The Dustbin

rs2excelsior · Post by **rs2excelsior** » Thu Jul 09, 2020 11:10 pm

Division E

rs2excelsior (Ptolemaic 55-30 BC) draws with Stew101 (Thessalian 404-352 BC with Greek 460-281BC allies) 49-36

The Ptolemaic army deployed in a flat plain between mountains, hoping the restricted terrain would negate the Thessalian superiority in horse. Thessalian skirmishers pressed forwards and decisively defeated the Ptolemaic skirmishers, forcing my line to advance anyway. My opponent kept up a very strong fighting withdrawal, harassing my heavy infantry as his own infantry line fell back towards a hill to his rear. Ptolemaic xystophoroi clashed with Thessalian horse, and while my cavalry was defeated in the end, they took a toll on the Thessalian horsemen and bought valuable time for the infantry battle. My pikes and legionnaires closed in on the Thessalian hoplites and massed peltasts, who had nowhere further to fall back. My imitation legionnaires did their best impression of the real thing, crashing into the Thessalian hoplites and breaking their lines. A Thessalian veteran hoplite made a valiant stand, but was outflanked and routed as well. My reserve line of thureophoroi (and a legion which had gotten tangled up against a skirmisher unit) didn't make it to the fight except to help mop up scattered fragmented units.

However, this left a problem. My cavalry and lights were basically destroyed, and my heavy infantry was dug in on a hill. The Thessalians only had their own cavalry, who couldn't really assault my position without infantry support, and light troops, who couldn't force me off the hill in the time left. However, none of my units could reliably bring the enemy to battle either. Night fell with the Ptolemaic infantry dug in on the hill where the Thessalian infantry had made their stand, and they were only able to claim a hollow victory by virtue of holding the field in the morning.

Nightfall on the hill where the final fight occurred:

: 20200709185526_1.jpg (540.29 KiB) Viewed 1790 times

Good game to my opponent, an interesting and somewhat asymmetric match which ended with neither of us really able to force a decision on the other.

(2-2)

phoyle3290 · Post by **phoyle3290** » Fri Jul 10, 2020 12:04 am

Division C

phoyle3290 – Carthaginian, Hannibal in Italy, 216-203 BC with Bruttian or Lucanian allies defeats General Shapur - Seleucid 166-125 BC - 45-14

Thanks for the game!

SpeedyCM · Post by **SpeedyCM** » Fri Jul 10, 2020 12:39 am

Division C

SpeedyCM - Median 626-550 BC defeats sarmation - Phokian 550-461 BC 48-20.

Rob123 · Post by **Rob123** » Fri Jul 10, 2020 2:09 am

Division D

Rob123 (Sassanid Persian 591-628AD with Arab Bedouin allies) defeated ggarynorman (Byzantine 963-987AD) 47-16

snooky51 · Post by **snooky51** » Fri Jul 10, 2020 2:18 am

Division E

snooky51 - Carthaginian, Hannibal in Italy, 216-203 BC with Samnite 355-272 BC allies defeats rs2excelsior - Ptolemaic 55-30 BC -- 48-8

Egyptians refused to budge until Carthaginians moved off the high ground. Carthaginians got the better of the skirmishers. Carthaginians rolled the Egyptian right and some lucky wins across the whole front tipped the scales before the Egyptian pikemen could substantially enter the fray. Good game, felt like the rolls going the other way and its a different result.

DanZanzibar · Post by **DanZanzibar** » Fri Jul 10, 2020 2:31 am

Also for Pete:
My question is about promotion in the lower divisions, E and F, where it was largely made up of new players randomly (I assume) assigned to either division. It may be easiest to explain my question as a specific example... and you'll see my motivation for it too.

If I were to win CA Div F, is there a possibility of playing in Div D next season? As I was randomly give Div E in other sections, are those the only ones I could be promoted to Div D in?

Swuul · Post by **Swuul** » Fri Jul 10, 2020 3:51 am

Division B

Swuul (Spartan 550-461 BC with Corinthian 550-461 BC allies) beat elrawen (Kyrenean Greek 630-461 BC) by using the in-game "End Stalled Game"

elrawen hasn't taken a turn since June 25th and hasn't replied to any contact attempts. I can't access the match anymore, so I can't take a screenshot and I don't remember what the score was.

(4-0)

stockwellpete · Post by **stockwellpete** » Fri Jul 10, 2020 7:10 am

nyczar wrote: ↑Thu Jul 09, 2020 10:59 pm As I understand it, if you want a 1200 point battle, you will 100% get one. Your enjoyment is the same.

Yes, if the trial in Classical Antiquity goes to plan next season then for Season 10, and after, the default size for all battles in the FOG2DL will be set at 1200pts, with players having to indicate a preference for 1600pts size battles. Only if both players in a match want to play at 1600pts will this be allowed. So players will no longer be guaranteed 1600pt battles in Early Middle Ages and Biblical, but they will have a chance to play at 1600pts in the other sections of the tournament.

