Boardgame Players Association Newsletter — October 2008
Oct. 17, 2008

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John Pack—3

Steve Packwood—7

Mike Backstrom—0

Rich Moyer—9

2008 WBC TEAM CHAMPS: Three-time defending champion Nest of Spies, a coalition of Card Driven Wargamers from four different states, reinforced by the addition of Chris Byrd into what was—on paper—their strongest team ever, was an overwhelming favorite at 25-1 odds to continue their dominance of the Team Tournament in 2008. However, they hadn't counted on the visit of Riku Reikkinen of Finland who snatched victory from their outstretched hands in the Finals of Paths of Glory and For the People costing them ten points. The latter win was especially noteworthy as it ended a seven-year reign of terror by Master Pei in his specialty.

Thus humbled, the mighty Nest fell to 8th place. They were replaced by the St Paul's Rejects—no slouches themselves—fifth ranked at 41-1 odds, a team with its roots in Minnesota—who had an anchoring streak of their own as Steve Packwood won his sixth straight 1776 title and 12th overall. But the points that put them in contention came from Rich Moyer whose first win in Superstar Baseball yielded nine big ones. John Pack's steadily improving Victory in the Pacific prowess netted three more points to put them over the top and edge The James Gang by a single point. The latter team, ranked seventh at 43-1, and composed entirely of traditional hex wargamers, scored at every position and were anchored by multiple champions Doug James and Rob Beyma winning their fifth and third titles in their respective specialties. Both teams earned two points in bonuses for not having won their respective events previously. See our Team Tournament Results for more.

WATERLOO CHANGE OF VENUE: The next BPA mini-Con will be Oct. 24-26 for players of The Napoleonic Wars. Renovations at the Days Hotel have forced a change in site to the Comfort Inn in Towson, MD. Rates remain the same. Call 410-882-0900 or 800-235-3297 on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., Eastern Time, for a reservation. (Reservations are accepted on a space- or rate-available basis.) Check out the details on our Waterloo page.

EUROQUEST VI ON TAP FOR NOV. 6-9: Major renovations at the Days Hotel in Timonium, MD, are not expected to interfere with our Sixth Euro Quest convention this fall, although an entire floor of the hotel will be closed for renovation. This will probably result in an even earlier sellout than usual so those contemplating attending should not procrastinate in making reservations. Full details on the convention are available on our EuroQuest page.

WBC 2008 AFTER ACTION REPORTS: Individual event reports for each of WBCs tournaments are not yet available. If you are one of the GMs who have not yet completed your obligation to provide a written report, your time is fast running out. Events whose reports have not been submitted will be ejected from the Century or barred altogether in 2009. Submit them NOW!

CALL FOR NEW EVENTS: If you'd like to introduce a new event to WBC 2009 (or return an old one) NOW is the time to think about doing something about it. Only by submitting an event form before November 30, 2008 will that event be added to the ballot for our Annual December Membership Drive. If your favorite game is missing, do something about it! The Event Form and a list of eligible returning Trials will be posted in a few weeks. Watch the November newsletter for details.

DECEMBER MEMBERSHIP DRIVE: Prospective BPA members are urged NOT to renew memberships for 2009 until the December membership application is posted with the 2009 Ballot for Trial events. That page will be updated on or about Dec. 1, 2008.

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PBeM NEWS:

BREAKOUT NORMANDY: The 6th BPA BKN PBeM Tournament will commence on November 1st. The format remains single elimination and will use bidding for supply to determine sides. Each round will last five months or less, requiring about one exchange per day. In the past, however, many rounds were completed faster and past tournaments have lasted about 18 months due to speedier play in the closing rounds. Further details can be found at http://sites.google.com/site/breakoutnormandytournament/ or you can email the GM, Mark Gutfreund, at gutfreund15@yahoo.com.

HAMMER OF THE SCOTS: The BPA Third Hammer of the Scots PBeM Tourney is set to begin Nov. 1 in a four-round swiss format. Players need to average at least a turn per day. The tournament website http://www.geocities.com/firstbse19/hospbem.html has all the details on bids and the PBeM aides to use. 

WAR AT SEA: Congratulations go to Darren Kilfara for finishing 7-1 and besting Alan Applebaum in the Final round of the 2007 War at Sea PBeM Championship. 46 entrants participated in the tournament of 5 Swiss Rounds followed by a single elimination phase for the final eight players. Ewan McNay, Dennis Nicholson, Ed Menzel, and Scott Beall claimed laurels for third through sixth respectively. 112 games were played which were all recorded for AREA purposes. AREA ratings at the beginning of the tournament were headed by Ed Menzel with 6135 (as at March 1, 2007) but the tournament finishes with Andy Gardner on top with 6304. Updated laurel totals are posted at http://www.boardgamers.org/yearbook/WASpge.htm. Full details are available at http://www.geocities.com/kjlshewfelt/2007_was_bpa.html.

WILDERNESS WAR: 2008 WBC Champ James "The Master" Pei made a complete sweep of Wilderness War honors by besting a field of 62 to win the 2007 BPA PBeM Tournament, a six round Swiss-Elimination format competition which began in early 2007 and took approximately 18 months to complete. Pei defeated George Young in the Final to win his second WNW PBeM crown. Pei defeated Henry Russell, Jim Winslow, Kevin Worth, Grant LaDue and Ron Fedin in his march to the championship game. For his efforts, Pei was awarded a Buffalo Jaw War Club in addition to the plaque. Also learning laurels in the 118-game event were Adam Deverall. Ron Fedin, William Edwards and Peter Reese in that order. Updated laurel totals and additional details are posted on the Wilderness War yearbook page. The excellent tournament website is located at http://mysite.verizon.net/vze4bc94/index.html.

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All BPA PBeM tournaments require current BPA membership when the event starts. All multi-day paid attendees to WBC are current BPA members for the balance of that calendar year. Associate Calendar year memberships enabling play in all PBeM events starting in that year cost only $10 and earn discounts for pre-registered admission to all BPA gaming conferences. You need not keep your membership current in order to finish a PBeM event. Players may join the BPA throughout the year. Members are reminded they can upgrade their current memberships at any time by remitting the additional funds. See http://www.boardgamers.org/bpaterms.htm for details.

BPA members who would like to see an email tournament for their favorite game are encouraged to step forward as the GM of such an event. BPA does not run tournaments. Rather, we are an organization of gamers lending support to one another so such events can happen. No one cares as much about your hobby as you do. Get involved. See the requirements to host a BPA email tournament at http://www.abovethefields.com/top_pbem/

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If you are not already receiving our monthly email newsletters, please subscribe as directed below as we are unable to add you ourselves. To receive our free monthly newsletters you MUST join the BPA mailing list by visiting http://lists.boardgamers.org/mailman/listinfo/bpamail to confirm your address and your desire to be on this list. Subscribing takes only a moment, ensures your privacy, and increases likelihood of receipt. The newsletter will continue to be posted in the WBC folder in the Conventions section of Consimworld and on our website but will otherwise be unavailable to those who do not join the list in this fashion. If already receiving the BPA News you need take no additional action.

Don Greenwood
WBC Convention Director

Boardgame Players Association Last updated 10/17/08 by kae.
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