
purchased, but must be placed face down (to indicate
that construction is underway), but then flipped as of
the following game turn according to the Placement
rules (see below).
PLACEMENT
U.S. Placement of Game Pieces
U.S. game pieces that were in the Deployment Box the
previous turn may now be placed on the map.
U.S. land units may be placed in any space(s) on the
map where a port exists (even if Communist game
pieces are in that space, but not if the Communists
control the city in that port’s space).
U.S. aircraft and helicopter game pieces may be placed Supply Cache space, but only if there are no Allied
in any South Vietnamese or Thai space(s) on the map
where an airbase exists (even if the Communist game
pieces are in that space, not if the Communists control Fortifications and tunnels may be constructed in
the city in that airbase’s space).
U.S. riverine game pieces may be placed in the My
Tho port (even if Communist game pieces are in that
space, but not if the Communists control My Tho).
U.S. naval game pieces are simply placed anywhere in
the ocean.
Ports, airbases, and fortifications may be constructed
in South Vietnamese spaces where no Communist
game pieces are currently present, and only if there
is at least one Allied land game piece present. Place
that port, airbase, or fortification counter face down
(with its “Under Const.” side facing up) to show that
it is under construction (it will be flipped over to its
front, functioning side next turn). A port, airbase,
or fortification space that is abandoned by all Allied
land game pieces, or is occupied by any Communist
land game piece before it is flipped over is simply
eliminated and removed from that space immediately.
ARVN Placement of Game Pieces
ARVN game pieces that were in the Deployment Box
the previous turn may now be placed on the map.
ARVN land units may be placed in any South Vietnam
space(s) on the map where no Communist game pieces
are currently present.
ARVN aircraft and helicopter game pieces may be
placed in any space(s) on the map where an airbase
exists and where no Communist game pieces are
currently present.
ARVN riverine game pieces may be placed in the My
Tho port (even if Communist game pieces are in that
space, but not if the Communists control My Tho).
Communist Placement of Game Pieces
NVA game pieces can be placed in any space in North
Vietnam, although MiG aircraft must be placed in the
North Vietnamese “MiG Bases” box.
VC game pieces can be placed in any space where
a Supply Cache is present, or in any space next to a
game pieces already in that space.
spaces where no Allied game pieces are currently
present, and only if there is at least one Communist
land game piece present. Place that fortification or
tunnel face down (with its “Under Const.” side facing
up) to show that it is under construction (it will be
flipped over to its front, functioning side next turn). A
fortification or tunnel space that is abandoned by all
Communist game pieces, or is occupied by any Allied
land game piece before it is flipped over is simply
eliminated and removed from that space immediately.
Ho Chi Minh Trail Placement Advantage
Any type of Communist game piece may be placed
directly into any functioning Ho Chi Minh Trail space
(even if no Supply Cache is there), but only if that
Ho Chi Minh Trail space is next to a North Vietnam
space, or next to a path of functioning Ho Chi Minh
Trail spaces that lead back to North Vietnam without
interruption.
Note: A Ho Chi Minh Trail space ceases to be
functional if it is successfully bombed or presently
occupied by any Allied land game piece.
Inability to Place New Game Pieces
If any game pieces are unable to be legally placed on
the map, they simply remain in their Deployment Box
until a game turn when they are able to.
MOVEMENT
Not all game pieces on the map may always move
each turn. Only game pieces in spaces that are
declared to be “activated” by an owning player for the
current turn may be moved for that turn.
Each player is restricted to a limit of “activations”
each game turn which is determined by his currently
drawn Event Card (printed at the bottom of the card).
Additionally, ARVN non-elite game pieces, when
they are moved, are first subject to an “ARVN
Effectiveness Check” (see ARVN Effectiveness
below), even if the space they are in is activated.
Moving Game Pieces
All game pieces except ports, airbases, fortifications,
and tunnels are capable of movement, although
no game piece is ever required to move. There are
different forms of movement, such as land movement,
road movement, air movement, airmobile movement,
river movement, amphibious movement, and strategic
movement, each with slightly different rules.
However, all movement is conducted the same way…
by simply picking up your game piece that you want
to move (if allowed to move) from a space and then
moving it to another space. However, not all game
pieces may move the same distance of spaces, and
some game pieces are restricted or forbidden to be
moved into some kinds of spaces, as will be explained
later.
But no matter what type of movement you do, a game
piece may only ever move once during its game turn,
and no more than its maximum movement distance
(although a game piece is never required to move its
entire allowable movement distance).
ARVN Effectiveness Check
Except for elite ARVN game pieces (ARVN rangers,
airborne, and marines, and their artillery), the
Allied player must roll one six-sided die for each
province of ARVN game pieces that he is moving
together to another province during that same game
turn, regardless of the type of movement they are
conducting (for example, even if transported or even
if moving as strategic movement). The result of each
ARVN effectiveness die roll is as follows:
1-3 = ARVN game pieces are ineffective and may not
move into any province space that game turn.
4-6 = ARVN game pieces are effective and can move
up to the max of their normal movement.
If a U.S. Special Forces game piece will be moving
with the same ARVN game piece or group to the same
province space, a +1 die roll bonus applies to those
ARVN game pieces’ effectiveness die roll.
If a South Vietnamese coup had occurred, the ARVN
