ASLOK XXXIV - Official TD AAR

[Bret Hildebran]

Stopped by the hotel in the early afternoon on Saturday and the gaming was already going strong. I saw 20-something there and playing. My official through the door count is at 21, but I'm confident that's low by a few. The early World Cup count was 2-1 USA as I believe Magnus Rimvall was the only World representative for awhile, although the World ranks were already swelling as Hennie, Philippe & Michael Rodgers were all throwing dice while I was there.

AP14 was getting a lot of early play as the new thing on the block. I plan to stop by again tonight for the incomparable Dave Ginnard Picnic - definitely a good time as many of the attendees migrate from their natural game board habitat onto Dave's place a few miles away for a good old fashioned American Cookout. Hope to see you there...

Unfortunately we did find one early errata - the board facing on AP141 Currie's Favor got a little messed up - the easiest fix is to change the British entry to South/East rather than the South/West printed. Mea culpa on that one - hopefully that's the only one we find...

 

[Bret Hildebran]

62 through the door that I've counted and official attendance is sitting at 134 and counting. As usual Dave Ginnard's picnic drew very well and was a grand time.

World Cup thru Friday was 1-1. Saturday was fairly light with the World opening up a slight 4-3 lead on the defending Champ Americans. Sunday saw another draw on a light slate with the World preserving their 1 game lead at 7-6. Monday has seen a run of World wins as they have gone 4-0 today to open up an 11-6 lead in the World Cup...

 

[Ganjulama]

Great turn out as usual. I wish I was there.

 

[Gunner Scott]

Ya I wish I was there too, stupid hip replacement has put a kink into my ASL gaming time.

Great turn out as usual. I wish I was there.

 

[Bret Hildebran]

The World managed to go 11-4 on Monday to open up an 8 point spread at 18-10 as of this morning. Bendis & Pleva are battling Canadians this morning so the US forces may be able to start a little run in theory, but we shall see...

 

[Bret Hildebran]

The World has opened up a 28-15 lead on the American Forces. It's looking pretty grim for an American repeat and seems likely the World will win their first title in 2 years...

US MVP is currently a 3 way tie between Brian Wiersma, Steve Pleva & Stan Jackson all at 2-0. Not sure how we'll break that tie if they all end 2-0, but we'll see...

World MVP looks to be Hennie van der Salm at +5 (6-1) as he holds a narrow lead on Philippe Briaux at +4 (5-1) and Andrea Pagni +3 (4-1).

 

[william.stoppel]

Ya I wish I was there too, stupid hip replacement has put a kink into my ASL gaming time.

Hope to see you here next year Scott!

 

[asloser]

Any updates? US miracle comeback ? Mini results?

 

[Bret Hildebran]

World Cup final was World 30 over USA 17.

World MVP was Hennie van der Salm (6-1).
US MVP was Stan Jackson (2-0) - Stan won the tie-breaker over Steve Pleva & Brian Wiersma thanks to being the only one to knock off Hennie.

Wednesday Mini Updates:

• Godzilla King of Monsters: John McDiarmid and Steve Pleva are currently dueling in War Brotherhood. Steve has the "Evil Axis". John overcame Tom Kearney in Misty Morning Mayhem with the Americans while Steve's Germans knocked off Jonathan Kay also in Misty.
• Gor-Gor Heretical Variant Mini: Bob Bendis knocked off Bill Cirillo in the battle for the high priest of hereticism in Road Warriors. Bill pulled off a miracle comeback to push it to a final DR. 7 or less and he wins. Boxcars & Bendis wins the wood.
• Mother Russia: Chad Cummins and Brian Wiersma are picking a time to contest the final.
• Mother Russia #2: Wes Vaughn & Mike Zeimentz have setup the final but have yet to start it as they pursue greater Grofaz glory on Thursday. Mike has the Russians in Grab & Go.
• Bushido - Way of the Warrior: Ken Mioduski was the first mini winner of 2019 as he defeated Jeff Coyle in 145 Shanghai in Flames.
• AARP ASLers - Randy Rossi held off Jeff Wasserman in AP135 Fuller's Folly as his Germans were up to the challenge of holding back the hordes American 546's in the bocage.
• Gunned Up in the Desert: Michael Rodgers and Derek Ritter are preparing for a best of Quebec throw down to be completed at a later date.
• Mother Russia #3: John Stadick and Rich Domovic are preparing to play the final at a later date.

 

[Gunner Scott]

Grab and Go is a great scenario, hopefully it will be in the ASL Open so I can try it again.

