Prepped and Ready for GenCon 2017 - bring on the Players!
The Weekend's Lineup
Since 2011 Able Kompanie has hosted a full weekend of Tournaments and Event Games at GenCon in Indianapolis. This year we planned to host four Tournaments, EW, MW, LW and, for the first time, Team Yankee, Due to lack of ticket sales, we had to cancel the Team Yankee Tournament but will try again next year. However, over 40 players showed up with 54 different Armies to play in the other three Tournaments. We also hosted 48 1-on-1 2Hr. TANKS! sessions to introduce players to the game. All of those sessions quickly sold out and we ended up with 85 of the 96 slots filled by the end of the weekend.
Tanks - Our Teaching Game
We had four 3'x4' tables set for TANKS and two of our GM's ready to teach the game during our four 2-Hour Gaming Sessions each day. We had eight 100pt. Forces of 4 Tanks for the Players to use. The Tanks were painted by members of Able Kompanie. Here are some of the Forces (I missed getting a photo of one of the German Forces):
Most of the people who came to play TANKS had not played the game before. Everyone seemed to have a great time and it looks like we launched quite a few new Players into the game. The GF9 Booth sold out of the Starter Sets in the Vendor Hall so I guess we were successful.
Tournaments, Tournaments, Tournaments
We had three very successful Tournaments this year. About 40 individual players playing over 50 different Armies competed over the weekend. All three Tournaments were using the V4 Rules. As V4 is still kind of new in the Tournament Scene, here is a breakdown of how we handled the various mechanics of the Tournaments.
Mission Choices
Our Group feels strongly that all players should be playing the same mission each Round so we did not use the Battle Plans. We did want to keep the Missions at least semi-random so we used our old favorite "Wheel of Doom" for Mission Selection. We like the visual excitement of spinning the wheel each Round. And this system allows the TO to guide the Tournament by making pie slices bigger or smaller for the Missions on the Wheel. As you will read below, we used a slightly different process for selection of Attacker/Defender.
Attacker/Defender Selection
We used two different methods of selecting Attacker/Defender - one for MW and another for EW/LW. We like both so thought we would give them a try.
For MW Attacker/Defender Selection
Both Players add up the total points for any Infantry Formation(s) they have in their Force. This includes all units including Bren Gun Carriers, AT Guns and AA. They would also add the total points for any Infantry Platoon taken as a Support Choice. Players would compare the Point Totals and the Player with the higher number would be the Defender. Our thinking is that the player with the lower number would have more Mobile Assets and would therefore be better suited to be the Attacker. This would help in Infantry on Infantry Match Ups as well as opposed to a simple die roll regardless of how much of each force is Infantry.
For EW/LW Selection
We used the following point values for each type of Force:Tanks = 3pts
Mech = 2pts.
Infantry= 1pt
Fortified=0pts.
Players add up the total points for all their Formations and then divide by the number of Formations. The player with the lowest number is the defender. So, for example, A player with a Mech/Infantry Multi-Formation would have a point value of 1.5 while a player with a Tank Formation would have a point value of 3. As it turned out we only had one player with a multi-Formation List so we really ended up with the V3 Tanks attack Mech & Mech attacks Infantry. It all seemed to work out fine.
Victory Conditions
We were presented with the opportunity/challenge of having our first Tournament on the morning of the new Victory Conditions being released. I did see a post the night before detailing the changes and got in touch with Joe Lewis and Andrew Hopson - the other TOs for the Tournaments. We looked over the changes and liked them . We decided it would be a lost opportunity if we didn't try them out over the 30 + games and 40+ Players over the weekend. We took the time each morning during the Tournament briefing to explain them and by the second day had handouts for each player with the Victory Conditions wording. And the results were great. A large number of players, both as attacker and defender, reported that the new Conditions worked well and contributed to the completion of games which might have otherwise ended as draws.Wins vs. Draws
Overall through the 78 games played in the three Tournaments we saw 75% of the games played have a Winner.Here are the Breakdowns for each Tournament:
Early War - 15 of 24 Games Completed 63%Mid War - 19 of 24 Games Completed 79%
Late War - 25 of 30 Games Completed 83%
I think the lower completion rate for Early War is a combination of quite a few large infantry forces, Russian Strelk and Polish Infantry especially, and a higher percentage of V4-inexperienced players in their mix.
Here is the Breakdown by Mission
Encounter - 13 Completed & 5 Draws 72%Dust Up - 12 Completed & 4 Draws 75%
Breakthrough - 7 Attacker Wins & 6 Defender Wins & 5 Draws 72%
No Retreat - 4 Attacker Wins & 5 Defender Wins & 1 Draw 90%
Counterattack - 4 Attacker Wins & 4 Defender Wins & 0 Draws 100%
Bridgehead - 2 Attacker Wins & 2 Defender Wins & 4 Draws 50%
Bridgehead clearly had the highest percentage of draws accounting for almost 25% of them. It was played in the Early War Tournament so it may be that again the large infantry forces in that Tournament contributed and number of inexperienced players contributed to that number of Draws.