effectiveness die roll must suffer a -1 penalty for the
duration of the current year.
If an ARVN game piece’s or group’s movement is
effective, it is assumed to be effective for the purpose
of combat in the province it enters for the duration of
that game turn.
Land Movement
All land game pieces are capable of land movement,
which is simply when you pick up any land unit and
move it from its current space into any space that it
touches, and then into the next space it touches, and
the next space, and so forth, until that game piece
has moved as far as it is allowed to go (or less if you
prefer to end its movement before that).
Land movement is vulnerable to possible interdiction
and ambushes.
Road Movement
Road movement permits game pieces to move a
distance of up to six sequentially connected spaces on
the map. A game piece that moves as road movement
into or through any space where an enemy game piece
is present is vulnerable to a possible ambush.
Note: Armor, mechanized, and artillery game pieces
are not allowed to enter any spaces in the IV Corps
Zone, but they can use road movement to move into
cities boxes within the IV Corps Zone, or they can use
road movement to move through the IV Corps Zone.
This means that whenever an armor, mechanized, or
artillery game piece is in any IV Corps Zone hex, it
must be in a city box while there.
Air Movement
Aircraft and helicopter game pieces only use air
movement and do so by simply moving from their
current space (or aircraft carrier) to any other space
on the map, of any distance, and basically “over” all
spaces and other game pieces in between the starting
space and the ending space. Air movement cannot be
intercepted or brought under anti-aircraft fire (until
in the destination space that an aircraft or helicopter
moves into).
Airmobile Movement
Airmobile movement is the movement of a helicopter
while it is carrying an infantry game piece, or a
heavy lift helicopter while it is carrying an artillery
game piece. Airmobile movement is exactly like air
movement except that it is vulnerable to a possible
ambush in the destination space if an enemy game
piece is present there.
Each helicopter is permitted to carry one friendly
infantry game piece while moving as airmobile
movement, and each heavy lift helicopter is permitted
to carry one artillery game piece while moving as
airmobile movement.
River Movement
Unlike armor, mechanized, and artillery game pieces,
riverine game pieces may move into spaces within the
IV Corps Zone. In fact, riverine game pieces may not
move into spaces outside of the IV Corps Zone, nor
into the ocean. While in the IV Corps Zone, riverine
game pieces cannot ever use road movement or enter
city boxes, but they are vulnerable to a possible
ambush in each IV Corps Zone space it enters.
Any riverine game piece may, like a helicopter, is
permitted to carry one friendly infantry or artillery
game piece while moving as river movement.
Amphibious Movement
Any U.S. or ARVN game piece that occupies a
space with a friendly port city may be picked up an
automatically moved to any other coastal space (even
if any Communist game piece is in that same space),
although this ends that amphibious game piece’s
movement for that game turn (when it arrives in the
other port). Amphibious movement is vulnerable to
ambush by an enemy game piece that occupies that
destination coastal space.
Strategic Movement
Any Allied game piece, instead of moving normally
by one of the above methods, may be picked up and
moved to any other space on the map within South
Vietnam (any distance of sequentially connected
spaces), but only if none of the entered spaces are
occupied by any Communist game pieces.
Any Communist game piece may also move in this
way, but only along sequentially connected Ho Chi
Minh Trail hexes.
Moving into/out of City Boxes
Unlike villages which are not distinct locations in
a space and cannot be specifically occupied by any
game pieces, cities within spaces are distinct locations
that require an additional movement point (1) to enter
(from within the space they’re in). Likewise, when
any game piece in a city box leaves that city, it must
pay an additional movement point (1) to enter the
surrounding space, just like any game piece must do
to enter any space. Whether entering or leaving a city
box, the movement point cost applies to aircraft, as
well.
IV Corps Zone
Armor, mechanized, and artillery game pieces cannot
enter any IV Corps Zone spaces unless moving there
by road movement, and only to enter a city box in a IV
Corps Zone space.
Movement to/from North Vietnam Target Boxes
The various North Vietnam target boxes are
considered normal spaces for movement purposes, and
are all equally connected to each other. However, they
are collectively only connected to one space on the
map, which is the topmost northern space on the map
printed with North Vietnam.
c 2016 Eric Harvey
Trucks and the Ho Chi Minh Trail
Communist truck game pieces are not used in the
game to transport Communist infantry, artillery,
or mortars. They only exist for the purpose of
placement on the map to indicate which spaces that
the Communist player has constructed the Ho Chi
Minh Trail. Trucks also do not move, but they can be
bombed and attacked during combat in the space they
occupy.
If a space has no Communist truck game piece, that
space is not a Ho Chi Minh Trail. The Communist
player may place more than one truck game piece in
each space where he already has a Communist game
piece, yet this has no effect other than ensuring that
space will remain a Ho Chi Minh Trail in case another
truck there is eliminated.
Movement Distances (non-road movement)
The game piece profile pages at the end of these rules
tell you how many spaces that each type of game piece
may move each game turn (if moving normally and
not as strategic movement), but they are listed here:
Allied aircraft = Unlim
Communist MiG (interception only) = 1
Allied infantry game piece (any type) =2
Communist infantry game piece (any type) = 4
Allied armor, mechanized, artillery =1
Communist artillery, mortar =4
Communist anti-aircraft, SAM =1
Helicopter (transport, heavy lift, airmobile) = 12
Riverine (within IV Corps Zone only) = Unlim

