OT2022 Round 5

Round 5 - Caralis C3i 13

Game 1 (already reported but results both here to make it easier for Mark to access)
BrentS (Carthaginian) 6
RiverWanderer (Roman) 8 

Game 2
BrentS (Roman) 8
RiverWanderer (Carthaginian) 4 

While there was some really interesting manoeuvreing across the battlefield, the story of this battle was on the Roman left. The Romans were able to get Auxilia into the centre/right forest border hex in the middle of the battlefield with good infantry and leader support and that pretty much secured that flank. Although there was ongoing missile fire and an elephant advance that area of the battlefield was essentially locked and the Carthaginian heavies and Warriors never featured. On the Roman left the Carthaginians advanced their lights with their Medium Cav in support and the Romans sprung a Mounted Charge and used a First Strike (first of two they used) to kill the Carthaginian Medium Cav, Hanno on a leader check and both Carthaginian light cav on follow up retreat path blocks. The Carthaginians responded strongly by getting Hasdrubal to that flank and dropping two Double Times and a Spartacus to kill both Roman Cav despite evasion. The Spartacus was actually their bane, however, because it recycled the First Strike. In a vicious close combat sequence between lights and Auxilia, the Romans First Struck to kill a depleted Carthaginian auxilia, then finished it off with a Clash of Shields and killed Hasdrubal when he retreated in range of momentum advance and fell to a helmet on 3 die Auxilia roll. 

Thanks Mark for a couple of very strongly fought and enjoyable games. Well played. Really enjoyed this scenario….nothing fancy, some important but not overburdening terrain, a good selection of units and plenty of scope for creative play through manoeuvre and positioning. Good choice, Mark M. First Strike was the decider in this second game and we had an interesting post-game discussion about its role in the deck and how to play with the knowledge that it’s there. Different philosophies  and approaches, which is one of the great qualities of this deceptively simple game.

Brent.

Game 2
Tomek (Carthage) - 8 banners
rjvonline (Rome) - 5 banners

One of these grand scale battles with a lot of manoeuvres and a lot of projectiles between the armies. Although Rome managed to crash through the centre and the left flank, the iberians on the right managed to wipe out their opponents for the final victory for Carthage. Some notable moment was the kamikaze attack of lonely light infantry on the elephants surrounded by enemies and the numdian raid behind the enemy lines. All in all good game with a worthy opponent.  

The battle for the first place in the league phase

Game 1
Cap (Carthage)    8
mk20336 (Rome) 7

The ball opened with projectile exchange in the centre but the action rapidly transferred to the open treeless flank, where mk20336 called forward his cavalry. It was clear that "Mounted charge" was coming to wipe out my horsemen, so I was forced to act desperately from the very beginning. Instead of hiding or trying to screen with infantry, I decided to strike first. This bold decision paid off. Series of charge and counter-charge led to the destruction of roman cavalry. This was just the beginning, as mk20336 sent forward his infantry on the same flank, to continue the push. The desperate struggle continued - him trying to break my right and roll my line, and me - fiercely counterattacking with whatever I had left. At some point I was forced to weaken my centre in order to salvage the situation on the flank. As the fight there was brought to a stand-still, I made a serious blunder on the other flank - attacking a roman auxilia in the trees with my warriors. I took all the possible damage (including a leader, killed on a leader check 2d) while inflicting almost none. This was the moment mk20336 was waiting for - he ordered an all-out attack, leading his whole line against me. But here came his blunder. He threw his heavily damaged units alongside his full-strength ones. For me it was now or never. I surged my centre against his and after the initial massacre (at score 7-6 for mk20336), a "Clash of shields" snatched the victory for me, killing one infantry and its leader.

