What was the last ruleset you played 2017?

[paulr]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? – Big Battle DBA 3.0
2) What armies were confronted? –
     III/66 Fatimid Egyptian 969-1171AD, III/74b Other Seljuq Turkish 1037-1276AD, IV/6a Syrian 1092-1286AD vs
     IV/1a Komnenan Byzantine 1071-1142AD, IV/2 Cilician Armenian 1071-1375AD, IV/7 Early Crusader 1096-1128AD

3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – fourth game of BBDA 3.0, third multi-player game
5) How many players were in the game? – six, the gang was all here

After our game last week I was pleasantly surprised when the guys asked for a third game
We play such a variety of periods and rule sets that three games in a row of one thing is unusual, although we do sometimes spend three or more sessions in a row on a large game

The Crusaders supported by the Armenians and Byzantines again invaded Syria but with a different mix of players on each side.

Initial deployment with both sides deployed well forward.



The Crusaders, near left, deployed with Knights on the flank supported by crossbows and bow and their Spear screening the rocky hill. The Armenians, near centre, deployed their spear in the centre with bow on their right and their Knights in reserve. The Byzantines, near right, deployed their bow and blades (Varangian guard) in a scrubby area then the cavalry on the flank with Light horse in column behind to hopefully work round the flank.

The Syrians, far left, deployed their cavalry supported by Light horse on the flank while their limited infantry lurked in the wood. The Egyptians, far centre, deployed their Spear and blade (Abid al-Shira) in the centre, facing the rocky hill. Their bow lurked in the wood and their cavalry covered their left flank. The Turks, far right, had decided to deploy wide on their left leaving a gap between them and the Egyptians. They lead with their cavalry supported by bows with Light horse in reserve.



After a few turns on the left the Crusader Knights had boldly advanced and were being overwhelmed by the greater numbers of Syrian cavalry and light horse. The Crusader Bow had been tied down by the Syrian infantry.



About the same time on the right the Byzantines were having more success against the Turks. Some early success on the extreme flank had allowed the Byzantines onto the flank of the Turks.



On the left the Crusader Knights have withdrawn for a last stand reformed for a glorious counter attack while their bow and spear had little effect on the Syrians and Egyptian infantry to their front. In the centre the two lines of spear slowly advance while the Armenian bow cause confusion amongst the Egyptian cavalry. The Armenian Knights move to the left sensing trouble to support their Crusader allies. On the right the Turks have lost a third of their army and so are demoralised.



Five cavalry and two light horse against two knights whose command is one element off being demoralised, things are starting to look a little one sided.



In the centre the lines clash with mixed results. The Armenians lost one spear element while the Egyptians have lost an element of light horse.



A few more turns on and the Crusaders have been slaughtered or fled as have the Turks.

On the left the Syrians, who have not lost a single element, have reformed and are rapidly advancing on the Armenian knights who are now the entire left flank. In the centre the Armenian bow have forced the Egyptian cavalry to withdraw dangerously exposing the flank of the Egyptian infantry line. A string of 1s for PIPs has meant that the Byzantines have only been able to send a couple of cavalry and one light horse to support the Egyptians.



By now both sides were near to breaking. With a series of good PIP dice the Egyptian commander managed to withdraw his infantry line and avoid combat. The Syrians advanced strongly and engaged the Armenian Knights with mixed results.



The Armenian Knights had managed to kill one Syrian cavalry element and get another badly isolated without loss. They were unable to prevent two elements of Syrian cavalry, including the General, from looting the Armenian camp. With this loss the Armenians and Byzantines were broken.

A very hard fought and enjoyable game

[Womble67]

Table looks brilliant

Take care

Andy

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

What a great game!

[paulr]

Thanks Andy

It certainly was ML, fortunes swung back and forth several times and it still could have gone either way up until the end

Pierre the Shy handled the Syrians particularly well and the Armenians were very unlucky not to catch the Egyptian infantry

[pierre the shy]

Pierre the Shy handled the Syrians particularly well and the Armenians were very unlucky not to catch the Egyptian infantry

Have to own up to a slight correction here.....I wish I had been the Syrians  

I did manage to lose the Crusader command quite spectacularly through my usual trick of rolling several consecutive ones which is not good in DBA (or most other games   ) as if your opponent scores double your final score then your element usually dies.