Hidden Movement
NVA and VC game pieces may be held off of the map
in special numbered and alphabetized holding boxes
that are represented on the map by markers whose ID
is known only to the Communist player. Such markers
may correspond to an actual holding box full of game
pieces, or may correspond to an empty holding box so
as to deceive the Allied player as to which markers are
real forces and which are not, or to deceive the Allied
player as to which markers are large forces and which
are small forces.
Hidden movement markers are constrained by normal
movement rules or requirements, and any movement
with a hidden movement marker must be done in plain
sight. Hidden movement markers will be revealed by
certainy events during the course of the game, and if
they are revealed, they must be replaced on the map
with their actual holding box contents. If a holding
box is actually empty of any enemy force, that hidden
movement marker must be removed from the map.
The Communist player is limited to a specific quantity
of hidden movement markers per the quantity of his
holding boxes. No more hidden movement markers
may be on the map than holding boxes, whether empty
or not, although the Communnist player is never
required to use hidden movement markers.
Hidden movement markers may only be placed on the
map while starting in North Vietnam, although they
may be voluntarily removed by the Communist player
at any time.
Ambush
Some combat game pieces are capable of performing
an “ambush” once when any enemy game piece(s)
enter the space it currently occupies. Aircraft cannot
be ambushed, but a transporting helicopter will be if
the game piece it is transporting is eliminated by an
ambush die roll.
The game pieces that are eligible to “ambush” are:
NVA (even if hidden, though it is revealed if
ambushing)
VC (even if hidden, though it is revealed if
ambushing)
Rangers
Special Forces
Additionally, some event cards allow other game
pieces to ambush.
Exception: Hidden NVA and VC game pieces that are
revealed to be “0” strength cannot perform an ambush.
If a player wants to ambush, he must pick the
ambushing game piece (if allowed to ambush) and
the entering enemy game piece that he is intending to
ambush, resolving each ambush separately, roll one
12-sided die, and determine the result, as follows:
1 = The ambushing unit is discovered and eliminated.
2 = The ambush fails and suffers a casualty.
3-6 = No effect
7-8 = Moving game piece suffers a casualty if entering
as road movement; otherwise, no effect.
9-10 = Moving game piece suffers a casualty.
11-12 = Moving game piece is surprised and therefore
eliminated (including its transporting helicopter, if
any, representing a “Hot LZ”).
Note: Apply a -1 die roll penalty if performing an
ambush against Ranger and U.S. Special Forces game
pieces.
Any entering game piece that suffers a casualty must
end its movement for that game turn.

