Open Tournament 2016 Round 4

OT2016, Round 4, Game2
Talavera 28 July 1809
Grondeaux (French) 4 banners
GregO (British) 7 banners

The initial action again took place on the French Right/Allied Left, with the French again getting the better of it. This time, however, they were unable to press their advantage. The Allies countered with an attack on the French Left, crossing Portina Brook. The French repulsed the attack, but lost Sebastiani in the process (score 3-3). The Allies then mustered a spirited attack on the French Right, which was rather more successful, with the French unable to reply (score 6-4, Allies). The Allies got the win by moving their Rifles into range and picking off a 1 strength French INF.

Thanks to Greg for two enjoyable games, and apologies for the delay in posting.

OT2016, Round 4, Game
Talavera 28 July 1809
GregO (French) 7 banners
Grondeaux (British) 1 banner

Most of the action took place on the Allied Left/French Right. An early Allied cavalry charge was responded to in kind by the French , who definitely got the better of it. Continued skirmishing left the Allied Left all but destroyed. A final French attack on the Allied Center netted them the final banner.

OT2016, Round 4, Game2
Talavera 28 July 1809
FrenchricusRex (French) 7 banners
asyncritus (British) 3 banners


The two armies quickly formed opposing lines of battle with the Portina Brook between them. The French skirmishers, supported by artillery, opened up on the British center. A protracted ranged duel commenced, with each side trading blows, but not yet doing much of anything committal.

The French light cavalry under Merlin then moved on the British left, with devastating results for the allied cavalry. But Merlin was forced to pull back, having taking losses in the initial push. This retreat was only temporary however. As the general carnage of the ranged duel in the center continued, Merlin was waiting for the right opportunity to strike the weakening British interior lines.

The French light cavalry saw it's moment, and made a suicidal charge into the midst of the allied rear. This move was initially thwarted by the successful ambushed of "first strikers." Wellesley clearly knew what was coming...

Merlin, himself now leading a badly bloodied cavalry unit, saw his chance to grab some low-hanging fruit and charged back into the fray at the depleted British formations. After inflicting further damage, Merlin's own unit was routed, and he was obliged to attempt an escape through the British lines. Having accomplished this, Merlin then joined the fresh infantry assault which was forming to cross the Portina Brook and attack the allied center. The British Guard Grenadiers stepped up and prevented the French assault from meeting it's full potential, but the weight of French guns proved to be too much for MacKenzie's command on the heights, and the game was finished with a French victory.

____________________________

Tim was a most gracious player, who called out my mistakes, and was clearly committed to the efficacy of the game and general fair play. He did all of this in spite of very rotten luck with the dice. He played a good game, but it seemed time and time again, the dice let him down. It was a pleasure playing with him, and I look forward to the next time we meet on the field!

TheMP wrote: His dice are the hell!

Der Bayernteufel !!

Indeed!

[Argh! Devil emoticon is not working!]

His dice are the hell!

Der Bayernteufel !!

I've been away, so please forgive the lack of updating.
However, I'd like to see some more games played. 5 games outstanding, and pretty much anyone can still make the Quarter finals. A very tight pack except for Michael who hasn't lost a game. His dice are the hell!

Round 4 Game 2

TheMP (BR) 7
Gonzo (FR) 2

The usual slow start with this scenario with both sides vying for best artillery positions and placing their infantry in advantageous spots. Once that was done and after some desultory fire, Gonzo launched a French infantry attack in the centre heading for the 2 block British FA and LN units. It was a bitter and bloody tussle, but the British came out ahead, inflicting 2 banners on the enemy infantry but losing an important FA battery banner themselves. Once again, both sides danced around each other trying to inflict losses at a distance. This time, some Forced March cards for the French saw a 4 unit attack develop on what looked a precarious British right. Initially, the British suffered, with the GG getting the brunt of it (but dishing out stuff themselves). A take command any sector card then saw the British reply and even using a 1 block rifle unit for distance firing. Once again, the French were beaten off with 2 unit losses and the British 1 for a 4-2 British advantage.

In the next interim, the French used centre card after centre card to fire their guns, but were also getting their HC moving back to the British right. The British pulled back here a hex each so as to make further French attacks perilous, although pressure was about to be put on the British units there. The French then moved their own right wing forward, sending their 2 x LC units in a position of what looked like a brewing charge. Having cards of their own saved up from the start, the British Cavalry pre-empted this by charging themselves. In a series of fateful events things headed for a climax.

