Squirecam's review of GenCon Indy 2005

[squirecam]

Disclaimer : The following is Squire’s review of GCI 2005, hopefully informative on some things and amusing in others. Any potshots or jabs I may take at players during this review are merely in jest or for dramatic effect. Except for Yoper, who, quite frankly, still sucks.


Squirecam’s review of Gen Con Indy 2005 (GCI)

1. The Setting

GCI takes place at the Indy convention center in downtown Indy. There are usually a number of downtown hotels available to stay at within a few blocks and thus usually it is easier for people to go to Indy and get around as opposed to Origins. However, like Origins, you could stay outside downtown, such as the airport, and get a shuttle ride to the convention, although the shuttles ended at 12:00 a.m.

Downtown is fairly safe. There are close restaurants to get food other than paying for the food at the con, and there are things to do for family members who don’t believe that gaming is worth their time. J

2. The GCI Tournaments

GCI had five A&A tournaments. Although I bought mini’s I never got the chance to visit the booth, and the mini’s tournament, if there was one, was not run by Greg Smorey. Apparently, others visited, (such as Blackhand), and some wish they had played in the mega instead.

I think a mini‘s tournament can be popular with A&A players if well run, and thus it should be given to GS to run. As president Clinton said, keep it simple stupid.

GCI had D-Day, a 2nd edition tournament, A combined Europe/Pacific tournament, the Mega revised tournament, and, of course, the Masters tournament.

Europe/Pacific was a combined tournament, so if you played Europe Round 1, you had to play Pacific round 2. So you need experience at both games if you want to win. As a team, Butch and I were clearly weakest at Pacific, having never played a tournament game. So we hoped to play Europe in round 1, win, and go down gallantly in round 2. J

2nd edition was the same tournament that existed for years at GCI. It was still sold out, and some who wanted to play had to be turned away prior to the start. If you want to assure yourself a spot, PRE-REGISTER for this event next year. That’s your best chance.

D-Day was a full bracket tournament as well, although some played singles and were allowed to team up with other singles if they lost during the first round. Still a great # showed up and It is always great when a full bracket plays.

Some of the popular A&A players did not play D-Day. Notably absent were Jake and TomJag. I hope that these guys someday find out what they are missing. D-Day is great for tournament play. It is pure strategy and combat, no purchases. Because this is so, NO ADJUDICATIONS ARE REQUIRED. The games end in the allotted time frame. So people who complain about adjudications have a tournament where none exist.

Still, the field of players was great, including Jeff Auer and Dave Sellers (my championship partner at origins), Chris Collins/John Neyman (defending champs) Bill Stonesifer/Dan Sarro (last years Mega Champs) and many other great players. Mike again stopped by during the con, so you had the chance to see him and talk to him as well.

The Mega was two full brackets of hungry A&A gamers itching for a metal board. It is a GREAT prize to win, worth triple any trophy/shirt/medal/plaque any other tournament offered to a war gamer. You cannot buy one, you can only win one. So it is also a status symbol of success. It is something worth winning and some old faces on the boards, brimming with confidence, showed up at GCI to try to win one.

If you think you are a great A&A player, prove it. Test yourself against the best !! Win a metal board at GCI and you will have a great prize. You will also have proven you are a great player, and will next year have the chance to show you are among the elite, for the other prize (given to the top 3 mega teams) is a spot in next year’s masters tournament, where you met the “best of the best”.

And the Master’s is just that, the best of the best. Playing 3 rounds in swiss, the top 2 in each pool advance to the single elimination rounds. Only the top 4 qualify to return to the master next year. So, if you lose in pool play, you are faced with the prospect of returning to the mega and winning your way back in to the masters. Great incentive to play your best and avoid the mega tournament, where bad luck and one loss will eliminate you.

Just my luck, my bracket had Jake/Chuck (guys I’ve played before and who know my strategies), Tom Jag (former partner, now prime enemy #1 J) and Stonesifer/Sarro (the mike Tyson‘s of A&A who can and will KO you early and won the mega last year). Tough bracket.

