Championship Tournament Feb. 18-19 2012 (Cambridge, MA) > $1200 in cash prizes!

[Kevin]

To confirm the answer to your question, Niko, it's the same as last year regarding mercenaries.  Pure faction only, but you may of course play "Monsters and Mercs" as your faction.  (Btw, this is the first bullet point of the last section of the top post of this thread.)

The reasons why I'm keeping mercs out...

- By far the most common screw-up which people make is playing a faction command card on a mercenary unit.  So I'm deliberately avoiding "If you hadn't played Loyalty on your Ogres 2 turns ago they'd have routed and I'd have rolled your line...JUDGE!"

- I like the notion that anyone can spend $30 on one faction and be on equal footing with everyone else.

- IMHO we get better playtest data on the viability of factions & units if they're kept pure.  

- Mercs = more choices = a couple of people running overtime in the army build phase.


But I think it's perfectly fine for other tournament to allow mercs.  They're not a game breaker or anything.  It's just a personal favor to myself not to have to deal with them.

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Btw, no trophy this year, just the medals (and the cash). 

[Kevin]

Updated the tournament rules google doc with two rules we'll be trying.

1)  The "Disrupted rule:

When an unit which was unengaged at the beginning of that courage phase fails a rout check, instead of routing it becomes Disrupted.  Erase its Standing Orders are write D.

A Disrupted unit may not move, cast spells, or make ranged attacks.  It the unit becomes engaged it is at (-1) -1/-1  (This penalty stacks with all other penalties.)  It costs an extra Command Action to Direct Control or change the Standing Order of a Disrupted unit, unless the unit is a type which can (under any circumstances), auto-rally.

A Disrupted unit which fails a rout check routs.

2)  No "Engaged Target" penalty.

(Pretty self-explanatory.  Though units which can't shoot at engaged opponents (e.g. Dwarven Ballista) are still under that prohibition.)

[gornhorror]

1)  The "Disrupted rule:

When an unit which was unengaged at the beginning of that courage phase fails a rout check, instead of routing it becomes Disrupted.  Erase its Standing Orders are write D.

A Disrupted unit may not move, cast spells, or make ranged attacks.  It the unit becomes engaged it is at (-1) -1/-1  (This penalty stacks with all other penalties.)  It costs an extra Command Action to Direct Control or change the Standing Order of a Disrupted unit, unless the unit is a type which can (under any circumstances), auto-rally.

Kevin,  so I am clear.  If a wolfin unit is disrupted.  The next turn it only takes one command action to change it's orders or direct control it.  For other units that don't have the auto rally ability it takes two command actions?

[Kevin]

Kevin,  so I am clear.  If a wolfin unit is disrupted.  The next turn it only takes one command action to change it's orders or direct control it.  For other units that don't have the auto rally ability it takes two command actions?

Correct!

[gull2112]

So if I have only one spare CA to spend can I spend it on a Disrupted unit to remove the disruption so I can rally it with one CA next turn? If I remove the Disruption do put a Hold SO on the unit?

This seems strange to me. Why can't a player just spend one CA to change the orders from Disrupted to whatever? It seems that in many instances Disruption is a bigger hassle than having the unit rout.

[Kevin]

So if I have only one spare CA to spend can I spend it on a Disrupted unit to remove the disruption so I can rally it with one CA next turn?

Nope.

It's a two-edged sword.  But far less of one than it appears.  If the opponent is shooting then odds are your units are closing.  (If both are standing & shooting, then you may as well just leave your unit Disrupted.)  So you'd almost never want to just flip it to Hold anyway.  

The Disrupted rule is meant to reflect history, where the primary purpose of ranged attacks was to disrupt enemy formations rather than annihilate them (though the latter did happen on occasion).

[Kevin]

To everyone reading this,

I'd like to see this be the biggest Batteground event yet!  Last year we had 12 people at the Championship Tournament; I'm hoping that we hit 16, and will be tickled pink if we hit 20!

Thus, I need your help!


- If you are coming, please try to drag along a friend or two.

- If you have a friend who isn't active on the Forum, please make sure they're aware of this tournament.

- If you are a new player, please come!  This is a fun time, and a nearly unique chance to play games with many different players, not least Chad, the creator of Battleground, himself!  And by the way, last year's tournament was won by a player who had never before been to a tournament and considered himself a newbie, proving that everyone has a chance!  


You all help get me a good turnout, and in exchange I'll get you...Championship 2013!  

[gull2112]

To everyone reading this,

I'd like to see this be the biggest Batteground event yet!  Last year we had 12 people at the Championship Tournament; I'm hoping that we hit 16, and will be tickled pink if we hit 20!

