All - I'd like to echo everyone's comments about how successfully this game was run and appreciate everyone being on tiem most of the time with orders, etc. I always get frustrated when games bog down.

As far as EOG thoughts go, I agonized over the decision to stab Hojo, but with the 12 center victory condition I felt I had a good shot at grabbing the shogunate. In hindsight, it might have been better to be less engaged with Oda and Asakura in attempting to play them off against one another, and have tried to cement one side of that equation in my favor. I suspected whatever I did might well be undone by the stab to Hojo anyways, so the challenge was to grab the 12th center as fast as I could afterwards. It was worth a shot. It would have been interesting to keep the alliance alive and try to take oda down, but with the way things were shaping up with Mori, I didn't think there'd be time to succeed *and* then turn on Hojo, so I went for it. My congratulations go to my immediate neighbors for playing a great game and holding me from the solo long enough for Mori to take it. I do wish Shimazu hadn't been taken in, but being frustrated from growth for so long must have been maddening.

May you all come to Buddha's palm someday and may your next life be an honorable one.

Kampai!

Takeda Shingen (Nathan)


----- Original Message ----
From: Former Trout <former.trout(at)gmail.com>
To: DC123(at)diplomaticcorp.com
Cc: B H <nairenvorbeck(at)yahoo.com>; Bruce Quinn <coebq(at)yahoo.com>; Felix Kamchung <felixkamchung(at)mac.com>; Jacob Traeger <jacob.traeger(at)student.adelaide.edu.au>; Joshua Gottesman <joshua.gottesman(at)gmail.com>; Nathan Deily <ndeily(at)yahoo.com>; Patrick Pottorff <happyguy99993(at)yahoo.com>; Samuel Smith <agenbite.lee(at)gmail.com>; Samuel Smith <samuelsmithf(at)yahoo.com>; Steve Lytton <stevelytton(at)hotmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 10:55:04 PM
Subject: DC123 Shade Of The Bonsai - Fall 1575 - Swans - MORI SOLO!!

From the Iwamisudera Monogatari:

Learning is to a man as leaves and branches are for a tree, and can be said that he should simply not be without it.

The drums of war fall silent as the Shogun rises from the south and quells all opposition. With definity, the Mori eliminate the last Shimazu resistance and surge to 13 supply centers - propelling Lee to a clear solo victory. The Oda and Asakura make a few attempted moves to the south, but the Mori don't give an inch. Meanwhile, the Hojo despite all odds eke out a survival and the Takeda watch - knowing that one day the Mori defenses will slip...

However, that is not to be in this game. Congratulations to Lee for his fine solo victory. My thanks, also, to all players on the board - both surviving and eliminated. This is one of my favorite variants, and it was a true pleasure to watch this one unfold.

So - that wraps up DC-123, Shade Of The Bonsai. End-of-game statements are MORE than welcome. I know Benjamin GREATLY values any input you have into the layout of the board, the positioning of the pieces and and general thoughts you have about the development of the Sengoku variant.

Thanks for the fun game everyone. We'll see you on the next board.. =)

Trout


GAME NUMBER Shade Of The Bonsai A Sengoku Game Game Started: Thursday, August 30th



Current Turn: Fall 1575
GAME RESULT: MORI 13 CENTRE SOLO - YEAR 1575


The Honorable Players
Asakura Yoshikage: Joshua Gottesman joshua.gottesman(at)gmail.com ([email]joshua.gottesman(at)gmail.com[/email]) Chosokabe Motochika: Mike Sims mike(at)southwall.com ([email]mike(at)southwall.com[/email]) Hojo Ujimasu: Felix Kamchung felixkamchung(at)mac.com ([email]felixkamchung(at)mac.com[/email]) Mori Motonari: Samuel Smith agenbite.lee(at)gmail.com ([email]agenbite.lee(at)gmail.com[/email]) Oda Nobunaga: Bruce Quinn coebq(at)yahoo.com ([email]coebq(at)yahoo.com[/email]) Shimazu Yoshihisa: Jacob Traegar jacob.traeger(at)student.adelaide.edu.au ([email]jacob.traeger(at)student.adelaide.edu.au[/email]) Takeda Shingen: Nathan Deily ndeily(at)yahoo.com ([email]ndeily(at)yahoo.com[/email]) Uesugi Kenshin: Patrick Pottorff happyguy99993(at)yahoo.com ([email]happyguy99993(at)yahoo.com[/email])


