2008report

The 2008 Block Party featured 10 tournaments and unlimited open gaming. Gamers came from all over the Midwest and 2 players made the trek from California. We also had a player from Alabama as well. The attendance was 45 the largest ever for the Block Party. The weekend saw play in many of the traditional "block games" and many euros and other wargames. Open gaming included Puerto Rico, FAB: The Bulge, Agricola, Descent, Euphrates & Tigris, Ticket to Ride, Asia Engulfed, Prussia's Defiant Stand, Victoria Cross, Pacific Typhoon and many others.

Crusader Rex started the weekend in a Single Elmination format. Ten people vied for the control of the Holy Land. Players bid for the Saracens and the average bid was 2 blocks. This year the majority of games was won by the Franks. Mike Updike (KY) defended his title playing the Franks and winning the closest match of the tourney 4-3 over newcomer Bill Featherstone from Michigan. The Franks held a 5-4 advantage in the tourney.

Hammer of the Scots drew nine players in the free form tourney format. The balance was the English holding a slight advantage in wins. Over the weekend their was 12 games played with the English having a 7-5 advantage. Rob Taylor (MI) took his second consecutive Hammer title by besting Scott Bowling (IN). Rob Played the English and had a slight advantage when he was able to kill Wallace and Scott conceded.

Diplomacy began Friday evening with two boards in a best of three round swiss event. We had 16 players play over the weekend and Edi Birsan (CA) came to participate in this year's tourney. Players played as many as three rounds and counted their top 2 scores. Scott Bowling (IN) won the tourney with a two way on Friday evening and a three way on Sunday. Thomas Haver (OH) finished second and followed by Mike French (MO). Best Country Awards: Austria - Edi Birsan (CA), England - Philip Burk (IN), France - Scott Bowling (IN), Germany - Philip Burk (IN), Italy - Mike French (MO), Russia - Thomas Haver (OH), Turkey - Scott Bowling (IN)

War of 1812 was played in a free form tourney format. Eight players participated in the weekend's festivities. The Americans won a slight majority of games. Ric Manns (IN) and Scott Bowling met in the finals on Sunday afternoon. There was no bid in the final as they selected sides randomly. Scott Bowling was the British and had a poor draw for troop strength. Scott then had wet powder as the Brits lost every major engagement. Ric stormed Quebec and took the plaque in his second final in this event.

1960: Making of the President is a very popular Card-driven game that uses blocks as markers. Hence it made its Block Party Debut in '08. Fourteen players vied for the Presidency as they played the game twice against their opponent as each side. Bill Beswick (IN) and Brian Schmidt (MI) both newcomers to the con and the game met for all the marbles on Saturday afternoon. The election was close as Brian defeated Bill on election day by flipping a few states to his side and thus winning a majority of the Electoral votes.

Settlers of Catan was a Sunday morning single elimination tourney and drew eight players. Settlers is a new comer for the Block Party's "EuroDay" event. The game was very tight as George Springstube (KY) took his first plaque from the Block Party. Finalists included George, Brian Schmidt (MI), Craig Springstube (KY) and Pete Stien (OH). The Strategy Gamers of Louisville sponsored this event and stay tune for more events for next year!

Commands & Colors: Ancients drew eight players in a free form tourney throughout the weekend. Players chose the scenario and agreed to sides, Zama was the default scenario. Chromium and Zama were the most commonly played scenarios. Ric Manns qualified for the finals with a three way tie for the right to challenge him for the plaque. Richard Diem (KY), John O'Haver (KY) and Mike Updike (KY) had a playoff for the right to play Ric on Sunday Morning. Mike and Richard squared off over Zama and Mike's Romans dominated the field as they did many years ago. Mike and John then chose Paraticene and the game was close as John won taking the Antigonnes 7-5. The final was between John & Ric and they chose Paraitacene as the scenario. John played the Antigonnes and Ric played the Eumenes and he took an early lead. The game began to change as John brought the Heavy Infantry up, Ric took a chance to win on a turn before the Heavy's could make their weight felt. Ric killed three units on that turn repeating as champion.

Friedrich made its debut on Saturday evening in '08. Eight players played in a one round event. The game is based on Fredrick the Great's triumph in the Seven Year's War. Thomas Haver (OH) was able to win the tourney as Austria pounded the Prussians and ending the game before the Russian's would leave the game. The event will be back with a slightly different format in '09.

Liberty dropped in attendance again as only seven players played in the Free Form tournament. We will look at either making a change in format to Single Elimination for next year's tourney. Players bid VP's to play the Americans. The final was between Mike Updike (KY) and Charles Stucker (IN). Charles played the British and struggled to get a large presence on the east coast. The early French entry helped Mike keep the British on the defensive. Mike frustrated Charles's landing and captured several units and thus secureing his second plaque of the weekend.

Carcassone was the second Euro offering on "EuroDay". The finalist were Floyd Resler (OH), David Burris (IN), Craig Springstube (KY) and George Springstube (KY). The game was close and it look as if Craig had the early lead. Floyd was able to place some farmers that enabled him to overtake the leader and capture his first Block Party plaque.