Proposed Apocalypse Game During GT2010

[Wolf Lord Snorville]

Thought I would open up a new thread as this seems to be a popular discussion.

My suggestion is that we play some apocalypse games over the next few months and see how long these games actually take. Vary the points and people some.

This way we can argue about something we know rather than something we think we know.

[Garou24]

I ran a whole apocalypse campaign and once you have set players and teams the game goes fairly quickly. I think the first step is deciding points, and teams. I have found games of 3 vs 3 to be a nice size of points and players without it getting overwhelming.

Having multiple tables to play on and breaking the groups into 3 man teams would help. Also plenty of emply tables next to the game table. If you have your points, and your models, set them up on the empty table in their squads ahead of time, once the game starts this allows you to move researves and dead models back and forth quickly.

Timed rounds helps to move things along too. And having a team captain to direct the teams movements or objectives allows the players to have a plan and move their models quickly in the time given.

The biggest hurdle I think is first knowing how much time we will have to play, and then adjust points to match. A 3 man team and bring 2000-3000 points each and still move and play those models quickly. Plus at 3000 points per person, if a 3 man team, thats 9000 points, makes for an epic game feel, but will also move along quickly.

[Soleman]

Oct 22, 2009 19:03:34 GMT -5 Garou24 said:

I ran a whole apocalypse campaign and once you have set players and teams the game goes fairly quickly. I think the first step is deciding points, and teams. I have found games of 3 vs 3 to be a nice size of points and players without it getting overwhelming.

Those games did run pretty smoothly with large enough sides to feel epic like Brian said and yet small enough to go rather quickly. the smaller teams allowed for faster movement and better team coordination. Good planning and organization were key as well IMO. Very fun campaign.

[will]

The group in Binghamton has a lot of experience running Apocalypse games. We've done sizes up to 15K per side. A fair number of the guys down here would rather participate in something like a well-run Apocalypse game than a tournament. How are you planning to run this? Alongside the GT as a separate event?

[jay]

It will most likey be run at the same time at the GT. We have only been tossing around some ideas.

I agree not everone is interested in the playing into the GT.

Will if you have a good set of guildlines you typically use, could you send me send a PM with the information.

The following details i know about:
1. Small fee to play in it (maybe this will include lunch)
2. Prizes (no idea what yet)
3. some armies could be borrowed to play in it (such as mine) i have a bunch of forgeworld.

we have almost a year to plan for this.

[MajorSoB]

To clarify after talking with several people:

1) The Apocalypse game will most likely run saturday night after the GT event in the day. That way we can use the tables and players who want to participate in both events can do so.

2) Point cost are yet to be determined. I want to see formations and Apocalypse models like titans etc. It may be limited to 1000-1250 points per player or one to two super heavies and 500 points. Something like this, again this is still in the planning stage but the point being discussed is ways to keep the game moving and fun.

3) Cost will either be free or a moderate fee for GT players. Outside players will be welcomed but at a higher fee. An option for pizza may be included in the cost as well. Prizes will be awarded but will be related to fun, and random events not winning. This game is to be more about fun and less about competition.

4) Like Jay said there will be plenty of armies available to borrow with care. I have several I am willing to loan out for the event.

5) I am thinking about requiring painted models. How does everyone feel about this?

[Garou24]

Fully painted models should be a must. With such low points and a years notice if you can bring 1000 points of painted models... welllll...yeahh

[Wolf Lord Snorville]

Doug, I don't think we should rule out the possibility of having an apocalypse event running at the same time as the main tournament.

We've already had players from outside our immediate area express interest in this, and we have over a year to plan for it.

Not to mention, a 1250 point limit is very un-apocalypse like

[MajorSoB]

That is a fair point and one we should consider. I am concerned that space, tables and terrain may be at a premium if the event grows as I envision it. The reason I would rather have the Apocalypse game held after the main event is so that we do not lose players to this event and so we are not further divided in our ability to oversee and coordinate this game as well as the main event. If we hold this at the same time as the main event I cannot properly judge and score the main event and participate in this one as well.

There also is talk of running a 3 round fantasy tourney along side our 5 round 40K event, and I believe that adding an Apocalypse event at the same time would create chaos. If we run it afterwords we can better help coordinate this game. I would like to see the Apocalypse game run as a way for the tourney players to relax after the first round of gaming, not as a separate competitive event. If we do run it concurrently with the other events we may have to place smaller hard caps on each event and ask for at least one more judge to not play in the tourney and supervise this event. I also think the price should be much higher since none of the 40K tourney players who paid for the room will be able to participate in the Apocalypse game.

