Game 1
Mike (scipio1zama) Slave Army 6 banners (lost 20 blocks) vs Michal (mk20336) Romans 3 banners (lost 25 blocks)
The Roman's initial 2 moves saw the cavalry advance up on their right, especially the MC, which completely disrupted Spartacus’ plans (I felt I had to protect my LC from being run off the board.) However, the Romans did not attack – so I did, using a Double Time card, and managed to eliminate one MC and damage the other. He finally attacked me, with little effect, then I attacked him using a Line Command for just four units and eliminated an Auxilia. He switched focus to his left and eliminated one of my LI, but I attacked back using a Medium Troops card and eliminated 2 of his MI – one of them with a single roll of a blue triangle and 3 crossed swords! His Flank Attack got my 1-block MI on his left, but did little damage on the right. I needed 2 more banners, so I surrounded his advanced MI w/leader on his left and got the MI, but the attached leader managed to escape. Then he switched to the Roman right and eliminated a LI, but I used another Line Command to move just 4 units in the center and take out a MI unit that could not retreat, for the win. He and I were both amazed with my rolls, less so with his.
Game 2
Michal (mk20336) Slave Army 6 banners (lost 22 blocks) vs Mike (scipio1zama) Romans 4 banners (lost 28 blocks)
Game 2 had Michal as the Slave Army and me as the Romans. After some lengthy skirmishing and pot-shots, and having gotten rid of some dross from my hand, I had moved my entire MI line, including the leaders, 2 hexes away from the hills on my left flank. I would have preferred he attack, but I was sitting there with 2 Line Commands, Double Time, Medium Troops AND Clash of Arms. His units were not all in position yet, so in I went. Wwellll…... I damaged a couple of units, killed one and drove a couple of LI to his edge of the board, BUT he came back with Medium Troops, and about the same time his die rolling improved considerably. When the smoke had cleared (dust, actually), I was down 4-1, and there were only 2 of my units next to his for my Clash of Arms card to take advantage of. D**N those hills! I did eliminate one of his MI, but the outlook wasn’t great for the Romans. Then he played the “I am Spartacus” card. – I thought I was toast. Fortunately for me, he was only able to activate 3 units. Still, he launched a nice attack in the center with 3 Warriors and did some considerable damage – but didn’t eliminate anyone. The handwriting was on the wall, but I realized I didn’t need to win the game to win the match – I just needed to get 2 more banners. So I used my Double Time to march a contingent on my left flank. I took out a 2-block LI sitting on the map edge (with 2 green dots – the retreat rule did not come into effect.) and then took out a 1-block Auxilia sitting on a hill. His next turn won him the game, 6-4 - but the match was mine. A very near-run thing, both games tense and exciting. I always seemed to have the cards I needed – and that made the difference against a very skilled opponent.
