Just had a series of hard-fought battles against Possum and Ehre. The 4 battles with Possum were with compettitve armies, and are being reported to the ladder. The 2 battles with Ehre were non-competitive, and werent reported.
Possum used a massive horde of nothing but light troops for hte first 2 battles- 5 lvl 4 or so archers, 4 lvl 2 militia, 6 lvl 1 peasent units, and 2 lvl 4 light cavalry. I used an army with 2 vets, 1 light cav, 3 warriors, an archer, a militia, and a peasent. The first battle, neither of us were prepared, and my screens simply took most of the shots, with my veterans and light cav intercepting charges at my archers, and my warriors swarming at his archers. The battle ended, with my archers having no major impact, being drawn into combat 3 times before their attackers were countercharged in the rear. The veterans got a lot of kills, and the light cav were sacrificed when holding off the enemy light cav units.
The second battle, we were both prepared, and 2 of my warriors swarmed up the side while covered by a unit of militia. The militia were shot to peices, and the warriors cut down the light cav and most of the enemy light infantry in the forest before succumbing to arrow fire. The veterans, light cav, peasents, and last warrior unit were dragged all over the place cutting down wayward units of light infantry, before eveauntually cutting down the archers, and finally catching his chieftain. Even though I was ready for what he might try this time, he was just as ready, and crushed half of my army before running out of ammo.
The last 4 battles will be described later, unless the other participants would like to, especially considering I dont remember the first loss very well.
Wow- Close battles
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Redpossum
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Yeah, incredibly close battles.
The second match, sum1, especially. And the second battle of the second match was just insane.
Sum1 and I were both manuevering and counter-manuevering madly. He was pulling his usual manuever with the Heavy Cavalry. Where he charges you, then hits disengage right at the moment of contact. Then as your units pursue, charges you with the second unit of Heavy Cavalry.
Yeah, that last battle was epic, just epic. We must have spent well over an hour fighting 4 battles.
The second match, sum1, especially. And the second battle of the second match was just insane.
Sum1 and I were both manuevering and counter-manuevering madly. He was pulling his usual manuever with the Heavy Cavalry. Where he charges you, then hits disengage right at the moment of contact. Then as your units pursue, charges you with the second unit of Heavy Cavalry.
Yeah, that last battle was epic, just epic. We must have spent well over an hour fighting 4 battles.
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pipfromslitherine
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Redpossum
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Pip, it was absolutely worth it. This is the most fun I've ever had with tactical ancients on a computer.
And it was indeed a battle royale. I only regret that there was no way of recording it for posterity.
Words fail me.
Sum1 is an incredibly devious, relentless, and all-around formidable opponent. He attacks quickly and decisively, and then withdraws in an equally brisk manner if things do not go well. He makes decisions with no hesitation, and sacrifices units ruthlessly if there is advantage in doing so. In short he combines the boldness of youth, which is rightfully his, with the ruthless objectivity of a far older man.
I am still amazed that I managed to sweep our second match.
I really wish a third party could have watched, to provide an objective account. All four of my battles against Sum1, (his 2 victories in the first match, and my two incredibly narrow, squeaky wins in the second), were incredibly rapid fests of manuever and counter-manuever, feint and counter-feint. I say rapid, because that was the pace, but the battles themselves went on and on and on.
The final battle was just insane. (And this is a measure of how extreme things were, that I, with my extensive vocabulary, am reduced to repeating simple superlatives).
Sum1 had most of his assets focused in 2x L6 Hvy Cav units. I had most of mine concentrated in 2x L5 Fanatics.
And with those force decisions, we drew the swamp map. Kyrie Eleison!
I deployed my Fans & Archers in the clear corner, guarded them with my Militia units in the swamp, and waited for him to come to me.
Sum1 attacked with his usual fine esprit de corps, working his Hvy Cav units briskly in the alternating charge-and-withdraw technique which has become his signature. Meanwhile, he held his Warriors back in the swampy section of his own side.
By clever use of this technque, he gradually drew out and eliminated all but one of my Militia units. At the same time, he exhausted all the arrows of my 2x L2 Archers. Unfortunately, these arrows had little effect on his Hvy Cavalry.