[Soleman]

Personally, I'll be wanting to play in the main event. Depending on how it works out, I may want to play Apocalypse too. Apocalypse games are a lot of fun. I'm too old for an all nighter though, and if I had to choose between Apocalypse or the main event, I'd just play in the tournament.

I think if it would draw more people, we should consider having the Apocalypse game at the same time, but like Doug said, we shouldn't detract from the tournament too much to make it happen.

Just my $.02

[inzeos]

Oct 27, 2009 12:34:40 GMT -5 Wolf Lord Snorville said:

Doug, I don't think we should rule out the possibility of having an apocalypse event running at the same time as the main tournament.

We've already had players from outside our immediate area express interest in this, and we have over a year to plan for it.

Not to mention, a 1250 point limit is very un-apocalypse like

I agree with you. I think 1250 point restriction makes playing in the apocalypse event not worth it.

Run the event side by side to the regular GT gaming hours and extend into the early evening if needed.

I can see people who are not playing apocalypse getting annoyed by being matched up against someone Sunday who played apocalypse to the wee hours of the morning and now slows down the regular event by being to tired and worn out.

[inzeos]

I would be willing to take on the responsibility of making one or two 8'x8' foot apocalypse tables for our proposed event.

I don't think taking tables from the main GT event is fair to the GT not to mention having to deal with getting them setup the same after we return them.

Plus apocalypse games really benefit from having larger more diversified terrain. Line of sight blocking items for stuff like titans etc.

[jay]

We are planning on running Apocalypse event. We have interest!!

To bring this thread back alive since it been some time. What do people want? We do have prizes, but this needs to be a fun game. When we give out a prize it will before something like: it was your 800 point titan that got blown up with your opponent rolling 4 6's in a row.

[Horst]

a few of my thoughts on what could make this a cool game :

have 2 (or three) seperate tables, that each effect the other. For example... have one table as a city, one table as the city's outer walls, and one table as an orbiting space station.

The space station could grant an orbital bombardment to whichever team controls its control room.

the city could have a power plant facility that powers some front line turrets, that if destroyed, could shut down some defence lasers in the outer walls.

the outer walls would have enemy gargants / bio titans / chaos titans attacking the city, with imperial titans defending... while the inner walls would have mostly infantry / dreadnoughts / smaller vehicles fighting. the space station would be pretty much only infantry, and anything that can be drop podded / spore podded / deep struck in.

This would give people with different style armies different places to play, but still be part of the overall war effort. not everyone has titans to play with, and having an all infantry army be vaporized in one round of shooting from an emperor class titan isn't always fun... if you gave them the role of defending the space station, instead, it would be alot more fun, I think.

Before any of this goes down, of course, you'd need to nominate a team captain from each side (chaos / order), to decide who fights where, what strategems are used, things like that.

[TrooperPX]

As we're getting closer, I'm not sure who our contact person is on your end… so I’ll post up in here.

Will is unable to commit due to anticipated work obligations, but I’ve been moving ahead with the terrain. I’ve just scored help in getting it all there, and one other who will help run/organize as he can. I have three Apoc tables that will be ready for the tourney. I’ll just need a crap-load of tables to support it all. The two primary tables are mapped out to be 18+ feet in length. The Sand Sea table is about 12'.

Table one: Taros - Tarokeen. Turn to page 25 in the IA3 book… yes that, yes including the mountain. The city layout has been adapted to fit a longer more narrow space, and modified based on resources available. It will start with the mountain, leading into the Governor’s Palace. This then opens up into city sprawl with a variety of solid buildings, some tall enough to obscure a Titan, along with ruins to break up LOS.

Table two: Taros – The Great Sand Sea. A very open table with alien flora, abandoned Hydro-Farming facilities and Shai-Hulud.

Table three: Ash-World City. This is an urban table. Refineries lead to a modular city section. This will be populated with COD buildings and a Basilica. Craters of all sizes litter the landscape, making the roads nearly impassible. Outside the city, a line of ancient trenches lead to the current trench line of defense. A low slope then leads to an open forest.

We’re aiming towards three teammates per side, 3k each, for a total of 9k per side. One or two can be closed games, and another can be a wander-in and become someone’s reserves game. These games will run concurrently with the tourney on Saturday.

I’m the terrain guy… so I’m going to need guidance with anything else needed besides me showing up with a trailer full of gak. I’m just not sure what else needs to be considered or taken care of. Thoughts? Help?


-David