SBVT08 Lesser played scenarios

Round 4

azcat (RED) 7 banners won, 22 blocks lost

jrtracy (BLUE) 3 banners won, 30 blocks lost

Alot of ranged weapons in this one, so I started out with the ideal card for Tokugawa: Hold and Shoot.  And the dice came through inflicting 5(!) hits on Samurai units and causing retreats that dropped Takeda H&F from 7 to 2 with just one card played.  JR made a play along his left, but Tokugawa's units refused contact, sliding back and firing at range.   JR sent Masatoyo and his samurai chargeing forward to keep contact on my right, nearly decimating a unit of Arquebusiers, while  Nobukimi brought his cavalry into my center.  A Tokugagwa Asigaru infantry unit lost half their men but held firm, allowing me to play two consecutive cavalry charges to try to reclaim the center. Tokugawa and his cavalry first destroy Masatoyo's samurai and then turn and charge Nobukimi, promising to be an epic clash.  But my advantage with the charge is trumped when JR plays First Strike and infllicting 4 hits, sending Tokugawa r back into the arms of his Ashigaru infantry.  This looked like it could be the key fight that would give Takeda the edge in the overall battle.

But shortly thereafter Takeda himself is killed and Nobukimi & cavalry are alone against the entire center of Tokugawa's army.  Nobukimi and his samurai make a glorious end, kiling two Tokugawa units before his men are killed.  For his bravery Nobukimiis allowed to commit seppuku.  The honor gained by this act however is soon lost as Tokugawa's dares to play the Shogun card and the Takeda army panics (literally the 3H&F dragon card Panic) and driving JR's H&F down to 0.  One last lucky shot as his 1 block Samurai put the game to and end.

Great fun playing with JR, I wish him well if he's able to advance.
 

Well, I think I found my groove, but I'll fall in the first round of the semi-finals....

Round 1
G39 DOMYOJI 1615 AD (Heights of Komatsuyama)

Mark McG (Red): 5 banners, 14 blocks lost
Brent (Blue): 2 banners, 15 blocks lost

The Osaka sit at the top of the hill, facing a row of missile troops. Outnumbered 5 to 2 in the missile power, I took a page from Wellington's playbook and stepped back behind the hill. This of course gave Brent a free hand to prepare his aassault, but I did manage to bring up Susukida and his samurai.

When the assault did come, the Tokugawa rushed up the hill, with the Tokugawa cavalry in pride of place with Tadamasa in charge. He wasan't having a good day, and his 4d attack did just 1 hit, whilst the 3d battleback rolled 3 reds to give him a smacking he won't soon forget. The planned Osaka response was erratic because of Wild winds, and faced a First strike, but still good enough to finish the Tokugawa cavalry and Tadamasa ran away. Can't really complain about the cards if you allow the attacker ample time to prepare.

However, the dice favoured the Osaka, and despite some good attacks, the Osaka surged back onto the hill, driving the Tokugawa back aand so claiming the hill banner, eliminating 2 Ashigaru spear and Tadaaki in the final throw.
 

Round 2 - Domyoji (Battle Among the Tombs)

gotigerssc (Red) - 5 banners; 21 figures lost (+1 seppuku)
gonzo (Blue) - 4 banners; 20 figures lost (+1 seppuku)

Tokugawa units were regrouped into two good positions in the center and left, which made an advance difficult since I had no center cards. I used my ranged units to weaken a couple of units before closing in with the heavy units. I was setting up to win 5-2 by bringing my cav below the woods on my right to trap a one figure arquebusier unit in those woods. However, my dice failed me on two different turns (3 dice each roll) while Joe was cleaning out my right flank. Finally, on my third roll (and turn) I was able to eliminate the unit for the win. We also each had a leader commit seppuku.

 

Round #4

EZPickens (RED) 3 banners won, 31 blocks lost

Gonzo (BLUE) 7 banners won, 17 blocks lost

Red advance on right kills AB, but samurai shift from middle and break Red right flank taking the blue and green units and standing the SB on a hill. Notable that each of us had one extra hand limit from tactics. That gave Blue 2 7 unit Advance centers in a row for the win. Luck was fickle for both sides, but especially putrid for John. Still seeing unfamiliar cards every game. Like a box of chocolates.

Round 4 - Mikata-Ga-Hara

Cavie (Takeda) - 7 banners won, 19 blocks lost
Gottigerssc (Tokugawa) - 3 banners won, 25 blocks lost

A nice opening of Hold & Shoot by Justin's Tokugawa put some of the Takeda forces on the retreat after several good hits weakening their upfield position.  The Takeda backed up a tried to form a better stance but the Tokugawa continued to fire and press forward.

As the Tokugawa continued to move toward the Takeda, they put together a good attack on the Takeda left side that was threatening to break through and possibly approach the Command Tent.  Just as they were about to make their breakthrough, the Takeda benefitted from Wild Winds that turned the attack away.  The Takeda were barely able to keep from breaking even on a First Strike and Ambush play by the Tokugawa.

The Takeda, now feeling empowered by their left flank being secured, rushed forward with a Cavalry Charge to finish the battle in the center of the field where it began.

