YEAR OF THE RAT: VIETNAM, 1972

Original game by SPI, 1972 (Strategy and Tactics #35)
ADC2 version by Joseph D. Oliver, 1999 (Jaydeeo@aol.com)

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INTRODUCTION

YEAR OF THE RAT was a bit unusual for an S & T game for several 
reasons.  First, it was designed by someone "outside" SPI, John 
Prados, still remembered primarily for TAHGC's THIRD REICH.  
Second, it was a bit more complex than was the typical S & T 
issue game of the period, with much of the complexity due to 
uncommon rules (severe movement restrictions, variable OBs and 
reinforcements, and hidden units for only one side, among 
others).  Finally, it was timely, in that it was published 
shortly after the actual historical event.  It should be noted 
that the subtitle, "Vietnam, 1972," is a bit misleading.  The 
game covers only a thirteen week period that begins with the 
start of the Communist Spring offensive on March 30.

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THIS ADC2 VERSION

MAP

As YOTR was published in 1972, the original map was of the then
standard SPI "two-color" type (black and blue, with shades 
thereof).  This version has been deliberately done very much in 
the spirit of the original, and the only significant color 
change in the playing hexes is the use of brown speckles to 
indicate "rough" terrain.  

The coastline hexes were simplified somewhat in the interests of 
time.  Almost all on-map information is present, including names, 
region/town victory points, town/base intrinsic strength, etc.  
The only play area omissions are artwork for "bridges" (assume 
them at all river/road intersections as indicated on the Terrain 
Key) and the very small road ID numbers.  Omitted from the off-
map area are the Supply Effects Chart, the Combat and Bombardment 
Results Tables, and the directional compass.  

The Turn Record and Reinforcement Track and the Bombardment 
Strength Avaiable box have been changed and/or relocated, and a 
Terrain Key and holding hexes for assorted marker pieces have 
been added.

COUNTERS

The counter colors have been rendered closely to the originals, 
but specific unit IDs have been omitted.  Of course, in the 
interest of greater historical accuracy, players may edit the 
individual piece names.  Also, the USA/ROK/NLF nationality 
indicators have been done vertically in the interest of 
legibility.

As in the original game "Pinned" and "Disrupted" markers are 
available for use, but players may prefer to edit individual 
piece class data fields.

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ADC2 SPECIFICS

Class/piece data is self-explanatory.  As noted above, Communist 
units pinned or disrupted by bombardment either may use markers 
or may have their approriate data field (4 or 5) edited directly.

All Communist units are already marked as "hidden" in all OPS 
file games.

Flip definitions have been created for NVA infantry divisions 
(from 6-6, 5-6, or 4-6 division to 1-6 "battlegroups").

Due to the very large number of combinations (36+!) of OBs and 
reinforcements possible in the "Order of Battle Options Game,"
separate OPS files have NOT been created for them, nor have 
separate pools been created for all possible reinforcements.

"Historical.OPS" may be used for both the "Historical Game" and 
the "Standard Game, Free Deployment."  Appropriately named 
force pools exist for all initially deployed units, and all 
marker and reinforcement counters are in place in their correct 
off-map locations.

"Yearoftherat.OPS" is a "do-it-yourself" OPS file that has only 
a few force pools for the entire counter mix, and a completely 
empty map.  It may be used as a starting point for the "Order 
of Battle Options Game."  The Communist player may prefer to 
create and use hidden force pools for his reinforcements, rather 
than placing them (with assorted bogus counters) on the map Turn 
Record and Reinforcement Track.

"SAMPLEHistorical.OPS" is intended as an artwork display file, 
but it is legitimately set up within the rules, and it could be 
used as the start of an actual game.  

IMPORTANT NOTE!!!  Per the official errata, too few ARVN 2-6 
infantry units were included on the original counter sheet for 
some games.  The errata suggested the use of eliminated units, 
but it did NOT mention that two of the games are the "Standard" 
and "Historical" ones, where the mix was short by one!  The 
"Historical.OPS" and "SAMPLEHistorical.OPS" file are corrected, 
with the "missing" piece added (as a reinforcement on the 12th 
turn), but the "Yearoftherat.OPS" has only the exact original 
counter mix.  Obviously, in other games, players should create 
additional pieces as needed.
   
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As with all of my ADC2 sets (so far), all artwork has been done 
by hand bit-mapping, without any use of a scanner, so any 
deficiency and/or lack of aesthetic appeal is my fault alone, 
and should not be blamed on SPI.

Have fun.