The Last Section of this Article is all the details of the Tournaments - Enjoy!
Early War 1500pts.
8 Allies & 8 Axis
Final Standings
1. Joe Lewis
– German Mtn. Infantry
2. Scott
Dyer – German Light Panzer
3. Richard
Hurchanik – German Panzershutzen
4. Chuck
Hiner – Russian Light Tank Battalion
5. Garrett
Hunter- French Recon
6. Chris
Novak- Russian Strelkovy Best Sport
7. Jim
McKinney-British Armoured Regt.
8. Doug Wood
– German Light Pioneer
9. Alan
Wright – Hungarian Tank Co.
10. Mike
Brenneman – British 8th Army Rifle
11. Jackson
Simon – Russian Strelkovy
12. Ben
Mulick – Polish Infantry
13. Robert
Klemic- Italian Bersaglieri Best Army
14. Scott
Erny – German Grenadier Co.
15. Bob
Boggs – Russian Strelkovy
16. Mark Jones – German
Panzer Co.- Czech 
Round by Round Breakdown
Round 1 – Dust Up – 2 Axis Wins, 4 Allied
Wins, 2 Draws – 75% Completed
German Light Panzer Win
German Mtn Infantry Win
Russian Light Tank Battalion Win
British 8th Army Rifle Co.
Win
British Armoured Regt. Win
French Recon Win
2 Draws
Top
5 after Round 1
German Mtn. Inf Co. 8pts
German Light Panzer Co. 8pts
Russian Light Tank Battalion 8pts
British Armoured Regt. 8pts
French Recon 8pts
Round 2 – Bridgehead – 3 Axis Wins, 1
Allied Win, 4 Draws – 50% Completed
German Mtn. Inf Co. Win
German Light Panzer Co. Win
Russian Strelkovy Win
German Panzershutzen Win
4 Draws
Top
6 after Round 2
German Mtn. Inf 16pts.
German Light Panzer Co. 16pts.
Russian Strelkovy 11pts.
Russian Light Tank Battalion 9pts.
French Recon 9pts.
German Panzershutzen 9pts.
Round 3 – Breakthrough – 4 Axis Wins, 1
Allied Win – 63% Completed
German
Mtn. Inf. Co. Win
Russian Light Tank Battalion Win
Hungarian Tank Co. Win
German Light Pioneer Win
German Panzershutzen Win
3 Draws
Top 5 EW Lists
1st Place - Joe Lewis – German Gebirgjagers
8-1
Encounter vs. Jackson Simon – Russian Strelkovy
8-1
Bridgehead vs. Jim McKinney – British Armoured Regt.
8-1
Breakthrough vs. Scott Dyer – Light Panzer Co.
2nd Place - Scott Dyer – Light Panzer Co
8-1
Encounter vs. Bob Boggs – Russian Strelkovy
8-1
Bridgehead vs. Mike Brenneman – British 8th Army Rifle
1-8
Breakthrough vs. Joe Lewis – German Gebirgjagers
3rd Place - Richard
Hurchanik – German Panzershutzen
1-2
Encounter vs. Ben Mulick – Polish Infantry
8-1
Bridgehead vs. Bob Boggs- Russian Strelkovy
8-1
Breakthrough vs. Chris Novak – Russian Strelkovy
4th Place - Chuck Hiner – Russian Light Tank Co.
8-1
Encounter vs. Alan Wright – Hungarian Tank Co.
1-1
Bridgehead vs. Garrett Hunter – French Recon
7-2
Breakthrough vs. Jim McKinney – British Armoured Regt.
5th Place - Garrett Hunter – French Recon
8-1
Encounter vs. Doug Wood –German Light Pioneer
1-1
Bridgehead vs. Chuck Hiner – Russian Light Tank Co.
3-1
Breakthrough vs. Mike Brenneman – British 8th Army Rifle
Mid War - 75pts.
9 British & 7 German
Final Standings
1. Rozy
Rozmarin - German Tank Co.
2. Jeremy
Cicak-Grant & Honey & Motor Co.
3. Jim
McKinney – Grant and Honey Squadron
4. Chris
Fretts-Crusader & Motor Co.
5. Chuck
Hiner-Crusader & Motor Co. Best Army
6. Rick
Gearheart –Crusader & Motor Co.
7. Harlow
Stevens – Afrika Rifle Co.
