RoW II Boots and Tracks Brawl part tres....

[THumpre]

If Treeburst155 doesn't mind I'll do the honors

All battles are moving along well, outside of the fact that everyone is kicking my A$$ something fierce...but then some things never change

A special note of thanks to the scenario designers again for some very tricky little devils

[JonS]

THumpre - could you cut-n-paste the rules in from the other thread into your first post, so they don't get lost in the mists of time? Cheers.

All I/4 section games are moving along, with at least one turn in the last day or so.

Regards

JonS

[Mikeydz]

Per request

HOW IT WORKS

Once the 72 players have been assigned to one of the three tourneys (24 in each) as described in the first post to this thread, they will be further divided into four sections of six players. This division into sections will be done in a completely random manner by drawing names out of a hat.

Your section is where the "regular season" action is. You will play one game against each of the people in your section. You will also play each scenario one time. This means you will play five games in the "regular season". The sides you play, and your attack/defend duties could very well come out lopsided. You may play the Germans four times, or you may find yourself defending four times. The only guarantee regarding your matches is that you will play each scenario once, and each member of your section once.

The scenarios will be provided by the "Boots & Tracks" design team headed up by SuperTed. They will be historical/semi-historical scenarios never before seen by the community. The guys at B & T are working on our scenarios right now. Without them the tourney would not have happened.

The scenarios may or may not be balanced. Don't count on a fair fight! The scoring system will determine balance. It is possible to "lose" the battle, and still win if you perform better than the median established for that side of the scenario. I will explain how this works later.

You do not need to understand the nitty-gritty of the scoring system, although some may be interested. You need only be aware of the following:

1) Points for contested VL's will be split. This means final game scores will always total to 100. There is a very good reason for this I'll not get into now. If you think "gamey" you can probably figure it out.

2) Voluntary surrender is ALWAYS bad. Your opponent gets too many points for all the people he captures. You should always withdraw your people from a hopeless situation. This way you deprive your opponent of capture points. The game will auto-surrender you once your global morale drops to a certain point. Every unit that you successfully withdraw off the map will lower this global morale. Try to have all your people step off the map together once you are near the auto-surrender point. This prevents capture of units who would have made it off, but didn't due to the auto-surrender.

If you score very poorly in relation to the median for a scenario you will suffer a penalty (your score will be made even worse). This is to discourage surrender, and careless play just to get the game over with. If your score is that low compared to the median we assume you surrendered or got purposely stupid. WITHDRAW YOUR TROOPS IF POSSIBLE when faced with a bad situation!!

I'm telling you all this because it is quite possible you will find yourself in a very bad situation due to deliberate scenario imbalance. Do not give up!! Withdraw!! The median score for your side of that scenario may only be 20 points. IOW, if you score 32 points you did very well. You can "lose" and still win if you get your people to safety so they can fight again another day.

3) Your goal with each scenario is not so much to beat your opponent (could be impossible), but to get the highest score of the 36 people (three tourneys) who play that side of the particular scenario. "Winning" the game may be virtually impossible due to imbalance. You never know what hand you may be dealt.

LAUNCHING THE TOURNEY

Each player will receive the schedule for his section only. Where your name is on the LEFT you will play the Allied side for that scenario. Along with the schedule of games you will receive a contact list with all the email addresses of your five opponents. When you receive these the tourney is officially underway.

After this, over the course of the next several days, you will receive an email for each of the five scenarios. For games where you are the Allies you will find two briefing files attached, a general briefing and your Allied briefing. This email will also contain your password for that scenario. Your German opponent will start the game. To open the first file from him you will need to use the password I provide you. This will put you in the Allied setup phase.

If you are playing the German side you will also receive a secured saved game file in addition to the two briefings and password. By 'secured' I mean that the briefings have been stripped out, the game begun, and the passwords entered. This is the file you will use to start the PBEM game. It will be a .cmb file, not a .txt file. Start the game just as you would any other new PBEM game. The only difference is that you will have to enter the password I provide you. You will find yourself in the Axis setup phase.

