fortress europa [Updated April 2006]

FSE    
   9+ Grognard PC
   9+ Grognard PC    9+ Grognard PC
   18+     9+
   9+    9+   
    15    

 Marietta (Heritage on July 29)  

Jeffery Martin, CT

2005 Champion

2nd: Robert Frisby, VA

3rd: Doug Porterfield, VA

4th: Alan Hayes, IL

5th: Bruno Sinigaglio, AK

6th: -
Event History
1991    Randy Schilb      8
1992    Michael Newman    22
1993    Michael Newman    16
1994    Michael Newman    12
1995    Trevor Bender    12
1996    Randy Heller    12
1997    Randy Schilb    10
1998    Paul Koenig    14
1999    Bruno Sinigaglio    13
2000    Robert Frisby    16
2001    Brad Frisby    16
2002    Brad Frisby    16
2003    Robert Frisby    16
2004    Bradford Frisby    15
2005     Jeffrey Martin    10

AREA Ratings:

 

GM: Douglas Porterfield

Invade France during Grognardcon

Grognardcon is a special Pre-con consisting of an amalgam of eight of the old classic hex-style wargames under the watchful eye of GM Bruno Sinigaglio: Afrika Korps, Anzio, Bulge '81, Fortress Europa, Gettysburg, Panzerblitz, Panzergruppe Guderian and Waterloo. All eight use the Free Format scheduling device which allows players to schedule preliminary games at their convenience. Play as many or as few preliminary games as you like but only your best three results in each game will determine the four finalists to advance to Single Elimination play at the end of the week. Each event will be turned over it its own GM on Tuesday for reolution in the normal manner - the only difference is that participation in Grognardcon gives you three additional days to qualify with preliminary games in the events of your choice. Play at Grognardcon is free to all Tribune level members and subject to an additional fee for all others.

1. WBC FREE FORM FORMAT. This Tournament uses a Swiss Elimination format for the preliminary rounds followed by a Single Elimination format for the four players with the best performances during the Swiss segment. Entrants may play multiple games during the preliminary Swiss segment during either the PRECON segment which begins during the PRECON on Saturday, 29 July 2006, the regular WBC segment which runs from Tuesday through Friday, or both. Best performances will be determined as described below in paragraph 4.

2. SCHEDULE. The schedule consists of three segments, GROGNARD PRECON Swiss, CON Swiss and CON Playoffs (Semifinals and Final).

a. GROGNARD PRECON SWISS. The PRECON Swiss Segment consists of four daily heats: Saturday 0900, Sunday 0900, Monday 0900 and Tuesday 0900. The PRECON Swiss Segment continues through Tuesday, 1900 hours, 1 August 2006, whereupon the CON Swiss Segment begins. Essentially, the PRECON Swiss Segment simply continues unabated into WBC.

b. CON SWISS. The CON Swiss Segment consists of four daily heats: Tuesday 1900, Wednesday 1000, Thursday 0900 and Friday 0900. The Swiss Segment ends on Friday at 1800 hours, at which time the four players with the best performances during the Swiss Segments will advance into the Single Elimination Playoffs.

c. CON Playoffs. All games played during the Swiss Segment, which includes the PRECON Swiss and the CON Swiss, will be used to determine the four top players. The two-round playoffs begin Saturay with the Semifinals at 1500 hours.

The free form format continues. I will start the proceedings officially with the Swiss elimination round on Wednesday morning and the four finalists will then play single elimination on Saturday afternoon and evening. During the tournament, you may play anytime you and an opponent wish. In addition to this schedule, players are also able to play earlier in the week due to the Grognard Pre-Con.  All games should follow the same rules as during the WBC and count the same for the single elimination rounds.  Bruno Sinigaglio will be available to answer GM questions if I or an assistant GM is not. You may play multiple times in one day if you wish. I will try to assist players who are looking for games at different times to find others who will play then. As stated at the end, if two players wish to use original rules or only some of the following rules, that is permitted as long as both players agree and notify the GM as to the agreed conditions.

Even though this is an A-level event, those who wish to learn should contact the GM. A formal game cannot be guaranteed but I will make every effort to teach you the game and allow you to play in the tournament.

Tournament Rules
1. Each player needs to sign up prior to playing.
2. Each game should be reported to the GM or Asst. GM prior to starting with a filled out match card (provided by the GM). This will detail who is playing and when the agreed time and place to start is.
3. The GM will match players based on prior victories with the players with the most playing each other (and avoiding rematches). Self-arranged matches will be allowed with prior approval of the GM.
4. Side selection will be in the following order: player choice, high roll on d6 chooses. If both players wish, they may bid for sides.
5. If a player fails to show up at the agreed time and place, the player that has arrived should notify the GM no more than 15 minutes after the scheduled start time. If the late player does not arrive by 20 minutes after the start time, then the game will be a forfeit to the player that was at the listed time and place.
6. All rules required by the WBC will be followed.
7. A session of FSE should be no more than 4 hours. If the game is beyond that time-span and one player is slow playing, then the GM reserves the right to adjudicate the game. Note that the GM will not be searching for this, one of the players must draw the GM's attention to it.
8. Games may be played at any time. However, all games must be finished by 12 noon on Saturday to be included in the semi-final determinations.
9. All games will be AREA reported.
10. Advancement to the semi-finals (4 players) will be based on points earned according to the following:
a. Game played: 1 point (max 4) [only for each different opponent]
b. Game won: 10 points (max 30)
c. BONUS: Difference in total number of games played as German versus as Allied is less than 2 with at least three games played 1 point (max 1)
11. The semi-finals will be played by the four players with the most points (see 13). The tiebreakers for this event are a) head-to-head results, b) most points total by opponents, c) die roll. Item c can be modified if all tied players agree. If one of the top four point earners does not arrive for the semi-finals then the next highest player will be selected and the non-arriving player will be relegated to a lower finishing position.
12. The semi-final and finals are scheduled to complete on Saturday.
13. The semi-finalist with the most points will choose his opponent for his semi-final game.
14. A fifth and sixth placed will be determined in the same manner as the semi-finalist method for reporting tournament results to the WBC.
15. If either player requests, the GM or asst. GM will hold the hidden units information until needed, but it is not required if both players choose not to use this option.
16. All games will use the Invasion Scenario (Rule 33.3) with the following modifications:
a. Weather - Turns 1 and 2 are CLEAR. Starting with Turn 3 a +1 drm is added each turn to the weather roll until a STORM is rolled (one storm is guaranteed during the scenario) (on Turn 3, a 5 or 6 is a Storm and so on). After the STORM, no drm are used and any second STORM result is changed to OVERCAST.
b. The German air support for July is a total of 7(6) instead of 9(6).
c. The German player may make one airlift with a one-step Luftwaffe paratroop unit. No German paradrops are allowed.
d. Capturing the Mulberry is no longer an automatic victory for the German player.
e. The victory condition for the 7th Military District is modified to
i. Control Caen and Paris or
ii. Control Cherbourg or Brest and four other cities within the 7th Military District.
f. The victory condition for the 19th Military District is modified to
i. Control Marseille and either Toulouse or Lyon,
ii. Control every city in the 19th Military District, or
iii. Control any city northwest of the 23 hexrow that has a path of any length, but not entering Germany or Switzerland, free of enemy ZOC to a friendly port or mulberry. (Tracing as if it were a HQ).
17. Rule 16 can be modified as long as both players agree to the rules to be followed and the GM is notified about the conditions of the contest prior to game start.

 GM      Doug Porterfield [2nd Year]   NA 
    dporterfield@rhsmith.umd.edu  NA

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