scipio1zama (Vandal / Goths) 2 Banners won, 28 blocks lost
John of York (Byzantines) 5 Banners won, 24 Blocks lost
The early game: I wanted to get my two light cavalry that had no evade option out of the way of a possible attack from the Vanadal Med Cavalry. This decision was a good one as within a few turns, Mike played mounted charge on my light cavalry which were able to avoid the brunt of those attacks. I shifted my LBC cavalry into my center in order to conduct ranged fire. I got a few hits on the Vandal HC but soon the Vandal MC pressed into the center. I then moved my LBC into my right and also got my HC units forward a bit. I finally got into a position whereby my SHBC and HBC could charge the Vandal left. I managed to eliminate an Auxilia inf and the HC but not before the HC used FIRST STRIKE to bag a SHBC. A Vandal FOOT ONSLAUGHT caught one of my LBC which could not evade and halved another LBC and the game was tied at 2 to 2. Mike then sent two MC to go after my two LC on my left. A key flag was rolled on my SHBC on my right which forced it back and thus my planned charge on an Aux Inf in my next turn went by the boards. I shifted my LC form my left into the center and the Vandal Med cav attacked them their. Evade was the order of the day and I did just that. I then sent a HC into the center to try and slow donw the Vandal Med Cav and managed to get two hits on one of them. A Vandal CRY HAVOC orders 4 units (1 only to move) but only the LB battle but miss my center HC. But a DARKEN the SKY a turn later makes up for it as 3 hits and scored on my HC. My forces are in sad shape as 6 out of my 7 units are wounded. I use ORDER HEAVY TROOPS and my center 1 block HC engages a MC which plays FIRST STRIKE but whiffs. My 4d attack also whiffs. On my right my SHBC takes out a 2 block Aux Infantry and flags another to its own baseline. Then the hammer falls as ORDER MED CAV is played and 4 units move to attack. One attacks one of my LC at three blocks on my baseline but only gets two hits. Three MC line up to attack my 2 block SHBC on my right. I use the FIRST STRIKE I started the game with on the first unit to attack and get 2 hits and flag it back. The next attack rolls two flags but I use my last token to ignore one of them to stay within striking range. It is a gable as the MC can follow up and attack my SHBC again but this time a BB would have leader support so Mike does no risk it. I then do my "Hail Mary" as my position is near meltdown. I advance my SHBC and two LBC. One of those gets a flag on the MC w/ leader but that unit stays in place. A choice which Mike will shortly regret. My last SHBC then makes a epic charge (read - oh boy what lucky rolls) as it takes out a 3 block Med Inf and a 4 block Med Cav to hand me the very unexpected win.
Truth be told, Mike had me dead to rights and square in his sights. I think he played a masteful game and chewed my units up with great skill. In the end I still had seven units but combined they only had 12 blocks between them. I thought I would have been lucky to get a 4th medal let alone prevail in this very tense contest which ran for nearly 3 hours.
On a side note I totally forgot to use the Parthian Shot from my LBC when they evaded. I guess they wanted to save ammo for the next battle - lol.
Last edit: 5 years 1 month ago by John of York. Reason: corrections made
Round 5
Zamba Bone (Ostrogoths) – 6 Banners – 18 Blocks Lost
Azzy (Byzantine) – 4 Banners – 30 Blocks Lost
Ostrogoths pushed forward with Line Command and Mounted Charge with mediocre results and considerable casualties after Byzantine infantry surrounded the attackers. Totila ordered Heavy Troops to send the remaining HCs into the fray with few hits. A Byzantine Foot Onslaught cut another HC off. While trying to collect routed troops, the Byzantine landed some great hits, killing another HC. But then the Byzantine ran out of luck and could not kill the last HC, which was able to finish off the routed troops at the edge of the battlefield.