DEADLINES AND GAME RESULTS REPORTING

All games should be completed within 90 days of the date I send out the last scenario files. This means you will need to keep at it. Don't be the one to hold up the show. Don't get lazy. Take your turns. We want to at least get into the playoff stage before CMBB comes out. The tourney cannot be scored until ALL games have been completed.

The LOSER reports game results. If you end up being on the weak side of a few unbalanced scenarios you will find yourself having to report most of your games. This is, as they say, tough luck.

Game Report email needs to have the subject, "Game Report". The body of the email must contain the following information:

Tourney Number (1-3), Scenario Title, Your username on this forum, the side you played, your score, your opponent's username and his score. The body of the email should then look like this if you are Fred:

Tourney 1, The Ambush, Fred (Axis) 37, Joe 43

Reporting games in this manner will save me a great deal of time. With 72 people I NEED to have games reported this way. Do not send me final game files. Keep these in a safe place in case of disputes.

FOG OF WAR

No discussion of scenarios is allowed on the forum until ALL players in all three tourneys have completed a scenario. I will let you know when it is alright to talk about a scenario. It won't happen until near the end of the tourney.

No game results are to be revealed on the forum. You won't know who beat who until all is revealed at the end. Think before you post, and remember, no games scores, no blow by blow descriptions of the last movie, no general discussion about the scenarios, etc..

THE NABLA SCORING SYSTEM

Your game scores will be recorded on an input file for the Nabla Scoring Program, created by Jarmo Hurri (Nabla). The Nabla program will crunch the scores and spit out your Nabla Score, also called your "Tourney Score", for each scenario. Below is what the program does:

1) Checks for game scores that total less than 100. Adjusts to 100 if necessary (60-30 becomes 65-35)

2) Determines the median score for both sides of every scenario based on all 36 instances of that scenario.

3) Determines the distance, plus or minus, of your score from the median for each scenario.

4) Calculates a Nabla Score based on this distance from the median using a rather complex formula.

5) Averages all five of your Nabla Scores to give your final Tourney Score.

By establishing a median for each side of a scenario we determine the balance of the scenario. Your score is then compared to this median. If you score 30 points and the median is only 20 for that side, then you have done very well inspite of your "loss". This is why you don't want to surrender. You never know what the median of a scenario might be. You won't know this until the end. Establishing scenario balance (the median) means we can measure relative performance within your section without the necessity of balanced scenarios. This is a major breakthrough for competitive CM IMO!! With this scoring system we can play virtually any scenario and not worry about unfairness due to the balance issue.

AARs

Bonus points will be added to your final Tourney Score if you submit AARs. Each full credit AAR will be worth 4% of the highest player's tourney score (before adding his AARs). If you write five full credit AARs you will receive additional tourney points equal to 20% of the highest players tourney score.

AARs will receive either full credit or half credit. You must write more than just a few short paragraphs for full credit. I will let you know if an AAR is too short soon after you send it to me. You don't have to write a book either. Just give us a fairly good description of how the game played out.

You are not required to write AARs. You just get a few extra points if you do. This could put you ahead if you're in a tight race in your section.

The primary purpose of the AARs is to provide the scenario designers with feedback on their work. If you've ever designed a scenario for the community, you know how rare it is to get this feedback. Writing AARs is one way to express your thanks to the designer. Even negative feedback is welcome as long as it's constructive and not mean spirited.

Another thing AARs do is help people learn to improve their tactics. Every scenario is played twelve times in a tourney such as this. There are eleven other people who had to deal with the same tactical situations you did. It can be very instructive to learn how others handled things, especially if you did worse than most. (BTW, all the AARs will be sent to you upon request once you have completed your games.)

Lastly, by writing an AAR (feedback) you are doing the community a small favor. This is because the designer can tweak the scenario based on feedback before releasing it to the community. Having a scenario played twelve times by twenty four different people is a great test of a scenario. I think it's safe to say that very few scenarios get that degree of testing before they are put out to the public. They may get played twelve times, but not by twenty four different people, and certainly not under blind conditions.

