And as a summary of the Tournament, short session report from games I had pleasure to play, with detailed depiction of action, etc.

theboardgameschronicle.com/2019/04/15/en...-mini-tournament-62/

MT62 Final, GAME 2, EPIC 004 - ZAMA

MichalK (mk20336) vs. Togan

mk20336 (Rome) - 11 Banners Won, 55 Blocks Lost
Togan (Carthage) - 14 Banners Won, 40 Blocks Lost

We just finished our second final game. What an exciting 2,5 hours it was... Let me tell you a little - the rest in the log file (it is interrupted just before last Togan attacks so really a small portion is missing)

We started slowly, I managed to put some lights to prevent dreadful Elephants in center - two of them were even dispatched. I lacked cards on left so my Med Cav was immobilized. I tried to attack with Numidians on right - the curious 3 light rolls on three 1d range shots was strange, but then I was repulsed.

I was like 3-3 when things started to get messy. Really messy - Elephants got Mounted Charge, my Light Cav on right was repulsed and it was 3-7 before I realized what is going on.

That was high time to do something - all my surplus from first game was gone. So I planned a round - which I will remember for a long time... Two Double Times plus Mounted Charge which scored me 6 points and moved the result to 9-7.

So you think it is easy now? Only two points to secure victory? And you have attack on lonely,unsupported 1 block medium cavalry, with your full-strength MC and leader? Piece of cake... unless you miss totally, and battle back wipes-out your cavalry AND leader.

Last turns was kind of cat-and-mouse, very tense play in which, somehow, I managed minimally to prevail.

I really like EPIC format - there is time, place and possibility to plan long-term, the leaders are really precious and simply, you cannot win by sheer lack due to number of banners.

Mark - thanks for another superbly organized MT.

Togan - thanks for such exciting games, pleasure to play with you!

For all interested, we will be playing second part of our FINAL games on Tuesday, April 2nd, at 1900 GMT (21:00 Central European Time)

MT62 Final, GAME 1, EPIC 004 - ZAMA

MichalK (mk20336) vs. Togan

mk20336 (Carthage) - 14 Banners Won, 37 Blocks Lost
Togan (Rome) 10 Banners Won, 60 Blocks Lost

That was very exciting and interesting game. The number one unit i the game was definitely ELEPHANT. What those guys did was beyond my wildest expectations: they shattered whole Roman center and killed Scipio Africanus. All that in first three turns.

However, Togan is experienced player so he counter-balanced this by attack on my right with his superior cavalry - attack repulsed with significant loses. On my left / Rome right almost no action was seen, but at the end of the game the last points for victory were scored there.

Very, very tense game and a lot of fun! The reverse game still in front of us! Thanks to Togan for playing at pretty late time,

Game in two logfiles (I lost connection once):

Round 3
EPIC03 Raphia (217 BC)


mk20336 vs. Gonzo

mk20336 (Seleucid) - 13 Banners Won, 42 Blocks Lost
Gonzo (Ptolemaic) - 8 Banners Won, 52 Blocks Lost

Our game was specific. We started before Christmas and were halfway through. Unfortunately, the save log disappeared both form my and Joe's computer (due to different reasons but similarly effective...) So we mobilized ourselves and restarted from the scratch today.

The game - as our first attempt - was mainly driven by very aggressive play of Seleucids on right / Ptolemaic left. In the end - after some lucky rolls and surviving leader escape - Seleucids completely routed that part of Egyptian forces. I had also two very lucky rolls killing the elephants.

On my left things started to crumble (also historically) as many brave Seleucids were killed or tramped by elephants there.
The game ended after clash of phalanxes in the middle, DT by Joe and my counter attack.

Great, ling and exciting game - thanks!

Greg O (Carthage) 12 banners 51 blocks lost
mk20336 (Rome) 8 banners 57 blocks lost

This battle seemed to play somewhat close to history.

Rome advanced on the right and Carthage battled wsith it's cavalry, ending with 2 Roman Aux and 2 Roman M Cav eliminated before the action moved to the left with a Carthage double time with heavies pushing Rome, who countered with cav on the left into the Carthage Light Cav, who moved to refuse that flank. The middle settled into a standoff with several Darken the Skies exchanged and then Rome charged forward and busted a hole in the center of the line but Carthage refused both flanks of the hole and the center settled into an exchange of banners. Rome then made a strong push in an aggressive attack, looking for the banners needed to seal the deal in the overall trio of battles. Carthage took losses but pushed back and won the battle, with a group of heavies attacking all the way back to the Rome back row. Great battle, always a blast playing Epic with Michal K and the rest of this crew!

EPIC02 Ilipa (206 BC) Gonzo vs stormwalker

The battle was waged and decided on the flanks. For details please see the log. Many thanks to Joe for playing!

