Collision Course VI – DBA With A Twist
Sunday 23rd May saw the return of the ever popular DBA With A Twist tournament in Canberra. Over the past 18 years we have held a DBA Tournament in May where we modify the rules in some way. Over that time the most popular variant has been ‘Collision Course where the deployment rules are changed to simulate an accidental encounter between two marching armies, divided into three columns of four elements. The first column is deployed on the board within a 4 Base Width square centred on the baseline, the second column in the same area but with only the lead element on board. The third column can be brought on for a cost of 4 PIPs after the first bound anywhere along the usual deployment area.
Scoring followed the standard form that I have been using since the early 21st Century. The winner scores a flat 8 points, the loser scores 1 point plus 1 point per element killed (to a maximum of 3), with 1 extra point for killing a general and 1 extra point for capturing the baggage. An unfinished game scores the same as a loss, but without the first 1 point for losing. It is possible to score 6 points when losing – however I would love to see a game where a player killed 3 elements, including the general, and captured the baggage but still lost the game.
Overall 17 people signed up but in the lead up over the last 24 hours saw us lose three players for various reasons. But 14 is a good turnout, and it included a new player – Austin Kenny. Our new venue, the Lanyon Vikings Club has a later opening time so we were limited to 5 rounds, but they were 5 quality rounds. It was a pleasant event, with nothing but civilised banter, proving once again that DBA is the wargame they play in heaven.
Round 1 saw a series of expected results, however the Collision Course where the players need to form their line of battle from marching columns on a larger board can harm the careful, cautious player, there were two unfinished games. Gary Moriarty dissected Austin Kenny’s Polybian Romans with his Medieval Scandiavian (Union). Phil Baldoni used his Parthians to school Andrew Chicco and his Alans. Peter Braham’s Umayyad Arabs rode down John Willacy’s Nobades. Mark Baker fought a long hard battle with Stephen Hopkins, his Wallachians eventually brought down Stephen’s West Frankish. Greg Kelleher also went to the wire with his Early Polish against Peter Spitzkowski’s Mongol Conquest but in the end the Mongols proved too tough for the Poles. Guy Sheppard managed a winning draw (3-0) with his Ming Chinese over Adam Stone’s Yi Korean. Leigh Dunn had a similar result with his Tauregs over David Lucas and his Eastern Han.
Round 2 saw Phil Baldoni continue his winning ways with a convincing win over Peter Spitzkowski. Mark Baker had hard fought win over Greg Kelleher despite having lost three practice games to him in the days leading up to the competition. Rumour has it that Mark had been playing the long game lulling Greg into a false sense of security. Guy Sheppard schooled Leigh Dunn while David Lucas redeemed himself with a convincing win over Adam Stone. New player Austin Kenny took down Jon Willacy in a close fought game. Andrew Chicco soundly defeated Stephen Hopkins, in a battle decided by the adjudication of a cocked dice. The dice was determined cocked in the corner of a dice tray. If allowed the 6 would have allowed the West Franks to hang on. Peter Braham and Gary Moriarty fought long and hard, but the battle ground into a draw.
In Round 3 Mark Baker faced off against Phil Baldoni in an epic battle that saw Mark narrowly defeated, but having killed three elements including the enemy general he ended the battle with a score of 5. Guy Sheppard crushed Peter Braham’s Arabs and Austin Kenny continued his streak with an overwhelming victory over David Lucas. Gary Moriarty rallied after his round 2 stumble and beat Greg Kelleher. Jon Willacy redeemed himself with a convincing win over Stephen Hopkins, who seemed to be well on his way to the bottom of the table. Peter Spitzkowski and Andrew Chicco failed to finish a game that balanced on a knife edge, both sides had inflicted 3 casualties when time was called. Adam Stone was in a winning position over Leigh Dunn but failed to take the final casualty when time was called.