The British GHC charged the French LC uphill for a 5 dice roll. They rolled 3 x CAV and Sabres to wipe the unit out. Furthermore, the leader there was also overrun. With six banners, the British GHC believed this was it and wiith their breakthrough charged the adjacent 2 banner LN Inf that had formed square. They were confident as I had a 'Break The Square' card to finish them off. But the French rolled a flag and the GHC bounced off never playing the Break Square card. His other LC unit were charged by the 2 x LC of the British and despite the French playing a charge if charged card, the British cavalry came off better losing 1 block to his 2. The chance for the 7-2 win looked lost. This was because Gonzo played a cavalry charge card of his own and not only counter-attacked with his 2 block Hussars, but also sent in his HC at my 1 block GG. They formed square in a bid to survive and rolled a flag against his HC forcing them, like my GHC to bounce away. His LC's then counter-attacked my 2 block LC with a leader but he only knocked off 1 block meaning survival and a battle-back that caused a further block loss, reducing the French LC to 1 block. The next turn, the British played a counter-attack and charged again, leaving the GHC to mop up the single block LC for the skin of the teeth 7-2 win. Despite the 7-3 and 7-2 result each, both games were far tighter than the scoreline suggests.

This means a 1-1 result overall with TheMP gaining a 10-9 agrregate banner win.

Round 4 Game 1
asyncritus (French) 7 banners
FrenchricusRex (British) 5 banners

The French had great success early on demolishing the British left flank with their cavalry. They then turned toward the center and managed to take out a couple more units. The French then approached the creek in the center with some moderate success, but the British retaliated fiercely eliminating several units as well as Merlin, who had been a thorn in their side the entire battle. The French artillery was able to finish of the British rifles for the win.

Mantra (British) 7 Banners
EZPickens (French) 3 Banners

This was the second game in the match. Both sides exchanged pleasantries across the creek for many turns with the British slowly chipping away at the French infantry and artillery, and at the same time building up their card pool. The French advanced into the village with their Infantry supported by their cavalry causing the British to pull back and reorganize their mounted troops. After the first hour of play the French tiring of the British coyness for melee advanced their center into the stream to engage the British in a head on clash. The British units took several big hits and had their line broken only to bounce back with 'give them cold steel'. Now, it was the French that were in a sorry state in the center. The French tired to draw the attention of the British away from the center to their right, but the redcoats were not taking the bait, although it cost them some strength, and continued to shatter and destroy the French along the center stream. The final blow came when the British sounded their battle horns and the cavalry came thundering down from their heights and mopped up all the French broken units. Huzzah!

A very good game played by Michael. I sensed he had that first Cavalry Charge when he moved them all up some hexes, bringing his HC into 3-hex range. But having survived that, my counter didn't work and he hit me with the second Cavalry Charge. After that I was too weak on that flank and desperately needed him to run out of cards there. Didn't happen, and he won at a canter,

Bayernkini (French) 7 : 3 Bangla (British)

Waiting long and collect cards for a french right attack (the stronger section), in meantime the British withdraw and built a new defense line from their right - center.

Except a ART duell on french left and center section, nothing much more does happens here.

Final i had 3 cards for my right section (including 2 CAV Charge), so french started the attack which failed, but i was lucky and british counter was also not really successful
After second CAV Charge two british CAV was dead and the 3 french CAV´s weak (but still alive).
In further time i regrouped and attacked again on my right (ignoring my left and center section), which could final win the battle.
And sometimes dice can be cruel, glad it was more time on british side this time

OT Round 4 game 2
Sansmerci - 7 banners
Mark - 2 banners
It was a game where the Allies got all the command cards and countered every French move. Cavalry charge vs Cavalry charge two bombard cards and a Elan. The final was 7 to 2 Mark made good moves but the cards where all Allies this time. Thanks to Mark for the logfile.

I've posted my logfile below. I think I missed the first turn or so, but it should be almost complete.