I had my goal of advancing to the SE, before thinking of winning the tournament. (Regular season before playoffs you know). But if I could not, if I was destined to go back to the mega, then I wanted to at least defeat TJ. Otherwise, I’d have to see his smiling face for 12 months in my head, and I just couldn’t live with that one !! J

3. The Counselor’s of Conquest

Butch O’Hare - My tag team partner, the Gangster of Goring and the Sultan of the Swastika, Butch is a devastating A&A player. Blessed with incredible dice skills, tactical brilliance and a mean streak, he is a deadly foe for any gamer to contend with. He prepares for Gencon by carelessly evicting old ladies from their homes, tossing them out onto the street and beating them with their walkers. Just the type of guy I need at my side at GCI.

All we need now is a couple of robes, some theme music, and we are set. Or maybe add a valet for next year. I propose Jessica Alba.

Squirecam - that would be me.

4. Other notables (the enemy)

Tom Jag - not content with being a sidekick/waterboy on “Team Squire“, TomJag took his metal board, blasted me in the head with it at the Spring Gathering and ended last year’s successful Mega tournament run. Can you believe this guy ??? Instead of being grateful and worshiping at my feet, TJ had the nerve to want to beat me and win the masters himself !! While having TJ drawn and quartered appealed to me, I was too busy worrying about how we were going to beat him, Jake and the Tyson’s, and advance into round 2. So any punishment I might devise had to wait. J

Dan/Bill - Already noted above as great players. We had a great final game last year. I knew they’d be very tough to beat. But I had a plan !!!

I would contact the GCI Klingon police !! They would arrest these guys, and if they had neglected to bring their wallets, they would rot in a klingon GCI cell while the tournament went on. Thus, I could avoid playing them.

If that failed, since I played axis last year, my “backup” plan (which should not have been necessary given the quality of the Klingon police) was to play them as the allies. I figured they might have discussed my axis strategy of last year and devised something for it, so I thought I’d show them something new.

Result - well, no spoilers here, but sometimes, when you go bear hunting, you get the bear. J Sometimes, the bear gets you. L

Jake/Chuck - again, had to devise a new wrinkle since Jake expected my strategy, having played me several times in the past and having seen me play others. Would be a tough opponent.

Yoper - 1/2 of team "nowhere to be found", Yoper was at GCI, yet did not play in the mega. Cited "family issues". Ha !! No self-respecting gamer would let family interfere with plastic army men and bad dice !! I think he and the rest of his team are scared. After watching me win the WBC title first hand, he wanted no part of any tournament where I would watch him plummet to the bottom. Get over that yellow streak Yoper !!!

My review continues in the next post.

Squirecam

[squirecam]

Thursday - D-Day

After flying all night on a redeye (NWA), I arrived into Indy at 5:30 a.m. Got a limo ride to my hotel (The Econolodge downtown) for only $10.

Analysis - I should have asked what the limo should have cost to sleep in.

Pro’s -

1) The econolodge was cheap.
2) If you like buying drugs, there were plenty to be found at night across the street at the IHOP
3) The room was cheap
4) It was downtown, so only a $5 cab ride to the hotel, or an 18 block walk
5) Did I mention it was cheap?
6) You were safe once inside your room

Con’s -

1) Everything else

Unless you are broke or absolutely must stay downtown but the other GCI downtown hotels are sold out or have raised prices to absurd levels, go elsewhere.

I got to the convention and checked in at 7:00. Was third in line, so the pre-reg went fast. Great thing at GCI, as opposed to a long wait at origins.

Butch and I were split up for D-Day round 1. We both won. Afterwards, Greg asked if I wanted to join with Butch or continue solo. Thus, I would conceed the game to my opponents and let them advance instead of me, and I’d join with butch in the opposite side of the bracket, only playing my first round opponents again if we both reached the finals.

Those guys were really nice guys and so they advanced and I joined Butch. For the record, they advanced to the Final 4, then got the 3rd place medals, and thus gave a great account of themselves in the D-Day tournament.

Butch played Allies in Round 1. I played Axis. In the rest of the rounds, we played Axis (my preference), because I liked using the flooding card to prevent the allies from landing on Omaha beach Round 1.

Now, the following is taken from the D-Day FAQ:

Does tactics card 7's flooding prevent the Allies from coming ashore in that zone?
No. It only applies to the movement on the next order card.

However, for the past two years, at GCI last year and at Origins this year, you were allowed ti flood the beachhead round 1 and Greg had determined that the allies could not land their. Dave Sellers and I used this at Origins.
Butch and I played as partners round 2. I played the card and my opponents expected it. They gave no argument.

