we the people  

Updated 11/26/2008

 2008 WBC Report  

 2009 Status: pending 2009 GM commitment

Brian Mountford, NY

2008 Champion

Offsite Links

  
 

Event History
1994    Andy Lewis      60
1995    Roger Taylor      56
1996    George Seary      54
1997    Thomas Drueding      40
1998    James Pei      40
1999    Marvin Birnbaum     32
2000    Brian Mountford     45
2001    Brian Mountford     32
2002    Marvin Birnbaum     54
2003    George Young     41
2004    John Poniske     43
2005     Chris Byrd     43
2006     George Young     45
2007     George Young     39
2008     Brian Mountford     38

PBeM Event History
2003    Paul Gaberson      46
2008    Dan Leader     50

WAM Event History
2004    Michael Ussery      16
2005    Marvin Birnbaum       24
2006    James Pei     13
2007    James Pei     20
 Laurels

Rank  Name                From  Last  Total
  1.  George Young         VT    08    220
  2.  Marvin Birnbaum      NY    07    179
  3.  Paul Gaberson        PA    08    170
  4.  Brian Mountford      NY    08    170
  5.  James Pei            TX    08    118
  6.  John Poniske         PA    04     88
  7.  Dan Leader           MA    08     60
  8.  Keith Wixson         NJ    08     50
  9.  Chris Byrd           CT    05     40
 10.  Bill Peeck           NY    08     36
 11.  George Seary         NY    06     36
 12.  Jim Gutt             AZ    04     36
 13.  Joe Collinson        MD    08     36
 14.  Pete Reese           VA    08     27
 15.  Eric Kleist          MD    07     24
 16.  Roderick Lee         CA    07     24
 17.  Michael Pacheco      CA    04     24
 18.  Anthony Burke        NJ    00     24
 19.  Tom Drueding         MA    04     22
 20.  Michael Ussery       MD    04     20
 21.  Jim Fardette         AE    01     18
 22.  David Dockter        MN    02     16
 23.  David Tianen         WI    00     16
 24.  Joe Collinson III    MD    99     16
 25.  Pat Mirk             FL    03     15
 26.  Philip Burgin-Young  VT    08     12
 27.  Bruce Monnin         OH    08     12
 28.  Henry Rice           NM    08     12
 29.  John Faella          RI    06     12
 30.  Rob Taylor           MI    05     12
 31.  Paul Barrett         UK    04     12
 32.  Ken Gutermuth        TX    05      9
 33.  Stuart Tucker        MD    04      9
 34.  Jim Eliason          IA    05      8
 35.  Bruce Wigdor         NJ    02      8
 36.  Andy Lewis           DE    00      8
 37.  Terry Coleman        CA    07      6
 38.  Seth Fine            WA    04      6
 39.  Joe Stenken          KY    03      5
 40.  Mark Yoshikawa       CA    06      4
 41.  Bryan Thompson       MD    04      4
 42.  Randall Borra        NY    00      4
 43.  Jim Falling          IL    99      4
 44.  Mike Mitchell        GA    05      3
 45.  Matthew Bacho        MD    04      2
 46.  Randy MacInnis       NJ    06      2

2008 Laurelists                                          Repeating Laurelists:

George Young, VT
2nd

Keith Wixson, NJ
3rd

Philip Burgin-Young, VT
4th

Paul Gaberson, PA
5th

Joe Collinson, MD
6th


Past Winners

Andy Lewis, DE
1994

Roger Taylor, VA
1995

George Seary, NY
1996

Thomas Drueding, PA
1997

James Pei, TX
1998

Marvin Birnbaum, NJ
1999, 2002

Brian Mountford, NY
2000-2001, 2008

George Young, VT
2003, 2006, 2007

John Poniske, PA
2004

Chris Byrd, CT
2005


Despite its age as the granddaddy of the CDWs, the We the People event continues to draw a variety of new and seasoned players.

Michael Ussery grins as Brian Mountford exclaims some outrageous fortune. Was it good or bad ... your call.

