Open Tournament 2016 Round 5

OT2016 Round 5 Game 1

Gonzo: French 7 Banners
Sansmerci: Spanish 3 Banners
Close game mostly. French horse artillery effective and left flank forced march crushed to Spanish right. One sword on guerillas rolled. Spnish hedgehogged in the middle, but French missile fire softened it up. A Spanish leader death, then cav charge killed two art units finished aa close game up to then.

OT2016 Round 5 Game 2

Gonzo: Spanish 7 Banners
Sansmerci: French 4 Banners

A game with numerous guerilla plays, all successful, and sometimes 2 turns in a row. French left flank assault thrown back with heavy losses and Spanish pursuit. Eventually Spanish wiped out, but the four units got six and crippled the rest. A massed Hold and Fire killed the advanced FA on the French left for the win.

Want to thank Sansmerci for the game. He tolerated his own poor die rolling with grace.

OT2016 Round 5 Game 2
104 Espinosa de los Monteros 10-11 November 1808

Grondeaux: French 7 Banners
Asyncritus: Spanish 6 Banners

Bad day to be a leader, with both Blake and Lapisse falling. Initial fighting took place on the French Right/Allied Left. The Spanish also made good use of their artillery in the Center, with repeated long-range grand battery sniping at the French. A French cavalry attack opened up the Allied Center, but cost the French dearly, as a well-timed Spanish Bayonet Charge cut off the cavalry, preventing them from retiring and reforming. This resulted in the loss of one LC and the mauling of the second. Score 6-5 Spanish at this point. More fighting on the French Left/Spanish Right, along with the French picking off a 1 block straggler, finally gave the French the win.

Thanks to Tim for a very enjoyable pair of games. And to Mark for organizing the tournament.

sansmerci wrote: Just replayed your game and noticed that the Spanish Infantry battled back at regular strength not -1. Is that correct?

and what a great time to discover this .. just after you have played the Spanish, but before the return game!

Sans,

Yes they did, but that was because I attacked the Spanish and not the Spanish moving to attack my troops.

Just replayed your game and noticed that the Spanish Infantry battled back at regular strength not -1. Is that correct?

Some spanish Infantry get a -1 penalty
IF they move and melee, but not when they stay stationary

www.commandsandcolors.net/napoleonics/th...ers-expansion-1.html

OT2016 Round 5 Game 1
Gonzo French 7 Banners
Sansmerci 3 Banners
104 Espinosa de los Monteros 10-11 November 1808

Sorry Gonzo my log file messed up so I think we don't have one now. The game was a long one three plus hours. The Spanish powder was wet most of the time. I had three GA markers and a first strike card enough to smash the French force march on the French left but wet powder and a French sabre roll resulted in losing 4 banners and no Spanish units on the left. The French finished the game with a HA and cavalry action in the center taking out two Spanish Artys. Joe massed his units well and waited for the cards to come. This is a even scenario with the Guerilla markers fun too even if you lose.

Just replayed your game and noticed that the Spanish Infantry battled back at regular strength not -1. Is that correct?

Ok, thanks B

yes you are right, just mixed it up with the special TC evade card

Bayernkini,

Just running through the log. Something I saw that I didn't see in the game.

When I had my infantry battle your cavalry and you Retired & Reformed I wrote in the log that I would "No advance" after you vacated the hex. You replied "You can't anyway

That is not correct. If a cav unit retires and reforms the attacking unit can take the ground as I thought. It didn't matter for this game because I didn't want to advance anyway, but thought you should be made aware of the rule.

Here is the logfile
Sadly i run out with GM´s and hits, as i needed most

Bayernkini (Spanish) 4
The MP (French) 7

The second game in our round 5 meetings. The Spanish got 2 additional GMs with Scout Cards, which was a disadvantage for the French, so i had to force the Spanish to use them first.

It didn't go well initially! The action occurred around the centre and my French artillery and cavalry suffered. The Spanish used a short Supply card to get rid of one French HA that I'd set up in Grand Battery and then a combination of attacks and lots of red dice to dispose of the other battery plus a cavalry unit and leader. The French were 0-4 down very quickly!

It seemed a hopeless position at the time and the Spanish still had one or two of those horrid guerilla counters. The French instead began to build up a new front and use the less exciting cards to do this. An occassional play of a better card here and there forced the guerilla counters out and none of them were stopped with a sabre roll. Whilst forming the new line a Spanish cavalry charge against the French FA was seen off with the help of a canister Tactician card and both Spanish LC's were left on 1 block.

