From: Droolroy@aol.com
Subject: Red Sun Rising Variant Translated

To Whom it May Concern;
Here is the translation of Stephane Martin's Red Sun Rising (SPI) variant.

Variant for Red Sun Rising (SPI)
Written by Stephane Martin
Translated by Roy Bartoo

Variable arrival date for the Baltic Fleet

	In this otherwise excellent simulation of the Russo-Japanese War, both sides
know, from the first turn of the game (February 1904), that the Baltic Fleet
will arrive off the Japanese coast in May 1905.  Obviously, in reality, this
gift of prophecy was impossible.

	Here is then a proposal to prevent too muchadvance knowledge of the arrival
date of this reinforcement fleet.  It requires 25 counters,  15 of them to be
marked with a ‘1’, 5 with a ‘0’, and the last 5 will be marked with a ‘2’.
These 25 markers are placed in an opaque container.

	Each turn, at the start of the ‘Naval Movement Stage’, the Russian player
randomly draws one of these counters, and he alone reads the number on the
counter before placing it face down on the Turn Record Track.  Turn after
turn, the markers will line up on this track.

	Once the total value of the markers placed on the track equals 5, the
decision has been taken to send the Baltic Fleet as reinforcements (in
reality, this decision was made in June 1904, some 5 months after the start of
the conflict).  This decision remains hidden from the Japanese side.

	When the total value of the markers drawn equals 9, the Baltic Fleet has
raised anchor (in reality, departure occurred in October 1904, some 9 months
after the start of the conflict).  This fact must be announced to the Japanese
player (hard to keep such a departure secret).

	When the total value of the markers drawn equals 10, the Baltic Fleet has
just made a port of call in Tangiers in Morocco (historical arrival in
November 1904).  This fact must be announced to the Japanese player.

	When the total value on the markers drawn reaches 12, the Baltic Fleet has
just arrived at Madagascar (historical arrival in January 1905).  This must be
announced to the Japanese player.

	When the total value of the markers drawn equals 15, the Baltic Fleet has
just passed Singapore (historical passage in April 1905).  This must be
announced to the Japanese player.

	When the total value of the markers drawn equals 16, the Baltic Fleet may
enter the naval strategic map on a hex between 12 and 19 (historical arrival
in May 1905, during the sixteenth month of the conflict, the equivalent of the
sixteenth game turn).  This fact does not need to be announced to the Japanese
player...

	After the Japanese player first detects the Baltic Fleet, he may verify the
layout of the markers on the turn track where they have been arranged.

	Obviously, since besides the 15 counters marked with a 1, there are 5 ‘0’
counters and 5 ‘2’ counters, at best the Baltic Fleet will arrive 5 months
sooner than in reality, and at worst ... 5 months late.  The Russian player
will thus never be able to predict far in advance at what date he will be able
to count on this reinforcement, while the Japanese side will only get
information about the Baltic Fleet’s progress at irregular intervals
(basically when it departs and its various ports-of-call).

Roy Bartoo