OT2024 Round 5

Log file attached

Results of Round 5 rematch between gdnuke and gomjabbar:

First game gdnuke wins as Allies 7-5. Second game gdnuke wins as French 7-4. Both games were closer than the score indicates with tense moments as geographic objectives changed hands.

This was our second pairing and was lots of fun despite having no impact on the outcome of this tourney.

10 days until the end of the Round, so please get your matches played and resulks reported.

10 days until the end of the Round, so please get your matches played and results reported.

sduke12 vs EZPickens, Match 1

Winner, Austria, (sduke12) 7 banners and 27 blocks lost
Loser, France (EZPickens) 5 banners and 36 blocks lost

This game see-sawed back and forth as the Austrians fought the French over the crossing sites. The French were able to cross on their right and rout the Austrian forces there, but Austria put up a tough fight on the French left and in the Center held the high ground and inflicted many casualties.
Both sides killed an enemy leader.

French casualties exceeded the Austrians by game end and Austria was able to retake a town and garner the 7th banner needed. Great fun and the rematch will see if sduke can figure out a way to crack the tough Austrian defense.

Match 1
Melake (Austrian)  7 banners won
gheintze (French)  3 banners won 

Match 2
gheintze (Austrian)  7 banners won
Melake (French)  4 banners won

In both games the French struggled to make headway against the strong austrian defense. 

Game 1
Gileforn, (French): 3 banners
Craterus, (Austrian): 7 banners.

Game 2
Gileforn, (Austrian): 7 banners
Craterus, (French): 3 banners

In both matches, french went out in a rush, and both in one and the other, they managed to dash against the austrian walls. The unique difference is that, as well as the first of them spaned more than 2 hours, in the 2d, Andrey needed less than one hour to break down my ilusions of glory...  

Thanks Andrey for the 2 matches !


 

sduke12 vs EZPickens, Match 2

Winner, Austria, (EZPickins) 7 banners and 8 blocks lost
Loser, France (sduke12) 5 banners and 18 blocks lost

This game ended when the French made their only assault of the game on Reisenburg and were hit with two devastating Infantry Combat First cards.

We had some issues with Vassal which messed up the file.

Match 1
302 Günzburg (9 October 1805)

Javelinthrower (Austrian) 5 banners won
FoxK (French) 7 banners won

Reading the comments to the map beforehand, I learned that there seems to be a consensus: Austrians can almost never hold the left flank if the French have the cards, and the right is better left untouched. I saw that personally, as FoxK played almost back-to-back cards that allowed him to cross the bridge and move out of the marshes and into the city. Eventually I managed to push back, but by that time my flank was annihilated. The first two turns saw my centre leader shot at and instantly die due to impassible terrain. On the right flank I couldn't respond as there were no units and there were no cards to move them from the centre. This was one of the most frustrating matches, as it seemes that the map is set against the Austrian side and it takes even a little luck for the French to totally win. Still, FoxK played very well and the match was decided by dice during the last two turns, when he survived the attack and gained two objective banners.

Match 2
302 Günzburg (9 October 1805)

FoxK (Austrian) 2 banners won
Javelinthrower (French) 7 banners won

Again, I could not believe the cards this game. Unlike last time, this time the Austrians could easily move all the reserves on both flanks, as well as evacuate the centre. Having built the impassible line along the river, the Austrians seemed to secure the victory beforehand. Faced with no alternative, I was forced to try building up the order for crossing the bridges as well. On French right, Aus. agressively crossed it first, but lost blocks in skirmishes and shootouts. In the centre I moved the artillery and also started moving one by one, bombarding all the while. Remarkably, it was this reckess assault with cav leading the way which paid off. Aus. tried one again to be agressive (I trapped my cav) and attack on two flanks. That's when I finally answered with special cards: Fire and Hold and 2 (I had 3) Leadership cards. I cleaned out the garrisons and took both centre bridges, and so managed to snatch the victory through sheer luck - or, rather, unluck of my opponent. If at any point he could order 2 or more units in the centre I would've lost without chance. Still, now I don't feel so bad because of the 1st match ridiculousness 



 

Match 1
Gonzo (Austrian)  7
Dawnreader (French)  3

The battle started with french moving their right flank. Austrian army started with Le Grande Manoeuvre (best card in this scenario in my opinion), evacuated central forces from the island, and reinforced their right flank. Then Austrians builded a wall in the center and right with their troops, leaving small forces to cover on their left. French got heavy fire barrage on their left, tried to advance on both flanks with bayonet charge and lost 3 line infantries with the general from the next Austrian attack. Then light cavalry also add some serious issues on French right side. And last banner Austrians got with grenadiers eliminating the whole light infantry in melee in one go.

Match 2
Dawnreader (Austrian)  7
Gonzo (French)  6

Second game started with Austrians losing their light infantry on the island with general. Shortly after that French force marched on the other side of the river on their right. And then it was time to Austrians to force march their troops from the center towards the flanks: French troops lost their first line infantry on their right flank. But immeadiately eliminated grenadiers in fierce melee on the same spot in return. An Austrian cavalry charge with support of infantry led by general brought 2 more kills on the same flank, but they are still behind - 4:3 in favor of French. Austrian army commenced Le Grande Manoeuvre on french left trying to get VPs for the crossing of the river. And they killed one more line infantry and got some artillery fire in return on grenadiers. One more french light infantry goes down in the bloodshed, and French are playing bayonet charge in critical moment! And they are so close to success with two kills (grenadiers and light cavalry) It's 6:5. But Austrians are playing Counter-attack and eliminating one block line infantry along with the general.

Thanks Joe for two great games!