However, Butch said “I don’t think that’s a legal move”. I told him it was, called over Greg, who said that it was legal and started to leave. Butch then took out the rulebook and while it was clear in the D-Day FAQ online, it was a matter of interpretation in the rulebook.

Greg thus changed his mind and ruled that we could not flood that zone and prevent the Omaha landing.

This was the first of 3 rules questions that arose at GCI. I wasn’t generally concerned about flooding the zone, except that we had already bid and my bid considered that strategy. Besides, I relied upon the rule that was in effect for the past 2 years.

Nevertheless, Greg ruled against me. In fact, I had 3 positions on rules questions during the tournament. My “interpretations” was ruled against every time. So much for buying off the GM.

Next year I will kidnap GS and take him to the Bengals training camp. After two hours of that torture, he will wish for death, beg for mercy and think twice of crossing me ever again. :)

Lucky for me Butch was a calming influence, took control of the situation, and we advanced in the tournament. Butch and I only played 2 games together, as he had to start the 2nd ed tournament game, so we had to split up again. But I advanced us to the finals and the First Place trophy, and Butch joined us again at about round 8 of that last game.

We were allies (butch’s preferred side) in that last game, as my opponents clearly wanted to play axis and so gave me a good allies bid (12). I had some good dice in that game, and used my air to limit the Caen reinforcements all game. They could never get any meaningful reinforcements on that side of the board, St Lo fell, and we had first place.

During that game, there was another rules Q but I never asked it. Butch has maintained that you could only move “8” units into a zone, that you had to declare them, and if they were shot down, you could not move more in.

My opponents said that you could move 1 at a time until you had 8. They said that Greg had already allowed this. Butch wanted to question it, and I said no, let them have it.

The dice rolled to our advantage as we had no fighters lost. So in effect I shot down more axis units than I would otherwise have, although the dice could have gone otherwise. But they got their wanted strategy, I got to kill them faster, and we won the tournament.

But now that it’s over, I’d like to see an explanation of this rule as well.

One other note - besides the trophies, the D-Day winners got A&A pens, really sweeeeeet GCI shirts, (MUCH better than last year’s sweatshirts) and a set of mini’s. Thanks to WOTC for the great prize additions and to GS for the trophies.

For next year - HOW ABOUT A METAL D-DAY BOARD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Squirecam

[Blackhand]

2. The GCI Tournaments

GCI had five A&A tournaments. Although I bought mini’s I never got the chance to visit the booth, and the mini’s tournament, if there was one, was not run by Greg Smorey. Apparently, others visited, (such as Blackhand), and some wish they had played in the mega instead.

I think a mini‘s tournament can be popular with A&A players if well run, and thus it should be given to GS to run. As president Clinton said, keep it simple stupid.



I agree 100%... The had the AA mini tournament setup as a swiss round and only 5 rounds. The AA mini tournament ended with 3 undefeated players...
My partner for AA board games had the winning force but since he was played a guy with a loss he got 3rd (which a computer picked)... The guy who won had a buy and that how he won... I will NEVER play in a tournament like that again.

[smo63]

Guys...sorry on the rule confusion for the D-Day card...but phase is phase and now after talking to Larry about it, agree. It is only the next PHASE...that is my decision and I am sticking to it...by the way, Squire, I am embarrassed to say, who did you beat to ge to the finals and who did you play in the finals of D-Day...?

GS:)

[squirecam]

Guys...sorry on the rule confusion for the D-Day card...but phase is phase and now after talking to Larry about it, agree. It is only the next PHASE...that is my decision and I am sticking to it...by the way, Squire, I am embarrassed to say, who did you beat to ge to the finals and who did you play in the finals of D-Day...?

GS:)

We had to beat Chris Collins in the semis (??) to get there I think. But I dont remember the names of our final round opponents. Sorry. They were fine gents though.

Third went to my first round opponents who advanced in my place. I know that much.

And no, its better to have the right rule rather than the wrong rule. But it might be a good idea to re-review all the rules in the "offseason".

Squirecam

[squirecam]

Thursday - 2nd ed

I wish I could say we won our thursday 2nd ed game due to my skill and dice rolling. But I was playing D-Day. :)

So though I know we won, I dont know how. Maybe Butch will post here. However, I'll still take 1/2 the credit. Go me !! :)

Squirecam

[ButchOHare1]

We took the allies giving 5 to the Axis (tank in Lib). Germany went for both battleships and lost a lot of planes. We got pretty far ahead. *** rolled 1 die for tech turn 3 and got Industrial Technology. After that it was a hard game. Japan was collecting about 45 and placing 11 tanks for much of the game. *** would run small stacks of 3 tanks up and I would kill them with inf and air, occasionally running a tank through to Yak or Sink to block their counters. I was able to kill about 50 tanks this game until they conceded. Very nice guys.

