IAAPA presents:  “Snapshots in Time”

 

September 30, 2004

 

Facil remains the number 1 contender for the crown, with Rewstr still in 2nd place. Byrons Brigade in 3rd, HoganS in 4th and the return of HighCmmdr in 5th Place (welcome back).

 

Congratulations to the following members for their promotions this month.

 

GEN* - GedeOne, TheTrain

COL - strategicspock, ArAmesh, Danyred

MAJ – kaizen, AFC_Gunner

CAP - Kieranbren, krwalker

LT – WARSPITE, roboprep

MSGT – Hamar

SGT – McHaggis, Benaiah

CPL – bloomboy30, Doughboy, DuplexDrive, Crocodile

 

Untouchables to keep your eyes on this month are DuplexDrive, bloomboy30 and jt05065.

 

War Trivia: On this day in 1938, Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Edouard Daladier and Neville Chamberlain signed the Munich Pact, which sealed the fate of Czechoslovakia! When Chamberlain returned to Britain, he declared that the meeting had achieved "peace in our time."

 

The Emperor has no clothes! He lost them in a rated game of Axis and Allies!

The interview series has seen us talk to Generals, ex Generals and even God! I started to wonder where to now! Of course! I looked back at some of the older Snapshots and poured over the ratings ladder! Hmm – well, what about the bottom! Indeed, there are a few members who manage to consistently forage down in the murky depths, and many of the members have heaps of games and experience. Why? why is this so! I had to know – so I picked the lowest rated member for last month and put him to the sword, I mean test! “You gonna come clean sunshine! What’s this all about”.

 

Daninja: OK ShenFung, where in the world do you live?

ShenFung: Currently “exiled” in Houston, Texas but I claim New Orleans as my “home.”

 

Daninja:  How old are you?

ShenFung: Too old to chase twenty-year-olds. Reminds me of that Steely Dan song “Hey Nineteen.” And yes, I do remember Aretha Franklin. What? Oh, you mean chronologically, 45.

 

Daninja: Are you a family man?

ShenFung: My purpose, my love, and my salvation (1 wife, 3 kids). I also am of the opinion that, being married for 23 years, my wife and I deserve some kind of badge of courage or some such.

 

Daninja: What sort of work do you do in the real world?

ShenFung: Work?  I work at growing roses and also in my vegetable garden. I work at attracting hummingbirds and butterflies to my yard. I work at keeping fit. I work at keeping my temper with my two teenage children. Which leads to working (on Friday evenings, mind you) at a good buzz. But of course you mean, how am I employed. I have been in education for nearly twenty years. Twelve of which as a science teacher and also a coach. Now, I am still in education as an academic counselor (another badge of courage?).

 

Daninja: How long have you been playing AA? 

ShenFung: When I joined the club three (four?) years ago, I had only played the game perhaps five times. I think I’m still under fifty total games.

 

Daninja: How did you come up with your alias?

ShenFung: Perhaps see the BBS. Still, it would not relate what is really quite a long story. In hind-sight, there are “better sounding” alias out there. I think some of better Alias are personifications…”characters one can’t be in real-life.” Other well-chosen alias are tributes or salutes to historical figures. Be that as it may, since you asked, the thought process goes something like this…

 

The Sea of Japan between the country's mainland and the Asian continent has long been the focus of a struggle for individuality among Korea, China and Japan. In 1281, for example, a Mongol fleet of 3,500 ships carrying more than 100,000 soldiers assembled to invade Japan.  However, an extraordinarily powerful typhoon which the Japanese called 'kamikaze' or Divine Wind dispersed the fleet. Today, it is my belief that a 'Divine Wind' guides each of us on our course through life. To aid us on this journey we study and put into practical training the martial arts. It is this struggle of the inner self against the spiritually destructive allures of our modern society, a continuing journey in search of self-enlightenment in accordance with our individual spiritual convictions through which one discovers themselves.

