Game 1
Gonzo (Pompey) 7 banners
Maxiaka111 (Caesar) 2 banners
Caesar's Cav destroyed by First Strike. Pompeiian missile strikes with DTS weakened some legions. Repested clshes ended with 1 pt Pompeiian units fleeing while Caesars units died completely. A bold DT sent all 3 Roman leaders into close combat, looking for ma into my 1 pt units. Leader on left killed 2 units. However Caeser ran into a FS dong 2 hits and 2 flags. Pushed back, a counteratteck on his DT put 4 fresh inf next to Caeser and his other leader. Caeser never got a dice off and the other leader's unit killed for the victory. Perfect storm of good cards and dice.
Game 2
Maxiaka111 Concedes
Gonzo Wins
Thanks to Maxiaki for the game

2 game

Nemo 2333 #7
TTK #6

full inf will be by Nemo

FoxK - Михаил
FoxK - 7 (Pompeian)
Михаил - 4 (Caesarian)

Михаил - FoxK
FoxK - 6 (Caesarian)
Михаил - 7 (Pompeian)

Please Mark note that the score of my second match versus PCScipio was 7-6 and not 7-4 (just for statistic purpose).

Thanks for your commitment,

Max

First Match

Greg O (Pomp.) 7
Carthage (Caes.) 4

2nd match

Carthage (Pompeian): 7
gottoman (Caesarian): 3

Caesar attacks on the right side and eliminates a couple of regiments but gets cut off by the responding double time and perished as he has to retreat through enemy lines. The Caesarian forces try to break through in the middle. Afranius continues pushing the Caesarian right and manages to kill a second leader.

1st match

PCScipio42 (Pompeian): 0
Viridovilas (Cesarian): 7

It was a hard way for the Pompeian: Cesarian marched quickly with their Veterans and Caesar himself at the front, throwed their pilums against the Pompeian line and then clashed against their shields. (read 3 Double times, one Darken the sky and a Clash of shields played in rapid sequence from my hand: quite astonishing!). The Pompeian army had no chance but fled the field

2nd match

PCScipio42 (Cesarian): 6
Viridovilas (Pompeian): 7

This time it was a very close battle. An early random arrow hit the Pompeian lieutenant on the right flank of his army and that ruined a lot of Afranius defensive plan. Nevertheless, Pompeian Veterans took the peak of the hillock and stand against the strong Caesar army. The clash was terrible with heavy casualties on both sides. At the end a brave charge of the Pompeian cavalry won the battle.

Game 1:
Asqwasqw (Pompeian) 7 Banners
January31 (Caesarian) 2 Banners
This game was very very VERY quick (9 cards played total). Both sides rushed their heavy infantry towards the center hill. The Pompeians narrowly got there first. The Caesarians responded by trying to darken the skies with their pilums, but the well trained Pompeians withstood the attack. The Pompeians immediately charged down the hill. Though they lost 2 groups in the intense fighting, they managed to kill Fabius and 2 groups themselves. Caesar responded with a double time, rushing another group of 4 infantry into the melee. He took the hill, but his troops were driven back during combat and he was unable to hold it. Though battered, the Pompeians lost no groups during Caesar’s charge (helped by a first strike card) and bloodied them in return. A final clash of shields finished off Caesar’s army before he could do anything further, routing 4 groups in a single turn and causing Caesar’s entire army to break.

Game 2:
January31 (Pompeian) 3 Banners
Asqwasqw (Caesarian) 7 Banners
This game in comparison was incredibly slow, with a lot of positional play on both sides. Pompeians held the hill throughout the game, so the Caesarians shifted their entire army left and attacked, attempting to capture the enemy’s camp. They inflicted and took heavy losses, but were able to retreat their wounded troops back to their camp. As they advanced up, the Pompeians shifted their troops off the hills to meet them. Caesar personally led a battered group of heavy infantry in an attempt to take the hill, and although he managed to claim the center, they did not last long before Caesar was forced to flee alone for his life. Undeterred, he grouped up with more heavy infantry and pressed on the left flank, while the rest of his army pressed against the right flank, leaving all his wounded infantry behind at camp. Seeing that his camp was in trouble, Petreius mobilized the group defending to hill to attack, but lost his life in the charge, causing the Pompeian’s to rout. The battle was very bloody, with Caesar’s army having 6 groups at 1 block each.

