Round1

JawaNick (Othonian) #5
Kandras78 (Vitellian) #2

The battle began with heavy fighting on the Othonian left, with both sides disengaging after Paulinus was forced to flee. The action switched to the other flank where both sides formed up before engaging. Following a clash of shields, the Othonians smashed through the Vitellian line for victory. My thanks to Andras for two compelling battle, that played out very differently.

Game 1
EZPickins (Othonian) 0 banners
GomJabbar (Vitellian) 5 banners

Battle started with Othonian light troops inching their way forward to get into range. Vitellian pushed forward on the flanks, especially on their left flank. Vitellian definitely had the advantage in numbers on their left and it turned out great luck in cards and dice as well. The Othonian right flank was completely decimated. The Othonian leader Titianus then tried an assault in the center but a timely Vitellian First Strike forced then back. The Othonians regrouped near their baseline and, using a couple of Line Commands, advanced a formidable group in the center that included the Praetorian Guard and warriors. The Vitellian left then pivoted to take the Othonian center in a wraparound attack. Vitellius' Heavy Infantry unit slammed into the Othonian center's flank and took out a Medium and the Warrior unit (losing 4 blocks in 1 hit) for the win.

It just wasn't EZ's day unfortunately. His cards and especially dice were terrible whereas mine were very hot.
 
Game 2
GomJabbar (Othonian) 5 banners
EZPIckins (Vitellian) 3 banners

This time the Orthonians focused their attack on the left flank. Again the dice were very much in my favor. The Medium Cav met and the Vitellian Cav decided to exit the battlefield early. The action continued on the Othonian left with the Othonians having all the luck and getting 3 quick banners before the action shifted to the right. Here the Othonians were not as successful and got 1 banner in exchange for the 2 Medium Inf they lost. The action finished in the center with the Othonian Medium Cav staging a Mounted Charge on the lone Light Inf block on Vitellian's back line and getting 2 hits plus a retreat for the final banner and the match win.

It was painful to watch the dice gods rain favor on me and terror on EZPickins. There was one point about 1/2 way into the game when we realized that this was the first battleback EZ got to roll. All my other close combats either eliminated his unit or forced it to retreat. It was fun regardless and thank you to EZ for being a good sport.
 

Gonzo (Vitellian) 5 banners won

scipio (Othonian) 1 banners won

Othonian charge in the middle led Vitellians the to migrate to left and attack leaderless Othonian right flank and grind them down. Mike's center had almost chased me down. Thanks for good game.

Match 2

alecrespi (Vitellian) # 5 banners won
Viridovilas (Othonian) # 4 banners won

10 turns (quite fast) with some initial ranged combat.
Final clash in the central section with a bit of luck on the Vitellian side in killing Titianus. 

48 players registered this year

I have just updated the scores as I know them, meaning if you have played matches aand the scores aren't here.. I don't know of them.

If you haven't contacted your opponent and started to arrange matches, please do so ASAP.

If you are having trouble getting in contact with your opponent, please contact me.

Mark-McG wrote:

48 players registered this year

I have just updated the scores as I know them, meaning if you have played matches aand the scores aren't here.. I don't know of them.

If you haven't contacted your opponent and started to arrange matches, please do so ASAP.

If you are having trouble getting in contact with your opponent, please contact me.


 

Hi Mark.

I reported on my match already in this thread - post # 52263

Thank you John S

rjvonline vs gotigerssc

Home

rjvonline (Player 1) 3
gotigerssc (Player 2) 5

Two Double Times in the center brought victory to the Othonians (Player 2). I couldn't catch a break to bring my stronger left flank to contact. The Praetorians were instrumental, finishing the game on the enemy back row and straight-killing a full MC (even without rolling a flag).

Away

gotigerscc (Player 1) 0
rjvonline (Player 2) 5

Great battle-backs (1 full MI and 1 full MC killed, 1 HI taking 3 hits) exploiting a reasonably successful Double Time attack allowed me to crush the center and win without losing a unit despite taking quite a bit of losses from long-range. The last attack , against the weakened HI, was with a rather pitiful Spartacus roll that only activated a HI out of range and a LI. The LI moved against the weakened HI, with the HI's leader supporting it. 3 die rolls. 1 Leader face. Phew. The Prateorians never made it to contact, but the Warriors did.

So there you go, 2 victories for the Othonians, but my victory was a little luckier and better.

MATCH 1

    scrum4you Player 1 (Vitellian)  5
    Kartigan  Player 2 (Othonian)   4

    Othonian pushed the pace early with lights and ranged attack. Vitellian responded by advancing left flank and the players exchanged mostly ranged attacks somewhat effectively.  Both players formed their lines and engaged in melee on the left.  Vitellian got three banners in one turn with two 4-block attacks (lucky! 1/6 chance each!) together with taking out a weakened cavalry. Othonian played Double Time to bring the center of lines together, punched a hole in the Vitellian line and claimed his first banner. Vitellian counter-attacked with his left center and weakened Othonian units. Othonian counter-counter-attacked and claimed his second banner. Vitellian played Order Mounted, brought his widely-separated MC and Leader together in the center, and claimed another banner. At this point, Vitellian was ahead 4 (MC/M/H/M) to 2 (H/H). Othonian immediately claimed two banners on a weakened medium and a full-strengh heavy using his leaders very effectively. This tied the game 4-4, from a 3-0 start! But Vitellian used cavalry to chase down a weakened Medium to claim a 5-4 victory.