 

[Bret Hildebran]

"I'm not saying it will be the best game of ASL ever, but it may be the loudest." The wisdom of Anthony Flanagan...

 

[Bret Hildebran]

Thursday Mini Update:

• Night: Ed Beekman's Germans overcame Randy Rossi's paratroops in Night of Nights. Apparently there was a very controversial 3:30AM reading of the VC that resulted in Randy's perhaps premature resignation where they emphasized the "immediate" (all 4) and missed the "game end" (only 3 of the 4 VC clauses).
• Pacific: Stan Jackson downed Hank Wit in the final to garner his 2nd plaque of ASLOK XXXIV.
• Deluxe: Danny Stanhagen & Mike Zeimentz are poised to throw down at some point later in the week...
• Tincans & Popguns: Chad Cummins & Neil Stanhagen have a date to decide the winner once each are out of Grofaz contention...
• Tincans & Popguns #2: Jim Bishop downed Derek Pulhamus in a Grofaz/Mini double jeopardy this morning.
• It's Like Being There!: Bob Bendis beat Keith Spurlock for supremacy of the historical hexes.
• Battle in the Bocage: Rich Domovic overcame Kevin Killeen in a Grofaz/Mini final double jeopardy match this morning.
• Wicked Sensitive Crew: Philippe Briaux triumphed over JR Tracy in Totsugeki! as his Chinese held strong.
• From the Old World: Bill Cirillo wins wood by downing Bob Schaaf in a Grofaz/Mini Final double jeopardy matchup of Wiener Walzer.
• Tincans & Popguns #2: Tommy Cvetinovich triumphs over Larry Zoet in AP122 Mechanized Sacrifice as his Germans were able to prevent Larry's Russians from exiting in our bonus pop-up mini of the day.

 

[Bret Hildebran]

Grofaz Big Board Update - Friday

• Best of the Best Grofaz Mini
  • Rich Domovic's Germans defeat Kevin Killeen's Russians in Order 831 as Rich entrenched in a key hex and Kevin could never shoot him out of the key foxhole hex. Rich also secures the Thursday Bocage mini as well as advancing to 3-0 as it was a double jeopardy date with destiny.
  • Andrea Pagni overcame Ed Beekman to advance to 3-0 after calling his shot that both he and Rich would win and play in the 2nd round.
  • Neil Stanhagen downed Mike Zeimentz and his Grofaz dreams in Totsugeki! Mike had the Japanese and came up short agains Neil's tenacious Chinese defenders.
  • Bill Cirillo was the first to advance to 3-0 as he downed Bob Schaaf in a double jeopardy mini final of "From the Old World" and Grofaz mini round 1. Bill won in Wiener Walzer.
  • Andrea Pagni & Rich Domovic are currently battling in AP80 A Bloody Waste. Andrea has the Americans and the home field advantage of the scenario being played in Italy. Rich did not seem optimistic on turn 3...
  • Bill Cirillo & Neil Stanhagen are trading cardboard punches in J1 Urban Guerrillas. Neil has the Russians and unleashed a turn 1 human wave which seemingly worked well although one of his T34/85's got a little too far out in front and "found" the 88 and was burning. Bill is poised to heavily retreat across the canal to defend the pair of rear buildings.
• Best of 2019 Grofaz Mini
  • Steve Pleva knocked off Tommy Cvetinovich in AP138 Red Horse Recon.
  • Bob Bendis downed Danny Stanhagen to advance to 3-0.
  • JR Tracy overcame Hank Wit to advance to 3-0.
  • Jim Bishop beat Derek Pulhamus in a double jeopardy match to settle Tincans and Grofaz round 1.
  • JR Tracy became the first to advance to 4-0 as his Americans eviscerated Jim Bishop's Germans in AP139 Emergency Surgery. It sounded like JR went heavy student body left and got to the bridges quickly and was taking German prisoners along the way.
  • Bob Bendis & Steve Pleva are currently dueling in Emergency Surgery as well with Bob having the Marauding American/Partisan force. Early reports have Bob doing well, but never count out the mighty Gor-Gor.
• Grofaz Open Play
  • John McDiarmid downs Eric Givler to advance to 3-0.
  • Randy Rossi upends Wai-Kwong Wong to move to 3-0.
  • Chad Cummins defeats Jeff Coyle to claim 3-0.
  • Alan Saltzman overcomes John Haas to move to 3-0.
  • Eero "the Finnish Phenom" Vihersaari knocks off David Stanaway to advance to 3-0 in his first Grofaz appearance.
  • John McDiarmid is currently battling Alan Saltzman in Mersenhausen Zoo. John has the Americans and seemingly the advantage as he has condensed the German forces fairly deep into their backfield although at the expense of a fair amount of casualties.
  • Doug Kirby ended Randy Rossi's Grofaz dreams in a Schwerpunkt scenario as Doug advances to 2-0.
  • Chad Cummins is currently battling Jonathan Kay in 164 Torment in Tormua. Chad has the Finns on the defense.
  • Eero Vihersaari is dueling with Stan Jackson in AP115 Bats Outta Hell. Eero has the defending Americans and is trying to shoot Stan's horde of Japanese vehicles which are being very aggressive on the attack...