 

Daninja: OK, now to the crux of the matter, and please don’t be offended but how do you manage to stay down at the bottom of the ratings ladder :)

ShenFung: An excellent question and one by which I am not offended. I think it is an “excellent” question for two reasons… (1) the obvious, is that it compels the respondent to engage in careful introspection. A valuable exercise on any account. (2) time and time again…almost without exception, my opponents commend me for my play. Now, perhaps, these accolades are just ‘good sportsmanship.’ I appreciate that…but only to an extent. ‘Good sportsmanship’ is inherently pretentious and superfluous. I’d almost rather someone tell me “you suck” and then explain why I suck. At least then I could grow. 

 

So, for conversation’s sake, let’s assume that my opponent’s are being more or less genuine. So what gives, Fung, with the ratings? Well, perhaps I’m really not as good a player as most.  (Hah! Back at you. Pretentious or genuine?). Truly, I don’t think I am. I don’t invest the thought-time that I believe some people do into each and every move. I look at the board, take the pieces where they are at that point in time, and then move to the best of my ability. And, as a fair to midland chess player, I should know better. I had an Iranian friend of mine teach me something more than the moves of chess. One of his ‘gems’ was to think five moves ahead. I don’t spend the time in A&A to do so. And what’s more, I don’t care to. For the same reason that I have never read chess books. Yes they might make be a notch better. But my goal is not to be a chess master. It doesn’t mean that much to me. Against chess ‘experts’...I suck. Against any ten people you pull off the street corner, I’m good enough to beat nine of the ten. So what do I want to waste time reading a ‘friggin’ book on chess for? Against the players in A&A clubs…I suck.  But… against A&A players who play once a year at Christmas…I’m a strategy god. Yin Yang, man…everything in balance.

 

Now:  that being clarified…I have lost at least a third of my games to opponent’s “teching” after round nine. Yeah, yeah, I know it’s in the rules. Fact is, I had em beat with straight-up play and strategy, no question, until they relied on luck and rolled their techs. They have their trophy on their mantle…I know how good of a player I am. Not sour grapes. Just a fact. 

 

Daninja: Are there any games that stick out in your memory as being particular exciting or interesting?

ShenFung: Life (the ‘real thing’ not the Milton Bradley Board game); chess (all strategy – no luck); Poker!!! (now there’s a “man’s” game); Dungeons and Dragons; wait…or do you mean A&A games? Um, the best games (sticking out in my memory) are face to face games with a friend in my garage. And not just because a frig full of decent beer is close at hand. One, these games are open for “tweaking.” Some would use the terms ‘House Rules.” We play 2nd edition, without techs. One notable map correction, no return fire from BB casualties; blitzing armor and paratroopers. We play on a 7’ board with cast-metal replica pieces. The games always go into the teen-rounds if not further. They are epic battles and certainly not constrained to the “cookie cutter” strategies described below.

 

Daninja: Worst game? 

ShenFung: Uh, Chutes and Ladders? Candy Land?

 

Daninja: Have you tried the revised edition yet? 

ShenFung: Nope. And I’m not opposed to it, but I haven’t the had the time…new rules and all that mess.

 

Daninja: Who do you prefer to play – axis or allies?

ShenFung: For fun - Axis. To win - Allies

 

Daninja: What’s your basic strategy as the axis?

ShenFung: Germany: Africa w/ Persia and India for quick income. Maybe get lucky and nab Aus and NZe as well. Use income to stack masses of infantry until Russia can no longer stem the tide of swarming hordes. I suppose Japan has to coordinate its assault on the borderlands (Eve, Nov, Kaz) with Germany’s build up. Also, Japan has to position itself to fortify AES as the Brits inevitably send a token force across West Africa to retake usurped lands. Sadly, this gets old. Japan has so many neat possibilities to the East. Also, I am still not convinced that the supreme strategy isn’t an Axis-controlled Atlantic. These last two thoughts are why I think everyone admires Einstein’s play. He isn’t constrained by ranking-anxiety from attempting novel approaches.

