You know you have no life when the most exciting thing you can do on a Saturday night is play a war game over the internet!

Pete and I got together to play 412 Lugdunum, a Civil War battle during the "year of the five emperors" This is quite a big battle, over 20 units per side. It also require 9 flags for a victory.

I got Serverus and Pete got Albinus. We usually roll 7 dice, with the player getting the most leaders picking sides. We both rolled two leaders in the first roll, and both rolled no leaders in the second roll. Pete then asked his lovely partner to pick side for us!

Serverus seems to have all the advantages. More units, more heavy units, more cavalry as well as the Praetorians special unit. They also get one more card and start first.

We both went through the now normal softening up phase with light infantry missiles. I then used a move-fire-move to withdraw some of my lights behind the battle line.
Pete used a line command to move every single infantry unit towards my line. It looked set for a clash in the center, but I attacked with my right flank, warriors and cavalry, against the left of his line. It did not work well. I lost more than he did, and did not get one advance and battle again.

He then threw his left cavalry against my weaken forces, killing one medium cavalry and about to kill my warrior. I played first strike and instead killed one of his medium cavalry.

I attacked hard with my right, getting a four flag advantage, and growing confident. Pete reinforced his center and attacked on his right, picking up a few kills. I saw the chance for victory and attacked, but fell just short. Pete counter attacked, killing two units, but worse, killing the leaders with both of the units. Four flags in one turn and it was back to evens. My last attack missed victory by one flag, with Pete easily getting his victory next turn. 9-8.

A great game that saw each side take the advantage a number of times.

Quite a few things stood out for me in this engagement...

The First Strike against my cavalry attack with your one block warrior was very well timed. I had my retreat blocked (by my own units) and thought I'd just overrun your warriors and move to a better position. Lesson: So often I'm too keen to play that First Strike card. Bill demonstrated why you should wait for the right time and opportunity.

Coordinated Attack Card. I finished the game using this card. I used to use it early to reposition forces and ready a plan - but I think its best use is for late game command when you are fragmented, and need just one unit to move and/or attack to win it (or save yourself!).

Weird action in the centre. From my perspective, a Mexican stand-off occurred, with strong forces each waiting for the other side to attack first. I held a Leadership Any Section all game to be ready to counter any centre move. The centre did finally get into action, but that was by virtue of Bill's right flank pretty much empty of units for both sides.

I felt I kept getting in my own way a lot in this scenario - probably a patience issue, and need to consider pulling back more to "open up" my own line when the battle field is so crowded.

Bill in one turn gained something like four banners - my personal moral took a huge hit. The fact I ended up winning by the tightest (and luckiest) of margins is an important lesson for all wargamers.... don't give up till you actually lose!

I think any game where you play mind games with yourself, let alone with your opponent is the hallmark of a good game.

Nice AAR and Counter report.

Had a look at this and it is a real slugfest with 40+ units on the board and 9 victory banners required. Is this the only official non epic game with 9 banners?

Hey, I'm a Centurion!

I think so. We picked it because of the size and the fact it had nine banners. I don't think there is another of that size in the standard game.

Well we had the rematch... Bill whipped me good (I was Severus (south), Bill was Albinus (north))

Things started well for Severus, his first few softening blows with light troops and missile attacks went very well - the first turn removed 5 blocks alone...

Bill countered with Darken the Sky, hit a few blocks and I played Counter Attack so I could rain more death upon him - don't think anyone scored a banner but the softening up continued.

Then it was time to start some movement on my right flank... then I don't really remember much! Bill did something he did to me once before - he charged (in my view at the time) recklessly with his Cav on my right, it didn't go to well for him - he lost a MC he didn't leave room to retreat and things were looking good for Severus.

...then it all goes blurry... bit of maneuver... Bill's PC crashing...

.... next major event, I attacked in the centre with warriors, my HC Ldr and other stuff... I can't quite remember what I attacked with first, but Bill masterly timed a first strike killing a unit (I'm sure on my HC ldr??), I'm still mildly stunned! Pretty much from that point on Bill had all the momentum and hammered me relentlessly.

In desperation, I played a move-fire-move to get my LC onto his (very empty) centre back line ready to move onto the camp hexes to get some banners (the score at this point was 6 to me, and I think Bill had 7?? But that doesn't show how out of position I was and weak my units had become compared to Bill). Nevertheless, my gambit failed, he was able to counter my move, score a few more banners and win. 6 Banners to me, 9 to Bill.

I think I truly felt "owned" in this round of King Billy vs MasterChief. Well played Bill.