Just started and have two questions

[HansBolter]

Question No.1:

Some units in China start the game entrenched. I have found no entrenchment option in this game like in the WWI version.
How did the units that start the game entrenched become entrenched? How do I entrench other units.

Question No. 2:

What is the significance of the blue and red star popsicles at some bases. Searched the entire manual and found no depiction of, or definition for them.

[Bo Rearguard]

On question one, the entrenchments in China around Changsha, Xian and other cities represent fixed fortifications constructed prior to the game's beginning. Around March, 1942 China gets an free engineer unit and can build more. Japan the same. This game doesn't have the same entrenchment mechanism as in SC: WWI where it was a researchable technology.

As for the stars on the sticks symbols the blue ones denote a spot that needs to be garrisoned for an advantage. The red ones are victory objectives. For example the Allied player needs to keep a Tank, Army or Corps within 5 hexes of the blue star near near Kangding in order to benefit from additional Chinese MPPs. There's another one like it near Urumqi. It's covered more in the strategy guide although still a little vague. I believe there are some pop-up messages that alert the player to them when they become active.

[HansBolter]

Thanks very much for the reply.

A graphic depiction of the Popsicles in the manul along with the explanation would have much preferred over just a text description.

Can't understand why game designers can't understand the need to provide corresponding graphics with explanations for each and every graphic depiction used in their games.

[HansBolter]

Question No. 3:

Since Philippine units have a 25% chance of fighting on in exile, in Brave Sir Robin fashion, I evacuated the full strength corps in Manila.

However, it does not appear to be allowed to unload in Australia.

What Gives?

[Bo Rearguard]

Hmm. That's odd. I've never tried this strategy before but was able to do it. I'm assuming of course that you tried to off-load the unit from the port southwest of Darwin.

South-Luzon-Corps.jpg (29.4 KiB) Viewed 1345 times

[HansBolter]

Yes. That was the location.

Identified my mistake. I wasn't trying to unload from the port. The port was occupied by an evacuating ship so it could be reinforced on the next turn. I was trying to unload from a hex adjacent to the port and was aboard a transport not an amphibious transport. Will have to head for an unoccupied port to unload.

[Bo Rearguard]

Yes. That was the location.

Identified my mistake. I wasn't trying to unload from the port. The port was occupied by an evacuating ship so it could be reinforced on the next turn. I was trying to unload from a hex adjacent to the port and was aboard a transport not an amphibious transport. Will have to head for an unoccupied port to unload.

Glad you got it resolved. Coming from WitP I tend to think of Darwin as having a port facing north not southwest. Usually the main reason you can't off-load a transport from a minor port hex is when it's below five strength (damaged). But if another unit is there first and out of action points that clogs the port too due to the one unit stacking limit.

[Elessar2]

Question No.1:

Some units in China start the game entrenched. I have found no entrenchment option in this game like in the WWI version.
How did the units that start the game entrenched become entrenched? How do I entrench other units.

Question No. 2:

What is the significance of the blue and red star popsicles at some bases. Searched the entire manual and found no depiction of, or definition for them.

Entrenchment happens automatically at a rate of 1 level per turn, tho Forts will immediately jump to half their maximum on the next turn.