 

Daninja: What’s your basic strategy as the allies?

ShenFung: Boring. Transports for UK and US establishing Atlantic pipeline. Don’t get too worked up about Africa (i.e. move to take it back about round 4-5). Once you’ve got six infantry for those two moving across Karelia and into Russia each turn (with the odd armor now and again), it’s likely too much for the Axis (and dwindling German income) to surmount. Which is why “Magic 84” is the Axis win about half the time. Its quick and its early (before round eight). 

 

Daninja: Which opponent or player do you fear the most?

ShenFung: Rewstr. I’m just waiting to meet him in another tournament. He easily beat me when I was still a private and making stupid moves. It won’t happen again :) You hear that Rewstr! You should have taken my sword when you had the chance!  ShenFung lives!

 

Daninja: Is there anything you dislike about the game? 

ShenFung: I think you know!

 

Daninja: Do you think the club is on the right track?

ShenFung: Hmmmm! No! The competition for membership among the three A&A clubs is not likely to bear as bountiful a fruit as if we were all one. Perhaps it is unrelated, but…ever think on why it didn’t occur to the makers of the 4th edition to consult the very people who play the game all the friggin’ time? Inexplicable?  I think we “missed the boat” there and perhaps because there was no demonstratable solidarity amongst the A&A clubs.

 

Daninja: Anything you would like to see change or improved? 

ShenFung: Of course…it is not uncommon amongst games. And what doesn’t occur to me occurs to others. Some of these ‘suggestions’ were posted and argued. What amazes me is how resistant people are to change even when it is obvious to every one that this great game could get even better. The irony is while we were fighting amongst ourselves, game-makers were making changes to which we might have cultivated the opportunity input. Anyway, as far as internal change, that’s why [in theory at least] we have a legislature. However I don’t think that the mechanisms for change that are in place actually facilitate change but rather hinder it. I believe this to be the philosophy of the founding members of the club. Mind-you, a position that has its merits. For example, a club that changes too often may find itself recanting adopted positions and looking “wishy-washy.” OK, got it. Not all a bad thing. The downside is that this position presumes that the game was without flaws, or at least infers that ‘flaws’ are best left alone. I am an idealist. I think if something is wrong, you fix it. There are some things that are, without a doubt, clearly flawed. If we’d have had the chutzpah to address the issues and proffer the “ultimate A&A experience” then we’d have something that the other clubs don’t (other than a fee). THAT might have had the potential to attract the attention of the 4th edition revisionists. Ah well, hind sight is twenty twenty.

 

Daninja: What about hot tips for the newbies?

ShenFung: Depends on what they want out of the A&A experience. Trophies on the mantle (stars on the shoulder)...start by playing the allies and play conservative. Use the odds calculator (you may have a better chance than you think). And I like the pearl-of-wisdom shared by (Blackwatch?)…that is that games are won in the little battles. If their objective is “fun,” play like Einstein and don’t give up on the Grail of A&A…Axis control of the Atlantic.

 

Daninja: Any parting words of Wisdom?

ShenFung: “You cannot dream yourself a character. You must hammer and forge yourself one.”

 

Daninja: Well on behalf of the members I would like to thank you for taking the time for this interview.

ShenFung: Sincerest thanks from ShenFung (Witchdoctor, Field Marshall and Future Emperor of the IAAPA)

 

 

Well there you go guys, a player who likes to put things in perspective. Thanks again ShenFung for a little peek through your window.

