Cancon 2000

Brisbane BIG
A Queenslander's Report

by Dennis Misso (the Unlucky)
President, Brisbane Independent Gamers (BIG)

'El Presidente' AKA 'Dennis the Unlucky' measures up how far his men must go to die (again)

It was the eve of the great war of the new year at Cancon and the lads from Queensland were ready to embark on the epic journey to the nations capital to defeat all comers. Well, we were doomed right from the start. There were eight great men desperate to show the rest of Australia what we were made of. But then one pulled out due to school work (Book Keeping Exam at Uni) and then there were seven. I n the heat of 42 degrees the seven set out at 0530 in the morning only to be stuffed around at the Airport with the Hire Car. We finally left at about 0700. But there was more bad news. We took the only road that would make us go through three toll gates in an hour. Good planning guys.

Anyway, after a very uneventful journey, we finally arrived in Canberra only to be forced to drive in circles so that we could see Black Mountain Tower go past three times. It wasn't that good, we got lost in the dark. Finally at the motel, we settled in to a couple of quiet beers and a large amount of pizzas before retiring to bed.

Day One

Next morning, up bright and early, ready for battle. Arriving at the venue we were confronted by a large number of eager gamers and trade stall holders. We found our corner of the shed and looked expectantly at the draw to see who would play who. I was rather disappointed with the first draw, as we were to submit an army list together with the year that the army was playing to enable historic match ups. I had brought the Ancient British and put down 43AD and there was an Early Roman army with the same year, but due to some inconsiderate #*%$@*# I never got to fight them the whole comp.

We were the only two armies that actually matched historically and were traditional enemies. I ended up fighting an Arab Armenian army (not that the Ancient Brits ever made it to Africa). The Brits managed to demoralise one small Arab command (but their Commander fought like a demon and refused to die even when demoralised and totally surrounded). He lasted five combats and then my warband were shot to death by Bw(I) (who'd have thought it!). They couldn't throw a decent dice to save their lives (and didn't).

Then his flank march came on just as the two warband commands broke. Game One: a 9-1 loss to the Brits.

Game Two, and the Brits were still lost in Africa and had to fight the Assyrians. Us Brits just love Kn Chariots and Cav(S) and backed up Spear and Auxilia (not). Well, this called for a flank march and it came on in turn two. However, due to the poor quality of the dice and their inability to roll anything substantial, I was unable to capitalise on the flank march. This coupled with an unreliable command, didn't help my cause. After a lot of one-sided fighting and a lot of cursing and swearing on the part of the Brits, the game ended in a 10-0 loss to the Brits. The worst part was that I had travelled some 1300km to fight someone from my own club and who was also in the same state team as me. So ended Day One. I was told I couldn't do any worse the next day, so I had a least something to look forward to.

Day Two

After a night out at a Chinese Restaurant and an uncomfortable sleep in the car (it's bloody cold at night in Canberra), I was ready to do battle. We were still lost in Africa and I next faced up to the Mittani. As I said, I love Cav(S) and backed up Ax(S). Needless to say, after a futile battle on my part (I think I actually killed one or two Cav), the game all became a blur and I managed to lose yet again 10-0. The next game was so much of a blur and my mind was so numb and I managed to do worse than the day before and lost again 10-0. That gave me a whole one point after 4 games. And they said I couldn't do any worse. The organisers told me that I might have a bye the next morning, so I was looking forward to that (not). I came to play, win or lose (although the latter took precedence). That night I actually went to a friend's place and slept in a real bed and was ready for day three.

Day Three

No bye for me, I finally managed to get to fight a traditional enemy, the Marian Romans, - Woo Hoo!. Then he deployed his troops, all behind fortifications or on top of steep hills or in woods. And you think I was going to attack him behind his fortifications? Not with his Bd at 5 points, behind fortifications at +2 and me being Wb and attacking fortifications for -2. At 7 to 2 before the dice were even thrown, I don't think so. The only time any of his troops came out from behind cover, I attacked his Bd and backed up Cav with my Cav Chariots and as luck would have it I lost the CIC's command. Game ended when time was called and I lost 7-3. A marked improvement over the last few days.

Actually it wasn't that good when you consider if I'd actually taken the bye, I would have been guaranteed 10 points (but that would have ruined my average). Next I was finally on home soil, but I was fighting my ar my after it had evolved into the Early Crusaders. Again, I just love Kn(F). He had placed a river (which was more like a waterway) and one warband command took all game to cross it to try to get in to battle. His flank march came on in turn two and if that wasn't bad enough, one of my warband commands was unreliable and the other one couldn't get across the river. I did however manage to get his Kn to go impetuous and they went racing all over the place and ended in a nice big blob for me to kill (if only my guys were not unreliable and I'd had more than one pip on the dice, I might have been able to do something). But that was the luck of the Ancient Brits ALL weekend. Needless to say, I lost yet again 10-0. That gave me a total of 4 points over six games.

Up until then, the Ancient Brits had only lost three games in all the time I'd used them. I didn't bring them to win the comp, they were there as a fun army (but I discovered that it's not fun losing EVERY game you play). I was at least hoping to win one game. My club members have now dubbed me "Dennis the Unlucky".

Overall, the Con was good and I'm glad I managed to get there this year. The best part for me was meeting and putting a face to a name of all the people I'd met on the net and over the phone.

Next year, I think they need to organise the draw so that armies that are historically matched actually get to fight. If they pick the same year, then they should fight each other. They should also organise it so that players from the same state don't play each other, that would avoid the problem of people from the same club travelling to Canberra only to play someone from their own club. This happened a number of times for the Queenslanders and also a couple of times for the boys from the West.

I enjoyed meeting the guys at the trade stalls and some of the other game organisers and even the guys from Kriegspieler. All the stall holders were very friendly and helpful. Thanks for making it an enjoyable weekend (no I don't enjoy losing). Well done to Phillip Jones on the running of the Horse and Musket games, and the Elan participation game on the last day was awesome (I wished I'd lost sooner so that I could have joined in). I thoroughly recommend going to Cancon to anyone who hasn't been there, it's well worth the effort if only just to meet other people with the same interests. Also a well done to Leroy and Scott from 1st Corps for the demo game and the very helpful manner in which they showed themselves. Actually, well done to all that participated.

Next year, watch out, the Brits will be back for revenge, (but then again, they may not).

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