8. Dick
Hurchanik-Afrika Rifle Co.
9. Chris
Novak-Afrika Rifle Co. Best Sport
10. Mike
Brenneman-Grant Squadron
11. Andrew
Hopson-Honey & Motor Co.
12. Mike
Mansfield-Afrika Rifle Co.
13. Robert
Klemic-Afrika Rifle Co.
14. Joel
Hassler – Honey Squadron
15. Alan
Wright-Honey & Motor Co.
16. Charles Smith – German
Tank Co.
Round by Round Breakdown
Round 1 – Encounter v- 2 German Wins, 3
British Wins & 3 Draws- 63% Completed
German Infantry Win
German Tank Win
Crusader Squadron & Motor Co. Win
Grant Squadron Win
Crusader Squadron & Motor Co. Win
3 Draws
Top
5 after Round 1
German Tank Co. 8pts
Grant Squadron 8pts
Crusader Squadron & Motor Co 8pts
Grant & Honey Squadrons & Motor
Co. 7pts
Afrika Rifle Co. 7pts.
Round 2 – Counterattack – 3 German Wins, 5 British
Wins – 100% Completed
German Tank Win
Afrika Rifle Win
Afrika Rifle Win
Honey Squadron & Motor Co. Win.
Crusader Squadron & Motor Co. Win
Crusader Squadron & Motor Co. Win
Grant & Honey Squadrons Win
Grant & Honey Squadrons & Motor
Co. Win
Top
6 after Round 2
German Tank Co. 15pts
Grant & Honey Squadrons & Motor
Co. 15pts
Afrika Rifle 11pts.
Afrika Rifle 11pts
Grant & Honey Squadron 10pts
Crusader Squadron & Motor Co 10pts
Round 3 – Dust Up – 3 German Wins, 3
British Wins & 2 Draws - 75% Completed
Crusader
Squadron & Motor Co. Win
Afrika Rifle
Win
German Tank
Win
Grant &
Honey Squadron Win
Afrika Rifle
Win
Crusader
Squadron & Motor Co. Win
2 Draws
Top 5 MW Lists
1st Place - Rozy
Rozmarin – German Tank Co.
8-1
Encounter vs. Charles Smith – German Tank Co.
7-2
Counterattack vs. Rick Gearheart – Crusader Squadron & Motor Co.
6-3 Dust Up
vs. Jeremy Cicak – Grant & Honey Squadrons & Motor Co.
2nd Place - Jeremy Cicak – Grant & Honey Squadrons & Motor Co.
7-2
Encounter vs. Jim McKinney – Grant and Honey Squadrons
8-1
Counterattack vs. Mike Brenneman – Grant Squadron
3-6 Dustup
vs. Rozy Rozmarin – German Tank Co.
3rd Place - Jim McKinney – Grant and Honey Squadron
2-7
Encounter vs. Jeremy Cicak – Grant and Honey Squadrons & Motor Co.
8-1
Counterattack vs. Mike Mansfield – Afrika Rifle Co.
6-3 Dustup
vs. Rick Gearheart – Crusader Squadron & Motor Co.
4th Place Chris Fretts – Crusader Squadron & Motor Co.
2-2
Encounter vs. Harlow Stevens – Afrika Rifle Co.
7-2
Counterattack vs. Richard Hurchanik – Afrika Rifle Co.
7-2 Dustup
vs. Andrew Hopson – Honey Squadron & Motor Co.
5th Place - Chuck Hiner – Crusader Squadron & Motor Co.
2-1
Encounter vs. Mike Mansfield – Afrika Rifle Co.
7-2
Counterattack vs. Joel Hassler – Honey Squadron
7-2 Dustup
vs. Mike Brenneman – Grant Squadron
Late War 1625pts.
13 Allies & 7 Axis
Final Standings
1. Chris
Fretts- US Armored Rifle – Battle
of the Bulge
2. Mike
Brenneman – British Rifle Co. –Nachtjager
3. Joe Lewis
– US Tank Co – Battle of the Bulge
4. Chris
Novak – Russian Motostrelk-Desperate Measures
5. Jim McKinney-Fallschrimjager
– Fortress Italy
6. Christian
Bach-US Paratroops- Battle of the Bulge
7. Joshua
Miller-US Tank – Bridge at Remagen
8. Scott
Erny-US Tank-Bridge at Remagen
9. David
Cicak-Russian Motostrelk – Red Bear
10. Jason
Stubbs- US Armored Rifle(Dismtd)-Bridge at Remagen
11. Will Yankausky
– Hungarian Tank Co.-Grey Wolf
12. Doug
Wood – Pieper Tank/Volksgrenadier-Ardennes
13. Mark
Jones-Canadian Tank Co. – Road to Rome
14. Richard Hurchanik-German
Tank Co. Peiper-Ardennes
15. Matthew
Thomas-British Tank Co-Market Garden Best Sport
16. Drew
Merrill-German Heavy Tank-Bridge at Remagen
17. Alan
Wright-New Zealand Rifle – Road to Rome
18. Chuck Hiner-US
Paratroops – Battle of the Bulge Best Army
19. Scott
Dyer – German Panzergren (Lehr) Atlantic Wall
20. Peter Adolphsen-German
Panzergren-Grey Wolf 
Round by Round Breakdown
Round 1- Encounter – 3 Axis Wins, 5 Allied
Wins & 2 Draws
8-1 US Armored Rifle Win vs. US
Paratroopers
8-1 British Infantry Win vs. Canadian
Tank
8-1 German Fallschirmjager Win vs. US
Tank Co.