As Round 4 commenced all eyes were drawn to the contest between Guy Sheppard and Phil Baldoni who were the only two remaining undefeated players. While they shaped up new recruit Austin Kenny took his most prestigious scalp with a convincing win over Mark Baker. Leigh Dunn managed his first win over Stephen Hopkins, whose slide continued. Peter Braham utterly massacred Andrew Chico, who was left bemoaning his lack of bowmen and the way that I had talked up the Alans as a powerful army for Collision Course (based on my being on the receiving end some years ago). Greg Kelleher managed a win over David Lucas and Jon Willacy scraped through against Adam Stone. Phil Baldoni came out on top in the clash of the heavyweights, and the other crucial game saw Gary Moriarty finish with a winning draw against Peter Spitzkowski, as his well constructed defensive position left the Mongols no invitation to crash in and commit suicide.
The final round began with Phil Baldoni as good as locked in for first place saving a massive defeat against Austin Kenny, now sitting on second. Such a result would have left first place to the mercy of the countback algorithm. The contest for second and third was very tight. At the other end of th scale, Adam Stone and Stephen Hopkins lined in a battle for the cellar. Guy Sheppard made short work of Mark Baker and Gary Moriarty gave Jon Willacy a similar schooling. Peter Braham and Greg Kelleher fought long and hard, and the battle went to the wire with Peter emerging the victor. David Lucas outfought Peter Spitzkowski and Leigh Dunn used his camels to great effect in riding down Andrew Chicco’s knights. Adam Stone proved too strong for Stephen Hopkins, giving Stephen the dubious honour of last place. Of course, all eyes were on the championship game. At one point it looked like Austin had the upper hand as his Polybians formed a solid line and started to push the Parthians back, but as they say – you can bring blades to a knight fight, but it isn’t advisable. At the end of an eye watering battle, Phil completed the day undefeated.
The final tally saw the scores fall as:
1. Phil Baldoni – II/37 Parthian – 40 Points
2. Guy Sheppard – IV/73 Ming Chinese (With Burmese Allies) – 30 Points
3. Gary Moriarty – IV54b Medieval Scandinavian (Union) – 29 Points
4. Austin Kenny – II/33 Polybian Roman – 28 Points
5. Peter Braham – III/31 Umayyad Arab – 26 Points
6. Mark Baker – IV/65 Wallachian or Moldavian – 24 Points
7. Greg Kelleher – III/63b Early Polish – 22 Points
8. Jon Willacy – II/55b Nobades – 22 Points
9. David Lucas – II/41b Eastern Han Chinese – 20 Points
10. Leigh Dunn – III/70 Taureg – 20 Points
11. Andrew Chicco II/58 - Alan – 18 Points
12. Peter Spitzkowski – IV/35 Mongol Conquest - 17 Points
13. Adam Stone – IV/78 Yi Dynasty Korean – 16 Points
14. Stephen Hopkins – III/52 West Frankish – 13 Points
The Executioner Award for the most kills in a single game went to Peter Brahan who scored 6 kills against the Alans in Round 4.
The Magister Militum Prize (aka “The Maurice”) for the highest adjusted score went to Mark Baker and his low rated Wallachians who did well punching above their weight.
None of this would be possible without the support of a number of sponsors
• Ray Compton of Essex Miniatures Australia -
www.essexminiatures.com.au/ who provided vouchers for first, second and third place
• Brian Hall from Hall of Ancient Warriors -
www.hallofancientwarriors.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 vouchers for the Executioner Award, Magister Militum, and Last Place. Dean also engraved the trophy plates and donated the figures used on the trophies.
• Barry Scarlett of Leadbear’s Tufts who donated a voucher to each entrant. 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.
• The Lanyon Vikings Club -
www.vikings.com.au/lanyon who donated the room and allowed a booking of 16 at the bistro at short notice.
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.
Hopefully time will see more DBA events running by 2021 – MOAB in Sydney in October and then Landwaster in Canberra the Vikings Club in November. Then we are sailing into 2022 and Cancon.
So get the lead out – paint it and play DBA
Cheers
