MECAY CLAIMS CAESAR: To no one's surprise, Stefan Mecay, in only his fourth full year of WBC competition, became the 11th Caesar with a record 295 Laurels for the 2009 season, besting runner-up James Pei's total of 293 when Pei was Caesar in 2004. This year James could muster only 157 laurels to finish second. Stefan had run up a huge lead before WBC by winning two large email tournaments for Paths of Glory and Twilight Struggle in the CDW genre that is his specialty, padded 
that lead with two wins at WAM and then added a 4th at Enlightenment for good measure. It would have taken an incredible WBC to overtake him even if he did not attend the summer championships, but attend he did and another Paths of Glory win during Pre-Con all but guaranteed his fitting at the toga emporium. The line of succession included Ken Gutermuth, John Emery, reigning Caesar Alex Bove and Curt Collins II who finished third through sixth respectively. See http://www.boardgamers.org/wbc/caesar.htm for complete details on the Caesar and Consul contests.

MOYER EDGES COLLINS FOR CONSUL: As great as Mecay's year was, he couldn't rule alone and finished well down the list for Consul honors. Take away laurels for email tournaments, mini-cons, and Pre-Cons and you get a clearer picture of who had the hottest hand at WBC 2009. With 14 multiple winners, the race for Consul was the most hotly contested ever. In fact, it ended in a tie as both Rich Meyers and Curt Collins tied at the Century mark with 100 each. Both won two events, but Richard won the largest event tie-breaker to don the consular robes by the slimmest of margins. A third challenger, newcomer Kyle Greenwood, would have taken them both if Pre-Con laurels counted in the Consul race. His second in Hannibal would have given him 116 laurels and made his first WBC memorable indeed! As it was he finished in a four-way tie for sixth at 80 laurels with Steve Pleva, Richard Beyma and John Elliott. The other top Consul contenders were Jim Castonguay, Chris Withers and 2005 Caesar Arthur Field.

BOARDMASTERS: BPA is pleased to unveil a new feature on its website to record the WBC exploits of its most accomplished players. View our new Boardmasters page at http://www.boardgamers.org/boardmasters.htm and then check out the corrected updates made possible by our new database audit.

MEDALS & LAURELS LIST & HISTORY UPDATES: The Tournament Victories page has been updated through WAM VIII at http://www.boardgamers.org/medals.htm. The associated Laurels list has likewise been brought up to date following an audit in connection with the BPA database conversion.  It is posted at http://www.boardgamers.org/l_sumsall.htm.  The 2009 chapter summation of our Virtual History page is now also online at http://www.boardgamers.org/archive/history09.htm to commemorate WBC 2009 with all the usual statistics including the record Event attendance gainers and losers. BPA's Top 25 Gamer list is also updated through 2009 at http://www.boardgamers.org/l_sums.htm#top25.

WAM VIII DODGES SNOW & RECESSION: The 8th Winter Activation Meeting mini-con in Timonium, MD, managed to survive the economic downturn and avoid Baltimore's twin blizzards as the Mid Atlantic region set its alltime record for snow accumulation. 37 card-driven players ponied up for the pre-Super Bowl bash, down only slightly from last year. The more structured format made possible four solid tournaments despite the reduced attendance and no one managed to capture wood in more than one event. Tom Drueding successfully defended his Paths of Glory title for the third year in a row when Charlie Hickok was unable to answer the bell for another round and Dave Dockter was unable to prevent the three-pete from his eliminator role. The big upset of the weekend came in Twilight Struggle where Chris Byrd earned his first laurels in that title while downing thrice champ Stefan Mecay in the Final. Keith Wixson, fresh off his WBC title, held serve in Hannibal over Randall MacInnis while twice WBC champ Bob Heinzmann added WAM wood to his collection for Combat Commander. An AAR of each tournament is at http://www.boardgamers.org/specific/wam10.htm and updated laurel totals and summaries are also posted on their respective Event results pages at http://www.boardgamers.org/yearbook/.

ENLIGHTENMENT XIII: The 13th annual meeting of BPA's Age of Renaissance mini-con is March 26-28th at the newly renovated Holiday Inn in Timonium, MD.  The renamed Day's Hotel remains the site, albeit with a new name and renovated guest and meeting rooms. This dedicated weekend conference actually outdraws the respective WBC tournaments and is undoubtedly the scene of the most hotly contested tournament play of these games anywhere.  Enlightenment will retain its new dual event format in its effort to draw a minimum of 25 players or host its farewell performance in 2010. Manifest Destiny will again augment the program as two four-round events are held in three full days of gaming. Only one of the eight rounds will conflict on Sunday morning - giving  players a choice of which event they will play the extra round.  It will be possible, but more difficult, to win both events since each tournament drops one of four scores. We have obtained a very favorable group room rate of $99 per night plus taxes. To obtain it you must identify your affiliation with the BPA's Enlightenment gaming conference  and make your reservation before March 5, 2009 (or when our roomblock sells out, whichever occurs first) at 1-800-235-3297 or 410-560-1000 weekdays between 8 AM and 7 PM Eastern Time. For full details, see http://www.boardgamers.org/specific/aor10ann.htm.