Stilll I do like DBA, though Kn seem to be like fireworks....light the blue touchpaper and stand well back.....

[toxicpixie]

I always put Pyrrhus in with the Agema, then regret it as he goes haring off across the field into "win or die" situations, every bloody time.

Still better than in with Nellie.

Great looking game!

[paulr]

Have to own up to a slight correction here.....I wish I had been the Syrians  

I did manage to lose the Crusader command quite spectacularly through my usual trick of rolling several consecutive ones which is not good in DBA (or most other games   ) as if your opponent scores double your final score then your element usually dies.

Stilll I do like DBA, though Kn seem to be like fireworks....light the blue touchpaper and stand well back.....

Apologies Peter, was it Roy who was the Syrians then
In my defence it was on the other flank

I suspect the key with Kn is when to light the blue touchpaper
I still get this wrong more often than right

It also seems quite historical

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Epic 40k
2) What armies were confronted? - Graham's Blue and White Marines vs The Emperor's Pointy Sticks Space Marines
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - second game, but definitely picking it up.
5) How many players were in the game? - two.

Graham decided to put all his effort into the right flank


Despite losing a devastator squad (and basically missing everything turn 1) and breaking a Land Raider squad, I was able to hold him off, even breaking his Terminators, destroying his assault squad and devastators, shooting his predators and mauling a tactical squad! This allowed me to contest one objective and my other landies and a tactical squad was able to ensure he had nothing holding one of his objectives! 
On my left Graham only put two squads on my left, his bikes and his devastors took on my assault marines and predators. He broke my predators, I took out everything of his and was able to claim an objective on his side.

Then I teleported my terminators in behind his 'goalkeeper' whirlwinds on his rear objective, who promptly were can openered!
Turn three, I won (either 3-0 or 4-1, I can't remember the scoring)!
Everything in Pinky/Purple is mine...


Second game, second victory dance.

[Steve J]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Sword & Spear 2nd edition
2) What armies were confronted? - Saxons vs Vikings
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - No
5) How many players were in the game? - Two

[mollinary]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? -To the Strongest: for King and Parliament! Playtest v3
2) What armies were confronted? - Lord Pargetter's Borchester Royalists v Ed Grundy's vile Cropheads
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes, reasonably, although I keep forgetting the changes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - No
5) How many players were in the game? - Two

I led the Royalists and went down to a heroic defeat after 2 1/4 hours ding dong, with Rep advantage swinging both ways. My foot were reluctant to engage, and suffered early on, giving my opponent the impression that an easy victory s his for the taking. But, as is the way with these rules, things were not that simple, and when Prince Philip-Frederick's horse got around the Parliamentary flank the raw Dutch style horse collapsed like a pack of cards, leaving Grundy alone and in danger. As a last refuge he flung himself into one of his reserve foot battalia, and with the most stirring words he ever uttered, stirred them into life. They activated five times in a single turn, just enough to turn the tide against David Archer''s regiment of foot, and win the narrowest of victories.  Edward Grundy is now carded to head West to take over from Waller!

Mollinary

[Steve J]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Bloody Big Battles
2) What armies were confronted? - British vs Prussians
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - No
5) How many players were in the game? - Two

A run through game for The Battle for Surbiton 1871, a follow on engagement from The Battle for Dorking, for a demo game that Dave is running at Legionnary this Spring. A fun and very useful game that allowed Dave to tweak a few things. Having lived there as a student proved to be useful as I knew the area very well. Pics and an AAR to follow.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Why would anyone defend Surbiton?

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Why would anyone defend Surbiton?

Under common law Surbiton has the right to the best defence he can afford.

[Sandinista]

Why would anyone defend Surbiton?

It has one of the best pubs in the UK, The Lamb on Brighton Road

Cheers
Ian

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Warband
2) What armies were confronted? - John's Hugh Elves, led by Percy the Inert vs Big Jason's forces of Goblotopia.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Nope
5) How many players were in the game? - Two
Will post a match report in Warband, but I got stomped, BIG!