24 Century Events
2008 Results 2008 Results Bob Hamel, CT Ed Menzel, CA Nick Henning, CT Vince Meconi. DE Nick Smith, UK Rob Doane, MA John Elliott, MD Bert Schoose, IL O Tom Richardson, VA O Greg Smith, FL O John Pack, CO O Dave Zimmerman, PA
John Pack, CO Vincent Meconi, DE 71 1992-2008 33 1992-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists Nick Henning, CT 146 Vincent Meconi, DE 130 Pitt Crandlemire, MA 132 Ed Menzel, CA 112 John Pack, CO 90 Allen Kaplan, NJ 91 Nick Smith, UK 90 Ted Drozd, IL 62 Bob Hamel, CT 67 Dave Zimmerman, PA 59 Jim Castonguay, PA 54 Barry Shoults, MI 56 Mark Love, MD 53 Jim Tracy, OH 34 Tom Richardson, VA 48 William Place, PA 31 Bob Hamel, CT Jeffrey Hacker, PA 40 Ed Menzel, CA Mike Pacheco, CA 24 Victor Hogen, CA 34 Doug Porterfield, VA 12
Gangsters (GSR) Gettysburg ‘88 (GBG) ob Hamel pulled the right “Strings” to accom- d Menzel of Fullerton, CA won his Bplish a 10-joint win. He needed to recruit both Ethird consecutive Gettysburg ‘88 a Thug and Vamp on the last turn, and he rolled crown, defeating GM Vince Meconi in low enough to finish with $200 to spare. It’s the the Final. Ed finished with a 9-2 record, while second year in a row that the tournament winner Vince went 8-1. Rob Doane took third at 3-3 and used this strategy, a first in the event’s history. Bert Schoose finished fourth at 3-1. Last year’s winner, Jeffrey “The Head” In the Final, Vince grabbed the Confederates Hacker, finished in eighth place this year. In for a bid of 5.0. His Confederates had routed Ed’s fact, none of last year’s finalists returned to the Union troops in the preliminaries, but a repeat was big game. However, of the finalists, only John not in the offing. In fact, in each of Ed’s three cham- “Bugs” Elliott was new to the affair. Bugs had pionships, he has won the Final against an oppo- finished as high as seventh place before. Nick nent who had beaten him earlier in the event. This “Dusk” Henning won in 2004 and 2005 and Tom time the Union was so dominant that they ended “The Mumbler” Richardson won in 2006. Nick July 1 still in command of both Culp’s Hill and “Slumlord” Smith has appeared in many finals Cemetery Hill, without having suffered a single but has yet to claim the top prize. elimination or flip to their 3- and 4-factor units. GM John Pack gave out the Cement Over- The Rebels held on until Turn 18, but they threw in shoes Sportsmanship Award to Jordan “Preach- the towel then with just one undamaged infantry er” Halberstadt, Junior Godfather Award to division remaining. Craig “No Cigar” Reece, “I Think She Likes Me!” During the tourney, the South won 32 games Award to Sharee “Jezebel” Pack and the Roadkill to 17 for the North. Forty-four games used the Award to Ashley “Angel” Collinson. This year, he campaign scenario. Confederates won 31 of those inaugurated the “Barney Fife Memorial Award”. contests. Four games used the short July 1 scenario, To win, a player had to be the first to use Cop #2 with the Federals winning three. The Union won to inflict two losses on a rival gang in the single game that used the July 1/July 2 scenario. a single shootout. The retroactive 2007 Confederate bids ranging from 1 to 5.5 VPs took award was presented to Paul “Da Spi- place in 36 games, and the South prevailed 25 der” Bolduc. The Head took this year’s times to the North’s 11. The Union award when he used Barney to delay bid for side three times and lost his opponents’ plans long enough to twice. Blue and Gray split the 10 collect 10 joints in the Semi. games with no bid. Century Events 25
2008 Results 2008 Results Chris Moffa, NJ Ed Beach, MD Bruce Reiff, OH Rob Doane, MA Raphael Lehrer, MD Justin Rice, VA O Jeff Mullet, OH O Steve Likevich, OH O Sean McCulloch, OH O Chris Withers, CA O Matt Calkins, VA O Brad Merrill, ME
Bruce Reiff, OH Dave Cross, VA Great Campaigns 30 2004-2008 17 1993-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists Alex Bove, PA 97 Chris Withers, CA 312 Arthur Field, SC 84 Ed Beach, MD 127 Raphael Lehrer, MD 79 David Cross, VA 85 Chris Moffa, NJ 72 Paul Nied, KS 78 John Kerr, VA 48 Mark Booth, VA 75 Rod Spade, PA 46 Steve Likevich, OH 66 Kevin Walsh, NY 45 B. Passacantando, CT 66 Chris Trimmer, TX 30 Rob Doane, MA 57 Perrianne Lurie, PA 30 Michael Pacheco, CA 36 Chris Moffa, NJ Ed Beach, MD Jeff Mullet, OH 21 Scott Spurgeon, ON 36
Goa (GOA) Great Campaigns (GCA) ine winners advanced to the Semi-Final. or the first time since 2000, Chris Withers did NGame 1 was a clash of the titans between Fnot make it to the elimination rounds. Instead, 2007 Champ and EuroQuest winner Alex Bove, 1993 champ and frequent Laurelist Ed Beach Laurelist Raphael Lehrer, and Cabbie Sean Mc- found his way to the top for a second time. Culloch. It was no contest, as the reigning Caesar In the Semi-Final’s Wilderness, Rob Doane’s steamrolled the board with 53 points to Sean’s Union beat Steve Likevich, while Ed Beach’s 49 and Alex’s 41. Sean’s second was not good Confederates defeated Justin Rice. In the Fi- enough to advance. In game 2, fellow Cabbie Jeff nal, Ed Beach led the Confederates to victory Mullet scored only 49 points, but it was enough in Bethesda Church. Brad Merrill earned “Risen to beat Matt Calkins and Sceadeau D’Tela. In from the Ranks” performance, showing great game 3, Bruce Reiff managed 51 points to defeat improvement this year. Scott Mercotte, and Chris Moffa, who scored The tournament used the same format as in high enough to advance as the fourth finalist. 2007. We played six straight preliminary rounds Despite the two Cabbies in the Final and the on Wednesday and Thursday with a mix of sce- vast amount of experience they get in Columbus, narios, primarily from Grant Takes Command. We Ohio continued to be deprived of top honors. added the McDowell scenario from Stonewall in This year that pleasure went to Chris. The Final the Valley because players enjoyed it a lot in the was a close affair. Jeff and Bruce both tried the online tournament. Battles were relatively straight spice/cards strategy, but Bruce drew well and forward with no real wild situations reported. Jeff drew poorly. Bruce jumped out to an early Probably the biggest variety occurred in McDowell lead, but Raphael was on his heels. Chris quietly since it is a very long scenario in number of turns kept up, while Jeff was reduced to looking for (but few units) with lots of options for Stonewall ways to screw with Bruce. Jackson to run up and down the Shenandoah Val- By game end, Bruce knew it would come down ley. Overall, the Confederates won the majority of to his expedition points. He had a pair and drew the scenarios in every round. three cards, but he missed his three-of-a-kind. Still, During the week, Ed displayed the Battle Above he had 50 points, as did Chris. On the tie breaker, the Clouds playtest materials for the area near Chat- Chris took victory, with 32 cash to tanooga, Tenn. GM Dave Cross and Bruce’s 17. Jeff—who had picked Justin Rice played a few turns of the Goa as his team game—ended with campaign game to demonstrate how 40 points and Raphael with 47. the restricted terrain affects play. 26 Century Events
2008 Results 2008 Results Jim Heenehan, PA Jeff Burdett, NY Keith Wixson, NJ Alan Sudy, VA Gary Andrews, NY Mike Rogazinski, NY Lyman Moquin, DC Rick Cambron, PA Larry Luongo, NJ Justin Rice, VA O Andy Latto, MA O Dave Cross, VA
Stuart Tucker, MD Ed Beach, MD 43 1996-2008 48 2006-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists James Pei, VA 236 Bryan Collars, SC 62 Keith Wixson, NJ 193 Jeff Burdett, NY 60 Jim Heenehan, PA 188 Dan Gallagher, MD 60 Chris Byrd, CT 157 John Wetherell, PA 60 Peter Reese, VA 94 Alan Sudy, VA 41 Gary Andrews 62 Ken Richards, SC 38 Nick Anner, NY 60 Rob Seulowitz, NY 36 Aaron Fuegi, MA 60 Allan Hill, MD 36 Jim Heenehan, PA Jung Yueh, MA 50 Jeff Burdett, NY Dennis Mishler, CT 30 Doug White, PA 44 Mike Rogazinski, NY 24
Hannibal (HRC) Here I Stand (HIS) hree former champs went down in the n Round 1, David Long’s French lost despite Tfirst round in close-run defeats, while Iamassing 26 VPs because Jeff Pattison converted former champs Keith Wixson and Jim 50 spaces for a Protestant auto-win. The only play- Heenehan advanced against tough competitors. er to win in both heats was Dave Cross. Randall MacInnis made history when he won in Cross pushed his record to 3-0 in the first three consecutive rounds after 9-9 ties in games he game of the Semi, winning with his third different thought he was losing entering the final turn. power. The second game featured a one-turn Pa- Round 5 began with three undefeated players. pal knockout by Rick Byrens, despite a table that Gary Andrews (3-1) played Andy Latto. Andrews included four repeat semi-finalists. In the third took Carthage with a bid of 2. Truces caused four game, Jeff Burdett earned his second win of the straight re-shuffles, but in Turns 7 and 8, the Mace- week as the Hapsburgs. The fourth game went the donian and Syracusan Alliances occurred. An- full three turns. Entering the final turn, five powers drews held parts of Italy for most of the game and, were tied for the lead with 19 VPs. Dan Hoffman’s despite Hannibal’s death on Turn 8, he received Papacy was on track to win except for a city state Latto’s Turn 9 resignation after driving off three rebellion in Florence that scored four hits to wipe Roman attempts to land an army at Carthage. out the garrison. At the end of the Action Phase, With Latto’s loss, the battle of former champs Kaarin Engelmann’s English held the lead at 22 VP, Wixson and Heenehan would determine the but the French rolled a 10 on two dice for a success- champion. Heenehan took Carthage with a bid ful exploration, giving Rick Cambron the win. of 1. Syracuse joined Carthage on Turn 1 but was Going into the Final, the win totals by power sacked on Turn 5 as the Macedonian Alliance were Ottoman 2, Hapsburgs 2, English 2, French began. Heenehan spent much of the game try- 3, Papacy 3, and Protestant 4. Cross ignored these ing to lodge an army led by Mago on Sardinia. numbers and chose the Ottoman, leaving the On Turn 7, Wixson sent three armies into Spain. Hapsburgs to Burdett for the fourth straight game. Mago returned to Spain with reinforcements for On Turn 5, the Hapsburgs took Buda through a pressed Hannibal, regaining Spain, but Rome Treachery and sieged Bradenburg to keep the retook Sardinia for the sixth time on Protestants from winning. On Turn Turn 9. Hannibal crossed the Alps to 6, they took Wittenberg and Trier. play “I have come to Italy” on the fi- Then they conquered the Maya, giv- nal card play and secure a 9-9 count, ing Burdett a win over the English on giving victory to Heenehan. the tie-breaker. Century Events 27
2008 Results 2008 Results Jeff King, ME Patrick Maloney, PA Greg Kulp, NJ Jeff Bowers, UT Eric Kleist, MD Romain Jacques, QC Jeff Halberstadt, IN O Greg Berry, VA O Richard Beyma, VA O Phil Shea, FL O Aran Warszawski, IS O Ben Stephenson, MD
Kevin Youells, FL D. Bohnenberger, PA 32 1993-2008 48 2007-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists Harald Henning, CT 126 Patrick Maloney, PA 60 Rolinda Collinson, MD 90 Jeff Bowers, UT 18 Jonas Borra, NY 84 Tony Defeo, CT 18 Mike Backstrom, MN 68 Romain Jacques, QC 12 Haim Hochboim, Israel 60 Jim Doughan, PA 12 Robert Destro, NJ 60 Peter Eirich, MD 10 Mark Pitcavage, OH 50 Greg Berry, VA 9 Allen Kaplan, NJ 48 Lane Newbury, CA 9 Jeff King, ME Kevin Youells, FL 42 Patrick Maloney, PA Phil Shea, FL 6 Gregory Kulp, NJ 40 Mike Horn, FL 6
History of the World (HWD) Imperial (IMP) inners of each of the six first round games espite the GM’s assurances that it was likely Wadvanced directly to the Final. Former Dfor alternates to advance to the semi-final, champions Haim Hochbaim (2004) and Craig few made themselves available at the appointed Yope (2006) were knocked out in the first round. time. Thus, only 14 players advanced, which The best quote of Day 1 belonged to Greg Kulp meant that there were three tables in the semi. who was trying to calculate the best place to play As a result, Romain Jacques got a second chance a civil war. He said, “I don’t want to be in the way as the highest second-place finisher, joining Jeff of the Khmers.” It may be the first time in His- Bowers, Greg Berry and defending champion tory of the World that the Khmers got any respect. Patrick Maloney. Paul McGuanne won the honorary “most hosed” Initial bond purchases were Jeff: Austria 4, award. His event cards included two that required Great Britain 1, France 2, Germany 3; Patrick: both a capital and navigation. They had to be Russia 3, France 1, Italy 1, Great Britain 2, Aus- played between Epochs 2 and 5. Naturally, his op- tria 2, Germany 2; Greg: Great Britain 3, Italy 3, ponents saddled him with the Scythians, Hsung France 3, Austria 1; and Romain: Britain 4, Italy Nu, Huns, and Mongols—all with no capital. 4, Russia 2. The first moves for each nation were In the Final, there were several lead changes, Austria: Investor, Italy: Investor, France: Inves- as 2007 runner-up Jeff King (Epoch 7), defend- tor, Great Britain: Factory, Germany: Factory, ing champ Kulp (2, 3, and 4), Eric Kleist (6), and Russia, Investor. The game continued a trend Jeff Halberstadt (1 and 5) took turns in the fore- from the preliminary rounds where good play- front. Kleist held a six-point lead heading into ers tend to start a nation’s rondel marker nearer the last Epoch. For this sin, he was passed the to the tax space, trying to expand quickly and United States as his final empire. He scored a re- take a smaller bonus before an investor round spectable 44 points with them, but fell to third could result in losing control of the nation. place. The game came down to Kulp and King. The briskly-played game saw Germany reach Kulp scored 54 with the Manchu Dynasty. He the 25-space of the scoring track, and Patrick suc- ended up with 199 points. King scored a terrific cessfully defending his championship. Scores 58 points with France, putting him were Patrick 178, Jeff 159, Greg 143, at 207. Kulp finished out with 12 and Romain 143. Greg squeaked points for pre-eminence markers. into third on the tie-breaker because King had six, which was enough he had more shares in Germany for a three-point victory. than Romain.. 28 Century Events
