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Great Campaigns of the American Civil War (GCA) WBC 2024 Event Report
Updated October 22, 2024
17 Players Doug Smith Event History
2024 Champion & Laurels

Second Year A Charm For Smith!

The combination of lingering effects of COVID and in general, the aging of the wargame crowd keeps us at around the same number of folks. This year we had 17 generals entering the tournament, one higher than last year. I was a little worried as we were sitting at 15 as we neared the end of the second Round, but then two more showed up to play in the third Round. A credit to the system that people enjoy playing even knowing that they will not advance. It was great to see some old timers who have been involved with the series since the early days return to play the game. Thanks to Justin Rice who held the demo which had about 6 people.

The tournament format was the same as the past few years using three modules and allowing the players to select the scenarios they wanted to play. This year, we moved our focus to On To Richmond II that came out in the middle of 2023. Therefore, people only had to bring that one game which has three modules in it, On to Richmond (1862 Peninsula Campaign), Grant Takes Command (1864 Overland Campaign), both of those updated reprints, and the newly published The Petersburg Campaign from 1865.

It was nice to bring back many old favorites, especially with the original Grant Takes Command, there was a heavy focus in the development and playtesting on balanced scenarios that would work well in conventions.

We did have one challenge with the new game. In developing this update/reprint, the maps were shifted slightly to be able to cover the area necessary for all three campaigns and to try to minimize overlap (the original GTC south and OTR north maps covered much of the same area). This was great as it added area that is mapped. Unfortunately, we found this had a big impact on the republished GTC scenarios as most of them required the use of three map sheets. We learned a lot of judicious folding to fit the scenarios on our limited table space and much of the play was then side by side rather than the “normal” across the table action.

The first round is always a lighter scenario, particularly suited for introducing the system to new players and to get one quicker game finished. We used Race to Spotsylvania from GTC for the demo, but even with new players joining, that was not the round one scenario of choice with only one game (1 US, 0 CS). The most popular game was Seven Pines from OTR with six games played (3 US, 3 CS). One team did foray into Burgess Mill from TPC (0 US, 1 CS).

We had 10 players stay for the second round of slightly longer scenarios so still had a good number play at least two games. We had three games of Sheridan Rides South from GTC, a wild cavalry fight (2 US, 1 CS), one Gaines Mill from OTR (0 US, 1 CS), and one Sheridan Crosses the James from TPC (0 US, 1 CS).

The third round longer scenarios saw two scenarios of Battle of the Wilderness from GTC (0 US, 2 CS) and one scenario of Retreat to the James from OTR (0 US, 1 CS).

I had six players with 2 or more wins after the preliminary rounds. The highest two received bye’s and then I had four play the Quarterfinal round. We went with Sheridan Rides South as a quicker and fun scenario (1 US, 1 CS). Doug Smith defeated Bruno Passacantando and Paul Sampson defeated Dave Cross. Then in the Semifinal we used Five Forks from TPC (2 US, 0 CS). A new scenario for all and as opposed to using three map sheets in the GTC scenarios, used less than a quarter of one map sheet. Doug Smith defeated Justin Rice and Paul Sampson defeated Mark Greenwood. This set up the final between Doug Smith and Paul Sampson.

The scenario chosen for the final was Strike Them A Blow from GTC. This represents essentially the middle of the Overland Campaign as Grant pulls out from Spotsylvania and sideslips to the southeast in an attempt to get behind Lee and cut his rail link to Richmond forcing him to come to battle. Historically, it resulted in the Battle of the North Anna River. Initially Paul Sampson (CSA) held the river line not allowing Doug Smith (USA) to cross. Near the end of the fourth and final day of the scenario, Doug was able to barely obtain enough objectives for victory and the counterattack failed to push him back.

Congratulations to Doug Smith. He was defeated in the Final last year but prevailed this year. Also well done to Paul Sampson for advancing to the Final for the first time.

On the MMP front, exciting that during WBC they released Thunder on the Mississippi. They allowed all of us who preordered to instead purchase a copy at the preorder price (we just had to then go in and cancel the preorder).

Right now, though, I am thinking of keeping the scenarios next year just from On to Richmond II. There is really a lot in that box and it has been so long since we have engaged those scenarios in the tournament. Hopefully, next year we will also get a bit more play of the TPC scenarios.

After that will probably start integrating the Mississippi game as I think it will be some time before the next new release.

As always, thanks to MMP for their support to this game series. In addition to publishing the games, they provided a number of tournament sets (maps and counters) that were used by most of us. They also provided gift certificates for the top four finishers.

I hope we are able to see everyone at WBC next year and over at MMP’s Winter Offensive in January for more GCACW play. Also, at Winter Offensive we should be able to get the latest scoop on the direction of the series from the design and development team.

See everyone next year!

2024 Laurelists Repeating Laurelists: 4
Sampson, Paul Rice, Justin Greenwood, Mark Passacantando, Bruno Cross, David
2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th
The American Civil War begins in First Tracks. Union appears happy with this move.
Bruno Passacantando and Roger Taylor battle in the
Civil War.
Finalists show their colors with GM David Cross.
GM  David Cross [8th Year]