Having played this scenario beforehand, two things became obvious:
As Pompey, get an attack going ASAP on the right flank where the ramparts are weak.
As Caesar, get him and the rear rank guys up into the fight ASAP, preferably on the left flank to bolster the incomplete ramparts and to prevent Pompey from exiting units.
This “idée fixe” almost cost me game 2.
So Gonzo and I had two very exciting and tense games. He won the first one as Caesar, 6-5, and it quite literally came down to the final die rolls. As Pompey, I moved up all my MI on the right flank with a Medium Troops card, then used a Double Time to move through the spaces between the ramparts and attack his two HI, killing one and reducing the other to one block. Then I started moving the two light units on that flank toward the Caesar side of the board to exit them for victory banners.
Meanwhile, Gonzo assembled his rear rank forces with Caesar and Anthony and charged toward Titus and my MI. A melee ensued, and he took out three of my MI and Titus, at a cost of an HI and an MI. His force was very well organized, and he got the maximum use out of Caesar. Also, although I did manage to exit my LB off the map for a banner, his force was well positioned to cut off the opportunity for my Auxilia to do the same
The score stood 4-4, but his position was far superior to mine, and I had to make a desperation attack. I managed to take out his (now 2-block) HI in the center, but I battled – in melee – against Caesar and his 1-block HI with my LB. I blew the roll, and his battle back vaporized my LB – 4 hits! Then he killed off one of my 1-block MI for the final banner and the win.
I won the second game as the Caesarians by the selfsame score of 6-5, but Pompey had a surprise in store for me. He started with a Line Command, moved everybody up and took a whole lot of pot shots at my units, but this resulted in just one hit. Then, as I used a combination of Inspired right leadership, center cards, and a Line Command to get my back-row units over to my left and center and get into the fight, he brought his two MI and one HI from his left flank (plus Pompey) forward to attack my light units in the ramparts. Using consecutive Out Flanked cards, Pompey/Gonzo kept attacking my lights in the ramparts while at the same time preparing his forces on his right to receive my attack. I was so focused on Caesar and trying to get my force into position to battle Titus and his MI that I neglected my right, and Pompey blew through my light units in the ramparts.
The speed with which the MI and HI can move in this game when the
Julian Legions rule is in effect can be surprising, and I waited too long to react. He took out my MC with a couple of retreat flags, and severely damaged a LB, LS and LI. Fortunately, I was finally in a position to attack Titus, and in the melee I eliminated three of his MI and his MC, at the cost of one each of my HI and MI. The score stood 4-3, and he opted to go for the best possible banner count by again attacking my light units on my right, using Pompey and an MI to take out both an LI and LB that were on the rearmost rank. My final attack with my HI killed another MI - and his Auxilia for the sixth banner. Fortunately for me, his card quality and his dice rolling had deteriorated toward the end, at one point taking 6 swings at Antony and a 2-block HI and missing all 6.
Fun games against a very skillful opponent.
When my line was about to break the desperate DT card turned the tides of battle - three MI and leader perished.