Those of us who enjoy these tournaments need new scenarios (security). In return for these scenarios the designers get the feedback they like.

IMPORTANT!

Submitting AARs

1)AARs should never be sent in with game results. Send them in a separate email.

2)AARs can be .txt, .doc, or .pdf files. Do not write them in the body of an email.

3)AARs should not be more than 4 MB UNcompressed. Screenshots can cause you to go over this limit easily. I would recommend the .pdf format if you want to include several screenshots.

4)In the subject line of emails containing attached AARs, write your username and the scenario name. For example: Madmatt, The Ambush

THE PLAYOFFS

Everybody makes it to the playoffs! However, only the four section winners in each tourney are eligible for the prize. The four section winners will play a 3 scenario round robin. The second place finishers in each section will do the same, and so on. If you place last in your section, you will face the other three last place finishers in the playoffs. The playoffs will be scored exactly like the "regular season". Those of you who aren't eligible for the wine (not first in section) are still very important to the tourney. Your scores will determine the accurate median we need for the playoff scenarios.

THE PRIZES

The winner of the "First Place Playoff" in each tourney will win the prize. The winners of Tourney I and Tourney II will each receive six different bottles of WineCape's fine South African wines, postage paid to their doorstep. The winner of Tourney III will receive three almost new VCR movies. They are, "Stalingrad" (by the people who made "Das Boot"), "Cross Of Iron", and the somewhat obscure "A Midnight Clear". I purchased these a year ago from Amazon.com and watched them all twice. All three are very good war movies IMO, and the tapes are in mint condition.

REPORTING MIAs

In order to keep all games proceeding at an acceptable pace we need to identify any potential dropouts (MIAs) promptly so I can find out their intentions regarding the tourney, and replace them if necessary.

Please email me if you have not heard from an opponent in 3 days unless that opponent has informed you beforehand of his inability to send turns for a specified period of time. This way I know what is going on. The tourney cannot be scored until every last game is completed. By informing me of possible problems (3 days and no turns) I can act promplty so matches don't get way behind. It's up to you guys to keep me informed.

That should cover just about everything. Ask questions if you have them. I probably left something out, or explained something in an unclear manner.

Aaah, SuperTed is working through the night again, I see. Thanks for the update, Ted.

I am also working late tonight. I have divided the 72 players (one OPEN slot) into their respective tourneys. I have printed out the names, cut them up, and put them in a hat (one hat for each tourney). Your names are now being picked out of the hat and typed into this post.

TOURNEY I

Section One

1) Ali

2) Ricochet

3) THumpre

4) Fate

5) Jarmo

6) Mr Spkr

Section Two

1) Lopaka

2) mike8g

3) mPisi

4) John Jelinek

5) Jack Trap

6) Bimmer

Section Three

1) Redwolf

2) Tero

3) Kiwi Joe

4) White4

5) Holien

6) Cogust

Section Four

1) The Capt

2) Juha Ahoniemi

3) von Lucke

4) Wreck

5) Mattias

6) JonS

_______________________________

TOURNEY II

Section One

1) Visom

2) Big Dog

3) Strider

4) Wadepm

5) MickOZ

6) Uber General

Section Two

1) Pixelmaster

2) Torbhen

3) a1steaks

4) J. Porta

5) Scheer

6) Combined Arms

Section Three

1) Tom Norton

2) Kanonier Reichmann

3) JeffWilders

4) StuGIII

5) Tabpub

6) Warhammer

Section Four

1) Soddball

2) C. Rohde

3) Bertram

4) John Kettler

5) Michael Dorosh

6) Ugbash

_______________________________

TOURNEY III

Section One

1) Sgt Gold

2) Gunnersman

3) Ligur

4) Jim L.

5) U8led

6) Kunstler

Section Two

1) Silvio Manuel

2) Hoopenfaust 101

3) Heavy Drop

4) EASY-V

5) GeneralSV

6) Jeb

Section Three

1) Cpt T

2) Jon L

3) Mikeydz

4) Vader's Jester

5) Pilgrim

6) R.C.