Thanks to January for the enjoyable games!

I've done a results table update. Please check, since it has been a bit of a crazy month.
Deadline is Sunday.. get the outstanding matches played!

1st game
Max Bogatov (Caesarian) - 5 banners
Cavie (Pompeian) - 7 banners
Fast game of one attack. After short prepairing Caesar went to combat with 3 HI and 2MI. But attack was not lucky: Caesar rolled 0 hits on 6 dice again enemies HI+L, and got 5 hits on battleback. He retrited to another HI, but enemy destroyed this HI in its turn (4 hits on 5 dice). Then Caesar joined to MC and made what he should - killed two units in one turn and one on the next. But his army already lost 5 inf and 1 Leader up to this time and Cavie made sudden cavalry attack on his right flank and rolled 3 hits on 3 dice against 3-blocks slingers. 7-5 final result. Pompey won.

2nd game
Max Bogatov (Pompeian) - 7 banners
Cavie (Caesarian) - 4 banners
This was long and tough, but fun game. Caesar devide his army onto three groups and was ready attack at any part of map. First attack was on the right, but it ended exchenge 1 by 1 MI. Then Caesar moved forvard on the left but stopped without combat and make suddenly attack in the centre by Caesar. Unfortunately Caesar wasn`t lucky, attack was refused and Caesar lost two HI here. After several turns of combat in the center result was 5-2 for Pompey and he (me) started attack on his right. Caesars forces defended hardly, but final Clash of Shields did its job: 7-4, Pompey won.

toganalper - Pompeian - 7 banners
scipio1zama - Caesarian - 6 banners

Togan (Pompeians) jumped right out with an Order Heavy Troops card and moved his 4 HI forward, then I used a Leadership card to move Caesar and the other back row HI forward to join up with the rest of my infantry in anticipation of using my two Line Command cards and going after his right flank. But he used a leadership card to advance Afranius and his 3 MI, and suddenly my attention was diverted and I used a Line Command to move toward Afranius et al. He used a Counterattack to move all his infantry, and the close combat battle was joined. His MI got 3 hits on mine; my bb eliminated him. His HI took out my 1-block, then hit 4 to eliminate another of my MI (leader survived.)

This was the start of a bloody mess with the fighting almost exclusively involving HI & MI. Next came my Heavy Troops, his First Strike, his Counterattack - dice ran hot and cold, and Pompey is up 4-1. I played Clash of Shields and Caesar is up 5-4. He played Three in the Center and Pompey is up 6-5. I played Two in the center, but only made one attack, thinking I could weather whatever he did and get that 7th banner next turn. Now it is 6-6. His HI/leader attacks my full-strength Aux and only retreats it. But the HI/leader advances, attacks another full-strength Aux – and rolls green, leader, leader, green, green.

L’audace, l’audace, toujours l’audace. Well played, Togan.

Round 4, taliapharaoh vs. Polonus100

Game 1: taliapharaoh (Caesarian) - 7 banners
Polonus100 (Pompeian) - 5 banners

In game one, Caesar ordered a very ill-designed early rush on the center hill hexes, which cost him two units early on as an uncoordinated attack on light units on the hillocks failed miserably, and the early edge went to the Pompeian forces. However, Caesar (who did not fight at all in this battle) was able to order units to momentarily seize a hill hex, which at least began to take a toll on the enemy forces. After sweeping out the remnants on the Caesarian center, the Pompeian right unit ran into a Darken the Sky, which destroyed a heavy unit outright and weakened another enough to blunt the inevitable attack. Caesar's left was able to counterattack successfully, winning by 2 banners (two Pompeian leaders were killed which was the difference)