Until next time…

 

Cheers
Dan (Daninja)
IAAPA Herald

 

 

#

Prev

Rank

Player

Rating

Games played

Win-Loss

Ranking points

1

1

GEN****

Facil

1484

52

38 - 12

48

2

2

GEN****

Rewstr

1408

156

113 - 31

151

3

8

GEN****

Byrons_Brigade

1407

89

64 - 25

72

4

3

GEN****

HoganS

1406

81

53 - 25

66

5

 

GEN****

HighCmmdr

1403

103

75 - 22

54

6

7

GEN*

Diecaster

1397

28

23 - 2

40

7

9

GEN*

explosive

1396

34

31 - 3

36

8

6

GEN***

w0nderd0g

1389

32

27 - 5

43

9

5

GEN*

Nemo

1384

106

72 - 31

86

10

4

GEN*

Spud

1380

149

94 - 50

58

11

10

GEN*

cnty9047@

1377

134

77 - 50

45

12

11

GEN**

Glorfindel

1366

51

33 - 16

36

13

20

GEN*

Daninja

1362

44

30 - 14

42

14

12

GEN*

mcgoo98

1354

60

41 - 19

45

15

14

CPT

halldorg@

1352

39

29 - 7

22

16

13

GEN*

AbuMulch

1347

86

49 - 27

37

17

18t

GEN*

GroeFaZ

1342

208

117 - 87

56

18

17

MAJ

andrew_cowdery@

1341

23

18 - 4

27

19

24t

GEN*

GedeOne

1340

113

62 - 45

42

20

18t

COL

Elind

1339

19

16 - 3

28

21

19

GEN*

TELINTEL

1337

96

52 - 43

20

22

21

GEN*

frogman10@

1335

120

75 - 44

53

23

24t

GEN*

TheTrain

1330

109

64 - 45

41

24

23t

COL

Sephorin@

1326

52

28 - 23

13

25

16

MAJ

Iron_Cross

1324

48

36 - 12

13

26t

27

MSGT

Mithrandir

1323

20

13 - 7

15

26t

28t

COL

strategicspock

1323

48

31 - 17

28

27t

22

COL

Starchild

1320

173

113 - 51

86

27t

25

COL

Stimpy

1320

116

70 - 43

39

28

15

COL

ArAmesh

1318

34

22 - 12

28

29

26

CPT

Buzz

1316

41

25 - 15

19

30

23t

COL

AATorpedo

1313

139

88 - 49

90

31

37

COL

Danyred

1308

139

76 - 61

0

32

28t

LT

WARSPITE

1302

36

24 - 12

6

33t

30

CPT

Einswine

1298

26

19 - 6

23

33t

31t

MAJ

Raist

1298

160

109 - 45

142

34t

40t

MAJ

kaizen

1294

75

45 - 30

20

34t

24t

MAJ

Steiner

1294

67

44 - 23

15

35

32

MAJ

Ralf31

1293

39

24 - 14

29

36

33

MAJ

JohnPin569

1289

65

38 - 24

27

37

34

MAJ

Novi

1286

43

27 - 14

30

38t

31t

MAJ

AbnRanger

1285

118

70 - 43

18

38t

29

MAJ

DeBruce

1285

109

42 - 56

-22

39t

44

MAJ

Foo_Fighter

1284

78

50 - 28

22

39t

35

MAJ

micwil

1284

97

51 - 34

28

40t

28t

MAJ

BlackWatch

1283

141

67 - 69

-19

40t

46

MAJ

AFC_Gunner

1283

62

38 - 23

30

41

36

SGT

Nightwing

1278

24

14 - 10

8

42

38

CPL

JnMLasater

1276

14

9 - 3

5

43

39

CPT

Boromir

1273

81

53 - 25

46

44

41

SGT

jettman

1270

8

7 - 1

11

45t

47

CPL

jjbigc

1267

17

11 - 6

7

45t

43

SGT

Thenextone

1267

8

6 - 2

9

46

45

LT