Game 2
Cap (Rome)               8
mk20336 (Carthage) 6

My opponent decided to go turtling, forming two hubs around his leaders - one heavy and strong and one made of lights and cavalry, waiting for the right moment to counterattack. This allowed me to shine in my best - threatening marches to outmaneuver, preparing to concentrate force and defeat in detail. A "Double time" sent my medium infantry to attack his light turtle hub, which got bust-opened from the first turn of attack. Then an unexpectedly successful counterattack by carthage auxilias suddenly brought mk20336 back to the game and forced me to start a retreat. He then unleashed his heavies with "Double time", piercing my centre putting me in a desperate position. I just managed to seal the hole and he just tore my right flank apart from the rest of my army and started slowly eliminating it. I tried to reform my cut-off units, but this attempt was doomed from the beginning. After I survived luckily (due to his poor dice) the onslaught on my right, I decided to launch my cavalry in the centre, seeking the eight banner. A "mounted charge" did the miracle and closed the match.

Thanks to mk20336 and I am sure we will meet again in the finals.

Round 5 Game 1 Caralis
Steve T Carthage 8 banners, 30 blocks lost
Forrest/PC Scipio 42 Rome 7 banners, 44 blocks lost
Carthaginian lights rushed forward, occupying the woods and peppering the Roman troops with javelins and sling stones throughout the game, causing significant weakening to the Roman troops. A Carthaginian mounted charge caught Roman light infantry on their rear and destroyed, but the elephants did one block of damage against the legions and were defeated in the battle back and then Hanno and his medium cavalry were cut off and destroyed by the Roman cavalry (1-3).
The melee infantry gradually advanced towards each other. The Romans attacked first with a double time against the right of the Carthaginian line, destroying one unit of auxilia (1-4). Carthaginians replied with Darken The Sky, further weakening the Roman line, and then their Warriors charged into contact against the Roman auxila, getting the better of a hard fought melee (5-6). The battle shifted to the centre, with the Carthaginian heavy infantry double timing forward against the weakened Romans, gaining the upper hand in a hard fought melee (8-7).
Thanks to Forrest for a tense and hard fought battle!

 

Mad Doc (Carthanigian) 3 Banners

PaulKT (Rome) 8 Banners

Mad Doc (Rome) 8 Banners

PaulKT ( Carthanigian) 2 Banners
Both fights were very intense. But, luck turned away from Carthage in both parties. In the first battle, everything was decided on the flanks, and both Hanno and Hampsikora were killed. It didn’t even come to heavy African infantry and elephants. In the second battle, the left flank of the Romans literally demolished the right flank of the Carthaginians. The elephants perished ineptly, unable to inflict a single hit. Both my opponent and I maneuvered desperately, but Mars was clearly on the side of the Romans in both fights.

there seems to be entirely too many unplayed matches for a round due this weekend. 7 out of 20 unstarted or unreported.

Marco (Carthaginian) 8Travis (Roman) 7The battle began with Light maneuvering on the right, but the Romans quickly line advanced forward. Taking the woods, they then pushed forward a line of Lights on the right. The Carths also set up a center line of Lights, setting up their Slingers and Aux for fire on the advancing MI. The Romans continued their advance forward and to the right, while the Carths scrambled to defend and rain stones upon the advancing lines. The battle was briefly paused while the Roman Commander ran his daughter to school. One cup of tea for the Carths Commander and the action quickly resumed bringing his WARS into play. Banners were taken, but the WARS did little to stop the Roman advance. More banners were taken on the right by both sides, but the Romans were ahead and had the Carths up against the edge of the field. Surprise Cav action on the left accounted for more banners, and after a disastrous Carth MC counterattack suddenly the Romans were looking to take the battle with a wild Mounted Charge, using a one block MC and LDR attack on the left. The attack failed, but the score was 7-4, a one banner game for the Romans. They tried to pick off a Light on the right rear line, but the unit held with one block. Finally the Carth HI came into action, moving in two different directions in a last desperate banner hunt. Two Lights fell, but the lucky blow was the single die hit on the Roman LDR, giving the battle to the Carths 8-7. Thanks to Travis for a great battle. Cheers.

 

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