COMBAT
Combat occurs whenever a game piece enters a space
where any enemy game piece is present, though
combat can be “evaded” in certain cases (see below).
An aircraft game piece that enters an enemy space
performs a different kind of combat than a land game
piece that enters a space, as will be explained below.
There are only two types of combat:
Aircraft Missions
Ground Operations
Aircraft missions include every instance when aircraft
game pieces enter any space or target box to bomb,
interdict, or escort. Ground operations include every
instance when land game pieces are in a space that
is occupied by enemy land game pieces, but can
also include aircraft game piece flying in as support,
riverine game pieces in river spaces, and naval game
pieces used as gunfire support.
Combat Order
All of a player’s desired movement must be completed
before any combat of any kind may begin anywhere
on the map. If there is more than one space or box
where combat will happen, the player (whose turn
it is) always chooses which combat happens first,
second, third, and so forth. Each combat must be
finished to completion before the next combat starts.
AIRCRAFT MISSIONS
When an aircraft game piece enters a space, it may
either bomb or interdict. Multiple aircraft in the same
space may each perform a different mission (They do
not all have to do the same thing.) See the Bombing
Procedure below.
If any aircraft enter any North Vietnam target boxes,
the Communist player must first decide if he will
scramble his MiG(s) there.
Scrambling MiGs
If any North Vietnam target box(es) are entered, the
Communist player may announce that he is scrambling
any or all of his MiG game pieces that are presently in
the “MiG Bases” North Vietnam target box.
A scrambled MiG may automatically intercept any
Allied air unit that has just entered any North Vietnam
target box, but never in any space on the map. Air-
to-air combat is not resolved yet. First you have to
resolve SAM and anti-aircraft fire.
Mission Types (Bombing or Interdiction)
After an aircraft game piece enters a space (but
after the Communist player has decided to scramble
MiGs in a North Vietnam target box), the owning
player must announce which of the two missions that
aircraft will be performing (bombing or interdicting).
Interdicting is only allowed in spaces on the map (not
in North Vietnam target boxes, where only bombing is
allowed).
Note: Once it is decided and verbally declared which
type of mission that an aircraft game piece will
perform, its mission cannot be changed until it returns
to a friendly airbase base.
Aircraft Weapon Loadouts
When bombing a space or North Vietnam box, the
Allied player must choose one of three different types
of weapon loadouts for each aircraft game piece that
is performing a bombing mission (but he only chooses
after any MiGs have scrambled to intercept or not).
The three different weapon loadouts give the Allied
player a choice to use some of his aircraft game pieces
for air-to-air combat (to protect his bombers from
intercepting MiGs), bombing anti-aircraft game pieces
(to protect his bombers from anti-airrcaft and SAMs,
or bombing a target (to destroy a specific target).
These weapon loadouts are listed as follows:
“MiGcap” type
“Air Defense Suppression” (ADS) type
“Strike” type
It doesn’t actually matter which kind of plastic aircraft
model is used when choosing a weapons loadout for
each aircraft game piece, and so the game includes
“MiGcap”, “ADS”, or “Strike” counters for the Allied
player to choose from and place under each aircraft
game piece that he has moved into a space or North
Vietnam box.
Note: A maximum of four Allied aircraft may be
assigned to each type of weapons loadout during the
same bombing mission.
The Allied player is never required to use all three
or even two of the weapons loadout choices if he
only wants to choose one of them. Once the bombing
mission procedure begins, the Allied player will be
able to use each weapons loadout for its intended
purpose (see Bombing Mission Procedure below).
Anti-Aircraft and SAMS
Whenever any aircraft enter a space or box that is
currently occupied by an anti-aircraft and/or SAM
game piece, the Communist player must roll one
6-sided die for the anti-aircraft game piece and one
6-sided die for the SAM game piece there per each
types of aircraft there (see Types of Aircraft below).
An anti-aircraft die roll of “1” shoots down one Allied
aircraft there of the Allied player’s choice.
A SAM die roll of “1” or “2” shoots down one Allied
aircraft there of the Allied player’s choice.
Moreover, SAM game pieces are special because
they allow the Communist player to roll a 6-sided die
against each of the three weapons loadout aircraft in
the same space, in the following order:
1) First, a SAM rolls one die against the
“MiGcap” aircraft.
2) Second, that SAM rolls one die against the
“ADS” aircraft (see Air Defense Suppression
below).
3) Third, a SAM (if not “suppressed” by the
ADS) rolls one die against the “Strike” aircraft.
Note: Each weapons loadout may include a maximum
of four Allied aircraft during the same bombing
mission, but no more than one aircraft can be shot
down by each die roll.
When an aircraft is shot down, determine if the “pilot”
has become a Prisoner of War (see Prisoners of War
below).
Bombing Mission Procedure
When an aircraft is declared to be bombing (and not
interdicting), the bombing player must announce his
specific target in the space or box that aircraft now
occupies:
Bomb a combat game piece (to destroy that enemy
game piece, which may not evade).
Bomb a North Vietnam target box (to destroy
infrastructure in North Vietnam with a Strike weapons
loadout).
Bomb a truck game piece (to eliminate the Ho Chi
Minh Trail in that space).
Bomb an anti-aircraft game piece (with an Air Defense
Suppression weapons loadout).
Bomb a SAM game piece (with an Air Defense
Suppression weapons loadout).
A maximum of four aircraft (of any types) may bomb
the same space (and only if those aircraft did not
interdict during the same game turn) at the same time.
To do so, the bombing player simply rolls one 6-sided