Eventually, a French collection of cards meant some kind of counter-attack could be mounted. The French LC started it off and attacked a 2 block Spanish battery. The guns were eliminated and the breakthough action saw the French cav eliminate the single block Spanish cav taking refuge in the rear hex grid town. These French cav managed to escape a grenadier counter attack against them and then make it safely back to centre board with just one block lost. The French on their left then played a Bayonet Charge and Force March combo over two turns and this destroyed the Spanish flank as a major force. It was left to the French cavalry unit and an inf LN unit to finish off the final banner with the use of a Rally card. That was fortunate as I had no other cards that could have helped.

The game ended 7-4 French meaning a 1-1 split in games and a 12-11 advantage for TheMP.

I'll leave the logfile for Bayernkini to post as my laptop has been messing me around lately.

OT2016 - Rd 5 : 104 - Espinosa De Los Monteros

asyncritus (French) - 7 banners
Grondeaux (Spanish) - 3 banners

Most of the early action occurred on the French left/Spanish right, resulting in 2 units lost for each side. The French then utilized a Grand Maneuver to push 4 units into firing range in the center. The resulting exchanges came out decidedly in the French's favor and they managed to take out 5 additional units while the Spanish only managed one more.

Very enjoyable game and I look forward to the rematch.

OT2016 - Rd 5 : 104 - Espinosa De Los Monteros

Mark McG (French) - 7 banners
Bangla (Spanish) - 5 banners

This played much quicker, 2 hours all up. French plan was to envelope the Spanish left after forcing the Militia off hill, and this worked to an extent, but a Bayonet Charge opportunity lead me into an extensive distraction on the Left flank, which was probably an equal exchange on a flank that seemed to have an aversion to rolling Blue Infantry hits.

Mid game the Spanish cavalry came out to play, and killed off a HA, but were both destroyed. Unfortunate lack of Centre cards let them get away with more than they should have as the French cavalry stood by as the Spanish rode around.

In the end, the French firepower prevailed, despite a Spanish counterattack of the Left.

Two excellent games, with some strangeness to each.

Logfile in two part, because I lost connection.

OT2016 - Rd 5 : 104 - Espinosa De Los Monteros - Game 2

tlangston28 - (French) - 7 banners
EZPickins - (Spanish) - 4 banners

This game started as a close one, with very little blood being spilled early on. With the game 1-1, John continued to play scout cards, collecting guerilla counters while I was trying to position. He was able to move units and play guerrillas effectively, never having one cancelled by sabers. I had a Bayonet Charge card from the beginning and attempted to move units into postiion and play cards to force the guerillas to come out. I was able to force another kill with retreat flags but was shackled by the continued success of the guerrilla counters. Finally, after forcing the last guerrilla counter, I was able to play the bayonet charge and proceeded to destroy 3 Spanish units on the turn - giving a 5 - 2 edge. The Spanish countered with a bayonet charge of their own and killed 2 more units. A French "Give them cold steel" and then a follow-up attack left flank collected the final 2 banners for the win.

The guerrilla counters gave me fits early on as I couldn't counter them at all - that seems the way for the Spanish to have a chance.

OT2016, Round 5, Game 2
104 Espinosa de los Monteros (10-11 November 1808)
mantra (Spanish) 7 banners
gottoman (French) 5 banner

After some minor skirmishing along the battle field, the battle began with the French forming up their lines in the center between Quintara and the hill in front of it. The French drew first blood with a bold Bayonet Charge from the center position, bagging a line formation. The Spanish counter-attacked and returned in kind their first banner to even out the battle (1-1). The French continued to press in the center. The Spanish fearing the combined arms attacks that possible could take place on two exposed Grenadier units decided to use one of their Guerrilla Actions to flip the initiative (a side note here. The Spanish gained a second GA marker at the start of the battle). In the counter-attack the Grenadiers were able to destroy another line unit and badly maul and push back another (2-1). The Blue coats feeling the pressure in the center decided to unleash a bombardment to loosen up the Spanish center. The Spanish feeling overextended in the center slowly started to pull back away from the hill in front of Quintana.

The next few exchanges where mostly dealing with reorganizing the lines to set up the clash. A Spanish LC seeing an opportunity, dashed out and cut down a very weakened line unit (3-1). With same command the Spanish also CA'd a French HA, pushing up the banner count (4-1).

The French, feeling the pinch, actively pushed their left to soften up the Spanish on one turn and playing a Cavalry Charge on the follow up. The Spanish, noting their situation, played their last GA marker to no effect, as the French rolled a saber to cancel it. In the exchange the Spanish lost a leader (4-2).

