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ASLOK
XXX - 2015 RECAP
Thanks to
all ASLOK XXX attendees...
Grofaz |
First
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Second
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Third
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Fourth
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Fifth Place: |
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Sixth Place: |
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USA
vs World Cup |
Overall:
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World ??
to
US ?? |
World
MVP:
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US
MVP:
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Wednesday
"Mark Nixon" Minis |
Theme
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Winner |
Godzilla
King of the Monsters:
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Godzilla
King
of the Monsters
#2: |
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Blazing
Saddles: |
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Blood
on
the Plow:
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Rumble
in
the Jungle: |
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AARP
ASLers: |
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AARP
ASLers
#2:
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Flame
On! Sponsored by Zippo: |
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Thursday
Theme
Tourneys |
Theme
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Winner |
Night: |
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Deluxe:
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Deluxe
#2: |
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Pacific:
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Rumble
in the Rubble: |
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Bocage
Busting: |
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Enemy
at Gates: |
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Street
Smarts: |
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Wolverine!:
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Friday
"Mark Nixon" Minis |
Theme
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Winner |
Best
of the
Best (Grofaz
mini): |
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Rookie
of the
Year (Grofaz
mini): |
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Schwerpunkt
14: |
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Take
No Prisoners: |
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Industrial
Revolution:
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King
of the Jungle: |
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Red
Guards into the Fray:
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Red
Guards into the Fray
#2: |
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Big
Cat Diary: |
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Ruins
of the Reich: |
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Saturday |
Theme
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Winner |
Best
New
Artist: |
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Best
New
Artist #2: |
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The
Emperor's
Finest: |
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Rain
on
the Scarecrow: |
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Shell-Shocked: |
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Shell-Shocked
#2:
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Attack of the
ANZACs:
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Attack of the
ANZACs #2:
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Terraforming
101:
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ASL
Starter Kit:
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Mini
Scenario Lists
Gor-Gor
Heretical Variant SSRs
Gor-Gor
Pleva Balance System (PBS)
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Another
original Bil Sisler Artwork graces the
front of the T while the back features
the ASLOK XXIX recap plus the 2004
Sisler artwork which has been adapted
for the front of the AP12 ASLOK XXX
pack...
TD AAR
Stopped by the hotel on Saturday to drop
off copious amounts of stuff - mostly that
which was shipped to me by various
sellers. Largest crowd I've ever seen for
an opening Saturday - I'd estimate ~35 in
and I'm sure I missed a few out eating
etc. Lots of scenarios being played - saw
a good number from the brand new AP12 plus
some STL Burma throw-downs. There was a
contingent watching World Cup Rugby via
streaming on one of the TVs as the Aussies
downed the UK. Pretty sure that was
another ASLOK first.
Great early turnout and I'd expect we'll
be in the 60s attendance wise by the time
of the ASLOK picnic tonight. The weather
has turned in Cleveland so bundle up if
attending the picnic...
Official attendance has hit 173 as we had
3 walk-ups plus a few other late
planners...
173 already matches the 3rd highest
attendance ever & is the top mark
since '99's peak of 183 - a mark we might
hit with a few more walk-ups. There's
still time to be a part of history &
Cleveland is only a short drive away...
Quick Sunday Update - Dave Ginnard threw
another great ASL gathering with his
picnic on Sunday. The weather was
marvelous - Dave was certain it was Fish
watching out for us this year as the
weather yesterday was dreadful, but things
warmed up nicely today with no rain. I
never tried to get a count on the picnic
attendees but it was likely around 50 I'd
guess. As usual the eats were excellent
and all had a good time.
Official attendance has hit 176 as we
picked up 3 more today making it the
second highest ever and we're rapidly
closing in on that record from '99. I'd
put the through the door numbers around
75'ish already. I could name 62 that I
remember seeing and recognized - add in a
few new faces I didn't recognize plus a
few I missed and we're in that 70-75 range
which is well ahead of a normal Sunday
pace.
Monday Update:
Monday update
- an amazing 90 thru the door already.
Official attendance is at 181 already,
just shy of the all-time record and it's
only Monday.