2008 Results 2008 Results Andy Latto, MA Stan Buck, MD Rob Winslow, NY Nick Benedict, CA Bruce Reiff, OH Jordan Halberstadt, IN Peter Stein, OH Rod Coffey, MD O Eric Landes, OR O Justin Thompson, VA O Mike Kaltman, PA O Scott Smith, FL
Peter Stein, OH Justin Thompson, VA 131 2007-2008 23 1991-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists Andy Latto, MA 30 Justin Thompson, VA 144 Chris Johnson, CA 20 Nick Benedict, CA 66 Rob Winslow, NY 18 Jordan Halberstadt, TN 60 Peter Stein, OH 17 Will Wible, VA 60 Bruce Reiff, OH 12 Stanley Buck, MD 54 Jamie Tang, MD 12 Kevin Brownell, ME 54 Eric Landes, OR 6 Dale Long, NJ 48 Roger Taylor, VA 6 Bill Powers, VA 39 Daniel Eppolio, CA 4 James Coomes, KY 36 Andy Latto, MA Stan Buck, CA Michael Kaltman, PA 3 George Sauer, OH 30
Ingenious (ING) Kingmaker (KGM) hile attendance in 2007 was good enough ll six of the Laurelists had seen the Final ta- Wfor Century status; this year it was over Able before and four of the top five Laurelists 60% better. However, players did not do a bet- were present in this year’s Final. GM Justin ter job of bringing copies of the game; we had Thompson made it with three preliminary wins. to scramble to get enough. BRING A COPY OF On the initial deal of the Final, everyone had THE GAME! a reasonable position. Key events fell quickly. De- Only three players won two games in the pre- fending champion Nick Benedict was wiped out liminary round: GM Pete Stein, Ken Samuel, and on Turn 3 with no cards remaining on the board. Andy Latto. Sixteen players advanced into the Justin stepped out of his power base to destroy semi-final, where Latto missed a perfect game 2005 champ Jordan Halberstadt and lost two no- (18’s in all six colors) by only two. When Bruce bles. Jordan’s noble was also killed with the same Reiff, Rob Winslow, and Stein also advanced, card. On the next turn, Rod Coffey marched in it was sure to be an interesting Final. Latto had and crushed Justin’s forces, leaving him in fifth already won three events that week, Bruce is the place. Rod and Stan Buck marched around each Plaque Man, Stein was a former laurelist, and other trying to attack the nobles being pulled Rob is no slouch at the game. It was a close game, away. A few were killed. While this is going on, though about two-thirds of the way through Stein Nick rebuilt. He played Neville and sailed to the fell behind when he had trouble drawing Green continent to get 100 foot solders. This brought tiles. The others stayed close and wound up with Nick back from the dead and made him a major scores of 11. Andy pulled out the win with a sec- force. He struck a deal with Stan to crown him ond score of 14. Rob had 13, and Bruce 12. king. Nick got an heir out of the deal. Several players achieved perfect scores dur- Parliament was called and Rod, Nick and Jor- ing the tourney, including Ken Samuel (in both dan split the spoils. Stanley got nothing and be- of his wins), Eric Landes, Ivan Lawson, Nathan came the target of the three-headed monster. Justin Wright and Mario Veillette. This year three play- decided to cause as much havoc as possible and ers (Arthur Field, Kathy Stroh and Sue Ells- help Stan. Nick suffered a late defeat, and Rod lost worth) were able to win games a few of his men. Justin ambushed without being a Genius (no scores Rod’s Queen late to seal Stan’s sole of 18). The average winning score king victory. The final scores were was a little over 13.5, up by almost Stan 107, Nick 63, Jordan 41, Rod one point from last year. 09, and Justin -08. Century Events 29
2008 Results 2008 Results Lee Rodriguez, VA Josh Lanham, MD Steve Cuccaro, MD Scott Buckwalter, MD O Ewan McNay, CT Haim Hochboim, IS O Andy Latto, MA O Jeff Meyer, MA O Pete Stein, OH O Chester Lanham, MD O Nick Benedict, CA O Harry Flawd, PA
Steve Cuccaro, MD Jason Levine, NY 34 1991-2008 212 2003-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists Steve Cuccaro, MD 130 Daniel Hoffman, NC 36 Peter Stein, OH 86 Josh Lanham, MD 30 Tom McCorry, VA 46 Thomas Browne, PA 30 Lee Rodrigues, VA 42 L. Dan Hoffman MD 30 Llew Bardecki, ON 40 Lucimara Martins, MD 30 Marc Houde, VA 35 Josh Githens, SC 30 David Buchholz, MI 30 Scoyy Buckwalter, MD 18 Bruce Glassco, NJ 30 Matt Calkins, VA 18 Lee Rodriguez, VA Sean McCulloch, OH 28 Josh Lanham, MD Kathy Kilroy, PA 18 Nick Smith, UK 27 Doug Galullo, FL 18
Kremlin (KRM) Liar’s Dice (LID) ld age and treachery failed to over- estivities started with the traditional, yet Ocome youth and skill in 2008, as the Flarger than ever, synchronized massed cup youngest player managed to maneuver shake and smash to the tables. Of the 212 who the youngest politician to the top of the Politburo. started, 35 made it to the semi-final. GM Jason There were no “three wave and out” games in Levine advanced, only to lose to Harry Flawd in any of the heats, even though eight of the 11 heat a two-man showdown. Eleven-year old Nicole games were won on waves. In addition, no heat Reiff also just missed in a two-person show- game lasted until Turn 10-1/2; i.e., the other three down, but she earned a sportsmanship nomina- heats were won by depleting the politicians. The tion for keeping her spirits high while dealing clear leader going into the Final was former GM with her opponent’s nagging. and defending two-time champion Pete Stein, as Other than father and son Chester and Josh the only player who managed to win two heats. Lanham, finalists were Haim Hochboim, Harry It appeared he was starting strong with (appar- Flawd, Scott Buckwalter, and Jeff Meyer. Scott ent) control of Nestor, but poor Nestor didn’t lost the first die, followed by Chester losing two. make it through the year. Nor did most of the The third play was a nuclear strike. Scott called older members of the Politburo. When the crypt when Harry bid eleven 1’s. Only six showed. dust settled, Wassily Protzky finished the Re- Never before has someone lost all five dice at placement Phase as Party Chief. once! Chester was the next out. Although Jeff Lee Rodriguez was not shy about adding years was down to his last die, he made three bids in to the young Protzky, reshaping the Politburo to a row to eliminate 12 enemy dice. He couldn’t his liking. He promoted Viktor Wasolin from a hold on forever, though, and he finished in second level position to KGB Head. The combina- fourth. Shortly afterwards, Haim called Josh on tion of a young, healthy Party Chief and KGB head an exactor and was out. At this point, Scott was under Lee’s control was too much for the remain- down to his last die, while Josh still had three. ing players. A lucky health roll on Turn 2 wound- Josh started the bidding with one 5. Scott raised ed Protzky and caused a failed wave, but this only to a pair. Josh then bid three 5’s, while reveal- set up the ascension of Wasolin to Party Chief on ing two. Since Scott knew he had a Turn 3, and—despite a flurry of card 5 under his cup, he was forced to go play—Lee got two waves in succes- to four 5’s. Josh called, raised his sion, ending the game on Turn 4 cup, saw his last roll and smiled the with his first Kremlin crown. grin of a champion.. 30 Century Events
2008 Results 2008 Results Andy Latto, MA Harald Henning, CT Cally Perry, MA Bill Crenshaw, VA Lexi Shea, CT Arthur Field, SC O David Meyaard, CT Jeff Mullet, OH O Sue Ellsworth, IL O John Coussis, IL O Malinda Kyrkos, NY O Pete Pollard, TN
Ivan Lawson, MD Bill Crenshaw, VA 185 2000-2008 39 2005-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists Andy Latto, MA 58 Bill Crenshaw, VA 140 Jared Scarborough,IL 48 Harald Henning, CT 107 Sean McCulloch, OH 34 Arthur Field, SC 76 Daniel Karp, MD 32 Ewan McNay, CT 50 Jarett Weintraub, NY 30 Tom Taaffe, VA 46 Chris Entwistle, MD 30 Kevin Sudy, VA 40 Daniel Broh-Kahn, MD 30 AJ Sudy, VA 36 Laurel Stokes, NJ 26 Bill Edwards, VA 30 Andy Latto, MA Cally Perry, MA 24 Harald Henning, CT- Kathy Stroh, DE 30 David Meyaard, CT 24 John Coussis, IL 28
Lost Cities (LST) Manifest Destiny (MFD) ome came in groups, some in waves, and ropping one heat shaved 15% off the at- Ssome alone, but they all came to Paradise in Dtendance but had no visible effect on the search of something Lost. In the end, they were outcome, as the usual suspects dominated. all paired and prepared for competition: 53 pairs Four laurelists returned and all added to their in the first heat, 60 in the second, 25 in the third former totals. and 37 in the last. In all, 104 explorers tested Aside from Louisiana, which was shut fate in more than one heat. With three expedi- out, winning positions were evenly distrib- tions scoring bonuses, Sam Atabaki posted the uted, with Mexico and Pennsylvania taking highest overall score of 344. Only one game fin- four wins, and Quebec and Virginia three. Bill ished with a tie at the end of regulation. Wayne Crenshaw (Mexico), Arthur Field (Virginia), Schmittberger and Laurel Stokes played a fourth Jeff Mullet (Pennsylvania), and John Coussis hand, only to tie again! In their fifth hand, Wayne (Louisiana) advanced, along with Harald Hen- prevailed with a lopsided score that belied the ning (Quebec), who advanced on the tie-break- closeness of the contest. er, despite finishing third in his semi. Harald Of the 32 players who advanced to SE rounds, made the most of the opportunity. 17 had compiled three or more wins. Cally Perry, In the last expansion of the Final, Mexico Claire Brosius, and Kathy Kilroy won in all four used most of his tokens taking Northern Cali- heats. It was an All New-England semi-final. Da- fornia from Quebec. However, Quebec had most vid Meyaard lost to Cally Perry, and was over- cities nailed and emerged largely unscathed. Ul- whelmed in his bid to achieve third place in the timately, Quebec used Patriotism to cash Prohibi- consolation game against Lexi. That left a cham- tion for $100 in Gold (even after losing Northern pionship game between two friends. California). After buying all progressions (for 30 Apparently exhausted by their efforts to VPs), gaining six for B/Ts and two more for most survive the preceding five SE rounds, Cally cities, he had ballooned to 38 (five points more Perry and 2007 runner-up Andy Latto trudged than in any other MFD WBC Final), turning a through a pedestrian Final round. Trailing by 17 nailbiter into a blowout. The remaining scores points as he entered the last hand, showed Mexico with 32 and $55, Pennsylvania Latto prevailed with a winning score with 30 and $105 ($5 short of 122 to 99. He became the leading of 33), Virginia with 30 and Lost Cities laurelist and completed $55 and Louisiana with 30 his four-championship week. and $50. Century Events 31
2008 Results 2008 Results Terry Coleman, CA Carmen Petruzelli, PA Harry Flawd, PA Steve Shambeda, PA O Keith Hunsinger, OH Ilan Woll, CT O John Coussis, IL O Jeff Meyer, MA O Chris Bauch, LA O Gary Noe, FL O Tom Browne, PA O Sceadeau D’Tela, NC
Terry Coleman, CA John Pack, CO 41 1992-2008 105 1999-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists Bruce Monnin, OH 100 Harald Henning, CT 82 John Coussis, IL 79 Tom Stokes, NJ 55 Dennis Nicholson, NY 70 Gary Noe, FL 48 Terry Coleman, CA 63 Bruce Reiff, OH 42 Ken Gutermuth, TX 55 Ann Cornett, FL 40 Peter Staab, PA 54 Jeff Cornett, FL 38 Harry Flawd, PA 45 Carmen Petruzelli, PA 30 Derek Landel, NY 45 Peter Staab, PA 30 Terry Coleman, CA Bruce Reiff, OH 40 Carmen Petruzelli, PA Doug Galullo, FL 30 Jeff Martin, CT 39 Kevin Wojtaszczyk, NY 30
March Madness (MMS) Medici (MED) ranted Legacy status a couple of hamp Carmen Petruzelli had to stage a Gyears ago, March Madness has seen Cdramatic comeback to claim victory. After increased attendance each year. There the Final’s first buying session, Gary Noe had was no shortage of compelling drama in the Fi- 51 points. Carmen wasn’t in first- or second- or nal Four. Keith Hunsinger had lost to Bruce Reiff even third-place! At the end of the second ses- in the very first Final Four, back in 1992. For two- sion, Steve Shambeda had taken the lead with 96 time champ Terry Coleman, this was a chance to points. Carmen had climbed into second place win his first MMS title in 14 years. Harry had to set the stage for his victory. In the final ses- qualified two teams for the Final Four in the sion, Steve overbid on a set that was ideal for same tournament, something only one other Gary, which left Steve second with 96 points and player in the history of the event has done. dropped Gary to last. Carmen finished at the top While Harry has been a fixture in regional fi- with a score of exactly 100, after gains of 8, 34, nals more than a decade, Hunsinger wanted his and 28 during the three buying sessions. return to the Final Four after more than a decade to Such comebacks weren’t common—50% of be meaningful. At the half, Keith’s Oklahoma State all winners were in the lead at the end of the first team held a two-point lead, but he couldn’t hold session and 61% were in the lead by the end of off Harry’s UCLA ‘73 low post offense. Bill Walton the second session. It’s a good thing for Carmen exploded for 18 points in the second half, giving that the Final was a five-player game—because Harry a 82-76 victory. All Harry had to do was beat there were ZERO players in four-player games Terry in the semi-final to win the title. who overcame a deficit after the second session! An early end was not to be. Terry’s Arkansas The Final almost was a four-player game. ‘78 team took a 53-27 lead into halftime over the With 19 winners reporting for the semi, the GM ‘81 Tar Heels. A 96-71 loser, Harry changed into determined to play four five-player semi-finals his UCLA jersey for a second game. The nightcap and a four-player Final. However, at the end of proved a lot closer. It was 30-28 at the half. As play their semi-final, Jeff Meyer and Ilan Woll were resumed, Terry scored enough to stay tied with 94 points apiece! The official Medici ahead for most of the second period. rules contain no tie-breaker, and Harry scored well with Walton, but the GM decided to allow both to foul trouble on his other positions advance, and—unbeknownst to held Harry back and Terry achieved a them—sewed the seeds of Car- hard-fought 68-50 win. men’s comeback. 32 Century Events
