2nd Beneventum scenario completed in ongoing Vassal Punic Campaign with Mike and next scenario Castulo commenced.
2nd Beneventum was another close run contest which could easily have gone to Carthage had my Romans failed in last turn we played.
New scenario Castulo has interesting terrain set up and victory conditions (Romans lose instantly if Scipio killed but can gain Victory Banners if able to push units of enemy board edge)
Completed Dertosa scenario with Mike on Vassal with my Romans gaining a rather too narrow win.
Despite having a superior Command Card limit (6 vs 4) I had no 'special' type cards until last hand, whilst Mikes Carthaginians seemed to obtain every one through course of game making it difficult for Rome with myriad extra moves and attacks.
We are now onto next scenario '2nd Battle Of Beneventum 214BC'.
Starting deployments
Just completed another C&C scenario with Mike in our ongoing Vassal PBEM 'Campaign' with his Carthaginians under Hannibal handily dealing with my Punic (Puny ?) Romans.
We are now onto scenario entitled Dertosa which is an encounter I know of as Battle of the Ebro (Scipio vs Hadrasbul in Iberia) but hopefully Rome can exact revenge.
Starting positions
Finished another scenario of ongoing Commands & Colors campaign with Mike and his Carthaginians were victorious once more.
The extra command cards Carthage gains when under Hannibal is a definite advantage but Mikes shooting dice were awesome this game as constantly caused a drain of attrition to my units.
On to Cannae next.........................................
End of another C&C Ancients Vassal game with Mike and this time his Carthaginians were victorious at the Trebbia braking my winning streak when the outflanking force under Mago appeared inflicted telling losses.
But boy was it close as the previous Roman turn I was a mere 1 hit from destroying enough Cartho units for an auto-victory !!
A slick playing and fun light system that works well on Vassal
Finished PBEM game of Combat Mission Afrika Korps with John in a randomised Meeting Engagement in western desert and was a total massacre of my poor British Force.
Just starting another game which is an adaptation of an ASL scenario 'A Wet Bridgehead' set in Tunisia 1943 and with me as Brits again.
I had no real answer to Panzers having only ATRs after loss of single 2pdr Portee
Also just finished another game on Vassal with Mike of our ongoing C&C Ancients 'campaign' with my Romans being victorious at Bagradas (I - well Vassal - had absolutely awesome run of dice rolls in this one which is very unusual)
Next up in our series is Ticinius River which looks tough for Romans
First up I used Maurikian Byzantine against Abbassid Arab and this was a game with lots of terrain (despite my choosing to attack in Steppe) and manouvre but with Arabs on top as ever.
Second game I used my Vikings again against Stephens Feudal English (a repeat of last week but with tweaked army lists) and again the Knights just too good for Viking foot.
Viking game showing my wall of warriors with Breton Ally on left in a gully
In better gaming news I completed second Vassal game with Mike with my Syracusans winning against Carthaginians in a very quick game, that was kind of decided on my first turn when I crushed 3 of required 5 units for no loss, was then a matter of picking off a couple of other units.
Game plays pretty well PBEM and quickly once we decided to reduce file exchanges to minimum by often rolling for enemy during Evades and Battle Backs.
Already started second scenario Crimissos River 341BC
On much sadder note we lost our remaining 'fur baby' Joy on Saturday as her wee heart just gave out (as did her pal Lucys last July) and our house feels empty and so very downbeat.
Seems like no time since they were new arrivals with us back in 2016
Dogs really dig deep into your soul..................
PBEM games with Mike and John renewed.
Mike chose Command & Colors: Ancients on Vassal and we have started with basic 'intro/learning' scenario 'Battle Of Akragas - 406BC' with Mike as Carrthage and I as Syracusans.
The Vassal module is new to me but pretty straight forward so far, only issue is Evades but nothing too onerous (really only an extra file exchange)
With John it is good old Combat Mission again this time a randomised Meeting Engagement in Western Desert in 1941 with John as Krauts and I as Brits.
Early days in this one and not seen enemy yet just and approaching dust cloud
My armour support such as it is.....................
He is quite taken with Commands & Colors Ancients so that is what we played completing 3 scenarios.
He took Carthos this time around in each scenario so I was Romans who came out winners in 2 out of the 3.
An easy game to teach and play although I had forgotten in earlier games that Leaders effect adjacent hexes in combat.
I regret not expanding C&C collection beyond base game as so many expansions are now out of print or massively expensive here in UK, although I have not played every scenario in base game yet.
Was great to get some play in with Steven and hopefully more visits next year.
We played another Combat Commander scenario set in Arnhem with he as Huns and I as Brits and this fairly whizzed by with numerous Time events giving Huns very little time to push forward.
Then it was 4 games of Commands And Colors: Ancients which is always a fun game to play.
Steven stuck with Romans in each game so I was Carthaginians (I only have original volume) and Carthage was in ascendancy in each.
Great stuff.
