Mark Giddings and Bill Peeck trade offensives.	Nicholas Pei points out a crucial move to Frank McNally.

Despite being dominated year after year by one Master player, the event reversed a downward trend with its second largest attendance in 2011. Going into the last game, the ledger was even at 12 wins for each side. To no great surprise, the Master had returned to the Final against his chief protagonist of recent vintage, a frustrated but determined David Dockter who returned to the Final after a 5-year drought.

Things started well enough with the fez bearer winning the die roll for sides and finally getting his wish to play the CSA to keep the rebs out of the Master's hands. About an hour later, I noticed that James was playing the CSA. Dockter does not know how that happened. James being the sportsman he is said they could start over (it was already into Turn 2), but Dockter wanted to soldier on. James went on to win by doubling the Union in the Fall of 1862 after he had broken through in Pittsburgh and then raided the Mid-West. Here in his own words the Master recalls the Final that resulted in his 11th FTP WBC title.

"David was very aggressive on Turn 1, leveraging a Minor Campaign and a bunch of 3-Ops to hammer the rebels at Manassas and closing the West Gulf Blockade Zone. In addition, he raised the Blockade to Level 1.

I had a below average hand, so I couldn't do much except place a few PC markers and do a leader reorganization. Turn 2 was not much better with AoP hammering rebel units at the gates of Richmond. I had to use a Minor CC just to haul in enough troops to prevent the fall of Richmond. Things did not look much better on Turn 3 when the Blockade level was raised to 2. The only bright spot for the CSA was General Kirby Smith's counter-offensive opening the Sabine City port and pulling off a successful raid.

Going into 1862, the board position was not looking good for me, especially after the Union raised the Blockade to level 3. With a concentration card in hand, I decided to accelerate my war plan to invade the North with Bobby Lee. The Union had fortified the Northeast corridor very well, with layers of forts in Harrisburg and Philly. So the plan was to feint in KY, then punch a hole through Pittsburg. It worked, and the CSA raided in Ohio.

Turn 5 proved to be decisive as I finally drew a nice reinforcement card and a Major CC. Dockter continuously applied attrition and cut the supply line to Lee's army. I spent several cards shuttling SP to pump up Lee's army. The Union had also formed a second army in Ohio, blocking Lee. In another large battle, Lee won a narrow victory, forcing his way into Indiana. With his last card, Dave sought to cut the LOC to all rebel forces in Ohio and WV. However, with my Major CC, I was able to use my two armies in tandem to smash the Union blocking units, reestablishing LOC, and with just enough troops to raid three states. This was enough for the CSA to double the Union SW, and Doc graciously conceded."

It is clear to all that James used his Jedi Mind trick on the Dockter to switch to his favorite CSA side. There is always next year.

Following the success of the demo for Empire of the Sun this year, we will be turning into a Class B teaching event in 2012 to open it up to a larger audience.

Michael Mitchell falls to the Dockter to set Dave up for another bone crushing defeat to the Master.	Mark Giddings and Nicholas Pei wage Civil War between two Top Ten laurelists.

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 Play By Email 2011+

The third BPA sanctioned For The People PBeM Tournament started and completed its first round on time. 52 BPA members stepped up to attempt the two-year challenge. The field features a nice mix of FTP veterans from the World Boardgaming Championships, including 13 of the 15 previous laurel winners, a number of experienced players from unofficial PBeM tournaments, and a large fraction of tyros eager to prove their mettle. International representation is unusually high with players participating from Canada, Australia and Kuwait as well as the now reliable participation of a number of European BPA members from Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.

The Union won 13 of the first round games; the Confederates won 9, and there were 4 adjudications which are not included in play-balance reporting. First round upsets included three previous laurel winners, but all of the better known sharks such as James Pei, David Dockter, Michael Mitchell, Nick Pei and Tim Miller were victorious. A full listing of the game results can be found at the tournament's official website: http://www.angelfire.com/ny4/gmtom/FTPtournament.htm - Round 1 games.

The Game Masters had no trouble agreeing upon BPA 1-21 as the Most Notable Game of the first round. Jeff Donald's Confederates were able to outlast Mustafa Tolga Corapci's Union in a game that went all 13 turns and yet was completed within five weeks! Despite its blistering pace, it was truly an epic contest marked by superb play and fickle fates on both sides. Jeff and Mustafa have been awarded bonus prizes provided by the GM consisting of the books "How to Lose the Civil War" edited by Bill Fawcett and "More Civil War Curiosities" by Web Garrison.

Two of the 24 second round games have already been completed. The second round of the tournament ends on 1 February 2012.