2008 Results 2008 Results Scott Gibson, VA Ewan McNay, CT Sam Edelston, CT Joe Abrams, CT Mike Wojke, PA Eyal Mozes, NY O Rob Mull, CO Phillip Shea, FL O Gordon Rodgers, PA O Bill Crenshaw, VA O Jon Miller, DC O David Fritsch, VA
Mark Guttag, VA Richard Irving, CA 62 2004-2008 57 1991-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists Joe Harrison, KY 108 Bill Crenshaw, VA 96 Robert Eastman, NV 68 Eric Wrobel, VA 60 Jonathan Miller, DC 57 Debbie Otto, MO 56 Steve Lollis, MD 54 Eyal Mozes, NY 54 Scott Gibson, VA 30 Joe Abrams, CT 54 Harrison Anderson, PA 26 Luke Koleszar, VA 52 Benoit Groulx, QC 20 Ed Wrobel, VA 52 Scott Sirianna, NY 20 Steve Dickson, CA 48 Scott Gibson, VA Frank Hastings, MD 15 Ewan McNay, CT Chuck Foster, TX 42 Bob Heinzmann, FL 15 Kathy Stroh, DE 40
Memoir ‘44 (M44) Merchant of Venus (MOV) here was to be no third straight Final show- n the second heat, an event occurred that Tdown between Joe Harrison and Jonathan Icaused retirement of the fictional “Water in the Miller, as both faltered in Round 4. Instead, two Gas Tank” and “Wrong Way Corrigan” Awards. players who had only ever met before online— Norm Newton, starting from the Space City in Sam Edelston and Scott Gibson—had the ulti- The Cloud, was trying to go to the fashionable mate face-off. Western part of the Galaxy by Galactic Base. In the Final’s first game, Sam played the Axis Navigation Circles can make this journey peril- and Scott the Allies in Montélimar. It was lopsided ous, with a roll of 2 or 3 required to avoid getting through Turn 5, when the score was 4-1, Allies. By stuck. Still, if you roll 1,1,1 as Norm did, it prob- Turn 10, there had been a dramatic turn-around, ably doesn’t matter much, few pips are wasted. with the Axis gaining three more medals to a sin- Norm tried again, and rolled 1, 1, 1. Back into The gle medal by the Allies. On Turn 11, the Allies used Cloud he went. On his third attempt, again trying an Infantry Assault in the center, while the Axis to go to the Westside, he rolled another 1, 1, 1!!! Messerschmitt’s strafing run achieved the win- Back to stuck on the Navigation circle! On his ning medal. The final score showed the Axis with fourth attempt, Norm made a better roll: 1, 1, 4! 6 medals to the Allies 5. The Axis had destroyed 22 He still could not go where he wanted, and he figures to the Allies’ 18. was forced twice as far out of his way! It looked The second game featured a six-turn on- as though he would never leave the cloud, and slaught by two Axis Armored units and two Pan- just then, Gary Libby, won the game! zer Grenadier Infantry. Scott’s Axis got their first In the Final, Ewan McNay—whose margin of flag on Turn 2 using The Finest Hour, but Sam’s victory in the semi was larger than any other win- Allies responded using a Direct from Headquar- ner, a mere $107—built a solid trade empire featur- ters to tie the score. On Turn 4, the Axis picked ing ports at four adjacent systems: Trapped Rogue a one-figure infantry unit to make the score 3-2. (1a), Poison Planet (2), Shuttlestop at the Cloud (5) On Turn 6, the Axis played Probe Center, rolling and Water World (8). A perfect 4 stop loop! Using a nine dice against a full-strength Allied infantry transport, he was able to cruise to a relatively easy and hitting it five times to win the game 6-3. The victory. Joe Abrams made a last ditch Axis destroyed 27 figures effort to hit a telegate cure, but it while losing 11. With the was not to be. Final scores were match split 1-1, Scott won on Ewan $3093, Joe $2711, Eyal Mozes medals, 11-9. $2502, and Philip Shea $1535. Century Events 33
2008 Results 2008 Results David Brooks, TN Lane Hess, PA Alex Bell, MD John Emery, SC Jason Levine, NY Bruce Young, SC O David Pack, CO Scott Pfeiffer, SC O Nick Henning, CT Pat Duffy, MD O Matthew Morgal, MD O Richard Beyma, MD
Mark Love, MD Mark McLaughlin, CT 77 1998-2007 46 2003-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists Marvin Birnbaum, NY 100 Bruce Young, SC 120 Nick Henning, CT 83 John Emery, SC 120 Rebecca Hebner, CO 77 Lane Hess, PA 96 Joe Sposito, NJ 63 Ed Rothenheber, MD 96 David Brooks, TN 62 Scott Moll, VA 80 Tom Meier, VA 50 Melvin Casselberry, PA 75 Steve Scott, CA 48 David Gantt, SC 60 Daniel Val, ES 30 Forrest Speck, MD 60 David Brooks, TN John Koskl, NC 30 Lane Hess, PA Scott Fenn, MD 50 Matthew Beach, MD 27 Mark Hodgkinson, AU 50
Monster’s Ravage America (MRA) Napoleonic Wars (NW5) elebrating its 10-year anniversary in 2008, ngland was invaded many, many times in CMonsters Ravage America saw 40% higher at- Ethis year’s tournament. Some invasions, tendance. Almost half of the players were new to like the one led by Bruce Young in his semi- the tournament. Bronacle (in Ravage) and Toxicor final match, didn’t work out so well the first (in Menace)—monsters that can choose two muta- time. In Bruce’s case, he invaded again, man- tions and keep the best—were both SHUT OUT in aging to get Napoleon and everyone who came 2007, but they came back with a vengeance in 2008. with him killed a second time. Unlike most Josh Githens set the standard, taking Bronacle to players who have experienced similar disas- 50, with the highest Ravage score. GM Mark Love ters, Bruce pulled out the victory on a peace had the highest scoresheet, with 54 points using die roll, edging Henry Russell’s Russia by a the infamy-happy Megaclaw. single point. By mid-game of the Final, David Pack’s $5 bil- Tight games like Bruce’s were common. lion attempt for military research succeeded and There were two French automatic victories and he became Guard Commander. The shape of the the usual assortment of strange and bizarre oc- game changed dramatically when David Brooks currences. As Kevin Klemme summed up one picked up Cutbacks from military research. Brooks such experience: “any game where Kutuzov made a deal with Pack to NOT use Cutbacks to takes Lyon, Marseilles and Toulouse is a FUN eliminate the Guard Commander card, as long as game.” (Any guesses who played the Russians?) National Guard units were not used against him Despite that romp over the Rhone, Kevin came for the rest of the game. The Davids’ Pact drew in second—in a game where Alan “Four dice, Bell’s attention to Brooks. When Konk tried to at- four sixes and Gibraltar is mine” Sudy gained tack Tomonagi, he failed to get any hits, and he Austria’s only win. mutated Bomonagi twice, only making him stron- Of the other 18 games played, the French ger. There was silence for a second, since Brooks won nine, the English and Russians three each had 25 health, while Bell and Levine each had 6, and the Prussians two. and Pack was in Hollywood with zero. (Pack didn’t In the Final, Lane Hess won as England, nar- manage to get out of Hollywood rowly edging out his allies—at a to participate in the Challenge.) table manned by three members Bell extended his hand to shake of the Greenville Mafia—to claim Brooks’ hand saying, “THAT was the honors for saving Europe AWESOME!!!!” from Scott Pfeiffer’s Napoleon. 34 Century Events
2008 Results 2008 Results Bryan Eshleman, NC Bert Schoose, IL John Speck, MD Alan Arvold, IL Jim Fleckenstein, VA Chuck Leonard, PA O Rob Brode, MD O Bill Thomson, TX O Ruth Evinger, PA O Bill Scott, VA O Scott Fenn, MD O Marty Musella, VA
Jon Lockwood, VA Bert Schoose, IL 36 1992-2008 23 1991-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists Bill Place, PA 38 Bill Scott, VA 127 Jim Fleckenstein, VA 32 Marty Musella, VA 113 Bryan Eshleman, NC 30 Chuck Leonard, PA 82 Kelly Czyryca, MD 30 Bert Schoose, IL 69 Stephen Cuyler, NY 30 Greg Tanner, AZ 48 Tom Agostino, GE 30 Dave Giordano, NJ 47 Robert Paul, AZ 30 Alan Arvold, IL 30 Susan Ellsworth, IL 30 Eduardo DeNucci, AR 26 Bryan Eshleman, NC John Ellsworth, IL 26 Bert Schoose, IL Rich Northey, MA 24 Roy Pettis, VA 24 Johnny Hasay, PA 21
Naval War (NVW) PanzerBlitz (PZB) npredictability carried through from efending champion Bert Schoose got Uthe preliminaries to the Final. Scott Dhis position in the Final via winning Fenn took the early Round 1 lead with all three of his preliminary matches and 38 points, while Jim Fleckenstein’s and Bryan Es- beating two-time champ Chuck Leonard in a semi- hleman’s fleets went to the bottom early mainly final match. Alan Arvold got there by playing 11 because of their reputations as good players. Rob matches in the preliminaries and winning six. He Brode stayed close with 30 points, followed by beat Bill Thomson in the semis. Bill had accounted John Speck 17, Ruth Evinger 10, Fleckenstein 4, for one of Alan’s losses in the prelims. and Eshleman trailing with 2 points. In Round The Final used Scenario 45, the same scenario 2, the field teamed up against the leaders. Eshle- that Bert played to win his previous title. The open- man had a 35 point round to take the lead with 37 ing turn saw the Russians swarm Opustoschenia in points, followed by Speck with 36, Fleckenstein 35, the hopes of trapping the Germans. The Germans Brode 31, Fenn 28, and Evinger with 23. killed only four Russian units on the opening shots Even though Eshleman’s, Speck’s and Brode’s of Turn 2 but the halftrack (not loaded) did escape entire fleets sank during Round 3, Speck was the city. The Russians fired back and killed all of able to pull to within striking range of victory the remaining units in the city. at 63 points, followed by Fenn with 54, Fleck- Going into the last turn, both players thought enstein at 49, Evinger and Speck tied at 46, and that Bert needed to kill four German units to reach Eshleman in last at 38. 17 kills for the decisive victory. His direct fire at- Round 4 proved to be decisive. The field zeroed tacks at 4-1 (+1) avoided the dreaded “6”, and in on Speck and sank his fleet. Then they began Bert got his four kills, but the players realized af- taking out each other, trying to extend the match terwards that only 16 German units were dead. to a fifth round. During this free-for-all, they all ig- Since he had already set up an additional attack as nored trailer Eshleman. It proved fatal. He steadily insurance against failing in the first battle, he de- picked off ships and successfully used a destroyer cided to take it. The final attack came down to a squadron to sink an opponent’s fleet, managing a roll of 1-3 and Bert would win his second consecu- match-high total of 54 points! This took him from tive title and a roll of 4-6 would see Alan secure his last place to wood with 92 points, first championship. When the followed by Speck with 72, Fleck- die rolled out of the tower, it enstein 66, Brode 65, Evinger 61, settled on 2. One couldn’t ask and Fenn 52. for a more classic ending. Century Events 35
2008 Results 2008 Results John Popiden, CA Riku Riekkinen, FN Bill Borys, QC Dave Dockter, MN Robert Frisby, VA Pete Reese, VA O Jeff Hacker, PA Rob Hassard, NJ O Michael Pustilnik, NY Tom Gregorio, PA O NA Steve Parrish, VA
Robert Frisby, VA Peter Reese, VA 11 1991-2008 42 1999-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists Robert Frisby, VA 219 Tom Drueding, MA 350 John Popiden, CA 168 Peter Reese, VA 240 James Tracy, OH 106 David Dockter, MN 226 Michael Pustilnik, NY 86 Chris Byrd, CT 202 Bill Borys, QC 48 Rob Hassard, NJ 181 Keith Schoose, CA 42 Marvin Birnbaum, NY 174 Jeff Hacker, PA 37 Stefan Mecay, TX 172 Larry Meyers, IL 28 Nick Anner, NY 126 John Popiden, CA Kevin Hacker, PA 28 Riku Riekkinen, FN Jim Falling, MI 117 Phil Rennert, MD 18 Stephan Valkyser, GE. 96
Panzergruppe Guderian (PGG) Paths of Glory (POG) hree-time winner and 2006 PBEM nly one of the four semi-finalists Tchamp John Popiden won his semi- Owas not a previous WBC champ. final match when his Soviets defeated Riku Riekkinen was new to WBC, but four-time champ Robert Frisby’s Germans. They he had won repeatedly in other forums and trav- had met in previous tournaments, with Popiden eled all the way from Finland to participate. In prevailing in the 2004 quarter-final and the 2006 the Final, David Dockter bid 3 for the AP. Riku semi, but Frisby prevailing in the 2005 Final. For- opened with Guns of August. He fell back to de- mer laurelists Bill Borys and Jeff Hacker squared fend the Rhein over the next two turns and was off in the other semi-final match, with Borys’ Sovi- able to trench. The Serbs were taken out by Turn ets coming out on top. 2. Italy came in by Turn 4, was stabilized by both The Final was reminiscent of the 2004 and sides, and remained quiet. David loaded up in the 2006 championships, when Popiden faced Borys. Near East, and launched an attack with the British Popiden was victorious on all three occasions. and Russians that captured Baghdad, while using The tide turned against Borys’ Soviets on Turn Pleve combat card to assist. 4 when the Germans assaulted the Soviet main A Russian Caucasus army pushed forward, line of defense a few hexes west and northwest while Riku started attacking the Russians on the of Smolensk. The German GD panzer grenadier main map. The AP was quiet in the west, as all ef- regiment overran two untried Soviet rifle divi- fort was in the Near East. The CP took Riga with sions in a forest hex northwest of Smolensk. Each the von Hutier combat card. The Tsar took com- division was a 0-0-6, which enabled several Ger- mand, but when the Tsar fell, the revolution was man divisions to penetrate the Soviet line. Soviet not far off. Riku brought in both Turkish armies counterattacks failed to stop the German panzer and threatened the Caucasus supplies. The CP spearheads from moving south to threaten Smo- retook Baghdad and captured Ahwaz and Basra. lensk from the east. Having bid 49 VPs for the Allenby came in but was blocked by strong CP Germans, and with the Soviets yielding 15 VPs by forces in Gaza and Beersheba,. The end game saw taking 10 SW reinforcements, Popiden the AP attack in the west, but the Russians were did not need to take any VP hexes other already too weakened. All but Russian Odessa VP than Smolensk to win. With mounting space on the main map were CP con- Soviet losses and Smolensk sure to fall trolled. Since the treaty of Brest Li- within a few turns, the Soviets conced- tovsk would soon be played, David ed on Turn 7. conceded the game to Riku. 36 Century Events
2008 Results 2008 Results Devin Flawd, PA Bill Crenshaw, VA Harry Flawd, PA Cary Morris, NC Jacob Hebner, CO Alex Bove, PA O Jordan Flawd, PA O Raphael Lehrer, MD O Barry Shoults, MI O Greg Thatcher, CA O Mark Love, MD O Matt Peterson, MN
