fortress europa [Updated October 2004]  

2004 WBC Report   

 2005 Status: pending December Membership Century Vote

Bradford Frisby, MD

2004 Champion

2nd: Robert Frisby, MD

3rd: Chris Godfrey, MA

4th: Bruno Sinigaglio, AK

5th: Robert Ryan, MI

6th: Bill Riggs, VA

Event History
1991    Randy Schilb        8
1992    Michael Newman      22
1993    Michael Newman      16
1994    Michael Newman      12
1995    Trevor Bender      12
1996    Randy Heller      12
1997    Randy Schilb      10
1998    Paul Koenig      14
1999    Bruno Sinigaglio     13
2000    Robert Frisby     16
2001    Brad Frisby     16
2002    Brad Frisby     16
2003    Robert Frisby     16
2004    Brad Frisby     15


Offsite links:

AREA Ratings

boardgamegeek

 Laurels
Rank Name

From

Last
Total
 1. Brad Frisby

MD

04
94
 2. Robert Frisby

VA

04
82
 3. Paul Koenig

CA

02
27
 4. Bruno Sinigaglio

AK

04
25
 5. Chris Godfrey

MA

04
24
 6. Kevin Hacker

PA

03
16
 7. Bill Riggs

VA

04
16
 8. Randy Schilb

MO

00
10
 9. James Tracy

OH

02
  9
10. Robert Ryan

MI

04
  5
11. John Grant Jr

CT

01
  3
12. Randy Heller

MD

00
  1

Past Winners

Randy Schilb - MO
1991, 1997

Michael Newman
1992-1994

Trevor Bender - CA
1995

Randy Heller - MD
1996

Paul Koenig - CA
1998

Bruno Sinigaglio - AK
1999

Robert Frisby - VA
2000

Brad Frisby - MD
2001-2002
 


Brother Against Brother Again ... in WWII?

The Frisby brothers met in the final for the fifth consecutive year. Bradford prevailed as the Germans. Robert's Allies invaded the 19th Army District, landing in four hexes from M33 to Toulon. The Allies landed paratroops in G30 and Rangers in W34 and placed partisans in R25 to prevent the Germans from reinforcing the invasion site by railroad. Unfortunately for the Allies, the Germans deployed two hidden panzer divisions in M33. As a result, the Allies lost several divisions on the first turn and were unable to hold Marseille after their second impulse attacks. The Allies held onto Toulon on the first turn, and gradually expanded their beachhead. They eventually occupied Cannes, Nice, and Marseille, and held them along with Toulon for the rest of the game. The Allies seized Nimes, but German counterattacks destroyed six Allied divisions and recaptured the city. By July II the Germans had successfully contained the Allied beachhead in southern France. On July III, the Allies seized Amsterdam with a paradrop and Ranger landing (using their TAC to prevent the Germans from using their airpower for ground support and a SAC to carpet bomb the city). A first impulse German 1-1 attack failed to retake Amsterdam, but the second impulse 1-1 attack succeeded.

As has been the case in each of the last few years, the Germans won most of the games (the Germans have won each of the last five finals). Indeed, this year the Germans won 80% of the games played despite tournament rule changes designed to provide greater play balance. The 7th Army District was the most popular invasion site, with 40% of the Allied players landing there. The Germans won 100% of these games. The 19th Army District was the second most popular landing site, with about 33% of the Allied players landing there. The Germans won 60% of these games. The 15th Army District and Holland were each the choice of about 13% of the Allied players. The Germans won 100% of the games when the Allies invaded the 15th Army District, and 50% of the games when the Allies invaded Holland. None of the Allied players invaded the 1st Army District.

Most of the experienced players questioned by the GM agreed that, even with the revised tournament rules, the invasion scenario is biased significantly in favor of the German side. Over the last several years, the GM has observed that experienced German players win 80% to 90% of the time. It may not be possible to correct this lack of play balance by further revising the victory conditions or weather rules, and most players would probably prefer to avoid drastic rule changes (e.g., lengthening the scenario or changing the order of battle). Several experienced players expressed interest in adopting a German airpoint bidding system to address the lack of play balance. The proposed bidding system would work as follows:

If both players wish to play the same side, they would bid to add or subtract German airpoints available in June and July. If both players wish to play the Allied side, they would bid to add German airpoints. If both players wish to play the German side, they would bid to subtract German airpoints. The first airpoint added or subtracted would be in June. The second airpoint added or subtracted would be in July. The third airpoint added or subtracted would be in June. The fourth airpoint added or subtracted would be in July, and so on. The maximum number of airpoints the Germans can use in a turn would not change. The players would roll to determine who bids first.

For example, if both players wish to play the German side, the opening bidder could bid -1 airpoints for the German side. The other player could then agree to take the Allies with a reduction of one German airpoint in June (from six to five) or bid -2 airpoints for the German side. The players would keep bidding until one agreed to take the Allies with the specified reduction in German airpower. The opening bidder could bid zero, to allow the other player to bid first for the German side. The opening bidder could also start at -2 airpoints or some other bid if desired. The GM welcomes input on this proposed bidding system.

 GM      Paul Koenig  [6th Year]   NA
    bubakoenig@cox.net    NA

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