MT06 Crusades

1st Ramla

Crusader polonus100 - 6 banners 16 blocks lost
Fatimid Andreas - 4 banners 30 banners lost

 

Fun, fast game. I had only had two 'word' cards (First Strike and a very late game Leader card) so I was unable to move more than two units for most of the game. However, the Crusaders are sufficiently lethal that John couldn't bide his time, so he took some risks, pushing his advantage at the tipping point. Well played!

Round 1  108 1st Ramla - 7 September 1101
Hussar (Saracen)  2 banners won, 30 blocks lost
Gonzo (Crusader) 6 banners won, 15 blocks lost

Dueling Mounted Charges favored the Crusaders   

Division 3 (Interglobal) 

Round 4
David I   (Crusaders) - 5 banners (28 blocks lost)
Lunacab (Saracen).   - 7 banners (26 blocks lost)

The Crusaders began the battle with a massive ranged attack from a distance, completely eliminating an entire enemy unit and setting the tone for the engagement. In response, the Fatimid army, realizing there was no point in waiting for a second wave of arrows, launched an attack on their left flank. Their initial assault had some partial success, but the Crusaders quickly countered with an inspired and well-led response. The momentum was balanced, as the Crusader counterattack was halted by a timely Fatimid ambush.The Fatimids then set their sights on the Relic. Despite being targeted by three superior units, the unit guarding the Relic—seemingly divinely inspired—held its ground and inflicted significant damage. A second wave followed, this one far more massive and involving the entire Fatimid left flank. It caused further damage to the Crusaders, including the death of Baldwin.At this point, the battle was finely balanced. Reinforcements arrived from the Crusaders’ right flank to stabilize the situation. A courageous cavalry unit, bolstered by the presence of the Relic, launched a counteroffensive against what remained of the Fatimid left. However, divine favor seemed to falter—this brave unit was ultimately crushed by light cavalry. Despite this, the Relic was not captured by the Fatimids. The battle concluded when the Fatimid forces encircled a remaining Crusader cavalry unit, which fought valiantly to the very last against overwhelming odds.The entire confrontation unfolded primarily on the Crusaders’ right flank. In the end, luck played a key role in determining the outcome. A very exciting and evenly matched game, as reflected by the almost equal number of blocks lost. Thanks to David I for a fantastic game and for clarifying many of the rules! 

 

 

Round 3 (Interglobal) - Harran 1104

Kandras (Seljuks)        Banners   1   Blocks Lost 21
David I   (Crusaders)   Banners   6   Blocks Lost  9

Baldwin beat a retreat back towards the river with a command left. Joscelin, now isolated in the centre, was surrounded by a "Command Center", somehow managing to retreat or destroy two medium cav and aborting the heavy cav's inspired attack with a first strike. "Forward' then allowed Joscelin & Baldwin to isolate a light cav. The desired flag didn't materialise with Baldwin's attack until the Turkish BB & a crossbow bolt was needed to dispatch the horse archers. 2-0. Joscelin & the evading neighbouring light cav, traded hits. "Rally" garnered only two blocks for Andras and his heavies failed to score a hit on Joscelin's 1-block knights. Inspired bravery allowed Joscelin's knights to stand and BB but mercifully for the Turks they drew no blood. "Leaders" is a strong card but less so if you forget to roll the extra die which I did. Luck was my lady anyway when a 1 in 36 leader loss forced the half strength Seljuk heavies to miss their BB. "Coordinated Advance" finally unhorsed Joscelin (3-1) who scurried back to the river. The successful heavy cav. pressed their attack on Baldwin in the river but were thoroughly mauled (4-1). Little more need be said other than that the game continued in a similar vein. Nothing went right for the Turks in the whole battle. A very strong hand allowed me to keep "Leadership any section"  until the very end for an inspired mounted charge out of the river on the left flank to fell the last medium cav. 

Thanks to Andras for equanimity in the face of improbable misfortune, and a dissertation on late mediaeval warhorses (not included in the logfile unfortunately) 




 

Round 3 - Harran 1104

Barbarossa (Selcuk Turks)      1  Banners won :  Blocks Lost 21
toganalper  (Crusaders)    6 Banners won :   Blocks Lost  14

All the war finished before the Bohemond and Tancred can come. The Selcuks had good cards with poor dice rolls. 

The Medieval module has now been refreshed and is available on the new VASSAL Module Library.
vassalengine.org/library/projects/Commands_&_Colors:_Medieval

not so sure why this has had to happen, some VASSAL thing, but we try and do the right thing. 
The old module clearly still works, but I think has some dated code they (VASSAL moderators) are trying to purge.

Round 5, Tel Danith
Javelinthrower, Seljuk Turks, 4 banners taken, 30 blocks lost
Stephen T, Crusaders, 8 banners taken, 20 blocks lost
We played this game in two sessions. In the first, my Crusader infantry advanced with cavalry support, defeating the Seljuk infantry, taking the three closest camps, and partly advancing to the hills behind (0-4). The second session was even. After an exchange of an infantry unit each (1-5), my cavalry advanced on the right, repulsed a Seljuk mounted charge, and then with a leadership card Baldwin and two Knight Cav charged forward, cutting off the evade path of Seljuk lights while an infantry unit occupied the last camp. Two banners were taken (1-7), but the Seljuk reply surrounded these impetuous Franks, destroyed both of the units, and killed one ldr, with Baldwin being the only survivor to flee through the enemy ranks back to the Crusaders (4-. The Crusader crossbowmen in the camp used the last inspired action to ignore a flag and happily looted the camp at the start of the next turn for the last banner (4-.
Thanks to Ivan for a great game, and for repeatedly reminding me when I kept forgetting leader checks. I had excellent cards that enabled me to keep attacking against the weakened starting position of the Turks, making all the difference.
 

Round 5 - Tel Danith 1115

Hussar04/Rick (Seljuk Turks) -   Banners won:  1   Blocks Lost: 34
JR  (Crusaders) -                          Banners won: 8   Blocks Lost:  8

  Into the Hornet Nest

Yikes, this one is pretty tough on the Turks, as the record shows so far.  I had decent cards and white hot dice, which tipped it even more in my favor.  I failed to hit on a single attack all game, going up 7-0 before Rick finally killed a Knight unit.  I overran two of the camps but focused on killing Turks rather than taking the rest of the camps.  I had some good fortune in that Rick was not only missing on his dice, but also giving me well timed flags, allowing my Knights to retreat out of trouble when they were in over their heads.  Rick had a nice late-game move, plunging into danger but with First Strike in his pocket, but that was about the only highlight for the Turks.  The 'good' news was Retreat & Panic never came into effect, as Rick's troops opted to simply die instead.  Definitely a scenario that needs to be flipped around and played twice.

Good to finally play Rick - we've been moving in similar circles but this was our first match.  Looking forward to more.

JR

 

North Axeman has withdrawn from Division 3, so treat that set of matches as a BYE. Still considering how to score those, and I'll be considering firstly how the results in the other Divisions are distributing.

The first set of Semi-Finals (US) are up now, with 1 match outstanding, but can't effect the outcome. Crusaders have scored big in Rounds 4 & 5.