The First of the CDWs

We The People continues to draw an eclectic mix of grognards, veterans and intrigued rookies. This year the Coached Division featured five new recruits, four Continentals and one British Regular (Nick Smith who visits annually from across the pond and is well known as everyone's favorite Gangster!). Our Minuteman Militia Award, presented to the surviving player of the Coached Division, goes to Tod Whitehurst who won one of our extra prizes, a history of the American Revolution.

Relative newcomer Ray Freeman, who last year worked his way into the Quarter-finals from the Coached Division, is recognized this year with our Valley Forge Award. Although temperatures in the Host's main game room were pleasantly moderate this year, we still recognize a player who demonstrates remarkable fortitude and commitment by continuing the struggle despite outrageous fortune and disappointing defeat.  Ray competed in all four Swiss rounds, earning a 1-2-1 record. Three of his four opponents were Laurelists, including eventual tournament victor Brian Mountford.

The average bid to play the Americans continues to rise and with it the number of American victories. While the trend is troublesome, the top players still seem to be able to win as the British, but it is becoming more challenging. In most wargames, we see an ebb and flow as one side changes tactics to respond to the other side's success. We are overdue for such a balancing development in We The People, so perhaps through this next year fans will take up the gauntlet of discovering a fresh approach to playing the British.

Here are the specifics summarized from all four rounds of the Swiss portion of the tournament not counting the coached division.

 Round 1

+2

+3

+4

Sub-Totals

 -

-

2

1

3

-

4

-

-

4

2

1

4

2

9

2

5

6

3

16

 Round 2

+2

+3

+4

Sub-Totals

 -

2

4

-

6

-

1

1

1

3

-

2

4

-

6

-

5

9

1

15

 Round 3

+2

+3

+4

Sub-Totals

 -

-

2

-

2

-

-

1

1

2

-

1

3

1

5

-

1

6

2

9

 Round 4

+2

+3

+4

Sub-Totals

 -

-

-

1

1

-

-

-

1

1

-

-

2

1

3

-

-

2

3

5*

Totals

+2

+3

+4

Sub-Totals

 -

2

8

2

12

-

5

2

3

10

2

4

13

4

23

2

11

23

9

45*

*I missed collecting the data from one game in Round 3 and two games in Round 4.

Looking a bit deeper into the data, I wondered who was winning as the British. With some exceptions, top players seem to be able to hold their own while defending the Crown's interests. Amongst those with previous laurels or who proved by their record during this year's tournament to be up and comers, a total of 14 games were won while playing as the British and an equal number were lost while playing as the British. These data include games from both the Swiss and single elimination portion of the tournament. Keep in mind that in many of these games, players on this list were playing against each other.

 Player

Pre-2008 Laurels

Championships

2008 WBC British Wins

2008 WBC British Losses
 George Young

198

3

2

1
Paul Gaberson

162

1

0

2
 Brian Mountford

130

3

1

0
 Dan Leader

60

1

1

0
 Bill Peeck

36

0

0

1
 Keith Wixson

34

0

2

2
 Joe Collinson

32

0

1

0
 Michael Ussery

20

0

0

1
 David Dockter

16

0

0

1
 John Faella

12

0

1

1
 Jim Eliason

8

0

0

2
 Michael Mitchell

3

0

1

2
 MacInnis, Randall

2

0

1

0
 Hoffman, Dan

0

0

1

1
 Philip Burgin-Young

0

0

1

0
 Bob Woodson

0

0

2

0

That simple development gives me hope that all we really need to see is some more insight into what it takes to play the British well. Perhaps one of these experts will craft an article that can be circulated for the enlightenment of all.

Another option would be to eliminate draws in the Swiss portion of the tournament. This is already the case in the Single Elimination portion by using the tie breaker. For those unfamiliar with the tie breaker, if the British retain Canada and 5 colonies, then they win. This puts the pressure on the Americans to actually win their Independence. I'd like to hear some discussion on this. I'll continue to monitor the We the People discussion group on ComsimWorld . That public forum seems best suited for discussion. I will, of course, also entertain e-mails on the topic.

