Tits for Tournaments: How Low Can They Go?

The rise of 2,000 point events started years ago when Ard' Boyz existed and events started to think seven games in two days was a good idea. Ard' Boyz did a great job of cultivating the notion that high points games were good or at the very least doable. It also created a myth, anyone who won Ard' Boyz demonstrated true skill, when in fact they only demonstrated good math skills.

On the major tournament end, an obsession for a "true winner" prevailed and a Swiss system was almost universally adopted requiring a certain amount of games events needed to finish. Many competitive players hailed large points values and the Swiss system lead to the obsession of becoming mystically crowned a "true winner".

The non-competitive (the majority) they were left instead with seven games over two days that needed to be done at a record pace. Time allotment was a strict two hours or two hours and 15 minutes if you were luckly; for the elite player this wasn't often a problem, but for the average player, many games never make it to Turn 5.

At first events fought the inherent issues by increasing time allotments to no avail. No compromise was ever broached against the sacred cows of 2k and seven games. Then something happened: 6th edition and like that everything changed. 6th created a rules system that required a completely different way to play at high points levels. Scrambling, events invented the 1999+1 to avert disaster.

NovaOpen and the Feasts of Blades were the first to feel the time sink and different tactical ways the game played at 2k. The lesson for other events was quick: if you're unwilling compromise either time or the amount of games, the only thing left was points reduction.

With the Bay Area Open leading the charge at 1750, now WargamesCon and Feasts of Blades have gone down from 2000 to 1850 and along with Adepticon always at 1850. In my personal fantasy, 1500 would be the norm, but at this stage any movement downward is a victory.

It was the right decision for these events, as the addition of Forge World, 6th edition, and a new codex every month, the choices are clear. For the traveling tournament player, fewer points also means less crap to bring and fewer models to move around. The average player (the one that actually drives attendance) might still love the idea of 2,000 points, but the mental and physical toll is undeniable.

The underling truth is 6th edition 1,850 or 1,750 isn't much different from old 5th edition 2,000, because if you have noticed the new codexes have cheaper and cheaper units allowing players to field whatever-- the last best canard the defenders of 2,000 points ever had.

So, I raise a toast to all the events coming to their senses and finally embracing, less is more!

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