"Bold Moves don't beat Low Rolls" - Ken Mioduski...

 

[Bret Hildebran]

Friday Mini Update:

• Best of the Best (Grofaz): Rich Domovic & Bill Cirillo are currently throwing down in AP61 Desobry Defiant. Bill has the Germans.
• Best of 2019 (Grofaz): Bob Bendis is currently battling Chad Cummins 43 Into the Fray. Chad has the Poles. JR Tracy had won his way into the final but had to leave the cardboard battlefield and Chad was tapped in due to his 4-0 Grofaz record.
• Jungle Love: Rodney Callen triumphs over Jungle Expert Nelson Harris to garner wood.
• Fight the Power: Peter Struijf claims the wood over Derek Ritter in the Partisan mini.
• Heavy Metal Poisoning: Wes Vaughn overcomes Rob Wirthlin to win.
• Jungle Love #2: Anthony Flanagan and Jeff Wasserman are currently dueling in the final playing Die Gurkha Die. I haven't heard Anthony lately so I'm presuming that's a bad sign...
• Rumble in the Rubble: Ray Woloszyn downs "Big Bad" John Stadick in the finals for greater Rubble glory.
• Battling Buckeyes: Philippe Briaux triumphs over Andy Goldin to garner his 2nd plaque of the week.
• Biggest Loser No More: Chris Chapman wins his first lifetime wood at ASLOK by defeating David Kocot in the final.

 

[Gunner Scott]

43 Into the Fray ? Wow thats a moldi oldi lol. Hopefully AP 14 is getting lots of play, some those scenarios looked interesting as well as SP new Korea pack.

 

[Bret Hildebran]

Saturday Grofaz Update (Battle of the 4-0's):

• "The Canadian Cardboard Killer" John McDiarmid & "The Finnish Phenom" Eero Vihersaari are currently dueling in AP55 The Generallisimo's Own. John has the Chinese and has been relatively pessimistic as he's walked by.
  • John advanced by defeating Alan Saltzman in Mersenhausen Zoo. John had the Allies.
  • Eero moved to 4-0 by beating Stan Jackson in AP115 Bats Outta' Hell. Eero had the non-favored Americans although I don't know if any balance was involved.
• Rich Domovic and Bill Cirillo are battling in AP61 Desobry Defiant. Bill has the Germans.
  • Rich managed to sneak past "the Italian Stallion" Andrea Pagni in AP80 A Bloody Waste. Apparently Rich's hero managed to win a final turn ambush to slide past Andrea's Americans and maintain building control by the thinnest of margins.
  • Bill moved to 4-0 by overcoming Neil Stanhagen in J1 Urban Guerrillas. Bill's Germans clung onto the back buildings and managed to hang on with a few broken squads in one that the Russians couldn't get to...
• Bob Bendis and Chad Cummins are going old school with 43 Into the Fray as Chad has the Polish Cavalry charging Bob's Panzers...
  • Bob Bendis knocked off perennial Grofaz and defending Champ Steve Pleva in AP139 Emergency Surgery. Bob had the attacking Americans. Early consensus had the Americans winning easily but it sounded like it ended up being a grind that Bob barely pulled out in the end.
  • JR Tracy beat Jim Bishop in Emergency Surgery with the Americans to advance to 4-0 but had to evacuate the cardboard battlefield and give up his Grofaz dreams...
  • Chad Cummins moved to 4-0 by knocking off Jonathan Kay in a fierce battle of 164 Torment in Tormua as his Finns were up to the task of holding the village. Chad subbed into the mini final for JR as he was 4-0 in the Grofaz...

 

[asloser]

Saturday Grofaz Update (Battle of the 4-0's):

• "The Canadian Cardboard Killer" John McDiarmid & "The Finnish Phenom" Eero Vihersaari are currently dueling in AP55 The Generallisimo's Own. John has the Chinese and has been relatively pessimistic as he's walked by.

Eero has been one of my regular opponents for 20+ years and I know all about that pessimistc feeling....

