Two guys say their Good - Byes

We Asked Our X-Pres to say a few words

Hmm.... a short essay about myself?......ok, here it goes...

ToddVomit

Long time member and volunteer, going way back to the AOL A&A Club days.

Positions Held: Minister of War, Vice President, and President

Accomplishments in Office: Lead development team for current web site and its many automated features. Opened communications with other A&A member organizations. Established a treasury for IAAPA. Designed and produced the various T-Shirts available (except the first convention shirt by LASteam). Sponsored Annual Conventions 2-5.

Now about the man behind the accomplishments... Born in 1964 in New Orleans, LA.... Learned to play chess at 7, was the Local Jr Champion at the age of 11, and played my first true War Games about the same time...Learned advanced tactics and maneuvering by playing games such as PLOY, Panzer Blitz, Third Reich, The Longest Day. Advanced Strategy was developed by playing games like Diplomacy, Hitler's War, Supremacy, and Star Fleet Battles.

Was a volunteer play tester for Avalon Hill in the late 70's and early 80's, and got my first taste of Axis and Allies around 84. After playing Risk for years, with our own house modifications, my small group of strategy gaming friends were ready for a more complicated game. It seemed the perfect fit between the overly complex and maddening slow paced games from Avalon Hill and the simple games like Risk and Chess. I was hooked.

As I began a career, got married, and had children, I grew apart from my gaming buddies. And Axis sat on the shelf with all the other games I love so much...My career is that of Senior Show Coordinator and Technician for a locally based Production Company. This brings me around the Country for weeks at a time, and requires a lot of long hours both before the event and during. This coupled with my A&A Playing, and volunteer duties with the club, exhausts all my time.

My most memorable time in the IAAPA was the weekly chats we had on AOL in our very own A&A Bar and Grill. Live gaming in those chat rooms, and the great people I've met at our annual conventions. As strange as we all may be, when we get together, somehow we're always like old friends. A&A is the common ground for all of us. All of my opponents have left me wiser for playing them.

Over the years I've seen Bids go up, the Allied strategies have nearly been perfected, and the Axis struggle more and more. The Bids have the scales balanced so well, that a single round or two of bad luck can seal your fate. The play here has gotten so good, that most matches can be swayed by a single misstep, or failed attack. My most memorable opponents were Yuugal, mheinz, EnemyThine, Rewstr, and HocyGoaly. These guys were tenacious, and brought varied strategies to bear on you with devastating results. I learned much from their use of air forces, bombers, infantry defenses, and tech attempts. There is certainly a situation where proper employment in these areas will secure a win.

To my credit are the Fortress Europa Strategy, and the Japanese Magic 84 Lurch. These strategies were developed over many games, and have brought me victory in most of my games. There is much I must still master in this game, and strategies I cannot employ properly yet. That is why I will always love this game, as the strategies remain fluid, and must be re-evaluated and altered with the tides of War.

Although I am leaving office and ending my volunteering, I will remain playing, and hope to work out the kinks in my strategies further. I expect each and every one of you will teach me some small bit as we play.

See you on the battlefield, and remember cowards play the Allies!

TV

FROM the Rewster