   

MATCH 2

    scrum4you Player 2 (Othonian)  5
    Kartigan  Player 1 (Vitellian)   3

    Vitellian pushed lights up early and began ranged attacks from the very first move. The opponents continues ranged and melee attacks for a few turns with zero hits. Both sides formed lines by turn 4. A Vitellian line command brought the lines 2 apart and the two sides continued trading ineffective attacks. Vitellian played Darken the Sky that yielded 31 dice thrown but continue the poor shooting. At this point, 67 total dice thrown had yielded 5 blocks lost and no actual retreats! An Ohonian line command brought most of the lines together. Attacks and battle backs finally started to connect. Two 4block rolls took the first banners of the game:  two Vitellian heavies and a Vitellian leader. Down 3-0, Vitellian went on the offensive on his left flank, advancing two heavies and an auxilia for melee. They quickly wiped out two weakened mediums and one full-strength heavy (with a 4block roll), bringing the score to 3-3 in dramatic fashion. A brave 1block heavy with leader took out two of those units. Othonian then played Clash of Shields which he had been hoarding. He quickly took out a weakened medium and the 1block heavy, ending the game at 5-3 in 7 turns.



Summary: two close games with scrum4you getting lucky rolls at key points.

Match 1
Tuscan Centurion (Simon) (Vitellian) 4 banners
Warwick (Othonian) 5 banners

Some skirmishing at start taking the odd block here and there. Then Vitellius advanced in the centre and took out the Othonian centre to be up 3-0.
Othonians then hit back on their right to make it 3-2 with some depleted units for both sides. A few moves later it was 4-3 as both sides moved around waiting for the right cards to deliver the final blow.
Came down to a sole 2 block Othonian Medium Infantry taking out 2 depleted Heavy Inf to win the game in 12 turns.

Match 2
Warrick (Vitellian) 3 banners
Tuscan Centurion (Simon) (Othonian) 5 banners

Similar start with skirmishing taking the odd block out. Both sides then managed to set up solid long lines in the middle of the board 2 hexes apart.
Vitellian got a Double time first and used it to good effect to smash the Othonian right and go 2-0. Ranged fire had units down to 2 blocks before the rest of the melees started but a lucky Rally by the Othonians got 2 of their units (1 Hvy & 1 Lgt) back to full strength.
An overzealous Othonian cavalry charge on the on the Vitellian right got them another banner (3-1) and the Othonian with a few 1 block units left on their right. (3-2)

Praetorians then hit Vitellius and his depleted heavies to clear the threat on the right while Titianus and the gladiators hit the Vitellian centre. (4-3).

In desperation the Vitellian cavalry used a mounted charge to try to slow down Titianus but were slaughtered to give the game to Otho (5-3)

OT24 Round 1  409 Bedriacum 

Game 1 

Brent S (Othonian) 5
SteveT (Vitellian ) 0 

Well, there was some dice hijinx causing this result. The Othonianas Julianed straight up the centre and the Vitellians responded to form a formidable line. Titanius had to withdraw but left the depleted Praetorian, down to 2 blocks, stranded in the centre. The Vitellians advanced a medium and heavy with leader against it…….it First Struck and then survived to battle back, killing them both with 4 hit rolls…then ran away and survived. Good Praetorians! Then the Othonian line advanced and scored 3 reds on the 3 ranged dice to kill a Viteliian Heavy and its leader on a leader check (I felt dirty). Finally pinned a bowman on the Vitellian right to end it. Ugly and nothing Steve could do about that result. 

Game 2 

SteveT (Othonian) 5
Vitellian (Vitellian) 4 

Much closer now that I couldn’t rig the dice. Vitellius Julianed in from his left flank to prevent attrition from the Othonian bowman then Spartacused to cut off that bowman’s evasion path and kill it. Titanius Double Timed in response but failed to eliminate Vitellius and suffered on battle back. Vitellius killed two more units and was 3-0 up but both his heavies were down to 1 block and both were eliminated. 3-2 and both lines Julianed together in the centre, which Otho got the better of. 4-4 and the Othonian cavalry made a desperate charge against the Vitellian cavalry and failed but survived the battle back and leader led counter (so close). Vitellius twice tried to kill Titanius’ 1 block Medium leading a Light Infantry in close combat (needs must) but failed and died on battle back.

Small margins and a much more engaging battle than the first. Thanks for some strongly played and enjoyable battles, Steve.

Brent.