Harry Flawd, PA Raphael Lehrer, MD 40 1993-2008 38 2007-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists Devin Flawd, PA 197 Raphael Lehrer, PA 39 Harry Flawd, PA 153 Bill Crenshaw, VA 30 Bill O’Neal, NY 48 Greg Thatcher, FL 24 Mike Destro, NJ 36 Alex Bove, PA 21 Derek Landel, NJ 28 Cary Morris, NC 18 Barry Shoults, MI 24 Marvin Birnbaum, NY 12 John Ellmann, MD 22 Chris Moffa, NJ 6 Jordan Flawd, PA 21 Matt Peterson, MN 3 Dave Buchbinder, PA 18 Dan Eppolito, CA 3 Devin Flawd, PA Bill Crenshaw, VA Ray Stakenas II, MI 18 -
Paydirt (PDT) Pillars of the Earth (POE) n the AFC title game, three-time defending eith Levy ended defending champ Ichamp Devin Flawd used four turnovers to KRaphael Lehrer’s unbeaten record overcome a 13-point spread to defeat unknown in a preliminary game and was the only Jacob Hebner 37-20. The NFC Championship two-heat winner. Greg Thatcher had both the was between father and six-time winner Harry highest score (62) and highest margin of victory and his up-and-coming laurelist son Jordan. (an astonishing 19 points) in the heats. Unfortunately for Jordan, Donovan McNabb All four of the 2007 finalists made the semi, chose a very poor time to have a horrible game but only two made it to the Final. Alex got off to a (five interceptions). Harry’s Cowboys coasted, fast start, buying the money-making Woodworker 44-24. and getting Prior Philip on Turn 1. The other final- That set up a Super Bowl that was yet an- ists played defense and got to the Priory early and other family affair. This time, though, it was a often to blunt Alex’s advantage. Raphael played heartbreaker for Harry. The Colts led 14-0 mid- his typically solid game throughout, hoarding way through the second quarter, but then Dallas money and making frequent use of the Wool Mill. came to life with two TD’s and tied the game at Unfortunately for him, his master builders hid the half. The Cowboys took a 21-14 lead to start at the bottom of the bag time after time, and he the third period on a Romo-Owens TD, but the was unable to capitalize on his wealth advantage, Colts responded with an 82-yard punt return fol- despite frequently controlling turn order. Bill had lowing a missed Colts FG, and once again the money early but nearly went broke after boldly score was tied. acquiring three new craftsmen on Turn 3 and an Dallas scored to go up 28-21 with 11:20 left additional sculptor on Turn 5. Cary played well to play. Indy tied it again at 28 with 6:10 left, with a good mix of craftsmen and resources and setting up a nail-biting ending. Dallas’ drive appeared poised to edge into the lead. On the final stalled at the Indy 47. Devin returned the punt turn, Bill got the break he needed when his master for another TD! A 35-28 Colt lead with 2:00 left craftsman enabled him to buy the super-Sculptor. was too much to overcome, and although Dallas His multiple stone holdings enabled him to eke got to the Colt 45 on a Pass Interference call, the out a one-point victory over Cary. Alex’s strategic game ended with Tony Romo’s blocking of the metal spots so that fifth pick of the game. Another Raphael couldn’t get the metal he LOOONNGGGG year is a comin’ needed gave him a one-point edge at the Flawd house. over Raphael. Century Events 37
2008 Results 2008 Results Tom Pavy, OH Eric Brosius, MA Henry Pfeiffer, SC Bill Murdock, NY Chris Gnech, PA Jim Castonguay, PA O Forrest Speck, MD Barb Flaxington, MA O John Ellsworth, IL Ian Miller, MA O Matt Evinger, PA Phil Shea, FL
Larry Lingle, PA Jim Castonguay, PA 58 2005-2008 123 2004-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists Tom Pavy, OH 69 Jim Castonguay, PA 113 Paul Weintraub, MD 51 Eric Brosius, MA 100 Chris Striker, PA 36 Bill Murdock, NY 72 John Elliott, MD 30 Patrick Shea, VA 60 Forrest Speck, MD 27 Richard Meyer, MA 48 Henry Pfeiffer, SC 18 Rod Spade, PA 39 Chris Gnech, PA 18 Lyman Moquin, DC 33 Lauren Vessey, VA 18 Barb Flaxington, NJ 33 Tom Pavy, OH Frank Mestre, NY 12 Eric Brosius, MA J.J. Jaskiewicz, MD 30 Bob Jamelli, PA 9 David Houston, MD 30
Pirate’s Cove (PRC) Power Grid (PGD) om Pavy knows his way around a cutlass, dvancing into the Final were 2004 champ Eric Thaving been in the Final every year of the ABrosius, Ian Miller, GM and two-time champ event. 2008 was his year. He cut it close, though, Jim Castonguay, and alternate qualifiers Bill Mur- by waiting until the third heat to win a game. dock and Barbara Flaxington. Jim got the northern Although they didn’t make it to the Final, moth- region to himself on the first turn builds and all er and daughter Katherine and Verity Hitchings the players cried “game over.” Turn 3 Eric bought demonstrated fine blood-thirsty ideals. Togeth- the 18 plant for 21 over Jim. Jim paid 22 for the 22 er they sank 16 fellow pirates in just two games plant. That meant Eric had turn order for the auc- and 53 ships total. tion market on Turn 5, earning him the 30 plant for Advancing to the semi were 15 pirates cost. Ian paid 29 for the 24 plant and Bill paid 29 for flushed by the heat of recent victory and five the 21 plant, leaving Barbara, Jim, and Eric in the knaves looking for a second chance. (We had to auction round with the 28 being the top plant and go ten deep on the alternate list to fill the crew.) the 30 sitting as plant number 5. Barbara passed so 2007 runner-up Forrest Speck was the last man as not to have the 30 drop, Jim promptly scooped aboard. Chris Gnech, Chris Striker, Henry Pfe- up the 28 to go along with his 22, and Eric took the iffer, Forrest and Tom made short work of the 30. On Turn 6, Jim paid $47 for plant 31. Barbara pretenders and moved on to the Final. Whoev- built to seven and caused stage two. Ian, Bill, and er says, “Cove is all luck” should consult with Barbara were able to pick up end game plants for Tom and Forrest! cheap on Turn 7’s auction round. When Chris Striker set sail for another Ian overbought coal from Turn 2 on “to make event, GM Larry Lingle went with a four-player it more expensive for everyone else”, however, Final. Henry Pfeiffer sank four pirates in his given how much coal he needed compared to quest for a score of 49. Chris Gnech hung in for everyone else, he hurt himself BIG. Totals for 42 points, but ol’ salt Pavy blew his way to 49 the Final were Eric with six plants and a total and his long-sought championship. of $482, with 15 cities powered; Bill with five Ah, let us not forget poor Forrest. He had plants, $491 earned, and 15 cities powered; Jim barely faltered last year and had squeezed his with six plants, $487 earned, and 14 cities pow- way into the semi and Final this ered; Barb with five plants, $499 time only to get off to a rather earned, and 14 cities powered; and slow start. He scored his first point Ian with six plants, $470 earned, on turn 8 of a 12-turn game!!! and 13 cities powered. 38 Century Events
2008 Results 2008 Results Alex Bove, PA Nick Page, ON Winton LeMoine, AZ Matt Peterson, MN Aran Warszawski, IS John Weber, MD O Chris Senhouse, MA Chris Moffa, NJ O Eric Freeman, PA Sceadeau D’Tela, NC O David Platnick, VA O Luke Koleszar, VA
Eric Brosius, MA John Weber, MD 67 2001-2008 164 2002-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists Eric Brosius, MA 94 Barb Flaxington, NJ 138 Rod Spade, PA 70 David Platnick, NY 126 L. Dan Hoffman, MD 52 Arthur Field, SC 96 Bryan Reynolds, MD 50 Christian Moffa, NJ 95 John Kerr, VA 50 John Weber, MD 69 Arthur Field, SC 50 Bill Murdock, VA 63 Doug Kaufman, MD 49 Nick Page, ON 60 Eugene Lin, WA 44 Nicholas Anner, NY 60 Raphael Lehrer, MD 54 Alex Bove, PA Alex Bove, PA 42 Nick Page, ON Ian MacInnes, NY 40 Malinda Kyrkos, NY 54
Princes of Florence (POF) Puerto Rico (PRO) here were many close games in the prelimi- t the Final table were two familiar faces, Tnaries. The “bad luck” award went to Winton A2006 champ Chris Moffa and GM John LeMoine. In his first heat, he finished second be- Weber, and two first-timers, Nick Page—the hind Brian Kowal when they both scored 53 Pres- only undefeated player—and Matt Peterson— tige Points but Kowal had more cash. In Winton’s attending his first WBC. In some spirited bid- second heat the scores were 52-52-52-51-49. Win- ding, Nick took the #1 corn seat for 2 VPs, ton, Jason Levine and Cally Perry each had 52 PP, Chris the #4 seat for 1.5, John the #1 seat for 1/2 but Winton fell behind in florins and took third. VP. Matt had won in the semi with the #2 in- Winton’s luck finally changed in the semi, when he digo position, and he was happy to take on the again tying for first in Prestige Points, but had 700 challenge again. John departed from the usual florins left to defeat David Platnick. Settler-Quarry opening and went Builder-Con- Three others who were in the Final for the first struction Hut. Nick took full advantage and time joined Winton, as did last year’s champ, Eric built a strong shipping position, amassing four Freeman. Alex bought the first Jester for 1200 flo- corn plantations supplemented by purchase of rins, and Winton earned the Best Work bonus with the game’s only Harbor. A couple of well-timed a 10 WV Bell Maker in Round 1. In Round 2, Aran Captain plays put Nick into the lead. realized he had built a Laboratory in Round 1 rath- Late in the game, John’s choice to ship in- er than the Library he needed. He built the Library stead of trading, crafting for income with his in Round 2 and contemplated how to recover from Factory or building for more points on his this error. Just as last year, Eric earned several Best Guild Hall proved key. He blocked Nick, who Work bonuses. It was an extremely close game go- had four corn in the warehouse, from the only ing into the final round. Alex bought a Prestige open boat, and froze himself out of the game’s card for 200. Eric won another Best Work, and it last two building phases. Matt made up lost was all down to the Prestige cards. Chris and Win- ground and, a turn later, triggered game end by ton scored 14 PP, and Alex managed to pick up 7 as filling his building display. In the end, it was a result of his late buy, which gave him just enough a narrow win for Nick, who staved off Matt’s points to beat Winton by one. Winton strong finish. Raw scores were Nick 37, Matt 34, ended with an unusually large bank of John 31, Chris (who did not get 900 florins knowing that if he had tak- a large building) 29. Adjusting en just 200 florins less and one Prestige for bids, Nick pulled out the win Point more, he could have won. with only one point to spare. Century Events 39
2008 Results 2008 Results Alex Bove, PA Eve Secunda, MD Winton LeMoine, AZ Chuck Foster, ID Eric Freeman, PA Ron Secunda, MD Greg Thatcher, CA Gary Chamblee, GA O Brad Sherwood, PA Chester Lanham, MD O Jean-Francois Gagne, QC O Donna Balkan, ON
Steve Scott, CA Ron Secunda, MD 145 2000-2008 49 1991-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists Tom Dunning, NY 166 Steve Okonski, MD 120 Alex Bove, PA 124 Ron Secunda, MD 101 Joe Jaskiewicz, MD 70 Doug Galullo, FL 80 Winton LeMoine, CA 64 Brian Conlon, OK 74 Steve Scott, CA 43 Mark McCandless, CA 72 Bobbi Warczak, CA 40 Chuck Foster, TX 60 Chris Terrell, VA 40 Ed Wrobel, VA 60 David Rohde, MI 40 Stan Buck, MD 60 Heikki Thoen, QC 60 Alex Bove, PA Michelle Hymowitz, MD 38 Eve Secunda, MD John Reiners, NY 30 Inger Henning, CT 56
Ra (Ra!) Rail Baron (RBN) nly one previous player, Tom Dunning, istory repeated itself this year. In 2006, a Ohad become a two-time champion of Ra in Hhusband and wife (Inger and Harald Hen- its nine-year history at WBC. In 2008, Alex Bove ning) were both seated at the Final. Inger won. joined him. This year, it was husband and wife Ron and Eve The experiment of moving the Tuesday Secunda. Eve won. The two had made it into the heat to Saturday failed as only five newbies ap- semi-final as alternates, replacing two no-show peared to join 27 returnees. The surprise heat players. 1991 champ Chuck Foster managed to was Thursday at 3 PM with 83 participants. win all three of his first round games and his Attendance for the four heats were 12-17-12-7 semi-final, assistant GM Chester Lanham won games respectively. Ten double winners left 38 two first round heats and his semi-final, and winners in the hunt to advance. Only 22 of the Donna Balkan won two first round heats. 38 appeared for the semi-final. A welcome mi- Several players qualified for the Casey Jones nor miracle occurred when only three alternates award: Mike Brophy had the most hostile desti- appeared to make a perfect 25 for the semi. The nations, with 12 out of 21 in Heat 3. Mark Kennel 25th semi-finalist, whose highest finish in any had the highest rate of hostile destinations, with heat was third place, was ranked 94th! (Anyone 10 hostile out of 15 destinations in his semi-final who had at least a second or third with a win- game. On the other end of the spectrum, 1998 ning margin of four points or more would have champ Eyal Mozes managed zero hostile out of made the semi.) 21 destinations in Heat 2. The semi-finalists included three past cham- The top northeastern railroad was the PA, held pions. Alex Bove was the only one to reach the by 12 winners out of 29. Of the next “big four,” win- Final. Eric Freeman advanced by showing the ners held the ATSF most of the time 15, followed highest sun in a dead heat with Jean-Francois by the SP seven, the UP four, and the CRIP four. Gagne who earned 6th place laurels by virtue of The railroad getting the least respect was the IC: his near-miss. Brad Sherwood won his game by It was held by only two winners, followed by the one point over Lyman Moquin. Greg Thatcher T&P, which was held by only three winners. One and Winton Lemoine won by eight last surprise: In the southeast, the SAL was held and 19 points respectively. The Fi- by eight winners, but the nal was a well played game with L&N was held by 12! The Alex Bove prevailing by five points ACL was held by eight, over Winton and six over Eric. and the SOU seven. 40 Century Events
2008 Results 2008 Results Brandon Bernard, PA Brad Johnson, IL Alan Hayes, IL James Kendrick, UK Keith Galbraith, PA Brad Davis, VA O Rob Larkins, PA Ralph Gleaton, SC O Andrew Wilson, NJ O Reikko Brooks, TN O Bram Walzl, VA O Craig Trader, VA
