2000 WBC Report
The GM bowed out to produce an even field of 8, resulting in 4 games in the
first round. Three of the first round games were the default Saratoga
scenario where the players chose sides by methods other than bidding
strength points. The British won twice and the Americans won once. The
random matchups produced an extremely well fought game between the first
place (Steve Packwood) and second place (Brad Frisby) finishers from last
year. Victory hinged on a 1:2 attack by the Americans (Brad) on the
British position in Philadelphia in the last turn of the scenario. See-saw
losses eventually reduced the forces to 1 strength point remaining on both
sides. The final die roll resulted in an American loss which left
Philadelphia in British hands.
The fourth game in the first round was the Tory and Indian War scenario
from the Boardgamer's Unofficial Guide to 1776. This quick-playing, low
unit density scenario, featuring elite units and leaders, requires both
sides to refrain from over extending themselves on offense while fighting
successful delaying actions on defense. Newcomer Chuck Leonard as the
Americans faced Jim Lawler as the British/Tories/Indians. The Tories
generally try to obtain at least 10 or 11 Victory Points and to inflict as
many casualties as possible in the first half of the scenario while
minimizing friendly casualties. Jim got the VP's but lost his elite unit,
Butler's Rangers, and took too many casualties. Chuck responded by burning
the Indian villages, overcame the Tory outer defenses at Oswego, and then
had Sullivan storm the fort for the win
For the championship, Steve Packwood (Americans) faced Bruno Sinigaglio
(British) in the first year of the campaign scenario using all optional
rules. The players bid strategic towns that the British player must
control (out of a total of 24, counting Montreal and Quebec) in December
1776 in order to win the game. Steve started the bidding at 10. Bruno
jumped to 13. Steve then bid 14. Figuring Steve was weaker as the
Americans, Bruno countered with a bid of 15 towns and became the British player.
Bruno played timidly in the first quarter while waiting
for the large scale reinforcements in May and June. During the 2nd quarter
of 1776, Bruno moved large forces from Canada towards Ticonderoga and he
also invaded the South Central area and attempted to take it over. Steve
managed to hang on to Charlottesville while placing his quarterly
interphase replacements in a manner that impeded British sea invasions or
land incursions in the South. The British then withdrew, shifted their
attention to the Deep South, and managed to take everything except
Hillsboro by the end of the 3rd quarter. The British 3rd quarter invasion
from Canada was stymied by Steve's strong positions around Ticonderoga.
During the 4th quarter of 1776, Bruno nearly took Hillsboro but retreated
in order to consolidate. Bruno also took many cities in the Middle States
and New England but only controlled 12 strategic towns by the end of
December 1776. Since the bid was 15 strategic towns to win, Steve Packwood
as the Americans won the championship.
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