As for the tournament itself, I have to once again recognize the players for making it a success. Everyone was on time, ready and eager to go. Spirits were high and the camaraderie that characterizes the WTP community was much in evidence. I'm sure this made our newcomers feel both more welcome and confident that they were going to enjoy themselves. We had a completely hassle free tournament again this year. I can't tell you how nice, and fun it is, to support y'all. I should also take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support over the many years. I was fortunate enough to be honored as the GM of the year in 2006, and due to my unfortunate absence last year, recognized this year. It would not have been possible without your enthusiasm, support, and cooperation over these many years. You guys are the light of our hobby!

The story line going into this year's tournament was whether or not George Young, last year's champion would be able to repeat and thus become the first four-time winner. Spice was added to that story line as his son Philip Burgin-Young broke away from the pack this year and made a run at the old man. After Philip dispatched the skilled and always dangerous Paul Gaberson (2003 PBeM Champion) in the quarter-finals, he was matched against George. I'd really love to report that after the match, George did a victory dance around the table, taunting "Who's your Daddy?" However, that would have been totally out of character for George, one of our most genteel players. Instead Philip and George finished with good humor and the traditional handshake.

George Young had advanced to the semi-finals by overcoming the 2008 PBeM Champion, Dan Leader, who was new to the WBC tournament. Dan made a terrific showing with a 2-0-2 record during the Swiss Rounds; his draws came in matches with fellow finalists Joe Collinson and Philip Burgin-Young.

The other bracket of the single elimination portion of the tournament developed a story line of its own. Relative newcomer Dan Hoffman anchored the bracket with a 3-0-0 record in the Swiss portion of the tournament. He was matched against Brian Mountford a two-time former champion. Brian has been a continual tournament presence every year, and has figured in determining who would advance and who would not. Unfortunately for him, however, he'd been running a long streak of just missing the laurels. His last had been awarded five years previously in 2003. Brian Mountford's tournament strategy was to bid +4 to gain the Americans; that continued to work for him as he was able to defeat Dan Hoffman in the quarter-finals.

Filling out the bracket were Keith Wixson and Joe Collinson. Joe is a long time player who two years ago made an appearance in the single elimination portion of the tournament, and finished third. A feat he repeated in 2007. With this third straight appearance, it seems that Joe has arrived! Keith, of course, is not only a strong and gifted player, he is a stanchion of the hobby as the PBeM GM for multiple Card Driven Games and GM of another crowd favorite, Wilderness War. Keith's British took a bid of +3 and defeated Joe's American's in their quarter-final match.

In the semi-finals, Keith took the +4 PCs and the British as offered by Brian, but Brian again prevailed and advanced to the Final to meet George Young. Keith Wixson and Philip Burgin-Young would duke it out for third and fourth. In that match Keith also bid +4 to take the Americans and prevailed in 1780 by taking nine colonies. Philip, however, has proven that he is a force with whom to reckon. It's scary to think of Philip and George spending all those snowbound months in Vermont with nothing to do but practice We the People!

By tradition, the WTP event report usually provides a reasonably detailed AAR of the championship match. And in fact, I did studiously take notes to provide such a report, but as you will soon learn, it wasn't a very entertaining contest. George bid 3 to take the Americans, but that was trumped by Brian's +4 strategy. As comfortable and competent as George is with the British, I thought immediately that this might be a mistake and that Brian would have been better off dicing for the Americans at the +3 level. The game opened with the traditional flurry of PC placements. By the end of 1775, aided by the extra PCs and a Minor Campaign, the British had taken the upper Hudson Valley and isolated and removed the American presence in New Hampshire and Falmouth.

