Jim Fardette and Charles Hickok try for their first CCN laurels.	Gordon Stewart and Daniel Broh-Kahn push blocks.
Defending champ Chuck Stapp is thwarted by the Young Guard, Robert Powers.	Andy Stapp rolls over Dan Dolan Jr and everyone else too on the way to his second title.

Command and Colors: Napoleonics celebrated its fourth year at WBC, and it seems to be holding its own with 28 attendees and 29 unique games. As before, the tournament consisted of six rounds: (1) Optional mulligan round, (2) a first round that was optional for mulligan winners, (3) second round (4) quarterfinals, (5) semifinals and (6) Final. The average setup, playing and clean up time was just under 120 minutes for all games. Except for the Tuesday Mulligan round, the tournament ran all day Saturday, from 2:00 pm until completion. There was some discussion about returning the tournament to an all Wednesday format.

This year the tournament maintained its single elimination format with a preceding mulligan round to allow a minimum of two opportunities to play if so desired. Winning the mulligan round allowed you to choose to play in the first round and win or lose still advance to the second. There were ten mulligan round games played, with most of the non-winners, and a few of the winners (who had already qualified for the second round) playing a second game. This seemed to provide a good balance between a "one and done" format and a tournament that tended to run too long, so the format will return next year.

The mulligan round was Talavera from the core set, followed by Combat at Aire in the first round.and Vimeiero in the second. The quarterfinals used Bussaco, with Reyneirs Assault scenario, for the six survivors from the initial rounds. This allowed advancement to the semifinal for the best runner-up from the quarterfinals, who happened to be Bill O'Neal. The other semifinalists were Andrew Stapp, John Kirk, and Jack Morrell.

The semifinals used the Clash at Pordenone scenario, requiring us to bring out the new Austrian expansion. Goodbye, Britain, (and perhaps good riddance too, with Austria, Spain and Russia now in play and Prussia coming out soon!) In the first game Jack's Frenchman beat up on Bill's Austrians 5 banners to 3, but in the other bracket it was a little closer: Andy's French squeaked by John Kirk's troops, 5-4. It was interesting to note that both games ended with the loss of a leader, one as the result of a rare double-X. A hint for those of you taking tactical notes! Protect your leaders!

So late in the evening, we got down to business for the wood. At this point, Andy and Jack had each already completed four games, and they were both looking a tad frayed. So was the GM! It was getting late, but the emperor insisted on one last effort. So at the Battle of Eggmuhl - 2nd Day French Left, we fought! The score was tied at seven banners for the longest time, but then Jack gained two banners which was going to allow him to win at the start of his next turn. It was in the bag! But Andy was NOT to be denied. On his riposte, he rolled three retreats, which converted into two kills, and two banners for the win! He walked away with nine victory banners, not to mention a nice wooden plaque, for the win. Andy Stapp, thus carried on the family banner to victory, but just barely because if he had not won in his turn, Jack would nt have given him another opportunity.

As this was my second year running the Command and Colors: Napoleonics Tournament, I was very grateful for all the help I could get. First of all, a big thank you to Andy Lewis, who set up the tournaments, and provided the print out sheets for all the players. A special thank you goes out to special assistant GM, John Kirk, and also to game designer, Richard Borg who as usual stopped by to sign autographs and answer questions. Thanks again for the help, gentlemen, and we will hope to see more of all of you, along with some Prussians, perhaps, next year!

Aidan Powers - the "Grinch" nemesis - scares Tony Curtis.	GM Broh-Kahn with his finalists.