Round 1Cannea


toganalper vs stormwalker

toganalper (Cartagian) - 12 Banners Won, 26 Blocks Lost
stormwalker (Roman) - 4 Banners Won, 55 Blocks Lost


The Carthaginians were able to bring their heavy troops forward early in the game, attacking the roman flanks on both sides. The cart. cavalry trotted along the Aufidus river and encircled the roman right flank with some mounted troop attacks totally destroying that flank.

At the same time Hanno was attacking the left flank and being quite successful since Paulıus were quite away from the battle..

At the end it was big bloodshed and the gods (dice gods were very very unbiased on the Carthaginians side)

The battle was done in less then 2 hours and blood was all over the pitch except the far left flank near the mountains were the Mahrabal was waiting for his turn to help.

Thanks for a great game to stormwalker, as always he was a very nice person to play and enjoy every second of the fight.

Round 3
toganalpervsCavie




toganalper (Roman) - 13 Banners Won, 51 Blocks Lost
Cavie (Roman) - 10 Banners Won, 50 Blocks Lost


Sorry for the late posting 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 3
toganalpervsCavie




toganalper (Roman) - 13 Banners Won, 51 Blocks Lost
Cavie (Roman) - 10 Banners Won, 50 Blocks Lost


Sorry for the late posting 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 )

Joe, I think this should go to MT61

Round 1 EPIC01 Cannae (216 BC)
Gonzo (Carthage) 12 banners 45 blocks lost
Cavie (Rome) 5 banners 60 blocks lost
Carthage engaged first on their right, breaking the Roman line, killing the slow units and Aux fled. Next manuevering and Roman center advanes. Futile Cav charge ordered by Carth left (worse than Ney at Waterloo) with one block lost each side. Carth cav fled at next opportunity and hid their head in shame the rest of game. Multiple multiple Carth Line commands allowed leaderless center troops to fade before the Romans Double Timed and broke the line with a kill. Those units were slowly p[icked off by the Carth units from each side, rotating out. With count 8-3 Carth left closed and engaged and traded units, but Carth neede fewere for the win
Couple of thoughts about scenario. Main thing Carth 9 card hand so much more flexible than Roman 6.
Both of us were at our max hand size most of game. Carthage played some devastating Supreme Commander cards. That aside, Dan started with mediocre luck and it went straight down after that. Even his last turn should have gotten 2-3 more banners with average luck, but he got none and took it with aplomp. He made several great attacks that could have reaped several units each. None went off. This was my first game of Epic, though read the rules. Thanks to Dan for teaching me well.

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
EPIC02 Ilipa (206 BC)

mk20336 vs. toganalper

mk20336 (Roman) - 13 Banners Won, 52 Blocks Lost
toganalper (Carthaginian) - 11 Banners Won, 56 Blocks Lost


We played last weekend but only today I have time to report.
It was very bloody (see numbers of blocks lost), very close and tense game. And of course it disconnected in the middle thus two log files.

Historically, I as Romans attacked on left and right while Togan's juggernaut in the middle moved forward. I managed to dispatch both elephants on Carthage side, but every time I thought I am gaining upper hand., Togan were skillfully counterattacking.

In the end I managed to get some lead (2-3 banners) and keep it till the end of the game.

It took us 2.5 hours and we managed to play in one go.

Round 3
CavieVsGregO

Cavie (Roman) - 13 Banners Won, 37 Blocks Lost
Greg O (Carthaginian) - 9 Banners Won, 51 Blocks Lost

Had to break up this game into two times meeting and two log files. Stopped mid way through the game where we were tied. Scipio was knocked off early and it looked bleak for the Romans. An all out attack on the Carthaginian right and center had some good results but also took some casualties sending the end game in motion for Rome. Epic is always a nice variant I enjoy playing - looking forward to the remaining games in this tourney!

EPIC03 Raphia (217 BC) gottoman vs stormwalker


This was an epic battle For details please see the logs. Many thanks to Greg for playing!
PS: the Elephants as usual failed even at the simplest of tasks..

Optional Rule
Compared to the Julian legions, Scipio's legions still moved slowly, but matched against the Carthaginian formations, they sped. We recommend that all Roman medium and heavy infantry units may move one hex and battle, or move two hexes and not battle. These units are not missile weapon capable.

Since it is recommended, I think yes. Seems pretty easy. Marian without pilum.

Are we using the 'optional rule' in Ilipa?

managed to cut that bit out.. sorry
This table shows the match-ups and scenarios for each round.  The Alpha Group will play the Top side and the Beta Group will play the Bottom side.

will add that now!

1 match ONLY like normal Mini-Tournament

What side does one play, or is it played twice, once each side?