advanced civilization [Updated October 2005]  

2005 WBC Report  

 2006 Status: pending 2006 GM commitment

John Morris, MD

2005 Champion


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Event History
1991    Alan Behrens    24
1992    Dan Vice    48
1993    Dan Vice    37
1994    Ken Rothstein    35
1995    Michael Neal    40
1996    Joe Gundersen    28
1997    Todd Vander Pluym     23
1998    Eric Gundersen    34
1999   Doug Galullo    38
2000   Eric Gundersen    27
2001   Doug Galullo    19
2002   Doug Galullo    20
2003   Joe Gundersen    28
2004    Harald Henning    31
2005   John Morris   34

 Laurels

Rank  Name              From  Last  Total
  1.  Doug Galullo       FL    04    236
  2.  Joe Gundersen      IN    05    136
  3.  Eric Gundersen     NJ    03    131
  4.  Kevin Youells      FL    05     74
  5.  Shantanu Saha      NY    05     58
  6.  Harald Henning     CT    04     50
  7.  Ted Mullally       NJ    03     50
  8.  John Morris        MD    05     40
  9.  Rodd Polsky        PA    01     30
 10.  Charley Hickok     PA    00     26
 11.  Peter Rauch        MA    00     18
 12.  Ann Cornet         FL    02     15
 13.  Jeff Bowers        UT    05     14
 14.  Mike Musko         FL    03     10
 15.  Francis Spencer    CT    01     10
 16.  Robert Kircher     RI    05      8
 17.  Harry White        TX    04      5
 18.  Jamie Tang         MD    02      5
          

2005 Laurelists

Kevin Youells, FL
2nd

Shantanu Saha, NY
3rd

Joe Gundersen, IN
4th

Robert Kircher, RI
5th

Jeff Bowers, UT
6th


Past Winners

1991: Alan Behrens, NJ
1995: Michael Neal, RI

Dan Vice, VA
1992 - 1993

Ken Rothstein, NY
1994

Joe Gundersen, IN
1996, 2003

Todd Vander Pluym, CA
1997

Eric Gundersen, NJ
1998, 2000

Doug Galullo, FL
1999, 2001, 2002

Harald Henning, CT
2004


A New Conqueror ...


This year we had 34 entrants - the highest total in the last six years. Heat 1, on Wednesday, consisted of 24 participants resulting in three full games of eight players each. Heat 2, on Thursday, consisted of two games, one with seven players and the other with six.

The preliminary heats provided a ranking of all participants to determine who would be in the Final. The leading scorer at the end of the preliminary rounds was Kevin Youells with 105.10 points. The second place player at the end of the preliminary rounds was John Morris with 104.06 points. The third and fourth place scorer was Shantanu Saha with 103.70 points and 103.60 points. Three dedicated players with no desire to see the light of day played in both heats: Shantanu Saha, Jennifer Drozd and Joe Gundersen.

This year, there were no special rules placed on the play of the game. At the start of each heat, each group of players was given the option to use some alternative rules to add some variability to their game. In most cases players elected not to play with any alternative rules.

This year the kicker and tie breaker was intended to measure how well a nation could deal with calamities. Each player was to record the calamities received during play and at the end of the game add that value to their final total. In setting up this tie breaker, I expected the kicker scores to range from 0.0 to 10.0. The results of the tournament indicate that the kicker score actually ranged from 0.0 to 5.78 points. In retrospect the kicker had very little impact on the final scoring affecting 16 players with an average position change of one place.

This year the Final tad several new players which made for an exciting game - starting with the selection of players. The fifth ranked player from the preliminary rounds gave way to the 1st alternate so Michael Isgur got to play in the Final. Second alternate, Peter Pollard did not fare as well. The Final started with the random draw of nations by selecting an unknown token from a box. As play started, many of the nations established boundaries that remained in effect throughout the game. Crete gave up Sparta to the Illyrians along with Chalcis and Eretria to Thrace, to help those nations with city sites. Africa agreed to stay out of Western Europe and Iberia agreed to remain out of Western Africa.

As the game progressed, the first major event was the populating of Greece and then Western Turkey by the Cretans. Next up was the critical decision by Egypt and Babylon to build two cities or take the hit on the AST. Egypt decided to take the hit on the AST but Babylon decided to build two cities and move forward. All other nations continued to double population. The decision by Babylon to build two cities had a major impact on his collection of civilization cards and buying advances. That decision plus continually being hit with secondary effects of calamities relegated Babylon to a 7th place finish. After receiving a secondary effect from Crete for the umpteenth time, the Babylon King was heard crying out in anguish "You are merciless and cruel."

The first major problem that diplomacy did not solve was the ownership of the desert (Cyrenaica, Jalo, Siwa & Western Desert) between Africa and Egypt. This disputed territory became the basis for an extended war that lasted for several thousand years. Eventually, they did come to an agreement but by then their fate was assured and they finished 8th and 6th respectively.

The second diplomatic failure was the dispute between Crete and Assyria over the territory of Galatia. This area changed hands a number of times and the issue of ownership was never truly resolved. For Crete this dispute, giving away too much building space to Illyria and Thrace, some poor token placement early in the game, coupled with the target that goes on the head of the previous winner spelled trouble that limited Crete to a 4th place finish. For Assyria this dispute proved to be of minor consequence and for most of the game Assyria was well placed for the final push in the end game. Unfortunately, for Assyria, the drawing of five calamites on the penultimate turn spelled disaster and relegated Assyria to a 2nd place finish in the dust bin of history.

While all these events were transpiring there were three nations that were enjoying the ride, Iberia, Illyria, and Thrace. In the mid-game ,Thrace had some difficulty getting trades and ended up hitting the wall at the early Iron Age which relegated him to trailing the leaders thereafter. In the end game, the effects of calamities (piracy and civil disorder) started to pile up on Iberia, limiting him to fewer cities than Illyria and thus fewer trade cards which resulted in fewer purchases. In the end game, Illyria was an unbeatable powerhouse. At the end, Illyria was attacked but it was too little too late as the ancient sages often quote, and Illyira was not to be denied.

I may discontinue the demos and change this to an open tournament where rules are explained and beginners may play. This year no one attended the demo sessions so they seem unnecessary. I may add an evening game session in lieu of the demo games and to accommodate players that have other priorities during the day. I will probably continue with a tie breaker (kicker) even though some players think points are points and each score should stand on its own. Next year the tie breaker will most likely be a peer ranking for each player on categories similar to the following: master of disaster, gracious host, admiral of the seven seas, benevolent dictator, etc. So, until next year, I wish everyone well and good gaming.

 GM      Joe Gundersen [5th year]    5919 Beachview Dr, #307, indianapolis, IN 46224 
    joegundersen@earthlink.net     317-496-9142

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