die per each bombing aircraft in that space, with the
following effect:
Bombing a Combat Game Piece
When bombing a combat game piece (other than a
truck, anti-aircraft, or SAM) with a Strike weapons
loadout, roll one 6-sided die to determine the result, as
follows:
1-4 = No effect
5 = Enemy combat game piece suffers a casualty.
6 = Enemy combat game piece eliminated.
Note: If bombing with a B-52, add +1 to its bombing
die roll. If bombing with an AC-130 gunship, add +2
to its bombing die roll.
Important: As of the 1972 game year, an automatic
+1 die roll bonus applies (representing guided bombs)
to bombing die rolls.
Bombing a North Vietnam Target
When a particular North Vietnam target box is
bombed, simply roll one 12-sided die to determine the
result, as follows:
1-5 = No effect
5-9 = Eliminate a supply counter in North
Vietnam. If the target box is a MiG base, it is
damaged.
10-11 = Eliminate a supply counter in North
Vietnam. The target box (whatever target) is
damaged.
12+ = Eliminate a supply counter in North
Vietnam. If the target box is any bridge, it is
destroyed. If the target is a MiG base, it is
damaged.
Important: As of the 1972 game year, an automatic
+1 die roll bonus applies to bombing die rolls.
Bombing a Truck Game Piece
When bombing a truck game piece with an Strike
weapons loadout, roll one 6-sided die to determine the
result, as follows:
1-4 = No effect
5-6 = Truck eliminated.
Note: If bombing with a B-52, add +1 to its bombing
die roll. If bombing with an AC-130 gunship, add +2
to its bombing die roll.
Important: As of the 1972 game year, an automatic
+1 die roll bonus applies to bombing die rolls.
Bombing an Anti-Aircraft Game Piece
When bombing an anti-aircraft game piece with an Air
Defense Suppression weapons loadout, roll one 6-side
die to determine the result, as follows:
1-4 = No effect
5-6 = Anti-aircraft game piece is
immediately eliminated.
Important: As of the 1972 game year, an automatic
+1 die roll bonus applies to bombing die rolls.
Bombing a SAM Game Piece
When bombing a SAM game piece with an Air
Defense Suppression weapons loadout, roll one 6-side
die to determine the result, as follows:
1-4 = No effect
5-6 = SAM game piece is immediately
eliminated.
Important: As of the 1972 game year, an automatic
+1 die roll bonus applies to bombing die rolls.
Civilian Casualties
If bombing occurred in a city, the interdicting player
must check to see if any civilian casualties occurred
(see civilians below).
Bombs Gone
After a bombing attempt is completed (regardless of
the result), the bombing aircraft are unavailable to be
brought under anti-aircraft of SAM fire or perform
any other mission for the remainder of that same
game turn, and will be required to return to base at the
beginning of the next game turn.
Interdiction Mission Procedure
When an aircraft is declared to be interdicting (and not
bombing) a particular space, each Communist game
piece that enters or leaves that space must undergo an
interdiction die roll when it moves.
Note: Moving supply counters are also vulnerable
to interdiction exactly like game pieces, but only
ever when leaving an interdicted space (never when
entering an interdicted space).
A maximum of four aircraft (of any types) may
interdict the same space (and only if those aircraft
did not bomb during the same game turn) at the same
time. To do so, the interdicting player simply rolls one
6-sided die per each interdicting aircraft in that space,
with the following effect:
Per each die roll of “1”: The Communist player
chooses one moving game piece there to be
eliminated.
Any other die roll: No effect from that aircraft.
If interdiction occurred in a space where a village is
present, the interdicting player must check to see if
any civilian casualties occurred (see civilians below).
Aircraft that were assigned to interdict (regardless of
the result) are unavailable to be brought under anti-
aircraft of SAM fire or perform any other mission
for the remainder of that same game turn, and will be
required to return to base at the beginning of the next
game turn.
Prisoners of War (The Hanoi Hilton rule)
Whenever a U.S. aircraft is shot down, it must be
recorded on the “Prisoners of War” track. Every
multiple of four Allied aircraft that are shot down
(as indicated on the Prisoners of War track) reduces
the U.S. National Will by one less at the end of each
game turn. For example, if the U.S. lost eight aircraft
in 1967, the U.S. National Will track must therefore
be reduced two points at the end of that game turn.
Prisoners of War cannot be rescued or recovered in
any war during the course of the game.
GROUND OPERATIONS
When any game pieces enter a space or city box
where any enemy game piece(s) are currently present,
combat may occur. Ground operations must be
conducted according to the following sequence, after
which combat may be repeated endlessly (repeating
the sequence below) as long as the attacker desires
(if he has enough remaining combat game pieces to
repeat combat). These are known as combat “rounds”,
and each round is resolved in the following order:
1) Ambush Ineligibility
Each game piece that conducted an ambush, regardless
of the result, is not eligible to evade (see below),
and only game pieces that were not eliminated by an
ambush may participate in the combat.
2) Evasion Attempt
Prior to the beginning of each round of combat in a
space or city box, the defending player has the option
to declare an evasion attempt with any of his game
pieces that had not attempted an ambush this round. To
do so, the defending player must roll one twelve-sided Note: Riverine game pieces may only evade to IV
die to determine how many of his defending game
pieces are eligible to evade, resolved as follows:
the map (to a maximum distance of 12 spaces). The
other rules above still apply the same to helicopters,
however. Each transport helicopter is also allowed to
evade with a friendly game piece that is also evading,
but a transporting helicopter and the game piece it will
be evading with are considered to be two game pieces
if only half of the game pieces are permitted to evade.
Corps Zone spaces.