Justin played a great game and had a very good battle strategy that had me struggling at times.  Having the extra units and extra command card helped me in the long run.  If I had not been able to win on my left flank I think the game would have gone in Justin's favor due to his excellent strategy and play.  Another great game with a great opponent!

Round 4 USA Renaud / Tokugawa / 7 banners / 22 blocks lost vs Jim D / Takeda /  6 banners / 34 blocks lost (+3 seppuku) A much delayed AAR. As the Tokugawa I started with a near perfect card combo of Hold and Shoot and Fire Arrows. Got 4 hits and 3 retreats out of it, not too bad, not great. Jim replied with a Hold and Shoot of his own and got 5 hits! With Ninja Thief I got my Fire Arrows card back and played it in combo with Flying Geese and got 5 hits and 2 retreats (including his SBC taking 2 and moving behind the hill on his right. Jim then played Infantry Onslaught on his left going after my forward SB an AA. A few hits, no kill. I countered with Advance Right, but kind of botched it, especially as he played First Strike on my SB with his leader-inspired-SS and I forgot to play the card that would force him to re-roll… Fortunately my SB was on a hill, he scored 1 hit and I scored 2 on the battle-back, leaving both units down to 1 block. My AA scored 1 on his other SSp, and got hit with 3 and a flag on the battle-back… Next, he killed 2 of my units (AA and Asp) on that flank, but failed to kill the SB. Never mind, my attack on the next turn failed to kill his 1-block SSp and got my SB killed….. I was down 0—4 at that point, Jim having killed Sakai Todakatsu before. Fast-forward a few turns, and I positioned for the tale to be told centuries later: Tokugawa Ieyasu’s death ride. In the meantime, I spoiled Jim’s Cavalry Charge with Wild Winds and that probably was a critical play as I then used a Serpent Command to move most of my line out of charge range. Jim dressed ranks and pulled back for the most part with 3 1-block units here and there. The death ride started against his forward SSp under Naito Masatoyo, the unit that had killed 2 of mine and one of my leaders. His SSp died and Naito San committed seppuku. 1-4. A couple of maneuvering turns later, the death ride continued against the Takeda left. I killed his remaining 1-block SSp, forcing Obata Masatoyo to retreat, then I killed his 3-block SB unit. 3-4. Jim played Shogun and piled on against Tokugawa, bringing down to 1 block! Tokugwawa persisted, killed a Baba Nobuharu’s 2-block SB unit and forced him to commit seppuku, then followed up and killed Obata Masatoyo’s 2-block AB unit and forced Obata to commit seppuku too! 5-4. Jim then played his cavalry charge, but was only able to send his full strength SBC against Tokugawa. He failed to kill him, and lost 2 blocks. Tokugawa’s death ride continued… for a brief while. He killed an AA unit, but failed against an ASp unit, and the battle-back took his unit out and him! 6-6. Sayonara, Tokugawa-sama! You scored 6 banners on your own. .  Next turn, I used my SB and SBC units to shoot at Takeda K’s SB unit and killed him! 7-6. Phew….   

Round 3 - European (and Australian!) Group

G34 TAKAKURA CASTLE 1585 AD 

goshublue (Allies) Banners 9 Blocks lost 28 

mk20336 (Date) Banners 7 Blocks lost 33 

A long, complex and enjoyable battle, as befits this odd scenario, which I’ve played a couple of times before. It obviously heavily favours the Allies but it’s Samurai Battles, so that’s not always the case. Contrary to usual play, all of the initial action happened on the Allied left because that’s where I had the cards. Knocked the Date completely out of that flank but they killed both cavalry there in return and were able to Serpent Command all their forces across the Seto Stream. The Allies were able to use Move as the Wind to take the bridge banner and kill off the Date greens defending it and moved on the right to take the castle with all the goodness that provided. Nevertheless the Date counterattacked strongly to take 3 quick banners for a very respectable result…..despite finishing the battle with 2 command (thanks to the castle loss and seppukus) and no leaders remaining. The Arai village banner was never won. 

Well done, Michal, and thanks for a fun game. 

Brent.[

 

Round #

Rjv (RED) 3 banners won, 19 blocks lost
Gonzo (BLUE) 5 banners won, 19 blocks lost

Blue picks off a couple of units before they retire across river and the Samurai advance. Red gets better of range exchange and Red Samurai charge, but a Firststrike kills one and a Turncoat gets the Ridge VP for win. Reynaud played well to his sides strengths.

Round #5

kwofferd (RED) 3 banners won, 13 blocks lost

Gonzo (BLUE) 4 banners won, 18 blocks lost
Red plays hold and shoot along with Arcq Combat Card but rolls poorly. The Blue Samurai Cav duck into cover, then Blue inf shift to right and Sam Cav engage Red lights in woods and kill two after several rounds and advanced across river. Blue leader killed, another Sepp, Had a Loss of Honor roll, and down to 2 card hand. Final roll of Red 50-50 missed for Blue win. Blue lucky could use a card every round. Poor dice for Ken deciding factor