Section Four

1) I-Man

2) Lord Dragon

3) Zipper

4) f1shlips

5) Vadr

6) Hobo

So there you have it. Now you know who the enemy is.

Shortly before you begin receiving game files, you will receive a Contact List containing the email addresses of those in your section. You will also receive the schedule for your section. This will tell you who your opponent is for each scenario and which side you will play.

The German player will start the PBEM game with the secure file and password I provide him. In games where you are the Allies, you need only wait for a file from your opponent. You will receive your password and briefings at the same time I send the secure game file to the German player.

I have MANY files to send out. It will take days to get all the briefings, passwords, and secured .cmb files out to the players. You will probably receive one game's files per day for five days. I must work carefully so I don't send the wrong briefings or passwords to the players. When I get tired I have to stop so I don't mess up. One file to the wrong person and security is blown completely and that scenario is ruined for two people. So, be patient once the files begin arriving. Work on what you have. The rest will be coming in due time.

This tourney will be played under extreme Fog Of War. Lots of time and effort goes into making sure your opponents know nothing about your units, setup zones, and the contents of your briefings. Do not discuss the scenarios on the forum! NO AARs, DARs, etc. as others may not have progressed as far in a particular scenario as you have. This should be a fairly boring thread while the tourney is going on. If you leak scenario info, you are only helping the others to your own detriment. Mum's the word.

This FOW includes final game scores! No player should know any final scores, except for his own games, until the end when I will reveal all. Leaking final scores can tip your opponents off as to scenario balance. Think before you type.

If you have not yet done so, PLEASE read the last half of page one of this thread. There are some new procedures for reporting final game scores, submitting AARs, and reporting MIAs. These procedures are simple, but must be followed in order for me to manage 72 people efficiently. THANKS!!

[THumpre]

Thanks Mikey, ya beat me to it

[John Kettler]

In spite of many hours of a repeat of the dread seismic sensor problem (see Invitational thread), I finally had enough computer function (running marginally now) to process and send out turns from all three of my active foes.

Regards,

John Kettler

[WineCape]

Originally posted by THumpre:

If Treeburst155 doesn't mind I'll do the honors

Err, I do mind. Couldn't find the thread with Treeburst's name next to it and thought that it dropped off the forum!

Charl Theron

[Ted]

“RoW II Boots and Tracks Brawl part tres....”

That THumpre, he’s so continental...

Yes, all games have started and are anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 way finished.

Of course that’s only in turns.

Some are a lot closer to being over (for me) than the turns dictate

“Fate” has taken a leave of absence until the middle of July.(17th I think).

He’s crewing on a sailboat in a race out of Marseille.

Go figure he’d stop playing CM for that flimsy reason.

[Joseph Porta]

Second game finished, one game at the last turn, two in progress.

Is anyone from II/II active on this thread at all ?

[Treeburst155]

Yeah, I didn't notice how big the other thread had become. Sorry, MadMatt.

My advertisement for a replacement for Cogust was on the old thread so I'll post it again.

If you would like to take part in this tourney, and start from scratch in a tough section; now is your golden opportunity!! This will be the last opening where replacements will get to start all the games from the beginning. Everything you need to know about the tourney is posted above under "How It Works". Read it and email me if you want in. Thanks!

Treeburst155 out.

[John Kettler]

Received and processed one turn in the wee hours from Soddball. Sent out same. Got turns from Soddball and Spanish Bombs. Unfortunately, the seismic sensor is acting up again (this after a 7.2!), and I can't send outgoing E-mails right now.

All I can do is counsel patience. Meanwhile, I'll resume ripping my hair out, for I'm on article deadline and there's no stress like cyberstress, especially with a marginally functioning rig.

Regards,

John Kettler

[THumpre]

Sorry Charl, I thought about putting Treeburst's moniker on it but didn't think it necessary

p.s. I put the "part tres" part in just for Ted to show him what a bilingual bastich I am....

