Intercontinental Tournament - 2022

Battle report from Andras & Jim, Orthez game 1. We are really having a hard time getting our time zones matched up to play but were able to finish the first game this past weekend.

Jim Fardette (Allies) - 8 banners
Andras Kopcsik (French) - 3 Banners

Action opened up in the center with the French moving forward into the woods to take the terrain advantage. The French dice did not match the aggressive play and the British forces in the center drove them back with ranged fire.

The battle then shifted to the flanks, with Allied columns slowly grinding the French back on their left while the Portuguese hid in the woods and hoped nobody would bother them.

Allied numbers were the great factor, as damaged units could be replaced in the line while the French were forced to fight with many 2 or 3 block units. Allied cards were not so great, but that was compensated by drawing 3 counterattack cards, so whenever Andras got a good card I did too.

Dice were overall dismal for both sides at the beginning and we mocked our troops pillow fight, but they heated up at the end to quickly eliminate some units on both sides. The battle ended when a unit of British Light Infantry seized a hill that the French were unable to dislodge them from for the final banner.

Rnd 2 Game 2
David (Allies) 7 banners 34 lost blocks
GonzoJoe (French) 8 banners 29 lost blocks
Allies effectively creep up and contest church. Infiltrate a 5 pt Lt with leader deep into
woods. The French suffer what they must. Lots of attrition. Late French charge on left gained local superiority. Still Allies with average luck on last turn would have won 8-6.
Thanks to David for fun match

In our second game, the goddess of luck was squarely with the French. Andras' allied army advanced boldly on the right, only to be countered and ultimately smashed by accurate French small arms fire. Before you could blink, the tally stood at 6-0 for the French and they were looking to close it out.

A single garrison stood lonely in the church as the action switched to the allied right with a strong force of light infantry advancing. French came off their hill in a bayonet charge to try and claim the last two banners. An allied infantry combat first and more equitable dice made this a giant melee, but the French were able to seal the win, 8-2.

French (Jim) - 8
Allied (Andras) - 2

 
Round 2 - Orthez French Right

Game 1
Neal Ekengren  – British – 5 banners
Mark Benson (RiverWanderer) – French – 8 banners

The British pushed in force from their left flank toward St Boes, soon forcing the French to abandon the church. Determined French infantry extracted a price from the lead British units. The battle now pivoted around the central woods, with a thin blue line holding back to defend the town.  A lucky/unlucky exchange of leaders and units followed, taking the score to 5:6 to the French, both sides having an objective banner.

The final stages saw French Foot Artillery in hot but futile pursuit of retired British units and the British continuing a bold advance on similarly weak French units around St. Boes. A French Fire & Hold lay in wait, their fourth ranged attack card in quick succession; the remnant Militia's lucky roll of 3 dice claimed the 3 block British Light Infantry and then its attached leader, Vivan, fell to the Leader Check.

Thanks to Neal for an entertaining and close fought game. Return match planned for tomorrow.