The 2012 Squad Leader Tournament Winners
The Bounty of the Victors
Donation on behalf of the winners to Disabled American Veterans and Folds of Honor.
A Squad Leader or gamette coffee mug from Wargame Memories.
A look at the Tournament
The tournament concluded on August 15th, 2016 after a fifty-one month run. Eighty-six players tried their hand as squad leaders
with three hundred and ninety-seven games started. Fifty-five of these brave players managed to dodge the 'attrition' bullet and complete
at least one game, for a total of three hundred and twenty-six games. Forty-nine stalwarts returned for more than one game, with more
than half of these completing six or more games. On average, players had four different opponents with the most amiable of us meeting
twenty-one players! For everyone's participation this administrator can only express his most sincere thanks.
The tournament awarded 5, 2, 3 and 1 points for each win, loss, draw and incomplete, respectively. The following tables will use
'Win-Loss-Draw-Incomplete' (W-L-D-I) and 'Allies-Axis-Draw' (Al-Ax-Dr) in summarizing the record.
The Squad Leader Series Ladder replaces the tournament and unfinished games are carried over to it. Players should continue using their
existing Profiles when reporting a Ladder game. The Ladder is a perpetual ranking system that better reflects player skill than the tourny.
The Ladder is up and running at the Ladder page here.
A look at the Matches
The players had a healthy participation in all the series of Squad Leader with almost half playing a subsequent gamette.
Cross of Iron is often credited as the best balanced of the series and our players seem to agree, with half of players completing
a game. It certainly does fill out the armor. Crescendo of Doom was likely enjoyed for it's Bypass rules, you can now move around
obstacles instead of through them. Even G.I.: Anvil of Victory was enjoyed by one of every six players in the tourney, undoubtedly
a statement of their fortitude. I'm still looking for the three player who only participated in the subsequent gamettes.
It was a pleasant surprise to see the extent of play in the series and players can take comfort that should they ever decide to play GIA,
an opponent can be found.
A look at the Scenarios
Three most played scenarios by series (complete list below)
My first thought was many enjoy a pure Squad Leader experience of Leaders, Squads and MGs, the first three scenarios in our list
providing just that. My second was 'what happened with Scen 1 balance?', the tournament's lopsidedness does not reflect the ROS
of roughly balanced and my own impression the Allies are slightly favored. Perhaps player experience skewed results, i would give an
experienced Allied player a strong advantage over an inexperienced Axis. 'The Capture of Balta' introduces Cross of Irons's
re-written Ordnance and Armor rules providing a Mortar, ATG and SPG to try the new characteristics and abilities. 'Paw of the Tiger',
the second of the series, provides twenty-four AFVs including two Tigers to demonstrate the effectiveness of 88mm guns and Height
Advantage against a hoard of T-34s and KVs.
I was curious how many ventured into the darkness of Night Rules, a realm of great uncertainty in play and rules. Night actions
allowed the attacker to close on the defender without fire and Night Rules restrict fire to reflect this. However, at about a column
they are among the more ambiguous of the rules. Eleven of our players ventured into the darkness to complete eighteen scenarios
using Night Rules. Scenario Six was popular as were `Counterattack` and `Night Battle at Noromaryevka`, the latter two including
armor. Players wishing for greater clarification before venturing into the night might find this article helpful.
A look at the Publications
I was pleasantly surprised to see various publishers in the table. The Advance Phase 'Tactical Training Series' (TTS)
are among the best for learning the tactics of Squad Leader, while small in size they taught me the basics of infantry, armor and
combined arms. Squad Leader Academy's scenarios are larger and geared for tournament play, frequently appearing at the
World Boardgaming Championships. My personal favorites are 'Eviction Notice' and 'Nutcracker', requiring the use of combined arms
and a brisk pace to secure a win. Its good to see players are aware of and playing scenarios above and beyond the originals.
Ranking
Scenarios