I found this to be an interesting variant, and if I had it to do over
again, I probably would have been more aggressive as Asakura. The
function of the ronin territories threw me off a bit. I really didn't
expect other powers to be supporting them, I just expected them to be
road bumps, and that threw off my early game. I suppose that's why we
play these variants more than once (except myopic...I will never play
myopic again).
Congratulations to Lord Mori on his victory, and at some level I
suppose I could have done more to stop it. However, most of the
mid-game was spent attempting to prevent a Takeda victory, and if
someone had to win, I'm happy it was Mori rather than Takeda. Takeda
almost got away with his plan to pit Oda and Asakura against each
other so that he could quickly get to 12 centers. Thankfully Oda and
I had been negotiating a lot early and had established enough rapport
that we avoided that crisis. I remember the Oda press I was forwarded
from Takeda to which I wrote a scathing reply to Oda entitled "I know
of your treachery!" Oda talked me off the ledge, and I begrudgingly
kept my trust in him. As we continued to talk, it became clear that
Takeda was forwarding my press to Oda (and Hojo, I think) and Oda's
press to me, and some of Hojo's press. When we figured this out, our
course became clear. We started sending out false dispatches, just to
confirm that Takeda would forward them. He did, and this allowed us
to plan against him, and reverse his expansion. We brought in the
failing Hojo, who pledged his last unit to the cause, and we were
devoted to having him survive the game and am glad we can. I never
did have a lot of force to shift against Mori, however I probably
could have sent a few units south, and perhaps Oda could have added
one or two, and I'm not sure it would have made a big difference. In
the north Takeda would have been stymied rather than pushed back,
however I'm not sure if grabbing 1 or 2 Mori centers would have done
more than delay the inevitable. With no enemies behind him, he could
have brought his entire force to bear against a small portion of mine.
All in all, an enjoyable game, and I'll look forward to more in the future.
Joshua Gottesman
Asakura
On Nov 30, 2007 9:02 AM, Nathan Deily <ndeily(at)yahoo.com> wrote:
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
Chosokabe Motochika: Mike Sims mike(at)southwall.com
Hojo Ujimasu: Felix Kamchung felixkamchung(at)mac.com
Mori Motonari: Samuel Smith agenbite.lee(at)gmail.com
Oda Nobunaga: Bruce Quinn coebq(at)yahoo.com
Shimazu Yoshihisa: Jacob Traegar jacob.traeger(at)student.adelaide.edu.au
Takeda Shingen: Nathan Deily ndeily(at)yahoo.com
Uesugi Kenshin: Patrick Pottorff happyguy99993(at)yahoo.com
Humble GM: Former Trout former.trout(at)gmail.com
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
