OT2026 Round 4

Game 1

Stephent (Carthaginian) 3 Banners

JawaNick (Roman) 6 Banners

The Roman's opened with a cavalry charge on the left, ultimately clearing out the Carthaginian right flank. On the opposite flank, the elephants piled in, but were ultimately brought down with tolerable Roman casualties.

Game 2

JawaNick (Carthaginian) 4 Banners

Stephent (Roman) 6 Banners

The Roman's opened by launching volleys at the elephants, who proceeded to rampage, causing panic amongst the Carthaginian lines. The elephants were withdrawn from action and the fearless warriors were sent to take the barricades. Albeit successful, they were swiftly repelled by the Roman legions. A decisive clash in the centre saw the Romans take the victory.

Thanks to Stephen for two well fought games. Could not have been any closer.

 

Game 1 
rjvonline (Cart) 6
vs JohnS (Rome) 4

The Romans had no right flank card to start (and never got one) so used a Line Command to pepper the Elephants, getting 1 red, but no flag, from 6 dice. Carthaginians used DT to bring their warriors around the Elephants, prompting 2 lights to evade, each with 1 hit. Romans used another LC to shoot at the EL, with no success, while the warriors kept pushing them back. A center card allowed one of the LI that had evaded to move forward, challenge the 1-block elephant in CC and score the first banner of the game (they could perhaps have saved their bacon, but the target was juicy enough to likely sacrifice them...). Then, in 2 turns, the Carthaginians cleaned up all 3 Roman lights while making an early move towards the Roman center with their Hasdrubal-led HI and a W unit. The Romans used a blue card to move their 2 MCs (only) on the left flank in an attempt to distract the Carthaginians; it half-worked, the score there settling at 1 MC loss on each side. The Romans pushed further towards the center, apparently thinking their HI and W sufficient to deal with the Auxilia anchoring the Roman flank and perhaps more. The Romans countered with a double-time charge that was effective against the warriors (whose attack had been blunted by a first strike), but failed miserably against the HI. The Hasdrubal-led HI proceeded to play Clash of Shields on the Metellus-led HI, but left it with 1 block. CoS was CA'ed, and Hasdrubal fell along with his unit (the turn of the game no doubt), making the score 5-4 in favor of the Romans, but with their having a 1-block AX and a 1-block HI dangerously exposed. Elephants charged the AX uphill (hoping to sweep them and then move against the HI), but failed the first step, allowing the AX to battle-back and score a double hit that won the day. We both thought the Carthaginians were going to win this one relatively easy given the Romans' inability to get their lights out of the right flank, but it was not meant to be...

Return game on Thursday.

 

Game 1
alecrespi (Carthaginian) 6 Banners
GomJabbar (Roman) 4 Banners

The Romans immediately eliminated an elephant with the "Darken the Sky" card (it could have been much worse for the Carthaginians), then the two sides fought on that front until the end of the game, without any significant losses (C 0-1 R).
The Carthaginians advanced in the central area, and the Romans made contact (C 0-2 R).
With a "Double Time," the Carthaginians penetrated the enemy lines, inflicting some losses (C 3-2 R).
The Romans counterattacked with their cavalry (C 3-4 R).
Hasdrubal, who had advanced deep into the center, rushed into the fray with another unit to try to take advantage of the unsupported Roman cavalry and a badly damaged MI unit. The check leaders did the rest (C 6-4 R).

 


Game 2
GomJabbar (Carthaginian) 6 Banners
alecrespi (Roman) 5 Banners

After some initial skirmishing, the Carthaginians advance with a Mounted Charge, both elephants and cavalry, on the opposite flank (C 1-0 R).
The Romans barely manage to hold off, and the elephants continue their attack (C 2-1 R).
On the opposite flank, the Romans attempt to engage the cavalry (C 3-2 R).
The Carthaginian cavalry attempts another assault, but it ends badly (C 3-3 R).
While the elephants infiltrate the enemy ranks, the Carthaginians advance en masse in the central area and gain another two points (C 5-3 R).
A few more maneuvers and a few more rampages by the elephants, but nothing comes of it.
The Carthaginians attempt an assault to close the game, but Hasdrubal loses the attempt (C 5-5 R).
Fortunately, the elephant manages to put a full-strength unit to flight and eliminate the last, already damaged unit (C 6-5 R).
The match was tense until the very end.

