In defense of smaller games

Yesterday afternoon I popped into my FLGS and saw listed on the wall of upcoming events a 40K tournament.

My heart lept up! I've been doing a lot of school stuff recently, and I've become a bit of a grump (with a suddenly inexplicable potty mouth), so maybe some 40K would be just the thing.

Then I saw the points value:

2000 points.

No thanks.

I've ranted on and off about my admiration for smaller games in the past, but here it is again. To his credit, when the store owner saw my barely-hidden disappointment, he quite sincerely asked my opinion.

I explained that I understand that, especially in the community of his store, I am in the minority. Most of the players in this area like to bring two of everything, especially the bright shiny points-hungry odds and ends. Those are the folks he mostly needs to keep happy.

I told him that 2,000 makes for a long day for horde army players (like me) full of cramped deployment zones and half-finished games. I like being forced to make decisions (and having my opponents in turn make those same decisions) when it comes to army lists. Real world generals don't get absolutely everything they want, and while I know 40K isn't "real world" (my army is made of bipedal fungus soldiers, dontyaknow), somewhat limited points levels make for more tactical games.

I don't begrudge anyone their big points tournaments, or their giant Apocalypse games, but he won't be getting my ten dollar entry fee, either.

Forty bucks for a box of ogres, on the other hand. . . .