I tried my best to cut off at least one of his Hvy Cavalry units, even making a few short rushes with my Fanatics, but there was no joy to be had. In fact, it was clear that his secondary objective was to draw my Fanatics into the swamp on his side of the map, and destroy them with his Warriors. I had to prevent this at all costs, so I gave let the Militia die, doing my best to inflict what casualties I could in the process.
The manuevering during this stage of the battle was more frantic than words can describe. Over and over I had to stop my Fanatics from rushing off to their destruction. (That little button with the green feet on it is your friend!). Of course, the Halt button by itself was not enough, the Fanatics then had to be manuevered back into the "safe" corner of the map again, and then faced around so they were ready for the next rush. Had I not promoted my General as far as I did, all would have been lost for lack of order points.
As the opening stage of the battle drew to a close, I was left with both my L5 Fans, still completely intact. I also had one unit of L2 Militia, and both my L2 Archers with no arrows.
Sum1 at this point had both his L6 Hvy Cavalry units, one full strength at 24/24, and the other slightly down at 21/24. He also had two warriors, I believe, or perhaps 3.
A word on the corner of the map where the midgame and endgame were fought out is probably now in order.
I was in the right corner of my side of the map. That corner was all Open terrain. To my front was a small patch of Open terrain, then huge expanses of swamp. To my left, there was a wide, solid band of swamp.
I wedged my Fans & Archers in the corner, with my last Militia unit in the band of swamp to my left.
Leaving his Hvy Cavalry to threaten my front, Sum1 then sent his warriors manuevering around to threaten my left flank.
Then he sent one unit of Hvy Cav around to join the units threatening my left flank. He tried some feints with the Cavalry, but I wouldn't bite; I held my units close and tight.
Finally, he sent his warriors into the swamp on my left, to attack my Militia. I immediately committed my Archers to melee, as soon as I saw him start to move. He won that furball, but had to commit one Hvy Cavalry unit to do so, and they were chewed up badly in the wet.
As the midgame drew to a close, and the endgame began, I still had both of my Fanatics, and both were still at full strength.
Sum1 still had both Hvy Cav units. One was in excellent shape, and one was badly depleted, but still Ordered. In addition, he had two Warrior units; one depleted but Ordered, the other badly depleted and Shaken.
Both of us still had our leaders intact, neither having even drawn his sword yet.
Now Sum1 would show me a new trick. This part is hard to describe, but I'll do my very best.
My Fanatics in the Open in bottom right (SE) corner, one to the north a bit of the other.
Sum1's Warriors just to my left (west), in the swamp. One of Sum1's Hvy Cav in the clear just north of my Fans. The other Hvy Cav drifting about in a vaguely threatening manner.
He opened the endgame by charging with the unit of Hvy Cavalry from the north.
Just before they hit, he also charged with both Warriors. First he charged the Warriors against the Fanatics to the south, then he charged the Fanatics to the north, that were just about to get hit by the Hvy Cavalry.
Now the tricky part.
As soon as the Hvy Cav impacted my northern Fanatics, Sum1 had them withdraw. The Fanatics started to pursue. But at this same time, Sum1's Warriors slammed into their left. The result was that some of that north unit of Fanatics chased the withdrawing Hvy cavalry, and some stayed to fight the Warriors. Being all strung-out like that caused them to be Disordered, and they were chewed up badly.
Mark this one down in your book of tricks, young nobles. It's a brutally cunning trick, and not that hard to pull off, if you can once set it up.
Right, while this was happening, my southern unit of Fanatics was chopping his Warriors into catfood. As soon as they finished that happy little task, I brought them north to pile into the melee there. At almost the same time, Sum1 charged his last Hvy Cav unit.
The north Fanatic unit and his first Hvy Cav unit both routed eventually.
Then we both piled in with our leaders.
Sum1's last Hvy Cav unit and my last unit of Fanatics and both our leaders all chopped and hacked away at each other until finally my leader died. Then his leader died, and at that point his Hvy Cavalry finally routed.
I was left with about half a unit of Fanatics, on a muddy field strewn with corpses, including both captains.
It was one hell of a fight.
Sum1won, I salute you!
And it was indeed a battle royale. I only regret that there was no way of recording it for posterity.
Words fail me.
Sum1 is an incredibly devious, relentless, and all-around formidable opponent. He attacks quickly and decisively, and then withdraws in an equally brisk manner if things do not go well. He makes decisions with no hesitation, and sacrifices units ruthlessly if there is advantage in doing so. In short he combines the boldness of youth, which is rightfully his, with the ruthless objectivity of a far older man.
