The Crossroads Deck 13

 Lucky 13 for Stagonia!

The final deck brought a full run of the deck, as the 'turn over' card was at the bottom after the 'cut'

Stagonian CiC

The move featured Stagonian artillery shots and a blast from a Stagonian pike & shotte unit that caused all but the removal of an Alpian pike and shotte unit.

Meanwhile the rest of the Stagonian forces moved to the flank and rear and along the roads to the objective crossroads ... this combination caused the Alpian commander to start his retreat.

situation at end of deck 13 from behind the Alpian line

Stagonian ordinance was key to the victory

though not all went perfect for Stagonia either
as this Bleu Pike & Shotte unit is seen fleeing
though the woods behind the Stagonian line

a panoramic shot from behind the Stagonian line

so it would appear that this is an invasion
of Alpian territory ... something the
Alpian CiC (seen here) must now deal with ...

No idea yet when the next game will start as there are a few other projects to complete before we will be able to put the next layout on the table.  Not the least of which is the planned table improvements.

Deck 10, 11 & 12 of the Crossroads

 Deck ten was the same as deck eight.

 

another 'single card' deck draw

 Then an eventful, if short deck eleven.  The Alpians managed to maneuver their swordsmen to cover the back of the town area, then pull together their rear end units, though by then another Alpian pike and shotte unit was gone ...

 

more Alpian losses, only four foot units remain

Deck twelve was only two cards before the end of turn came and again the Alpians managed to do a bit of shuffling to get ready to cover their left flank ... 

the Alpian white brigadier got action in both
Deck 11 & 12

 Once again all has been left 'set up' in place ... maybe we could finish the game by the end of the month?  

It is certainly nice to have the little visual spectacle sitting here during the day to examine and think about.

Decks 8 & 9 of the Crossroads

 Work energy got in the way this week, so only one more day of game was managed.

the total action of Deck Eight

The deck was well shuffled and cut by opposing player, even so, this happens sometimes.

Nothing moved on turn 8.

Turn 9, was very eventful, with the remaining Alpian Knights fleeing from the table.  One of the Stagonian Horse also fled from the battle, being too far away from the CiC for him to have any effect in helping the damaged unit, once routing starts it is hard to 'reign in'.

major losses of deck nine

 

Now the Stagonians are the only ones with horse still 'in the fight', and with two more foot units, both Pike & Shotte, this will be a real uphill climb for the Alpians to keep hold of the vital crossroads.  The raw unit of swordsmen is all that stands between holding on and the end of Alpian hopes for victory in this opening of the campaign.

Deck 7 of the Crossroads

 A very eventful deck ...

Alpian Horse have been scattered and mostly fled off the battlefield at the 'End of Turn' card, though not without managing to cause such damage as to rout off the Stagonian Knights.

Stagonian Knights formation
hit by the last of the Alpian Horse
then fired upon by a steady and ready
Alpian Pike and Shotte unit

The shooting down of the Knights also triggered a save test by the Stagonian Purple Brigadier, who failed and was promptly captured by the nearby Alpians.

 

Stagonian Purple Brigadier
held captive now by Alpia

 We decided that any 'replacement' commanders will suffer from 'maddening subordinates' rules in future battles of the campaign.

overall losses in Deck Seven

With the losses and unexpected re-enforcement for Stagonia, the unit count is now firmly in Stagonia's hands.

There is still the challenge of the next deck, for the next brigade commander drawn will trigger a 6" move back ...

Battle will continue and I will report here. 

decks 5 & 6 of the Crossroads

 The opening game has taken a big move turn, as both decks played out with only 3 total units not moving.

Stagonia comes out big, with running
over the Alpian artillery

The center of the field is now dominated by Stagonian Knights.

Deck six, contained an amazing couple of '6' rolls, that initiated a special contingent arriving on the field in support of ... Stagonia!

unexpected re-enforcement for
Stagonia! 

Two more decks - mostly artillery actions

 The game progressed two more 'decks' today.

 Mostly it was 'artillery actions' cards (yes there are two in the deck) that were drawn ...
 

Alpian cannon take post on the central hillock

 

Stagonian Ordinnance secure the high ground
on the left flank of the Stagonian line

Some cavalry got in a couple of failed 'charges', no noticeable casualties were scored.

Again the table remains set-up, with a couple more 'deck' turns to come.

 We are using the Victory Without Quarter rules set.

 

Campaign battle continues

 The best part about a dedicated game table, is the ability to 'leave' the game in-progress.

Something that Victory Without Quarter does quite well, as each move is slow.

Alpian command at the tail end of the Knights
(who are rated raw for this campaign)

Stagonian command, equally close to the Stagonian Knights
(who are rated Veteran for this campaign)

More moves will be done over the coming week ...