OT2024 Semi-Finals

C&C Ancients Open 2024
Semi-Finals
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OT2024 Semi-Finals

Hi Marco,
Can you email me so we can organise battle!
stephenthompson679@gmail.com
thanks
SteveT

Match 1

John S (Albinus) 8 banners won, 20 blocks lost

BrentS (Severus) 5 banners won, 36 blocks lost

The opening battle was on my left and the opening clash favored Brent, and he forged a 4 to 1 lead. I lost 2 MC on battle backs, one of which was ill advised. This cost me a leader as my HI was cutoff. Things then settled down on the flank for most of the rest of the game. There was a lull in the battle as both sides regrouped and ranged fire was the order of the day with little effect. I then used my DOUBLE TIME to hit Severus’s center.
I did well, taking out a MI with a 4d attack and killing off the HI and leaving Lupus alone on the baseline as he evaded away from the carnage and got 3 hits on a MI. But its battle back got 2 hits on my HI and a turn later would kill off the weakened HI. But the key part of the battle occurred in the center where Brent could not really respond and in the next few turns finished off the 1 block MI and the Praetorian Guard and kill Severus to take a 6 to 5 lead. A turn later I made a play for the game and killed off a 2 block LI that evaded from a 5d attack but missed a 1 block MC with 2d. Brent then played MOUNTED CHARGE and cutoff my HI with Albinus and moved in to attack a MI in the center with Rufus. But two attacks with 9 dice only got 2 hits and my second battle back with 5d killed off the HC. After trailing 1 to 4 early in the game and with only a few AI to hold the banner camps, I was fortunate to win this one for sure. Well played by Brent.

 


Match 2

BrentS (Albinus) 7 banners won, 33 blocks lost

JohnS (Severus) 8 banners won, 30 blocks lost

I felt pretty good going into this game with a 3 banner and 16 block lead. Reaching 6 banners gives me the match or if I maintain a close block count, all I need if 5 banners. I hope to attack from my right but is depends on the cards I start with. Well, after the deal, I did not get what I wanted and much less. With three CENTER 2s, a LEFT 3, and nothing for my right. I must go with the cards I am dealt which in the first three turns orders my lights (MOVE-FIRE MOVE and back-to-back LIGHT TROOPs). This produced limited success. Brent presses on my left and my HI takes out his HI. But a MOUNTED CHARGE takes out my wounded Hi and gets 2 hits on a LC on my right. Both flanks are in a bit of trouble. I use COUNTER, but only one MC and my HC on my right can attack as the rest of my cavalry is out of position to do so. We trade MC kills on my right and I reduce another MC to 1 block. This sets me up for my next turn where I hope to wipe out the one block MC and do more damage against Brent’s left and perhaps press on to the camps there. But Brent plays RALLY and recovers three medium blocks along with a light. He kills off a weak AI on my left. I still attack his newly strengthened left. I take out an AI there but lost a WI and worse whiffed with my HC on the 1 block AI so had to use my MC to finish off that unit. I feel I must attack the MC with my MC but whiff while the BB gets 2 hits on my MC. Where are those retreat banners when you really need them? Brent plays I AM SPARATCUS but only gets two orders. But it is enough to kill off my weak MC on my right and a 3d ranged attack rolls 2 banners (that is when the banners show up) on an unsupported MC on my left and kills it. That was on me as I left that unit in that a position where only 1 banner would kill it. Now I trail 3 to 5 and gaining 2 at least 2 banners seems to be a mile away while those camp banners might as well be on the moon. Brent then continues his advance on my left. I really have no answer for this, and just hope my DARKEN THE SKY can maybe gain me a banner but only gets 1 hit. Brent then plays his second MOUNTED CHARGE, and this will probably finish me. He only needs 2 kills, and he attacks my units in poor positions on my left and also hits my right. His LC do their job and take out a cutoff LB on my left. But a 4d attack on my unsupported HC misses – whew! What could have very well been an 8 to 3 win and match for Brent is luckily avoided. My BB kills off the MC. On my right, his MC attacks my HC with 4 dice but only gets 1 hit while my BB gets 2 hits and kills the leader. One very unlucky roll by Brent and one very lucky roll for me has bailed me out. With the current block count, it would be very difficult for Brent to prevail. Brent goes for the win with his LC’s 3d attack on my HC but again only gets one hit. I cutoff a LC on my right and secure the match win with its elimination. Within a few turns, I eliminate a unit on my left and I get another fortuitous roll with a 2d ranged fire kill on a MI in the center to end things. I was on the very edge of a cliff about to be cast down and a few key rolls went my way. Kudos for Brent for his excellent play as he took full advantage of the situation. His advances and attacks put me in a bind and kept me there for the entire game. That is what great players do.