During the course of the trial I will listen to arguments that say the default size of the battles should be 1600pts (because larger sized battles won the poll) and that both players should have to opt for 1200pt armies to be able to play a medium sized battle. I do think it is incumbent on me to listen to player's views on the trial as it is taking place. But I will not listen to arguments that say all battles should be 1600pts in future. The poll result did not come to that conclusion and I will not be running any further polls on this subject.

stockwellpete · Post by **stockwellpete** » Fri Jul 10, 2020 7:11 am

SLancaster wrote: ↑Thu Jul 09, 2020 10:43 pm More list points mitigates the likelihood of enjoyment.

I just want to say that people enjoy the Digital League but the slight majority who want all games to be 1600 points are likely to get their wish in the end. But, they are going to have less players to play. There is nothing wrong I think with the current set-up. Two whole sections are already at 1600 points.

To move towards all sections at 1600 points which I can see happening is a big shift.

We are not moving to a situation where all sections have 1600pts as the compulsory size of battles. That is explicitly ruled out, in fact.

stockwellpete · Post by **stockwellpete** » Fri Jul 10, 2020 7:25 am

There has been no reply from elrawen and my guess is that he is AWOL now. If you have a match in progress with him and 7 days have elapsed without a turn being played without explanation, please go ahead and claim the match automatically using the "stalled game" facility in the game itself. You are not required to wait indefinitely for the game to continue.

For those players who are yet to start a scheduled match against elrawen, you have a choice because he has completed 3 matches in the 2 sections he has entered meaning that all his results will stand. You can either issue a challenge for your match (and send PM) and see if he picks up within the month allowed, or you can wait a few more weeks until I send out a last call message for him. It seems to me that he has gone and I would prefer to adjudicate his remaining matches sooner rather than later so that the other players in the division can clearly see the situation in the league table and how many points they might need to get.

I actually do not have any sympathy for players who just disappear without explanation (unless they have had an accident or something) and elrawen has visited this forum in July even though he has not moved since 25/26 June. It shouldn't be too much to ask for a quick PM saying that he has withdrawn.

stockwellpete · Post by **stockwellpete** » Fri Jul 10, 2020 7:27 am

Still no message from gioe07 and I am sure he has gone AWOL. His matches have been provisionally adjudicated already and will be included in the Sunday round-up if there is no contact at all.

stockwellpete · Post by **stockwellpete** » Fri Jul 10, 2020 7:33 am

DanZanzibar wrote: ↑Fri Jul 10, 2020 2:31 am Also for Pete:
My question is about promotion in the lower divisions, E and F, where it was largely made up of new players randomly (I assume) assigned to either division. It may be easiest to explain my question as a specific example... and you'll see my motivation for it too.

If I were to win CA Div F, is there a possibility of playing in Div D next season? As I was randomly give Div E in other sections, are those the only ones I could be promoted to Div D in?

I think it is likely that there will be fewer players next season as Season 8 is really "The Class of Covid" where lots of people were locked down at the beginning of it. I think you are probably looking at Division C next season if you maintain your form. When I have a large batch of new players who I know nothing about I put them in the lowest divisions and just watch what happens. There are always a few players who stand out and they are then fast-tracked. Macedonczyk is an example from last season who went up more than one division.

Challenge1 · Post by **Challenge1** » Fri Jul 10, 2020 8:48 am

Division D

Challenge1 - Roman 105-25 BC defeated ggarynorman - Indo-Greek 175BC-10 AD 45 - 19

The Indo-Greek firepower was never able to disorder the superior Roman infantry enough to make melee a viable option for their brittle infantry.

Well fought Gary!

Iain

stockwellpete · Post by **stockwellpete** » Fri Jul 10, 2020 11:30 am

: Classical Antiquity A-D Tables.jpg (986.96 KiB) Viewed 1693 times

: Classical Antiquity E-F Tables.jpg (568.95 KiB) Viewed 1693 times

harveylh · Post by **harveylh** » Fri Jul 10, 2020 11:46 am

stockwellpete wrote: ↑Fri Jul 10, 2020 7:10 am
During the course of the trial I will listen to arguments that say the default size of the battles should be 1600pts (because larger sized battles won the poll) and that both players should have to opt for 1200pt armies to be able to play a medium sized battle. I do think it is incumbent on me to listen to player's views on the trial as it is taking place. But I will not listen to arguments that say all battles should be 1600pts in future. The poll result did not come to that conclusion and I will not be running any further polls on this subject.

Seems very reasonable to me and I voted for 1600 points after being persuaded by Cunningcairn.

Harvey