OT2019 Round 4

Thank you!

Gileforn wrote: What will be after the 5th Round? Semifinal or Quarters?

Tournament Rules
www.commandsandcolors.net/napoleonics/ar...ournament-rules.html

so Quarter Finals (8 players) , with elimination rounds down to FINAL.

Quarters.

What will be after the 5th Round? Semifinal or Quarters?

tyler wrote: Anyway, it was a spanking from the beginning to the end. These tournaments should have a way to handle the scoring if one player resigns -- Playing this out for 2-1/2 hours was painful.

there is a way, you simply resign the game, and the opponent scores the match. So if for instance you resign at 7-4, the match score is 10-4.
I don't suggest this option, since matches can reverse quite dramatically, but it is easily implemented.

When every banner counts, I recommend you drive on..

Maloyaroslavets (24 October 1812)

Tyler (French) 4
Kfan (Russians) 10

Never in the history of CCN have so many cavalry dice been rolled against infantry targets - ARRGH!

David handed me my head in this game. He had the cards, he had the dice, it was ugly. French units were getting vaporized all over the field. All the action was in the center but I couldn't get any center cards to reply. I got a bayonet charge but he replied with a counter-attack.

Anyway, it was a spanking from the beginning to the end. These tournaments should have a way to handle the scoring if one player resigns -- Playing this out for 2-1/2 hours was painful.

Hopefully the logfile is okay, i forgot to start it until after he had drawn his first few command cards.

Maloyaroslavets (24 October 1812)

First game
Viridovilas (Russian) 6
Kandras78 (French) 10

Second game
Viridovilas (French) 10
Kandras78 (Russian) 5

It was a tough battle. The heroic resistance of the French infantries on the right wing hills proved to be decisive (a few lucky rolls steadily reduced the three Russian cavalries that couldn’t exploit their superiority). On the other side the French lines proved too strong for the undersized Russian counterpart. All in all, a draw with 1.5 each would have been fairer. But rolls decided this time in my favour…

215 Maloyaroslavets (24 October 1812) [OT2019 - Round Four - 2nd game]

RiverWanderer (Russians) 10
Bangla (French) 3

The Russians open with "Forward" along lines appearing to mirror Tony (Bangla)'s successful tactics in the first game. It is soon apparent that Tony will take a different approach to defending against cavalry attacks, only going into square when the situation is especially unfavourable. Even so, LeGrand is unlucky and fails his leader check; the first banner to the Russians. Despite this early encouragement, the Russians are, for now, at a stand-still on the French Right and a reduced French Light Cavalry unit takes cover in woods, eventually reaching the relative safety of the centre as a single block.

Meanwhile, the focus shifts to the centre; a series of volleys are exchanged as the French strengthen their defensive line and the Russians try to wear down defenders in the town. Notably, Cossacks mask their comrades from the worst but, when this screen is finally dispersed, the Russians decide to take their chances and Force March against the town. This move tacks away from the stronger French flank and sees the Russians in three town hexes at one point. However, a rash combat against Artillery goes predictably badly and at this point it is evens on 3 banners each.

It is now the French turn to play "Forward" and a new attack starts to form against the Russian Right whilst French units consolidate for defence in the other sections. The Russians would like to respond in all sections and, fortunately for them, Counter-Attack is at hand.

A questionable advance and attack from the Russian Right starts badly, as a Russian Line is lucky to retreat with one block left after scoring no hits against infantry. Against expectations, the next combat sequence rescues the situation with remarkable luck; first a Foot Artillery and then, a second leader banner falls to Russian Light Cavalry. In the centre, Russians from the town sweep away two French infantry units and a third is put into square. The second Russian Cuirassier unit is brought forward to join a leader in woods, threatening the now weakened French centre.

With the Russians one banner from victory, the French re-occupy the church to bring the Russians back to 7 banners and a full strength line unit pushes the Russian Light Cavalry back on the French Left, threatening to take one or two banners in this area on the next turn. But it is too late, the Russians have attacks with good odds in the centre. Grenadiers destroy the French infantry square, though Gerard escapes. Finally, the newly arrived Cuirassiers destroy a weak French artillery unit to breakthrough and take the final banner from the Light Cavalry that had sought shelter a town hex in the first part of the game.

A more dynamic game than yesterday's, thanks to Tony's greater nerve in the face of cavalry. The margin of the Russian win was underpinned by a run of good luck through much of the game; notably, a rash combat that went much better that it should have done, denting a potential French riposte, just at the moment when the rest of the Russian field was poised to sprint for the finish. Without the two or three lucky banners, a win would have been uncertain in the face of a solid French defence protecting the objective banners.



Again, we followed Mark McG's advice and had no issues with the VASSAL module during play. Also, no delayed transmission of play - reinforcing my suspicion that this problem is down to my own ISP connection, as I was in a different location for this game.

Will do. David and I tried to play round 2 last Sunday but Vassal made such a gigantic mess -- deleting 8 command cards from our hands -- that we just gave up in frustration and rescheduled our match for next Sunday.

