2011 US Masters Player Profiles: Mark Bayne In series of articles, we will be profiling the players who took part in the 2011 US Masters held in Philadelphia. See all result from the 2011 US Masters here...

Player Profile Name: Mark Bayne Hometown: Billings, MT. Current city and state: Austin, TX. College or University: University of Montana, and University of North Dakota. Favorite Movie: Series: Band of Brothers, Non-series: Field of Dreams. Favorite Historical Period: 370BC to 40AD Army List: Mark's Soviet Guards Cossacks...

US Rankings HQ Statistics (as of 15/12/11)

Rank ID Number Points Movement Tournaments 11. 107741 329.3260 0 5

Tournament Results For the Last 12 Months

Tournament Name Location Number of Players Nation Placing Points Earnt Flames Of War Masters United States 22 Soviet 3 74.55 FOWSA 6 United States 37 Soviet 3 91.76 Late War Nationals United States 33 German 5 81.73 à Deux Dents Attaque United States 21 German 1 81.00 Spring Time for Germany United States 19 German 2 74.84

Player Interview

Battlefront: What is your favorite Flames Of War army to play? Mark Bayne: Russian Late-war Cossacks.

BF: Why?  MB: I think the look of a mass of crazy SOB’s riding horses into a fray of machine gun bullets has got to be the most gutsy, crazy dang thing I have yet to see and gets a wonderful reaction from those that have yet to see it (and those that have seen it to many times).  Plus, I respect the real life Cossack’s, some crazy dudes.

Below: Mark's Soviet Guards Coassacks at the US Masters

BF: What is your favorite Flames Of War time period? MB: Late-war...with Early-war possibly usurping that.

BF: Why?  MB: Early-war has so much potential to be interesting, but I do love the options and variances of Late-war.

BF: What is your favorite World War II battle or operation? MB: Kursk.

BF: Why? MB: I am sure you don’t really have to ask why, but can you just imagine that many dang tanks and plane shooting the hell out of each other, total carnage.

BF: What is your favorite part of the hobby? (Painting, playing, historical research, collecting, assembling, etc.) MB: I love them all, hard to pick a favorite.  Yet, I have more fun learning lists and how they were represented in WWII then learning how to utilize those lists, even the goofy ones (hence my Tettau list).  Plus I am addicted to collecting; you should see my painting/miniatures office.

BF: Why do you attend tournaments? MB: I enjoy the camaraderie, the banter, and the competition.

BF: Your tournament mantra? MB: Just have fun; it’s not life or death, wealth or famine.

BF: What is your favorite type of tournament? (Points, theme, time period, style, etc.) MB: Themed.

BF: What are some of the most competitive armies to play? MB: If you mean against, then that would be infantry mixed with Tank support, and anything with flames…, also just crap loads of dug in infantry… BOOOORING…

BF: What is your favorite platoon type? MB: Fast moving and hard hitting.

BF: What are you general tactics that you use almost every game? MB: "Nicht kleckern, klotzen!" ~ Heinz Guderian.

BF: What army are you bringing to the Masters? MB: Soviet Late War Cossacks.

BF: Why? MB: Fun as heck to play, a bit goofy and I’m pretty competitive with it.

BF: What mission are you dreading the most?  MB: Breakout (because it’s broken…) and Encounter (WAY too much luck based on reserve rolls).

BF: What mission do you excel at the most? MB: Breakthrough and fighting withdrawal.

BF: What points level do you like and dislike based on your army selection? MB: 1650 would be great, excellent options, 2000 may be my most disliked.

BF: Why? MB: Well, 1650 points gives me an excellent opportunity to field a decently balanced army without having to face hoards of gun fire / templates / tanks. 2000 points would be my least favorite for exactly the opposite reason, too much stuff to get through.

BF: How do you think you will perform? JR:  I will play, have fun and be competitive.  That’s all I can really hope for, the competition will be intense and I doubt there will be a single game that one can cruise through. We have some excellent players here in Texas and get to play against those guys on a regular basis.  Yet in tournaments it’s a real mix of skills, at Masters there will be no mix, just the best players in the nation(‘s) (can you really count Canada, I mean seriously, what do they do but drink beer and get pissed?) LOL. I think we can lump those west coast folks in that bucket as well, can’t we?
Right: Mark Bayne, tied for third overall with Jim Rush & Phillip Messier.