 

[Bret Hildebran]

Wednesday Mini Updates:

• Godzilla King of Monsters: John McDiarmid overcame the mighty Gor-Gor himself Steve Pleva in War Brotherhood from Festung Budapest as Steve's "Evil Axis" were not up to climbing the hill fast enough. John overcame Tom Kearney in Misty Morning Mayhem with the Americans while Steve's Germans knocked off Jonathan Kay also in Misty.
• Gor-Gor Heretical Variant Mini: Bob Bendis knocked off Bill Cirillo in the battle for the high priest of hereticism in Road Warriors. Bill pulled off a miracle comeback to push it to a final DR. 7 or less and he wins. Boxcars & Bendis wins the wood.
• Mother Russia: Brian Wiersma was awarded the plaque as Chad Cummins had such Grofaz success there was no opportunity to contest the final.
• Mother Russia #2: Mike Zeimentz was awarded the plaque as he and Wes Vaughn only managed to have setup the final never started Grab & Go.
• Bushido - Way of the Warrior: Ken Mioduski was the first mini winner of 2019 as he defeated Jeff Coyle in 145 Shanghai in Flames.
• AARP ASLers: Randy Rossi held off Jeff Wasserman in AP135 Fuller's Folly as his Germans were up to the challenge of holding back the hordes American 546's in the bocage.
• Gunned Up in the Desert: Derek Ritter overcame Michael Rodgers to reign supreme in an all-Quebecois final. Derek had the Germans in Khamsin and exploited the dust for victory in a final played on Saturday.
• Mother Russia #3: John Stadick and Rich Domovic made the final but failed to contest it...

 

[Bret Hildebran]

Thursday Mini Update:

• Night: Ed Beekman's Germans overcame Randy Rossi's paratroops in Night of Nights. Apparently there was a very controversial 3:30AM reading of the VC that resulted in Randy's perhaps premature resignation where they emphasized the "immediate" (all 4) and missed the "game end" (only 3 of the 4 VC clauses).
• Pacific: Stan Jackson downed Hank Wit in the final to garner his 2nd plaque of ASLOK XXXIV.
• Deluxe: Mike Zeimentz is awarded the plaque as Danny Stanhagen declined to contest the big hex final.
• Tincans & Popguns: Neil Stanhagen was awarded the plaque as Chad Cummins never fell out of Grofaz contention to contest the final...
• Tincans & Popguns #2: Jim Bishop downed Derek Pulhamus in a Grofaz/Mini double jeopardy this morning.
• It's Like Being There!: Bob Bendis beat Keith Spurlock for supremacy of the historical hexes.
• Battle in the Bocage: Rich Domovic overcame Kevin Killeen in a Grofaz/Mini final double jeopardy match this morning.
• Wicked Sensitive Crew: Philippe Briaux triumphed over JR Tracy in Totsugeki! as his Chinese held strong.
• From the Old World: Bill Cirillo wins wood by downing Bob Schaaf in a Grofaz/Mini Final double jeopardy matchup of Wiener Walzer.
• Tincans & Popguns #2: Tommy Cvetinovich triumphs over Larry Zoet in AP122 Mechanized Sacrifice as his Germans were able to prevent Larry's Russians from exiting in our bonus pop-up mini of the day.

 

[Bret Hildebran]

Friday Mini Update:

• Best of the Best (Grofaz): Bill Cirillo's Germans overcame Rich Domovic in AP61 Desobry Defiant for the win.
• Best of 2019 (Grofaz): In potentially a mini first & certainly a Grofaz mini first, Chad Cummins gets the Save and takes home the plaque as he defeats Bob Bendis in 43 Into the Fray. Chad had the Poles. JR Tracy started the mini (and gets the Win as the starting player) and won his way into the final but had to leave the cardboard battlefield and Chad was tapped in due to his 4-0 Grofaz record to collect the save.
• Jungle Love: Rodney Callen triumphs over Jungle Expert Nelson Harris to garner wood.
• Fight the Power: Peter Struijf claims the wood over Derek Ritter in the Partisan mini.
• Heavy Metal Poisoning: Wes Vaughn overcomes Rob Wirthlin to win.
• Jungle Love #2: Jeff Wasserman overcomes the Anthony Flanagan experience in Die Gurkha Die.
• Rumble in the Rubble: Ray Woloszyn downs "Big Bad" John Stadick in the finals for greater Rubble glory.
• Battling Buckeyes: Philippe Briaux triumphs over Andy Goldin to garner his 2nd plaque of the week.
• Biggest Loser No More: Chris Chapman wins his first lifetime wood at ASLOK by defeating David Kocot in the final.