OK guys, catching up some after vacation topics.
I found the save from first game:


And here are screen shots from:

SET-UP:


END OF GAME 1:


END OF GAME 2:

We are both having trouble bringing up the logfile, it looks like neither was saved properly; unsure of why it didn't work for either of us. A shame because they were both very exciting/stressful games that could've gone either way.

Congratulations to Trevis for the victory and to Michal for a well fought final. Post the log files please if you have them.

Logfiles and more specifics will be added later, but I wanted to take a moment and salute MichalK for a great performance in the MT61 finals.

The Battle of Silarus was surprisingly won twice by the left command of the Servile army of Spartacus. In the first game, a 6-3 result for the Servile forces, I was able to withstand Michal's Roman ranged assault just long enough for a small opening to form. In a risky maneuver, I was able to hit him with charging warriors (DT) and charging light cavalry (MC) in successive turns, with my rolls and mobility of the latter proving to be just enough to get the banners I needed. Michal was certainly unfortunate with a few rolls to be sure, and the score left me with a seemingly comfortable cushion for the second game.

Even though the 2nd game was a 6-5 win for Michal, he very nearly pulled off the stunning overall victory, and was within a single die roll of overrunning the Roman right (and center) on a couple of occasions. I had settled in for a siege of the Servile position, due to the fact I had few cards that supported a move by the center. Michal picked the perfect time to engage the Roman right, after I had expended too many cards getting troops into position and moving a leader up for support. His combined forces of cavalry and infantry placed two full strength warriors on the verge of collapsing the entire side, and capturing the necessary banner by taking the camp hex, but I was able to just barely withstand the Spartacus-card charge, and then finally collected cards that allowed me to properly respond to the crisis. Michal deservedly won the battle, but I was able to do enough last-ditch damage to win the combined score.

For all interested, we will be starting final with Travis in couple of minutes.

MT61 semi-finals

MichalK vs BrentS

GAME 1
Michal (Slaves) - Brent (Romans) 6-3
That game saw a very aggressive play on slave left / roman right with the other side completely neglected. The game can go any way really, as in the end both sides had a lot of 1 and 2 block units. The action was so quick and intense in the center, that it was very hard to bring new units to the fight from far away.

GAME2
Michal (Romans) - Brent (Slaves) 6-5
Opposite to first game, the action was mainly on Roman left / Slaves right, near hills were 4 detached Roman units were located. The managed to put a really good fight but in the end were killed. For a long time the score was 5 to 3 for Brent and everything can happen. The stalemate lasted for 3-4 turns and then after DT attack, the Romans finally crushed rebels, gaining 3 banners in two turn, including lc2d.

Thanks to Brent for playing the games, especially after whole day at work. It was as always a pleasure.

And now, to the final!

Semi-Final is due to be played Sunday morning UTC

Alpha/Slave Semifinal: gottoman (10 total banners/53 blocks lost) vs. taliapharaoh (12 total banners/42 blocks lost)

Two great games vs. a great opponent. Very evenly matched, both games hinged on just a couple of key rolls and cards.

Game 1: The Slaves (Greg) made a massive move against the Roman center, but fortunately a single Roman M was able to hold off three full strength warriors and allow the center to eliminate them on the following move. A back and forth battle for the center would decide the game, with a well-timed Spartacus card saving the day (ironically) for the Romans.

Game 2: Slaves (Travis) made an early concerted effort to trap and destroy the isolated Roman (Greg) detachment on the Roman left. An abundance of excellent cards and fortunate rolls allowed the Slaves to hammer 3 of the units, but some unbelievable rolls allowed a lone unit and leader to escape to rejoin the Roman main lines, who used the opportunity to press the center of the Slave formation. Fortunately, the Slaves were able to hold off the Romans in the center and Roman left, and Spartacus himself was able to finish the battle with an extremely lucky roll charging downhill on the Roman right.

Picenum, Round 3

Taliapharaoh 8 banners/18 blocks lost (Slave) vs Viridovilas 5 banners/30 blocks lost (Roman)

The ability of the Slaves to attack the isolated Roman right proved to be the difference, allowing the concentrated W and M units to punch through the Legions.


Thanks to Max for his flexibility that allowed us to find a time to play.

