Americans see action in the Philippines (finally)

I don’t know how seven months of COVID restrictions have affected your gaming life, but mine has changed a great deal. Definitely a different way of doing things from pre-COVID and not all for the worse.

I have a role-playing group that meets every Thursday night from 7-10 on Zoom. I’d guess we’ve missed two meetings since we began in June. I like it; it’s been fun. We could never have pulled it off in-person.

I’ve played a few games in Steilacoom with George and Michael at both of their homes. Again, I’ve had a great time. I sense there will be more to come soon.

However, the highlight has been the Summer Series in Dave Schueler’s front yard. Masked and under a pop-up a tent, Dave, David Sullivan, John Gee, Bill Stewart and Michael Koznarsky have included me in a variety of naval games using ACW Ironclads, ancient galleys and pre-Dreadnaughts in a glorious summer-long series of naval games.

However, with the receding smokey skies replaced with the onset of rain and wind, it was apparent that our Schueler pop-up series was likely nearing an end. A couple weeks ago I offered to host my Enfilade Philippines game on the 19th, and it has, thankfully happened.

The game featured about two-thirds of my figures for the period and had everything I wanted to see. Americans attacking Philippine Republicans while the latter piece together a crazy defense. Mad attacks by fearsome-bolo armed troops. An amphibious assault by sailors and marines. Some fun play, and as John said anus-clenching moments for all.

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/The terrain sans troupes. A look toward the middle and the south from the northern board edge. A look toward the eastern board edge where fighting would rage in the paddies. A look toward the Nanhai Trading Post from Batangas Bay.

The scenario was entirely fictional but took place in the Batangas Bay with Republican forces retreating, but caught between advancing American forces. Their goal was to withdraw as many troops and supplies as possible. There were two commands of Republican troop, three units each. They were bolstered by local tribal militia with a fiery commander.

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From upper left. Tribal militia set up in the central woods. Three units of Republican infantry prepare for set-up. The Washington volunteer companies find their places on the northern board edge. Dismounted regular cavalry prepare to advance into the rice paddies.

They faced a force of Washington State Volunteers to the north, U.S. Regulars to the east and a force of Marines and sailors about to land in the rear to the west.

The game began with the David’s Volunteers using a machine gun and gunfire to inflict a dose of reality on Bill’s Republicans. The Philippine troops, being poor shots, did less, but when the Centralia Company of the Volunteers failed a pin check, things slowed down a little bit.

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The volunteer battalion faced equal numbers of Republican infantry. The superior fire of the Americans, however, made it very difficult to stick around for very long. Though the Volunteer advance was slow, it was unstoppable.

On the east side, John’ irregulars advanced against Eric’s Republicans, hunkered down in some rice paddies. Despite an effective opening volley, the American response sent the poorly led Republicans reeling. Things were not looking good.

I commanded the tribal infantry in the center and I busied myself trying to collect supplies with two my units. These were supplies we could carry off the south edge of the board to earn victory points. I left one unit with commander in the woods to back up Bill’s Republicans facing the Volunteers.

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The tribal militia set out to secure supplies cached to the east and the south, leaving one unit to support Bill’s regulars. In doing this they also become out of command. These tradeoffs we make.

Meanwhile, Dave’s amphib group headed for the beaches, still a turn or so away from being in the fight.

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Some really good views of Dave’s command. The vessels were all by Last Stand Dan, who does some really great work at a very reasonable price. Highly recommended.

Bill and Eric’s Republican forces fought gamely, but mostly on the losing end of exchanges with the Americans. I successfully gathered supplies from one of the caches, while a second unit headed toward another about the time Dave disembarked the Marines from their steam launches.

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The action begins in the middle with Eric getting off a quick volley at the U.S. Regulars. However the return volley was much more effective. The Republicans retreated to the edge of the rice paddies only to suffer another round of fire. They sought shelter behind the building until help could arrive–in the form of U.S. Marines.

I turned my unit on the Marines and launched a vicious attack that inflicted 50% casualties. But with their excellent leader present, my celebration was short-lived. The Marines recovered. The bolos took fire, and, far from their leader, were immediately pinned. They were a non-factor for the rest of the game.

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One of my tribal units moved past the landing zone, but turned to attack the Marines when the Philippine forces won the initiative. They did a lot of damage, but were pinned by supporting fire, Unable to roll off their pins (leaderless and unable to move or fire.)

Bill’s Republicans fell back through the woods, and were at least able to escape fire from the Volunteers, but knew a good push would finish him. Eric surrendered the paddies to the regulars and took shelter in some buildings, only to begin taking fire from Dave’s Marines.

I moved my tribal infantry at the double, out of my safe woods zone down to help Eric’s troops, pounced on one of John’s regular units and destroyed it. But the inevitable gunfire replies killed the tribal leader, and devoid of command, they quickly became pinned and unable to move.

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From left. The last tribal unit with the commander marched to Eric’s aid, eventually attacking and destroying one of John’s regular unit. Unfortunately, the returning fire killed the commander leaving them leaderless and helpless. The third unit, fired on by Dave’s advancing Marines and sailors left the remaining Philippine units cut off from retreat and hopeless.

The Philippine army was doomed. We called it good.

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This is a final look at our positions.

I had fun. I hope others did too.

We used the Men Who Would Be King rules by Daniel Mersey. They were quite fun, but each set of his rule are a little different so there were things I would have done differently. I made the Republicans bad shots, but in return I could have given them fieldcraft which would have allowed them to Go to Ground as a tribal unit and let them avoid terrain costs. I also could have given the Republicans the initiative in each turn, so they would always have the option of moving ahead of the American gunfire, so the game would have become a lot more like the running gunfight I wanted.