Thus, I need your help!


- If you are coming, please try to drag along a friend or two.

- If you have a friend who isn't active on the Forum, please make sure they're aware of this tournament.

- If you are a new player, please come!  This is a fun time, and a nearly unique chance to play games with many different players, not least Chad, the creator of Battleground, himself!  And by the way, last year's tournament was won by a player who had never before been to a tournament and considered himself a newbie, proving that everyone has a chance!  


You all help get me a good turnout, and in exchange I'll get you...Championship 2013!  

James and are gonna be there and I challenge anyone Wester then Minnesota to steal our title of farthest flung.

Because I think Kevin is the coolest dude ever for sporting this tourney (right up there with Niko for supporting it with his store) I'm going to bring one of my home made mapboards (the new improved version) with my new improved bases, to add to the prize glut. If you're wanting to intimidate your opponents, nothing says "I obviously obsess about this game more than you" quite like awesome custom components.

[Kevin]

That's awesome!  Thanks, Mike!      

Mike's unqiue map board & improved bases set is hereby designated The Giant Slayer Prize!

Only people who do not make the final 4 of Championship, and did not make final 3 [1] in 2011, are eligible to win The Giant Slayer Prize.

The prize will be awarded to whoever defeated the person who placed highest in the main tournament, but only people who place higher than you count.  (For example if the winner goes undefeated, and 2nd place only lost to people who placed 1st and 4th, but the person who placed 7th beat the person who placed 3rd, the prize goes to the person who placed 7th.)

In the (highly unlikely) event of a tie, it will be awarded based on the 2nd best record of a person that you defeated.

If nobody who didn't make the final 4 defeats anyone who made the final 4, this prize will be awarded to the top new/casual player (who doesn't make the final 4).

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Interestingly,  in 2011 nobody would've qualified for this prize, as people who make the final 4 were only defeated by others who also made the final 4--so it would've defaulted to the Giant War Elephant Kid, who totally deserved it.  But I have a feeling that somebody will win it this time around...  

[1] In 2011 only the final 3 won cash prizes.

[RushAss]

Hey Mike, I spoke with Troy (jungletoy) yesterday and he says he's coming.  Since he's from Reno Nevada he totally steals your thunder!

[gull2112]

Hey Mike, I spoke with Troy (jungletoy) yesterday and he says he's coming.  Since he's from Reno Nevada he totally steals your thunder!

Did you convince him to come based on the gauntlet I layed down?

[Kevin]

Minor Update:  the Sunday Speed Swiss game schedule is a bit looser; we'll play it by ear based on how quickly the rounds are going.   I will try to get in 1-2 full map games  (rather than half-map speed games) if time allows.  These games would be Ticking Clock "coin games." 

Coin games:  Ticking Clock Scenario; 3 coins placed (symmetrically) on an open map.  These coins have no effect on movement or combat, but they count as terrain for scoring purposes when the game ends.

[gornhorror]

So can we get a list of people that are going to play in the tourney in Feb? 

I think Marcus, Chris, and Rob and  Myself are a go, God willing.  That's 4 players right there. I guess you can put us in the committed category.  Hopefully Moose and Tim will be making it also so we can have a good showing from the Jersey group.   

[Kevin]

Some non-Jersey folks who were there last year whom I'm just about positive will be back are Niko, Chad, Ron (BubblePig), and Jaime (Mexico).  
Bohan (Zelc) will hopefully make is making a triumphant return as well, though I haven't seen a hard confirmation.

As to folks who weren't there last year, I'm pretty sure that Niko's friend Seth (who thumped me nicely at TotalCon) will be there.  Then you have Mike (gull2112) from Minnesota, and Troy (JungleToy) from Nevada.   Jim (LazyJ) from Minnesota will hopefully be there as well.  

So that's 7 8-9 more on top of the New Jersey 4-6 3-4.

I sent the Giant War Elephant Kid (a.k.a. Will) an email, though not sure if he'll be back.  Ditto Jon, who played last year.  I'm pretty sure that Dave isn't coming back, though he's welcome to change his mind!

Some other folks have been invited but I can't confirm either way.  I've also heard rumors that some local folks who don't think they have a chance at the main tournament may show up for Sunday only.

My assitant judge Rachel will be available to play a game with the odd-person-out if there's an odd number of people so one doesn't get matched.  She's not competing, though.

And of course this is only the folks I know about.  

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And before anyone asks--there's no preregistration, just show up!

[RushAss]

Just an update: Rob won't be able to make it and Tim is probably a no-go as well.  That leaves Brook, Chris, and myself from our group.