US held a brief lead in the World Cup as
Ray Woloszyn gave the Americans a 1-0 lead
on Friday. Unfortunately the Americans
didn't retreat from the battle field and
were down 7-3 IIRC on Saturday. The World
was +9 at 17-8 as battle started this
morning, but the Americans were rallying
late in the day to cut into the lead and I
think had narrowed it to +6. Paul Sidhu,
JR Tracy & Bob Bendis were rallying
the US forces to provide some hope...
The Pocket rulebook has been a huge hit -
of the 60 MMP sent, 57 have been sold (or
reserved - think 51 are paid for and 6
reserved). Not bad for < 12 hours of
sales time today...
Friendly Fire & AP12 have been seeing
a lot of play early in the week.
The World was
up 7 in the World Cup thru Monday's
results, 32-25. The Americans have picked
up a game today so far to narrow the
spread to 6 at 37-31. The Amis need a run
but are within shouting distance at least.
Paul Sidhu paces the US at +4 (5-1), Jim
Bishop is +3 (3-0) & Brian Wiersma is
+2 (3-1).
Philippe Briaux is leading the World at a
gaudy 6-0 mark (+6) with fellow Frenchman
George Tournemire close behind at 4-0 (+4)
and Klas Malmstrom is also a perfect 3-0
(+3). Hennie van der Salm is the other
contender so far for World MVP at +3
(5-2).
If we suddenly banned the French, the US
would be in the lead. Hmmm...:hmmm: :ciao:
:vsign:
Tuesday Update:
107 thru
the door. Americans within 5 in the World
Cup. Official attendance up to 181 which
is within spitting distance of the
all-time record of 183 from '99...
Oh & Pocket rulebooks sold out around
8AM this morning. 60 moved in < 24
hours. Unfortunately MMP is back-ordered
and cannot send more. The suggestion is
order from MMP which will restock in 1-2
weeks...
[Commenting
on James Taylor & Toby Pilling's epic
World Cup matchup of Blood on Hill 192]
Fortnights may be more apt. They are on
day 2 now...I think it was the American
strategy to minimize Toby's World Cup
matches and it has worked like a charm to
date. Well except for the other Americans
winning of course...
Wednesday Update:
It appears
the World has edged the US yet again
45-41. I'm waiting for any last minute
results to come in prior to calling it.
The Americans finished strong, but came
up a touch short.
Philippe Briaux takes home the World MVP
at a perfect 6-0. Other leading World
players were George Tournemire (4-0),
Hennie van der Salm (6-2), Klas
Malmstrom (3-0) and Derek Ritter (4-1).
Paul Sidhu will garner the US MVP at 6-1
edging a late push by Bob Bendis (4-0).
Jim Bishop was 3-0 and Brian Wiersma 3-1
as the only other US players better than
+1.
12 minis kicked off this morning with 92
folks gunning, only 4 players shy of
filling out all the brackets...
Wednesday "Mark Nixon" Mini
Update
- Godzilla King of the Monsters:
David Goldman triumphs over Doug
Sheppard to win the Godzilla mini.
- Gor-Gor Heretical Variant Mini:
Wes Vaughn triumphs over Neil
Stanhagen.
- Mother Russia: Richard
King & John Stadick are in the
finals to be played later in the week
(or not).
- Mother Russia #2:
Jeremy Maciejewski runs his string of
ASLOKs with a mini title to 3 with a
win over Jack Daniels.
- Mother Russia #3: Ken
Mioduski downs Hank Wit in the final.
- Mother Russia #4: Jeff
Coyle & Toby Pilling have a date
for the finals.
- Stealth of the Ninja:
Nelson Harris & Derek Cox have
unresolved Katana business to
determine the champ.
- AARP ASLers: Ray
Woloszyn, ASLOK I Grofaz, wins the
first run of the old-timers topping
David Perham.
- Gunned Up in the Desert:
Andy Beaton overcomes Dave Reenstra to
become King of the Sand.
- AARP ASLers #2: Paul
"Babyface" Sidhu passed his ID check
and bypassed Gordon Jupp for the win.
- Stealth of the Ninja #2:
Steve Tinsley is the first to get wood
as he triumphs over Al Kirkpatrick.
- Gor-Gor Heretical Variant #2:
Bob "the Grofaz" Bendis downs Dave
Derecinski for the win.
Thursday Update:
Thursday
kicks off with 12 full minis - 96 avid
ASLers gunning for cardboard glory.
Attendance is up to 185 as Cliff Smith
came in Wednesday night to push us to a
record attendance...
