Roll Call game 1

 

Against Bill Skinner using WotR English.

 

My army:

CinC Irr Kn(O), 5 Irr Kn(O), 2 Reg Bw(S), 6 Irr Bw(O), 4 Irr Ps(I), 2

Irr Hd(O), 1 Reg Art(S)

Sub Irr Kn(S), 4 Irr Kn(S), 12 Irr Pk(F), 2 Irr Ps(I), 2 Irr Hd(O)

Sub Irr Kn(O), 2 Reg Kn(I), 6 Reg Bw(S)

Sub Irr Kn(O), 2 Reg Kn(I), 6 Reg Bw(S)

Train command 8 Irr Bg(O) - Army baggage making the commands 30, 30,

18 & 18 ME respectively

 

 

Bill's army:

Brilliant CinC Kn(S) , 2 Reg Kn(S), 1 Reg Cv(O), 6 Reg Bw(S), 4 Reg Bd

(O), 2 Irr Bg(O) - 23 ME

Sub Reg Kn(O), 1 Reg Kn(I), 1 Reg Cv(O), 8 Reg Bw(S), 4 Reg Bd(O), 2

Irr Bg(O) - 23 ME

Ally Reg Kn(O), 1 Reg Kn(I), 1 Reg Cv(O), 6 Reg Bw(S), 3 Reg Bd(S), 2

Irr Bg(O) - 22 ME

 

I invaded, there was no weather (OK a risk of dazzle but it was 10 in

the morning). The only significant terrain was a HUGE (and it could

have been even bigger) BUA that Bill got to choose exatly where he

wanted to go to cover his flank.

 

Bill deployed with his CinC on my left then the sub and then the ally

with the BUA to the flank of the ally keeping me honest. I deployed

both my Bw(S) commands on the left then the Kn(S) command and then

the CinC. I deployed my knights mounted as there were no stakes in

evidence and given a few PIP's at the right moment I can always

dismount. That and the fact that Bd and Bw don't like fighting Kn

much in DBMM.

 

Bill allocated the high dice to his flanking sub and the low dice to

the CinC. His initial roll of 5,2 and a 1 for the ally was a very bad

start (I will NEVER use an ally on principle in DBMM if I am playing

a game I have any interest in winning simply because of the new

unreliable rules).

 

The unreliable ally made things very easy for me. The Kn(S) wheeled

slightly to their left and the Kn(O) from my CinC wheeled further

left to provide rear and flank support. My leftmost Bw command got

poor PIPs so went straight forwards and the other Bw(S) command got

better PIPs so the Bd advanced with the other command but the Bw(S)

turned into column and headed off to extend my line.

 

Bill decided to try and make a go of things by advancing in the hope

he would bet to me before I reorganised my knights. This just meant

that my knights when they hit his sub generals command were more than

240 paces from the ally :( On my left I got the better of the

shooting exchange and as I had more Bw(S) to start with that meant

that Bill's flank was under pressure from my Bd(S) heading for him

frontally and my Bw(S) shooting.

 

My Bd(S), Kn(S) and a few Kn(O) hit the line of Bw(S) and Bd(O) (Bill

didn't have any stakes to deploy) and in a couple of pairs of bounds

of combat the Bd and Bw evaporated for the loss in total of 1 Kn(S)

and 2 Kn(O). When the sub general broke the 2 ME penalty tipped the

CinC to broken and that was it.

 

25-0 to me in a fight that on paper looked reasonably even.

 

Game 2

 

Second game against Ian Mackay using New Kingdom Egyptian.

 

 

 

 

Ian's army:

CinC Reg Cv(S), 10 Reg Cv(S) - 24 ME

Sub Reg Cv(S), 10 Reg Cv(S)- 24 ME

Sub Reg Cv(S), 8 Reg Bd(F), 10 Reg Bw(O) - 22 ME

Sub Reg Cv(S), 6 Irr Ps(I)

 

I invaded, there was no weather, there were a couple of 1 FE pieces

of scrub one on my side of the table and one on Ian's both on my left

flank and a WW on my right with a small BUA touching the BUA on Ian's

baseline. Ian also rolled for a road but it couldn't be placed (same

side exits). Had I not selected any terrain Ian would have been able

to garuantee a totally open field.

 

Ian deployed with the two chariot commands in two element wide

columns either side of his infantry who were also in two columns, the

tiny command was at the rear. Ian's army was hard on the left hand

edge of his deployment area.

 

I deployed with both Bw(S) commands on my left then the CinC and the

French on my right. Ian allocated the high dice to his right flank

chariots, the middle dice to the infantry and the low dice to the

micro command. His first move saw both columns of his CinC's chariots

turn 90 and then contract as a group into a single element column

near his base line heading off to try and outflank my left. The

infantry did similar but obviously didn't get as far. The other

chariots sent a few bases out to slow my advance.