 

Whew!

Semi Final: 412 Lugdunum

Note: For clarity, Left and Right refer to the sides of the battlefield, not the commanders point of view.

Game 1
Marco (Albinus) 8 banners, 27 blocks lost
stephent (Severus) 4 banners, 34 blocks lost

The battle began with both commanders maneuvering Lights to cover heavier units and rain arrows at each other, but Severus then Mounted Charged all five units of his cavalry up the Right, looking to destroy the MC’s there. Unfortunately, the dice gods rejected Severus’ offerings, and when the dust had cleared he lost all three MC’s, while Albinus lost an MC and an AUX. Severus then reformed with a Line Command, bringing his infantry into good formation spread evenly across the battlefield. Albinus troops were scattered on the Right, and in broken formation in the Center and Left. A Darken the Sky by Severus netted some blocks, but Albinus responded with his own Line Command, instead pulling his infantry towards the center. Both sides traded missile fire, with neither willing to close for combat. Finally, Severus attacked with MI and HI directly in the center, destroying two MI there but taking heavy damage. The score was now 4-3 Severus, but Albinus had command in the Center and returned the attack, eliminating two MI, an HI, and Severus himself! A rare four banner turn took the score to 7-4 Albinus. Severus attacked in the Center again, but took heavy damage and failed to take a banner. The Albinus LDR Rufus advanced on his HI and finished the Praetorians for the game. Surprise rapid ending to an otherwise evenly matched game.

Game 2

Marco (Severus) 8 banners, 17 blocks lost
stephent (Albinus) 4 banners, 22 blocks lost

As before, both commanders began by maneuvering Lights for missile fire. Albinus then organized units on the Left, directly across from Severus’, looking to push there. With so many troops within arrow range, and with favor of the dice gods, after several turns there were numerous degraded units in Albinus’s front lines. He subsequently withdrew some heavily damaged Lights, and advanced with his MI and HI in the Center. Severus responded with a Line Command, moving forward with his own MI and HI. Albinus came back with another Line Command, and engaged in the center with his supporting MI and HI. Once again the dice were fickle, and though neither side lost units, both took heavy damage. Severus took advantage of the previous turn’s damage and finished off three units in the Center. Albinus came back with Inspired Leadership on the Left, taking two banners. Severus played a timely Order Heavy Troops, moving his own HI, together with the Praetorian Guard and an HC, to the Left, taking two more banners there. The score was now 5-2 Severus, and though the match was over the commanders elected to continue. During the subsequent attack in the Center, the gods did not favor Severus and his full strength WARS disappeared on a home run battle back. Though the luck had changed, the score was now 6-3 Severus and it was too late for Albinus to recoup. Though he took another banner, a Mounted Charge brought Severus’s MC and HC up on the Right, while the two MC’s in the rear attacked to the Center. Both attacks took units and ended the battle.

I want to thank stephent for not only his excellent play, but his gracious good sportsmanship in allowing me to move two units of an Outflanked command, which I had ordered but forgotten to move, after I had already attacked on the other flank. My hat is off to you, sir. You are a gentleman, and I look forward to meeting you on the field of battle again. Marc DePaul