Points are Premium… but can focusing on ‘Cool’ score you points you didn’t even know were there?
In the first article I talked about the fact that as an Event TO I wished players could take the time to all read the player pack - all of it. It’s actually full of opportunities to maximize their overall points before they get to the event.
This time I’m going to share my thoughts on preparing an army for a weekend of gaming at Arc40k. I’ve done it a few times and I’ve see some great successes when participants get the balance right for our event. But all too often I see confident experienced Tournament Players fail to grasp that the focus you might bring to every other event isn’t going to help earn maximum points across the six games of an Arc40k Weekend.
Sportsmanship Vs Gameplay Vs Composition
The biggest misconception about placing well at Arc40k is that it is like every other tournament.
It’s the Conan syndrome: To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women.
So they expect to bring a beast of an army - one that is tuned to slay 6 opponents and win the trophy!
The longest standing traditions at Arc40k is that Gameplay & Sportsmanship have equal weight in deciding our champions. Yes, they have equal points allocated to them that contribute to the overall score.
You can’t expect to table an opponent in 2 turns and walk away with full battle points as well as gain maximum Sportsmanship & Composition points from an opponent who spent more time unpacking their models only to spend less time on the table before repacking them back in their model case!
This makes 'how' the game is played more important to the overall score than the outcome of the game. It’s central to the gaming experience, we will spend 2 and a bit hours playing a game, spending time with the person across that gaming tabletop, then guess what? It should be enjoyable for both players. The organisers of Arc40k all believe that it’s their responsibility to make their opponent’s time across the table a fun, enjoyable one. If that’s not been you - then there’s points you are excluding yourself from getting.
A player who’s focus is too much on any one scoring category is likely to score less points overall than a player who keeps all three in mind.
Too much Gameplay, and your Sportsmanship score will suffer, too much focus on composition and your Gameplay will suffer, or too much focus on Sportsmanship and your Gameplay will suffer.
When we throw non-standard, out of the box thinking missions into this mix we give you all a very unique gaming prospect. That’s one where the best list available doesn't always fair the best, but the best generals quite often do well, and it gives the players the best chance of having a fun game - that’s kinda the point?
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff
When you attend an event it can feel like every single decision made on the table is solely about holding that objective, taking that last wound, or moving a certain distance which all equates to how many Battle Points you will score if you do it.
You’ve got to think about that balance - is striving for one extra Battle Point going to earn you more or less for Sportsmanship or Composition at the end of the game? How do the sums add up.
By taking more fun units, could you be scoring more composition points than the lost Battle Points?
Scoring Battle Points doesn't deny your opponent scoring them, and your opponent scoring them, doesn't deny you from scoring them either. So don’t take another Conan like attitude of ‘Run from me… and I will tear apart the mountains to find you! If you can let them score points if it’s not going to take points from you!
Look at the end of the day it's all about creating a balance - bring a 'cool' list, be a 'cool' opponent, play some 'cool' games, and you’ll find that‘s the easiest way to maximise that overall score.
Just bare in mind you may not be the only one reading this article that is attending our event.