 

You can find all the videos in the tournament playlist.
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfAJ-jit4...v5lnoKFWMukP27WDyOMx  

rjvonline wrote:

Game 1 
rjvonline (Cart) 6
vs JohnS (Rome) 4

The Romans had no right flank card to start (and never got one) so used a Line Command to pepper the Elephants, getting 1 red, but no flag, from 6 dice. Carthaginians used DT to bring their warriors around the Elephants, prompting 2 lights to evade, each with 1 hit. Romans used another LC to shoot at the EL, with no success, while the warriors kept pushing them back. A center card allowed one of the LI that had evaded to move forward, challenge the 1-block elephant in CC and score the first banner of the game (they could perhaps have saved their bacon, but the target was juicy enough to likely sacrifice them...). Then, in 2 turns, the Carthaginians cleaned up all 3 Roman lights while making an early move towards the Roman center with their Hasdrubal-led HI and a W unit. The Romans used a blue card to move their 2 MCs (only) on the left flank in an attempt to distract the Carthaginians; it half-worked, the score there settling at 1 MC loss on each side. The Romans pushed further towards the center, apparently thinking their HI and W sufficient to deal with the Auxilia anchoring the Roman flank and perhaps more. The Romans countered with a double-time charge that was effective against the warriors (whose attack had been blunted by a first strike), but failed miserably against the HI. The Hasdrubal-led HI proceeded to play Clash of Shields on the Metellus-led HI, but left it with 1 block. CoS was CA'ed, and Hasdrubal fell along with his unit (the turn of the game no doubt), making the score 5-4 in favor of the Romans, but with their having a 1-block AX and a 1-block HI dangerously exposed. Elephants charged the AX uphill (hoping to sweep them and then move against the HI), but failed the first step, allowing the AX to battle-back and score a double hit that won the day. We both thought the Carthaginians were going to win this one relatively easy given the Romans' inability to get their lights out of the right flank, but it was not meant to be...

Return game on Thursday.


 

NOTE: In GAME 1 the score is correct, but the sides are wrong so Game 1 should read

GAME 1:

rjvonline (Roman) 6
John S (Cart) 4

Game 2:

John S (Roman) 6
rjvonline (Cart)  4

My opening missile fire volley got on hit on the center elephant and a banner also reduced the two LI behind that beastie to 1 block each. A great start for the Romans. A few turns later, one elephant halves a MI but the elephant falls, and I lead 1 to 0. The score is evened when a lone WI takes out a 2-block LB on my baseline. A quick cavalry battle plays out on my left as I use MOUNTED CHARGE and I take out one LC and the MC there but lose a MC and my other MC is reduced to 1 block. Renaud uses I AM SPARTACUS to good effect as kills off my 1 block MC on my left and halves an MI in the center with his WI. It is now a 3 to 3 score and I play COUNTERATTACK but can only order 2 units but at least I finish off the pesky WI in the center. But other than a DOUBLE TIME, my remaining cards do not hold much promise, and the Roman camp would lament that a few times along with all the blue rolls taking out my blue units - lol. Ranged fire takes out a 1 block MI in the center and once again the game is tied. After several turns, I am able to kill off a second elephant which had been attacking my lights on the hills. Renaud then starts to close with my main line in the center where I have a 2-block MI. But he makes a key mistake of moving a LS where it can be cutoff in the event of me playing a DOUBLE TIME which I had and played with four units all with leader support able to attack the poor slinger. Only two 4d attacks are needed, and the game comes to a close. Renaud admitted afterwards he had and should have played his own DOUBLE TIME. His WI could have closed with my 2-block MI and had a good chance to secure his 5th banner and a chance for the win. Interestingly in Game 1 on my last turn, I made a key error of not taking a 1d shot at a 1 block HI before my elephants attacked a 1 block AI on the hills. So, we both made late game errors and that is the way it goes sometimes.        

 



 

Game 1
kwofford (Carthaginian) 3 Banners
gdnuke (Roman) 6 Banners

Elephants were the first 3 units destroyed but except for the first one, they did not go down to the initial ambush. No retreats and no rampages scored hits against any but a Roman LB on the rampart. The Romans felt confident but a couple Line Commands had the Carthaginian center force bearing down on the more scattered Romans. The Romans looked to get the first big attacks in with Inspired Left Leadership, but when the attacks fell a block short against a Warrior unit, a beautifully played Clash of Shields scored two late banners for Carthage. On the next Roman move, they sealed the win by killing off the Warrior.

 


Game 2
gdnuke (Carthaginian) 4 Banners
kwofford (Roman) 6 Banners

Once again the elephants survived the initial ambush without getting severely hit or hurting the units around them. In this game they were crucial to the Carthaginian effort as they traded their lives for some banners of their own. They got involved in some close combats against some powerful Roman units and rolled lots of swords. One got lucky and had many swords rolled against it. Eventually, all 3 elephant units were killed but they did real damage. That is the only reason the Carthaginians were able to get 4 banners in the rematch.  As always, better cards and dice tell the story if the players don't make any big mistakes, and my dice at least were better today. Two very enjoyable games against a very skilled and patient (my mouse stopped working between games and I am awful with the touchpad mouse) opponent. Thanks for two fun games, Ken!