It was probably lucky for me that Vassal made such a mess because David had the cards and the rolls and was starting to hand me my head in the first hour. So while he had all the in-game luck apparently I had the meta-game luck.

Tyler

5 days to deadline.. please get the remaining matches played!

215 Maloyaroslavets (24 October 1812) [OT2019 - Round Four - 1st game]

Bangla (Russians) 10 (7+3)
River_Wanderer (French) 3

After the Russians chased the LT out of the village, the French started brightly by reducing the Russian LT and LC on the right to 1-block each. Those units escaped to thebaseline though, and the advancing cuirassiers soon forced three French infantry units into square. Two of them would remain so for the rest of the game, thereby reducing the French ability to conduct operations anywhere on the board. We discussed this tactic midgame, and agreed that it's very gamey. A local problem forcing command problems across the board.

After that, it became a game of patience for the Russian, slowly reducing the French in the village hexes, eliminating them, and then forcing the remainder back. The French did cause problems on their left flank, with the two HC's riding out to inflict several local problems, forcing one unit into square, eliminating the Cossacks and an LC as well. A Grande Manoeuvre allowed the Russian FA's and Grenadiers to push right through the centre. The French countered the same, moving their vulnerable units away and threatening with the OG in an advanced position on the left centre. But the Russians moved away their vulnerable units as well, and began to threaten the units still held in square on the French right. With the village and the church in Russian hands, only one more banner was required and it came when one of the squares finally broke.

I reckon, once he was down to 2 cards, Mark had very few options and needed some lucky dice to help retrieve the situation. He did try to force the cuirassiers away from the squares multiple times, without much success. And his HC attacks could have been more potent on the other flank had the dice been kinder. In the end, it must have felt like a slow death. The square rules surely need revision.

The game was played in excellent spirits however; me reminding him to take a TC, him reminding me I had the church as my 9th banner. The way gaming should be...........

Also no issues with the VASSAL module, except for delayed transmission of Command Card play.

215 Maloyaroslavets (24 October 1812) [OT2019-Round Four - 1st game]
Allies(Viridovilas) 6 vs French(Kandras78) 10 (8+2)

Tense and long game in which the the tactically superior Russians seemed to grind the French slowly but inevitably. Finally Luck favoured the Old Guard to be able to turn the Russian Right Flank.

Max will be able to provide the logs.

Maloyaroslavets - Game 2
Greg Ottoman (Gottoman) Russians – 10 banners
Mike Stanley (scipio1zama) French – 7 banners

This was a tough fight that raged across all three sections. The Russians pushed hard for the center an assualt right and two BCs and took the town majority, but tangled with the Old Guard who stopped the Russians and turned the tide in the center. THe Russians won the right flank with cavalry helped by an infantry unit and both sides were tied 8 to 8. The battle shifted to the left flank where it went to 9 to 9 and for the longest time, neither could get that last banner. Finally a ranged shot on a lone block French Infantry in the town ended the battle.

I was 4-0 up in kills, with 3 French units in square, and 1 was actively trying to die, using Giulio's commands.
I still cannot fathom how I lost this.

But I never had decent Centre cards. I got 1 Forced March, and went. I had Counterattack, so figured I could repartee in the next move.

Game 2

g1ul10 French 10
Mark-McG Allies 8

Another tense game decided by the last rolls. Mark could have won both with a bit more luck. It sounds unfair I get 3 tournament points and he gets zero from this round. Anyway, usual start: Russian put pressure on the French left flank and then attack with cuirassiers on the right. With masterful use of his cavalry, Mark forces me in a very bad situation. My three best cards locked in squares, and my right flank almost annihilated. But the Russian lack the card to exploit the achieved advantage and, turn after turn, with the progressive elimination of the units in square, the French army recovers its mobility, even if still behind in VPs. Then the French heavy cavalry enters the scene. Supported by a couple of line infantry in good orders, they wreak havoc on the Russian lines. Having obtained some decent offensive cards, Mark tries a forced march on the village. It's slaughter on both sides and the Russian assault succeeds in dislodging part of the French. But with several weakened units on the battlefield and my heavy cavalry still operational, two subsequent "forward" cards give me six VPs and the victory.

Also this time, no issues with the VASSAL module.

Maloyaroslavets - Game 1
Mike Stanley (scipio1zama) Russians – 10 banners
Greg Ottoman (Gottoman) French – 7 banners

Initial fighting on the Russian left saw a lucky roll eliminate the French leader Legrand, followed immediately by the LN he was stacked with. The French riposted with a Grande Manouevre on their left, moving 3 LN, the OG and leaders Compans and Pino up next to Russian leader Olsufiev and his troops, which initiated a major battle. The Russian counter featured a combined arms attack that eliminated Pino’s LN unit and forced Pino back to the Church. A French attack damaged and retreated 2 Russian units, but the Russian Leaders reacted and a 2-for-2 infantry roll eliminated the previously damaged French Old Guard. Fighting continued on this flank as Olsufiev’s LN and Compans LN were destroyed, followed by Compans himself.

