BPA 2004 COI PBEM SUMMARY
update 060828
- ROUND 1 (WG209 "Black Sea Death"): A new scenario,
WG209 "Black Sea Death" was chosen for Round One with unexpected
results. This scenario was not adequately play tested and is now considered
a poor choice for this championship event. A light Romanian infantry force
with MMG, 50mm mortar, and an artillery battery was charged with keeping a
contingent of Russian Marines (458s with a possibility of off-board 81mm mortars)
from capturing several buildings and silencing the artillery within seven
turns. Short-ranged weapons, low radio contact numbers and time pressure to
cross open ground proved to be insurmountable Russian handicaps. The Romanian
(Axis) record was 5-0 in the games completed, with the balance unplayed due
to player attrition. Oddly, the lower-seeded player chose the Russian side
in 4 of 5 cases, leading to only one upset. Based on player input, this scenario
has since been revised.
- ROUND 2 (WG202 "Jadhe's Tigers"): Two of four
matches were completed with a third decided by player agreement, reversing
an adjudicated result. The forth was terminated due to real life (job change,
cross country relocation). Unlike the previous round, a well tested scenario
was employed, Squad Leader Academy’s WG203 "Jadhe’s Tigers".
A German SS infantry detachment is attacked by a Russian force with 3-1 squad
superiority supported by 5 AFVs and a gun. The German fortunes are focused
on the effective use of two Tigers, arriving in Turn 3, to address the Russian
Armor and blunting the assault. The Germans seek to maintain control of a
portion of the board three village center, devoid of stone buildings with
board modifications to eliminate level 1 hills and reduce level 2 to level
1 height. The Germans scratched out a 1-2 record by either frustrating the
Russian Assault or completely collapsing. Although Pete Pollard earned the
German win by adjudication, Pete stepped down due having the larger share
of the game delay preventing its full conclusion. Acting as an assistant GM,
this selfless act maintains the enthusiasm of another whose assault was impacted
by time serving as an example to others. With this result, Chris Stewart who
started at the #15 seed of 16 has knocked out both the #1 and #2 seeds to
enter the final four.
- ROUND 3 (WG204 "Reinforcing Failure"): The Axis
achieved a split record in this round. One game was plaqued by player availability.
David VanBronkhorst's Russians successfully defended the ridge line vs Chris
Stewart's Germans to define one finalist. One match game was not completed
due to real life priorities imposed on both players. Scott Powers resigned
for tournament purposes as the game was still beyond the time limit with no
definite ending in sight without a clear winner predicted.
- ROUND 4 FINALS (OAF 60.1 "Workers Strike Back"): Early
turns favored the Germans as one Russian destroyed by a critical hit on opening
DF turn 1 followed by another KV suffering a gun malfunction. The momentum
had changed in Russian Turn 3 as the Germans had lost a tank with another
immobilized in the woods with a broken main gun. All German infantry was lost
except 8-1/467bk and gun crews. Strong remaining Russian infantry completed
a mass charge with 3 squads and both leaders survived MC's in position to
capture the 76* and 37L guns in advance phase, plus CC assault on the lone
healthy German tank, which is CE. The tide shifted in GT3 as immobilized tank
fixed his MA and destroyed the 2nd Russian tank. The final turns shifted back
to the Russian favor as a KV managed to blast the last German tank in Russian
turn 5 (needed 7TH 7TK), and was able to drive his other 3 off the to meet
the minimum victory conditions with some suspense. Going to the last roll,
the Germans had one immobilization attempt by a 81/467. Although the 8-1 and
467 both passed, the roll wasn't low enough (needed a 5) to prevent the Russian
escape and victory.
- FINAL STANDINGS: (straight up 16 player single elimination,
16 players involved; 15 total gameS)
- 1. David VanBronkhorst (VA)
- Scott Powers (OR)
- Michael Pacheco (CA)\
- Chris Stewart (FL)
- Pete Pollard (TN)
- Jay Yanek (LA)
GAMEMASTERS: