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878 Vikings (878) WBC 2018 Event Report
Updated October 4, 2018
 
25 Players Chris Trimmer 2018 Status 2019 Status History/Laurels
  2018 Champion   Click box for details. Click box for details.
 

Vikings Have Landed At WBC

Twenty five people turned out for the inaugural run of 878 Vikings, and took the side of either the Viking invaders or the English defending their homes. The tournament was run as a four round Swiss with the four best records advancing to the single elimination finals.

The preliminary rounds favored the English, who won 15 of the 24 contests. Each side had one auto-victory (Vikings capturing at least 14 cities at the end of a round, or the English holding all of the cities at the end of a round).

At the conclusion of the Swiss rounds, the four best records were Jeff Miller at 3-1, Chris Trimmer and David Schneider at 3-0, and John Parker, at 2-2. John edged out Gregory Hultgren, also 2-2, by virtue of having better margins of victory (counted by city differential above/below the minimum required for victory for each side). The tournament format gave players a point for playing in a loss, so both John and Gregory, were ahead of Rebecca Roppolo, who although going 2-0, only played the final two rounds.

The Semifinals featured Jeff against David and Chris vs John. In the Semifinals and Final, players were allowed to bid cities above/below threshold to play their preferred side. Jeff and Chris, as the respective higher seeds, bid 0 for the English, which was accepted in each case.

In the first semifinal, John invaded Northumbria with his initial army. By round 3, he had pushed into Mercia and controlled 5 cities. At the start of Round 5, the Vikings only controlled 4 cities, but only 1 Treaty card had been played. No more treaty cards came out in Round 5 or 6. At the beginning of Round 7, Jeff played the 2nd treaty card, and with both factions moving first, reduced the Vikings to 2 cities. John had the last two moves, but was only able to take 4 more cities, for a total of 6, 3 shy of what he needed to win.

The second semifinal, saw David’s Vikings take London on the opening play, and then sit tight. Round 2 he took Winchester, and was then up to four cities by Round 3. Starting Round 5, the Vikings held 7 cities, and both treaty cards for the English had been played earlier, as they had been the only movement cards available to them when played. The Beserkers moved first, and captured 3 cities, followed by the Norsemen who took 3 more and the Viking total stood at 13. Chris had the last two moves, but needed to retake 5 cities to win. The Thegn faction went third and he recaptured 2 cities to reduce the count to 11. The Housecarls retook 1 city by playing the Rebellion card, then managed to battle and capture 2 more, to reduce the Vikings to 8, and squeeze out the win for the English.

Jeff bid 0 for the English in the Final, and Chris was not willing to bid 1, so chose to play the Vikings. Chris opened aggressively. Halfdan landed at York with his host. Northumbrian discord was played, which allowed him to take York in 1 round. He then played Viking ships and sailed to Canterbury, took it, then on to London. The Beserkers cleared a few non city shires, but returned in mass to London.

For his Housecarl move, Jeff consolidated, then with the Thegn, attacked London from four directions. With the help of Improved Training card, he retook London and killed Halfan. At the end of Round 1, the Vikings held 2 cities.

Round 2 saw both sides mass and consolidate. Bjorn Ironside entered the board, but simply consolidated at Canterbury.

Round 3 started with the Housecarls who barely moved. Ivar the Boneless was the new Viking leader as the Norseman invaded Dunholm in Northumbria and took it and Carlisle (half the English Army fled in the first roll). Ivar continued on in the Berserker turn takings Manchester and Chester. With the Thegn move Jeff played his 2nd treaty card, so the game would end after Round 5.He assembled an army to attack Manchester. Chris played both Feigned Retreat and Viking Fort, but the English were still successful. At the end of Round 3, the Vikings had 5 cities.

Round 4 saw Jeff’s Housecarl go first, but the only reinforcements they have to place are 2 fled units. They simply repositioned forces. All this time, large English forces in London and Selsey continue to hem in Bjorn Ironside in Canterbury. The Berserker move was next with the Viking reinforcements. Ivar retook Manchester then attacked Hereford, succeeding, but his army was down to 3 Norsemen and 3 Berserkers. The Thegn went 3rd and retook Chester. Finally with the Norsemen's turn, Ivar attacked Leicester, but Jeff played the Spy card, and moved units from London to assist in the defense. After a back and forth battle, the English defense prevailed, and Ivar was killed. With his 2nd move, Chris has Bjorn take a weakened London followed by Winchester. At the End of Round 4, the Vikings held 8 cities, needing to net 1 more the final round.

In Round 5, the final round, the Norseman were drawn first. Ube Ragnarsson is the leader, but Jeff plays the Saxon Navy card and blocks most of Wessex from Viking entry. Ube invades from the Safern See and takes Lichfield. Bjorn takes Oxford, but returns most of the remainder of his dwindling army to Winchester. The Vikings now stand at 10 cities.

With the Housecarl drawn next, Alfred the Great enters play and attacks Winchester along with the Afreds Gambit card (5 Fryd assist in the attack). The Vikings play Shield Wall in defense. Alfred takes Winchester, but Bjorn is able to escape with his last unit on a Command Decision roll. Other English armies attack Oxford and London, but lose both battles. The Vikings are now at 9 cities.

The Thegn go next, and Jeff has Alfred’s army (reinforced by a mass of previously fled units) retake Oxford, and attack London. A bloody battle ensues with the English victorious, but once again, Bjorn Ironside escapes. With his 2nd move, Jeff has an army retake Manchester.

The Berserker turn is the last of the game with the Vikings holding 6 cities, Chris needed to take 3 to win. The English play the Danegold card, which removes Viking units before each battle. Ube Ragnarsson is able to take Chester in 1 roll and go on to take Manchester. With his last move 4 Norsemen and a Berserker move from York to attack Lincoln, defended by a lone Thegn, who is hoping for strong Fryd support. The Berserker is removed do the Dangegold card, but Chris plays Viking Terror, so no Fryd are drawn…. The Thegn defense rolls a hit leaving 3 Norseman. Chris rolls, and gets 2 Flees and 1 Hit, removing the Thegn, and leaving a single Norsemen to capture the city and win the game with the 9 city minimum required.

Congratulations to Chris, and thanks to all who played.

 
2018 Laurelists Repeating Laurelists: 0

Jeff Miller David Schneider John Parker Jr Gregory Hultgren Rebecca Roppolo
2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th
 
New Board Member Rebecca Roppolo on way to 2-0
record in Swiss rounds.
Can the Vikings find a way to win.
Finalists with GM Scott Beall

 

 

 
GM    Scott Beall [1st Year]   NA
      NA