Warrior Ancient and Medieval Rules

Well, I began the day traveling to the rural portion of Jacksonville
Florida where the great Derekus now lives. To my surprize, the dirt
road we ended up on actually brought us to his dwelling which
resembled a natural cave formation except for the wood and brick
walls, the tiled roof and garage. I was late, but not the latest. I
traveled with Ambrose who didn't fully awaken until he heard the
sound of an element being scrapped across felt. I brought First
Crusader at 1131 points.

CNC +2E IrgA/B HC L/sh +PA
4x 2E IrgA/B HC L/sh Knights
2x 2E RgC LC J/B/sh Turkopoles
2x 4E IrgC LHI/LMI 2HCW/sh J/sh Danish
1x 12E IrgC/D HI/MI J/sh B/J Infantry
1x 6E IrgC/D HI/MI LTS/sh CB Flemish
1x 6E IrgD LI B
1x 6E IrgA/D LMI B Pilgrims
1x 6E IrgE LMI IPW Pilgrims

Game 1:

I drew Jamie White running Maccabean Jew on preset terrain that more
resembled the lunar surface than any earthly ground. Each of the
four corners had a hill that was steep and rocky on the parameter and
smooth on top, and in the center was a gentle ridge. My setup was
from left to right, LMI B pilgrims on the lunar hill, then the large
infantry unit with one HC unit between them and slightly back. Next
came the bulk of my army with HC and LHI 2HCW units flanking to
either side my HI LTS unit which was aimed to take the center of the
ridge. On the right I placed the remaining HC, the 2 LC and to the
rear occupying the righthand lunar hill were the Irg E pesants (I had
briefly considered flankmarching the "E" guys). I forcemarched the
LI to the top of the ridgeline to keep him off. In manuver I put my
army exactly where I wanted it with the large infantry closing down
the area between the pilgrim bow on the left and the ridge, while I
had the 2 Danish LHI and HI LTS on the hill crest and the right flank
held only with delay and threat troops. I kept the HC in reserve
along the line to plunge in when needed. My plan was to bowl right
now the middle over the ridge and get something disordered then hit
is with the HC for the rout. A simple and effective plan, or so I
thought.

Everything was perfect, as Jamie was swinging fully with mounted to
attempt a rout of the large HI unit, but then I think we both noticed
my critical mistake at the same time. The LHI unit between the two
HI units was exposed and unsupported by mounted, and indeed this
became my achilles heel that I had to extract from all game.

Jamie launched his heavy attack on my left with a prepatory charge by
peltast types 4E RgB LMI LTS/J/sh. His plan was to stick on my
infantry then hit me with a couple of EHC L/sh units to drive me back
and eventually rout me. However, some of his LC and eventually a 2E
IrgA LMI J unit found that even irregular LMI B will deal wicked
firepower, and he paused in his plan; then the second rank of MI B/J
payed huge as they shot his peltast in prep for a CPF, then shot him
down 2 on the way in, and then I rolled the magic up 4 in HTH and his
peltast headed home. Talk about eagar "C"! Jamie passed all the
wavers, and passed all wavers until the last bound. Needless to say,
his entire attack now turned 90 degrees and headed to more furtile
feilds. Now is when Jamie began to work the weakness of the Danes in
the gap.

Meanwhile, as Jamie reoriented his mobile assets, he used his center
24 man peltast unit to run off my LI which left him at the bottom of
the hill. Sweet! Anticipating the Danes getting charged, I moved
the banner forward and charged his peltast with both my Danes and the
HI LTS Flemish impeously down the hill and promply rolled down with
both while facing steady LTS. Foolish impetous charge that cost me
dear, as the Danes stuck on recoiled peltast and the HI recoiled
disordered and tired. Also I had charged with the other Danes to the
right of the LTS into another peltast unit, and even farther over
right a disordered peltast unit was charged by an HC unit. The other
Danes stuck in a lock, but the HC routed on contact from rolling
down. Everyone passed wavers, but it was beginning to look like the
dice would deprive me of an obvious victory!

So on the right, I just used the LC to skirmish out his LMI and no
more to report there. Right center I next sent an HC unit into the
peltast that stuck with Danes in order to get them shaken, but no he
passed and the HC rolled down and routed out. Now two routing HC
units and the LC and LI don't care...what heros!

In the center Jamie now has his EHC line up on the exposed portions
of both Danish units, as I can't physically get any HC on the hill to
ward off the hit. Both Danes fail wavers are are exploded in place
as disordered, shaken, tired, and shieldless LMI. The HI LTS don't
care and pass both wavers and are now reordered. I get an unimpetous
charge from the LTS into his peltast and finally he is recoiled
disordered again and starting to feel some pressure. The game grinds
on more or less the same for a bound while we both reset strke cav,
then the final bound is here. Do something or sit down I tell
myself. Jamie launches EHC into the sheildless flank of my HI LTS,
but they take 1 CPF and recoil...not enough too late I muse...

So I sent in my last reserves to the left of the ridge where so many
of my men have died. Crunching over their dead bodies the CNC and
one remaining HC unit crest the hill looking for meat. Jamie
provides the love in the form of LC missle fire to goad them both (as
if irreg A needs help) into that "up rolling" mood. The HC rocket
intercepts his EHC charge attempt on my CNC and both L units roll
even for no effect on the game. But the CNC charges bolding into the
exposed peltast who is still at the bottom of the hill, still
disordered, and still fighting my HI LTS...it fails the waver and
shakes. The CNC rolls up, and the peltast head for the showers
shaking 3 or 4 units as they run. Win to me 4-3.

Just for giggles Jamies long pike unit on the left has managed to get
shot halted by my large infantry unit, who then charges and sticks on
them. Then the HC unit there who has waited all day to move forward,
charges in the flank of the pike and they vaporize with loving care.

This was an absolute awsome game. My plan was flawless and exicuted
perfectly but thwarted by my combat dice. Jamie recovered and
reoriented beautifully and would have won on points had not my CNC
been such a stud. Jamies initial plan was thwarted early, so with
his regulars and savy he refused to continue reenforcing a bad
position and exploited my tactical weakness. I had every advantage
early in combats but was unable to exploit them fully. No one
expects to charge into disordered LMI in the open with IregA HC L/sh
and rout on contact, and no one expects to hit with 2 impetous units
running down hill and fail to rout a flatfooted enemy. Both stunned
me into rash behavior which I was thankfully able to control this
time. I was very lucky to pass as many wavers as Jamie, and we both
passed many wavers. Jamie's luck changed when Steve showed up to ask
how it was going--that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

But seriously I used much of the advice I received right here on this
list. I would say this was one of my finest games in terms of
generalship, and I would say it even had I lost; the reconfiguration
of the army, they initial plan, and use of reserves, and the gimic
use--all worked to a tee (not counting my crapy dice) and made this a
very memorable game.

Wanax