I am still amazed that I managed to sweep our second match.
I really wish a third party could have watched, to provide an objective account. All four of my battles against Sum1, (his 2 victories in the first match, and my two incredibly narrow, squeaky wins in the second), were incredibly rapid fests of manuever and counter-manuever, feint and counter-feint. I say rapid, because that was the pace, but the battles themselves went on and on and on.
The final battle was just insane. (And this is a measure of how extreme things were, that I, with my extensive vocabulary, am reduced to repeating simple superlatives).
Sum1 had most of his assets focused in 2x L6 Hvy Cav units. I had most of mine concentrated in 2x L5 Fanatics.
And with those force decisions, we drew the swamp map. Kyrie Eleison!
I deployed my Fans & Archers in the clear corner, guarded them with my Militia units in the swamp, and waited for him to come to me.
Sum1 attacked with his usual fine esprit de corps, working his Hvy Cav units briskly in the alternating charge-and-withdraw technique which has become his signature. Meanwhile, he held his Warriors back in the swampy section of his own side.
By clever use of this technque, he gradually drew out and eliminated all but one of my Militia units. At the same time, he exhausted all the arrows of my 2x L2 Archers. Unfortunately, these arrows had little effect on his Hvy Cavalry.
I tried my best to cut off at least one of his Hvy Cavalry units, even making a few short rushes with my Fanatics, but there was no joy to be had. In fact, it was clear that his secondary objective was to draw my Fanatics into the swamp on his side of the map, and destroy them with his Warriors. I had to prevent this at all costs, so I gave let the Militia die, doing my best to inflict what casualties I could in the process.
The manuevering during this stage of the battle was more frantic than words can describe. Over and over I had to stop my Fanatics from rushing off to their destruction. (That little button with the green feet on it is your friend!). Of course, the Halt button by itself was not enough, the Fanatics then had to be manuevered back into the "safe" corner of the map again, and then faced around so they were ready for the next rush. Had I not promoted my General as far as I did, all would have been lost for lack of order points.
As the opening stage of the battle drew to a close, I was left with both my L5 Fans, still completely intact. I also had one unit of L2 Militia, and both my L2 Archers with no arrows.
Sum1 at this point had both his L6 Hvy Cavalry units, one full strength at 24/24, and the other slightly down at 21/24. He also had two warriors, I believe, or perhaps 3.
A word on the corner of the map where the midgame and endgame were fought out is probably now in order.
I was in the right corner of my side of the map. That corner was all Open terrain. To my front was a small patch of Open terrain, then huge expanses of swamp. To my left, there was a wide, solid band of swamp.
I wedged my Fans & Archers in the corner, with my last Militia unit in the band of swamp to my left.
Leaving his Hvy Cavalry to threaten my front, Sum1 then sent his warriors manuevering around to threaten my left flank.
Then he sent one unit of Hvy Cav around to join the units threatening my left flank. He tried some feints with the Cavalry, but I wouldn't bite; I held my units close and tight.
Finally, he sent his warriors into the swamp on my left, to attack my Militia. I immediately committed my Archers to melee, as soon as I saw him start to move. He won that furball, but had to commit one Hvy Cavalry unit to do so, and they were chewed up badly in the wet.
As the midgame drew to a close, and the endgame began, I still had both of my Fanatics, and both were still at full strength.
Sum1 still had both Hvy Cav units. One was in excellent shape, and one was badly depleted, but still Ordered. In addition, he had two Warrior units; one depleted but Ordered, the other badly depleted and Shaken.
Both of us still had our leaders intact, neither having even drawn his sword yet.
Now Sum1 would show me a new trick. This part is hard to describe, but I'll do my very best.
My Fanatics in the Open in bottom right (SE) corner, one to the north a bit of the other.
Sum1's Warriors just to my left (west), in the swamp. One of Sum1's Hvy Cav in the clear just north of my Fans. The other Hvy Cav drifting about in a vaguely threatening manner.
He opened the endgame by charging with the unit of Hvy Cavalry from the north.
Just before they hit, he also charged with both Warriors. First he charged the Warriors against the Fanatics to the south, then he charged the Fanatics to the north, that were just about to get hit by the Hvy Cavalry.
