Landwaster 2023
Canberra’s premier DBA Tournament entered its 22nd incarnation on Sunday 26th November as 20 players lined up to play five quality rounds, with four previous Landwaster Champions and four new faces. I stepped up as the 20th player to keep the numbers even so I saw less of the action than I normally do as much of my time was spent facing off my opponents.
Round 1 opened well with Phil Baldoni’s Polybians scoring a convincing win over Michael Callan’s Numidians. Nick Rodgers Tamil/Hindu combination with four elephants made short work of Leigh Dunn and his Sarmatians, whilst David Quilty using my Fatimid army schooled Greg Kelleher’s Post Mongol Russian. Mick Sellman started strong with his Italian Condotta and beat Adrian Williams Later Swiss, while Peter Spitzkowski used his Tibetans to good effect against Adrian’s young protégé James Hide and his Later Hoplite (Athenians). Adam Stone’s New Kingdom Egyptians made short work of Jon Willacy’s Hittite Empire and Austin Kenney with the terrifying Spring and Autumn Chinese were equally brutal to newcomer, Dale Daniels, using Adams Hittites. The historical matchups routine in the draw put veteran Landwaster Champions Brenton Searle (Polybians) and Mark Brandon-Baker (Selucids) together in round 1 with Brenton coming out in front. Another new face, James Manallack with his Jurchen Jin managed a narrow victory over Grant Snowsill using my Early Samurai, and I had a very close win with my Albanians over David Lucas using Eastern Han Chinese.
Round 2 is traditionally where the lucky and the truly skilled are sorted out as the top half with one win under their belts face off. Adam Stone pulverized Peter Spitzkowski, while Austin Kenney demolished James Manallack. Phil Baldoni just managed to beat down Nick Rodgers’ Tamils. Brenton Searle took down David Quilty in a relatively close game. My Albanians found themselves facing Mick Sellman and after a poor start were able to overrun his left wing for a convincing win. David Lucas sought redemption against Grant Snowsill which ended as a very close victory for David. Adrian Williams made short work of Mark Brandon-Baker’s Selucids whilst Jon Willacy confirmed himself as the top Hittite with a sound victory over Dale Daniels. Michael Callan’s Numidians ran rings around James Hide’s Athenians and Leigh Dunn made short work of Greg Kelleher’s Russians.
Come Round 3 the lead had tightened with only 5 unbeaten players remaining. I faced off against Phil Baldoni’s Polybians, after drawing him out I unleashed the Italian Allies (3x3Kn) only to fail dismally when they tied with enemy blades. Adrian Williams rose to the occasion and ended Adam Stone’s run in a very close fought game. Austin Kenney took down Brenton Searle. Nick Rodgers’ elephants stamped all over David Lucas’ Eastern Han and David Quilty fought Jon Willacy to the wire but came out smiling. Newcomer James Manallack took the impressive scalp of Mick Sellman and Leigh Dunn gained some much needed redemption over Michael Callan. Peter Spitzkowski had the narrowest of victories against Grant Snowsill. Mark Baker found his feet and just overcame Dale Daniels whilst Greg Kelleher and his Russians completely overran James Hide’s Athenians.
And so began the ‘Highlander’ round with Round 4. Austin and Phil, faced off as the only remaining undefeated players. The hard fought game of Polybians vs Spring and Autumn Chinese saw Austin triumphant by the narrowest of margins. Adam Stone succeeded in taking down Nick Rodgers’ Tamils. I faced yet another Polybian army led by Brenton, this one with Pergamene allies. My Italians once again fell before the Polybian blades and I was forced to do crazier and crazier moves that brought me to the brink of victory before it was snatched away. David Quilty came back on track with a solid win over Adrian Williams. James Manallack continued to do well with his Jurchens and rolled over the top of Leigh Dunn. Peter Spitzkowski proved too strong for Jon Willacy and Mick Sellman made short work of David Lucas. Mark Baker demolished Michael Callan and Greg Kelleher had a convincing win over Grant Snowsill. Dale Daniels and James hide fought a long and bloody affair that saw Dale victorious.