Semi Final matches are now posted

Round 4: Mummius Defeat

taliapharaoh - Slaves, 5 banners, 13 blocks lost
Stormwalker - Romans, 1 Banner, 19 blocks lost


Apparently, Spartacus was not only able to inspire his troops on this day, but he prayed to the correct gods.

Loaded with Leadership, Counterattack, Double-Time, and Medium cards throughout the battle, it seemed that fortune favored the slaves on this day. After some initial skirmishing and positioning, the slave right side was able to win the day, charging out of the woods led surprisingly by the heroic efforts of the light horse, whose sacrifice paved the way for victory. A double-time card allowed three units to gang up on a wounded M for the final banner.

Round 2 Mt Garganus

BrentS (Roman): 2 banners and 24 blocks lost
G1ul10 (Slave): 6 banners and 14 blocks lost

The barbarians put a lot of pressure on the right wing of the Roman legions and, thanks to a couple of good rolls, achieved local superiority, eliminating two Roman medium units and one auxilia. The rest of the game was a cat and mouse exercise in the central section. Brent masterfully managed to survive while bringing his left wing near my isolated troops in the top left section. That gave him another medal. But the next turn the slave warriors assaulted scattered Roman light infantry and won the battle. Today I've had the lucky rolls I missed yesterday.

Rnd5 Bruttium (71 BC)

Viridovilas (Roman): 6 banners and 10 blocks lost
G1ul10 (Slave): 2 banners and 29 block lost

The battle began with a smart Slave move that strategically position its light horses to let a pair of its infantry leave the field on the Roman left side of the board almost untouched. Romans then hurried its light troops to block the Slave army. The battle then shifted directly on the ramparts, where a pair of erratic arrows hit both the Slave leaders. With Spartacus on the ground, there was no chance for the Slave to survive (especially which such the dice G1uli10 rolled all match long)

Round 3,

Giulio (Slave): 8 Banners and 11 blocks lost
Toganalper (Roman): 2 Banners and 28 blocks lost

The slave army advances in the center. Thanks to good cards, Slaves can concentrate their forces and inflict losses to the disorganized Romans. One warrior unit also escapes from the southern edge. No rolling fires. We had to check various rules during the game. I hope our interpretation was correct:

- a leader alone in the hex is not a foot unit for line command card,
- a leader alone in the hex is a unit for the "Inspired Leadership" card;
- the war machine too needs one or two free hexes to be able to evade.

Round 5 Bruttium

BrentS (Rome) - Banners won 6, blocks lost 26
Taliapharoah (Slave Army) - Banners won 4, blocks lost 35

Again, I couldn't save my log file and I know Travis' was interrupted because he needed to resynch to me.....so I'm going on memory. There's some glitch in my Vassal module.....I'll have to update to Giulio's brand new you beaut one .

I moved to challenge the slave Light Cavalry in the woods on the Roman left and managed to brilliantly get my Light Cavalry cut off and killed (this is before the coffee kicked in, or that's my excuse).......then lost my leader there on a double helmet (not the first time this tournament.....I'm obviously sacrificing the wrong colour goat). I pulled back my left and consoIidated on the baseline. I thought that was it and was just hoping for a few banners to make it look less shameful.

The Slave centre advanced and I had to desperately Double Time my other flank there to support. Two Line Commands made my positioning there easier. In short there was some desperately bloody work round the ramparts and the rampart defensive benefits proved decisive. It ended with a lot of 1 block units (who would have ben zero block units if not for the ramparts) and I managed to finish off a couple of 1 block Slave units to finish it......could have gone the other way. No Slaves escaped.

A great match, thanks Travis, and well played.

Just to mention that Michal's attached log file is for the new (and fantastic) version 4.0 of the VASSAL module.

Round 4, 211 Mummius Defeat (72 BC)

Giulio (Slave): 3 Banners and 27 blocks lost
Michal (Roman): 5 Banners and 18 blocks lost

That was very tough game for Romans - most of game I had two or three left cards, not being able to do anything. I was under constant fire., looking for some opportunities on my right. The Line Command played by Giulio (at 2-3) seemed to be a final stroke, but then the luck was with me. A flag saved my unit, allowing for play of Leadership Left card and as with Travis, in one round I managed not only to score a lot of banners, but finish scenario altogether moving from 2-3 to 5-3. Wow, crazy two games...

So all my games played, now everything is in your hands guys - who will progress to semifinals...