Alan Hayes, IL Marc Houde, VA 36 1999-2008 68 1999-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists Rob Lightburn, VA 108 Brad Johnson, IL 192 Steve Dickson, CA 50 Scott Buckwalter, MD 40 Phil Rennert, MD 40 Jeff Cornett, FL 40 Alan Hayes, IL 39 Jeff Ribeiro, NH 40 Brandon Bernard, PA 34 Dan Lawall, VA 39 Keith Galbraith, PA 30 Tamara McGraw, VA 30 Gary Schaefers, PA 30 Bill Navolis, MD 29 Eric Wrobel, VA 30 Rich Shipley, MD 28 Craig Melton, VA 30 Jason Levine, NY 26 Brandon Bernard, PA Brad Johnson, IL James D. Long, PA 26 James Kendrick, UK 24
Risk (RSK) Robo Rally (RRY) o one won twice in the preliminaries. The six rad Johnson acquired his fifth champion- Nfinalists, in order of seeding, were Keith Gal- Bship plaque in the event despite a Final that braith (a 2007 finalist), Rob Larkins, Kevin Broh- offered a plethora of scrap-making, with 18 of Kahn, Bram Walzl, Andrew Wilson, and Brandon 24 robots destroyed over the 25 turns. There Bernard. When Broh-Kahn was a “no-show”, GM were eight options in this game, more than in Alan Hayes rounded out the field for the Final. previous years, likely as a result of the modi- During Round 11 of the Final, Rob brought fied rule system used this year. The board setup his garrisons in Greenland, Alaska and Brazil to had one of the boards from the new edition. On 20 each and passed for the fourth straight turn. these boards, the double wrenches have been When Keith turned in the tenth card set, Brandon replaced by a crossed wrench and hammer. In- urged him to attack Rob, while Rob lobbied for the stead of choosing between repairing two points reverse. Keith split his forces between Kamchatka and collecting an option as with the double and Iceland and conquered most of North Ameri- wrench, a player who stops on the wrench/ ca. Brandon turned in the 11th card set and swept hammer repairs one point AND gets an option. up to Central America, capturing Rob’s four cards. Unfortunately for the rest of the table, Brad That allowed Brandon to turn in the 12th card set managed to pull three options, one of which and attack the Middle East, India, and Siam. Bran- was the mechanical arm, which can be a huge don eliminated about 70 of Alan’s armies, but he advantage to a skilled player (and nobody can couldn’t finish the job, so he ended his turn. deny that Brad is a skilled player). Alan decided the game had gone on long The setup included four crossings of the can- enough, turned in the 13th card set and turned on nery. Brad finished well ahead of everyone else— Keith, attacking China and continuing throughout on Turn 20. Craig Trader and Reiko Brooks lost Asia and Europe and into North America. After their last robots on Turns 23 and 24 respectively. wearing the corners off their dice, it came down to On Turn 25, James Kendrick needed two turns one of Alan’s pieces versus one of Keith’s in West- (seven cards) with an optimal hand to make it to ern US. Alan won the battle, and captured Keith’s the last flag, Ralph Gleaton was physically closer, three cards. Alas, he didn’t have a set but with three locked registers he need- for immediate play, and Brandon did. ed to shut down before he could get the On Round 12. Alan settled for second cards he’d need to finish. Brad Davis place and conceded the game and scored a moral victory by reaching the championship to Brandon. second to last flag on the last turn. Century Events 41
2008 Results 2008 Results Rob Beyma, MD Doug James, NC Jim Eliason, IA Gary Dickson, CA Art Lupinacci, ON George Karahalios,IL O Richard Beyma, MD Bert Schoose, IL O Lembit Tohver, ON O Tom Gregorio, PA O Doug James, NC O Alex Gregorio, PA
Rob Beyma, MD Tom Gregorio, PA 19 2006-2008 27 1991-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists Rob Beyma, MD 90 Tom Gregorio, PA 290 Art Lupinacci, ON 48 Doug James, NC 290 Jim Miller, VA 21 Gary Dickson, CA 237 Jim Eliason, IA 18 Rob Beyma, MD 76 Richard Beyma, MD 18 Bert Schoose, IL 75 Craig Champagne, NJ 12 George Karahalios, IL 74 Lembit Tohver, ON 9 Phil Evans, VA 63 Jim Tracy, OH 6 Pat Flory, CT 61 Doug Richards, ON 6 Ed O’Connor, NJ 40 Rob Beyma, MD Doug James, NC Doug James, NC 3 Art Lupinacci, ON 40
Russia Besieged (RBS) Russian Campaign (TRC) or the third consecutive year—the tourna- oug James was back this year and took home Fment’s entire existence at WBC—Rob Beyma Dhis fifth crown. Getting to that win, though, came out on top. In the Final, Jim Eliason opened involved being defeated by Bruno Sinigaglio. the bidding at 18. Rob, who was tired of playing Bruno used his patented powerhouse move of the Germans, wisely kept his mouth shut. The Ger- capturing Moscow in 1941. Onlookers roared mans got off to a good start, killing or trapping 18 when Bruno’s Germans rolled an Exchange result units. A successful Blitzkrieg attack in the center at 1-1 to capture the Russian capital. The look on put a lot of pressure on the Russian defense. The Doug’s face was priceless but, of course, ultimate- Russians failed to block the Lvov gap and the Ger- ly getting the wood would cure that frown. mans drove forward in Jul/Aug, eliminating large In the Final, Gary bid 16 to play the Ger- numbers of Russian units. By the beginning of Sep/ mans. Doug’s Red Army setup aimed to prevent Oct, the game hung in the balance. Jim rolled the the Odessa Overrun. Nevertheless, the opening first of two big weather rolls and got Clear/Clear. German assault killed every defender on first im- Rob was in for a rough turn. His Russians dodged pulse. On second impulse, a few Russian units a bullet when a German invasion to undouble survived in the BMD and WMD. These survivors the Luga was aborted. The Germans set up for an became the foundation of the Russian northern undoubled 2nd Impulse attack on the Luga and defense. The weather was light mud in Septem- swept into Veliki-Luki, Smolensk, and Bryansk. ber/October and Gary used it to good effect, cap- In the south, the Germans eliminated the Odessa turing Sevastopol, Kiev, and Dnepropetrovsk. pocket and captured Kiev with Stuka support. At On the last turn, the Germans needed to capture this point, Rob took a strategic gamble with an al- objectives worth SIX VPs, normally insurmount- ready weak Russian army. The Russians advanced able. Nevertheless, Gary got Minsk and Kharkov, west of Dnepropetrovsk and in the center towards and contested Stalino and threatened Leningrad! Veliki-Luki and Smolensk. The next turn, the Rus- Doug ably responded to all of these threats sians lucked out when winter arrived in Novem- through judicious tactics and some nifty die-roll- ber. They unhinged the Luga in November and, ing. Kharkov remained Russian occupied (11% in December, hit the German defenders in front of chance) and the armored corps that Veliki-Luki and Smolensk. Facing previously captured Minsk managed heavy losses and a rapidly deterio- to capture Brest. Stalino was effi- rating position, Jim conceded at the ciently saved via a frontal 4-1 assault end of Turn 4. on the Germans threatening the city! 42 Century Events
2008 Results 2008 Results Norman Herrick, NE Matt Tolman, UT Cary Morris, NC Tom Dunning, NY Arthur Field, SC Harald Henning, CT Rob Flowers, MD Mikkel Christensen, DK O Robert Cranshaw, RI Sue Lanham, MD O Kevin Brown, GA Nick Henning, CT
Steve Quade, MD Kathy Stroh, PA 106 2005-2008 113 1999-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists Anne Norton, NJ 60 Tom Dunning, NY 81 Arthur Field, SC 56 Roy Gibson, MD 66 Chris Robbins, UT 52 Matt Tolman, UT 60 Tom DeMarco, NJ 51 Tom Stokes, NJ 60 Norman Herrick, NE 40 Rob Effinger, ON 60 Tom Browne, PA 38 Aram Warszawski, IS. 60 Peter Staab, PA 38 Charlie Faella, RI 60 Tom McCorry, VA 30 David Buchholz, MI 60 Cary Morris, NC 24 Craig O’Brien, VA 60 Norman Herrick, NE Matt Tolman, UT Joe Harrison, KY 24 David Platnick, VA 60
Saint Petersburg (SPB) Settlers of Catan (SET) he Final board found Rob Flowers, 2005 champ inalists and their semi-final game scores were TArthur Field, Norman Herrick, and Cary Mor- FTom Dunning 10-9-9-7, Harald Henning 10-7- ris in a neck-and-neck race to the last round. Pow- 6-6,Matt Tolman 11-8-7-6, and Mikkel Christensen er cards Mistress of Ceremonies, Judge, and Obser- 10-9-9-9. Only Tom Dunning had previously vatory dared not show their heads until near the earned laurels in the event. end, making things exciting. Arthur took advan- In the Final, Mikkel set up first, placing his tage of an early Gold Smelter upgrade, followed settlement on Grain, Brick and Wool; Matt chose by a Lumber Mill upgrade for Rob to allow easier the Lumber and Ore intersection on the Ore port; money management. Rob also took an early lead in Harald chose Lumber and double Grain; Tom also number of workers for a better edge going into the chose Lumber and double Grain; he then chose building and noble-buying phases. Brick, Lumber and Ore for his City. Harald placed Two-thirds of the way through, Arthur led his City on Brick and double Wool, Matt placed his with four nobles, followed by Rob and Cary on Grain and Wool, and Mikkel chose Wool and with three, and Norman with but one. Seeing double Lumber. On Turn 5, the scores were all tied the pressure of a looming game end, the purchase at 4. On the next turn, Mikkel claimed the Longest of nobles was fast and furious. Rob and Norm in- Road to take the lead. On Turn 8, Matt claimed the creased their nobles to five each, Cary to seven—all Largest Army and Harald took the Longest Road unique, and Arthur to nine—with seven unique. away from Mikkel. That left Harald in the lead The final scores were 84 for Norman, 74 for Cary, with 7, Matt with 6, Hom 5, and Mikkel back at 4. and a tie of 73 for Arthur and Rob. Arthur edged By Turn 14, Tom had taken the lead, with 9 Rob on the tie breaker. points. Harald and Matt were on his heels with 8 In his inaugural WBC outing, GM Steve Quade each. Mikkel was up to 5. On Turn 15, the Develop- performed well. In one heat, he managed to get ment Cards ran out. Mikkel had gotten only five of 52 players checked-in and seated in under seven them, but three were Victory Point cards. Matt had minutes. There were door prizes at each heat and drawn 13 before he found his only VP card. Harald Arthur Field generously supplied actual gifts from had four (one was a VP card) and Tom held the Saint Petersburg to the finalists. As- other two. On the last turn of the sistance from Rodney Bacigalupo, game, Matt built two roads and a Arthur Field, and last year’s GM, Dan settlement to put him over the top. Mathias, was greatly appreciated and Final scores were Matt 10 and Mik- helped to smooth the organization. kel, Harald, and Tom tied for 9. Century Events 43
2008 Results 2008 Results Ken Gutermuth, NC Gerald Lientz, VA Kaarin Engelmann, VA John Shaheen, MA Sam Edelston, CT B. Passacantando, CT Derek Landel, NJ Tim Mossman, MD O Brooks Beyma, MD O Robert Kircher, RI O Sam Brosius, MA O Kevin Keller, MD
Bruce Reiff, OH Doug Schultz, MD 171 1993-2008 24 1991-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists Kaarin Engelmann, VA 66 Scott Cornett, FL 162 Derek Landel, NJ 41 Kevin Keller, MD 97 Ted Simmons, NJ 40 Terry Schulz, PA 80 Greg Berry, VA 39 Gerald Lientz, VA 73 Ken Gutermuth, NC 30 Jimmy Fleckenstein, VA 70 Jeff Cornett, FL 30 John Welage, OH 56 Doug Galullo, FL 30 Dennis Nicholson, NY 56 Devin Flawd, PA 30 Lance Ribeiro, NH 52 Mark Guttag, VA 30 Ken Gutermuth, NC Gerald Lientz, VA Doug Schulz, MD 46 Richard Curtain, NY 30 Trevor Bender, CA 32
Slapshot (SLS) Speed Circuit (SCT) lthough 2001 champ Kaarin Engelmann ix different drivers won the qualifying races Agarnered additional laurels and extended Son new tracks—Catalunya, Istanbul, and Mo- her lead in WBC’s hockey hall of fame, it was naco. Three more qualified for the Final with a Ken Gutermuth who squeaked out a victory and second place finish in one of the three heats, and claimed the Slapshot championship. The two WBC the last three finalists qualified with a third place honchos traded players a combined 13 times and finish. Defending champion Terry Schulz, came only drafted twice. For comparison, Derek Landel up a tie-breaker short, ending his title defense. and Brooks Beyma (4th and 5th) drafted a com- Don Tatum and two-time champ Kevin bined 14 times and only traded three times. Keller began the race on the front row after bid- It wasn’t a piece of cake for any of the fi- ding for the pole. Kevin failed to push his start nalists to advance. In the first semi-final game, speed and stalled on the pole. Don sped out to Brooks and Sam Brosius advanced over David the lead and spent a good amount of wear in Meyaard, Jordan Shea, John Ellesworth, Jacob the first lap creating a gap between 1993 champ Hebner and Joe Yaure. In the second, Derek and Chris Hancock and 2003 champ Doug Schulz in Kaarin advanced over Tom Gregorio, the ‘Voice the pursuit group. After one lap, Don continued of Slapshot’ Keith Hunsinger, the sultan of swat to lead; however, while crossing the line com- Andy Latto, and Geoffrey Entwistle. In the third, pleting lap 1, Don broke his acceleration down Ken and Sam Edelston advanced over Louise to 20 mph, putting him out of the race. Strickland, Craig Yope, Bert Calentime, two-time Afterwards, Doug and Jim Fleckenstein champ Leonard Omolecki Jr (who says there fought for the lead. Doug went for the win in isn’t strategy in this game?) and Tom Paruda. the final corner and crashed. Jim and Bruno There were plenty of stories from the pre- Passacantando pulled up right before the final liminaries. In one game, Mike Gentile played 25 corner. Jim took his chance to roll for the win straight games and only won one, but he STILL after Bruno went a safer speed through the cor- made the playoffs. Also at that table, Catherine ner. Jim crashed out and Bruno, forced to avoid and Nathan Paull jointly won the traveling Han- Jim’s crash, spun. 1997 winner Robert Kircher sen Brothers trophy for their great followed Bruno’s bad example. Gerald Lientz outfits and true hockey spirit. Referee managed to avoid the bad Mark Yoshikawa (in costume) escort- luck of the leaders, made that ed several coaches to the penalty box, last corner, and secured his including the GM’s daughter Nicole. second championship. 44 Century Events
