PUN1 Syracuse vs Gaul

First up, the mighty Syracusan's against the Gauls! Jack took the Syracusan's & promptly took all the Spears he could, EVEN though I warned him he would be up against Warband. Ah well, we shall see. Terrain was a hill on one side of the field. A wood & a 'Stonehenge' treated as Rough. The Gallic plan was simple enough, 'Line up the Lads & just pile them in..!!!'

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Set up & opening moves.

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Off go the Chariots on the right

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'Ooohh!' Syracusan Auxilia taking a moment to 'contemplate their surroundings..'

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The sound of Gallic shield bashing gets closer.

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Jack forms a protective ring around his 'Stonehenge'.

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Hhhmmm, strange one Jack. He stops his advance & waits for the attack.

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'Oh yes!' I fancy this one is going to go my way for once.

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A poor start, but not a disaster. The Gallic Chariot Boys get repulsed.

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The Gallic Chieftan Virdumarus watches the flank, a lone Warband crosses to field to help.

The rest of the lads get ready to pile in.

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Spear versus Warband, who would win through?????

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The Chariot Boys try again......

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'RaHoo!!!' Down goes the Syracusan Cavalry.

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In go the lads!!! LOOK at that open space on the flank.

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Not a peep from the Syracusan Light Brigade on this side of the field.

They would remain static for the rest of the game.

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Even losses this round, but the Gauls are winning the battle.

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OOOO so close.... The Syracusan King is on the ropes & LOOSES the combat. Luckily for Jack, King Hieronymus has the ROCK HARD ability, a KILL become a RECOIL......

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On his round, Jack takes revenge & quickly eliminates the Gallic upstarts.

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My turn & it's looking good!!!

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RaHoo!! RaHoo!! Victory for the Gauls.....

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HA HA HA!! Where's the LOOT!!!!

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Final view of the field from Jacks side of the table.

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'Look! There he is, quickly Vitomus blow your big horn at him!!!'

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Well, well, Jack is well & truly 'Whooped' in this one & he knows it. Spear vs Warband is a tough one. HEY, I can only beat what is put in front of me...... ;o)

Punic Wars Introduction

Here we go again, another mini campaign. This time we've gone back in time to the 2nd Punic Wars. Again we've picked four nations to battle each other & again each General will have a special ability (which Jack randomly allocated by rolling the dice). This time we'll split the contests on either a lovely lush & green 'European' style battlefield OR a 'Desert' style battlefield. We've already ran a couple of games over Xmas.

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II/9 Syracusan 410BC-210BC
King Hieronymus - ROCK HARD = KILL drops to a RECOIL (own element, 1 per battle)
1x3Cv or 4Sp(Gen), 6x4Sp, 1x4Sp or 3Wb, 1x4Ax or 3Cv, 1x4Aux or Art, 1x2Lh, 1x2Ps

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II/33 Polybian Roman 275BC-105BC
General Scipio - SCRAPPER = Extra +1 to Combat rolls (own element)
1x3Cv(Gen), 1x3Cv, 6x4Bd, 2x4Sp, 2x2Ps

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II/32 Later Carthaginian 275BC-146BC
General Hannibal - SWIFT = +100 Paces to own GROUPS move
1x3Cv(Gen), 1x2LH, 3x4Sp, 1x4Aux, 3x3Wb or 2Ps, 1xEl or 3Cv, 1xEl or 2Lh, 1x2Ps
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II/11 Gallic 400BC-50BC
Chieftan Virdumarus - WISE = +1 PIP per round.
1x4Wb or LCh(Gen), 2xLCh or 3Cv, 8x3Wb, 1x2Ps

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Each General would have a special ability (or disability). A 2D6 was rolled for each one & matched against the following chart.

2 SLOW = -100 to own GROUPS move
3-4 IDIOT = -1 PIP per round.
5-6 WISE = +1 PIP per round.
7 SWIFT = +100 Paces to own GROUPS move
8 RASH = Can make Double move but must end in Combat.
9 SCRAPPER = Extra +1 to Combat rolls (own element)
10 ROCK HARD = Any KILL result drops to a RECOIL (own element, once per battle)
11 LUCKY = Re-Roll any die (1-3 times per game)
12 OMENS = Roll two combat dice & discards the lower (1-3 times per game)

KOH6 Crusaders vs Seljuks

Finally the MONSTER clash between the Crusaders & the Seljuks to decide who rules the Kingdom of Heaven. After my truly dismal performances, I decided to sit this one out & act as a referee. Jack took the side of the Seljuks, could he repeat his 'Blitzkrieg' tactics displayed in earlier games. While Amy took the role of the Lionheart, commanding her favourite army the Crusaders.

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Opening set-up. Jack put the bulk of his troops in the centre with Light Horse on the wings. Amy went for the Crusader Steamroller tactics.

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The mighty Seljuks.

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Crusaders!!!

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It would take a few rounds for the Army's to manoeuvre together...

Both Generals played a safe opening.

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Strangely Jack didn't advance his Light Horse quickly.

Would he pay dearly for his caution?

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COOOEEEYY!!! Amy sends some Bows to cover the sparse rough ground.

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Still nothing from Jack....

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Amy's taunting Jack with tales of how the Seljuks will be destroyed...!!!

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Finally the battlefield erupts into action. On the rights Jack prepares a Light Horse for a deep strike mission. On the left Seljuk Light Horse take on a Bow/Knight Combo. A lone Light Horse engages a Crusader Spear & is promptly annihilated, 1 - Nil to the Crusaders.

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Advantage to Jack, could he make numbers count?

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One casualty each as the combat goes on, Crusader reinforcements arrive in the shape of Templar Spears. That probably saved the flank for the mighty Amy.

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Oh dear, Jacks banking on the centre for victory...

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HHhhmmm now a strange one from Jack. I try to warn him, but he's entered into 'Stubborn Teenager Mode', I'm not sure if it's right but I'm not going to argue. He moves to engage the Spears instead of facing off against the Hospitaller Knights. What's bad is that the Knights advanced after winning the last combat. He loses & recoils...

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....into the Hospitaller Knights. Amy laughs out loud 3 -1 to the Crusaders.

Various Charts are consulted by Jack & he admits the loss.. }:o(

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A new round. Oh Dear it gets worse for Jack.... His Seljuk Light Horse on 'Deep Strike mode' is promptly ambushed by a hail of Crusader Arrows.

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This should be GAME OVER, but in our humble abode, the rule is that we play until the end of the round (which usually is yours truly on the receiving end). Jack gets up to leave, but Amy dressed in her 'Jedi Knight' outfit unleashes her brand new plastic Light Sabre. A low 'VVVVVOOOMMM' is heard as she turns it on & promptly 'wacks' Jack back into his seat.

Down goes element number 5 for the Seljuks.

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In the centre is a disaster, two more Seljuks bite the dust.

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Final positions. I have a wry smile on my face at Jacks humbling!

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The MIGHTY Crusaders Kings of the Desert!!

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At Amy's request, Jack's casualties..... Ah Bless.

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All hail AMY 'JEDI' LIONHEART, supreme champion.

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Jacks accepts defeat & has a smile on his face. Ah the shame of losing to a younger sister. Never mind, I think he was too cautious with his Light Horse at the start. So the Crusaders prove to the hardest Army in our Campaign.

Final Standings for the Kingdom of Heaven....

1. Crusaders - 30
2. Seljuks - 19
3. Byzantines - 12

4. Ayyubids - 3