|
|
Post by sheffmark on May 2, 2017 12:32:34 GMT
Thanks - is that Patrick Dale? We have 20 confirmed and a further 8 possibles. Suspect I will need some help with people bringing boards and we may well overflow onto the Gilbert and Sullivan set for a performance of Pirates of Penzance that evening in the venue! One of the songs may be particularly relevant for the tournament: Go, ye heroes, go to glory,
Though you die in combat gory,
Ye shall live in song and story.
Go to immortality!Simon And as you sit there surveying the wreckage of your army perhaps the following:
Perhaps it would be wise, not to carp or criticize Because it's very evident these intentions were well meant.
|
|
|
|
Post by Simon on May 12, 2017 18:51:20 GMT
It now looks as if we will have 25 - 30 participants at the Midland Open in Bakewell on Saturday 10 June.
I have e-mailed all those who have requested a place with the details. I am pretty much at the limit for numbers for the venue but do contact me if you would like to be put on a reserves list.
Regards,
Simon
|
|
|
|
Post by martin on Jun 9, 2017 19:47:15 GMT
To all players at the Midlands Open tomorrow- Have a GRAAAAAND DAY OUT  . Best of luck to all (and especially to any Skeltons present....  ). Sorry I can't be there, work calls. (B*ggrrrrrr). Looking forward to all your battle reports. cheers all Martin |
|
|
|
Post by Simon on Jun 10, 2017 16:46:41 GMT
A great turnout today. There were 24 participants from a broad age range and it was especially good to welcome some new faces and two ladies to the competition.
I will publish full details of armies represented and rankings in the near future.
In the meantime, congratulations to Pete Duckworth who came top after an unbroken series of victories with his II/54b Qaramita army.
In the top ten were:
2 Neil Mason I/51 Neo Sargonid
3 Mark Skelton IV/38 Granadines
4 Phil Johnson II/75a Palmyran
5 Scott Russell II/36 Classical Indian
6 Kim Dent-Brown II/14 Ariarathid Kappadokian
7 Will Whyler II/26 Sarmatian
8 Patrick Myers II/36a Graeco-Bactrian
9= Tamarra Fordham IV/46 Feudal French
9= Graham Fordham IV/18 Lithuanian
Regards,
Simon
|
|
|
|
Post by colinthehittite on Jun 10, 2017 17:11:27 GMT
An excellent turnout. Congratulations Pete; yet another victory! Only sorry I could not make this one Simon. I look forward to more detail.
Colin
|
|
|
|
Post by davidconstable on Jun 11, 2017 8:04:12 GMT
As an observer I found it interesting. I tried to keep quite over rules, but mentally noted a number of inconsistencies.
Laying out terrain showed differences, with the less experienced players on occasions not being as creative as they could have been, or allowing for possible mishaps, they will learn (the hard way).
The more I look at dismounting armies, the more I think it should be banned.
Enjoyed myself.
One aside for those not there; Tamara and Graham Fordham (father and daughter) got the same number of points AND killed the same number of elements, considering they both played six games each against various opponents, I find the odds very long.
David Constable
|
|
|
|
Post by scottrussell on Jun 11, 2017 8:10:37 GMT
Thanks Simon, certainly was an excellent turnout. Biggest tournament i have attended in years, but there seems to be a distinct increase in numbers of late (Alton, Welsh, Northern, Mercian all with very healthy turn outs). I played four opponents who I had never previously played against. All very positive.
A very wide and varied collection of armies on show, most of them from the classical period (book 2).All but one of my battles were with contemporary armies, albeit not necessarily historical opponents.
Congratulations Pete. Clearly nobody has worked out how to combat his Qaramita, but it is only fair to say they were not the only Qaramita on show. My Classical Indians came up against the all dismounted option (2xCv,4XSp,4X3Lb,1XLCm,1xPs) which I would always be happy to face, and they got totally snotted (subjected to ignominious defeat), so I can have no complaints.
All very good. Thanks again Simon. The Midland Open (which I presume is still a premier tournament for SoA National league purposes?) is in safe hands.
Scott
|
|
|
|
Post by colinthehittite on Jun 11, 2017 9:31:23 GMT
How did you lose that match up, Scott. You must have been really unlucky! This is the first time I have seen a player field a Granadine army in an open. Stronger in 3.0 but still not a top army. Well done Mark.
Colin
|
|
|
|
Post by martin on Jun 11, 2017 11:04:06 GMT
Congrats on a successful tournament, Simon, and max Kudos to the podium-placed-persons.....Pete D certainly IS on a roll!!
Fine selection of top ten placed players' armies for an Open. Might it be possible to publish all the other armies in use, if you get a minute, please?