The Spanish lucked out here and drew two more scout cards bring their GA markers back up to 2, at the same time the French decided to hunt down the weakened Spanish units in the center (4-4). With the French hanging in the center the Spanish showed a little elan and was able to take out a leader and another LN(6-4). Seeing victory in their sights the Spanish LC pushed another attack in their breakthrough attack and lost the unit for their over zealous effort (6-5). Having 2 GA's in hand the Spanish were not too downtrodden and by luck of draw they drew the elan card again in the reshuffle. The Spanish quickly cancelled the next play of the French with a GA and took the last banner (7-5).

This scenario was very tense in both matches with a lot of swings between.

OT2016 - Rd 5 : 104 - Espinosa De Los Monteros

Bangla (French) - 6 banners
Mark McG (Spanish) - 7 banners

An Epic 4 hour match that saw the Spanish initially draw ahead 3-1, and then be overtaken to 4-5, and draw even to 5-5
There was some desperate maneuvering to gain advantage, but ultimately the Spanish cavalry crossing the field and getting loose into the French rear (where the 1 blocks units are) sealed the match.

Ruffin brought his zombie troops, I swear I killed them over and over, but they just kept rallying and reforming.

Much to what Bayernkini said really.

All very close until the last few stages. I didn't use the GM on the cavalry charge as I didn't think it would do as well as it did. I also knew that the way his infantry were massing that he would deliver a Bayonet Charge ... which he did and I cancelled. I think the French bayonet charge on the Spanish nfantry may have worked out worse had it been allowed to happen but we'll never know.

7-5 Bayernkini ........ Close but no cigar!

OT2016 - Rd 5 : 104 - Espinosa De Los Monteros

Bayernkini (French) - 7 banners
TheMP (Spanish) - 5 banners

The Spanish got early 2 additional GMs, which was a disadvantage for french, so i had to force the spanish to use it first.
So the first actions happens around the french left without much results.

Then i countered a CAV charge and was wondering, that spanish didnt used 1GM here. So a combined attack killed a ART and decreased the 2nd ART to 1block.
A spanish countercharge in center killed a french LC and decreased the 2nd to 1block also.

With a second BC i could force the spanish finally to spent their 3rd/last GM, and from there, i could plan a little bit more aggressiv.
But before that, another spanish center attack with LC, destroyed one of my HA.

Then the main actions happens again on french left, with a spanish attack and french counter, which brougth the spanish in front 3:2 and three 1block french units on left.

Then then the french dice shows again, they can be the hell, with another counterattack on left, killing a single spanish LC with 1die shot following with a successful
leadercheck, and a kill of a spanish 4block LT. So the result changes to 5:3 for french.

A spanish counter charge on left again, adust the score to 5:5. Now the next dice/missings decides the game.
Hoping to get the last 2 banners now, i attacked again on left a 4block and a 2block LN, and was able to kill both
for the final score 7:5.

Close game. And the killed leader shows again, why i am personally don´t like the rule, a killed leader counts (general) as VP.

My logfile is missing first turn.

OT2016 - Rd 5 : 104 - Espinosa De Los Monteros

EZPickins (French) - 7 banners
tlangston28 (Spanish) - 6 banners

I have the log file here - EZPickins was going to summarize this one - all i can say is that this was one topsy-turvy battle. Will add comments after re-reviewing the log file.

yeah, you can post a comment to the discussion from the Tournament page, but have to be in the Discussion page to actually load a file. The magic and mystery of online computing.

OK, now there is a reply tab. It seems you have to post something first to get it. Buggy...

OT2016, Round 5, Game
104 Espinosa de los Monteros (10-11 November 1808)
mantra (French) 7 banners
gottoman (Spanish) 5 banner

After some exchange of artillery fire from the Spanish the action moved on to the hills on the French right. Lots of ranged fire took place with the French forcing the Spanish Militia to retreat of the hills with no ground being taken. The Spanish then started to push the French Left with their accurate ranged fire bagging 3 banners in short notice. Try as the may, the French could not shake out a consistent attack on Spanish and soon the boys in yellow had 4 banners. About mid game the French were finally able to isolate a Spanish light unit and gain their first banner. The Spanish losing their momentum on the French left started to push the center towards Quintana. The French quickly responded with a little Elan and over two rounds was able to even out the banner count to 4 each. It was at this point that the Spanish were beginning to look a little worn even though they just took the lead (5 banners) by smashing the French line on the hill outside of the town. The French seeing their chance unleashed a double cavalry charge supported with horse artillery to cap the battle with 7 banners.

Greg played well and had smoking dice at the start with the game evening out in the middle. In the end it could have went either way. Looking forward to the next match as the Spanish.

How can we upload the game file? There is no action tab to do anything....just this comment strip.