I ran this game, using To the Strongest! by Simon Miller, on Thursday morning at 10 AM. We had a full slate of 8+ players, sat least half of whom were at least familiar with the rules.
Sassanid Persians: Left to Right - Kurt (not seen here), Sam, Larry, Jeff, Bill.
Jeff and Bill actually went over to the UK a few months ago to play in Simon's TTS game weekend, and had a blast. It didn't seem to help them much in terms of achieving victory, though! :-)
Palmyra - Left to Right ?, Clif, ?, Bill, Bruce. The far half of both armies were played by guys from California, who live at most a few hours apart, but instead traveled 1500 miles to Historicon and played here!
Here are the rosters I used for the game:
Sassanid Persians: Left to Right - Kurt (not seen here), Sam, Larry, Jeff, Bill.
Jeff and Bill actually went over to the UK a few months ago to play in Simon's TTS game weekend, and had a blast. It didn't seem to help them much in terms of achieving victory, though! :-)
The Plamyrans advanced aggressively, helped by favorable card sequences.
The near half of the table, where I spent most of my time helping Bruce, Kurt, and Sam, who were new to the rules.
On the far side (aka, "The Left Coast", where the Claifornia guys were having at it), The Palmyrans advanced and had hot cards, whilst the Sassanid players... didn't.
Sam's (red) unit of Sassanid cavalry ran down a unit of Light Infantry archers, and then couldn't finish off a second such unit!
Clash of the heavily armored cavalries on the right coast!
A Palmyran general is killed leading his troops in a charge... there would be qyuite a few generals lost in the course of the fighting.
Table overview. mid game. Note the Sassanid Elephant. It would eventually be shot down; fortunately for the Sassanids, its dying rampage struck no one.
Master Sam surveys the charge of his Cavalry!
Close fighting in the center of the field, too!
The "Left Coast" near the end of the game. It was a solid victory for the Palmyrans, who never played an Ace on their Camelry or Cataphracts the whole game long!
Here are the rosters I used for the game:
Palmyra
CMD
|
Description
|
Save
|
Spec/Ammo
|
Pts
|
VMs
|
1
|
Att General Mounted
|
2+
|
Replay
|
5
|
2
|
1
|
Light Cavalry, Javelin Veteran
|
6+
|
3
|
6
|
1
|
1
|
Light Cavalry, Javelin
|
7+
|
2
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
Light Cavalry, Bow
|
8+
|
3
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
Light Camelry, Bow, Raw
|
9+
|
2 * Ace
Spec vs cav
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
Command Cost, Medals
|
25
|
6
| ||
2
|
Att General, Mounted, Heroic
|
3+
|
Replay
|
6
|
2
|
2
|
Cataphract, Lance
|
6+
|
+1Save, *A
|
11
|
