An idea I just had

[thesanityassassin]

Ok, so this idea may sound a bit odd, but please give it some thought. I got thinking about this while typing on the "friendly/competitive" thread....

What if we ran a tourney some time where EVERYONE played the same list?

It would involve a lot of proxy/counts as models, which may just be too difficult, but I thought it would be an interesting test of generalship and strategy.



It would basically involve one list being made, that was a reasonably complete and take-on-all-comers, yet somewhat unoptimized (IE not just using the "best" units in the army). It would be posted online a good while before the event, along with the scenarios, so that people could have a chunk of time to think about the list and what they could do with it. We would then get together and play a tourney.

With everyone using the same army, strategy, tactics, and of course dice, would be the telling feature of the day.

The list would likely just end up being a Codex: Space Marines army, as they're the most common thing around.


Anyway, what does everyone think. It might sound a little crackpot, I agree, but if people get on board, it could be fun!

[shasodnarb]

I've always loved this idea, actually! ...at least in theory. Sadly, in practice, I still don't think it would be possible at an 1850 level without it being more a pain in the butt than it's worth.

Would be a very cool experiment at lower points, though.

You can definitely count me in if you decide to give it a try.

[Jack Shrapnel]

I think this would be pretty cool... and I agree, marines is probably the easiest (as most are either familiar with them or have even owned them at some point)....

you'd have to have some serious proxy/counts as though.... I've gone this far without buying any marines... would like to keep it that way!

(go go green orky marines!)

[redshirt2375]

Well if it was tried at a lower point level first, and assuming some the marine army owners didn't mind, I'm sure it would be possible to gather together enough models to allow everyone to play without having to proxy too much.

I think it's a neat idea....although with dice being such a larger deciding factor I would likely have to concede right from the start

[Mythweaver]

We simply need to design small markers to denote the actual unit/model from the vanilla list, use two sided tape on bases etc. or just use bases with the unit denoted on each...really cheap and easy. We don't need pretty to find out who is the best.

I was just told by the peanut gallery that noone will want to play unless we are playing with actual models...again we can use post its or some such to make those orky green marines.

I don't believe the dice are ever truelly the deciding factor, as much as I am also guilty of the complaint. With the same army, played on a mirrored surface (same hills etc...) the effects of the dice will be less influential.

;D

[thesanityassassin]

Yeah, Randy and I have played plenty of Fantasy games without models, just writing a unit name on a movement tray....it works alright that way, but with True Line of Sight in 40k, it would be too difficult to use bases without models on them.

I know it would be a bit of a mixup with "counts as" models being somewhat different sizes, but I think it could work.

Possibly keeping it to a 1000 pt/1500 pt range would be best.

[Mythweaver]

The more I think about it, having models will be much more interesting and as you say line of sight is too important.

[redshirt2375]

I don't believe the dice are ever truelly the deciding factor

Just ask Jon about how deciding the dice are in my games....nothing like making only 2 out of 40 5+ invul saves.

Or Matt (in 4th ed) 13 lance shots on 1 Falcon....result? 1 fully mobile fully armed Falcon :S

Or the all time personal worst: 80+ attacks hitting on 3's; 13 of those Power weapons wounding on 4+ the rest mixed between 4+ & 5+......overall total wounds inflicted.....ZERO!!

For me, dice always seem to be the deciding factor in my games

[Mythweaver]

Buy some new ones!

Even I can't boast anything quite that bad. Although, when playing against Dany at the tournament I scored 15 of a possible 18 hits with Shuricannons but not 1 wound!

As a rule though, I believe that if I put myself in a possition where bad dice can be a deciding factor, I've prolly done something wrong.

As everyone knows though, I'm just e newb. ;D

[shasodnarb]

Thank goodness for markerlights, heh heh.

Anyway, sorry about the digression... regarding the original idea, it could definitely be a pretty neat experiment. I would also favour using real models as they're still the focus of the hobby, no matter what the specific nature of the event is.

[Mythweaver]

As D'Narb says, sorry, just being led around by the nose...I also think this idea has merit.

Perhaps we should open the field and have people who are interested submit a list and work on a voting system to pick the most balanced army...

Take care of the other details once there is something more than a good idea to work with, what do you think Matt, it's your baby.

[Tommy]

Yeah i think this could be fun, we'd just have to make sure we have apprpriate models/"counters" for example not enough rhinos to go arounds, a rhino sized box/proxy

I think we could get together enough models to make it work

[Admiral Agrippa]

That sounds like a brilliant idea.

But what about terrain?

Obviously the use of cover can seriously affect a game. Would the table be completely empty or would each side have the exact same set of terrain pieces?

[usscott]

what a about everone get the same 500 list for the fast game. that game set up who u pay for the next game were we play a norml trum if ever like and it go will we goform there

[qwertywraith]

I like the idea. Marines are no doubt the most readily available and well known army with some (Guy for example) having significantly more than he needs for a single army.

An alternative would be to play a tournament where you play twice, once with your army, and once with your opponents. The points would have to be small (say 1000 points) and the games short, maybe with special scenarios.