Torney rules

[ravenflight]

What is the general view of tournament rules?

I mean, lets say I organise the tournament for CanCon and say "Coast lines give secure flanks - You can't have a 6" to edge threatened flank if you have a coastline", or Marty does and says "Elephants will cost 20AP", or some other 'pet peeve' is 'fixed' by a tourney ruling? How do people feel about that?

I'd make it a poll, but can't on my phone...

[stenic]

Go too wild and people will not bother probably, but something small and logical should be fine.

[philqw78]

The BHGS had their own rule clarifications for DBM that told people how the rules were to be interpreted, so it's been done.

I don't think the coast thing is a good idea as the minus one for table edge is a game reason not a real reason for lower morale

[grahambriggs]

You'd need to make it very clear in advance to the competitors, and an explanation of why you've made the changes could be good and I'd be wary of major changes.

Some changes may have little effect. The coastline thing for example. Just make it maimum size and people won't get within 6MU of the flank anyway.

I would beware of the unintended consequences too, particularly if it's the first such tounament. Say you felt elephants were under-priced and for this tournament they are going to be 20AP. You base that one the experiences of a couple of players using a couple of BGs. Someone good and experienced shows up with 8BGs of them, and spends the spare 80 points on a couple of units of support troops. They've then got a big army with frontal strike power and good troops on the wings, which proceeds to flatten all comers. I imagine some of the opponents will feel a bit hard done by.

[Polkovnik]

I think changes to table size, deployment rules, terrain (e.g pre-set terrain) are fine and serve to make the tournament more interesting. I think rules changes and points changes (just because you personally don't like or agree with that particular rule) are not a good idea. People choose to play the game as it is, and expect to be able to play the game they are familar with at a tournament.

[ravenflight]

I think changes to table size, deployment rules, terrain (e.g pre-set terrain) are fine and serve to make the tournament more interesting. I think rules changes and points changes (just because you personally don't like or agree with that particular rule) are not a good idea. People choose to play the game as it is, and expect to be able to play the game they are familar with at a tournament.

Good points made by all.

Your point about 'pre-set terrain' reminds me of another issue... if you're going to have pre-set terrain (or indeed any weirdness) you really have to advertise that well in advance. I remember going to a comp where they announced at the start of the comp (i.e. Day 1) that it would be pre-set terrain. I was unimpressed because I'd bought an army with the hope of capitalizing on 'Steppe' in my home list and with a +4 modifier thought there was a reasonable chance. The organizers at the time changed their mind, and all was good, but it bought out (to me in particular) that you have to let people know ahead of time the plan.

I've played in only one comp with pre-set terrain, and it was a great comp. I knew ahead of time that it was going to be pre-set, and designed my army accordingly.