FINAL CALL FOR GMs: All WBC GMs are reminded that their "reservations" for events run in 2009 expired on January 1. To retain control of an event, you must submit a new event form at http://www.boardgamers.org/forms/EventForm.htm AND renew your membership by Feb 28. Please check the Orphans List to confirm that requested times are current. All qualifying events now without GM commitments are listed as OPEN on the Orphan's List at http://www.boardgamers.org/wbc/orphans.htm.

21 otherwise qualified events are currently without a GM commitment with but a week remaining before they forfeit their eligibility in our annual game of chicken to see who can be the last to step forward. One event's demise is another's opportunity. Events without GM commitments will be replaced by those from the Alternate list with a completed 2009 event form on file by March 1. If you want to be considered for such a vacancy or recommended to a sponsor, submit an event form and be a current member by then. Currently endangered events include: 
Empire Builder, Football Strategy, Galaxy, Hammer of the Scots, Liar's Dice, Race for the Galaxy, Risk, Stone Age, Superstar Baseball, Union Pacific, Age of Renaissance, Kingmaker, Le Havre, Medici, Monty's Gamble, Mystery of the Abbey, Nuclear War, War of 1812, Ra the Dice Game, Factory Manager, and Yspahan.

Vendors/Sponsors are likewise reminded to submit or authorize their 2010 Trial Event choices by Feb 28. We also are in need of a few Seminar speakers. Contact acd@boardgamers.org with any suggestions for same.

WBC 2010 POSTER: Our new poster featuring the artwork of Kurt Miller is now available for download at http://www.boardgamers.org/wbc/publicity.htm. Be a WBC recruiter and take one to your local club or gamestore and help us spread the word.

FINAL CALL FOR BoD NOMINATIONS: All BPA members are hereby notified of their right to nominate members for the three Board seats whose terms expire at the next WBC. To appear on the ballot, a member must be nominated in writing by at least three members; one of which must be himself/herself. Nominations must be signed and received at BPA, 1541 Redfield Rd, Bel Air, MD 21015 no later than Feb. 28 to be eligible for election in that year. NOTE: Email nominations are NOT acceptable, nor can a member nominate more than one member for the 
Board. When contemplating nominations, members are urged to consider that the BPA conducts most of its business by email and needs Board members who are able and willing to offer their time and skills to the organization in a timely manner. Board members should be considered more for their ability to contribute to the running of a successful company than for their interest in any particular game or genre. Besides forwarding a signed nomination for himself/herself, each nominee should submit by March 1st a statement not to exceed 100 words 
summarizing what they can contribute in service to the Board of Directors of the BPA. The nomination form is on line at http://www.boardgamers.org/bpanom.htm.

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PBeM NEWS

BEACH WINS GREAT CAMPAIGNS: After four preliminary and three elimination rounds that sorted through a field of 51 players in 97 games, Ed Beach emerged triumphant to successfully defend his email championship in the Great Campaign series. Ed topped Rob Doane in the Rebels in the White House campaign game. His Yankees proved to be quite a speed bump to Rob's rebels. Early's raid turned to Baltimore, but Rob wasn't able to score enough victory points there to edge Beach. Also scoring laurels were Mark Booth, Patrick Pence, Mike 
Pacheco and Justin Rice who finished third through sixth respectively. Laurel totals have been updated on the Great Campaigns event page at http://www.boardgamers.org/yearbook/gcapge.htm

STONE AGE: Fans of Stone Age can now enjoy some off-season laurel action in our first Stone Age PBeM tournament scheduled to start March 5. Check it out at http://www.mrjamelli.info/maxgames/index.html. As always, entrance is free to current BPA members.

VICTORY IN THE PACIFIC ROUND 1: The first round has ended.  It was not a good round to be an underdog.  There were some close calls—but at the buzzer the favored team sank the jumper (or rather the aircraft carrier) to put it away.  Ed Paule squeaked in by a single POC. Tim Tow did it by just a half-point.  On the other hand, some Cinderellas didn't make it to the last stroke of midnight—Pat Richardson and Michael Ussery each scored Turn 3 blowout victories.  The top 14 seeds all advanced.  Now the top seeds face opponents who are all ranked 
~400 points higher than their last adversaries.  The opponent they face is coming off of a victory too—will their opponents become the tournament Cinderellas now?  Four out of fourteen top seeds took the USN.  71% stuck with the favored IJN and paid up to 4.5 POC for the privilege.  Will the IJN go as cheaply in the coming round?  Will the underdogs take the IJN?  Who will win the sqeakquel between Ed Paule and Tim Tow—will the margin be a half-point again? Follow the action at http://www.gameaholics.com/vitp_bpa/vitp_bpa_single_elim_09.htm.