8-1 Russian Motostrelk Win vs. German
Panzergren (Lehr)
8-1 Hungarian Tank Win vs. US Armored Rifle
8-1 German Peiper/Volksgren Win vs. New
Zealand Infantry
8-1 US Tank Co. Win vs. British Tank
Co.
6-3 US Tank Co. Win vs. German Heavy
Tank Co.
2 Draws
Round 2-No Retreat – 0 Axis Wins, 9 Allied Wins & 1 Draw
8-1 US Armored Rifle Win vs. German
Peiper/Volksgren.
8-1 US Tank Co Win. vs. Hungarian Tank
Co.
8-1 US Paratroopers Win vs. US
Paratroopers
8-1 US Tank Co. Win vs. German
Panzergren (Lehr)
8-1 US Armored Rifle Win vs. British
Tank Co.
8-1 Canadian Tank Co. Win vs. New
Zealand Infantry
7-2 British Infantry Co. Win vs. German
Fallschirmjager Co.
7-2 Russian Motostrelk Win vs. German
Heavy Tank Co.
6-3 US Tank Co. Win vs. Russian
Motostrelk
1 Draw
Top 5 after Round 2
US Armored Rifle Co. 16pts.
US Tank Co. 16pts
British Rifle Co. 15pts.
US Tank Co. 12pts.
Russian Motostrelk 11pts.
Round 3-Breakthrough – 2 Axis Wins, 6
Allied Wins & 2 Draws
8-1 US Tank Co. Win vs. Hungarian Tank
Co.
8-1 British Rifle Co. Win vs. US Tank
Co.
8-1 Russian Motostrelk Win vs. Canadian
Tank Co.
8-1 US Paratroopers Win vs. German
Heavy Tank Co.
7-2 US Armored Rifle Win vs. US Tank
Co.
7-2 British Tank Co. Win vs. German Panzergren
(Lehr)
7-2 German Fallschirmjager Win vs.
Russian Motostrelk
7-2 German Tank Co. Win vs. New Zealand
Infantry
2 Draws
25 of 30 Games Completed
7 Axis Players
(35% of Total)
5 Wins (20% of Wins)
13 Allied
Players ( 65% of Total) 20 Wins (80% of Wins)
Top 5 LW Lists
1st Place - Chris Fretts – US Armored Rifle (CV) – Battle of the Bulge
8-1
Encounter vs. Christian Bach – US Paratroopers
8-1 No
Retreat vs. Doug Wood – German Tank (Peiper) & Volksgrenadiers (2
Formations)
7-2
Breakthrough vs Joe Lewis – US Tank Co. (CT)
2nd Place - Mike Brenneman – British Rifle Co – Nachtjager
8-1
Encounter vs. Mark Jones – Canadian Tank Co.
7-2 No
Retreat vs. Jim McKinney – German Fallschrimjagers
8-1
Breakthrough vs. Scott Erny – US Tank Co.
3rd Place - Joe Lewis – US Tank Co. (CT) Battle of the Bulge
8-1
Encounter vs. Matthew Thomas – British Tank Co.
8-1 No
Retreat vs. Will Yankausky – Hungarian Tank Co.
2-7
Breakthrough vs. Chris Fretts – US Armored Rifle Co. (CV)
4th Place - Chris Novak – Russian Motostrelkovy – Desperate Measures
3-1
Encounter vs. Peter Adolphsen – German Panzergrenadiers
7-2 No
Retreat vs. Andrew Merrill – German Heavy Tank Co.
8-1
Breakthrough vs. Mark Jones – Canadian Tank Co.
5th Place - Jim McKinney – German Fallschrimjager – Fortress Italy
8-1
Encounter vs. Joshua Miller – US Tank Co.
2-7 No
Retreat vs. Mike Brenneman – British Rifle Co.
7-2
Breakthrough vs. David Cicak – Russian Motostrelkovy