 


 

Game 1

taliapharaoh (Carthage) 5
asterisk1 (Roman) 6

Carthaginians couldn't hold a three banner lead, and ultimately my opponent was able to isolate and destroy the elephants, and then get just enough ranged hits on the final W unit to claim the victory. Well done by Cam, nice job reacting to my movements and making me pay for my mistakes.

Game 2

taliapharaoh (Roman) 6
asterisk1 (Carthage)  3

The elephants again were the focal point of the battle, and again my elephant rolls failed me.  Fortunately, my battle back rolls were terrific and allowed me to gain an advantage when Cam pressed his attacks. The Roman cavalry in the end got the rolls and gained the victory.

Round 4.

Match 1

scipio1zama, Carthaginians. 3 banners
Craterus, Romans. 6 banners

The battle started with the carthaginian elephants falling back intelligently, in orther to avoid the bow infantry attacks. Just one of them was knocked down after those initial skirmishes. Then began a simultaneous approach of both armies, which culminated in a centerfield very bloody battle, where everybody lost it's best units. After a few movements to rest and regroup, the Carthaginians launched the one cavalry attack that could have given them the trioumph, but the luck was not on their side that day.

Match 2

Crterus, Carthaginians. 6 banners
scipio1zama, Rome. 5 banners

After an horrific initial elephant attack to the archers entrenched, in which all of them were killed, the Carthaginian managed to take control on the center space. Thereafter, both armies fighted hard to conquer the hills, and these exchanged hands several times. Romans lost a leader too soon, and that helped Carthaginians to make their 6th banner, which could have fallen on the other side very easily.

Thanks Mike for these two enjoying games!

 

 

Open Tournament 2026 [Round Four - Game 1]
C3i03 Panormus (250 BC)
FoxK (Roman) 6 vs Kandras78 (Carthaginian) 2

After a spectacularly successful Roman ambush, Carthaginians struggled to form up for a proper attack. Romans punished every positioning error with no remorse. Mars and Fortuna granted all their favors upon the legions this time.


Open Tournament 2026 [Round Four - Game 2]
C3i03 Panormus (250 BC)
Kandras78 (Roman) 6 vs FoxK (Carthaginian) 1

Roman ambush dispatched a single elephant. Carthaginians were occupied chasing off the Roman Right fighting a desperate delaying action. The slow and purposeful legionnaires were able to march into an advantageous position in the rest of the field, throwing their enemy off balance. Roman Cavalry delivered the final blow.


Thanks for FoxK for the two excellent games.

Deadline is approaching.. please get your matches played and reported by 30 June.

ROUND 4 Panoramus

 Game 1
 BrentS (Rome) 6
 Azzy (Carthage) 4

 Game 2

BrentS (Carthage) 6
Azzy (Rome) 4

A rematch of last year’s final.

 Game 1

Obvious opening play for Rome here and they drew no cards for it….no Right or Light orders….and Carthage were immediately able to use a MFM to get Lights in front of the Elephants to protect them. Not a good start. Rome occupied the hills instead and then pressed on their left with a Mounted Charge, taking out the Carthaginian Medium Cav and pushing their lights to their baseline and luring Hasdrubal to that flank, away from his centre. In the centre Rome advanced and bullied some pinned lights but Hasdrubal returned with some good use of leader mobility and pushed Rome back. Carthage fought back well here, killing a nameless Roman leader with a double helmet to go from 4 banners down to get 4 quick banners themselves, but Rome finished it on their left by surrounding and killing a light cav. A good result for Carthage from where they were mid game.

Game 2

This was a surprise comeback game. Carthage opened with a ranged attack against the crazy elephant placement. One wounded elephant pushed against an Auxilia in the hills but unsurprisingly died there as Rome Line Commanded in. For the rest of the game Carthage never quite had the orders to consistently keep Lights protecting the Elephants or get them to safety and they were just a typical liability. Rome advanced right across all sections, applying pressure and strangling Carthage, eliminating a poorly positioned and exposed Light Cav on the Carthaginian right and forcing them to abandon that flank completely. At 4 banners down and with very few options Carthage looked doomed. Rome sprang an attack against bunched and pinned lights and cav on Carthage’s centre right….and it didn’t quite come off. Carthage responded with an attack that trapped the Roman cav, eliminating them and killing their leader on a 1 die check. Game on. The mobility of Hasdrubal on Warriors finished a pair of depleted and isolated Roman Auxilia to finish it with a 6 banner turn around.

These were tense, fun games against a very good player. Azzy pressured me masterfully in the second game and I was staring down a 6-0 defeat. I know he felt he sprung his attack too early. Maybe with hindsight but you have to pull the trigger some time and he had me down waiting for the coup de grace and with a couple of banners to take there was no reason it wouldn’t have worked. Just bad luck on the day.

Brent.