[On what if there was a World Cup Tie?]
Each team nominating a Champion for one on
one cardboard combat to settle it would be
the only fair one to resolve a tie right?
Seems only fair. The Americans hope for
such an opportunity one day...
Or would a hockey style shootout be the
way to go? We'll make something up as we
go along I'm sure if it ever comes to
that...
Thursday Minis:
- Night: Randy Rossi takes
home his 5th night title in 6 years by
taking the Hills from Chuck Tewksbury's
Russians in "The Katanas Come Out at
Night"
- Finally Finn: Matt Zajac
triumphs over Ray Vincent in a double
jeopardy Grofaz game. Matt knocked off
Mr. HP Lars Thuring in the semis to
advance
- Tincans & Popguns:
Andrea Pagni triumphs over John Stadick
in a double jeopardy Grofaz mini this
morning.
- XXX: Steve Pleva wins
the XXX wood award (won't the wife be
impressed?) as his Germans overcome Rob
Wirthlin's British in Lions in the
Field.
- Pacific: Stan Jackson
triumphs over Derek Ritter for PTO
supremacy.
- Fight the Power: Toby
Pilling beats Stephen Frum in Liberation
Day to take the Partisan mini.
- Wicked Sensitive Crew:
JR vanMechlen beats Gordon Jupp in a
double jeopardy Grofaz/Mini Final game.
- Once Upon a Time in the Projects:
Bill Stoppel takes down Keith Spurlock's
Russians in Urban Guerrillas for the
win. I witnessed the dramatic finish as
Keith's 2:1 -2 CC came up short leading
to a concession - the amusing part was
that final CC battle was in the wrong
building that had nothing to do with the
VC, but it made for a dramatic finish
nonetheless...
- Tincans & Popguns #2:
Jeff Wasserman finally stops the
marauding Frenchmen Philippe Briaux in
the final.
- Tincans & Popguns #3:
Neil Stanhagen knocks off Jim Aikens to
be tops at popping off, or something
like that...
- Tincans & Popguns #4:
Craig Houliston beats Kevin Killeen for
the wood and a Grogaz win.
- XXX #2: Mattias Ronnblom
KOs Chris Chapman in a duel for mini
glory and the final.
Saturday Update:
Grofaz Update - Early Saturday
At the moment we have 6 4-0's pursuing the
Grofaz with potential spoilers matched up
with a pair of them and a few other
lurkers hoping to slide into the final
standings mix...
Here's how they got there and who's still
standing unblemished...
Best of the Best Grofaz Mini:
- Andrea Pagni's Russians beat John
Stadick's Germans in AP82 Coriano to
move to 3-0.
- Matt Zajac downs Ray Vincent.
- Craig Houliston overcomes Kevin
Killeen.
- James Taylor KOs Toby Pilling in
J100 For a Few Rounds More to knock
Toby from the undefeated. Taylor's
Americans went hard after the big 2
level building and managed to take it
- around T5 when I looked I thought
Toby was in good shape, although he
was expressing some skepticism at the
time and proved to be right which I'm
sure is small consolation.
- Andrea Pagni's Russians overcame
Matt Zajac's Germans in J1 Urban
Guerrillas despite Matt having the
balance (extra 658) to push The
Italian Stallion to 4-0. Andrea won
despite little help from his SAN 6
which thru T4 only managed to generate
one partisan across the canal which
was quickly slaughtered and pin
another German.
- Craig Houliston's British managed to
avoid getting torched in SP95 Burn
Gurkha Burn in a late night epic
struggle for the hill which ended
around 3AM.
- Craig and Andrea are sitting down to
AP62 Shouting Into the Storm now for
the right to move to 5-0. Andrea has
the Germans, a slight underdog
according to Andrea, but they allow
him to <Italian Accent>"Be
Masters of My own Destiny"
</Italian Accent>
Best of 2015 Grofaz Mini:
- Mattias Ronnblom downed Chris
Chapman to move to 3-0 as Chris
insisted on playing a Friendly Fire
scenario, FrF78 No Glory in War, but
Chris failed in his negotiations for
balance as Mattias insisted it was
obviously perfectly balanced
already...
- JR vanMechlen beat Gordon Jupp and
then retired from the mini tagging in
Michael Focht (1-0) to take his place.