On the D-Day reinforcement rule debate take it straight from the horse's mouth. http://boards.avalonhill.com/showthread.php?t=2776

[squirecam]

Thanks Butch.

So Butch and I had to beat last years champ, as well as the 2nd and 3rd place teams in D-Day, in winning the tournament. We wouldn't have the same success in Europe/Pacific.

Friday - Europe/Pacific Tournament

Our goal was to play Europe round 1 and try to put up the best fight we could in round 2 in Pacific. Since we had never played a pacific game before, we figured on the loss, but tried to work out a strategy.

We were placed in the Europe Bracket. Though people could split, we choose to stay together and take our chances.

Our opponents in round 1 were familiar - my first round opponents from D-Day. They were setting up the board and were chatting with Butch. When I told them I was his partner they laughed and said, I had to leave. They were a fun bunch to play against and we had a good game.

Our UK fleet off Canada survived round 1 (our navy overall did pretty well), and we were able to defend moscow pretty well. They advanced as far as Stalingrad once but were repulsed.

Pacific was played against Jeff and Tim (the eventual champs). We correctly used our substalls but had a land buy for Australia rather than sub buys R1. I think this really hurt us for later in the game, but seemed a good idea at the time. Oh well, that's how you learn.

Still, we had a chance at holding India at the end. But Jeff and Tim got it, and our counter was repulsed, ending the game. Still, no shame in losing to the champs. But Butch and I will have to get a better plan for next year. :)

Butch again had to split up with me, to play our 2nd edition tournament game. This left me alone to play against the masters champions.

Again, Butch won our 2nd ed game. I'm sure I was his inspiration. :)

Friday - Masters Swiss Round 1

The masters started me off against the Top seed in our Bracket. I wanted Butch to play agressive in the 2nd edition game, so he could help in the masters tournament ASAP. These guys were the top seeds and thus expected to be the best. But Butch's 2nd ed game wouldn't end and so I had to play solo the whole game.

I had a chance at the end of the game. It was 3 inf/3arm + BB shot at France vs 8 Inf for Germany. Almost even if my BB hit. It didn't. Both our first round rolls were crap, so I would have had a chance with a good first round roll, but it wasnt to be.

I would like to think that if we (really I) had played better we would have not needed the France attack to work. Being without Butch was a hamper and I'm sure I made a mistake or two later in the game, and having Butch as a second pair of eyes could have corrected them, but those guys clearly deserved the win. Here as before, losing to the champs, which they eventually were, was no shame.

Due to the loss, my playoffs started early. At 0-1, I could not afford another loss. We would have to win both of the other masters games to advance. And guess who my second round game was against??

Yep. TomJag. :)

Squirecam

[Yoper]

Yoper - 1/2 of team "nowhere to be found", Yoper was at GCI, yet did not play in the mega. Cited "family issues". Ha !! No self-respecting gamer would let family interfere with plastic army men and bad dice !! I think he and the rest of his team are scared. After watching me win the WBC title first hand, he wanted no part of any tournament where I would watch him plummet to the bottom. Get over that yellow streak Yoper !!!

Squirecam

Next time I am going to leave you sitting at your hotel looking for the shuttle. Actually, I am going to slash the shuttle's tires and run you over as soon as you set foot out of the lobby.

As for not playing, I busted my "ASS" running a tournament so that you could come on in and win it. Then you have the audacity to complain about the inability to play against me?

What was really going on was the fact that I knew you were not in the Mega tourney, so what was the point? Now that you are back were you belong, knocked down from your pedestal, returned to the rabble, your days are numbered.

You and I are on a collision course. Next year I am going to the Spring Gathering, the whole of Origins, my tourney at the WBC, and the whole of Gen Con Indy. I just received a copy of A&A D-Day and will be practicing it too!

Down goes Squirecam! Down goes Squirecam! ;)

[squirecam]

Well Yoper, I see you have decided to participate. :)

Friday night, after the convention, Butch gave me a lift back to my hotel. We took a turn through the IHOP parking lot, and encountered the IHOP drug dealing staff. Nice to see the community bonding that goes on between drug dealing and pancakes.