[John Kettler]

Fate smiled upon me enough to let me E-mail the turns to Soddball and Spanish Bombs. Have heard nothing so far from Ugbash.

Regards,

John Kettler

[John Kettler]

Another one in and out from Spanish Bombs.

Regards,

John Kettler

[John Kettler]

Ugbash evidently got my turn, has sent me one, and has been sent my response. Pucker factor's very high.

Regards,

John Kettler

[Visom]

Completed the first game this morning, game with Strider on hold, waiting for turns in the other 3.

[Joseph Porta]

OK, third game finished, and a gigantic shock pointwise... :eek:

[Scheer]

Originally posted by Joseph Porta:

Second game finished, one game at the last turn, two in progress.

Is anyone from II/II active on this thread at all ?

Yeah me. Sometimes. Our game is one of your two games in progress. I think we will manage a draw.

Unless my **** can kill your *** in *** ...

All other games running merrily along, one I will surely lose, two I think I can win, and two are not clear.

[John Kettler]

Turns in from Soddball and Spanish Bombs. Returned same. Priority today is to getting my article done, but I guarantee at least one set of turns if I get them. Have met two thirds of that goal so far. Am well past halfway mark in the above games.

Regards,

John Kettler

[Treeburst155]

I have now received twelve game results for TOURNEY III, twelve game results for TOURNEY II, and two game results for TOURNEY I. We're making good progress. I'm still working on a replacement for Cogust in TOURNEY I.

I have also received seven AARs which I will be forwarding to the Boots & Tracks Team Leader, SuperTed, as soon as I get a chance to process them.

Again, thanks for following instructions with regard to AARs and Game Reports. You're making my job much easier than in previous tournaments.

Treeburst155 out.

[Joseph Porta]

Yeah me. Sometimes. Our game is one of your two games in progress. I think we will manage a draw.

A DRAW !!!! :eek:

I'm going to lose that one, or I'll eat my socks !

[John Kettler]

Managed today to write 2500 word article in near net form, pending some minor corrections and a technical review. Therefore, I can increase my turn rate. Spanish Bombs sent another turn, and I replied. Nothing from Soddball and Ugbash since last report.

Regards,

John Kettler

[Scheer]

Originally posted by Joseph Porta:

</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr /> Yeah me. Sometimes. Our game is one of your two games in progress. I think we will manage a draw.

A DRAW !!!! :eek:

I'm going to lose that one, or I'll eat my socks ! </font>

[Soddball]

All turns out to all players. Evil continues to drag its cloak across my ears.

Sorry about the delay, chaps. Spent today removing Windows Millenium and installing Win2K - hurrah for SOME form of reliability. Still, I have one thing to thank that twat Gates for. If his software wasn't so hookey, I wouldn't have as much of a job

[Holien]

Right just got back from the Tank Fest and a weekend off (well nearly) house work.

Sent turns back to Redwolf and Tero. No Turn from NZ.

1/2 way through with Wolfie but it might be more depending on the scenario designer.

1/3 way through with Tero and he is tearing through me like a hot knife through butter.

The game with Jazza is going very slowly and I am lucky to get two turns a week.

I have heard that Mattias (who was at the tank fest) knows the whereabouts of Cogust who lives in the same country. He will track him down and we hope that he is OK as you never know...

I just have to share a comment from my beloved at the Tank Fest. She dropped me off at 10am and managed to sneak in towards the end to pick me up. At this stage there was the final drive by of the various British Tanks through the ages.

She spys the sexy looking Challenger (modern tank) and asks where does the driver sit. I point to the middle of the tank and the visor in the hull and explain that the driver is seated roughly in a central position inside the hull of the tank.

Her response had me curled on the floor. And I quote "Ohhh he is sat under that pole thing". Well folks I did not know that the British had state of the art poles that fired APDS etc etc..

I will let her do some of my turns in the games for her education...

H

[John Kettler]

Fierce fighting continues in turns from Soddball and Spanish Bombs. My replies should further stoke the combat.

Regards,

John Kettler