OT2025 Round 5

Match 1: 
TTC (Samnites) : 8
SkunkyBeer (Romans): 2 

Early Roman missile fire proved ineffective (when is it not in C&C Ancients?). The Samnites made the first big move by launching a brazen chariot attack at the Roman right, quickly destroying 2/3 of Decius Mus's cavalry wing. Decius's counterattack was ineffective, and the Gallic chariots surrounded and finished off him and his cavalry (gaining an early 4-0 lead for the Samnites). The dice gods did not look favorably upon the Romans during this early fighting. 

After the chariots retreated and regrouped, both sides closed on each other with their main infantry forces. After a Roman Line Command, a Samnite Counterattack allowed Samnite HI to make the first attack. Fabius Maximillus countered with his left cavalry wing, gaining the Roman's first banner, before Fabius too fell in combat (making it 7 banners to 1).   

The Romans gained one last banner before the Samnites clinched the victory. 

Match 2:  
TTC (Romans): 8
SkunkyBeer (Samnites): 4 

After the customary shuffling of lines and ranged fire, the Roman player made the first major move with cavalry attacks on both flanks. The Gallic chariot counterattack failed to prove decisive, and continued Roman pressure on the right wing destroyed the Samnite chariots, giving the Romans an early 3-1 lead. 

The action then moved to the Roman right. Samnite light units were unable to destroy the Roman cavalry, and the Romans managed to bring some of their medium and heavy infantry to the fight. As the Samnites got their main line into the battle, defeating the Roman heavy infantry on the Roman right - but it was too little, as the Romans - led by their left cavalry wing - snagged the last few banners and an 8-4 victory.

Kudos to my opponent who was a pleasure to play against and suffered a series of bad dice rolls with a wonderful sense of humor.

 

We'll fix that in the AAR. What? This is the AAR? Damn.

Open Tournament 2025 [Round Five - Game 1]
AC13 Sentinum (295 BC)
Samnites(january31) 6 vs  Romans(lunacab) 8 The Samnites began their attack from the left flank with light chariots, later supported by warriors. This initial assault proved effective, dealing significant damage and making the battle look bleak for the Romans. Despite the losses, the Roman army slowly reorganized and began to push back against the Samnites on their left flank. At one point, the battle stood at a 6-6 deadlock, with the outcome still uncertain.The Romans were gradually forcing the light infantry into retreat, and as the Samnites could no longer fall back, the Romans managed to destroy two enemy units, securing the victory. 

 
 

Open Tournament 2025 [Round Five - Game 3]
AC13 Sentinum (295 BC)
Samnites(lunacab) 8 vs  Romans(january31) 7 Although the Samnites suffered an early loss, they quickly recovered and seized the initiative, inflicting significant damage. The battle progressed slowly, with each unit carefully repositioned and few moments of intense carnage. During this slow-paced phase, the Romans were losing. However, just when it seemed like defeat was inevitable, the Romans took advantage of a poorly executed attack by the Samnites, destroying five enemy units in a single turn.At this point, the battle was largely determined by luck, and the Samnites appeared to have the better hand. It was yet another game that could have gone either way. 

 
 



Exciting roller coaster battles. 






 

Match 1
Taliapharaoh (Samnite/Gauls) 3 banners
Viridovilas (Roman) 8 banners

Match 2
Viridovilas (Samnite/Gauls) 5 banners
Taliapharaoh (Roman) 8 banners

A pair of fairly straightforward battles, where the Roman centre prevailed on the field against Gauls warbands unable to resist against the superior organization of legions. And in both cases the Leader of the Celts fell bravely in battle.

 

 

R5G1
Hank, Samnites: 8 banners, 18 blocks lost
Steve, Romans: 6 banners, 16 blocks lost
Hank’s Samnite infantry advanced rapidly on his left and first defeated the Roman cavalry and then rolled up the Roman right flank infantry, with Decius falling with his men. The Gaulish chariots were not even needed to help in the massacre. Fortunately fighting shifted from this flank, the fighting on the Roman left and centre was about even, but the Samnites were too far ahead, winning 8-6.

R5G2
Steve, Samnites: 8 banners, 23 blocks lost
Hank, Romans: 4 banners, 33 blocks lost
This time the fighting was essentially entirely on the Samnite left/Roman right, with first the chariots and then the infantry (and especially the warriors) getting the better of the Roman cavalry and infantry, helped by the Gaulish dice gods. Poor Decius died again.Thanks to Hank for two tough games!

  

Round 5
Game 1
Samnites (Polonus100) 6 banners
Romans (Dan) 8 banners
 


Game-2

Samnites (Dan) 2 banners
Romans (Polonus100) 8 banners
 
 

Game 1:

Samnites/Gauls (ZOCCHI) 8 banners
Romans (gdnuke) 3 banners

Matteo gave me a lesson in careful play, using his leaders to excellent effect. They always seemed to be contributing to the many units he kept close to them, but he did not risk them in foolish over-exposed attacks. I did with mine! The Roman leader on the right fell pretty early in the game and really dropped the Roman punch against the chariots on that flank. A well-earned win for the barbarians!

 

Game 2:

Samnites/Gauls (gdnuke) 8 banners
Romans (ZOCCHI) 1 banner

This was a weak tournament for me, but I went out strong. Matteo showed me in our first game how to use those leaders in a careful and effective way, and I seem to have learned my lesson from a better player. He played a good game this time, too, but I had good cards (a Rally when my Chariots were almost gone that brought 2 surviving units back to full strength) and rolled good dice as well. I was more careful with my leaders and was able to chase the Roman leader on their right flank from unit to unit before getting lucky and killing him on a 1d leader check. The battle was won on the flanks against the Roman cavalry and light troops, but the last flag was earned against a Medium infantry on the right flank of a still very tough looking mass of Roman infantry in the center. Matteo was a fun opponent, and our games were fast and enjoyable, win or lose. 

 

 

Round 5

game 1
Samnites/Gauls (Alister) 8 banners
Romans (kwofford) 4 banners

game 2
Samnites/Gauls (kwofford) 8 banners
Romans (Alister) 5 banners

  

Round 5

Game 1
mk20336 (Romans ) 8 banners
bigfriendben (Samnites/Gauls) 7 banners

Long game, with many ups and downs (later mainly for me in early and mid game). At some point in time my Roman left almost disintegrated; on the right I had to face immortal Chariots (15 dice without hit on them). However the gradual build-up of points and attrition of the enemy resulted in final victory.



Game 2
mk20336 (Samnites/Gauls) 8 banners
bigfriendben (Romans) 6 banners

Completely different game. We quickly closed in center and then suddenly wings started to play. Chariots were again immortal, my center killed almost to a unit but what saved me were two Double Times in the last turns of the game. Big thanks to my opponent for two enjoyable games and flexibility in scheduling them.


 

Deadline is coming up. Please get your matches played and reported.