VASSAL Mini-Tournament (MT1)

Lazic War (549 AD) Phasis River

Round 2

Togan Alper (Sassanid) 4 banners won:32 blocks lost
RiverWanderer (Byzantine) 6 banners won:24 blocks lost

Byzantines opened with an attack on the Sassanid right flank, anxious to avoid a potential hail of missiles from the light units concentrated there. As the Sassanids retired in more or less good order, the focus switched to the centre, where Sassanid reinforcements were gathering.

What followed was a bloody slog, largely focussed on the central hills, made more tense as "First Strike" and "Ambush" cards emerged. Leaders were confined a supporting role, due to the almost total absence of leader-related cards, "leadership" tokens being ebbed away gradually on battlefield actions. The Byzantines started to pull ahead.

At the battle's height, a charge of Sassanid Light Cavalry against a weakened Byzantine centre came near to rescuing Sassanid fortunes. Byzantine Auxiliaries held on just long enough for reinforcements from the flanks to encircle the extended Sassanid cavalry and, after a to-and-fro of tense, indecisive melees, the final blow came as a Byzantine battle-back hit home against a "do or die" Sassanid cavalry attack.

Thanks to Togan for a good game.

(log file needed some fixing as Byz SHBC unit got corrupted in an undo sequence).

I warmly suggest all the players update the module to version 1.2.1. The previous version numbered 1.2, had an outdated "Leaders" card. The text of the card in version 1.2.1 is consistent with the published game. Everything else is identical across the two versions.

There is also a new version numbered 1.3, which contains several improvements and is described here . But remember: it is important that you check in advance that you are playing with the same version of the module, or issues will almost surely arise during the game.

so I recommend everyone swap to V1.3, since it has some very useful features
- automates the expenditure of the Inspired Action token when using the Inspired Action or Battlefield Action buttons
- gives a +/- control fro the Inspired Actions
- cuts down the useless reporting
-adds a shaded Command Card rack.. so a visual reminder if one is short!

Round 6
Solachon Kadranians Stand

Togan Alper Sassanid 5 banners won 18 blocks lost
Travis Byz. 4 Banners won 22 blocks lost

All the action took on the Byzantians left flank. The Sassanid army decided to attack quite early and pushed the Byz. left flank to the corner. The last part of the battle was very nervebreaking due to the bravery of the Byz. light horses.

Round 5 018 Solachon (586 AD) Main Battle

g1ul10 (Sassanid) 6 Banners, 27 blocks lost
GonzoJoe (Byzantine) 3 Banners, 33 blocks lost.

Due to my peculiar initial hand, 4 Leaderships cards out of 5, I was forced to take the initiative from the very beginning. My attack was supported also by a couple of first strike cards that I drew quite early (even if they did not turn out particularly effective). I amassed more cavalry than I could on the Byzantine right flank and I launched it in repeated Mounted Charges accompanied by arrows salvoes. The final result could have been more even and Joe fought competently, but dice were definitely on my side in this match.

We used version 1.3 of the VASSAL module.

Mark, I think one game of Round 5 has been reported with a final result of 6-7. I guess it was a 5-6.

I replayed the log, and it was gottoman (Byz) 6 vs EZpickens (Sas) 5

Round 5: 018 Solachon (586 AD) Main Battle

toganalper (Sassanid): 2 banners, 24 blocks lost
stormwalker (Byzantine): 6 banners, 16 blocks lost

The cards (First Strike and Ambush played together plus three Leadership cards) and the dice favored the Byzantine army and as a result the battle ended rather quickly.

Many thanks to Samim for playing!

Round 5: 018 Solachon (586 AD) Main Battle

Viridovilas (Sassanid): 1 banners, 20 blocks lost
mk20336 (Byzantine): 7 banners, 9 blocks lost

Such a brutal game for Max - most of game he lacked right section cards to move towards the city; I took gamble in my first move with leader and two AUX and got two gates. Then gradually moved SHBC to center. A moment of respite for Max was his DTS, but then the MC ensued which really wreak havoc. One SHBC was killed but timely played ambush set the score.

So far, except one shameful game (that cursed Petra Mountain passes) things look good for Byzantines.

Round 4: Onoguris

EZ Pickins (Sass) 4 banners won, 21 blocks lost (+1 gate lost...)
Travis (Byz) 7 banners won, 25 blocks lost


Game started very well for the Persians, who rushed the Byzantine left and scored a 3-1 early edge in banners. However, just enough Byzantine units were able to survive the initial onslaught to stave off the assault, take down a gate, and eliminate the units trapped inside Onoguris including the leader. A very lucky outcome for the Byzantines for sure.