Game 2: taliapharaoh (Pompeian) - 7 banners
Polonus100 (Caesarian) - 2 banners

Game two was more like one might expect, a slugfest between heavies. Caesar's right smashed into the left side of the Pompeian line, but enough flags were rolled to allow units to escape the carnage. Pompey countered with a double-time card, which eliminated four heavy infantry without even a battle-back allowed. Eventually with a 6-0 lead, the Pompeians made a disastrous decision to go for broke and play Spartacus, which failed and further backfired into a counter attack, which very nearly changed the entire outcome of the game. Fortunately, the dice were favoring the army of Pompey in this one, and the final banner was gained on a hilltop counterattack for the win.

scipio1zama - Pompeian - 7 banners
toganalper - Caesarian - 6 banners

This report from scipio1zama finally in from a game played back on June 11. I got off to a slow start by playing Leadership any section, but I didn’t take the hillock because I forgot the Julian Legions rule was in effect! (Dumb move #1.) After some preliminary maneuvers which saw Caesarian units approach the hillock, Pompey moved 3 HI and an MI on or near the hillock and launched an attack that eliminated an enemy HI. However, the next attack by Caesar’s forces removed 5 blocks, then he used a Double Time with just 2 units to eliminate Pompey’s HI, MI and Afranius! I moved more forces to the center, then he played Spartacus and was able to activate 5 units. His attacks eliminated one of my Aux and my MI on the board edge and took two blocks from my other MI on the board edge. Caesar was up 5-1 in banners.

However, this move also left him with an isolated HI & leader deep in Pompeian territory. I was able to bring 2 MI to bear with help from a leader. I got the HI, but the leader escaped.

His Line Command attack on my right cost him an Aux, then my ill-conceived Mounted Charge cost me an MI while doing minimal damage to his other Aux. (I see in the replay that I forgot to give myself an extra die roll both times I attacked with my MI – dumb move #2.) Now I’m down 6-3 – things are looking grim. But I used a Double Time and succeeded in taking out two of Caesar’s MI in the center section.

He played Heavy Troops and move 4 of them up, bringing 2 of them assisted by leaders to bear on my HI & leader. His first roll garnered 3 hits - and two retreat flags, which I thankfully used after his 2dlc failed. My Coordinated Attack allowed me to attack his isolated MI & leader with 2 HI (and a leader), and I fortunately eliminated the MI AND the leader for the win. Whew! Another near run thing against a gallant opponent.
In a few hours - the rematch...…..

Thanks to my opponent.
In both parties, the dice were against me. But if in the first I was able to break the game with the score 2-5 and winning 7-5.
then in the second when the score was 2-1 I lost one cavalry unit with one of their unit 4: medium infantry, 2 auxiliary and slingers.
I was never able to destroy this cavalry until the end of the game.
the score was 2-5, as in the first batch.
But there was a big problem.
I'm out of cards on this flank. I was standing there, 3 of my heavy infantry, but cards for travel was not.
As far as the first party was epic on positionality, so the second was transient on actions.It was monstrous, but fair.
Thanks for playing. Saw their mistakes, experience received.

First game
der_mandarin (Caesar): 7
Tomek (Pompey): 6

Hard battle with tons of casualties. The fighting took place around the hills and Caesarians were more determined to win.



Second game:
Tomek (Caesar): 7
der_mandarin (Pompey): 6

Another very contested and bloody battle. And another victory for Caesarian side with a double time advance on the Left that caught the camp guard by surprise. Caesar himself didn't bother to participate in the action which caused a lot of stress for his subordinates.

Game #1:
Pompeian (Leonardo Angelo) - 7
Cesarian (Stanislav27) - 5

An absolute thriller, which lasted two and a half hours! Leonardo managed a remarkable comeback, being 2-5 down and getting 5 straight Victory Banners to win 7-5. Hugely impressive and left me applauding my opponent.

The first phase of the battle saw both formations moving towards the hills. Leonardo was very good at using his light units to take and hold the hillock with one Auxilia unit distinguishing itself through remarkable resilience. My central efforts frustrated by Leonardo's excellent play, I sought my luck on the (my) right side of the hill, where a Double Time allowed me to make good use of my heavy-hitting infantry with leader support. However, in the centre, the disadvantage of lower elevation proved very costly. After regrouping for some turns, I managed to bring Caesar to the same location (right of centre) and he was absolutely devastating, destroying two full-strength units in one go.