ADEL VERPFLICHTET: The third and fourth preliminary rounds are finished.  The fifth and final round is well underway.  Round 3 winners were Tom Dunning, Derek Landel, Steve Cameron, John Pack, Richard deCastongrene, Thomas Browne, and Marc Houde.  Round 4 winners were Jeff Finkeldey, George Seary, Andy Latto, Aran Warszawski, Bob Hamel, Richard deCastongrene, and Raphael Lehrer.  Thirteen players with 13 or more points are in a tight contest for the ten semi-final spots.  These players are:  Raphael Lehrer (18), Tom Dunning and John Pack (17), Bob Hamel, Marc Houde, Derek Landel, and Aran Warszawski (15), Alex Bove and Tom DeMarco (14), and Eric Freeman, Ken Gutermuth, George Seary, and Suzzane Tuch (13).  Depending on how these folks do in their final game those with 11 or 12 may still earn their way into the semis with a win.  Most notable among them is Richard deCastongrene who came in dead last in his first two games but won his next two—bringing him to 12 points and the cusp of a great comeback!  In these two rounds the player with the biggest set won six 
out of 14 games.  The player with the worst set won just twice.  In only one game, did all five players manage to cross the line—Congratulations to Eric Freeman, Aran Warszawski, Thomas Browne, Andy Latto, and George Seary.  So far this is a singular event in the tournament -- with each player finishing between two and four spaces across the line.  Almost as unusual was Andy Latto's Round 4 victory—where he was the only player to cross the line and he crossed by just one space! Sean McCulloch and Anthony Daw did it back in the first round as well.  Check out the standings and the games themselves at http://www.gameaholics.com/adv_tournament.htm.

MARCH MADNESS: With the start of the NCAA Big Dance just weeks away, the BPA version will complete its third Round brackets by March 6 with 11 of the Sweet 16 teams already set.  Three have even qualified for the Elite Eight:  Daniel Leader and his 2004 Duke squad, Harry Flawd with Memphis 2006 and Mark Yoshikawa with Arizona 2001. Follow the progress of the brackets at http://www.nktelco.net/bdmonnin/mm-brack-2010.htm.

BITTER WOODS: A new single Elimination PBeM tournament gets underway March 15. See http://home.comcast.net/~bitterwoodsweb/BWHome.htm for details.

BATTLES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION: Ric Manns announces a new PBeM tournament for this series of GDW games to commence April 15. The tournament consists of four preliminary rounds followed by two rounds of single elimination. All players may play in all preliminary round games regardless of records. The top four will advance to single  elimination rounds. Games to be played include Eutaw Springs, Guilford Courthouse, Brandywine and Monmouth in that order before elimination rounds of Eutaw Springs and Saratoga. Check it out at http://www.ohiovalleygamers.org/boarpbem.html

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All BPA PBeM tournaments require current BPA membership when the event starts. All multi-day paid attendees to WBC are current BPA members for the balance of that calendar year. Associate Calendar year memberships enabling play in all PBeM events starting in that year cost only $10 and earn discounts for pre-registered admission to all BPA gaming conferences. You need not keep your membership current in order to finish a PBeM event. Players may join the BPA throughout the year. Members are reminded they can upgrade their current memberships at any time by remitting the additional funds. See http://www.boardgamers.org/bpaterms.htm for details.

BPA members who would like to see an email tournament for their favorite game are encouraged to step forward as the GM of such an event. BPA does not run tournaments. Rather, we are an organization of gamers lending support to one another so such events can happen. No one cares as much about your hobby as you do. Get involved. See the requirements to host a BPA email tournament at http://www.abovethefields.com/top_pbem/

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If you are not already receiving our monthly email newsletters, please subscribe as directed below as we are unable to add you ourselves. To receive our free monthly newsletters you MUST join the BPA mailing list by visiting http://lists.boardgamers.org/mailman/listinfo/bpamail to confirm your address and your desire to be on this list. Subscribing takes only a moment, ensures your privacy, and increases likelihood of receipt. The newsletter will continue to be posted in the WBC folder in the Conventions section of Consimworld and on our website but will otherwise be unavailable to those who do not join the list in this fashion. If already receiving the BPA News you need take no additional action.

Don Greenwood
WBC Convention Director