advanced third reich [Updated October 2003]  

2003 WBC Report     

 2004 Status: pending 2004 GM commitment

Vic Hogen, CA

2003 Champion

2nd: Jason Moore, NY

3rd: Jon Hogen, CA

4th: Mike Crowe, VA

5th: Eric Thobaben, MI

6th: Graham Kays, WA

Event History * = Global War
1992    Joe Brophy       8
1993    Conrad Struckman     20
1994    Paul Ackerman     17
1995    James Sparks     41
1996    Bruce Harper*     17
1997    Rob Carl*     26
1998    David Middleton*     27
1999    Greg Wilson*    19
2000    Herbert Gratz    25
2002    Jon Hogen    17
2003    Vic Hogen    20


Offsite links:

AREA Ratings

boardgamegeek

 Laurels
Rank Name

From

Last
Total
 1. Herbert Gratz

AUS

00
66
 2. Vic Hogen

CA

03
60
 3. Greg Wilson

NJ

99
60
 4. Brock Heathcote

AZ

00
48
 5. Jason Moore

NY

03
36
 6. Tim Francis

MD

99
36
 7. Jon Hogen

CA

03
34
 8. Conrad Struckman

NH

99
24
 9. Ryan Scoville

NY

00
21
10. Charles Krueger

MA

00
21
11. Mike Crowe

VA

03
18
12. Eric Thobaben

MI

03
12
13. Ernie Faust

CT

99
12
14. Mike Mitchell

GA

00
  9
15. Randall Mac Innis

GA

00
  9
16. Graham Kays

WA

03
  6
17. Boyd Piper

BC

02
  6
18. Mike Stone

OR

99
  6
19. Don Moody

MN

02
  4
20. Joe Brophy

MN

02
  3
21. Keven Leith

VA

02
  2
22. Bruce Harper

BC

02
  1

Past Winners

Jason Moore - MD
1994

Bruce Harper, BC
1996

Rob Carl, MD
1997

David Middleton, MD
1998

Gregory Wilson, NY
1999
 
Herbert Gratz, Austria
2000

Jon Hogen, CA
2002

1992: Joe Brophy - NY
1993: Conrad Struckman - NH
1995: James Sparks - MD
   
 


Making the Transition to A World At War ...

Sixteen people participated in games of the newly released A World at War, printed and published by GMT just in time for the convention. A World at War enhances and completes the game system previously published as Advanced Third Reich (A3R), and Empire of the Rising Sun, by Avalon Hill. In addition to those playing A World at War, four others played the original A3R and RS games.

Match 1 Eric Thobaben and Paul Stoecker (Axis) vs. Bruce Harper and Vic Hogen (Allies). The Western Allied strategy in this game was to avoid Sea Lion, and channel the Germans and Japanese into the historical avenues of attack. The German attack on Poland was costly, with 21 BRPs of losses. The initial German assault on Russia was weakened by the Russian subversion of Rumania. A forward defense helped hold the Germans at bay. Germany pressed Russia in 1941 and 1942, but Germany was suddenly forced on the defensive in Spring 1943 when the Allies landed in France. Meanhwile, Japan managed to sink a carrier and several battleships at Pearl, while damaging a few more. However, they did less well in New Guinea, failing to capture Port Moresby. The U.S. counter offensive in the Pacific began in 1942, with the Philippines falling in Winter 1943. Eric focused his German research on Jets, and had six to meet the Allied bombers in 1944. Unfortunately for him, the Allies focused on rockets and the atomic bomb. So, although the bombers did negligible damage, Germany was still forced to surrender in Fall 1944 by an A-bomb attack on Berlin, delivered by rockets. Japan succumbed on the same turn to an invasion of Tokyo, along with a few firestorms.

Match 2 Jason Moore and Ernie Faust (Axis) vs. Dave Hanson, Graham Kays and Jerry Smolens (Allies). This match featured an early attack (Summer 1940) on the Soviet Union, while holding the Allies at bay on Rhine. The objective was to conquer Russia either before, or shortly after, U.S. entry, knocking them permanently out of the war. Jason's plan worked well, in spite of valiant efforts by the Allies to open an effective second front, drain Axis BRPs with bombing, and keep the Russian army intact as long as possible. Ernie, as the Japanese player, dutifully attacked Russia as well, although this did not bode well for his overall position in the Pacific. Germany accepted a Russian surrender at -5 in Winter 1942, after securing the oil fields, and was still able to knock out France afterward. The game did not get past 1943, but an Axis victory seemed likely. However, playing the game out would have been interesting, as the Allies had been very successful in researching the atomic bomb. Whether the Allies could have used it to achieve victory against Germany remains an open question.

Match 3 Jim Sparks and Mike Crowe (Axis) vs. Jon Hogen (Allies). Jim and I played against Jon playing solo (a very difficult task, but one he pulled off). As the Japanese player, I wanted to try an early attack with Japan, which I initiated in Fall 1940. My objective was to take India, and then to take China, with a combination of attrition and bombing (both survived). A strong defense was planned in New Guinea, which fell easily to the early attack. Meanwhile, Jim pursued an aggressive strategy in the Mediterranean, while planning the invasion of Russia in Summer 1941. Jon decided to empty Manchuria to defend Russia, since I had previously moved the air and armor south to help in Burma and India. Jim's attack into Russia was weakened by his commitment of air to the Med, and by his failure to fully activate Rumania. He effectively bounced off the Russians, and found himself on the defensive starting in 1942. Meanwhile, to attempt to punish Jon for emptying Manchuria, I declared war with Japan in 1941. Jon ignored this and focused on taking Germany down as quickly as possible, attacking aggressively with Russia. Jim held out gamely, but a conquest of Germany sometime in 1944 seemed inevitable. Because of Jon's focus on the Atlantic, Japan did well, but seemed likely to fall on or before Fall 1945. This game ended in late 1943, when Jim decided to go home early.

Match 4 Paul Milne and Kevin Milne (Axis) vs. Joe Brophy and Rob Carl (Allies). Because Paul and Kevin did not have a lot of experience playing the Pacific, this match focused only on the Atlantic theater. The Milnes, were a father/son team making their first appearance in the event. The game featured an invasion of Russia, which was defended strongly by Rob Carl, returning to A World at War after a hiatus from playtesting. Paul and Kevin made a typical advance into Russia, followed by a retreat, but did so at very low cost, and built up an impressive German base, having over 800 BRPs during the 1944 year start sequence. The Milnes had to leave early, so the game was not played to completion.

Herbert Gratz of Austria surveys the front in a multi-day game of Advanced Third Reich.

Vic Hogen was awarded Best Allied Play, Pacific Theater, and the First Place Plaque, for Best Overall Play. Jon Hogen was awared Best Allied Play, European Theater, and given second place. Jason Moore was awarded Best Axis Play, European Theater, and given third place. Mike Crowe was awared best Axis Play, Pacific Theater, and given fourth place.

 GM      Mike Crowe  [5th Year]   5507 Callander Dr, Springfield, VA 22151 
    mcrowe@cox.net   NA

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