2
|
2
|
Cataphract, Lance
|
6+
|
+1 Save, *A
|
11
|
2
|
2
|
Cataphract, Lance
|
6+
|
+1 Save, *A
|
11
|
2
|
2
|
Camelry, javelin
|
7+
|
* Ace
Spec vs cav
|
9
|
2
|
2
|
Hero
|
Replay
|
1
|
-
| |
2
|
Command Cost, Medals
|
49
|
10
| ||
3
|
Attached General
|
2+
|
4
|
2
| |
3
|
Light Infantry, Bow
|
8+
|
2
|
4
|
1
|
3
|
Light Infantry, Bow
|
8+
|
2
|
4
|
1
|
3
|
Light Infantry, Bow
|
8+
|
2
|
4
|
1
|
3
|
Bowmen
|
8+
|
6
|
7
|
2
|
3
|
Camp
|
1
|
3
| ||
3
|
Command Cost, Medals
|
24
|
10
| ||
4
|
Attached General,
|
2+
|
4
|
2
| |
4
|
Legionaries, Shock Missile
|
6+
|
Pila x 1
|
10
|
2
|
4
|
Auxilia
|
6+
|
8
|
2
| |
4
|
Bowmen, Veteran
|
7+
|
7
|
8
|
2
|
4
|
Hero
|
replay
|
1
| ||
4
|
Camp
|
1
|
3
| ||
4
|
Command Cost, Medals
|
32
|
11
| ||
5
|
Att General
|
2+
|
Replay
|
4
|
2
|
5
|
Legionaries, Shock Missile
|
6+
|
Pila x 1
|
10
|
2
|
5
|
Auxilia
|
6+
|
8
|
2
| |
5
|
Bowmen, Veteran
|
7+
|
7
|
8
|
2
|
5
|
Hero
|
Replay
|
1
|
-
| |
5
|
Camp
|
1
|
3
| ||
5
|
Command Cost, Medals
|
31
|
11
| ||
6
|
Att General
|
2+
|
4
|
2
| |
6
|
Light Infantry, Bow
|
8+
|
2
|
4
|
1
|
6
|
Light Infantry, Bow
|
8+
|
2
|
4
|
1
|
6
|
Light Infantry, Bow
|
8+
|
2
|
4
|
1
|
6
|
Bowmen
|
8+
|
6
|
7
|
2
|
6
|
Camp
|
1
|
3
| ||
6
|
Command Cost, Medals
|
24
|
10
| ||
7
|
Att General, Mounted, Heroic
|
3+
|
Replay
|
6
|
2
|
7
|
Cataphract, Lance
|
6+
|
+1 Save, *A
|
11
|
2
|
7
|
Cataphract
|
6+
|
+1 Save, *A
|
11
|
2
|
7
|
Cataphract
|
6+
|
+1 Save, *A
|
11
|
2
|
7
|
Camelry, javelin
|
7+
|
*Ace
Spec vs cav
|
9
|
2
|
7
|
Hero
|
Replay
|
1
|
-
| |
7
|
Command Cost, Demoralized
|
49
|
10
| ||
8
|
Att General Mounted
|
2+
|
Replay
|
5
|
2
|
8
|
Light Cavalry, Javelin Veteran
|
6+
|
3
|
6
|
1
|
8
|
Light Cavalry, Javelin
|
7+
|
2
|
5
|
1
|
8
|
Light Cavalry, Bow
|
8+
|
3
|
5
|
1
|
8
|
Light Camelry, Bow, Raw
|
9+
|
2 * Ace
Spec vs cav
|
4
|
1
|
8
|
Command Cost, Medals
|
25
|
6
| ||
TOTALS
|
260
|
(25)
|
Medals = Total divided by 3
Reserve Ammo = 1 chit for every unit that can fire = 20
Sassanid Persia
CMD
|
Description
|
Save
|
Spec/Ammo
|
Pts
|
VMs
|
1
|
Att General Mounted, Heroic
|
3+
|
Replay
|
6
|
2
|
1
|
Light Cavalry, Javelin
|
7+
|
2
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
Light Cavalry, Bow, Veteran
|
7+
|
4
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
Clibanophori HC, Lance, extra Bow
|
7+
|
3
|
11
|
2
|
1
|
Clibanophori HC, Lance, extra Bow
|
7+
|
3
|
11
|
2
|
1
|
Command Cost, Medals
|
38
|
8
| ||
2
|
Att General, Mounted, Heroic
|
3+
|
Replay
|
6
|
2
|
2
|
Cataphract, Lance
|
6+
|
+1 Save, *A
|
11
|
2
|
2
|
Clibanophori HC, Lance, extra Bow
|
7+
|
3
|
11
|
2
|
2
|
Indian Elephant, escorted, Veteran
|
5+
|
Bonus x 1
Spec vs cav
Rampage!
