
1977S. Craig Taylor
From BoardGameGeek
Flat Top is a board wargame of high complexity that covers the battles of the Solomon Seas between the United States and Japan in 1942. It is very well researched and covers all aspects of naval and air combat as it existed in 1942. The system depicts weather, air searches, air combat, surface combat, carrier operations, submarines, air bases, supplies, and much more. The game requires intense planning and searching since movement is covert and the map is huge. The units are individual ships and submarines with each air point representing three aircraft. Hexes are twenty miles, and each turn represents one hour. The game includes thirteen hundred counters, 4 maps to create a 44" x 28" map of the South Pacific, four Allied/Japanese operations cards, three player aid cards and two log sheets. First edition Battle Line has two counter card sheets containing 800 counters.
Flat Top has 4 videos from 4 creators: 1 how-to-play guide, 1 playthrough and 2 unboxings. They date from 2015 to March 2022.
To learn the rules, start with "Bare Bones Wargaming FlatTop Solitaire Preview" by Tim Korchnoi, which runs 23 min.
To see it played, watch "Winterfest 2022 After Action Report: Flat Top" by Ardwulf's Lair.
If you like it, try Guadalcanal, Wooden Ships & Iron Men, Gettysburg (125th Anniversary Edition) and Midway, also by S. Craig Taylor.
1974S. Craig Taylor
2 players60 - 300 minHeavy weight
1988S. Craig Taylor
2 players90 minMedium weight
From BoardGameGeek:
Flat Top is a board wargame of high complexity that covers the battles of the Solomon Seas between the United States and Japan in 1942. It is very well researched and covers all aspects of naval and air combat as it existed in 1942. The system depicts weather, air searches, air combat, surface combat, carrier operations, submarines, air bases, supplies, and much more. The game requires intense planning and searching since movement is covert and the map is huge. The units are individual ships and submarines with each air point representing three aircraft. Hexes are twenty miles, and each turn represents one hour. The game includes thirteen hundred counters, 4 maps to create a 44" x 28" map of the South Pacific, four Allied/Japanese operations cards, three player aid cards and two log sheets. First edition Battle Line has two counter card sheets containing 800 counters.
Designer
S. Craig Taylor
Artist
Rodger B. MacGowan
Publisher
The Avalon Hill Game Co
Categories
Mechanics