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The Best WBC EVER!!!!!!!!!
Bruce Reiff
United States
Columbus
Ohio
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This is my list of what I did during this year's WBC - the best one ever. You'll see why near the end. This year it was my 13 year old daughter along with the regular group of CABBIES. We left early the first saturday morning and came home the following sunday. A long tiring fun week seeing old friends and playing games.
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Bruce Reiff
United States
Columbus
Ohio
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Precon that is run by good friend Ken Gutermuth. This game dropped out of the century last year and was moved to the precon starting on saturday night. I haven't played in 5 years, but CABS was one of the main playtesting groups so I know what I'm doing.
Won my first game beating Ken. Yeah, I can still play. And that was it for the first saturday.
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Bruce Reiff
United States
Columbus
Ohio
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Since I won I felt I should play at least one more even though it meant skipping the first two rounds of Victory in the Pacific. I finished a 'close' 5th but that put me tied for first in the overall event, but that was enough for me and the day. Spent the rest of the day doing some open gaming with the kids from Duke and dinner with friends.
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Bruce Reiff
United States
Columbus
Ohio
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Monday morning and it was time for me to get to work GMing. Union Pacific was up. I had an excellent asst. GM in Rebecca Hebner this year who did all the scoring. Thanks Rebecca!
I won my frst game and went up againt the master - James Pei - in the second round. Was able to best the master in a good tight game.
That put me in the third round with 3 other 2-0 players including defending champ Curt Collins II. I finished second to young Jefferson Meyers but it was good enough to make the final.
In the final I scored the least in the first round. Jeff and Rich Meyers both had a couple of bucks more and Brandon Bernard had a good lead. The only bright spot was that I was set up to have first in the UP. Brandon had a good second and third rounds and I was closing in but thought the gap was too big. In the 4th round I was able to steal the purple and green plus my one share in two large lines held and I won the whole tournament. Half way to a Coussis.
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Bruce Reiff
United States
Columbus
Ohio
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Next up was San Juan. We do this as a two player game. Only problem was over 120 people showed up and only about 50 games. A bit stressful as we had to double up people to get all of the games in.
Peter Stein had special Tom Browne buttons made up by Greg S. 10 hunters and one 'target' for Tom. If Tom beat you and you were a hunter he took your badge. If you beat him you got his badges.
I now own the only Tom Browne target badge in existence!!!!!
I kept winning until I met up with Euro Shark Raphael Lehrer in the final. He spanked me 50-30 and the daily double was denied.
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Bruce Reiff
United States
Columbus
Ohio
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I snuck in the BPA board meeting between rounds - congrats to new Members Tom McCrory and Josh Githens.
Convention running well meeting = meeting short!!!!
Spent the rest of the night at the Ohio Beach party and getting ready for teh auction in the morning
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Bruce Reiff
United States
Columbus
Ohio
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Tuesday morning means getting up at 7am and heading down to run the auction. Sold over 600 games this year. Seemed that the prices on the cheaper stuff was down and on the collectable stuff was up. I only bought 3 items in the auction this year, but got a copy of turf master!
Thanks as always to the auction staff who we couldn't do the auction without. Sorry if I forget anyone: Ken Gutermuth, Keith Hunsinger, Debbie Gutermuth, Kaarin Engleman, Lisa Guthermuth and the dookies, Sean McCulloch, Peter Stein, Nicole Reiff, Mark Mitchell, Jason Levine, Rod Davidson, Larry Lingel, Paul Bean, Harry Flawd and Marty "I need a Hawaiian Shirt" Sample.
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Bruce Reiff
United States
Columbus
Ohio
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Next up is Auction, aka The Collector and High Bid. This is one of my favorites as it's a euro that requires you to actively try and hose your neighbor.
I won this heat and advanced to the semis beating defending champ Steve Curraco!
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Bruce Reiff
United States
Columbus
Ohio
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One of the reasons I come every year is March Madness. My 13 year old Daughter Nicole finished 4th last year and plays as well. We both draw Aces in the draft. Fortunately for me mine is the 1st pick, unfortunately for Nicole hers is the 27th pick.
