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Post by martin on Apr 29, 2024 20:16:32 GMT
Here’s a question or three… Diades, are we playing ‘rules as written’, so standard dismounting for those limited few able to do so, etc?. And is there ‘free choice’ on the terrain front, so not ‘fixed’ (like Saturday)? And is it all games with one’s own army? Hi Martin, to answer… Yes. Rules as written. Yes. Free choice of terrain per game within the rules. All games will be with the army you bring with one exception: in the final round the top two players will play for first and second place using a matched pair provided by me, Norman vs Anglo-Danish. Other final round games will be players using the army they have brought. Many thanks…👍🏼
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Post by martin on Apr 29, 2024 17:44:41 GMT
Here’s a question or three…
Diades, are we playing ‘rules as written’, so standard dismounting for those limited few able to do so, etc?.
And is there ‘free choice’ on the terrain front, so not ‘fixed’ (like Saturday)?
And is it all games with one’s own army?
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Post by martin on Apr 28, 2024 21:26:00 GMT
My games of DBA on a ‘light troops’ theme at Alton:-
I took an Early Muslim North Africa and Sicily army (EMNAS, III/33) comprising a cavalry general and one more cavalry element, three Berber light horse, three Berber light javelinmen, three slave troops as Auxilia (3Ax), and one Arab archers (3Bw).
My reasoning was that 1) it had three each of the compulsory Ps and LH troop types, and was thus capable in different terrain. 2) The cavalry are good for killing Ps in the open. 3) the 3Ax are fast, and capable of nobbling Ps AND LH, too. 4) the 3Bw was a good anti-LH unit, and capable in BG/RG. 5) They’re ‘littoral’, which is my favourite topography…love them landings 🙂😯. …and 6) I’d never taken them to a tournament before (IIRC). A flexible and fast mix of troops, and also not an army of super-troops…though not been road-tested before the event.
1. Using EMNAS vs Connor’s Kipchak III/80. Defending on the African coast, my auxilia and bows landed near Connor’s massed horsemen and threatened, the archers causing some equine-flavoured damage. The Kipchak cavalry and light-horse closed, and the EMNAS main line joined the fight. A swirling melee ensued, and when the dust settled the North Africans had proven victorious, with a 4-1 win.
2. Defending North Africa again, but using Numidians with an Early Imperial Roman ally against Ivan, who commanded the EMNAS. Ivan’s skirmish foot threatened my weaker left while I drove forward with mounted troops and legionaries on the right, hoping to win there first. An unfortunate failure in my centre opened up a hole, and Ivan’s troops closed to secure a win. A 1-4 loss in my case.
3. Defending in command of the EMNAS again, I faced Lindon’s scary Parthians, with a fair few heavily armoured cataphracts in their centre. My foot and his faced off in a large mud-walled village on my right, while on the coast Lindon’s horse archers closed and attacked. After a long tussle the North Africans claimed the win, routing a fair number of Parthian light horse in the process, before any cataphracts could join in. (A lucky 4-0 win).
4. Now using Komnenan Byzantines, I faced Pete’s EMNAS, in Greece. This was another ‘right hook’ battle, in which my mounted were extremely lucky to nab the win just before Pete nobbled my weak left flank with his slave troops and Berbers. (4-2 win, but supremely close, and a true nail-biter).
5. Defending in command of my EMNAS again, I was invaded by John’s Golden Horde swarm. John did me the supreme favour of throwing FIVE 1’s in a row, and was thus unable to stop my landing auxiliaries from racing through a coastal hamlet to roll up the Horde’s right flank. 4-0 win …thank-you, dice gods.
6. Finally, Marc took my EMNAS to face the Seljuks of Rum he’d handed me. A large band of his auxiliaries disembarked on a flat beach near the Seljuk right flank, and moved to attack the cavalry flank guard. They were soon joined by Berber javelinmen, debouching from a nearby village to assist. The Seljuk cavalry held out, allowing their commander to manoeuvre across to help, and the flank attackers were repulsed, for a 4-0 win to the Seljuks.