jclilegdon

1265

17

13 - 4

18

47

70t

CPL

bloomboy30

1263

6

6 - 0

6

48

50

CPT

Kieranbren

1261

83

40 - 43

-3

49

63

CPT

krwalker

1260

78

41 - 36

-27

50

48t

MSGT

Hess

1258

20

12 - 7

12

51

40t

CPT

bobbysams@

1252

104

49 - 54

-20

52

58

MSGT

Hamar

1251

30

16 - 14

-3

53

52

MSGT

xpfc_wintergreen

1245

15

10 - 5

12

54

53

SGT

Sunburn

1244

27

17 - 10

5

55

57t

CPL

blackpedro

1243

8

7 - 1

7

56

54t

LT

Randzork

1241

39

21 - 18

5

57

54t

LT

KyleCBaker

1239

47

22 - 22

-5

58t

56

CPL

NecOne

1237

5

4 - 1

4

58t

67t

LT

roboprep

1237

105

59 - 42

22

58t

49

LT

Wehrmachter

1237

136

61 - 71

-75

59t

57t

LT

leone@

1236

57

28 - 26

4

59t

64

CPL

Doughboy

1236

10

5 - 5

-1

60

48t

LT

thesithsoul

1235

67

41 - 26

32

61t

59

LT

hoquista

1231

100

41 - 54

-11

61t

51

PVT

Pharoh642

1231

9

5 - 4

2

62t

60t

CPL

Jingikan

1230

6

4 - 2

4

62t

60t

PVT

labour

1230

4

2 - 2

-2

62t

60t

CPL

MagixTactix

1230

11

5 - 5

0

63t

61

SGT

PMC

1229

14

9 - 5

10

63t

76t

MSGT

hardcore

1229

33

14 - 17

-19

64t

66

CPL

DuplexDrive

1228

3

3 - 0

5

64t

62

PVT

Dermensch

1228

4

3 - 1

3

65t

65t

MSGT

PipPopsRising11

1223

47

19 - 28

-10

65t

65t

MSGT

MolotovCocktail

1223

61

33 - 27

23

66

67t

SGT

ChrisTheCat

1220

15

9 - 6

8

67

68

SGT

Arminius

1218

25

10 - 13

-3

68

70t

CPL

mezza

1215

13

6 - 5

2

69t

71

MSGT

VonManstein

1214

92

33 - 58

-76

69t

84t

MSGT

spinboldak

1214

79

33 - 43

-47

70t

55

CPL

wharfrat

1212

19

10 - 9

-2

70t

84t

SGT

uphigh

1212

24

11 - 13

-4

70t

 

PVT

Makula

1212

5

3 - 2

-1

70t

73

CPL

airship

1212

14

7 - 7

-3

71

92t

MSGT

PSU_SigEp

1210

64

30 - 33

2

72

72

PVT

Brakethru

1209

6

2 - 3

-4

73t

75t

PVT

Ugluk

1208

9

5 - 4

1

73t

75t

MSGT

SwordPlay

1208

34

17 - 17

10

73t

75t

PVT

jt0565

1208

1

1 - 0

1

74t

77t

PVT

Unibrow_Bomber

1205

8

3 - 5

-4

74t

76t

CPL

Winters

1205

13

5 - 7

-7

74t

77t

PVT

Quasimodo

1205

3

2 - 1

1

75

79

CPL

Laser

1201

13

5 - 8

0

76t

81t

PVT

axsplr2

1199

7

3 - 4

-3

76t

81t

SGT

McDLT

1199

20

10 - 10

-7

76t

81t

MSGT

reddwarf@

1199

59

30 - 25

8

78t

80

PVT

blackjack

1198

5

2 - 3

-3

78t

82t

PVT

AgentSmith

1198

1

0 - 1

-2

78t

82t

PVT

ManchuWarrior

1198

1

0 - 1

-2

79

94t

PVT

leno

1197

2

1 - 1

-1

80t

83t

PVT

fluffhead

1196

9

4 - 5

-3

80t

83t

PVT

high_roller

1196

5

1 - 3

-4

81t

74

PVT

Bdy1952

1193

2

1 - 1

-1

81t

 

