OT2016 Round 4

Scenario: 304 Valentia (75 BC)

 
Deadline:...

OT2016 Round 4

Record results below in the form
Game 1
Player 1 (Side) # banners vs Player 2 (Side) # banners
short description
Game 2
Player 1 (Side) # banners vs Player 2 (Side) # banners
short description

Hi Mark,
It seems that I am missing from the tournament table.

Sorry. The pairings were missing a line..

Tomek - taliaphaoroah

Brent.

Game 1
EZPickins (Roman) 6 banners vs gcallari (Sertorian) 5 banners

The Romans keep on peppering the, well, other Romans with their slingers until the latter lose patience and, with the help of good cards, charge massively with mixed results, until they lose a leader and the whole center. All is not gone as the left wing of the Sertorians charges, too, sending the score to a disturbing 5-5, but the roman right wing holds and wins the day.

Game 2
gcallari (Roman) 6 banners vs EZPickins (Sertorian) 4 banners

The foolhardy Romans start the battle charging with a lone MC (poor equines), then advance en masse and wreck the Sertorian center, but at a high cost in casualties. At this point the Sertorians try to do their best, but are frustrated by a bad hand of cards and are slowly eroded by the relentless Romans. The left wing of the Sertorians has not been able to do a single move in the whole game.

After all, it seems Sertorius is not at too big a disadvantage. But he needs a bit of luck.

Game 1

BrentS (Sertorians) # banners vs Gonzo (Romans) # banners

Tight battle where Sertorians fought very well without leaders. Roman archer on little used right flank was dead eye shot and got last banner.

Game 2

BrentS (Romans) # banners vs Gonzo (Sertorians) # banners

Romans started with 2 line commands, looked grim for Sertorians, but leadership in center killed 3 of 4 legions with Pompey and hid 2-1 point units. Sertorian right then crushed, but M-F-M allowed all the light to escape and killed a unit with missiles on the way. Sertorian desperation Cav charge with 1 pt MC killed damaged Roman MC and leader for win. Suprising and sudden reverse of fortune. Fig loss relatively equal at 21-19.
Thanks to Brent for great match.

Oops, forgot score
Game 1 BrentS (Sertorians) 5 banners vs Gonzo (Romans) 6 banners

Game 2 Brent S (Romans) 2 banners vs Gonzo (Sertorians) 6 banners

A couple of clarifications on the Scenario Special Rule:

1. A leader is not technically a unit and the left flank Sertorian leader is deceptively pictured as a grey Roman in the Vassal module, BUT in the spirit of the of the special rule was pretty clearly that the leaders shouldn’t cross to each others' command. The special rule is supposed to simulate that the two Sertorian generals couldn’t agree on command…..so it makes no sense that their units won’t cooperate but they will.

2. Rally orders the units that have blocks returned to them, whether you do something with that order or not. The special rule says you can’t order units from both commands with a single card play……therefore you couldn’t rally them with a single Rally play.

3. Similarly, Spartacus cannot be used to order units from different Sertorian forces.

Game 1
MichalK (Romans) 6 banners vs Carthage (Sertorian) 1 banner

That game went pretty quickly. Started with skirmish of light troops, quickly changed to full scale assault of Roman Mi in the center. Despite reatreat, Perpenna moving to assitance and huge counterattack - Sertorian forces were no match for Romans this day...

Game 2
MichalK (Sertorian) 6 banners vs Carthage (Romans) 3 banners

Very interesting game. Light units skirmish lasted much longer then in first game. Sertorian archers and slingers were very effective (although some of their damage was nullified by Rally). One of decisive moments was battle inthe middle, where Pompey the Great decided to fall (instead of Egypt...) which definitely changed the game. We started kind of "dance of death" - Casper with one block MC, I with two one block AUX, not to mention some 2 and 3 blocks...
Eventually, bold moves by Sertorian forces gained needed last two banners and history was changed...

As I was disconnected during second game, log for that game is in two parts.

Game 1

Travis (Romans) 6 - Tomek (Sertorian) 0

Romans were able to close, despite furious and accurate Sertorian missile fire. The issue was decided on the Roman left, as three MI were able to reap the benefits of a Clash of Shields card and disrupt the Sertorian line.

Game 2

Tomek (Romans) 6 - Travis (Sertorian) 4

The Roman missile fire was steady and accurate, and forced the Sertorian left into a series of ill-advised manuevers. Fortunately for the Sertorians, they were able to pick off a few Roman units before meeting their inevitable defeat.

Interesting, I don't believe there were any casualties at all on the smaller side of the battle, as the fighting was decided on the Roman right both games.