The final round saw Austin in the lead but needing a confirmed win to stay there, and numerous others in striking distance of the top place and all of those close to each other. David Quilty made very short work of Leigh Dunn and I had a convincing win over Peter Spitzkowski. Nick Rodgers gave Adrian Williams a schooling whilst Mick Sellman took down Mark Brandon-Baker. James Manallack continued to rack up the wins with a thorough demolition of Jon Willacy and Michael Callan had a narrow victory over David Lucas. James Hide picked up his first win of the tournament beating Grant Snowsill. All eyes were focussed on the deciding games where Phil Baldoni faced Brenton Searle and Austin Kenney faced Adam Stone. Only Adam stood between Austin and an unbeaten run, and the Spring and Autumn Chinese proved too strong. Brenton finished well taking down Phil.
The final tally saw the scores fall as:
1. Austin Kenny – I/32c Western Chou and Spring and Autumn Chinese (Other) – 40 Points
2. Brenton Searle – II/33 Polybian Roman (with Pergamene Allies) – 35 Points
3. David Quilty – III/66 Fatimid Egyptian – 35 Points
4. James Manallack – IV/14a Jurchen Jin – 34 Points
5. David Lawrence – IV/69 Albanian (with Italian Condotta Allies) - 31
6. Adam Stone – I/22a New Kingdom Egyptian – 31 Points
7. Nick Rodgers – II/42b Tamil (with Hindu Indian Allies) – 31 Points
8. Phil Baldoni – II/33 Polybian Roman – 30 Points
9. Mick Selman – IV/61 Italian Condotta – 30 Points
10. Greg Kelleher – IV/44b Post Mongol Russian – 28 Points
11. Peter Spitzkowski – III/15 Tibetan – 27 Points
12. Adrian Williams – IV/79c Later Swiss (League of Constance) – 24 Points
13. Mark Brandon-Baker – II/19a Selucid – 23 Points
14. Michael Callan – II/40 Numidian or Early Moorish – 23 Points
15. Leigh Dunn – II/24 Early Rhoxolani Sarmatian – 22 Points
16. Dale Daniels – I/24b Hittite Imperial – 21 Points
17. David Lucas – II/41b Eastern Han Chinese – 20 Points
18. Jon Willacy – I/24b Hittite Imperial – 19 Points
19. James Hide – II/5b Later Hoplite Greek (Athenian) – 18 Points
20. Grant Snowsill – III/55 Early Samurai – 17 Points
The Executioner Award for the most kills in a single game went to Adam Stone who was the highest placed player with 5 kills.
The Magister Militum Prize (aka “The Maurice”) for the highest adjusted score went to James Manallack and his Jurchen Jin.
The Mithradates Trophy for highest adjusted improvement on the best previous Landwaster position went to David Lawrence (me) with 25 percentile points improvement from Landwaster 2018.
None of this would be possible without the support of a number of sponsors
• Nic Robson of Eureka Miniatures Australia -
www.eurekamin.com.au/ who provided vouchers for first, second and third place
• Brian Hall from Hall of Ancient Warriors - brianhallhaw@bigpond.com who donated the first-place trophy
• Mick Sellman of Mick’s Metal Models -
micksmetalmodels.com/ who donated a DBA Armies for the Magister Miliutm Prize
• Dean Bedlington of Olympian Games -
www.olympiangames.com.au/ who donated a voucher for the Mithradates Trophy and Last Place. Dean also engraved the trophy plates.
• Barry Scarlett of Leadbear’s Tufts - Leadbear's Tufts | Facebook who donated a voucher to each of the prize winners. Leadbear’s has a Facebook presence and now sells his tufts on eBay as well, so I urge you to search him up and buy tufts. For the Canberrans you can also find the tufts at Ronin Games.
• Chris from Ocker Games –
www.Ockergames.com.au who donated a pack of dice for the Mithradates trophy. I used some dice of his in my games and they rolled well.
• A shout out to Laura from Posters and Coasters who gave me a discount on the very classy Kung Fu Rabbit and Bayeux Tapestry coasters which was part of the Mithradates Trophy and last place prize. You can find Laura at the Canberra Bus Depot Markets.
• Similarly Evolution Trophies gave me a very good deal on the trophies so deserve a shout out.
Please support these businesses that do so much to support us by ordering lots of product from them, and if you see them at a tournament – why not buy them a coffee or something.
One way or another there will be more DBA in January 2023 – Cancon is already open for registrations and in March there will be a Dry topography themed event at Goulburn. After that my events kick in again.
So, get the lead out – paint it and play DBA
Cheers
