Enfilade 99 is northwest's premier ASL tournament. Gobs of players descend on the cardboard steppes. What happens next is the stuff legends are made of.
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Enfilade 99 is northwest's premier ASL tournament. Gobs of players descend on the cardboard steppes. What happens next is the stuff legends are made of. |
Enfilade 99 was held Memorial Day weekend (5/28/99 - 5/30/99).
Sadly, the tourney was dedicated to the Portland ASL player, Cary Cardon, whose tragic death just couple of days before cast a pale shadow on the weekend. I was unfortunate to never have met him but those who knew him were touched by this event. Just watching those around me made me appreciate the depth of their loss.
The tournament was ably run by Team Seattle's driving forces: Scott Picardat and Jeff Newell. Jeff, whose gentle charm would make a child give up his candy and who's so morally depraved, would take it, actually ran the event. Scott, whose last name is never pronounced the same way twice, organized it and set everything up. He is also the guy that builds that cool dice towers. The games started on time, ran on schedule and all five rounds were played. What more can you ask? The greatest accomplishment: there was the least amount of whining about the scenario list for any year. Plaques were given to Jim Roche for founding the tournament and Scott Picardat for running it the last few years.
Enfilade is actually a miniatures convention and the ASLers were relegated to the back room. In keeping the hotel's nautical theme, the Commodore's room, to be precise. Even for having miniatures players nearby, the turnout was a record setting 30. Strong showings were made by archrivals Seattle Maurders and the Portland Berserk Commissars. The only more comic rivalry I can think of is maybe Cheers and Gary's Old Towne Tavern. The non-gaming competition started early when the Maurders introduced their new tee shirts, a big CX counter with a sniper's crosshairs right in the guy's head. In the age of Columbine school shootings, these cool and politically correct rags should go over well. Not to be out done, the Commissars revealed their Soviet W.W.II-style berets. You bet that was a room of stylin' ASL players. We had cross state visitors from Spokane, namely Robert Wolkey. We even had a guest from Idaho who traveled here to "allow" his wife to visit her family. Missing for some reason was the Vancouver group. I always enjoyed getting trounced by Canadians.
Actual gaming started immediately. By noon on Friday, a full five hours before the tourney officially started, Dogs of War had been set up and was in full swing. Myself and a good nature Portland player, Clayton Queen, started the gaming early at 2:00 p.m. with the behemoth, The Awakening of Spring (G33).
Phil Petry and Jeff DeBraal. They seem to be wearing Medium sized shirts, maybe a Large. Recognition plaques were also awarded to Seattle's Jim Roche and Scott Picardat.By 10:00 p.m., the game was all but over and Clay was giddy like school girl with his new found win for the first round. By the time I looked up that night, the room was full of players, some I have seen before and many others I have not.
At tournament's end, Seattle's Phil Petry claimed the big prize, taking it way from last year's winner, Dade Carriga. Jeff DeBraal claimed the coveted number two spot. From what I understand it was a tough fight amongst the players. I'm sure there'll be a grudge match next year and I plan to watch it, albeit from the sidelines.*
Things I learned
*Never play a Japanese scenario against someone who wrote an article in the Journal called "Tactical Tips for Playing the Japanese in ASL."*Dade keeps calling me 'Del Martinsen.' I am sure both Del and I would prefer he stop that.
*Jeff, I am really just an XL but you know how varied sizes can be.
*Doesn't it bother anyone that you need two people now to carry down the ASL box?
My Tournament AARs
The Awakening of Spring. My Russians lost.
Tod's Last Stand. My Germans won.
As always, I encourage discussion. If you agree or disagree, feel free to write me.