2008 Results 2008 Results Eric Stranger, OH Nick Page, ON Bill Thomson, TX Rick Sciacca, FL Scott Bramley, NJ Greg Zegalia, PA O Chuck Leonard, PA OKarl Henning, CT O Phil Grasha, PA O John Schoose, IL O Bill Sosnicki, NJ O Larry Lingle, PA
Bill Thomson, TX Buddy Sinigaglio, CO 25 1991-2008 55 2002-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists Pete Pollard, CA 156 Larry Lingle, PA 79 Bill Thomson, TX 128 Brian Sutton, MD 48 Eric Stranger, OH 127 Karl Henning, CT 42 David Bronkhorst, VA 86 Buddy Sinigaglio, CO 34 Mike Pacheco, CA 78 Nick Page, ON 30 Andrew Cummins, UK 65 William Sparks, MD 30 Michael Hennessy, VA 30 Alex Bell, MD 30 Michael Day, AZ 27 Phil Rennert, MD 27 Allen Kaplan, NJ 27 Sean McCulloch, OH 25 Eric Stranger, OH Nick Page, ON Chuck Leonard, PA 22 Bill Morse, VA 24
Squad Leader (SQL) Star Wars: Queen’s Gambit (QGB) uring a year when ASL made its WBC exit, ecause the game is out of print, a tie breaker Dthe Squad Leader Series tournament at WBC Bfor making it to the playoff rounds is “bring 2008 saw increases in number of players, games your own game.” In 2008, many players checked (30) and scenarios played (18), relative to recent in for the playoffs with a copy of the game, even years. The parent has outlasted its much bally- though they had not brought one to the prelims. hooed progeny. In 2009, game status will be determined during Key players from the email circuit, including the prelims only. Phil Grasha (3-0) and Bill Sosnicki (2-1), had family In the prelims, David “The Hutt” Gubbay conflicts preventing play in the last round. That left showed up to play in his clothes rather than his the Final in the hands of defending champion Bill underwear. It should be noted, that “The Hutt” Thomson (3-0) leading the Germans in ‘Hitdorf on Gubbay will always be classified as bringing his the Rhine’ versus 1996 champ Eric Stranger’s (2-1) own game, even when he does not, based on the attacking Americans. The green stacks eluded bul- fact that he has been the only Queen’s Gambit play- lets from a 2af-2 attack and a 12af-0 attack to make er nominated for the Sportsmanship Award. swift work of the HIP Germans. Eluding exploding In the Final, “Geonosian Overseer” Nick Page minefields and early capture of the high ground, bested Rick “Rancor” Sciacca in a hard fought Eric’s Americans were able to channel the German contest that could have gone either way. Those reinforcement’s entry into the village. In the ensu- who made it into the playoff rounds, but not to ing firefights, the Americans whittled down the the championship game included “Battle Droid” German effort to decide the game before entry of Bill Morse, two-time champ “Red Queen” Lingle, the German panzers. Rob “Purple Queen” Flowers, 2004 champ Brian Floridian John Sharp, winner of the 2007 Per- “Nute Gunray” Sutton, Alex “Jedi Padawan” Bell, sonal Leader competition, saw his PLC fall in the Jacob “Quigon” Hebner, Paul “Bomarr Monk” first round. (Generally, PLCs had a survival rate Menders, Greg “Zuckuss” Zegalia, Aaron “Mus- of over 40%.) Eric Stranger picked up the Pollard tafarian Flea Rider” Fuegi, 2005 champ Karl “Sith Memorial Plaque for this coup. At the end of Eric’s Witch” Henning, John “Sidious” Schoose, Gino win, SGT Thomson squeeked out a +20 élan to +17 “The Vornskr” Sinigaglio, John “Lobot” Pack, edge to win the 2008 plaque. A and Kerry “Sly Moore” Codoley. missed AFPh bazooka shot versus 2002 champ Buddy Sinigaglio and a loaded German halftrack was defending champ William Sparks the deciding factor. did not get past the preliminaries. Century Events 45
2008 Results 2008 Results Steve Caler, OH Rich Moyer, MN Kevin Brown, GA Bill Beckman, SC Luke Koleszar, VA John Welage, OH O Tom McCorry, VA O Bob Menzel, VT O Seth Gunar, NJ O Roderick Lee, CA O Cameron Spaner, MD O Andy Lewis, DE
John McLaughlin, VA Chris Palermo, NY 51 ‘99-’01, ‘05-’08 42 ‘91-’94, ‘96-’08
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists Seth Gunar, NJ 66 Rich Moyer, MN 70 Steve Caler, OH 36 Harry Flawd, PA 66 Kevin Brown, GA 30 Chris Palermo, NY 47 Jean Younkin, VA 30 Bill Beckman, SC 40 Devin Flawd, PA 30 Mark Giddings, NY 40 Tim Dolan, NJ 30 Randy Cox, SC 28 Derek Miller, VA 18 Ken Samuel, VA 28 Mike Buccheri, MD 18 Devin Flawd, PA 22 Jim Bell, MD 18 John Welage, OH 20 Steve Caler, OH Rich Moyer, MN Keith MacFarland, NJ 18 Gordon Elgart, CA 20
Stock Car Championship (SCC) Superstar Baseball (SSB) n the WBC 500 (Final) Doug Porterfield (#95) sing the quality points system, Andy Lewis Itook the pole followed by Luke Koleszar (#71 Ufinished first, followed by Mike Lam and Teddy Bear) and Cameron Spaner (#44 Slim Jim). John Welage. Rounding out the eight playoff-el- Tom McCorry was the last qualifier with a provi- igible spots were Bob Menzel, Bill Beckman, Mar- sional in the #32 Tide car. Luke Koleszar grabbed shall Collins, Rich Moyer and Roderick Lee. Just an early lead and held it until the first round of pit missing playoff eligibility were James Terry, Ilan stops on lap 78. John Shaheen (#5 Tony the Tiger) Woll and Harry Flawd, who had sported an im- stayed out of the pits in order to lead a few laps. Er- pressive 11-1 record. The eight teams were seed- nie Chambers (#28 Havoline) did a splash and go ed, with the final order: 1) Beckman (Indians)— and moved up three positions. Although #71 was for the second year in a row, 2) Moyer (Giants); 3) first out of the pits, he never regained the lead. Lewis (Red Sox); 4) Lee (Astros); 5) Menzel (Red Disaster struck on lap 108 when Carol Caler Sox); 6) Welage (Reds). (#99 Dominos) got impatient and crashed, wreck- In the semi-final, Beckman’s Indians proved ing her car in spectacular fashion. Dave Zimmer- they belonged in the top spot, as Bob Feller pitched man (#10 Tide) took control of the race and led no-hit ball for 7-2/3 innings, ending up with a three- until lap 138 by pulling away in the outside lane. hitter and 14 strikeouts. Barry Larkin broke up the The second pit window was on lap 153. Steve Cal- no-hitter, but the Reds were unable to put a run on er (#41) led out of the pits with an 8.9 second pit the board, falling 8-0 to the Tribe. Gaylord Perry of time, while #63 Lysol lost five spots with his 24.3 the Giants also pitched a shutout over the Red Sox. second pit stop. Ernie Chambers (#28) and John Willie Mays led off the Giants’ first at-bat with a Shaheen (#5) chose not to pit, but came up short. monster homer and the Giants never looked back, With 11 laps to go, Cameron Spaner (#44) made a beating the Sox impressively 12-0. The Final was slingshot pass around slow traffic, passed two cars anti-climactic, as the Indians were no competition (#6 and #42), and another slingshot to the outside for the Giants who continued their torrid offensive lane, finally pulling away with Steve Caler (#41) in display with 16 hits and 11 walks, en route to a 14-5 tow. Steve then passed #44 and beat the win. Rich Moyer, who has led three teams to the second place car of Kevin Brown (#9) SSB tournament playoffs (and two to to the finish line on the last turn. Luke the World Series) walked away with Koleszar (#71) rounded out the top his first championship and helped three taking a close third. Steve’s wife lead the St Paul Rejects to Team Tour- Carol (#99) finished in last place. nament victory. 46 Century Events
2008 Results 2008 Results Andy Latto, MA John Faella, RI Nick Henning, CT Nico Parauda, NJ Bill Murdock, NY Jamie Tang, MD Anne Norton, NJ Jonathan Izer, MD O Tom Dunning, NY O Eyal Mozes, NY O Jon Gemmell, CT O Chris Goff, MD
Jim Vroom, PA Claire Brosius MA 100 2006-2008 201 2004-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists Andy Latto, MA 70 Virginia Colin, VA 64 Anne Norton, NJ 57 John Faelia, RI 60 Raphael Lehrer, MD 32 Daniel Karp, MD 48 Rod Spade, MD 30 Brittany Bernard, PA 40 Rob Kircher, RI 28 Eric Monte, NY 40 Tom DeMarco, NJ 26 Blair Morgen, NJ 40 David Meyaard, CT 24 Donna Davis, PA 36 Nick Henning, CT 18 Nico Parauda, NJ 36 Eric Brosius, MA 18 Robert Cranshaw, RI 36 Andy Latto, MA John Faella, RI Phil Rennert, MD 18 Tom Dunning, NY 32
Thurn & Taxis (T&T) Ticket to Ride (TTR) aurelists from 2007 who made it to the semi- ournament scores fluctuated wildly—from Lfinal were defending champion Andy Latto, T2-165 points. Norm Herrick got the “cour- Tom De Marco, and 2006 champ Anne Norton. age” award for taking ten tickets in his game. Both Andy and Anne advanced to the Final, along Four other folks took nine, with two of them with Nick Henning and Bill Murdock. making eight of their destinations. Risky stuff Nick went first, followed by Anne, Andy, and that, and it didn’t pay off in a first for anyone! Bill. The men went for the all-countries strategy. Defending champ Brittany Bernard gave Andy scored the all-countries bonus first, fol- it her best, but her quest to repeat ended in the lowed by Bill and then Anne, netting them 6, semis. No other laurelist returned either. The five 5, and 4 points, respectively. Nick could not get finalists were Eyal Mozes, Nico Paradua, John Fa- the cards he wanted, using the administrator ella, Jon Izer and Jamie Tang. Nico built the criti- to throw away six cards and deal six new ones cal Houston-New Orleans route and Jamie Tang three times early in the game. He eventually took Nashville-Atlanta. Only Nico, John and Ja- placed houses in every city in Bavaria, the only mie built 6-train sections, leaving the two 6-train player to do so, earning the five point bonus. sections in the south open. Jamie took nine tickets Those who say that the administrator is rarely and completed seven for a score of 123. That total a good move should note that Nick managed to would have won many games, but in the Final it come in second despite the card-cycling. Andy was only good for third. Eyal made two of five ended the game quickly by being the first player tickets for fifth place laurels with a score of 25. to build his seven carriage, ending four points Jon took fourth with a 63 tally on four of five ahead of Nick to defend his championship. tickets. Nico was the close-but-no-cigar runner- Some grumble that Thurn and Taxis is too luck- up making all six of his tickets for a score of 129. dependent, but the consistent performance of the However, John Faella also made all six tickets for top players suggests that skill must play a large part a winning score of 132 and the title. in the game. Not only is there a repeat champion, Original TTR continues to dominate, with Eu- but Anne Norton has now made it to the Final all rope and the 1910 variant coming in second. First- three years, without losing a tournament game to year GM Clair Brosius was grateful for help from any player except two-time cham- Glen Pearce, Virginia Colin, pion Andy Latto. Records like that Anne Norton, Tom DeMarco, in a 100-player event rarely hap- Eric and Cally Perry, Tom De- pen purely by chance. Marco, and Tom McCorry. Century Events 47
2008 Results 2008 Results Bryan Eshleman, NC Eric Freeman, PA John Ellsworth, IL Barb Flaxington, NJ Tom Thornsen, NY Charlie Mitchell, VA Ray Freeman, CA O Greg Thatcher, FL O Bob Hamel, CT O Davyd Field, SC O Rick Sciacca, FL O M. Imbeault, QC
Ray Freeman, CA Dan Broh-Kahn, MD 19 2000-2008 42 2000-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists Ray Freeman, CA 157 Arthur Field, SC 107 Jim Winslow, ME 72 Davyd Field, CA 101 Tom Thornsen, NY 70 Barbara Flaxington, NJ 62 Ric Young, NC 61 Harald Henning, CT 60 Brad Jones, FL 57 Kevin Garber, VA 52 Bryan Eshleman, NC 50 Eric Freeman, PA 47 Mike Mishler, CA 36 Jack Jaeger, VA 44 Robert Mull, CO 36 Brian Jones, MD 40 Murray Cowles, UK 32 Jason O’Donnell, OH 30 Bryan Eshleman, NC Eric Freeman, PA Ric Sciacca, FL 19 James Hopkin, CA 24
Tigers in the Mist (TIM) Tikal (TKL) n the Final, Bryan Eshleman’s Allied forces he three semi-final winners, Charlie Idefended against John Ellsworth’s Germans. TMitchell, Eric Freeman and Greg There were few casualties on either side dur- Thatcher, and the closest of the runners- ing the opening moves. John decided to change up, Barb Flaxington—who won in 2003, played tactics and ordered attacks all up and down the in the Final. Taken together, they have well over line. The dice cooperated (for both sides) and the two dozen year’s experience, including several dead piles began filling up. December 20th saw Final forays. a major German effort. They reached the Ourthe In the game, Greg failed to recognize poten- River and attempted to cross, but successful Al- tial thievery of a monument, which, in his own lied bridge demolitions prevented any serious words, cost him any chance for victory. Eric paid breach. Meanwhile, at Bastogne the battle turned a staggering eight points for the right monument extremely bloody, and several units on both sides tile at the right time. (He was able to score twice, were wiped out. On the second impulse, the Ger- easily recovering his investment.) The last scor- mans packed six steps and two supporting artil- ing round started with Greg, Charlie and Barb lery units into the city. The Americans had a sin- struggling to amass as many points as possible gle step remaining, left behind as a roadblock so to prevent Eric from running away with the that other positions could be held more strongly. whole thing, but it was too late. This group of GIs knew how to keep their heads Though Eric was able to “steal” access to the down, and when the dice were cast, all eight Ger- 6 monument that Greg had planned to control man shots missed. An American victory seemed later, doing so cost him protection on the 7 and assured. However, Bryan failed to detect a route 8 monuments he had built next to his centrally- by which a single German unit could reach Nives, placed camp. Greg established a camp and used cutting the last supply line to Bastogne. Starvation 20 APs to steal and cap the 7 temple with his accomplished what the German guns failed to do, leader and one other worker. Barb did the best and the city fell on the last impulse. job of protecting all her investments, which al- With six points in hand, the Germans went lowed her to close in on Eric. In the end, Eric pro- looking for more, but the Allies held. By the mid- tected his dig sites well, making the Action Point dle of the 21st it was clear that cost of obtaining a lead anywhere the Germans had reached their prohibitive. Scores were Greg, 30/85; high water mark. Bryan had won Charlie 34/92; Barb, 38/98 and Eric, for the second year in a row. the winner, 37/101. 48 Century Events