I go 1-1 with the overall 2nd seed and Nicole is one and done. There's 3 more heats, so I'm not too upset.
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Bruce Reiff
United States
Columbus
Ohio
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Another of my all time favorites and the end of a long, long day. I'm in a heat with former champs Jason Levine and John Welage and "The Don" of the Greenville Mafia. Had a blast and won the game!!!
I get to play on the Big Board Saturday night!!!!!
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Bruce Reiff
United States
Columbus
Ohio
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Second round of March Madness. Nicole gets the 2nd pick and I get the 16th. She goes one and done again but I take the 1997 Minnesota Gophers to the final four by winning my heat!!!!
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Bruce Reiff
United States
Columbus
Ohio
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I manage to sneak in the Wednesday heat of Ingenious and win my heat over Mullet and Mullally. Need one more however.
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Bruce Reiff
United States
Columbus
Ohio
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I gm the next round of Auction not needing to play. We end up with 3 boards in the semis and I pull out the victory to make the finals. We agree to play the final at 8am Thursday AM, a decision I will later regret.
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Bruce Reiff
United States
Columbus
Ohio
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As Don Greenwood would say, my reason d'etra. I just love this game. It's not, as some think, rock paper sisscors. It's a deep pshcological game of reading and outguessing your opponent.
Don Greenwood again challenged me in the first round. I played great defense getting 5, count 'em, 5 tournovers in the first half yet was losing 7-0 at the half due to inept defense. Don was feeling it. Late in the game he was winning 13-10 and I had the ball with less than 4 minutes left at my own 20. I drive down the field to Don's 25 and it's 3rd and 10 with 30 seconds left. The 22 yd line increases my field goal percentage from 50% to 67%. But I didn't come to play for the tie so I call 18 - the down and out gong for 6. The pass goes incomplete. So I line up for the tying field goal. Right down the center. Don is disgusted (and very late for dinner with his wife) and gives up. Sigh... I consult with my assistants and they rule I win. Not the way I wanted to win, but I'll still take 2-0 over Greenwood.
I win a couple more and close out the evening in the bar playing Erik Arneson. He was tough, and I was drinking, but I pulled out 13 point win setting up a battle for the heat with last year's champ Bert Schoose.
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Bruce Reiff
United States
Columbus
Ohio
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During our game Don asks me for a "favor". It seems that the Harrisburg CBS moring news is coming at 4:30 am and he wants me to do the first "live feed". Sigh.... I agree even though I don't think I'm a particularly good choice. I do manage to convince Don and Lisa Gutermuth that she should do the second live feed. Lisa won't scare people away like I might.
So I finish my game and hang around the bar till around 2:30am and wander downstairs. I run into Josh Githens, Doug Gallillo, Chrstina Hancock, Shadow D'Tela (I know, I know), and a group of others who invite me to play Electronic Catch Phrase. It's a blast and I up WAY past my bed time and drinking. I might as well just stay up.
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Bruce Reiff
United States
Columbus
Ohio
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I run the room and take a shower and try to look presentable. I show up in the lobby at 4:30 and Don, the bartender and I are the only ones up. The tv crew shows and I do the first interview and the second teaser.
Did I mention that the TV babe was hot? It was something.....
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Bruce Reiff
United States
Columbus
Ohio
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Lisa and I taught the reporter Can't Stop - it was 5am and I hadn't been to bed yet - it was all I could handle.
Eric & Claire Broissus showed up for the 6am interview so I went to catch a quick nap before the 8am Auction final.
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Bruce Reiff
United States
Columbus
Ohio
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So I show up at the appointed place at 8am. I had told Mullet that my prediction was that Rob Kircher - the only non champ - would win because Ken Gutermuth David Brooks and I would take each other out.
I was right.
I was sleep, my cards sucked and I played poorly and finished 4th.
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Bruce Reiff
United States
Columbus
Ohio
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Thursday is my big wargame day. I like war at sea and usually do well.
I went 3-2 but just missed out on the playoffs. Considering the fact I got no sleep and that I played former champs Jon Lockwood, Ray Freeman and GM and 2010 champ Vince Meconi, I'm not all that disappointed in my effort.
