The GM bowed out to produce an even field of eight, resulting in four 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 once. The random matchups produced an extremely well fought game between the champ (Steve Packwood) and runnerup (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 one 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. 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 VPs 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's Americans faced Bruno Sinigaglio's Redcoats in the first year of the campaign scenario using all optional rules. The players bid strategic towns that the British player must control in December 1776 in order to win the game. Bruno bid 15 towns (out of a total of 24, counting Montreal and Quebec) in order to become the
British player. Bruno played timidly in the first quarter while waiting for the large scale reinforcements in May and June. During the second 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 fourth 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's Americans retained the championship.

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