 

I advanced along the line, Ian kept running to his right. I advanced

some more and wheeled both my knight commands to the left. Ian ran

his chariots out wide on my left (I had just failed to get enough

PIP's to march close enough to stop them marching) but the infantry

now faced my Bw(S)/Bd(S) combo and my knights had some Cv(S) in their

sights.

 

I split off a single element of Bd(S) to skirmish and slow down Ian's

march on my left. My Pk(F) had advanced a bit to cut down the options

of the small number of chariots that had slipped out to my right.

 

My knights finally got stuck in. Ian initiated the combat with Cv(S)

vs my Kn(O) but I was in a solid line and his attack had little

effect. Over the next couple of bounds my Kn slaughtered his Cv(S).

 

Ian also managed to get his Bd(F) into a line of Bw(S) (my shooting

had no effect at all) but having hit me he was unable to do better

than get some recoils. I had a spare Bd(S) in the area that ended up

against one of his Bd and I also had a longer line. My Bw(S) held

their own well killing a couple of Bd(F) in melee and also shooting

some more down when they declined to follow up so I got another shot.

 

The final straw was when I charged 2 Bd(S) (one a general) into 2 Bd

(F) with no overlaps either way. I started the combat with the Bd

general and rolled a 1. Ian also rolled a 1. I did the sums, I am on

4 +1 for general plus 1 for the dice, Ian is on 4 plus 1 for the

dice, -1 because he is (F) and lost in his bound, -1 because I am Bd

(S) so he dies!!! The other now overlapped Bd(F) also didn't roll a

big number so that died too and when my Bw(S) killed a Bd(F) in a 2-3

combat on a roll of 3-1 to me Ian's infantry command broke (I had

shot a few archers dead in 3(S) to 3 combats) making the fact I broke

his chariots command too moot as it would have broken on the 2 ME

rule anyway.

 

Taling about the game later Ian felt (and I tend to agree with him)

that there was pretty much nothing he could do other than try to get

out of my way as everything in my front line was just too powerful

for anything in his army.

 

25-0 to me so not a bad first day.

 

Game 3

 

Third game against Geoff Pearson using Ilkhanid.

 

 

Geoff's army:

CinC Reg Cv(S), 4 Reg Cv(S), 2 Reg Kn(S)

Sub Reg LH(S), 9 Reg LH(S)

Sub Reg LH(S), 8 Reg LH(S)

Sub Reg LH(S), 8 Reg LH(S)

8 fortified army Irr Bg(O) making commands of 20, 17, 16 and 16 ME

 

I invaded, there was no weather, there were a 1 FE pieces of scrub on

my near right flank and three gentle hills on the far right that

played no part in the game.

 

Geoff deployed with the three LH commands in line to the left of the

rough ground. His CinC was behind the LH screen (although LH aren't

much of a screen anymore) and infront of the camp.

 

I deployed with both Bw(S) commands on my left both of them angled

back ready to fill (or at least protect) the 800 paces to the table

edge to the right of these were the French with my CinC on my right.

For the first time in the tournament I decided that my Kn(O) would

deploy dismounted. I thus presented a line of Bd(S) and Bw(S), Kn(S)

then Bd(S). My Bw(O) were in group with the 2 Bw(S) from the CinC

alternating 2 deep Bw(O) then 1 deep Bw(S) and aimed at the RGo.

Geoff allocated the high dice to his CinC, the second dice to his

slightly larger central LH command, the third to his left flank LH

and the lowest to his right flank LH. Over the course of the game i

think that having the low PIP constantly on his right flank really

restricted his options.

 

Geoff advanced pretty much straight forwards. I pushed my Bw(S)

commands out to cover the flank and advances slowly with the Kn and

Bd with the Bw reaching the near edge of the RGo. Geoff came clos to

me but didn't charge and in my next bound the action started. I had 4

Kn(S) (the general was in reserve) and 5 Bd(S) hit a line of LH(S).

The first combat a Kn(S) not overlapped as I had pulled Geoff to

conform with me died to a 1-6, I think one of Geoff's LH died and

other than that my Kn were left in a bit of a mess.

 

Geoff countered and killed another Kn(S) in short order but I was

starting to get mulitiple archers to bear on LH. A couple of LH were

shot dead and some more were spent against my Bd.

 

Geoff began to bring up his heavy troops to exploit the damage done

by the LH to my Kn and I managed to pull the Kn(S) general back to

the relative safety of the end of the Pk(F) block who were providing

rear support to the Kn. On my right I managed a shot with 2 Bw(O) and

a Bw(S) on the general of the flank command and shot him down (not

that unlikely actually, it was a 5-3 shot with the (S) cancelling

out). This along with one other LH shot dead and one killed by my Kn

(S) (about all my Kn(S) managed in the game) broke the flank command.

At this point the centre command of LH had taken 3 ME losses and we

couldn't work out the impact of the 2 ME penalty. I have since found

what should have happened and I believe that the 2 ME pulse should

have taken the centre LH disheartened but we got that wrong.

 

Geoff finally mopped up the two remaining Kn(S) which disheartened my

Kn(S) command but my left hand Bw(S) command was under very little

pressure (it and my other Bw command were facing Geoff's low PIP

dice) and was able to move over to the centre to help out. Geoff

threw LH and Cv variously at Bw(S) and killed a couple but I managed

a shot with two single ranked Bw(S) on his CinC and shot him dead. I

have several shots at the general of the central LH but he

steadfastly refused to die.

 

On my left I had made good use of single element moves to get all six

of my Bw(S) in single ranks with three each shooting at two LH.

Eventually I shot down both of these but a good PIP roll from Geoff

allowed a half decent attack which took out a Bw from my righthand Bw

command (and relived a bit of the pressure I had put on to the

centre) then Geoff pulled a feigned flight (a great move on his

part). I let my left wing go spontaneous as standing still was

pointless but it did mean that it took a while to reorganise them and

get them on the move again.

 

In the centre Geoff got stuck in to the Pk(F) and eventually broke

the command with the aid of his Kn(S). I was able to hold the

demoralised block and the Kn gradually ate it's way through the Pk.

The LH on the other hand were in trouble as they were flanked by a Bd

and fighting demoralised Pk frontally.

 

The LH general that refused to die to shooting got stuck in in close

combat with my Bw(S). I held in his bound and was then able to flank

the general (using the 80 paces free slide to it's full) and when I

killed him that broke the centre command. A demoralised Ps(I) also

killed the Kn(S) that had hacked it's way through the Pk and that

broke Geoff's army.

 

It was a very hard fought game and I have to admit I actually enjoyed

it. It was at least not quite what seems to be the norm for DBMM so

far of line up, advance and roll dice.

 

20-5 to me, I was now out of sight so the afternoon game was really

fro entertainment only now.

 

Game 4

 

Fourth game against Graham Edwards using 100 years war English.

Graham's army:

CinC Reg Kn(S), 3 Irr Kn(S), 6 Mtd Bw(S)

Sub Reg Kn(O), 4 Reg Kn(I), 8 Mtd Bw(S)

Sub Reg Kn(O), 6 Reg Kn(I), 6 Mtd Bw(S)

6 rr Bg(O) making commands of 19, 23, and 25 ME

I invaded, there was no weather, there were a couple of hills bang on

the centre line (OK very slightly towards Graham's baseline), a marsh

on my right on Graham's side of the table and a couple of pieces of

RGo on my right, one near my baseline and one just in fron the table

edge on the centreline.

For the only time in the tournament I deployed first..... (a roll of

1 for Graham and 2 for me :()

I deployed with a bow command on each flank, my CinC left centre and

the Kn(S) right centre. The Kn(O) from my CinC were again dismounted

and aimed at the central hill where they hoped to arrive before the

English, the Bw(O), Bw(S) and Art(S) were to the left of the hill

between my left flank Bw command and the Bd(S).

Graham deployed his CinC in the centre with the larger command on his

left and the smaller one on his right. The fact I moved first rather

limited the usefulnedd of his mounted Bw and I pushed forwards with

the Kn(S) and both flank Bw(S) commands. My Bd advanced to the hill

and the Art and Bw stood their ground.

Bill responded by advancing towards me and this brought one of his Bw

(S) into range of the bombard... BANG! dead Bw(S) (at 4 vs 2 with a -

1 to Graham if I win it isn't pretty). On my right my knights were

still a fair way from the Bw(S) and I was concerned that the Bw might

deploy stakes. I advanced and ended just out of bow range. Graham

advanced on me to get a shot rather than deploying stakes and in the

next bound my Kn(S) hit his Bw(S). It took a few bounds (well perhaps

3) but eventually the Kn(S) wiped out the Bw from that command and

the loss of a Bd(S) to sniping Bw(S) (don't you just love the odd 6-

1) meant that command was disheartened and 1 ME from breaking.

In the centre Graham was unsure of what to do with his Kn(S) and my Bd

(S) his his Bw. With the support of a Kn(S) from my right flank they

Bd made fairly short work of the Bw and that command was looking

tatty.

At this point we had taken a fair while over the game as Graham was

still unsure about a lot of the rules and I had been umpiring both

DBMM and another comp. Gordon who was sharing a car with Graham had

finished his game and Graham was keen to leave so we called it a day.

The score was irrelevant for the competition really speaking and

while another bound or two would have I am sure seen the demise of

Grahams' army (the left flank command had 5 Bd(S) and a general in a

clump facing a Bd(S) and a Bd(S) general with Bw(S) 2nd rank, 4 Bw(S)

in single ranks raking the edges of the Bd(S) block and a Kn(S) and Kn

(S) general ready to fall on their flank. One element dead from this

command and it would break, that would put 2 ME on the next command

and that would be game over.

The recorded score was 15-10 to me but really speaking this was a

learning game for Graham as I think he is rather new to DBMM.