2008 Results 2008 Results Jason Ley, WA Aaron Fuegi, MA Robert Masso, NY Ed Rothenheber, MD David Finberg, MA David desJardins, CA Joe Harrison, KY O Jason Ley, WA David des Jardins, CA O Brian Sutton, MD Steve Koleszar, VA O Nick Page, ON
Bruno Wolff, WI Rich Atwater, WA 37 1991-2008 29 1994-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists Aaron Fuegi, MA 193 Aaron Fuegi, MA 118 Dave Finberg, MA 169 David des Jardins, CA 101 David des Jardins, CA 140 Brian Sutton, MD 69 Jason Ley, GA 111 Dan Strock, PA 55 Rich Atwater, WA 98 Andrew Gross, WA 49 Brian Sutton, MD 97 Jason Ley, WA 35 Steve Koleszar, VA 84 John Sharp III, FL 32 Kevin Hillock, VA 80 Ed Rothenheber, MD 30 Dan Strock, PA 72 Sean McCulloch, OH 30 Jason Ley, WA Aaron Fuegi, MA Ed Rothenheber, MD 70 David Finberg, MA 30
Titan (TTN) Titan Two-Player (TT2) itans managed upsets in two of the semi-fi- ight of the 11 former champs were on hand Tnal games. In the first, Akihisa Tabei attacked Efor the first round. There were two upsets, Bob Masso with a significant edge, but Bob took a when past champions Dan Strock (2002) and chance with a giant hoping it would live through Sean McCulloch (2007) were ousted by Nick Page 16 50/50 dice and give him two strikes against and Rick Northey, respectively. Mike Rogozin- Akihisa’s 12-die titan and the chance to throw ski outlasted Eric Monte in the longest game of in a second giant. It was a long shot, but things the tournament at 7 hours 50 minutes. Average went his way and Bob advanced. In the second, match length was 2 hours 28 minutes. David desJardins had a significant edge over Joe 1998 champ Ed Rothenheber had one of the Harrison. David kept his titan back while almost more interesting wins of the second round. The everything else in the battle was eliminated. final score was Geoff Pounder 662 to Ed’s 69, but Then he closed his fresh titan on Joe’s heavily what mattered was Ed won the final battle. In the wounded titan. Both were 12-die titans and Joe’s quarter-final, two-time champ Brian Sutton lost to already had nine hits. It took two rounds to kill two-time champion David DesJardins. Ed put 1995 the wounded titan, who dealt a death blow on champ and GM Bruno Wolff out of his misery in David’s titan the same turn. David rolled low on an hour, Jason Ley spent nearly four hours advanc- the roll-off, and Joe advanced. ing past Rick Northey in a remarkably low scoring The last two players standing in the Final were 246 to 108 match, and 2003 champ Aaron Fuegi Bob Masso and Jason Ley. Jason had done well schooled Nick Page in 25 minutes. in the preliminary rounds and had finished with Aaron’s semi-final defeat of Jason lasted only the top seed. However Bob was doing well with 20 minutes and Ed’s defeat of David didn’t run too a colossus in his titan stack. But before he could much longer. The most unusual aspect of the Final get a second colossus, which probably would have was intermittent. Aaron and Ed set up at 11:10 am sealed the victory for him, Jason attacked with and played for 50 minutes, adjourning 4:30, when an archangel and three angels and summoned a they played for another 1-1/2 hours until they fourth angel during the battle. Bob had a seven-die could get back together. They reconvened at 10 pm. titan, colossus, two dragons, unicorn and warlock. Aaron Fuegi prevailed in a final battle, ending 23 While Bob had more meat in his minutes later. The score was Aaron stack, his titan was vulnerable. Ja- 361, Ed 576. Playing time was 2 hours son engaged and killed it to win the 35 minutes; elapsed time to comple- battle and the tournament. tion was just short of 12 hours. Century Events 49
2008 Results 2007 Results Matt Calkins, VA Stefan MeCay, TX Dan Eshleman, NC Rick Young, NC Devin Flawd, PA Phil Rennert, MD O Steve Cameron, PA Paul Sampson, OH O Brooks Beyma, MD Bruce DuBoff, NJ O Greg Thatcher, CA O George Young, VT
Greg Crowe, VA Ananda Gupta, MD 116 1997-2008 54 2006-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists Rebecca Hebner, CO 54 Stefan Mecay, TX 260 Alan Witte, NJ 50 Rick Young, NC 80 Joseph Sposito, NJ 40 Marvin Birnbaum, NY 70 Harry Flawd, PA 38 Keith Wixson, NJ 51 Bruce Monnin, OH 38 Chris Withers, CA 51 Kaarin Engelmann, VA 35 Bill Edwards, VA 42 Devin Flawd, PA 32 Stuart Tucker, MD 31 Matt Calkins, VA 30 Bruce Monnin, OH 30 Gerald Lientz, VA 30 John Emery, SC 30 Matt Calkins, VA Stefan MeCay, TX Olin Hentz CT 30 James Terry, NJ 29
Titan: The Arena (TTA) Twilight Struggle (TWS) rom the 33 games in the heats, two players tefan MeCay, two-time defending champion, Fhad two wins each. Play in the semi-finals Scame into the tournament having never lost was markedly quick. Of the five games, only one in WBC live play. The average bid in the tourna- was a blow-out; the others had margins of two ment was up slightly, from 2.3 last year to 2.4, points or less, and one was won on the tiebreak- but the balance of wins was almost exactly 50-50. er. No former laurelists emerged. The opening rounds saw some brilliant play and By the end of the Final’s first round, every surprising upsets. Last year’s fifth-place laurelist creature had a bet on it, but Dan Eshleman’s’s George Seary, fell victim, as did wargameroom. Ranger died, possibly because the others liked com veteran Keith Schoose. Rick Young scored a the prospect of the draw deck lasting awhile. surprise DEFCON quarter-final win over new- Dan suffered another blow when his other first- comer Bruce DuBoff. Paul Sampson’s meticu- round bet (and Matt’s second-round bet), the lous, close-fought semi-final win over veteran Unicorn went off to pasture. At this point, both Chris Withers came down to the treachery of Matt and Brooks had two surviving first-round Aldrich Ames. bets, while Devin and Steve each had one. How- Stefan showed his mettle as always. He ever, when Brooks added a third-round bet to dispatched Phil Rennert and George Young en his second-round bet on the Titan, taking over route to a Final rematch against Rick Young. Ste- control from Steve, everyone decided Titan had fan and Rick have faced one another no earlier to go. The Cyclops, who had made a surprising- than the semi-finals in all three years of the tour- ly long run until this point, was the next to die, nament, so a legendary rivalry may very well taking one of Brooks’ first-round bets with it. be in the making. In the Final, both sides bid Surviving creatures were Devin’s Dragon 3 influence, and Rick received the U.S. by ran- (Dan’s and Matt’s secret bets), Matt’s Hydra, dom draw. He drew seven scoring cards, which Brooks’ Troll (with visible bets from everyone but tipped the VP scale towards Stefan’s Soviets, Matt and secret bets from Devin and Steve), and and he was unable to overcome a lethally-timed Matt’s Warlock (with a secret bet by Brooks). As Quagmire and USSR points in Southeast Asia far as the players knew every one had a chance and Central America. The final to win. The game ended when the blow, which sealed Stefan’s third Hydra reared its heads, allowing consecutive title, was OPEC after Matt to kill the Troll quickly, and Central America scoring for the au- win the game in a landslide. tomatic victory. 50 Century Events
2007 Results 2008 Results Ed Kendrick, UK Charlie Drozd, IL Ralph Gleaton, SC Michael Ussery, MD Richard Irving, CA Andy Gardner, VA Ray Stakenas, WI John Pack, CO O Andrew Maly, MD Mark Booth, VA O John Emery, SC Jim Eliason, IA
Jim Burnett, TN John Sharp, FL 22 1991-2008 36 1991-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists John Emery, SC 158 Dan Henry, IL 272 Bruce Young, SC 141 Andy Gardner, VA 234 Ray Stakenas II, MI 106 Ed Menzel, CA 214 Bruce Wigdor, NJ 68 Michael Kaye, CA 186 Ray Stakenas Sr., MI 46 Charlie Drozd, IL 152 Larry Davidson, CA 46 Alan Applebaum, MA 113 Ed Kendrick, UK 45 Darren Kilfara, UK 110 Paul Wright, PA 40 John Pack, CO 78 Ed Kendrick, UK Jeff Matthews, CA 30 Charlie Drozd, IL Michael Ussery, MD 78 Bari Herman, NJ 26 Joe Dragan, MI 66
Up Front (UPF) Victory in the Pacific (VIP) ive previous champions returned to attempt harlie Drozd went 6-1 over seven Fto recapture past glory; however, there was Crounds to claim the championship no repetition of the virtual sweep by those past wood over the highly competitive field winners in last year’s tournament. All of them which numbered five former champions. suffered at least one defeat in the opening five There were 46 Japanese wins (57%) vs 35 Al- Swiss rounds. Andrew Maly was the lone player lied wins and no ties, making the win ratio closer to post a 5-0 score. 1996 champ Bill Edwards and than last year’s 63% IJN victory level. Bids rose three-time champ Bruce Young, came in at 3-2 slightly—non-zero bid games featured 3.974 but were eliminated by the strength of schedule POC bids, while overall bids averaged 3.827. tie breaker. NT1 games averaged 0.67 POC per bid. Five Five-time champ John Emery, 1995 winner games had a bid which changed the victorious Herbert Gratz, and 2001 champ Bruce Wigdor side to the Allies. reached the elimination round, but their royal Over half of the games (44) had bids of either lineage did them no good, and it was sure a new 4.0 or 4.5 POC. Win rates were 48% and 70%, champion would be admitted to the club. Ralph respectively. There were 13 games with bids of Gleaton, Richard Irving, Ed Kendrick, and Ray 5.0 or 5.5. They still resulted in a majority of IJN Stakenas advanced to the semi-final, where they wins, 75% and 55%. Among the games with bids played Scenario “F” (The Infantry’s Iron Fist). between 2.0 and 3.5 (there were no games with Ralph’s defending and Ed’s attacking Germans bids of 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 POC), IJN win-rates were defeated their Russian opponents. 50%, 100%, 40%, and 57%. Two games had zero In the Final’s Scenario “L” (Outpost Line), POC bid. One of them resulted in an IJN win. Ed’s Americans attacked Ralph’s Germans. In a NT1 games featured two games with 1.0 POC couple of swift moves, Ed established his M-20 bids and one game with a zero POC bid. None in a flanking position against Ralph’s main of them resulted in an IJN win. About a third of group. Ralph suddenly ran out of both Fire cards the games went all eight turns, whereas 15% went to attempt a response with his Mortar and Move seven turns, 20% went six, 17% five, and 12% four. cards to cancel the flank. With a few Five games went three turns or less. swift shots, Ed reduced the flanked Changes for 2009 will include squad to cap a victory. It only took Swiss-Elim and different levels of a little over half a deck—one of the tournament points for different lev- fastest finishes to a Final ever. els of victory, Century Events 51
2008 Results 2008 Results Curt Collins II, PA Jon Lockwood, VA Bruce Bernard, PA Mike Kaye, MD Boaz Gura, NJ Charlie Drozd, IL O Ed Kendrick, UK Rob Drozd, IL O Brian Farrelly, IL O Ewan McNay, CT O Jason Levine, NY O Ed Menzel, CA
: Mark Neale, RI : Vince Meconi, DE 31 2000-2008 50 1991-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists Jimmy Fleckenstein, VA 60 Andy Gardner, VA 145 Bruce Bernard, PA 57 Ray Freeman, CA 133 Joe Pabis, VA 57 Pat Richardson, VA 110 Brandon Bernard, PA 45 Darren Kilfara, UK 94 John Charbonneau, NH 40 Ed Menzel, CA 92 Jason Levine, NY 39 Jon Lockwood, VA 79 Paul McCarthy, NY 39 Bruce Monnin, OH 78 Curt Collins II, PA 30 Dennis Nicholson, NY 65 Curt Collins II, PA Mark Neale, RI 30 Jon Lockwood, VA Bruce Reiff, OH 59 Bob Heinzmann, FL 30 Vince Meconi, DE 53
Vinci (VNC) War At Sea (WAS) t was winners only for the Vinci on Lockwood won the championship, add- Itournament. Twelve games deter- Jing the WBC crown to his previous BPA 2001 mined the rightful owner of the wood. PBeM championship, completing the set. Jon There were nine games in the two heats. When blitzed the field with eight straight wins, defeat- one winner declined advance, there were two ing former champ Mike Kaye (5-3), who was semi-final games, with the winners and single playing in the event for the first time since 2001. closest runner-up advancing to a three-player Jon got out in front early and coasted to a ten Final. Since only winners advanced, no one POC victory. He was so dominant that he added could coast and plan to advance as an alter- both Best Allied Player (5-0) and Best Axis Player nate. The three-player Final ensured that ev- (3-0) to his championship wood. eryone at the table would get a prize. The Drozd family had their best showing At semi-final table 1 was Jack Stalica, 2000 ever, with son Charlie in third (4-3) and dad champ Jason Levine, Bruce Bernard—finalist Rob in 4th (4-3). Charlie had won Victory in the in 2005 and 2006 and semi-finalist in 2007, and Pacific earlier in the week, and came up just another 2007 semi-finalist—Ed Kendrick. At short in his bid to win both events in a single semi-final table 2 was 2007 semi-finalist Brian year. Other playoff competitors were Ewan Farrelly, 2007 finalist Brandon Bernard, Boaz McNay in fifth at 4-1, Ed Menzel in sixth at Gura, and Curt Collins II. Rick Dutton earned a 4-2, Scott Beall in seventh at 4-2, and the GM spot in the semi-final round but had a schedul- Vince Meconi in eighth at 3-3. Rob and Charlie ing conflict. If all nine semi-finalists had been Drozd did not play each other at any point, but available there would have been three 3-player the Raszewskis, dad Steve and son Brad, did, semi-final games with only winners advancing in a grudge match that may have had higher The finalists were Bruce Bernard and Boaz stakes than the Final. Rookie of the Year was Gura who each won their semi-final games Brad Raszewski in 14th place. and Curt Collins II with the best second place It might have been expected that the expan- (one point behind Boaz). The final was about sion of the playoffs to eight would increase a play- as close as it could be. Curt and er’s chances of making the playoffs, but no player Bruce were tied, with Boaz just repeated from last year. Only John Pack has man- one point behind. The tie breaker aged to make the playoffs of reverse turn order worked in two years in a row since we Curt’s favor. added a quarter-final. 52 Century Events