After ending Gordon's hopes &
Grofaz dreams, apparently JRvM felt
his Grofaz work was done for this
year...
- Doug Sheppard beat David Goldman in
the rubber match of their ASLOK as
they were already 1-1 as David had
beaten him in the Godzilla final the
day prior, but with Grofaz glory on
the line, Doug found a way.
- John McDiarmid knocked off Chuck
Tewksbury to move to 3-0.
- In Round 2 John McDiarmid overcame
Michael Focht.
- The Swedish Terminator Mattias
Ronnblom continued his relentless
Grofaz advance at Doug Sheppard's
expense. Mattias had the Axis in AP117
Second City and set his Hungarians up
way back to preserve force waiting for
the potent German reinforcements to
arrive. Mattias basically conceded 4
of the 5 VC blocks as well as the
balance to Doug's Russians & then
held tough for the 5th block.
- Mattias Ronnblom & John
McDiarmid are playing now for the
right to move to 5-0. Mattias has the
Russians in AP93 Best Think Again and
seems to be out to an early lead.
Grofaz Open Play:
- Steve Pleva beat Rob Wirthlin to
move to 3-0 as his attacking Germans
rooted out Rob's British from the
buildings in AP114 A Lion in the
Field.
- Wes Vaughn beat Randy Rossi to post
a 3-0 mark.
- Steve Pleva advanced to 4-0 by
downing Dave Reenstra in AP117 Second
City. Steve had the Russians and
ground down Dave's axis forces and
held off the reinforcing Panthers for
the win.
- Dave Dersinski are currently both
2-0 and locked in Melee in the Burning
Wreck Room it's believed.
- Bob Bendis (3-1) and Randy Rossi
(2-1) are dueling for a spoiler in
waiting role hoping to back into the
Grofaz placement list if an
opportunity arises.
- Doug Sheppard (3-1) beat Wai-Kwong
Wong (2-0) to move into prime spoiler
position at 4-1.
- Steve Pleva (4-0) has the Germans in
Mook Point attacking Doug Sheppard's
(4-1) deployed Americans hoping to
hold out on the hills in AP116 Mook
Point.
- Wes Vaughn (4-0) is battling Chris
Chapman (3-1) in FrF71 Pulling Out.
Wes has the Germans on the attack.
Early Saturday Update:
186 is the official attendance (so far)
which breaks the all-time attendance
record by 3 (183 in 1999) a mark which I
didn't think was really going to fall this
year or perhaps ever. The magic of XXX
brought out the crowds though...
Saturday sees 11 minis rolling, although 5
are slightly short-handed including our
typical 1 round Starter Kit mini First
Round/Final.
Friday Mini Update:
- Best of the Best (Grofaz):
Andrea Pagni snooglie-woofered Craig
Houliston into submission to move to 5-0
in the Grofaz and another pair of woods
as 5-0 assures him of a top 4 Grofaz
finish.
- Best of 2015 (Grofaz):
Mattias Ronnblom beats John McDiarmid
are looking to move to 5-0.
- Bushido - Way of the Warrior:
Hennie van der Salm triumphs over Keith
Hill.
- Wrongway's Ready or Revise?:
Stephen Frum downs Philippe Briaux for
the wood and a special pack of dice
provided by Wrongway in the play test
mini final.
- Schwerpunkt Drinking Age #21:
Derek Cox triumphs over Michael Koch in
an all Euro final.
- Like A Boss: Dave
Deresinski wears down Jim Aikens for the
plaque.
- Biggest Loser No More:
Rob Loper garners his first career wood
as he ends the hopes and dreams of Derek
Ritter. Tim Brieaddy had generously sent
up a pair of Hero Mugs with Derek Ritter
to provide as prizes & we decided to
hand them out to the first time Wood
winners - Rob Loper chose the Japanese
mug as his prize.
- Crazy Train: Derek
Pulhamus beats Rich Fulcher in the
final.
- Schwerpunkt Drinking Age #21
- #2: Paul Sidhu overcame Rich Domovic
in the final.
- Bushido - Way of the Warrior #2:
Rich Jenulis takes a PTO crown at the
expense of Hank Wit.
- Bushido - Way of the Warrior #3:
Don Holland dominates Al Kirkpatrick for
the win.
- Schwerpunkt Drinking Age #21 #3:
Bill Cirillo beats Montana Mountain Man
Doug Kirby for the win...
