FRACAS 2012 Report

FRACAS 2012 Report with Bob Pearce FRACAS is a 600 point tournament that is usally held in Wanganui. For 2012, due to restrictions placed on the usual venue due to earthquake-proofing requirements, the event was unable to be held at its usual location. I decided, for some reason, that I would be able to run in it the sprawling metropolis of Shannon, in the mighty Horowhenua instead! So, having got the blessing of Andrew Karl and the Wanganui Irregulars, I went ahead with the planning, this being my first event as Tournament Organsier, I was somewhat nervous to say the least!

With the help of a great many friends and well known faces in the Flames Of War community, I managed to get all my ducks in a row and the day was set for Saturday 4 August. I had secured prize support from Battlefront, who once again proved that they do not only look after their own Grand Tournaments and the larger, more well-known events, but that they like to help out and promote the whole of the Flames Of War community and tournament scene. I had thirty four players arriving, which is a good number for an New Zealand event, let alone a new one! I had set the period to Early-war with a few special rules requirements. Forces only had to have an HQ and a minimum of one Combat Platoon, there were to be no Top Armour 2 vehicles as they just over-balance games at this points level. I eventually received all thirty four army lists and after some tweaking by the Tournament Organiser, we were good to go!

The day was fast arriving and with much help from the local Manawatu Duellists, I had the venue 90% ready on the Friday, the day before we were due to start. After a sleepless night, I was at the venue at 0700hrs. Ready to go! With 34 players and 17 tables, all of 4’x4’, the Shannon Anglican Hall was packed to capacity! Once all players had arrived, I gave a quick brief and we were off! Oh, did I mention that I was both the Tournament Organsier and participate? That turned out to be a slight issue! Anyway! We were playing five games, alternating between Free-For-All and No Retreat. Each game lasting 75 minutes, with a strict finishing time. If games had not finished legally by the 75 minute point, they were called as they were and points allocated accordingly.

As this was a pure Victory Point scoring tournament only, there were no scores for Sportsmenship etc.  Although we did have a separate painting prize, and also one for best under-16 player. Rounds progressed smoothly and there was some see-sawing of positions, but by the end of round five, there was a clear winner. Second and Third places were also in no despute, and the painting compition had been smashed by one person, so no worries there!

The under-16 comp was also a one-sided win, but young Cameron King although beaten by Daniel Shepherd, had done well for his first tournament, and I do hope we will see more of him in the future! Its young people such as this that are the future of our hobby, and we should all do our utmost to welcome them. I am mostly responsible for both Cameron and his father Kevin playing Flames Of War as it was at FRACAS a while back that they first played and I almost brow-beat Kevin into playing! All for the greater good! So, with all games completed, the scores tallied, it was time for the prize-giving ceremony. I had gotten trophies made up, and these went well alongside the Battlefront prize support, the prize support from our other sponsor Conflict Distrobution, and some Early-war Blisters that I had added as well.

Below: Third place was won by Rob Torrance of Hamilton.	Below: Second Place went to Bede Bailey of The Hutt.	Below: The Under 16 Award went to Daniel Shepherd.

First Place went to Simon McBeth of The Hutt but he turned out to be a little camera shy. Best Painted went to Bede Bailey for his great work on his new Gebirgsjäger Army. Very Crisp! I would like to thank Battlefront for supplying the prizes, the Manawatu Duellists for supplying the tables, and most of the terrain, Conflict Distribution for other prize support, and all those individuals without whom, FRACAS 2012 would not have happened. Right: Bede's Gebirgsjäger.

In particular I would like to thank, Rossman, Chris Otton, Derek and Josh Forrester, Mike Clement, Evan Allen of Battlefront, and lastly, all the players who came from far and wide to play. I did not hear a single cry of foul-play, and I was only asked two rules questions as Tournament Organiser, which I take as an indication that games were played in the spirit that they should be played in, that of fun!

I am going to do something in Shannon again next year, although it is likely to be a different format to this year. It was great for the local economy to have a large number of people in one area; the local café even had to get in extra staff to cope with demand! Thanks again, see you next year. ~ Bob. Left: Happy, smiley people.