MT07 Byzantine–Sassanian War (602-628) 

Thanks for posting my R3 Ganzak report Mark.
Log file attached

Round 1, BYZ07 Ambush at Archesh (1 March 625 AD)

mk20336 (Sassanid) - 6 banners won, 24 blocks lost
gdnuke (Byzantine) - 4 banners won, 6 blocks lost

What a crazy game it was; George started very well, with outflank, pushing at full speed towards my baseline. The losses were inevitable and I believe 13 Sassanid blocks were killed in first Turn! I slowly and steadily moved my slow units back, some of them sacrificing until leader and AUX escaped (3 VPs!) at which moment I though - that is max I can do. Luckily, the Cavalry was away and Roman infantry approached; so my two units sallied from nearby camp. That was risky but paid off as I managed to get the last VP! Thanks to George for fun game!

 

Is the tourney open? I would like to join

the rounds are just about finished and the semi finals are about to start. So too late this time round. Sorry.

But if you’re interested the Napoleonic tournament is now open for signup

That tie-breaker in Sassanid group... sorry Mark!

mk20336 wrote:

That tie-breaker in Sassanid group... sorry Mark!

I blame Stephen and his double leader win at Antioch. But for that 1 in 36 fluke I'd have cleaned him up next turn to win 8-7.

Round 1  Battle of Antioch
gotigerssc (Sassanids) 4 banners
gonzo (Byzantines) 8 banners
Started with many rounds of ineffectual range fire.  Sassanid Cav on right, close and flank looking like it will kill many units only for dice to grow frigid.  Byz counter charge crushed them and rolls up flank into center for win.

Game 1 of our SF match is done and game 2 is to be played on Tuesday 28th. 

Semi-Finals
BYZ09 Battle of Nineveh (12 December 627AD)

GAME 1
mk20336 (Byzantine) 7 banners won, 23 blocks lost
John of York (Sassanid) 5 banners won, 31 blocks lost


GAME 2
mk20336 (Sassanid) 7 banners won, 25 blocks lost
John of York (Byzantine) 6 banners won, 29 blocks lost


We played two very exciting and close games with John. One needs to remember that due to heavy rain the range fire is limited here to 2 hexes which really impacts mechanics - namely, most of the fight is in melee. Romans have superb quality, Sassanid more scattered units - still, they can also put up the fight. In initial play, we were going very closely, up to 5-5 when last-chance desperate Roman charge scored two points and victory for me.
Second game was even crazier. Unlike first, where action started almost immediately, here before first blood was drawn, a series of redeployments commenced, with both sides getting rid of useless cards. And then the whole Hell broke lose... We had some crazy rolls (like my Ambush which changed tempo of battle or successful leader escapes). In the end, both sides could win, battleground was scattered with fallen soldiers and scattered groups of survivors. And then in last push, Sassanid prevailed.

Thanks to John for two very great game!