Wintermute 28/05/2006 - 09:11
(Brandir has provided us with a report of the
UK WARMACHINE Tournament at Game 06 which took place on 29th April. However, due to circumtances beyond my control (honest) I haven't been able to post his article until now. Sorry -
Wintermute)
On Saturday 29 th April 2006 the largest (to date!) WARMACHINE tournament took place at Game 06 at the Thistle Birmingham City. Game 06 was organised jointly by the Stourbridge and October wargaming clubs and also hosted the Euro D&D Miniatures Championship and a major 24-player UK Flames of War tournament.
I had the dubious privilege of being the head referee of the WARMACHINE tournament in my capacity as a Privateer Press Ganger.
When I first agreed with the organisers to arrange a WARMACHINE tournament in Birmingham I hoped for 20 players, but expected 16 from the West Midlands. People were slow to register at first, but after meeting a few dedicated WARMACHINE players at demo games I ran at various wargaming shows in the UK I started to receive a few more queries. Once about twelve people had registered, there was a sudden avalanche of queries and the organisers managed to squeeze in a few table to extend the event from 24 to 34 players. I think what made the event appealing was the realisation that there were players from quite a geographical spread and the wish to face new people and stomp them.
Finding the hotel was easy and it was a great sight to see comfy chairs, strong tables, working air conditioning and good lighting in our room (the Arial Suite). Pleasant conditions make events such as this far more appealing and less stressful.
Although registration was from 09:15 hrs most players had registered by then. They were keen to start. But, as always, there were one or two stragglers who seemed unable to find the venue. They did arrive and gaming started at 10:30 hrs.
My aim for the day was to ensure that players from the same club/town did not face each other and therefore played completely new opponents. This seemed to work and a few very experienced club players, used to facing the same Warcasters, were stretched from game one facing Warcaster/Warjack/unit combinations they had never faced before.
[img_assist|fid=401|thumb=0|alt=First Round Underway]
First Round Underway
The first two rounds began to see a theme emerging; players from Glasgow and PEWC would be challenging for the major prizes. These two clubs both have superb WARMACHINE communities and a core of great players. The event was also running behind schedule by about thirty minutes. But lunch enabled us to catch up and also judge the painting.
[img_assist|fid=405|thumb=0|alt=Best Painted Army]
Best Painted Army
[img_assist|fid=409|thumb=0|alt=Best Painted Mini]
Best Painted Mini
The painting contest was split into two. The best-painted army was sponsored by House of Barca and judged by the proprietor Tony. Jonathan's Khador army was selected as the winner. The best-painted individual mini award was sponsored by Privateer Press and judged by their top man in Europe, Moray. The winner was Johanna with a Devout light Warjack. Well done both of you. Of note, the short lists for both of these prizes were made up of minis painted by either Glasgow or PEWC players; Glasgow was just ahead in both categories.
After lunch the event resumed. The players had warmed up by now and were getting through their games and the end of game admin quicker. The first round after lunch saw our first sub 45-minute game: Lex won his game in 15 minutes. There were a few spare prizes so it was decided that the quickest winner would receive recognition. Would there be a quicker caster-kill?
The end of round four saw just three players on maximum points but a further three people who could win the event. So the top table was, as always, the centre of attention for the last round. Which meant I nearly missed a FIVE-MINUTE victory by Barry when he despatched Deneghra in his first turn. Well-done Barry!
But in the end it was Jim and his Cryx army that prevailed.
[img_assist|fid=413|thumb=0|alt=Champion & Faction Winners]
Champion and Faction Winners
List of winners and the overall position they finished:
1. Jim Lawrence Cryx Glasgow Champion, best Cryx
2. Andrew Christian Protectorate of Menoth PEWC Best Menoth
3. Duard Zentner Khador Cambridge Best Khador
4=Alvin Yeoh Khador Manchester Second Khador
4=Jonathan Fair Khador Glasgow Best painted army
6. Johanna Slotte Protectorate of Menoth Glasgow Second Menoth, best-painted individual mini
8. Ian Dawe Cryx PEWC Second Cryx
9. David Wyatt-Millington Cygnar Bradford Best Cygnar
10.Charles Shepherd Cygnar PEWC Second Cygnar
20.Aaron Tunney Khador PEWC Random painted army draw
23.Barry Stevens Cygnar Smart Party Gamers Quickest victory
25.Andrew Burns Khador PEWC Random draw: Merc Dice
31.James Pilkington Protectorate of Menoth Dungeon Hackers Sportsman
Overall the event seemed to be well received and the organisers are keen to host a WARMACHINE and/or HORDES tournament at Game 07, possibly in June next year.