That was to be the high tide position of the game for the British. 1776 saw the British forced to play the Declaration of Independence and make three discard actions. Hortelez del Cie gave Brian two extra cards which he used to isolate the western Carolinas and close the southern ports, thus preempting any British opportunities to create a diversionary or alternate front. Out of his nine card hand, Brian had to discard only one.

In 1777, the discards were a bit more even, but the card deck still appeared stacked toward the Americans. The British placed the Americans immediately under the influence of the Continental Line Mutiny, but the impact was negligible because the game had shifted from PC placement into a straight military campaign. The British struggled to create the New England bastion. For those unfamiliar with the game, control of the Hudson Valley and all spaces to the northeast gives the British the colonies of MA, RI, CT, NH and NY. Given the tie breaker rule, that is sufficient to win as long as they can also control Canada. That changes part of the complexion of the game because normally the British have the military strength to dominate such a small portion of the board and need not be quite as concerned with the Political Control marker issues.

However, military strength also requires mobility for the British, and it requires at least a marginal dominance in leader quality. In this game, the British did not get these conditions on a reliable basis. Brian did not hesitate to use the potentially treacherous Arnold, so that helped match British leadership. Furthermore, in 1777 the French Alliance was played out of the British hand as well. Rochambeau added to Greene and Arnold meant that British tactical leadership was matched. Furthermore it enabled Washington to safely hold himself in strategic reserve and deny George his standby strategy of running him to ground for the automatic victory.

1778 saw George make up a small amount of ground. The turn opened with a flurry of mutual discards; ultimately four from the Americans and three from the British. This was easily the American's worst hand. But the British did not have enough power to really redeem their situation.

1779 and 1780 saw a continuation of the military operations in New England, particularly up and down the Hudson Valley. There were significant fights for typically insignificant spaces. Westchester NY was fought over easily as much as Albany and Ticonderoga in this contest. But every British success was stymied by the Americans. The colony count rested with CT split and RI, MA and NH usually British. Because the Hudson Valley was typically split, NY remained neutral or favoring one side or the other (usually the Americans) by a single PC. Brian's Americans kept threatening Canada as well, so George was obliged to source part of his attack on the Hudson from Montreal. This limited British mutual support between armies and kept another army far away from Washington.

With the war scheduled to end, when George opened his 1781 hand and saw another fistful of discards, he resigned.

While George did not enjoy a normal level of card support, nothing should be detracted from Brian's play. He played the cards that he was dealt, and in fact he had to play them carefully and well. A single mistake in confronting the New England bastion would have put him behind the power curve. Once that happened, Washington would have had to ride to the rescue and the game would definitely have been up for grabs. Instead, Brian played flawlessly in a tense match against a notable master. To Brian go the laurels this year!

This means that George Young did not achieve his goal of becoming the only four-time champion, but also that George is no longer the only three-time champion. He has been joined on that platform by Brian Mountford who ended a four year drought in a most convincing fashion with his Americans Defiant strategy.

 

The WTP event used more than four rows of tables during the first two rounds. Like War At Sea, it has become the bedrock event for its genre.
Keith Wixson (right) defeated Philip Burgin-Young in this game to take 3rd Place. Philip's strong showing has put the grognards, especially father George Young, on notice.


We The People Play By Email

Congratulations to Dan Leader for winning the second PBeM We the People Tournament. Leader, who was a relative unknown among veteran WTP circles, compiled a perfect 6-0 score in the six-round Swiss format. He defeated, in order, Kevin Klemme, Brian Mountford, Ken Gutermuth, Pete Reese, James ("The Master") Pei and Henry Rice and recorded an impressive four wins as the British along the way (the Americans are generally thought to have a not inconsiderable edge in the game). Check out the final standings here: http://mysite.verizon.net/vze4bc94/wethepeople/index.html.

The laurelists were as follows:
1. Dan Leader
2. James Pei (only loss was to Leader)
3. Pete Reese (only loss was to Leader)
4. Bill Peeck
5. Henry Rice (only loss was to Leader)
6. Bruce Monnin

The tournament began in the Spring of 2006 with 50 players (including five past WBC champs) and was played via ACTS. A total of 133 games were played with the British winning 44 games (17 were automatic victories), Americans winning 74 and 15 games being draws. The average bid to play the Americans was 2.93 PC markers added at the start of play, which given the poor 33% British win percentage should probably have been higher.