I think Joe posted our MT61 game in MT62 thread, so just re-posting for the reference and sake of clarity:

Gonzo wrote: Round #1 208 Mt Vesuvius (73 BC )
Gonzo (Slave) 5 banners, 22 blocks lost
MK20336 (Roman) 4 banners, 17 blocks lost.
Roman leader evades 8 dice looking for one ldr roll to start game. Romans occupy camps. Slaves close with to line commands without attacking, but Roman leader that survived goes over wall rolling huge hits and kills 2 units. Slave Clash of arms with 30+ dice only gets 7 hits but two units, Roman gets about the same and follow
up Roman leader attacking over wall kills two more. Down 4-3, Slave kills a 1 pt unit and Hail Marys a damaged W to pin a 4 pt Roman LI, but rolls 3 banners for the win. Romans had a good card every turn, Slaves started with Move Hvy, Move Lt, Mv-Fire-Mv, and mv 2 on right throughout game. Michal played well in unbalanced scenario.

Round 2, 209 Mt Garganus (72 BC)

Travis (Slave): 3 Banners and 21 blocks lost
Michal (Roman): 6 Banners and 18 blocks lost

Although historically the Slaves should be easily dispatched, the game does not reflect it so clearly. After some range attacks, Travis Warriors charged into the center of my line, successfully splitting this into two. Move-fire-move allowed me to regroup and start moving forward on my right when disaster struck on my left - a double helmet was rolled on leader-check.

I was saved by Double Time in last round and the mountains which were impassable, scoring 4 banners by one card and moving from 2-3 to 6-3,

Thanks to Travis for organizing the game on the short notice.

Round 1: Mt Vesuvius

taliapharaoh (Slaves) 5, 22 blocks lost
toganalper (Romans) 4, 23 blocks lost

Confusion reigned as two veteran players made several retreat-related mistakes once the Slaves broke through the Roman fortifications. With Roman units pushing hard outside the ramparts, it took many strokes of luck and some critical hits to finally secure a camp hex and eliminate the final unit needed for victory.

Round 2
Cavie (Slaves) 4 (27 blokcs lost)
toganalper (Romans)6 (21 blocks lost

sorry for the late postıng of the results, I had to deal with a back surgery and currently rehabilitating. It was a bloody and fun battle as I can remember and sorry for the short write up this time since I can really not sit straits to type )

Round 4: Mummius' Defeat

Greg O (Slaves) 5 banners 14 blocks lost

ToganAlper (Romans) 1 banner 22 blocks lost

Tough battle for the Romans, Slaves had a great start and kept up the pressure.

Round 1 208 Mt Vesuvius (73 BC)

Greg O (Slaves) 5 banners 10 blocks lost
Viridovilas (Roman) 2 banners 16 blocks lost

This battle was fought almost entirely on the left flank, or the left side of the center. Slaves seemed to have the luck and cards here and the Romans couldn't get the break they needed.

Round 5 Bruttium

Cavie - Slaves 6 Banners Won, 24 Blocks Lost

Stormwalker - Roman 5 Banners Won, 29 Blocks Lost

As you can see from the score above the game was tight. The battles in the ditch with the rampart caused both sides to beat each other down slowly with 2d attacks and battle backs. As the Slaves pressed through the ditch and over the ramparts they took losses but finally gave the final blow just in time to claim victory.

Round 1 Mt Vesuvius

Stormwalker (Rome) - Banners 0, Blocks lost 18
g1ul10 (Slave Army) - Banners 5, Blocks lost 6

The game lasted just two rounds and a half. Slaves started with an Order Medium and were lucky enough to kill both Roman leaders. I was making a bad mistake here but fortunately, Michal and Marcin stopped me: after killing a leader, a unit CANNOT advance. With a fire-and-move, the Romans, now leaderless, reposition to occupy their camps and reduce one Slave aux to two blocks. Slaves then played "I'm Spartacus". The result was disappointing, just three units ordered out of 8 dice, but the attack rolls were good and the Slaves conquered one camp. The Romans replied with a Line Command but failed to eliminate any Slave unit. A leadership any section gave the Slaves the last victory banner. Being so fast, this game very much depends on the initial hand of cards and the opening rolls. Honestly, there was little Marcin could have done to improve the final result for the Romans.