This settled the first half of the battle in my favour. 5-2.

Now I tried to assemble an attack on my left with many flank cards but an outright drought of centre cards. Leonardo was also maneuvering patiently, being far from giving up. But he too was forced to cycle some useless cards.

At last, my push on the left materialized, but Leonardo struck back with extreme accuracy, halting my advance and claiming a number of victory banners. Momentum swung with his forces (even with some 1-block units who had been in danger but had now been withdrawn). His last advance on my centre-left was a masterpiece. He used a cavalry unit to force my light sling into a difficult dilemma: evade or not? I evaded and the slingers survived. But now, my depleted medium infantry lost their support, depriving them of a crucial ability to hold their ground and battle back. Afranius brushed them aside and then dispatched Fabius' weakened unit - and indeed Fabius himself.

It was a stunning comeback! I think it's worth checking out the game log!

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Game #2:
Pompeian (Stanislav27) - 7
Cesarian (Leonardo Angelo) - 2

A much faster and fiercer affair. The entire battle was fought and decided on Caesar's left flank. I attempted to bring my light units in a position to screen my main formation, while Leonardo brough Caesar closer to the action and started maneuvering on his left. I had a plan to make the most of my Mounted Charge before it was too late, but my plan of focusing on my right wing took some serious blows and morale dropped as Leonardo's troops confidently slew scores of blocs. However, the Mounted Charge was indeed quite powerful and through some sort of divine intervention, a 1-block cavalry unit survived multiple attacks and even an outright encirclement. The hot dice clearly lifted morale within the Pompeian camp who took some very serious risks but were rewarded by even hotter dice. Caesar was brought forward, but his unit was quickly defeated. The final Victory Banner was a one-die leader casualty check on Fabius who fell in a heroic last stand (again!).

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Thanks to Leonardo for two great battles and for being extremely flexible with his time here close to deadline. I'm very grateful for the great experience!

Game #2:
Pompeian (RiverWanderer) - 7
Cesarian (soul1st) - 6

Both sides advanced early, Caesar drawing his forces towards the Pompeian right flank and launching the first attacks , led by medium troops in the centre and right. Caesar himself led the centre attack from the front but Pompeian units proved resilient. Afranius coordinated a group in Double Time to launch attacks both on Caesar's weakened unit and the now exposed Cesarian right flank. When the dust settled, despite a First Strike trap set by Caesar, the banners were are 5:nil to the Pompeians and Caesar's right flank, along with its leader, was no more.

However, Caesar was not finished; ordering fresh, heavy troops against the now disorganised and weakened Pompeian front line. Afrianus fought on valiantly but could not withstand the might of Caesar as he pivoted right to re-inforce his attack; taking the banner score to 6:4 to the Pompeians. Meanwhile in the centre, one of Caesar's units had launched an independent attack on the hill and suffered a devastating battle-back from well-established defenders; the weakened Cesarian heavy infantry now faced a Clash of Shields from the same defenders and victory for the Pompeians seemed certain, there and then. But the gods looked favourably on those brazen warriors and they retreated with honour (and, more importantly, without losing their one remaining block).

The situation was now on a knife-edge, Caesar and Fabius each made lone attacks towards likely targets, easily taking the banner score to even at 6-all. Seeing that victory or defeat was at stake, Fabius was on a do-or-die mission and momentum-attacked against the one target that might yield the victory to Caesar: a heavy infantry unit led directly by Petreius. But, the gods did not approve this time and Fabius came off worse. Now, two Cesarian 1-block heavy units were within range of Pompeian forces and Petreius was at the ready to attack with a formation of 3 units in Double Time; the attack hit home to take the remaining block of Fabius' heavy unit, sealing a close battle with a somewhat Pyrrhic-looking victory for the Pompeians.



Thanks to Twan for a hard battle were early Pompeian good fortune was almost overcome by Caesar's fight-back.

