Well it is 4:30AM Thursday and I'm loaded up (packed, you alcoholics) and on the road to HCon. I have a 9:00AM game and I wanted to get there in time for a stretch, some food, a cig, and organize my troops. I eased into a very close parking spot to the Lampeter room where I would be spending the bulk of my time gaming. Come 9:00, I gave an inspiring speech to my Later Visigoths who would be participating in Fortune's Darlings (Barbarian Invasion of the Later Roman Empire) - a multiplayer DBA affair run by Jeff Caruso. Although registration made room for 8, we had 11 players and anticipation for another fun Caruso event filled the table. There were 5 "barbarian" players facing 6 Roman legions. On the barbarian left were Kyle's Early Lombards, then my Later Visigoths, while on my right assembled the armies of "Diceman" Rick (geez, I forgot what he commanded). On Rich's right were Greg Kelleher and Mark Baker (2 great Aussies) and finally, Rich Gause. Starting opposite Kyle, we were opposed by the legions of Jeff Caruso, Doug Mudd, Larry "Lobotomy" Chaban, Tony Aguilar, "Diceman's" nephew Steve, and John was the final Roman player.
The border of the Roman Empire and a happy pair of Romans (Larry and Tony) seem oblivious to the pending invasion that looms on the horizon.
The Visigoths assemble for battle and the riches that lie beyond.If you have never participated in a Jeff Caruso run event, you must. His events are wild multiplayer affairs where everything - kills, first blood, camps, and the like - are all about the accumulation of gold pieces! In this game, you could use your acquired gold to buy back troops which appeared back at your camp, if you still owned one! Timing was still crucial as you could only buy them on your side's bound so "breaking" on the enemy bound meant disaster.
The Lobotomy Legion awaits the onslaught.
Strategies were discussed and off to war we went. Kyle's knight-based army was to quickly engage Jeff's Romans while I provided flank support keeping an eye on Doug Mudd's legion. Rich, on my right, would engage Larry and, again, I would support his flank with the other half of my Goths. I had a piece of rough terrain in front of me so I planned on rushing up the warbands and bows to deny Doug that position and support Kyle at the same time. The Goth cavalry arm would sweep around the right side of the rough to support Rich. Sounds good, right? It wasn't to be. The Romans had first bound and the early PIP advantages so Doug's auxilia took possession of the terrain first.
The Romans win the race!
Me, in my infinite wisdom, did not give a wide enough berth to the rough with my cavalry and got ZOC'd in flank slowing my support to Rich. This was crucial as now Rich was facing 2 Roman legions - Larry and Tony - while Kyle was engaged by Jeff and half of Doug's legion. My allied Warlords and Larry were very critical of my generalship and I deserved the abuse. I simply screwed up. LArry even whacked me on the top of my head with his pivot stick! Remind me I owe him one for that!
The Goths furiously assault the Romans to take the rough hill.
But it wasn't to be that way. My Goths did not help bail me out as the troops lost combat after combat against Mudd's Mules (Patrician style) and went streaming to the rear. Kyle was holding his own while Rich was making good progress but the weight of 2 legions was just too much for him without my support. At one point, I believe, Rich killed Tony's general but couldn't take advantage and eventually Tony was able to buy it back and rejoin the fight. Kyle ultimately broke as well and the barbarian left was in shambles.
Judging from the "hurrahs" on our extreme right, our fellow barbarians were faring much better. Gold was being transferred freely as general after general it appeared were falling to the enemy sword. If you killed an enemy general, you got all his gold! Time was called and Rich Gause had been declared the winner through the accumulation of gold. He killed John's general very late in the game and captured his hefty cache of gold to seal the victory.
All of us had an absolute blast in Jeff's game and I looked forward to participating in Steppe Wars which Jeff was running later on Saturday. But that is another report.
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