1-4 = No evasions (no hidden NVA and VC pieces are

revealed).
5 = Half of the defending game pieces (rounded up)
may evade (all hidden NVA and VC revealed).
6 = All of the defending game pieces may evade (no
hidden NVA and VC are revealed).

Die Roll Modifiers:

A -1 die roll penalty applies if the game pieces 3) Fire Support

that are attempting to evade include any non- After all evasions, if any, have been moved out of a
elite ARVN game pieces. combat space, the attacking player may now select
and declare his fire support, which may include any
A -2 die roll penalty applies to the die roll if artillery and/or mortar game pieces in that same space
more than five (5) game pieces attempt to or in a city box within that combat space, or in any
evade (but not counting riverine game pieces, space or city box that is next to that space (where
if any) before the same round of combat. combat is occurring). Fire support can include a
battleship and/or cruiser game piece, but a maximum
A +1 die roll bonus applies if the game pieces of two (2) fire support game pieces, regardless of type,
that are attempting to evade include any elite may be added to the same ground operation combat.
Rangers and/or Special Forces game pieces
(regardless of how many are included). After the attacker selects and declares fire support, the
defender may now do so according to the same exact
Game pieces that may evade may only do so into any rule above.
adjacent space(s) or city box of the evading player’s
choice (They do not all have to evade to the same 4) Close Air Support
space), but not into an enemy-occupied space or city After all fire support has been selected and declared,
box (unless there is at least one friendly game piece the attacker may now select and declare his close air
already present there). If they evade to a space or city support, which may include aircraft and/or helicopter
box where enemy game pieces are currently present, gunship game pieces from any other space (and/
the opposing player may declare an ambush attempt or aircraft carrier) wherever based on the map. A
(if he desires), but no ground operation combat ever maximum of four (4) close air support game pieces,
occurs because of an evasion movement. The evading regardless of type, may be added to the same ground
game pieces are simply added to the other friendly operation combat.
game pieces already.
If the defender is Allied, he may select and declare
Important: Helicopters have a special evasion ability close air support according to the same exact rule
that allows them to evade into any space anywhere on above.

Note: Close air support will be brought under anti-
aircraft fire normally if an enemy anti-aircraft game
piece is present in the combat space. An anti-aircraft
die roll of “1” immediately shoots down one Allied
aircraft there of the Allied player’s choice (See Anti-
aircraft and SAMs).
5) Ground Combat (Attacker)
Once all fire support and close air support in a combat
space is known, the attacking player must simply roll
one specialized six-sided combat die per each multiple
of two (2) friendly combat factor points that are
present in that combat space, regardless of the game
piece types involved (See the Unit Profiles summary
chart to see each specific game piece’s combat factor.)
It makes no difference what types of game pieces
contribute combat factors.
Example: If the attacker has five game pieces with
combat factors totaling seven, he is entitled to roll
three combat dice (one die for each multiple of two,
dropping the odd remainder of seven).
The silhouette on each specialty die, when it is rolled,
will indicate the type of “hit” that the enemy game
pieces in that combat space must suffer. If a specialty
die’s silhouette is a type of enemy game piece that
is not present, ignore that die roll (it is a miss and is
disregarded).
There are simply two types of hits as a result of
combat, “elimination” and “casualty”. An enemy game
piece is considered to be eliminated if two silhouettes
of that same type are rolled (for example, two
“infantry” rolls will cause one present enemy infantry
game piece to become eliminated immediately). If
only one of that type of game piece is rolled, it is not
an elimination, but rather is a casualty, and is simply
recorded as a casualty on the Body Count track.
It is possible to roll more dice than is necessary to
eliminate a particular type of game piece. In such
a case, excessive hits are ignored as overkill (they
have no other effect). In the event that there are two
different types of game pieces in the same space when
an “elimination” and/or “casualty” result is rolled
(such as an ARVN and a U.S. infantry), the defender
chooses which one is hit by each result.
Note: Hits are noted but do not take effect until after