Humble GM: Former Trout former.trout(at)gmail.com ([email]former.trout(at)gmail.com[/email]) Variant Info http://www.variantbank.org/results/rules/s/sengoku.htm

CURRENT SEASON:


FALL 1575 TAKEDA PRESS:
achieving nothing
our cowardly foes ignore
the true deadly threat


FALL 1575 HOJO PRESS:
DEATH IS NOT MY MIDDLE NAME!




FALL 1575 ORDERS:


ODA:
F Kii Straits to Tosa [BOUNCE with TOS 1:1] A Kii to Awa VOID A Totomi to Suruga OK A S. Shinano holds OK A Mino S A S. Shinano to hold OK A Hida S A S. Shinano to hold OK F Pacific Ocean to N. Pacific Ocean OK

SHIMAZU:
A Hyu Holds [DISBANDED by BUN 2:1] A Osu Holds [DISBANDED by HIG 2:1]

TAKEDA:
F Noto S A Echigo - Etchu [DISBANDED by ETC 3:2] F Toyama Bay S F Noto H OK F Hitachi - Mutsu [BOUNCE with NSJ 1:1] A Kazusa H OK A Shimosa - Sagami OK A Echigo - Etchu OK A Kai S A N. Shinano H OK A North Shinano H OK A Sagami - Musashi OK

ASAKURA:
A Echizen - Tango OK A Etchu - Noto OK A Hoki - Bingo [BOUNCE with IZU 1:1] A Kaga Supports A Etchu - Noto OK F North Sea of Japan - Mutsu [BOUNCE with HIT 1:1] F Sanin Coast - Iwami Coast OK F Wakasa Bay Supports A Etchu - Noto OK

HOJO:
HOLD ALL UNITS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED
[GM NOTE: F IZU HOLDS] OK

MORI:
A from Izumo to Bingo [BOUNCE with HOK 1:1] A from Iwami to Aki OK A from Nagato to Iwami OK A from Chikuzen to Nagato OK F from East China Sea to higo OK A from Bungo attacks Hyuga Ok F from Hyuga Coast supports A from Bungo attacking Hyuga OK A from Higo attacks Osumi OK F from Satsuma supports A from Higo attaking Osumi OK [GM NOTE: A AWA UNORDERED - HOLDS] OK [GM NOTE: F TOSA UNORDERED - HOLDS] OK



EARLY WINTER 1575 RETREATS:
Shimazu A Hyga is Automatically Disbanded
Shimazu A Osumi is Automatically Disbanded
Takeda F Noto is Automatically Disbanded




------------------------------


ODA:
8 Supply Centers - Owa, Mik, Yat, Tot, Ise, Kii, Min, Ssh
5 Armies - Hid, Kii, Min, Sur, Ssh
2 Fleets - Npo, Kis


TAKEDA:
9 Supply Centers - Kai, Ecg, Mus, Koz, Nsh, Sag, Kaz, Hit, Mut
6 Armies - Kaz, Sag, Etc, Kai, Nsh, Mus
2 Fleets - Tob, Hit


ASAKURA:
7 Supply Centers - Ecz, Omi, Set, Ina, Yas, Biz, Not
4 Armies - Tng, Hok, Kag, Not
3 Fleets - Wab, Nsj, Iwc


HOJO:
1 Supply Center - Izu
0 Armies -
1 Fleet - Izu


MORI:
13 Supply Centers - Nag, Iwa, Bin, Chi, Izm, San, Iyo, Hiz, Tos, Sat, Bun, Hig, Osu
7 Armies - Awa, Izm, Osu, Hyu, Iwa, Aki, Nag
4 Fleets - Hyc, Sat, Tos, Hig


UESUGI - ELIMINATED 1572


CHOSOKABE - ELIMINATED 1573


SHIMAZU - ELIMINATED 1575