- Biggest Loser No More #2:
Seamus Hoskins triumphs as Pittsburgh
beats Cleveland yet again. Seamus
received a Tim Brieaddy German Hero mug.
Pete feels like as a hard core Cleveland
sports fan it would have been wrong to
ring in his first go round at the
lifetime non-mini winners mini...
Grofaz Update - Late Saturday
Steve Pleva beat Doug Sheppard to become
the first to advance to 5-0.
Andrea Pagni became the 2nd to 5-0 by
defeating Craig Houliston in Shouting Into
the Storm. Craig had a nice festung in the
victory building, but Andrea drove several
tanks into bypass and snooglie-woofered
the infantry and then followed up with
infantry of his own to pry the VC building
away from the Russians.
Wes Vaughn overcame Chris Chapman to move
to 5-0. Wes killed 6 of the 8 Russian
tanks in Pulling Out and was poised to
swarm the last 2 and look into moving guns
out when Chris called it a day.
The final piece of the Grofaz puzzle came
together with Mattias Ronnblom knocking
out Canada's last hope in John McDiarmid.
Random TD machinations left the pairings
with:
Steve "Gor-Gor" Pleva vs. Andrea "The
Italian Stallion" Pagni
Wes "Rock Boy" Vaughn vs. Mattias "The
Swedish Terminator" Ronnblom
Steve and Andrea had exhausted most of the
new scenarios that looked interesting
except for Konev Cross which Gor-Gor was
anxious to play, but Andrea felt was
potentially too big, especially since he
had an early flight Sunday and potentially
needed to get a final in prior. After
starting to search for old classics,
Andrea suggested Acts of Defiance &
Steve agreed. Andrea drew the Russians,
missed his radio contact to open &
then drew red which allowed Steve's
Germans to close fast and furiously with
the Russian defenders leading to a Gor-Gor
win...
Mattias and Wes are currently playing Goch
Ya with Mattias having the Germans. Winner
draws Gor-Gor in the morning and tries to
prevent Steve from garnering his record
9th Grofaz title.
Saturday Minis:
- Best New Artist: Ray
Woloszyn defeats Michael Rodgers in the
finals.
- Thunder From Down Under:
Andy Hershey triumphs over Hank Wit to
take home the wood.
- Jungle Love: Dave
Reenstra overcomes Jeff Wasserman for
Jungle glory.
- Land of the Ice & Snow:
David Perham becomes King of the North
with a win over Wayne Boudreaux.
- Squad Bleeder IV:
Jonathan Kay wins an All Canadian battle
of attrition over Kurt Berger.
- Deluxe: Bill Stoppel
triumphs in the battle of the big hexes
over Pierce Mason.
- Jungle Love #2: Rich
Domovic downs Dusty Morris in the final.
- Best New Artist #2: Neil
Stanhagen beats Steve Flicker in a late
night duel for the wood.
- Best New Artist #3: Bill
Cirillo wins another overnighter over
Randy Glesing.
- Best New Artist #4: Ed
Beekman and Gordon Jupp are currently
dueling for the final mini to be decided
today...
- Start Me Up: Ulrich
Ritter becomes the youngest mini winner
ever with a triumph over Mark Shryock.
Sunday Update:
Grofaz Update - Sunday Morning
Steve Pleva & Mattias Ronnblom are
playing Hart Attack - think it's
J166-Final which is an update of the old
ASLUG scenario - radically different as
it's now on 7a etc. Mattias has the
Germans on the defense, although it seemed
he wished he had the attacking British...
Andrea Pagni placed 3rd & Wes Vaughn
placed 4th.
Grofaz Final Results
Congratulations to Steve Pleva for
triumphing and taking home the ASLOK XXX
Grofaz title. Steve's 9th. Mattias
Ronnblom fought long and hard and had a
chance at the end end of Hart Attack, but
Steve "rallying" a UK tank which killed
one of Mattias's tanks and broke a couple
squads was the finishing blow...
Final Results for the Grofaz:
- Steve Pleva (7-0)
- Mattias Ronnblom (6-1)
- Andrea Pagni (5-1)
- Wes Vaughn (5-1)
Thanks to all 186 attendees who made this
the biggest ASLOK ever...
Attendee
AARs
ASLOK
XXX
in Pictures:
Scenarios:
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