Raid on Li Valley

This was the first Kitchen Table Skirmish game I played. I realized that until I finish my game room (scheduled completion Summer 2006), the only way I can play is when my little guy is asleep and I can take over the kitchen table. It's a small area, which means that action starts right away and seems to be quite dangerous to the lead participants. More of these to follow....

Scenario Outline

The Small Sword rebels, close associates of the TaiPing, but more bandit than idologue, are closing in on Shuixia. There are fears among the international community that the Small Swords won't recognize the neutrality of the Westerners, or worse, may try to provoke them into a fight. To try and keep things safe, an exclusion zone was declaired around the city for 25 miles. Within that limit, no Imperial or TaiPing camps would be allowed, and Sir Rand intended to enforce the limits.

To test the Westerner's resolve, however, the Small Swords have secretly been moving into the zone. Word of their movements has reached the settlement leadership. The center of their activities is a Li Valley farmhouse, thought to also be a Small Sword armoury. A force has been launched to take the farmhouse and show the Small Swords that the west means business.

Scene

A farmhouse sits near center, with a deep, swiftly moving river cutting across one corner of the table. On the opposite shore is a swamp surrounded by rough terrain and light forest. Opposite the farmhouse a bridge crosses the river. Beside the farmhouse is a walled field which has been cultivated. Trees and bushes dot the landscape around the field.

Chinese units may deploy hidden anywhere on the farmhouse side of the river. Dummy markers made up in equal number to the number of units were used to represent hidden placement.

British forces enter the table on the opposide side of the river to the farmhouse, in column.

Objectives

British

Sieze the farmhouse and repel the Small Sword rebels

Rebels

Repel the British

Forces

Western	Small Sword
1 half unit Royal Scots, Ensign MacHyne commanding 1 half unit 60th Rifles, Lieutenant Albacore commanding, Sergeant Duff senior NCO	2 - 5 man groups Small Sword Swords 2 - 5 man groups Small Sword Pikes 2 - 5 man groups Small Sword Rifles

Special Rules

Rules
The Sword and the Flame, 20th Anniversary edition

River
The river is not fordable. The only crossing point is the bridge.

Swamp
The swamp is treated as Rough terrain for movement but does not block line of sight for shooting.

Cover
Figures inside the farmhouse, behind the wall of the field and on the bridge (except from head on) are considered to be Class IV targets. For hand to hand, any figures in the field at the wall are considered to be "defending walls".

Victory Conditions

British
Capture the farmhouse - Key condition
Mimize the loss of life to Western Forces

Rebel
Maintain the farmhouse - Key condition

Return to the dispatches to read about more encounters.
Reread the exciting story again.

Raid on Li Valley