General Greenwood Triumps in Civil War!

I was very excited this year with things looking up from the attendance perspective. We had 18 generals show up for the first Round already exceeding last year, and 20 overall during the tournament for an increase of 3. It is a credit to this great system that people enjoy playing even knowing that they will not advance. Thanks to Justin Rice who held the demo which had about 6 people. Also, a very special thanks to Justin and Mark Greenwood who helped with managing the end of the Semifinal and onto the Final as I had to leave the convention early this year.

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. Last year we just used scenarios from On To Richmond II in the tournament. This year we kept that lineup but also added scenarios from the recently released Thunder on the Mississippi. Thus, there were four scenarios to select from in each round, one each from On to Richmond (1862 Peninsula Campaign), Grant Takes Command (1864 Overland Campaign), The Petersburg Campaign (1865) and Thunder on the Mississippi (1863 Vicksburg Campaign).

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 Grant Takes Command (GTC) for the demo, and it proved the most popular scenario in this round (2 US, 2 CS). Seven Pines from On To Richmond (OTR) had two games played (0 US, 2 CS). One team did foray into Burgess Mill from The Petersburg Campaign (TPC) (1 US, 1 CS) and two headed west at Champion Hill from Thunder on the Mississippi (TOTM) (0 US, 2 CS).

We had 14 players stay for the second Round of slightly longer scenarios and still had a good number play at least two games. We had only one game of Sheridan Rides South from GTC, a wild cavalry fight (1 US, 0 CS) and two Gaines Mill from OTR (1 US, 1 CS). Four games in TOTM with Grant Moves West (2 US, 2 CS).

The third Round longer scenarios saw two scenarios of Battle of the Wilderness from GTC (0 US, 2 CS) and two scenarios of Loring’s Memorandum from TOTM (1 US, 1 CS).

I had seven players with 2 wins after the preliminary rounds (nobody had 3 wins). Justin Rice got a bye as he won the two longer scenarios and then had a slightly higher difficulty rating of opponents over Mark Greenwood. In the other three Quarterfinal games, we had one Retreat to the James from OTR with Eric Groo (CS) defeating Jonathan Squibb (US); one Battle of the Wilderness from GTC with Mark Greenwood (CS) defeating Brad Merrill (US); and one Loring’s Memorandum from TOTM with Paul Sampson (CS) defeating David Dockter (US).

In the Semifinal Justin Rice (CS) defeated Paul Sampson (US) in Five Forks and Mark Greenwood (CS) defeated Eric Groo (US) in Loring’s Memorandum. In the third place game (since plaque is involved) Eric Groo (CS) defeated Paul Sampson (US) in Five Forks.

Justin Rice and Mark Greenwood faced off in the Fina playing Yankee Blitzkrieg from Thunder on the Mississippi with Justin playing the Union and Mark the Confederates. Union movement on Turn 1 was painfully slow. Turn 2 random event was Union Water Crisis. Justin took the opportunity here to recover two of his corps by marching just once and ending next to a water supply. Rain came on Turn 3 which was terrible timing for the Union. Sherman's corps pushed hard to get to Raymond to get the 4VP before that VP went away but too low odd attacks ended with Gregg still holding Raymond. In Turn 4, McClernand tried multiple attacks across Fourteen Mile Creek against Loring without success but Sherman did rout Gregg out of Raymond. With Union in a desperate position needing Edwards and the eastern VP locations, the CSA pulled all three corps behind Baker's Creek and Union conceded after one failed attack across Baker's Creek. All combat rolls where either neutral or favored the CSA.

On the MMP front, I don’t think there will be anything new for next year so we probably will keep the same scenario lineup. However, I do know that work is progressing on the Stonewall in the Valley reprint as well as a new game on the 1862 Kentucky Campaign which culminated in the Battle of Perryville. For those interested in broader civil war games, I also know MMP is working on a Line of Battle tactical game on the Battle of Perryville.

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.

Look forward to seeing everyone next year!