Now the tricky part.
As soon as the Hvy Cav impacted my northern Fanatics, Sum1 had them withdraw. The Fanatics started to pursue. But at this same time, Sum1's Warriors slammed into their left. The result was that some of that north unit of Fanatics chased the withdrawing Hvy cavalry, and some stayed to fight the Warriors. Being all strung-out like that caused them to be Disordered, and they were chewed up badly.
Mark this one down in your book of tricks, young nobles. It's a brutally cunning trick, and not that hard to pull off, if you can once set it up.
Right, while this was happening, my southern unit of Fanatics was chopping his Warriors into catfood. As soon as they finished that happy little task, I brought them north to pile into the melee there. At almost the same time, Sum1 charged his last Hvy Cav unit.
The north Fanatic unit and his first Hvy Cav unit both routed eventually.
Then we both piled in with our leaders.
Sum1's last Hvy Cav unit and my last unit of Fanatics and both our leaders all chopped and hacked away at each other until finally my leader died. Then his leader died, and at that point his Hvy Cavalry finally routed.
I was left with about half a unit of Fanatics, on a muddy field strewn with corpses, including both captains.
It was one hell of a fight.
Sum1won, I salute you!
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fatetriarrii
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Wow, nice reports! From how you described the battle against Sum1, I was holding my breath at the end, it sounds like a VERY exciting match. Maybe a replay function would be in order? 
Again, thank you forthe report, and I salute those who, from teh report, are much better tactitians than myself, I am sure.
PS, thank you slitherine, for the game!
Again, thank you forthe report, and I salute those who, from teh report, are much better tactitians than myself, I am sure.
PS, thank you slitherine, for the game!
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IainMcNeil
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was fun, look to do it again sometime, i alrdy got my battleplan for your damn elephants.
Possum and I played a game last night where he used elephants as well, it came down to the wire all 3 games. The last match was the best tho.
was a big map with a forest in the middle and a river running from the upper left of the map through the forest, to the bottom. I had a squad of nobles, scouts, archers, veterans and 2 squads of warriors. When the match started i had deployed my troops marching up the left screen, calvary on the far left and heavy on the right, archers light infantry and ldr were in the middle. Though im not sure of his deployment he had elephants, 2 scouts, (im shaky on this part) heavy infantry and 2(1??) light infantry. He deployed top middle of the map and held his position. His calvary marched down the far right. At first, nothing happened as his calvary slowly looped to reach my flank. I decided to use my heavy/light calvary to counter his light/light calvary, but didnt remember to send them to attack until his calvary had run within centimeters of my heavy/ light infantry wall and attacked my archers. My heavies and calvary caught half of his horses, and the other half continued on to attack my archers, the were eventually destroyed. While they were fighting, his light infantry had crept through the forest and were to the right of the skirmish watching his horses get destroyed. His calvary managed however, to withdraw, and hell broke loose.
ALL my units, cept for the heavies which had just engaged his light infantry, charged the fleeing horses right into the river. My calvary(horses and all) being faster than the infantry made it first and crashed into a mix of light infantry heavy infantry and elephants in the middle of the river. My archers had just ran out of arrows(they were shooting his elephants across the river) and i had them charge into the battle(I had given them anti-elephant for the match) My calvary is quickly killed and my light infantry/archers hold out alittle longer while i send my heavy infantry to attack his light infantry that had crossed the river and was on my bank trying to flank the pile of troops and catch my general in a pincer. My heavies caught his troops and after they routed were sent into the water to attempt to break his shaken light infantry. eventually, all of our units were killed save for, my light infantry and general against his general, elephants, and his light infantry(were shaken). I remain in the river and wait for Possum to attack, which he doesnt. I try to send my general out to lure his troops to attack, he in turn sends his general to attack mine. They start fighting, then he sends his infantry and elephants against my lone general who tries to withdraw, but withdraws right into the elephants. he die pretty quickly so i run my light infantry into the middle of the map, in the river, surrounded by the forest. Another 10 minutes standoff, in which im disheartened by the Dallas Stars losing to the Buffalo Sabres(NHL). Eventually he gives in and sends his light infantry to attack, with his general. Theyre alrdy shaken, so my units force them to rout and surround his general. This time, possum only waits for about 5 minutes before he sends his elephants in to attack. Eventually my light infantry force them to rout, tho they take alotta dmg in the process
Possum and I played a game last night where he used elephants as well, it came down to the wire all 3 games. The last match was the best tho.