the defending player has rolled all of his eligible die
rolls (see Defender roll below).
6) Fortifications
If any type of fortification is present in the same
space or city box, they add to the defense there
thusly: Fortifications (represented by the guard
tower silhouette) are unique in that they are not
eliminated until every other type of game piece
there is eliminated first. Moreover, each fortification
die roll (when the guard tower silhouette is rolled)
automatically nullifies one other hit of the defending
player’s choice during that round of combat. So, for
example, a dice roll of two infantry silhouettes would
normally be an elimination of an enemy infantry
type game piece. However, if a fortification roll also
occurred, one of those two infantry rolls is nullified
by that fortification and is therefore regarded as a hit
instead.
A fortification cannot nullify itself, but is only
considered to be eliminated if all other game pieces of
its same side are already eliminated (or if not present;
a fortification is automatically eliminated if it is in
a space a city box without any other friendly game
pieces there also). For this reason, fortifications are
never “hit”, but they simply cancel another hit during
the same combat when they are rolled, and only
become eliminated when no other friendly game piece
is present in its same space.
7) Ground Combat (Defender)
After the attacking player has rolled all of his eligible
dice and noted his hits (as indicated by his dice
roll), the defending player now rolls his dice per the
same exact procedure above and per the same exact
rules above, as well. After the defending player has
noted his hits, both players must then remove their
eliminated game pieces and return them to their
respective Losses box (they may be bought again
normally). Game pieces that suffered casualties are
unaffected (they remain on the map at full strength);
their only effect is the casualty they suffered and
registered on the Body Count track. Game pieces that
were not hit are also unaffected and simply remain in
the combat space at full strength as well.
8) Conclusion of Combat
After all eliminations have been removed from the
map, the defending player is presented with the option
to retreat any or all of his game pieces into any space
that is adjacent to that combat space, but only if no
enemy game pieces are present anywhere within that
space. Attacking game pieces cannot pursue or follow
this movement.
If combat occurred in any city box, the attacking
player (regardless of which side is the attacker) must
then roll one six-sided die to determine if any civilian
casualties occurred, resolved as follows:
1 = Inflict a civilian loss.
2-6 = No effect
Civilians
Whenever any civilian loss occurs, regardless of the
cause, it must be added to the Allied Losses box. Each
civilian loss is harmful to the Allied side (but never the
Communist side) in various ways throughout the game
(as explained in each relevant rules section), but only
for the duration of the current game year.
BOMBARDMENTS
Bombardment is a form of combat in which artillery,
mortar, battleships, cruiser, aircraft, and helicopter
gunship game pieces can attack enemy game pieces
directly.
Declare Bombardments
An artillery, mortar, battleship, cruiser, aircraft, and
gunship is each capable of bombardment of an enemy
game piece (including an aircraft or helicopter at an
airbase) in another space (other than their own) if they
were not used as fire support during combat already
during the current game turn.
Note: ARVN effectiveness is not required for ARVN
artillery to bombard.
Bombardment Procedure
An artillery and mortar can bombard any specific
enemy game piece in any space that it is adjacent to,
whilst a ship can bombard any single coastal space
(anywhere on the map). Aircraft game pieces with a
“Strike” weapons loadout can be flown to any space
and bombard there (after enduring anti-aircraft there,
if any); see “Aircraft weapons loadouts”, “Anti-
aircraft and SAMS”, and “Bombing an enemy game
pieces” above.
Exception: Hidden NVA and VC game pieces cannot
be targeted for bombardment.
When bombing a combat game piece (other than a
truck, anti-aircraft, or SAM) with a Strike weapons
loadout, roll one 6-sided die to determine the result, as
follows:
1 = No effect; if an Allied bombardment,
inflicts a civilian loss.
2-4 = No effect
5 = Enemy combat game piece suffers
a casualty (although an aircraft or helicopter is
eliminated).
6 = Enemy combat game piece eliminated.
Note: If bombarding with a B-52, add +1 to its
bombing die roll. If bombing with an AC-130 gunship,
add +2 to its bombing die roll.
Important: As of the 1972 game year, an automatic
+1 die roll bonus applies (representing guided bombs)
to bombarding die rolls.