Meanwhile, interesting to read Michael's comments. He's right, he clearly won the artillery duel. After that, I was "stuck" with two Bayonet Charges and a Cold Steel out of 5 cards. Needed to be patient to line those LN's up before piling in. ad I known he was short of cards on his right I would have gone in earlier. As it was, he managed to reorganise and then had the TC's to send me reeling backwards. Fortunately, I did manage to kill a couple of units ... the killing of the officer was a bonus.
Back in the game, I had to protect those 1- and 2-block units from his artillery, whilst still somehow chisel out opportunities for more banners. Michael referred to his GHC surviving. That would have given me my 6th banner, and he also had a LN on the other flank which survived a lot of fire, The Brits managing to "Rally" twice during the game was also a big pain for me.
A 5-7 loss was a LOT better than I thought I'd manage, a third of the way through this game. Just goes to show that if you keep plugging away you'll get the chances. But I'm still really disappointed it didn't end up 6-7 instead.

Return match on Tuesday afternoon.

Bayernkini 7 : 5 Bangla

Starting with a ART duell first turns, which won (killed 2 french ART) the british. Then following a lot of range battles and regroups on both sides.
Here i was happy, that the french didnt forced an attack on their right, because i had no cards for my weak left flank a long time.
Finaly i managed a regroup and had a strong defence line from my right - center.

French forced an attack on their right flank then, which i could defence, but lost 2 units and an Leader.
At this time it was looking, the game changed to french side.

A missed french CAV charge on their right with an better countercharge advanced the british again. Here the british 1block hero GHC survived a 7 dice melee attack (retreat was blocked), which enabled in next turn the british victory and saved at last on lost banner for british troops.

I dont know, if i can beat those 5 banners in rematch, it will be a tough game again.

Tony has also only a single logfile without first turn, so here my 2part logfile with complete game.

EZPickins (BR) 7 banners
Mantra (Fr) 4 banners

Good call Michael. Always forget those damned rules concerning artillery firing over units directly in front. Thanks for the clear up ... especially since we'll be playing against each other soon.
Will send you a bunch of dates later today.

I assume, it´s not a combined attack here (not clear in question). Then we use the written rules, page 20 and check, if all requirements are fullfilled or not.

"An artillery unit on a Hill hex may fire over a friendly unit or leader that is on an adjacent lower hex as long as that hex has
no other terrain feature that would block the artillery unit’s line of sight"

1. Artillery fires over a friendly unit which is on a lower (non hill) terrain = Yes
2. This lower terrain hex (ford) block LOS = No

Result = FA can fire.
But remember, if it´s a combined attack, we must check the combined attack rules, and they are opposed then

Just going through the logfile from this first game. I noticed that, when the French LC moved to make their first attack, there was also some counter battery fire (see attached picture). Normally, I would have said that the HC in front of the firing FA was blocking all hexes on the right side of the spine, and the LC heading into an attack blocked the hexes to the left. So how can the FA fire at the British battery?

Otherwise this was a very enjoyable game to watch. Both sides seemed to have a slight advantage at different times, and it wasn't really obvious who was going to win until the latter third of the game. Congrats Sans.

Talavera 28 July 1809 Game 1
Mark McG 5 Banners
Sansmerci 7 Banners
The first few turns where arty fire and British supporting the center. With the vassel dice the arty fire was ineffective for both. Alight cavalry took out one of the art on the hill and thengot killed by a cavalry charge. The battle was only in the center and French rightwhen a British counter attack made it 3 to 3 in banners. After it was 4 to 4 a French Elan almost won it but the score was 6 to 4 French with the British pressing on the left with GG and LT units. The Brits made it very close killing one and leaving 6 units with 2 or less blocks. A single block cavalry fell to the French LC finishing a very close match. We both agree that vassel dice are not normal.

Adding all the past game/result tables to the current subfolder here

www.commandsandcolors.net/napoleonics/ar...nt-2016-round-4.html

would help and make it much clear

"I'd like to say it is a science, but it isn't.."

LOL . No that is as good an answer I needed. So I was told correctly, but was missing that Gonzo v Kini had occurred previously. All makes sense to me now, science or no

technically a Swiss format, though with a small number I'm not sure it matters. In essence it works top to bottom, or from both ends might be a better description.

So Bayerniki had already played Gonzo, so he got Bangla, then Gonzo gets you.. etc.
At the bottom, the same juggling to get a new opponent.

I'd like to say it is a science, but it isn't..

Mark,

Just wanted to ask about the line up as I don't know how a Swiss League works. Somebody told me that it means you play the person next to you on points UNLESS they have already played you. So I expected it was Bangla I was playing. Instead I have been matched up with Gonzo (we've already been in touch for dates BTW). Is there a link to how the league match ups work at all so that I have some idea?