Tommy's Wargaming blog

 Another Blink and you'll miss it game. Terrain consisted of a deep water secure flank and 2 vineyards on Keith's rear to restrict the placement of his Ilkhanids. Scouting was a draw but being the defender Keith deployed first. I screened his Ilkhanids with mixed units, and attacked his Knights with my Knights. His free Knight unit attacked 2 other mixed units and ended up breaking to weight of numbers and lucky dice. Better quality and Keith's bad luck in being on the wrong end of a mismatch for the 4th game in a row, I.e. he drew the short cross and faced 4 Later Crusaders, saw his army break. His flank charges came to naught. The highlight for the Armenians was that despite throwing 5 reds, 3 whites and a green, my Brothers only caused 3 wounds to his camp, obviously tired from their earlier exertions in previous games. I lost one unit of Superior Knights for a score of 15-2. 60 minutes or thereabouts. 44 points proved enough for 5th place in the end. On to Limerick, Ire...

 Should probably have attacked the flank of the Crossbows as opposed to going after the poor Spears. They had poor cards apparently had the mixed units. 3 big rough pieces dominated the table but with open areas in which to insert my Knights. Robin's Knights very subtly in reserve behind shooty Ayyubids. Round 3 vs Robin Spence I managed to outscout Robin by 40% I believe and the terrain consisted of a deep water flank with rough pieces spread around the table. First bit of luck was 3 wounds on white S dice against one of Robin mixed units with one of mine and then my beating it in one impact and Melee. I caught a couple of Mamluks with a Superior and an Average Knight eventually and was feeling very confident. I broke the unit facing the Superiors but I think in the long run lost both the Knights due to flank charges. I also had a run of 6 or 7 blanks on green dice. Before these units died however, I broke the poor Spear unit that was hiding in rough with my fanatics. I just could...

 Tough game for Rob. Full Armour made all the difference in the game by matching his Melee Expert. Some of Rob's casualties and my Average Knights back in the box.  Blew a Knight unit apart with Crossbow fire and started swinging around. Very fun and interesting game. My final casualties. The Brothers were a wound off breaking. 420 points to buy Fanatic was clearly worthwhile. Big clash on the right. My Averages have died but a lot of First Crusaders are about to be put to the sword. Probably slightly outwidthed my army's ancestors. Long First Crusade and Later Crusader lines opposite each other. Blink and you'll miss it game against Rob Brand's First Crusade. Terrain was more cluttered with a wood on the left and in the centre sector, and there was a coastal flank as well. "Well Captain, what are our orders? Charge hard". I eventually managed to beat up the enemy infantry, and my Full Armour gave me enough of an advantage against Rob's Knights that I kill...

Steve's and my initial deployment  A very rascally Ghuzz unit evading my mixed units The central clash Steve's casualties before it started slipping away. Surviving just about. Steve's waterway covering my left. The Ghuzz had taken casualties but too little too late. My Fanatics are playing "keep away from those people bearing points sticks!" All the competitors at the event, and I believe a Bloodbowl competition was happening at the same time.  I'll just preface this report by saying I had a wonderful weekend and 4 immensely enjoyable games. Round 1 Steve Stead with Almoravid in Africa I started Saturday morning with a very tough game against an army which counters mine. My advantage is my Cavalry if they're not facing Steve's Spears. I won PBS in a way, but getting the terrain into coastal with a deep water flank, which was abutted by Steve's gentle hill. I got outscouted by about 40%. I placed my poor Bows one on either side with mixed units in ...

 The 4th round of Warfare vs Jason Broomer with Middle Republican Roman. Again it features a deep water secure flank because of the anticipated Numidian ally. A town in Jason's centre placed by me, while he placed 2 gentle hills, the one on his right being of major significance. I sent a unit of Superior and Exceptional Legions to take the large gentle hill. Jason very skilfully maneuvered his Spanish and a 6 of Legions opposite me in such a way that I had to choose to attack him with either 1 Superior base or 1 Exceptional base in combat.  The Averages and 1 Superior Legion are forming a delaying force against the Numidians. I eventually broke the Javelin Short Spear unit in the town with a Superior Legion. This time Caesar woke up and broke the unit a turn earlier than he should (read amazing dice rolls by the Legion.) I also killed his general, downgrading it to Mediocre. While this was happening, I somehow was beating the Spanish and a 6 of Legions nearly single handedly w...

Round 3 of Warfare Top table with oxygen masks required for being near the top of the mountain. My opponent is Matt Haywood with Middle Sassanid. I lost the opening dice roll and ended up invading in plains, but fortunately I got a deep water secure flank. Nothing else on the table terrain wise.  The first clash, 2 Kushan Superior Cataphracts vs 1 Superior Legion. Those Cavalry are looking to swing round the rear of the Sassanids to wreak havoc. I eventually lost the Legion as expected, but I got the Cavalry behind the flank of the Cataphracts. I lost the Superior Legion in this pic due to 2 Cataphracts ganging up on it. Just to give context to the dice. They were Caesar's first roll in this game against Average Unprotected Horse Archers. I eventually got the Horse Archers to 3 bases but too little too late. The Cataphract in the front of the Superior Legion was the only unit I killed off Matt in the end. The Exceptionals did perform very well then. My mistake of the game was turni...

 My second round of Warfare was against Lance Flint and his Palmyrans. This was the "Saturday afternoon need to think a lot" game so apologies for the lack of photos. I defended this time and decided to again go for dense with a mountainous or forest secure flank. My target was the Poor Unskilled Bows on the mountain in Lance's deployment. I put my Average Legions opposite both of them. I spread out 1 Legion to deal with his 4 Horse Archers. Then I put my Exceptionals and other Superiors against his Cataphracts. My Cavalry were aiming at a Bow unit on Lance's right. My Poors were safe with the camp. My dice luck was consistently brilliant in this game and it helped me break not only 2 Cataphracts, but a Roman Cavalry with a by now 3 base Superior Legion. Foolishly I charged the Cavalry in a previous turn, not thinking that the path of charge would leave that Legion's flank exposed to Cataphracts. Fortunately one file hit the 10th, and I committed Caesar to that fi...