PVT

Juventus

1193

2

1 - 1

-1

82

86

PVT

Hippie

1192

2

1 - 1

0

83t

104

MSGT

Amgor

1191

148

65 - 81

-31

83t

87

SGT

wlc

1191

21

8 - 12

-8

84t

88

PVT

Bridger

1189

1

0 - 1

-2

84t

69

MSGT

MacTabar

1189

133

60 - 70

-12

85

89

MSGT

sploos

1188

34

14 - 18

0

86t

90t

CPL

Sabre

1187

10

4 - 5

-3

86t

90t

PVT

Radioactive_Man

1187

6

2 - 4

-3

87t

92t

PVT

evYl

1183

2

0 - 2

-4

87t

92t

PVT

rsnegin

1183

1

0 - 1

-2

88

93

PVT

allerton

1181

3

0 - 2

-3

89t

91

CPL

Evil1

1180

13

4 - 6

-8

89t

103

PVT

me109

1180

4

1 - 3

-5

89t

94t

PVT

Varminter

1180

1

0 - 1

-2

90t

95t

PVT

Wasp

1179

6

1 - 3

-3

90t

95t

SGT

kamikazikid

1179

21

8 - 13

-10

91

96

PVT

pops

1178

4

1 - 3

-3

92

97t

PVT

Sahara_Dunebuggy

1176

5

1 - 4

-5

93t

98t

PVT

tehApprentice

1174

4

1 - 3

-5

93t

98t

CPL

DECRO

1174

15

6 - 9

-7

94t

99t

MSGT

cruzybeerzman

1173

39

15 - 22

-11

94t

99t

PVT

ProvenGuilt

1173

2

0 - 2

-4

94t

85t

CPL

TN_VOL

1173

16

6 - 9

-7

95

85t

CPL

Crocodile

1172

11

5 - 5

-3

96

100

CPL

Sveinung

1171

19

8 - 11

-14

97

101

PVT

Brincobi

1170

4

1 - 3

-4

98

102

SGT

Spitfire

1169

20

7 - 13

-14

99

113

SGT

McHaggis

1167

20

5 - 12

-16

100

105

PVT

Deltasocrates

1166

3

0 - 3

-6

101t

106t

CPL

enrico_russo

1165

10

2 - 7

-11

101t

106t

PVT

huddaddy

1165

8

2 - 5

-7

102

97t

PVT

Heinzehlers

1164

5

1 - 4

-7

103

109

CPL

Martok

1160

19

9 - 10

-7

104

110

MSGT

Sohoa

1159

104

40 - 60

-26

105

107t

MSGT

Leothelop

1157

53

14 - 38

-42

106

108

PVT

KrazyCaley

1151

6

1 - 4

-7

107

114

PVT

Tickertracker

1150

3

0 - 3

-6

108

115

CPL

Eustice

1148

11

3 - 8

-10

109

116

PVT

plummerfan

1147

9

1 - 7

-12

110

117t

CPL

PantherGuderian

1143

11

3 - 8

-5

111

118

CPL

rubberband

1141

16

4 - 12

-20

112

119

CPL

slaughter

1140

19

5 - 14

-19

113

107t

SGT

Benaiah

1138

21

8 - 13

-11

114

111

MSGT

altmanf

1131

36

15 - 20

-13

115

112

CPL

AFAandA

1129

18

4 - 11

-14

116

125

MSGT

Galen99

1122

51

14 - 36

-49

117

120t

CPL

ex_stream

1119

12

2 - 10

-16

118

121

PVT

Red_Cloud

1118

7

1 - 6

-10

119

122

MSGT

baldguy

1117

32

9 - 22

-33

120t

123

PVT

Ramius

1116

6

0 - 6

-12

120t

120t

MSGT

gudmanmod

1116

186

42 - 143

-201

121

120t

MSGT

alien66_2000

1112

32

7 - 24

-36

122

124

CPL

VonSchneekloth

1110

11

0 - 11

-21

123

117t

CPL

Achillus

1107

19

3 - 15

-27

124

127

SGT

Ori

1097

23

3 - 20

-31

125

128t

SGT

DIGING_IN

1087

21

4 - 17

-30

126

128t

MSGT

ShenFung

1079

50

10 - 39

-34

127

126

MSGT

Einstein

1078

430

138 - 288

-373