END OF GAME TURN
After all movement and combat is completed by each
side across the entire map, players must manage a few
tasks before beginning the next game turn, listed as
follows:
Province Control Determination
As it relates to buying game pieces, coups, and victory,
the players must determine how many provinces in
South Vietnam are controlled or contested by the
Communists at the end of each game turn. To do so,
simply count the quantity of those province spaces (in
South Vietnam) that have any Communist game pieces
(except trucks), whether in the province space itself or
occupying the city box of that province.
South Vietnamese Control
A South Vietnamese province is only considered
controlled by the Allies if the village in that province
is not a Communist village (see Population Control
above), and only if the city box for that same province
space is not occupied by any Communist game piece.
The Allies do not lose control of a province simply
because a Communist game piece is in the province
space (with no Population Control of the village in
that space, or occupying the city box for that province
space).
A Communist game piece that only occupies a
province space but has no Population Control of the
village there and does not occupy the city box for
that province does not negate Allied control of that
province.
Communist Control
A South Vietnam province space is considered
controlled by the Communists if the village in that
province is a Communist village (see Population
Control) and if the city box for that province is
occupied by any Communist game piece (except a
truck), but only if there are no Allied game pieces
anywhere in that same province and/or city box for
that province.
Contested Control
If a province is not controlled by Allies or the
Communists per the conditions above, it is considered
to be contested, and it does not count for the Allies or
the Communists for purposes of the deployment, coup,
or victory.
Return to Base
All aircraft game pieces that are not at a base must
now be moved back to any airbases of the owning
player’s choice. Naval aircraft must be moved back
to any aircraft carrier, and only naval aircraft may be
moved back to an aircraft carrier.
Aircraft that are already presently at a base may be
moved to another base at this time, as well.
A maximum of five (5) aircraft game pieces (of any
type) and any quantity of helicopters may exist at the
same airbase at the same time.
Withdrawing U.S. Game Pieces
The U.S. player must decide if he will withdraw any
U.S. (only) game pieces at this time. Only U.S. game
pieces that occupy a city where a port is present may
be withdrawn now (not any U.S. naval game piece).
If he does so, the U.S. National Will track is increased
one point per each singular U.S. game piece (of any
type) that is removed from the map and placed in the
Withdrawals box.
Vietnamization
The U.S. player must decide if he will declare
“Vietnamization” at this time. If he does so, the ARVN
receives one extra supply point for each U.S. game
piece (regardless of its type) that has been withdrawn
from the map to the Withdrawals box.
Vietnamization adds more supply points to the ARVN
for the purpose of purchasing additional ARVN game
pieces, but the cost of each ARVN game piece is
doubled.
Note: Once Vietnamization is declared, no more U.S.
game pieces may be purchased or brought onto the
map, including those already in the Deployment box.
Game Turn Marker
Move the game turn marker to the next space on the
Game Turn track. Begin the next game turn.
END OF YEAR
After all movement and combat is completed by each
side across the entire map, players must manage a few
tasks before beginning the next game turn, listed as
follows:
Check for South Vietnamese Coup
Count the number of province spaces and cities in
South Vietnam that are currently controlled and/or
contested by the Communist side, and then subtract
the number of ARVN losses (eliminated or casualty)
for a total.
Then count the number of province spaces in South
Vietnam that are controlled and/or pacified by
the Allied side, and then subtract the number of
Communist losses (eliminated or casualty) for a total.
If the Communist total is higher, a South Vietnamese
coup now occurs.
The South Vietnamese Coup
There are two effects if the South Vietnamese coup
occurs:
Firstly, all ARVN effectiveness rolls (see above) suffer
a -1 penalty until the end of the next entire year.
Secondly, the following ARVN game pieces must
immediately (and automatically) be picked up from
anywhere on the map (of the ARVN player’s choice)
and placed in the Saigon city box:
2 x ARVN ranger game pieces
3 x ARVN airborne and/or marine game pieces
1 x ARVN artillery game piece
1 x ARVN armor game piece
1 x ARVN mechanized game piece
If there are not enough ARVN game pieces of any
prescribed type, simply substitute it with a regular
ARVN infantry game piece to replace it.
The above ARVN game pieces must remain in Saigon
until the end of the next entire year. If any of those
ARVN game pieces (in Saigon) become eliminated,
the Allied player is not required to replace them.
Check U.S. National Will
Count all of the U.S. losses (eliminations, casualties,
and Prisoners of War) that have occurred during the
current game turn and deduct those losses from the
current tally on the U.S. National Will track. U.S.
losses are subtracted in this way:
-2 if a South Vietnamese coup just occurred.
-2 per each U.S. eliminated game piece.
-1 per each U.S. casualty in the U.S. losses box
-1 per every four Prisoners of War this year.
-1 per every four eliminated aircraft and/or
helicopter game pieces.
-1 per every three civilian casualties that
occurred during the current game year.
Then count the quantity of South Vietnamese cities
that are currently controlled by the Communists and
deduct that number from the current tally on the U.S.
National Will track.
Lastly, determine which side suffered more losses
during the current game turn (Communists or the
Allies). If Communist losses are higher, increase U.S.
National Will by one higher. However, if Allied losses
are higher, decrease U.S. National Will by one lower.
Empty the Losses Box
After counting both side’s losses and adjusting the
U.S. National Will track, remove all casualty markers
and return them to the casualties draw pile, and then
remove all game pieces and return them to the game
piece pool of each (available to be purchased again
normally as of the next year).
piece.
Replenish Event Card Hand
Each player now blindly draws enough Event Cards
from their own Event Deck to refill their card hand
(to five cards again). If a side’s Event Card deck is
exhausted, simply replace all of that side’s played and
discarded Event Cards and reshuffle them to form a
new deck (so as to refill each player’s hand up to five
cards).

Game Year Marker

Move the game turn marker to the next space on the
Game Year track. Begin the next game year.

THIS SECTION RESERVED FOR SPECIAL RULES

Check for Victory

At the end of each turn, check to determine if the
Communist player has either,

a) Captured (and still controls) Saigon

b) Captured (and still controls) 18 cities throughout
South Vietnam
c) If the final total U.S. National Will is less than “1”.

If any of the above circumstances are presently true,

the Allies have lost the game. Otherwise, the game
continues.

If, however, this is the last game turn of 1975 and

none of the above conditions are true, the Communists
have lost the game.

Note: The Communists will also lose the game if a

game turn ends without any province space anywhere
in South Vietnam controlled by any Communist game
THIS SECTION RESERVED FOR SPECIAL RULES
THIS SECTION RESERVED FOR UNIT PROFILES
THIS SECTION RESERVED FOR UNIT PROFILES
THIS SECTION RESERVED FOR CARD SUMMARY
THIS SECTION RESERVED FOR CARD SUMMARY