So, Lady Luck very much on my side for this tournament. Apologies to my opponents for my unbelievable good fortune, but it was fun from the seat I was sitting in…🙃
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Post by martin on Apr 28, 2024 17:34:25 GMT
In game 4 I was given NeoHittites & Phoenician allies by Richard Pulley. Sorry Richard but this army was a disjointed pile of crap. Do you think that others are having to use someone else's army influences the choices made in its make up ? It’s one of many considerations, indeed. What will opponent ‘x’ be able to do with this lot 😎
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Post by martin on Apr 28, 2024 17:20:28 GMT
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Post by martin on Apr 28, 2024 17:16:42 GMT
Have you been able to calculate the army stats Martin? Was there a strongest army or did most end up like my Bosphorans with a 3-3 record? Sorry, with twenty armies and it all on ‘old school’ paper, that’s a mission I don’t fancy volunteering for…,😁 My own EMNAS won four games, lost two games. The wins were three with me at the helm, one with Ivan running them. The two losses were in the hands of my opponents.
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Post by martin on Apr 28, 2024 7:59:13 GMT
Were there any batreps or recollections involving the Skythians and their winning tactics?
And did they take an ally or fly solo?
Hopefully Diades on this forum will soon fill you in on the Skythians’ day in the sun. Bear in mind, though, that this tournament requires the player to play with and against his own army, three games of each. And so the Skyths will have won under his command and lost against him in equal numbers. I guess it’s ‘know your army and know its weaknesses’ in equal measure. Terrain choice for each army is fixed by the owner pre-tournament, which prevents opponents of the oft-invading Skyths from free choice to clutter the battlefield, as would normally happen…another factor in their favour, I assume. Nicely painted they were, too…👍🏼
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Post by martin on Apr 28, 2024 7:53:35 GMT
I understand fully why the Rshtuni have an aggression of 0. They would have been mad to book a fighting away day. Hey ho. They might return for the Cold Ash Clash in November. You have been warned! 😁😁🤣
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Post by martin on Apr 28, 2024 7:47:36 GMT
Rather interesting interpretations of the Arthurian Cycle. I presume the fact that both series referred to Saxon 'axes' as their primary weapons is a misreading of 'saxes.' Bernard Cornwell gifted the use of axes to his Saxons in the Winter King series, IIRC (?). Maybe historical writers (a tad less ‘informed’ than us readers of Armies of the Dark Ages et al) associate hairy seafolk in a dark age setting with axe wielding Vikings, subconsciously, regardless of their nationality.
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Post by martin on Apr 27, 2024 17:55:56 GMT
Thanks to all who attended the Alton DBA today, from near and far. I really appreciate the effort the players go to to attend. Good to see some returning players (Phippsy eg) and some players new to the DBA ‘circuit’ (Marc P. and Mark K.), and players in good spirits whether top or bottom of the rankings.
Bit of a whirlwind for me, as both organiser and having to play to keep numbers even, but with players showing great patience we got there…😁.
There were some stunningly varied, weird and wonderful armies on show, which was a BIG bonus, especially when you see first place taken by a player running Skythians, an army few would dream of using in most circumstances (so it was good to see the theme push the edge of the envelope somewhat), and that Tournament Tiger, the Wallachians, scoring well 😎.
Without further ado, here are the final placings:-
Alton DBA 2024 Results
1. Martin Myers, Skythian I/43a, 142 points 2. Martin Smith, EMNAS III/33, 118. 3. Mark Skelton, Wallachian IV/64, 114. 4. Paddy Green, Bosporan II/25+ Alans, 99. 5. Paddy Myers, Palaiologan Byz. IV/50, 92. 6. Bill MacGillivray, Shang Chinese 1/13b, 83. 7. Stephen Finn, Rshtuni Armenian III/27, 76. 8. Ivan Djokic, Numidian II/40+ EIR, 76 (Head to Head). 9. Pete Duckworth, Komnenan Byz. IV/1a 75. 10. Colin O’Shea, Southern Dynasties II/79b, 72. 11. Peter Ellis, Alans II/58, 66. 12. Mark Kulke, LPIA II/23a+ Sassanids, 64. 13. Peter Phipps, Early Byzantine III/4a, 59. 14. John Saunders, Golden Horde IV/47, 56. 15. Connor Truby, Kipchak III/80, 53. 16. Marc Priest, Seljuk Turk, III/74a, 50. 17. Kevin Casey, Early Hyksos I/17a, 47. 18. Richard Pulley, Neo-Hittite I/31b + Phoenicians, 31. 19. Lindon Paxton, Parthian II/37, 30. 20. Stephen Etheridge, EMNAS III/33, 6.