A French Recon in Force and a Russian Forward card saw fighting erupt in other sections of the battlefield, costing the French a FA unit. At this point the French were down 7 banners to 3 (2 of which were for holding the town.)

Each side lost a 1-block LC on the right, while Pino and his LT in the woods on the left resisted many Russian attacks.

Fighting now shifted mostly to the Center. Delzons and French LN attacked Lichatschev and Russian LN and eliminated both. A Russian Assault Center set up two Combined Arms attacks. One eliminated a 4-block French LN and forced Delzons back to the Church, while the other killed 3 of 4 LT blocks and forced it out of the town, which the Russian Grenadier advanced into. A Russian LN destroyed a Russian LT on the left.
Finally, a Russian Cavalry Charge eliminated the 1-block French LT in the Center for the 10th banner.
I had good rolls and I always had a good card to play, but what initially looked like a rout wound up pretty close in a fast-playing 10-banner game.

Game 1

g1ul10 Allies 10
Mark-McG French 9

As the final score suggests, the game was long and tense. Playing against Mark is always challenging. You can't count on him making mistakes. The mother Russia roll is bad, with three swords, and my initial hand has the wrong cards for the strategy I had in mind. But as they say, you play the cards you are dealt with, and so I do. I start attacking the French left flank. That's the wrong flank, but at least I start putting some pressure on the French and force some squares. Mark reacted swiftly with the Old Guard and in a couple of turns, I'm 0 VP to 4. The action then moves to the center. I play aggressively, but dice are not on my side. Mark plays a devastating first strike and a gorgeous rally that completely restores a 1 block French arty unit. I manage to dislodge the French from part of the village but the French lead 5-2. French artillery seems invulnerable to Russian cavalry charge while despite having three squares on the map Mark has the card to activate the French heavy cavalry. 7-3 for the French. At this point, I play a la grand maneuver card and this changes the tempo of the game. I move my threatened units in safe places and conquer the majority of the village. Some effective sniping, a good assault and the elimination of a French cornered leader in the center, and the game is tied 8-8. A French heavy cavalry unit attacks the Russian artillery but fails spectacularly and is eliminated the next turn. I'm 9-8 but the French grand battery eliminates one of my units from the village and I lose two medals. 8-9 for the French. After a couple of turns, I have the cards to attack a squared French line on the left, eliminating the unit and luckily killing the attached leader. Game over.

I'm happy to report that this time we had no issues with the module.

This was a great introduction for me, as Tyler is a wonderful ambassador for this game. I want to commend him for his unlimited patience and incredible teaching skills. He answered all of my questions and made sure I understood the rules as well as the program and protocols. Thank you, Tyler!

215 Maloyaroslavets (24 October 1812)

Game 1
Tyler Allies 7
David French 10

I made a bad tactical error late in the game -- too focused on killing a French unit. I bypassed a chance to take a town hex (and the 2 victory points). This made all the difference at the end.

Pretty evenly matched game. Both players had poor dice early on. Mine heated up a bit in the middle and David's heated up a bit at the end. Luck certainly didn't decide this battle.

The Russian right flank collapsed and the French right flank collapsed so the battlefield kind of twisted so he was fighting from my left and I was fighting from my right.

215 Maloyaroslavets (24 October 1812)

Game 1
mantra(France): 10
BrentS (Russia): 2

The battle started with both sides joking on the flanks which was fine as the French had no center cards for the first half of the game. The Russians brought it hard to the French right forcing a square. The French, in order it ease pressure played a double Calvary charge on their left flank and were successful in plowing through both Russian LCs and forcing their flank back. The French then Bayonet Charged in the center, followed by a leadership card was enough for the French win.

Game 2
mantra(Russia): 10
BrentS (France): 4

The second battle started off with a strong push from the French on their left, which gained them a few banners. To off set the Russians pushed on the other flank with mixed results, but were able to square up a French unit for the remainder of the battle. This took the steam out of the French attack. The Russians then leaped in center obliquely and were able to gain a foothold in the town and draw off fire from without. It was a bloody grind for the town hexes until the end of the game with the Russians having a good supply of center cards and better then average rolls at the end. It was hard played by Brent, but the Russians had a response for every counter he had.

5 rounds

How many rounds will be in this OT?

Game 1
Nemo2333 (Russia): 11
FoxK (France): 6

Game 2
Nemo2333 (France): 10
FoxK (Russia): 8

Game 2
rfdoane (Russia): 10
Simba28 (France): 4

The Russians opened play with a Force March that allowed them to attack the village right from the start. The French center eventually gave way under the weight of the Russian advance, thanks largely in part to the Russians drawing 3 Leadership cards over the course of the game. The French were hampered by a lack of cards to play in the center, but nevertheless eliminated two Grenadiers and a Line infantry. Only minor skirmishing took place on the flanks. A final charge that resulted in an eliminated leader and the capture of the church sealed the win for the Russians.

Hello Viridovilas, if you read this, please get in touch with me to get our games scheduled. Thanks.
András