Objective
s
The Marines are going on
patrol in the jungles and rice paddies of
If the Marines leave any of their wounded on the battlefield,
they cannot achieve more than a draw.
If the Vietcong prevent the entire patrol from returning to base,
they win.
Personnel
- Divide Class into 80% Vietnamese and 20% USMC.
- Marines begin the game with about 90% of the
balls.
The
Battlefield
This game should be set up
outside or in a large gym so that there will be enough space to play.
Designate an open area about as large as four basketball courts. Trees, bushes,
benches, and other cover are desirable.
To begin, designate where
the Marine base and the Special Forces
base are. They should be on opposite ends of the battlefield. Ideally,
these will be easily distinguishable areas (brick patios, gazebos, etc.). If
you are playing in a gym, these areas can be designated with existing boundary
lines or by laying tape on the floor.
The Marines begin the game
in their base.
Scatter three or more firing positions between the two bases. These
could be certain objects such as benches, stairs, trees, or if the game is
being held in a gym, tape could be laid down in small squares. Position these
so that the Marines have two or three different paths from their base to the
Special Forces base. Space the firing positions out fairly evenly according to
the size of the playing field. (Benches or small patios make excellent
positions).
Movement
VC can move ANYWHERE on the
field.
Marines must stay on
designated paths. This makes quadrangles and parks with clearly distinguishable
pathways ideal battlefields.
Casualties
A caught or deflected ball
has no effect.
When Marines are hit with a
ball they are WIA. If a Marine is wounded, he must be tagged and maintain
contact with a fellow Marine until they get to either of the bases. There, the
wounded Marine is patched up and sent back into action.
When the Vietnamese are hit,
they are dead.
Special Rules
Firing
Positions
Marines cannot be killed
when they are in one of the firing positions. They may throw balls from
the safety of these positions.
VC cannot enter firing
positions unless on a suicide mission. One easily distinguishable ball can, in
the hands of a VC, be used as a satchel
charge suicide bomb. To use this bomb, the VC must make into an occupied
position unscathed while holding the bomb. If this happens, all of the Marines
in the position are killed. Of course, they may attempt to bug out when the
bomber makes the charge.
Ammunition
& Equipment
Marines cannot pick up loose
balls on the battlefield, but, if they kill a Vietnamese on the path they may
take their balls. Balls may be pre-positioned at the Special Forces Base
for resupply.
Vietnamese may pick up free
balls at will.
Hand-to-Hand
combat
VC can knock a ball free
from Marine possession if not hit by a ball first. If a Marine or VC can
hit or punch one of their enemies with a ball while maintaining possession of
the ball, this counts as a kill for the striker.
Civilians
About half of the Vietnamese
secretly should be identified as civilians by the referee. They cannot throw
balls at Marines, but they can pick up balls and deliver them to the VC or to
the Marines. Civilians die if hit by a ball thrown by either VC or Marines. If,
at the end of the game, there are more dead civilians than dead VC, the Marines
lose. They have failed to win the hearts and minds of the local population.
Credits
Concept by:
Play-tested by: The Historical Simulation May Term course (2004)
Edited and expanded by: