|
In Vegas Showdown, players bid for and place basic and specialty rooms in an effort to build the best Hotel/Casino on the Las Vegas strip. Four-player games were used in the Heats except when the number of total players required some 5-player games.
Highlights of the Heats
Three players won two Heats this year, Jaime Corrado, Jeff Wu, and Ben Scholl. Facts in Five/Castles of Mad King Ludwig GM John Corrado’s son Jaime took down Steve LeWinter and Mike Kaltman in one of his Heat games, two of the three two-time champions of the event, so that was certainly a “proud dad" moment. Both Ben and Jaime came into Heat 3 looking to join the ranks of the 4 other 3 Heat champions, but both were felled in the third Heat, finishing 3rd and 4th respectively.
It turned out the game where Ben was taken down was the closest overall game from top to bottom this year. Chris Katz (52) narrowly prevailed over Aaron Kaltman (51), Ryan Feathers (51), and Ben Scholl (50).
You can read Ryan’s account of the game at https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/340204/wbc-2024-ryan-feathers-year-5-convention-experienc?itemid=10964878#10964878.
One of Jeff’s wins was the largest margin (15 pts) win this year. You can read Jeff’s account of that game at https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/340352/beyond-the-wbc-2024?itemid=10955487#10955487.
Low income (no points scored for population or for revenue) are in general fairly frequent, but this year only Kevin Burns, Ben Scholl, and Eric Freeman were successful in winning a game in that fashion. Ben’s was even more unusual as he invested in two Sports Books.
Jaime's other Heat win and Ben’s low income win were joined by Keith Dent’s win for the “Lounge King" award winners, with 4 lounges being the most on a winning board this year.
Keith Dent’s winning board was also notable as he joined John Corrado, Chad Martin, Rodney Bacigalupo, Trevor Morris, Rob Flowers and Andrew Freeman for the “Diamonds are For Winning" award for 2024, with the most diamond points, 8, on a winning board.
Keith’s diamond/lounge board also tied for the “Slot King" award with Eugene Yee (who coincidentally prevailed over Keith in his win) with 6 slots on a winning board.
Rob Flowers’ “diamond" win was also noteworthy as it contained no slots. Despite that he still finished second in Revenue, powered by two High Rollers Rooms.
The “dominating income" (the full 10 points for having the lead in both population and revenue) game was a reduced presence on winning boards this year with only Randy Buehler and Mike Kaltman accomplishing the feat.
Other geeklist entries of preliminary Heat games can be found below.
From Jeff Wu: https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/340352/beyond-the-wbc-2024?itemid=10952645#10952645.
From Ryan Feathers: https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/340204/wbc-2024-ryan-feathers-year-5-convention-experienc?itemid=10959855#10959855.
From Doug Faust https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/340161/wbc-2024-a-last-minute-trip-yields-last-minute-woo?itemid=10946168#10946168.
Highlights of the Semifinal
After the three Heats, there were 27 players who had won at least one game. Twenty-one of those winners showed up to the Semifinal, so four alternates were called into action for the five 5-player games that would decide the Finalists. Two of the two-Heat winners were unable to make the Semifinal. Jeff Wu, who was undefeated in the Heats, and a former champion, was unfortunately unable to attend as he had to leave the convention after a positive Covid result, while Jaime Corrado was still tied up in another Semifinal. After being the top alternate not to make the Semifinal last year, James Freeman, as the 2nd ranked alternate to show up to the Semifinal, made it in this year. So, after a close call in 2023, 2024 saw a three generation Semifinal, with James joining his son Eric and grandson Andrew.
The closest Semifinal match was Sara Ward (47), over Randy Buehler (46), Andrew Freeman (46), Jim Fry (40), and Michael Spencer (40).
Eric Freeman (58) had a fairly comfortable win over Eric Peffer (49), Ryan Feathers (46), DJ Borton (46) and Rob Flowers (37).
Ryan Feather’s account of this Semifinal can be found at https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/340204/wbc-2024-ryan-feathers-year-5-convention-experienc?itemid=10971593#10971593.
Mike Kaltman (67) used 5 slots and a Theater to take down John Corrado (65), Chad Martin (59), Chris Katz (53), and Nate Heiss (48).
Keith Dent (69) used an “almost" Dominating Income (9 pts from Population and Revenue instead of 10) to defeat James Denam (61), James Freeman (54), Trevor Morris (47) and Tyler Houle (42).
Eugene Yee (69) defeated Andrew Drummond (64), Paul Smith (59), Ben Scholl (54), and Luke Koleszar (50).
Highlights of the Final:
First off, thanks to my dad, James Freeman, for recording the events of the Final since I was playing.
Turn 1: Slot builders on strike event off the start put a slowing effect on game income at the start. Keith decides to bid $25 for a Sports Book.
Turn 4: Ad Campaign event - everyone decides to hang onto their money. Some bargains come this turn. Keith gets a Fancy Restaurant for $12; Eugene gets a $5 slot.
Turn 5: The Sale event led to some bargain opportunities. Mike gets a Fancy Slot for $9 and Sara gets a High Rollers Room for $12.
Turn 6: Slot prices drop to $5 this turn.
Turn 9: Both Rise in Demand events come out this turn putting a cooling effect on the purchase of advanced tiles for the next couple turns.
Round 12: Mike gets a Fancy Restaurant for $18.
Round 13: Eugene gets the Five Star Steakhouse for $33.
Round 15: Eric gets the Dragon Room for $29.
Turn 17: Game end.
Final Fame on the board at the end of the game: Keith 35, Mike 33, Eric 32, Eugene 27, Sara 20.
Sara finished with the highest Population (18) for 5 points and Mike was 2nd (16) for 3 points. Eugene finished third at 15 for 1 point. Keith and Eric both had 13.
Eugene finished with the highest revenue (17) for 5 points. Sara finished 2nd (16) for 3 points. Eric finished third with 15 for 1 point. Mike and Keith trailed behind with 13 and 9.
Sara completed both sides and connected for 13 points. Eric, Keith, and Mike completed one side and connected for 8 points. Eugene just connected for 3 points.
Eugene and Mike scored 5 diamond points, while Eric scored 3 and Keith 1.
Eric and Mike were left with substantial cash reserves at the end and scored 2 points for money. Eugene and Keith scored 1 point for leftover money.
Final scores: Mike 51, Eric 46, Keith 45, Eugene 42, and Sara with 41.
Mike's tableau at the end contained 1 Lounge, 1 Fancy Lounge, 3 Slots, 3 Fancy Slots, 1 Restaurant, 1 Fancy Restaurant, and 1 Buffet.
Mike Kaltman’s account for both the final and the games previous can be found at https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/340239/wbc-2024-rise-of-the-kalt-menagerie?itemid=10948986#10948986.
His account of the Final corresponds with my own and my scrutiny of the game log. One will note that almost none of Mike’s actions show up on my “noteworthy" events of the game. He never bought a third level tile in the basic tracks or any tile from the secondary yellow tracks. During the course of the game, there wasn’t an “ah ha" moment of a stroke of luck or some amazing move. Instead, Mike took his opportunities as they came, not making any poor buys, and making strategic what appeared on the surface as slight “overpays" as needed that fit how his board was shaping up.
With his second shield in Vegas Showdown, exactly 10 years after his first, Mike became only the third two time champion of the event.
|
Eric Freeman [14th Year]