2011 US Masters Player Profiles: Tom Burgess 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: Tom Burgess Hometown: Sterling, VA. Current city and state: Elizabethtown, KY.. College or University:Longwood University (BS), University of Oregon (MS). Favorite Movie: “The Wind and the Lion”. Favorite Historical Period: World War Two, since I’ve been playing Flames Of War anyway! Army Lists: Tom's 6th Fallschirmjägerkompanie...

US Rankings HQ Statistics (as of 22/12/11)

Rank ID Number Points Movement Tournaments 19. 100038 308.9274 0 12

Tournament Results For the Last 12 Months

Tournament Name Location Number of Players Nation Placing Points Earnt Flames Of War Masters United States 22 German 13 37.27 Able Kompanie - LW 1750 - Oct 22 - Gamerz United States 21 German 21 7.45 Pan Sahara Challange United States 18 United Kingdom 2 73.67 Storm the Keep United States 18   5 60.67 Midnight Train to Georgia United States 40 German 9 80.00 DieCon XI United States 17 German 4 63.41 Adepticon Mid War Nationals  United States 20 German 5 64.00 Tippecon United States 46 United Kingdom 11 78.26 Leningrad Tournament United States 12 United Kingdom 6 42.00 Hard Knox Games United States 13 United Kingdom 2 67.38 Early War Blitzkrieg United States 20 French 9 48.00 G2d4 Christmas Tournament United States 24 United Kingdom 3 77.00

Player Interview

Battlefront: What is your favorite Flames Of War army to play? Tom Burgess: Mid-war British Rifles, my first and still favorite Flames Of War force.

BF: Why?  TB: I like to run the 1st Army, Confident Trained, Rifle Company as you can field a ton of units including air support from Hurricanes. The British special rules, 8 Gun Batteries, Bulldog, Carry on Sergeant, etc. seem to work so well with this force.

Below: Tom's Fallschirmjäger at the US Masters.

BF: What is your favorite Flames Of War time period? TB: Mid-war.

BF: Why?  TB: The outcome of the war overall still seems to be somewhat in question and game play generally seems a bit more balanced to me.

BF: What is your favorite World War II battle or operation? TB: Tunisia.

BF: Why? TB: The green US and British 1st Army units battling it out against rushed in ad hoc units of Germans and Italians to the north/west while 8th Army and DAK action occurs to the south/east. This just provides so many interesting battles to study in one campaign.

BF: What is your favorite part of the hobby? (Painting, playing, historical research, collecting, assembling, etc.) TB: Flames Of War let’s me get so much out of all of them.

BF: Why do you attend tournaments? TB: They are concentrated Flames Of War goodness! You get to see some new armies, meet and play new players, and of course getting to see the great Flames Of War friends I have made over the years again.

BF: Your tournament mantra? TB: Combined Arms! I always have Infantry, Tanks, and Artillery in balanced forces.

BF: What is your favorite type of tournament? (Points, theme, time period, style, etc.) TB: Themed; it’s great when a tournament organizer tries to do something special and unique.

BF: What are some of the most competitive armies to play? TB: It’s not the armies, but the players that make a force so competitive.  Because I run tend to run infantry based combined arms forces there normally is not any particular force that I absolutely dread, but I do seem to have my biggest challenge when I have to attack against fearless veteran infantry force in defensive battles.

BF: What is your favorite platoon type? TB: Infantry, specifically the nine team British Rifle platoon that always seems to be a great value with its light mortar and AT team as well as the seven Rifle/MG teams backed up by British Bulldog and Carry on Sergeant. I love the way they hang on in close combat.

BF: What are you general tactics that you use almost every game? TB: I always try to combine effects from my units. Many players eschew towed Anti-tank guns and bombardment artillery units, but I always take them because these units when combined with others units can be very effective.

BF: What army are you bringing to the Masters? TB: Fallschrimjäger.

BF: Why? TB: I’m not as fond of running my British Rifles in Late-war and from what I know of the other invitees I expect the Allied ranks to be maxed out already. So I’ll hopefully help with Red/Blue balance. Also, my Fallschrimjäger are my best looking Late-war force and I want to bring the best I have to this event!

BF: What mission are you dreading the most?  TB: As an infantry player, Free-For-All, against a tank force will be about the worst situation I’ll face. Special bonus for me…we’ll be playing that mission twice!

BF: What mission do you excel at the most? TB: No Retreat should be my best showing attacking or defending.

BF: What points level do you like and dislike based on your army selection? And why? TB: 1650 and above will be best for my force.

BF: Why? TB: The high cost of my units will limit my force a good bit at point levels below 1650.

BF: How do you think you will perform? TB:  I’ve played, and beaten, many of the invitees already but likewise those same players have also beaten me as well.  So I hope to be right in the middle of this great group of players in the end, but will be happy even if I come in dead last. I’m just looking forward to a great weekend of gaming.