The next morning I am waiting for my taxi to arrive. Who shows up beeping his horn but Yoper !!! Quite interesting, don’t you think. Yoper claimed he was just “in the neighborhood”. I wonder what type of "pancakes" he ordered??

I jest, of course, and Yoper was kind enough to drive me to the con. Yet he repeatedly razzed me during play, as he threatened to do. Maybe the Klingon police could arrest Yoper permanently…

As to me playing you at the spring gathering next year, if I’m there Yoper, you are on! I’ll even bring the white Russians for you. :)

As for me being in the mega next year, well, read on….

Saturday - Masters Swiss Round 1

So Saturday’s first game was against TomJag. TJ beat me in the infamous 2 a.m. destruction of the UK. Up until that point, I though I was doing quite well. Since then, TJ and I have played a number of Triple A games, and we have swapped victories back and forth. So it was always a tough battle and I know he can be a dangerous opponent.

As it was, Butch and I was up by 2 IPC going into the US turn. We had already won, but the decision was whether to play it safe and just get IPC or to go for Kwang and try to get more IPC, which would be more useful if we had a 3 way tie situation. We ended up playing it safe. Which did not matter, as Jake (who beat TJ) lost to the champs (now 2-0). This meant regardless of IPC, Jake & Chuck and Butch & I would play with the winner advancing to the playoffs (and staying in the masters next year) and the loser would be out.

In the game with Jake/Chuck, Butch and I played axis. We had played allies in the last 2 games. As almost anyone knows, I like a german carrier build. J Butch uses a different german ground strategy. We were going with min, until Jake attack into Ukraine backfired (one of the reasons why I hate that particular maneuver). So we ended up using his German strategy and my Japanese strategy.

Jake’s Americans never really got going until it was too late, and Germany held Lenningrad along with its VC, and so Butch and I advanced into the SE round. Also, to Yoper's disappointment, we skip the Mega next year.

Masters Semi Finals

Unfortunately, our 3rd round 2nd ed game would be starting, and so I would have to play Dan/Bill by myself again. My plan was to play allies, as I had played them as axis last year, and I wanted to see their axis strategy. Because of this, I gave them a 6 bid, when I should have taken 5 for the axis. Of course this is hindsight.

As I said before these guys were mike Tyson, going to knock me out for an early KO. I too played like Mike Tyson. Although my Mike Tyson was the washed up 2000’s version, who quit on his stool against the german and looked utterly pathetic while doing so. Not only did I not "eat their children", after the beating I took, I'll be lucky to even have children. :) It was over early, and after playing a few rounds I did conceed so that we both could get some sleep.

We did have a rules Q during this game, an interesting one if you go by the manual. On round 1 the germans moved their fleet out of the Baltic. I attacked it with 3 hits. Afterwards, I wanted to withdraw, but they wanted to submerge. If you look at the rules, each sides subs submerge during the attacker retreats phase. But after heavy argument, it was ruled against me. It ended up not mattering, as it was a bad allied battle in Caucus, where 7 German tanks lived, that led to their victory.

Ironically, in the finals, they had a rules question as well, whether the planes could land in a combat zone. I actually saw their point, and was on their side, yet they were ruled against. They eventually lost that game. So whatever side I seemed to pick for rules questions, it was the wrong one.

Again, Butch won our 2nd ed game. I take full credit for that one too. :)

Squirecam

[Pallantides]

In Squirecam's defense he had some really bad die rolls in the semifinals game. We definately came out hard but had it not been for that I don't think that game would have been so quick or so obvious. I'm pretty sure he'll get a chance for revenge next year as we'll be in the same Swiss bracket.

As for the rules questions in both games I have no problem with Greg's decision in either case as his ruling I think fits the spirit of the game, but in each case I don't know that the rules were that explicit. Tough spot for him to be in.

Funniest moment for me in the whole con was during the last round of the swiss. Bill and I were playing Bob/Barry who have, over the years, ended many of our runs through 2nd edition tournaments. Needless to say both sides were tense. If we lost there would be a 3 way tie with each team having a head to head win and only points would matter. They were 1-1 and needed the win. The tenseness showed thru in a simple first turn fight when our british sub attacked the japanese sub. We missed, they rolled and before the die could completely stop Barry shouted "SUBMERGE." That was one tough game over all and turned mostly on a lucky die roll by us defending Moscow against the Germans. The last few turns were actually more a series of mistakes by both sides and Bill and I scraped out a 5 pt victory 178-173. Next year we'll have to be more careful but when you're into your 3rd 5 hour game in a row its easy to make mistakes.

