Tsushima (Game Designers Workshop)

Reviewed by Rob Gibson

This game is one part of GDW's Russo Japanese War campaign simulation -
the other part being "Port Arthur", which I have not yet seen at the
time of writing. To do a game at all on this obscure conflict would
require more than faith in the U.K. - however, as I have been able to
observe as a member of the model trade (until last year), the various
specialist groups in the States who "do" these periods are big enough to
make this sort of departure from the established periods commercially
worthwhile.

For this we should be truly grateful, as "Tsushima" is an excellent
game, recreating the feel of the period with its formalised lines of
battle and the uncertainties of operating the modern steam-driven war
ships (and occasional "antiques") in the waters around Japan and Korea.

Five scenarios are provided: two direct actions on the "battleboard",
two short campaign scenarios and a complete campaign scenario. The
"battleboard" is a unique play-aid which simulates beautifully the
parallel line actions which naval thinking of 1904-5 dictated. Opening
and closing the range, including escaping from an undesirable
"confrontation" is possible. Nicely simulated too are the effects of
primary and secondary armament, having too many ships to fire on too
few, torpedo attacks - you name it and it's there.

By now, you will have guessed that I like "Tsushima" a lot - I think a
lot of people will enjoy it and not only the naval "Buffs" at that!