Game 2
Baloo (Caesarian): 6
Mark McG (Pompeiian): 7

Nice opening hand of 2 Line Commands, Leader any Section, Order Medium and First Strike. Quickly deteriorated to 4 order centre cards (the right section I guess).
Pompeiians moved up onto the hill, and then pushed on the Right (where Caesar and the cavalry aren't). Things looked good until Petreius took a pilum through the chest and the Pompeiians were down the centre leader. Still the right went well, forcing Fabius to come back as restore (and the Auxilia made it to the camp even then).

Caesar had enough, and moved up the Heavies, and after raining pilums on the hill, tried to flank. Blood flowed, with Caesar losing 2 units under him, as did Afranius. Any dead leader would be critical, but wasn't to be. Caesar then struck for the hill as the final banner, when a better option might have been a unit kill. Afranius played his 3rd Line Command to reach the decision, and the unnamed leader on the Right proved his worth again and rolled up the line, with the final stroke from the pilum pin cushion on the hill.

Game 1

Player Nemo2333 (Pomp.): # 4 banners & 30 blocks lost

Player TTK (Cesar): # 7 banners & 21 blocks lost

Start. Pompey took the hills. Caesar approached the hills at the distance of the Pilum's throw. But to attack was left. Pompey's cavalry sacrifice himself, but time was gained, the heavy infantry threw Caesar and Fabius away from their camp.

In same time... On the hills there was a skirmish with javelins, broken units of both sides were taken to the rear. Then Caesar's cavalry broke through on the right, dispersed the detachments and broke into the Pompey's camp...

Caesar's Victory 7:4.

But Shavkat-the-Bukharians had no luck hand with orders (he got all 4 green troops order) and lucky Fabia and slingers with him to throw the dice against 2 units of heavy infantry.

game 2
Pompeian (alecrespi) - 5
Caesarian (Angoryan) - 7

Here is the log file of my first game with Brent.

game 1
Pompeian (Angoryan) - 7
Caesarian (alecrespi) - 4

Round 4: Ilerda

Game 1
BrentS (Pompeian) 7 - giu1l0 (Caesar) 5

This was a ripper. I can't remember all the details as it was a spilt game and I didn't run a log for the second part (did you save one Giulio?). The Pompeians occupied the hills early and Caesar skirted them on his left flank. The Pompeians sprung a Double Time to cut off Caesar's retreat path with two heavies, confident of forcing a leader escape and killing him....but he killed one full strength heavy with a single battle back, opening up a free escape path. After the Caesareans took the camps and whittled away the Pompeians with a Darken, the Pompeians Spartacused that flank, killing two units and then retiring to the centre. Play switched to the other flank where the Caesareans killed a medium infantry on a Mounted Charge, then were both killed themselves by a Pompeian Mounted Charge. The Pompeian left pushed forward to trap the depleted Caesarean mediums and take the final banner.

We misplayed and ruled the hills on the Caesarean right as impassable (my fault...lots of special rules and no sleep... hills, rivers, who can tell the difference?). We'll keep those hills impassable for the second game to keep it fair and even.

Game 2
BrentS (Caesar) 7 - giul10 (Pompeian) 6

Another great game although this one was a lot quicker and bloodier. The Pompeians occupied the hills early and Caesar steered clear. Things looked bad for him when his right flank leader was killed on a pot shot ranged attack Double Helmet.....but couldn't complain as there were a lot of one hit 4 block kills for Caesar and pals (this happens a lot with Caesar and Heavies). The key moment came on a Leadership play when Caesar and friends charged to their right, with cavalry cutting off retreat paths and killing four units on the one play. The Pompeians rallied strongly with their cavalry threatening and taking out a Heavy on the Ceasarean left and then knocking a unit out from under Caesar on the right to put the banners to 6 apiece. Caesar advanced and took the last banner in what was a very tight game. Caesar was in the thick of it and had three units killed from under him.....sure he was going to die on a leader check but he's the magic bullet and have to throw him in there to win it.

Thanks Giulio for a couple of very enjoyable, tightly contested games. Very well played.

Giulio has a complete log of the first game, which he will kindly post.

Brent.