The finals against Brandon/Eric were really tough. These guys played a great Russia in particular. Germany had Russia down and out thru most of the game but they never once lost their grip on India (we went in on round 2 with a very minor odds advantage and got spanked). After that we had to do our best to hold on and almost pulled it off, destroying the American navy completely late in the game, but a factory in East Indies got them right back in it and Japan failed to defend Kwangtung which more than offset Germany's holding in Leningrad and last turn grab of Brazil.

I look forward to playing these guys next year. If Bill and I can get past Squirecam next year maybe we can dethrone Brandon and Eric, but who knows.

Dan

[Moderator Kayn]

wow
and WOW
That was SO exciting, just reading about it.
Thanks for such an entertaining report. I appreciate the time it took to recount all that, it really made me feel like I know what happened now.

Mod Kayn

[squirecam]

In Squirecam's defense he had some really bad die rolls in the semifinals game. We definately came out hard but had it not been for that I don't think that game would have been so quick or so obvious. I'm pretty sure he'll get a chance for revenge next year as we'll be in the same Swiss bracket.


Bad rolls are part of the game. It happens, and you move on.

At least we rebounded in the 3rd place consolation game. "Da Bears fans" were admittedly unprepared for my german fleet strategy and we were able to win that 3rd place masters position, which put us back in your bracket. (sigh)

Tough choice, having you face you guys, or E/B. :)

We really can't complain at all, as losses were to great guys and it was a great tournament.

Butch and I won 2 tournaments, and placed third in the masters. This was after I won the WBC title, and also shared in the D-Day glory at Origins. So it was a great tournament year for me. I can only hope the "third time's the charm" against you. :)

Congrats to everyone who won, and I look forward to next year.

Squirecam

[Yoper]

Well Yoper, I see you have decided to participate. :)

As to me playing you at the spring gathering next year, if I’m there Yoper, you are on! I’ll even bring the white Russians for you. :)

As for me being in the mega next year, well, read on….

Also, to Yoper's disappointment, we skip the Mega next year.

Squirecam

Well! You can run, but you can't hide.

All I need to do is win the Origins tournament and I am in the Gen Con Masters tournament. :)

See you there!

Craig

[smo63]

Well! You can run, but you can't hide.

All I need to do is win the Origins tournament and I am in the Gen Con Masters tournament. :)

See you there!

Craig

Yeap...that is correct, all you need to do is WIN! But there is a mound of players one must get over first!

See you in the Spring if not before...

GS:)

[Yoper]

Just reminding him of the possibilities.

Squirecam- In the list of your accomplishments from this year, I didn't see your first round exit from the Origins tourney listed?

Must have slipped your mind.;)

Craig

[squirecam]

Well! You can run, but you can't hide.

All I need to do is win the Origins tournament and I am in the Gen Con Masters tournament. :)

See you there!

Craig

I'm quaking.

Please God no. Not Yoper. The mere thought brings tears.... :)

Squirecam

[Yoper]

So does your body odor!:p

Craig

[squirecam]

So does your body odor!:p

Craig

You are so funny.

So is your record in Axis & Allies.

Wait. There was that tournament you won in... No. Maybe last year when you got to the finals of.... nope, that was someone else too.

Squirechamp

[Emynst]

In Squirecam's defense he had some really bad die rolls in the semifinals game. We definately came out hard but had it not been for that I don't think that game would have been so quick or so obvious. I'm pretty sure he'll get a chance for revenge next year as we'll be in the same Swiss bracket.

As for the rules questions in both games I have no problem with Greg's decision in either case as his ruling I think fits the spirit of the game, but in each case I don't know that the rules were that explicit. Tough spot for him to be in.

