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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.
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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.
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