|
15
|
2
|
2
|
Hero
|
Replay
|
1
|
-
| |
2
|
Command Cost, Medals
|
44
|
8
| ||
3
|
Attached General
|
2+
|
4
|
2
| |
3
|
Light Infantry, Sling
|
8+
|
2
|
4
|
1
|
3
|
Bowmen
|
8+
|
6
|
7
|
2
|
3
|
Javelinmen
|
7+
|
2
|
7
|
2
|
3
|
Camp
|
1
|
3
| ||
3
|
Command Cost, Medals
|
23
|
10
| ||
4
|
Attached General,
|
2+
|
4
|
2
| |
4
|
Shieldwall, Deep, Raw
|
8+
|
7
|
3
| |
4
|
Light Infantry, Javelin
|
7+
|
3
|
4
|
1
|
4
|
Light Infantry, Bow
|
8+
|
2
|
4
|
1
|
4
|
Hero
|
replay
|
1
| ||
4
|
Camp
|
1
|
3
| ||
4
|
Command Cost, Medals
|
21
|
10
| ||
5
|
Att General
|
2+
|
Replay
|
4
|
2
|
5
|
Shieldwall, Deep, Raw
|
8+
|
7
|
3
| |
5
|
Light Infantry, Javelin
|
7+
|
3
|
4
|
1
|
5
|
Light Infantry, Bow
|
8+
|
2
|
4
|
1
|
5
|
Hero
|
Replay
|
1
|
-
| |
5
|
Camp
|
1
|
3
| ||
5
|
Command Cost, Medals
|
21
|
10
| ||
6
|
Att General
|
2+
|
4
|
2
| |
6
|
Light Infantry, Sling
|
8+
|
2
|
4
|
1
|
6
|
Bowmen
|
8+
|
6
|
7
|
2
|
6
|
Javelinmen
|
7+
|
2
|
7
|
2
|
6
|
Camp
|
1
|
3
| ||
6
|
Command Cost, Medals
|
23
|
10
| ||
7
|
Att General, Mounted, Heroic
|
3+
|
Replay
|
6
|
2
|
7
|
Cataphract, Veteran
|
5+
|
+1 Save, *A
|
13
|
2
|
7
|
Clibanophori, Lance, xtr Bow, Vet
|
6+
|
4
|
13
|
2
|
7
|
Indian Elephant, escorted, Veteran
|
5+
|
Bonus x 1
Spec vs cav
Rampage!
|
15
|
2
|
7
|
Hero
|
Replay
|
1
|
-
| |
7
|
Command Cost, Demoralized
|
48
|
8
| ||
8
|
Att General Mounted, Heroic
|
3+
|
Replay
|
6
|
2
|
8
|
Light Cavalry, Javelin
|
7+
|
2
|
5
|
1
|
8
|
Light Cavalry, Bow, Veteran
|
7+
|
4
|
5
|
1
|
8
|
Clibanophori, Lance, xtr Bow, Vet
|
6+
|
4
|
13
|
2
|
8
|
Clibanophori, Lance, xtr Bow, Vet
|
6+
|
4
|
13
|
2
|
8
|
Command Cost, Medals
|
42
|
8
| ||
TOTALS
|
260
|
(24)
|
Medals = Total divided by 3
Reserve Ammo = 1 chit for every unit that can fire = 20
Great looking game Peter and fantastic to see the word being so well spread on the great game that TTS is by your good self.
ReplyDeleteThanks, carlo! That is indeed my biggest reason for running TTS at Historicon - to get wider exposure for this most excellent set of rules!
DeleteGreat looking game, looks like loads of fun!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
thanks, Iain. I think everyone did have a lot of fun with it!
DeleteNow that looks the part
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you liked it, Gary!
DeleteGreat looking game Peter!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jake. Give TTS a try sometime yourself!
DeleteWell presented game, Peter. Your mottled game mat looks terrific and I bet easy to transport.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jon! I brought no less than 4 mats of different colors to the convention. They are the easiest things to transport, and I also use them to secure everything else from shifting during transport, as well as covering them up to reduce the odds of a casual onlooker deciding to help themselves to anything in the car!
DeleteImpressive and beautiful Peter, your armies, vegetation and towers in the background, everything's superb!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Phil. I was happy with how it looked!
DeleteThat looks like a lot of fun, and it is great to see all the figures you have been working on deployed on the field of battle.
ReplyDeletethank you Lawrence. I certainly did do a lot of painting the past 2 months to get this one on the table as it is seen here!
DeleteAfter I mop up the wet drool on the keyboard I can only type well done again Peter. Ancients is trying so hard to upset my scenario scheduling in the warren. Been a long time since I have tossed the ancient dice, tossed javelins, shot arrows, and marched the orderly Romans to another "Glory for Rome" victory. You are lucky.... you have the eastern Roman theater of operations well covered now. I have the low life boys of Carthage, the wild warbands of Celts/Germans, Republican and Imperial Romans, the Assyrians and Egyptians to order forward.
ReplyDeleteLOL, WR! It is really TtS! that has reinvigorated my Ancients gaming (and increased the size of my Ancients armies by 50 - 100% each). I have a large Carthaginian and Republican Army as well, which of course includes plenty of Spanish and Celts.
Delete