2008 Results 2008 Results Chris Trimmer, TX Joe Beard, AZ Jason Levine, NY Rob Beyma, MD Lyman Moquin, DC Mark Gutfreund, KY Jacob Hebner, CO O Richard Beyma, MD O John Pack, CO O Don Tatum, MD O K. Wojtaszczyk, NY O Bruno Sinigaglio, AK
: Kevin Wojtaszczyk, NY : Marty Musella, VA 28 2006-2008 21 1991-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists Chris Trimmer, TX 58 Rob Beyma, MD 162 Kevin Wojtaszczyk, NY 44 Marty Musella, VA 122 Phil Rennert, MD 30 John Clarke, FL 73 Jason Levine, NY 24 Bruno Sinigaglio, AK 45 George Young, VT 24 Chuck Stapp, NJ 31 Nick Anner, NY 17 Joe Beard, AZ 30 Lyman Moquin, DC 16 Mark Gutfreund, KY 30 Andy Latto, MA 16 Richard Beyma, MD 27 Jacob Hebner, CO 12 Bill Morse, VA 24 Chris Trimmer, TX Joe Beard, AZ Chris Yaure, PA 12 Forrest Pafenberg, VA 18
War of the Ring (WOR) Waterloo (WAT) he One Ring was at the cusp of Mount idespread use of the ten-sided die TDoom, when Chris Trimmer’s Sauron WCombat Results Table (CRT) has re- armies dominated Middle Earth. Poor sulted in shorter games, a quicker tempo Sam and Frodo were captured, which ended the of play, and added uncertainty regarding estab- Middle Earth Pre-Con with Sauron’s forces once lished defensive tactics. The new CRT provides again victorious against the Free Peoples! opportunities for challengers to test the play of Out of 40 games played, 11 used the basic established masters. This year two relative new- game rules and 29 the added expansion rules. The comers competed against two masters in the semi- Dwarven Rings bidding appeared to balance the final with Richard “Beyma the Younger” versus game, with the majority of the bids giving the Free Rob “Beyma the Elder” and Mark “The Warrior” Peoples from one to five rings. Many interesting Gutfreund versus Joe “The Surgeon” Beard, who things happened during the tourney. Christopher arrived at the GrognardCon pre-convention after Yaure gets a nod for Musterings of a Long-Planned a nine-year hiatus. In the first game, there was a War, being involved in two epic length games, last- psychological twist to side selection. Richard bid ing 16 and 17 turns, respectively, that pushed the 13 factors to play the PAA, anticipating his father’s four-hour time limit. Most games fell in the nine- to attempts to bid higher. When Rob only bid 2, Rich- 14-turn range and finished in three hours or less. ard got to play his preferred side, but it came at an John Pack was a Ranger of the North. His Northern elevated cost. Rob had to pull all of his best strat- army took heavy losses on a Dol Guldur siege but egy and tactics out of the playbook to overcome still managed to oust the Orcs for a Moria/Dol Gul- his son’s determined defense. In the other game, dur FP Military victory. Sean Vassey waged some the Surgeon gave The Warrior his choice of sides, Rohan guerilla warfare after losing Aragorn and and Mark chose the PAA. In the end, the Warrior Boromir in a Minas Tirth siege. Ahmet Ilpars fi- died heroically at the hands of French lancers com- nally ousted the Rohan militants for an SP military manding the final Prussian rear-guard and The victory. Eric Brosius raced to a hidden five-move Surgeon rode victoriously into Brussels. FSP start only to see the Hunt tiles turn and cor- A “Clash of the (Waterloo) Titans” lay in store rupt Frodo. Chris Trimmer needed an for the Final, but Rob couldn’t play Isildur’s Bane 3 tile pull plus a double because he was locked into the Russia Eye draw (one skipped with Mithil Besieged Final (his team game, which Coat) to seal the Fellowship’s path to he won). The championship went to the dark side in Mordor in Round 3. Joe. We hope to see him back in 2009! Century Events 53
2008 Results 2008 Results Brian Mountford, NY Henry Russell, PA George Young, VT Ed Rothenheber, MD Keith Wixson, NJ Peter Reese, VA P. Burgin-Young, VT O Nick Frydas, UK O Paul Gaberson, PA O Ahmet Ilpars, TU O Joe Collinson, MD O Jesse Boomer, KS
George Young, VT Mark McLaughlin, CT 38 1994-2008 20 2006-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists George Young, VT 220 Peter Reese, VA 48 Marvin Birnbaum, NY 179 Ed Rothenheber, MD 48 Paul Gaberson, PA 170 Henry Russell, PA 30 Brian Mountford, NY 170 David Gantt, SC 30 James Pei, TX 118 Rob Mull, CO 12 John Poniske, PA 88 Robert Vollman, AB 12 Dan Leader, MA 60 Nick Frydas, UK 9 Keith Wixson, NJ 50 Rob Olsson, MD 9 Chris Byrd, CT 40 Melvin Casselberry, PA 9 Brian Mountford, NY Henry Russell, PA Bill Peeck, NY 36 Robert March, CA 9
We the People (WTP) Wellington (WLL) ive new recruits took part in the Coached n the ten games played during two FDivision: four Continentals and one British Iheats, a semi-final, and a Final, wins Regular—Nick Smith who visits annually from were split down the line with five across the pond. The Minuteman Militia Award, French and five Allied victories. Of those, the presented to the surviving player of the Coached French South won two, French North three, Brit- Division, went to Tod Whitehurst. Relative new- ain three and Spain two. Pete Reese has made the comer Ray Freeman received the Valley Forge Final all three years and has yet to win. Award for demonstrating remarkable fortitude Two of those games were particularly close, and commitment by continuing the struggle de- one coming down to a half-point difference be- spite outrageous fortune and disappointing de- tween the two sides in a game that went the dis- feat. Ray competed in all four Swiss rounds, earn- tance all the way to the end of 1814. There were ing a 1-2-1 record. Three of his four opponents three runaway victories, including a rare libera- were laurelists, including eventual tournament tion of Spain and an even more rare conquest of victor 2000 and 2001 champ Brian Mountford. Portugal. The Portugal feat was orchestrated by In the Final, three-time champ George Young Ed Rothenburg setting it up for his ally Henry bid 3 to take the Americans but was trumped Russell to complete and claim the victory. They by Brian’s +4 strategy. The game opened with gained that conquest in the middle of the first the traditional flurry of PC placements. By the turn, earning that contest the prize for shortest end of 1775, aided by the extra PCs and a Minor Wellington game of any convention. Campaign, the British had taken the upper Hud- Adapted from The Napoleonic Wars, this se- son Valley and isolated and removed the Ameri- quel covers the campaigns in Spain and Portu- can presence in New Hampshire and Falmouth. gual between 1812 and 1814 where Wellington That was to be the high tide position of the game distinguished himself before his big date at Wa- for the British. In 1776, the British were forced to terloo. The game is shorter and simpler than its play the Declaration of Independence and make predecessor due to the lack of diplomatic and three discard actions, while Brian had naval elements. Play is more battle a nine-card hand and only had to oriented. The four players play in discard one. It didn’t get much better two teams, yet ultimately, only one of throughout. When George opened his the four can win. Although the event 1781 hand and saw another fistful of didn’t make the cut for Century in discards, he resigned. 2009, it will be back as a trial event. 54 Century Events
2008 Results 2008 Results James Pei, VA Jason Levine, NY George Young, VT Craig Fox, PA Paul Gaberson, PA Jennifer Drozd, IL Don Chappell, TX O Gerald Lientz, VA Bill Edwards, VA O Ken Gutermuth, NC O P. Burgin-Young, VT O Rachel Harley, VA
Keith Wixson, NJ Ken Gutermuth, TX 27 2002-2008 34 1992-2008
Top Laurelists Top Laurelists James Pei, TX 244 Ken Gutermuth, TX 97 Keith Wixson, NJ 150 John Welage, OH 66 Ron Fedin, PA 141 Dave Steiner, DE 62 Paul Gaberson, PA 130 Bruce Reiff, OH 59 Peter Reese, VA 111 Robert Drozd, IL 48 Tom Drueding, MA 98 Stuart Tucker, MD 47 George Young, VT 91 Jason Levine, NY 45 John Buse, IL 75 Jim Bell, MD 24 Rob Winslow, NY 70 Jeff August, VA 24 James Pei, VA Jason Levine, NY Bruce Wigdor, NJ 48 Gerald Lientz, VA 21
Wilderness War (WNW) Win, Place & Show (WPS) op seed, 2004 champion James “The Master” or the second year in a row, the finalists unani- TPei, became the second two-time winner in Fmously agreed to use the race cards produced the event’s history. Pei went undefeated, beating by Stuart Tucker for Avalon Hill’s General maga- Randy Pippus, Chris Senhouse, Michael Ussery zine. The Big Board race card featured jockeys and Bill Edwards in the preliminary rounds, Don crafted by Ellen Hoam. They depicted former Chappell in the semi-final and George Young in champions, including Bruce “Hawaiian Shirt” the championship game. Young was also unde- Reiff, Ken “Texan” Gutermuth, Dave “The- Car feated entering the Final, having defeated Frank rot” Steiner, Rob “Businessman” Drozd, Stuart Mestre, Jason White, Philip Burgin-Young (his “The Mona Lisa” Tucker, John “The Beer Man” son) and defending champ Paul Gaberson twice. Welage, and Dennis” Wild Hair” Nicholson. The Pei-Young championship game was a rematch Three familiar faces—two-time champ Ken of the recent PBeM Tournament championship Gutermuth and perennial finalists Jason Levine game which had only concluded with a Pei victory and Gerald Lientz—joined Jennifer Drozd, Rachel a week before WBC. Harley, and newcomer Craig Fox. Jason got out to Half of last year’s laurelists made it into the a fast start in the first three races and threatened top six again, and three of this year’s four semi- to run away with his first championship. In the finalists were repeats. That was something of a fourth race, it was obvious that Jason had bet on his break with the tournament’s tradition of a com- own horse. It appeared that a concerted effort on plete or near complete turnover of the laurelists the straight away would box in Jason’s horse, but from year to year. The Top New Player Award the last horse before his—run by Rachel—freed up went to Senhouse who defeated 2006 champ and the lane to let Jason’s horse pass. Jason won the race GM Keith Wixson and Grant LaDue, the second and continued to build his lead. Craig ran his horse and sixth seeds respectively. to a win in the fifth race to keep within striking dis- The French won 67% of the games played, up tance, though still $50K behind. The sixth race saw 6% from 2007. French dominance is finally being wild bets placed in an effort to catch Jason. They embraced by the players. The average almost paid off. Gerald, Jennifer, and Craig reaped bid to play the French shot up to 1.35 large payouts, but they were not enough to make VPs from 1.02 VPs in 2007. up the difference. Final scores In 2009, the event will eliminate were Jason $168K, Craig 147.5K, the quarter-final in favor of four swiss Jennifer $146K, Gerald $142.5K, and two SE rounds. Ken $48.5K, and Rachel $46.5K. Century Events 55
2008 Results BPA PBeM Tournaments Chris Goldfarb, OR Greg Wilson, NJ and Mini-Conventions Bruce Harper, BC The big event runs an entire week—Mon- Randy Scheers, TX day through Sunday—and begins on Aug. 3, Rob Carl, MD 2009, but you don’t have to suffer while wait- Don Stanley, SK ing. You can scratch your gaming itch at play- by-e-mail tournaments and any of these fine Mike Crowe, VA BPA gaming mini-cons. They offer outstanding 24 1992-2008 competition, the opportunity to earn laurels and a chance to improve your gaming perfor- Top Laurelists mance—not to mention, time to have fun! Get Jason Moore, NY 156 more details about any of this gaming—as well Greg Wilson, NJ 96 as past results—at www.boardgamers.org. Bill Moodey, PA 96 Eric Thobaben, MI 72 Aug. 1-2, 2009 • WBC Pre-Cons Herbert Gratz, AA 66 Bruce Harper, BC 61 Lancaster Host Resort, Lancaster, PA Chris Goldfarb, OR 60 So many games, so little time. WBC offers a few Vic Hogen, CA 60 events for early play without distractions, from Randy Scheers, TX 54 Chris Goldfarb, OR Brock Heathcote, AZ 48 wargames to Euros. Play in Grognardcon and Omens on Saturday. Guns of August, Middle Earth, and Through the Ages will be on Sunday. World At War (WAW) ix full campaign games were completed dur- Nov. 12-15, 2009 • EuroQuest VII Sing the tourney. All made it to early or mid- Holiday Inn, Timonium, MD 1945. Three matches played to completion in Tournaments for popular Euro games, open Europe. Two matches played to completion in gaming, plus a wild-card event and a hot new the Pacific. The games resulted in three ties, two Euro title from Essen. Axis victories, and one Allied victory. The most convincing Axis victory was a successful inva- Jan. 28-31, 2010 sion of Britain. The other resulted from a failed invasion of Britain, followed by an invasion of Winter Activation Meeting (WAM) VIII Spain, conquest of Gibraltar, and 1942 invasion Holiday Inn, Timonium, MD of Russia. Two games tried a traditional Bar- Four days of two-player card-driven wargames: barossa. Both were ties overall, but the Axis lost Paths of Glory, Twilight Struggle, and more. in Europe. This was the first convention without - Ber March 26-28, 2010 chtesgaden as a potential Axis redoubt. In the Enlightenment XIII high tech arena, jets were the most popular proj- Holiday Inn, Timonium, MD ect for Germany, but advanced subs made an Four rounds of Age of Renaissance and appearance in two games as well. Both projects Manifest Destiny over three full days. now require fewer research points, but appear later and in lower quantity. The atomic bomb was key for the Allies in two games. In one, Ger- PBeM Tournaments many stopped an attempted atomic bomb drop, Year-round events for selected games, including and Japan stopped two, although it eventually 1960: The Making of the President, Adel Verpflichtet, succumbed to an invasion aided by a tactical Age of Renaissance, Amun Re, Breakout: Normandy, nuke. The end result was a tie. In another game, For the People, Empire of the Sun, Gettysburg ‘88, the Allies used two bombs to advance in France, Here I Stand, Manifest Destiny, March Madness, and would have dropped enough Monty’s Gamble, Panzergruppe Guderian, Paths of on Germany by Winter 1945 to Glory, The Russian Campaign, Saratoga, Shifting ensure an overall tie. In the same Sands, Sword of Rome, Twilight Struggle, Victory in game, there was a failed bomb drop on Japan in Fall 1944. the Pacific, War at Sea,and We the People.