was a big map with a forest in the middle and a river running from the upper left of the map through the forest, to the bottom. I had a squad of nobles, scouts, archers, veterans and 2 squads of warriors. When the match started i had deployed my troops marching up the left screen, calvary on the far left and heavy on the right, archers light infantry and ldr were in the middle. Though im not sure of his deployment he had elephants, 2 scouts, (im shaky on this part) heavy infantry and 2(1??) light infantry. He deployed top middle of the map and held his position. His calvary marched down the far right. At first, nothing happened as his calvary slowly looped to reach my flank. I decided to use my heavy/light calvary to counter his light/light calvary, but didnt remember to send them to attack until his calvary had run within centimeters of my heavy/ light infantry wall and attacked my archers. My heavies and calvary caught half of his horses, and the other half continued on to attack my archers, the were eventually destroyed. While they were fighting, his light infantry had crept through the forest and were to the right of the skirmish watching his horses get destroyed. His calvary managed however, to withdraw, and hell broke loose.
ALL my units, cept for the heavies which had just engaged his light infantry, charged the fleeing horses right into the river. My calvary(horses and all) being faster than the infantry made it first and crashed into a mix of light infantry heavy infantry and elephants in the middle of the river. My archers had just ran out of arrows(they were shooting his elephants across the river) and i had them charge into the battle(I had given them anti-elephant for the match) My calvary is quickly killed and my light infantry/archers hold out alittle longer while i send my heavy infantry to attack his light infantry that had crossed the river and was on my bank trying to flank the pile of troops and catch my general in a pincer. My heavies caught his troops and after they routed were sent into the water to attempt to break his shaken light infantry. eventually, all of our units were killed save for, my light infantry and general against his general, elephants, and his light infantry(were shaken). I remain in the river and wait for Possum to attack, which he doesnt. I try to send my general out to lure his troops to attack, he in turn sends his general to attack mine. They start fighting, then he sends his infantry and elephants against my lone general who tries to withdraw, but withdraws right into the elephants. he die pretty quickly so i run my light infantry into the middle of the map, in the river, surrounded by the forest. Another 10 minutes standoff, in which im disheartened by the Dallas Stars losing to the Buffalo Sabres(NHL). Eventually he gives in and sends his light infantry to attack, with his general. Theyre alrdy shaken, so my units force them to rout and surround his general. This time, possum only waits for about 5 minutes before he sends his elephants in to attack. Eventually my light infantry force them to rout, tho they take alotta dmg in the process
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Redpossum
- Brigadier-General - 8.8 cm Pak 43/41
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Excellent write-up, Ehre!
But one thing, remember at the very end my shaken Lt Infantry panicked and routed off the map for no apparent reason? They were a long ways from your troops, your Leader was galloping around trying to lure me into the river, and my Lt Inf suddenly got a wild hair up their ass and routed off the map.
But it was an excellent match, thanks!
But one thing, remember at the very end my shaken Lt Infantry panicked and routed off the map for no apparent reason? They were a long ways from your troops, your Leader was galloping around trying to lure me into the river, and my Lt Inf suddenly got a wild hair up their ass and routed off the map.
But it was an excellent match, thanks!
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Redpossum
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No, man, this was totally out of the blue.
Ther hadn't been any fighting for a good 3-4 minutes, both sides were well apart. I had my elephant, shaken lt inf, and leader well out in the clear. Ehre had his warriors way off in the woods, and his leader galloping around. All of a sudden, my lt inf just threw down their weps and ran away.
Ther hadn't been any fighting for a good 3-4 minutes, both sides were well apart. I had my elephant, shaken lt inf, and leader well out in the clear. Ehre had his warriors way off in the woods, and his leader galloping around. All of a sudden, my lt inf just threw down their weps and ran away.
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IainMcNeil
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It could be that one man was cut off & fighting without you seeing him. Alternatively it could have been the result of you rallying the men. The effect wears off after a while. If a unit gets the morale boost & then takes casualties it may get the othe point where it would rout if it was not for the boost. When the boost wears off they may run away without taking any extra casualties.