Martin
|
|
|
|
Post by scottrussell on Jun 11, 2017 11:13:34 GMT
How did you lose that match up, Scott. You must have been really unlucky! This is the first time I have seen a player field a Granadine army in an open. Stronger in 3.0 but still not a top army. Well done Mark. Colin Well Colin, since you ask... I spent a little time rearranging my elements, as one now must, as defender and without the two "swaps". I was bit short of PIP's and by the time my elements were lined up as I wanted Pete had advanced his four longbows into range of my three longbows and destroyed them all with some judicious "two on one" selections, and, I confess, some lousy dice from me. I forget whether or not I even got my main battle line into contact, but it was the then work of but a moment to lose a fourth element and qualify for an early lunch. On your other point, note some Ariarathid Kappadokians lurking there in sixth place. Another first, I think. Scott |
|
|
|
Post by martin on Jun 11, 2017 13:37:19 GMT
On your other point, note some Ariarathid Kappadokians lurking there in sixth place. Another first, I think. Scott Noticed the Ariarathids, an unusual sight in an open..... an army I painted when it was Cav under the last days of 2.2, and which has now become Kn (mine don't look the part any more). More reports on the day, pleeeez 🏹🏹🏹 |
|
|
|
Post by Simon on Jun 11, 2017 14:58:08 GMT
Here is a compete list of players and their armies.
Pete Duckworth III/54b Qaramita
Neil Mason I/51 Neo Sargonid
Mark Skelton IV/38 Granadines
Phil Johnson II/75a Palmyran
Scott Russell II/3b Classical Indian
Kim Dent-Brown II/14 Ariarathid Kappadokian
Will Whyler II/26 Sarmatian
Patrick Myers II/36a Graeco-Bactrian
Tamarra Fordham IV/46 Feudal French
Graham Fordham IV/18 Lithuaniane is the full list of armies and results.
Robert Rush II/22 Arabo Aramaean
Aranud Marmier II/42b Tamil
Nick Wright-Carter II/49 Marian Roman
David Dodd II/5c Theban Greek
Rosie Dent-Brown II/15 Alexandrian Imperial
Martin Myers II/61b Xianbei
Peter Manning II/19 Seleucid
Mark Johnson II/3b Classical Indian
Phil Steele II/23a Later Pre-Islamic Arab
Tom Connelly II/5e Aitolians
Richard Pulley III/54b Qaramita
Frank Shaw II/12 Alexandrian Macedonian
Patrick Dale 11/4d Warring States
John Saunders III/7b Pre-samurai Ritsuryo
I will also create an album on the Yahoo site so that people can add their photos.
Cheers
Simon
|
|
|
|
Post by martin on Jun 11, 2017 15:56:44 GMT
Aitolians.....brave man !!
|
|
|
|
Post by peteduckworth on Jun 12, 2017 11:13:24 GMT
Thanks for congrats etc.
I agree with David C - we should stop dismounting in competition games.
I would allow it only when choosing your list at the start of the competition. I have used it most at the start of the battle when I've deployed second and can exploit the enemy disposition as when I played Scott. The Qaramati are really tricksy as they are Camels - which already have Quick kills. They have with 8 out of 12 able to dismount.Its even more tricksy with two troop types the camels can become - some Bow some Spear. I suspect the dismountable troops in this list should really be classed as camel mounted infantry, but hey - not my choice.
I happened to have an Arab Conquest army which I could morph - though I still needed to buy a lot of camel guys. To play with the dismounts you need 20 elements for a 12 element army. I know at least one other player is looking to paint one up. And Richard Pulley also took a Qaramita army to this tournament. Are we facing a Qaramita tsunami?
I think dismounting is a broken rule. To me it's like playing the kids game Scissor Paper Stone (in effect the quick kill rule of the DBx system) but this quirk allows me to go "Ah I see you have selected scissors whereas I had selected paper. I now invoke the special rule (only available to me) and turn my paper into stone.
I think I also benefit because camels have been a rarity - especially in numbers. Two opponents apparently forgot that Knights are quick killed by Camels. The list also has low aggression which often lets me lay down Dunes and an Oasis which only the camels treat as good going.
I think it would be good to ban dismounting from tournament play. That said Richard Pulley - who is a fine DBA player took the same army and came 20th out of 24. Another player Graham Fordham (who I also see as a tough opponent) took Lithuanians - an army with a similar dismounting option (Light horse to Bows) came mid table. I know I have done well enough in competitions where I've had no dismounting troops but that still doesn't mean this rule works...
Lets play DBA, not play "who has the best dismounting options"!
|
|
|
|
Post by sheffmark on Jun 12, 2017 13:17:13 GMT
No need to worry about dismounting next time Pete, as The Norse Irish army you won (and now have to play with at the next Midlands Open, as ruled by Simon at the end) doesn't have any dismounting options!
However do agree that we want to keep these competitions as fun and as 'open' as possible, with a wide variety of armies present.
Thanks again to Simon for organizing.
It was a fun day and lots of good friendly games, even if I do still have nightmares about losing my Bw to a hard flanked LH on a 5-1, (is that called 'doing a Colin'?)
|
|
. Best of luck to all (and especially to any Skeltons present.... 
).
