Well, I'm sorry I didn't read this thread before we played the tiebreaker or Travis and I would certainly have invited those who asked to observe. Fortunately, I remembered this time to make a complete logfile, which is attached.
As noted in a previous post above, Travis and I tied - exactly - in our two games of Cefn Carnedd. They were both great games, obviously tight and we had great fun playing them. Travis is a truly worthy opponent. But we tied.
So Mark, following the tourney rules, had us play a one-game playoff. The game - Ipsus 301 BC, from Exp. #1 - Antigonus vs. the Seleucid alliance. The ancients.net website stats show the scenario to be evenly matched, he told us. On a die roll, Travis played the Seleucids and I played Antigonus.
The game started off with some sparring on both flanks, then unfolded historically with a cavalry charge by Antigonus' forces against the Seleucid left flank. In contrast to the historical result, however, the Antigonid cavalry did NOT over-pursue and Antigonus emerged with a win, 8 banners to 2.
For those who want more detail:
We sparred on the flanks a little, and I was able to get one ranged fire hit on each of his Heavy Chariots, while he got three hits on my LI on my left flank. I had held an Order Mounted Troops card from the beginning, but had nothing to back it up. Then I drew Mounted Charge.
I was tempted to try to set something up first, but I didn’t have the cards for it, so I decided to just take the initiative and attack on his left flank. For part one of the attack. I had to use the Mounted Charge card first to give my HCav the ability to move 3 hexes. With the help of the extra die, I was able to remove 2 blocks from his LC (his battle back removed one of my HC blocks) and two blocks from his LI, which evaded back to the board edge. (My 2 MC were just behind, waiting for part two of the attack.) I also attacked Seleucus and his Aux unit with my right flank elephant, and the elephant bounced off of Seleucus like he was made of rubber, with a 1-block loss to my pachyderm and no enemy damage for my troubles.
I was anticipating an unpleasant counter attack from the alliance – but I had, most fortunately, caught them without good response cards. Seleucus played a Medium Troops card to move one unit – Antiochus and his HC – to attack Demetrius and my HC. He missed, and I got 2 of his HC blocks in the battle back – neither leader was hurt.
Now came part two of the attack - I used the Mounted Troops card and my four cavalry units to eliminate, in order, his nearby 1-block Heavy Chariot, the LI, the LC, the HC unit AND with a lucky die roll, Antiochus. Three more turns of chewing on the now-exposed left flank of the Seleucid line (at a cost to Antigonus of 2 units) garnered three more banners for the win.
I was flabbergasted - and lucky. If his HC attack had succeeded, it would have been a whole different story.
Thanks, Travis, for 3 great games. I do hope we can play again soon.
Mark, I'll await your word.