The best British player was the Champ with his perfect slate of four wins. The best American player was Bill Peeck (five wins against a lone loss), who was able to avoid playing the British entirely (shame on his opponents for not bidding him up!). The best sportsman was Andrew Maly, who cheerfully compiled a "perfect" 0-6 record.

An AAR of the Round 6 game between Leader and Rice follows:

Americans: Henry Rice
British: Dan Leader
Bid: 4 PCs for the Americans

1775: The British had a definite advantage in strategy cards with five ops cards to only three for the Americans (plus Jane McCrae). As usual, most cards were used to place PC markers on both sides, but the final British move put Cornwallis in Delaware poised to disperse Congress in the beginning of the new year. The British achieved control of NC, VA, DE and MA.

1776: This time the Americans had the card advantage with a total of seven ops cards to five for the British. Because Cornwallis could not be easily stopped from taking Philadelphia, the Americans elected to go first to get some PC markers down. Cornwallis dutifully dispersed Congress, but his attempt to capture Maryland was rebuffed, resulting in his retreat to York without an army. With Washington still in New England, Clinton ended the turn by moving from Delaware to New York to convert NY to the British and put some pressure on Washington. SC and NY were added to the British total.

1777: Clinton's harassing move to New York increased greatly in importance when the British were dealt both the major and a minor campaign. Starting the year with the major campaign, all exits from New England were successfully sealed off, trapping Washington inside. However, Greene was still in Newport to provide support, and the Americans still controlled much of the area. Despite having only three ops cards, the Americans made excellent defensive moves to prevent Washington's capture. Several battles raged back and forth, particularly in New Haven, with the Americans holding the tactical advantage but Washington still unable to escape. An attempt at a British flanking move by landing Burgoyne in Barnstable resulted in nothing but winter attrition losses. However, NH was added to the British fold and Arnold was lost to treason.

1778: At last, Washington was able to break out on the second card play when Howe's attempt at a counterattack to reseal the barrier was defeated. Washington immediately headed south to Philadelphia. With all British generals but Cornwallis in New England and Cornwallis in York without an army, the situation quickly looked promising for the Americans to reclaim mid-Atlantic and southern states. Cornwallis picked up a CU that had been left in Baltimore and was subsequently reinforced while the Americans put new armies into Virginia and North Carolina, retaking Virginia. The DOI provided extra help for the Americans. On the last play of the year, Cornwallis attempted to capture Maryland by advancing to Fredericktown from an American PC marker. He was home-free as long as Lee couldn't intercept. However, the interception roll was the needed "1", and with the battle cards 4-6 for the Americans, the Americans amazingly managed to match all four British cards and win the battle, capturing Cornwallis.

1779: The deck had not yet been reshuffled and four "War Ends" cards had already been played. Both "War Ends in 1779" and the French Alliance cards were still in the deck and likely to be drawn. The British player had neither. But, the British were blessed with both the last remaining minor campaign and "Lord North Royal Amnesty", two killer cards, and could afford to lose some ground and still win. American armies continued to operate in North Carolina, so Cornwallis moved south, leaving a CU in Norfolk and recapturing New Bern to isolate a pocket of American PCs. When the Americans played the "War Ends" card, it was time for decision. The Americans had been saving the French Alliance card for a late flanking move into North or South Carolina, but the move by Cornwallis thwarted the advance, and Lord North protected British PCs from isolation in the south. Washington recaptured Delaware, but it was not enough. In the end, the British pulled out the victory by controlling SC, NC, NY, RI, MA, NH, and Canada.

 GM      Don Chappell [7th Year]  3604 Ruidoso Dr, Arlington, TX 76017 
  don.chappell@lmco.com   NA

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