Photos will follow in due course on easily accessed groups.io and assorted facebook pages.
Cheers all.
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Post by martin on Apr 26, 2024 11:14:40 GMT
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Post by martin on Apr 26, 2024 8:32:28 GMT
Seven games of DBA in 15mm yesterday, on a ‘weak elements’ theme - minimum six light horse and/or psiloi in each army, vs host player Richard.
1. 2. and 3. - First three were a ‘civil war’ campaign in 2000BC Syria, using a ‘Ladder Campaign’ based on Cromwell’s suggestions on this forum. Armies only differed in the chosen general element: Richard used swordsmen (3Bd) while my general rode a light chariot (LCh), and both forces included swarms of light infantry militia with javelins, bows and slings. The skirmisher foot clashes were extremely unpredictable, but went R’s way, while his swordsmen general and retinue proved decisive. He won the campaign 5-2, 5-0 and a far closer 4-3, while being repulsed from my home city walls. We’re now paying tribute, in the form of cake and biscuits. [Army lists were from I/9, Early Syrian].
4. My Thracians defended I/48 against R.’s Ostrogoths II/67b. Skirmish foot from both sides faced off against each other on my left, while my light horse and mountaineer foot attempted to stop the wild Gothic cavalry charge in the centre. A couple of Goth cavalry were skirmished to death by the Thracian horse, but the weight of the attack proved unstoppable. Goths win, 4-2.
5. I now led practically naked early Libyans (I/7b) into the frozen wastes of Lithuania…most unwise. Libyan skirmishers were fighting well against Lithuanian archers in woodland on my right, grinding them down, and the game reached 3-3. Then Lithuanian light cavalry broke through in the centre, and the Libyans were routed (a nasty 6-3! But closer than the numbers suggest).
6. My Nubians I/3 countered an invading Aramaean force (I/18b) with a Phoenician ally. Some lucky Nubian archery eliminated a few enemy elements, but the enemy heavy charioteer general began to carve into warbands in the Nubian lines. Fortunately a strike by my skirmish foot nobbled a couple of extra opponents before the chariots could complete their rampage. Nubian win 5-4.
7. Last game was an Ostrogoth civil war…near the coast Gothic heavy cavalry clashed in a to and fro battle, while the opposing skirmishers stared menacingly at each other inland. A tight fight suddenly saw my bunch crumble as the opposing skirmishers closed and were victorious. Richard’s Goths win, 6-3.
A tiring but fun day of games. The low combat factors of light troops certainly add to the unpredictability when the lines meet and the dice take over. 😁
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Post by martin on Apr 22, 2024 19:37:13 GMT
Spot on. Choosing order of combats, which goes first, can be vital. 👍
PS…no daft questions, only daft answers. Ask ANYTHING 😁
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Post by martin on Apr 22, 2024 7:28:41 GMT
The subtleties of DBA, skb777 . Do you take mainly Ps and hope your opponent has brought Bw, or do you take mainly LH and hope he hasn't? (Always bearing in mind that you will be using your own army for three games and your opponent's army for the other three.) I’m taking a punt there will be plenty of Bw on show I can pretty much guarantee there’ll be plenty of Ps and LH….🙃 My choice…yes, it has one lone bow element, but it’s otherwise a bit of a mixed bag.
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Post by martin on Apr 21, 2024 8:04:16 GMT
Players List, Alton DBA 2024
Pete Duckworth Kev Casey Lindon Paxton Peter Ellis Steve Etheridge Patrick Myers Colin O’Shea Richard Pulley John Saunders Mark Skelton Paddy Green Mark Kulke Bill MacGillivray Connor Truby Stephen Finn Ivan Djokic Oli Currant Peter Phipps Marc Priest Martin Myers
ie currently 20 players booked
(+ Me….if needed).
I’ll be intrigued by what the wise ones have chosen as a ‘good’ army choice. 😎. Mine (fill in only) was decided aeons ago (and without a lot of thought 🙃).
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