Funniest moment for me in the whole con was during the last round of the swiss. Bill and I were playing Bob/Barry who have, over the years, ended many of our runs through 2nd edition tournaments. Needless to say both sides were tense. If we lost there would be a 3 way tie with each team having a head to head win and only points would matter. They were 1-1 and needed the win. The tenseness showed thru in a simple first turn fight when our british sub attacked the japanese sub. We missed, they rolled and before the die could completely stop Barry shouted "SUBMERGE." That was one tough game over all and turned mostly on a lucky die roll by us defending Moscow against the Germans. The last few turns were actually more a series of mistakes by both sides and Bill and I scraped out a 5 pt victory 178-173. Next year we'll have to be more careful but when you're into your 3rd 5 hour game in a row its easy to make mistakes.

The finals against Brandon/Eric were really tough. These guys played a great Russia in particular. Germany had Russia down and out thru most of the game but they never once lost their grip on India (we went in on round 2 with a very minor odds advantage and got spanked). After that we had to do our best to hold on and almost pulled it off, destroying the American navy completely late in the game, but a factory in East Indies got them right back in it and Japan failed to defend Kwangtung which more than offset Germany's holding in Leningrad and last turn grab of Brazil.

I look forward to playing these guys next year. If Bill and I can get past Squirecam next year maybe we can dethrone Brandon and Eric, but who knows.

Dan


Dan, that game was very tight. I remember after you attacked West Russia on turn 1 that the game was looking very bad. Having 5 german infantry with all those tanks in West Russia made countering impossible because Russia had only its turn 1 builds in range of West Russia. That India battle saved our asses though. But it was somewhat short lived when the USA fleet died on round 4. I kept a little diary/summary of all our masters games and this what I had for the India fight:

"Now, Japan could have blitzed 3 tanks and 4 fighter/1 bomber against 2 USA tank/2 fighter in Sinkiang and taken the complex. Or they could hit India with 5 infantry,3 tank, 4 fighter, 1 bomber against 6 infantry, 2 armor, 2 fighter and taken the complex. Russia had only it's builds on the board in Moscow as Germany killed what was left in Caucus. So, there was no chance for Russia to retake one of the complexes. For the India battle, the axis were up +4 on attack power, had 3 more units, and were losing 1's while we were losing 2's but we had the anti-aircraft gun as a wild-card. They went for India and our AA gun hit 1 fighter. Lady luck was with us though, or I should say was against them. They got 1 hit the first round, and we ended up holding the territory with 2 UK fighters and Japan was left with 2 fighters on the map. There was a lot of dice cussing going on, and they had rolled Greg Smorey's dice for the India battle so it was decided by all to blame Greg for the defeat. Despite our dice given new found life and Japan having only 2 planes left on the map they trashed our USA double carrier fleet at West Indies on turn 4 and the game hung in the balance again"

Eric Mynster

[Yoper]

You are so funny.

So is your record in Axis & Allies.

Wait. There was that tournament you won in... No. Maybe last year when you got to the finals of.... nope, that was someone else too.

Squirechamp

Hey, Squirechimp!

Some of us run the tournaments so that you can have all the fun.:p

Don't worry, Squirechump, that bullseye just keeps getting bigger!;)

Craig

[Yoper]

No answer?:(

Most interesting.;)

Craig

[squirecam]

Hey, Squirechimp!

Some of us run the tournaments so that you can have all the fun.:p

Don't worry, Squirechump, that bullseye just keeps getting bigger!;)

Craig

And see what I get for bringing class and dignity to your event...

See you in April.

Squirechamp

[Yoper]

Class- White Russians

Dignity- Fortress America Japanese

Enough said!:)

Craig

[ButchOHare1]

Squirecam failed to mention my contribution to our Masters team. We used my Axis and Allies pieces. Putting those Milton Bradley Japanese tanks on that metal board would have been a travesty.

I think he has the race car from Monopoly as his German battleship. There were also some all white infantry pieces that looked like Apollo astronauts on a moon walk. I never figured out what they were for. :eek:

[squirecam]

Squirecam failed to mention my contribution to our Masters team. We used my Axis and Allies pieces. Putting those Milton Bradley Japanese tanks on that metal board would have been a travesty.

I think he has the race car from Monopoly as his German battleship. There were also some all white infantry pieces that looked like Apollo astronauts on a moon walk. I never figured out what they were for. :eek:


The race car is for a carrier you idiot. The german battleship was the boot. :)

Squirecam

[Yoper]

Boot to the head! Boot to the head!

That's what the 'chimp needs!;)

Craig

[Bushido Blitz]

Is Squirecam really from the Czech Republic?

[smo63]

No, just the outter limits of alphaville...I think that is near Pittsburgh!

GS:)