MT04 Vikings

Round 6 - VIK08 Rochester 885

mk20336 (Saxons) 6 banners won, 18 blocks lost
Kandras78 (Vikings) 3 banners won, 27 blocks lost

Tense game with some crazy rolls (3 green on 3d in range combat against Light Unit). While outnumbered locally, Saxons managed to bring their reinforcements gradually and with precise and accurate range combat inflict enough loses to halt the Viking advance. Then the left Saxon wing attacked (successfully) while right was just holding enemy back. 6 cards was a really important factor, allowing for much more flexibility.

Thanks to Andras for playing against the odds!

 

Round #2

Tomek (Saxons) - 3 banners won, 23 blocks lost

Gonzo (Vikings) - 5 banners won, 18 blocks lost

Game starts with Saxon right moving quickly forward, but not as fast as the Vikings deployed to right middle. Viking right moves forward with 2W 2MI a HI with one leader. Other leader stays back with a W and the Aux on and around hills. Keep trying to refuse their left flank. Saxon range fire effective and follow up Saxon assault on Viking right kills a MI and W. Down 2-0 and worse in blocks. However, a Viking First Strike had damaged Alfred's MI and Foot onslot put berseker (W with Foot onslot and Battle bonus) killing Alfred's MI then another Aux by cutting him off. That flank turned into a Saxon nightmare, although Alfred able to run off field.
Viking cards were great, and a couple of critical rolls went their way. Glad finally got to play the game with Tomek, always a class opponent.

Semi Finalists are now posted.
Bit tricky actually, but time to move ahead.

Semi-Finals, Game 1
Scenario:  VIK06 Edington/Ethandun 878

mk20336 (Vikings) 7 banners won, 27 blocks lost
RiverWanderer (Saxons) 5 banners won, 28 blocks lost

Very close and tense game; two lines of troops, no terrain, pretty straightforward fight. Still, after some maneuvering, the action started in center / Viking right. Multiple Foot Onslaughts (via Cards, Inspired Actions, Mounted Charge special rule or Counter-Attack) resulted in pretty high attrition of both armies. It was already 5-1 for Saxons when Vikings started to catch up. First with Double Time to 5-4 for Saxons, and then bold attack to reach 6-5 for Vikings. 

In the end, the mutual attempts by both sides to finish the game resulted in Vikings final victory .

Thanks to Mark for flexibility in organizing the game as well as very enjoyable time playing CCM.

 
 

Semi-Finals, Game 2
Scenario:   VIK06 Edington/Ethandun 878

mk20336 (Saxons) 3 banners won, 7 blocks lost
RiverWanderer (Vikings) 1 banner won, 15 blocks lost

The result might be strange but Mark decided to concede at this moment in game. I am not surprised - Saxons with Rally managed to bring leader, played two times First Strike during critical moment and finally rallied all units in front in last play (5 blocks in one rally!). That was fun playing with Mark and we all wait for more fantastic Vassal modules from him!

Finally found time to get our Semi-Final matches played

Semi Final 1
Mark McG (Saxons) - 3 banners won, 28 blocks lost
gonzo (Vikings) - 7 banners won, 15 blocks lost

Saxon line approached and there was an exchange of missile fire. Saxons looking for a chance to use Fire & Close. Significant turning point was a Viking Rally which not only restored all the damage done, but generated an extra leader. From there a stream of Leadership cards saw the Vikings make numerous Foot Onslaughts with their warriors and leaders, killing Alfred on a double Leader check.
   

Semi Final 2
gonzo (Saxons) - 4 banners won, 28 blocks lost
Mark McG (Vikings) - 7 banners won, 24 blocks lost

Vikings started with 2 First Strike cards, so had to manoeuvre close with just 3 Command Cards. Managed it with few losses, and for a moment, the lines stood face to face, neither daring to attack. The Saxons had a Clash of Shields, and the cycle of violence started. Alfred's Heavy Infantry bodyguard were particularly useless, failing to score a hit, despite advancing into the Viking lines. Vikings retaliated to destroy them, Alfred got away, only to return with Medium infantry. This time Alfred was not so lucky, the Vikings closed around him and he fell with his men, the 7th banner.
 

congrats to Joe of a tight win 11-10

Finals, Game 1
Scenario:  VIK09 Farnham 892

mk20336 (Saxons) 6 banners won, 19 blocks lost
gonzo (Vikings) 4 banner won, 26 blocks lost

I admit - the scenario, map and forces set-up - and also special rule where to flee with Vikings - makes you dizzy. I think I made a mistake at least twice when playing the card due to this

In our case my cavalry quickly attacked but had to dismount - I was then more cautious not to end turn next to opponent. In the center my Auxilia started to approach but was quickly checked by furious counter-charge of Vikings, Fortunately, one cavalry came with aid, which helped to tip off the result in Saxons balance. Most of the game we played with zero inspired tokens as they were critically needed during the battle.

Thanks to Joe for this enjoyable game. We shall play second game in couple of weeks due to some of my obligations.

mk20336 wrote:

Finals, Game 1
Scenario:  VIK09 Farnham 892

I admit - the scenario, map and forces set-up - and also special rule where to flee with Vikings - makes you dizzy. I think I made a mistake at least twice when playing the card due to this

 

designing this, after 8 scenarios with pretty much 2 lines of foot opposing each other,it seemed to me time to have something different that would shake the situation up a little. A rare instance of cavalry on a Saxon battlefield being used to intercept the raiders seemed a good chance. Scenarios should have a uniqueness to them.

Also mindful of having the Vikings retreat towards their exit point, which seems like a common problem with Exit scenarios. Having the Vikings flee off the Saxon edge means they have to work for it, and let's the pursuing Saxons catch up from flag results.

Mark-McG wrote:

mk20336 wrote:

Finals, Game 1
Scenario:  VIK09 Farnham 892

I admit - the scenario, map and forces set-up - and also special rule where to flee with Vikings - makes you dizzy. I think I made a mistake at least twice when playing the card due to this


 

designing this, after 8 scenarios with pretty much 2 lines of foot opposing each other,it seemed to me time to have something different that would shake the situation up a little. A rare instance of cavalry on a Saxon battlefield being used to intercept the raiders seemed a good chance. Scenarios should have a uniqueness to them.

Also mindful of having the Vikings retreat towards their exit point, which seems like a common problem with Exit scenarios. Having the Vikings flee off the Saxon edge means they have to work for it, and let's the pursuing Saxons catch up from flag results.

Hi Mark,
I think this is completely ok and a good refreshment from the other scenarios. It just took me some time to adjust to this

Finals, Game 2
Scenario:   VIK09 Farnham 892

gonzo (Saxons) 6 banners won, 2 blocks lost
mk20336 (Vikings) 4 banner won, 23 blocks lost

What a crazy game it was! Playing as Vikings I decided on exit strategy - each of my troops could escape from baseline for 1 VP. Having three center cards plus and Move-Fire-Move plan started to work. I was hit by the mounted charge and couple of other great cards played by Joe and the race against time. I lost leader but did not give up and was maneuvering in center and right just to exit. The game and the result of this confrontation was decided in last roll where Joe rolled 4 hits against my lonely Aux which was about to exit.

When you look at results you see that we are even at VPs by Joe wins on small points (blocks as tie breaker). Congrats - what a tense, close and exciting two games it was!

And thanks to Mark for - as always - great organization of this MT!