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Bruce Reiff
United States
Columbus
Ohio
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Losing at War at Sea did allow me to get in the Dominion Tourney. I had a first and a second which got me to the quarter finals. I guess I was starting to wake up.
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Bruce Reiff
United States
Columbus
Ohio
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Also got in my second heat of this fun game. Another heat, another win and I was in the Sunday am semis for the third year in a row.
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Bruce Reiff
United States
Columbus
Ohio
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Thursday Night is Pro Golf Night! I drew Phil Mickleson!!!! Woo Hoo!!!!
5 holes - 5 bogeys. Phil withdrawals with beer cravings and I sat in the bar watching the Sand Plaque party and helping the rest of my group finish - poorly as well.
1am - Finally off to bed for some much needed sleep!
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Bruce Reiff
United States
Columbus
Ohio
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Last heat Nicole and I manage to get up in time. She has the first pick and I'm down at 9 or 10 I think. She pulls the 1st pick and pulls another 1 and done.
I make it to the heat semis before taping out to Roger Taylor. Still - I've got a team in the final four!!!!!
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Bruce Reiff
United States
Columbus
Ohio
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Snuck in the Dominion Quarterfinal. Got Spanked by Chris Moffa and Bill Crenshaw. Jeff Finkleday's daughter was our 4th. We all had a good time!
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Bruce Reiff
United States
Columbus
Ohio
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Every year Sean McCulloch and I get the new charts as soon as they come out. We study them for weakness and try to pick the best team. This year I decided that Green Bay was unstoppable. They were for Harry Flawd, but apparently you need to be a beeter coach. I had to give Tampa Bay 22 points in the second round and lost 35-28.
This was my biggest disappointment of the weekend. I really thought I would do better. Oh well.
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Bruce Reiff
United States
Columbus
Ohio
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7pm and it's Battleline. Several of the Battleline studs didn't show but several of the best were still there. I drew area guru Bob Hamel and #3 area player Kate Taillon in my pod. Kate and I were both 2-0 and she had me on the ropes in our game, but I managed to pul it out.
I moved through to the final and played Jason Levine. I managed a breakthrough because he had me on the ropes.
I finally pulled a Coussis!
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East Lansdowne
Pennsylvania
Westerville
Ohio
Virginia
The answer to that is really very simple when you look at the record of what Bruce has won at the WBC. Although Bruce is a formidable player in a number of events, none of them are above the 3 level for plaques, which creates a natural ceiling for Bruce as to what he can accomplish toward winning the Caesar.
For example, here are the number of laurels that Bruce won for his eight scoring events at the WBC (level of event in parentheses):
Union Pacific (Trial) 1st 10 laurels
San Juan (2) 2nd 12 laurels
March Madness (2) 1st 20 laurels
Auction (2) 4th 6 laurels
Battleline (Trial) 1st 10 laurels
Football Strategy (2) 1st 20 laurels
Battle Cry (3) 4th 9 laurels
Win Place& Show(Trial)2nd 6 laurels
TOTAL 93 laurels
Even if you include the 12 laurels that Bruce won for finishing 3rd in the recent WAS PBEM tournament, this only brings him up to 105 laurels, which is not competitive for Caesar. Because he scored 93 laurels at the WBC, it DOES make him competitive for Consul (but by no means a lock, since people have scored higher for Consul with big events).
As long as Bruce cannot win the high level (4 through 6) events, he will be at a permanent disadvantage. Note that even if Bruce had WON all eight events above (which would be a stupendous and immortal feat in its own right) his laurel total would still be 140 at best, which is a very beatable total for Caesar.
To be sure, Bruce is fully aware of this problem, which is why he enters War at Sea (a 4 level event), and is exploring Victory in the Pacific (a 6 level event). If Bruce manages to win either or both of these events in any given year, he is then a serious threat for the Caesar. The problem here is that both of these tournaments have a significant number of experienced players who are more than capable of sending Bruce crashing to the canvas (myself included)
Anyway, Alex, now you know why Bruce is not a serious threat for the Caesar. (At least, not until he is able to win high level events) He is more likely to break the all time record for number of Wood won in a single WBC (4). He almost did it this time.