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I've learned from the tactics forum that since I play orks, I can automatically win grand tournaments

So here I am feverishly painting my army with dreams of grandeur. I'm sure I'll have my tickets bought and paid for for the first grand tournament by end of week. My question is - What do you win? Clearly you earn a liberal dose of bragging rights, but what else do you get typically? Is there a standard prize package? And what for those who come in second or top ten? Anything?

Also, is there a typical price package for the other smaller tournaments advertised by Games Workshop? I could probably find it with a lot of slow GW site surfing, but I am prone to sloth so I'll just ask since I'm sure more than one person on this forum knows off the top of their head.

First, the ability to trump anybody else in an argument by claiming to have completed in at the GT.

Second, unholy clairvoyance into the design and balancing of all 'dexes everywhere.

Third, the vile worship of innumerable people who's sole goal in life is to paint and play with little toy soldiers!

All of those are fine to be sure, but I don't see anything in that list that helps me pay my house note on Tuesday. It doesn't even help to subsidize my increasingly expensive hobby as I pay for not only my own ridiculous horde of units, but the armies of my two sons as well...

Are you saying they don't make with the cash on the tournament circuit? I can't conceivably become a "professional" GW player? And I have to pay a ticket price just to get in the door? Sounds like a pretty sour deal.

Well, you get to add two inches to your winky that nobody else can see.

No cash prizes I'm afraid. Bragging rights and some models are about it.

and don't forget a trophy

Its fun and a goal to shoot for.

PLus you have lots of fun in the process

Though you can have just as much fun gaming outside of a Tournament.

It's awesome because then you're able to spew all sorts of garbage in the tactics forums and people will take it as gospel.

Mmm. The Legion of Internet Droogs desperate to bask in your limelight will soon become your twisted plaything.

Carnuss wrote:All of those are fine to be sure, but I don't see anything in that list that helps me pay my house note on Tuesday. It doesn't even help to subsidize my increasingly expensive hobby as I pay for not only my own ridiculous horde of units, but the armies of my two sons as well...

Are you saying they don't make with the cash on the tournament circuit? I can't conceivably become a "professional" GW player? And I have to pay a ticket price just to get in the door? Sounds like a pretty sour deal.

Sorry. All you win is more product for which to help you start another army you'll likely spend more money on.

If you're considering attending a GT solely because you're interested in winning (not even just cash), then you are most certainly should not attend because you will almost certainly be sorely disappointed.

Grand Tournaments (and almost every tournament out there featuring GW games) is designed as a celebration of the hobby in general rather than a hard-core tournament to see who is the best player.

Someone should try starting a hardcore tournament circuit that gives out cash prizes. . .but I'd really hate to see how cut-throat the rules arguments would get in those things and I certainly wouldn't be caught dead in one personally.

Only way to that Hardcore Tournament Structure would be identical armies, designed by a single person, and totally symmetrical terrain setups, again identical on each board.

Only then can you figure who is actually the best General, and not biggest Cheesey Wotsit.

Carnuss wrote:Are you saying they don't make with the cash on the tournament circuit? I can't conceivably become a "professional" GW player? And I have to pay a ticket price just to get in the door? Sounds like a pretty sour deal.

Only if you think of your hobby as work...

Plus from what i understand GT/GD's are hurting for attendance and money as it is.

Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:Only way to that Hardcore Tournament Structure would be identical armies, designed by a single person, and totally symmetrical terrain setups, again identical on each board.

Only then can you figure who is actually the best General, and not biggest Cheesey Wotsit.

But then it wouldn't be a physical metaphor for the MTG World Series.

Difference is with Magic, other than banned card lists and limitations on which Blocks and Sets you can create your deck from, you could be coming up against anything. The 'Metagame' largely goes out the window, especially as you could indeed put the hardest deck possible together, but you still need the draw to be favourable, and if not, know how to change that.

40k and Fantasy however, have more restrictions on what you can or can't take, and some combinations available are noticably nastier than others.

I had asked if they subsidize your hobby, and it sounds like they do. So they give you models? Do they give you a significant number? Or just a handful of models that you can't do anything with unless you buy more?

I'm only half serious with the questions. I'm not too worried about it, and I didn't expect to make an NFL signing bonus for joining into one. I am curious what the payoff is for the work other than "mine is bigger than yours." Which clearly, that must be true regardless of whether I win or not, as it is the only thing that holds one's frail male ego together.

Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:Difference is with Magic, other than banned card lists and limitations on which Blocks and Sets you can create your deck from, you could be coming up against anything. The 'Metagame' largely goes out the window, especially as you could indeed put the hardest deck possible together, but you still need the draw to be favourable, and if not, know how to change that.

40k and Fantasy however, have more restrictions on what you can or can't take, and some combinations available are noticably nastier than others.

I meant it more of a joke on the whole "He who spends more wins" thing for most competitive Magic Players. Though knowing a few professional Magic players, there is still a heavy metagame, as generally each year there is a particular set of combos that you'll see more and more of as you climb higher in the ranks, leaving most build types behind. The game really becomes building Combo X that can still beat compete against Combos Y and Z and then, yes, comes down to who can draw their Combo first.

Carnuss wrote:I had asked if they subsidize your hobby, and it sounds like they do. So they give you models? Do they give you a significant number? Or just a handful of models that you can't do anything with unless you buy more?

I'm only half serious with the questions. I'm not too worried about it, and I didn't expect to make an NFL signing bonus for joining into one. I am curious what the payoff is for the work other than "mine is bigger than yours." Which clearly, that must be true regardless of whether I win or not, as it is the only thing that holds one's frail male ego together.

Yeah, if you win the whole thing you usually get a pretty big prize. Typically more in retail product $ than you spent on your GT ticket. But only the overall winner gets a prize that big. The amount of players that actually get a prize seems to have varied from year to year a bit. Obviously overall, best painted and best sportsman always win a prize, but some years it seems like the 2nd and 3rd place in each of these categories also win a small prize beyond just a plaque, but it really isn't set in stone.

However, it is REALLY hard to win overall in a GT because a lot of variables have to come together for it to happen.

Can someone explain the whole GT thing? Where they are held, how often, usual cost to get in, level of competition?

I'd be interested in getting into one sometime, but I don't know squat about it all.

djones520 wrote:Can someone explain the whole GT thing? Where they are held, how often, usual cost to get in, level of competition?

I'd be interested in getting into one sometime, but I don't know squat about it all.

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/articleCategory.jsp?community=true&communityArticleCatId=300005&articleCatId=300005&catId=

This years dates haven't been put up yet.

Platuan4th wrote:

djones520 wrote:Can someone explain the whole GT thing? Where they are held, how often, usual cost to get in, level of competition?

I'd be interested in getting into one sometime, but I don't know squat about it all.

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/articleCategory.jsp?community=true&communityArticleCatId=300005&articleCatId=300005&catId=

This years dates haven't been put up yet.

Are they usually in the same locations?

They pretty much always hold Chicago, Baltimore, and Vegas. There used to be more in the past(Dallas, LA), but it's been whittled down to those 3.

Platuan4th wrote:They pretty much always hold Chicago, Baltimore, and Vegas. There used to be more in the past(Dallas, LA), but it's been whittled down to those 3.

Ok. Thanks! Maybe I'll be able to get to the one in Chicago this year.

yakface wrote:Yeah, if you win the whole thing you usually get a pretty big prize. Typically more in retail product $ than you spent on your GT ticket. But only the overall winner gets a prize that big. The amount of players that actually get a prize seems to have varied from year to year a bit. Obviously overall, best painted and best sportsman always win a prize, but some years it seems like the 2nd and 3rd place in each of these categories also win a small prize beyond just a plaque, but it really isn't set in stone.

If it helps, I got $155 in product for my Best Painted win at Baltimore...a battleforce, a boxed set and a blister.

GW's really stepped up to the plate in recent years with the prizes.

Chicago probably won't be happening this year I'd guess.

I heard they're pretty much booked for the same locations and times this year as last year. Naturally with the date being a day off from last year. But that's just what I heard....take it worth a pinch of salt. I personally think it's probable since they have the same number of GD's this year that they won't drop the GT's

Carnuss wrote:I'm only half serious with the questions. I'm not too worried about it, and I didn't expect to make an NFL signing bonus for joining into one. I am curious what the payoff is for the work other than "mine is bigger than yours." Which clearly, that must be true regardless of whether I win or not, as it is the only thing that holds one's frail male ego together.

I'm not trying to offend you, but it seems that your view of the GTs is rather warped. The real reason to go is to compete at a high level and just to Have Fun. Yeah, winning is nice, but it's not the sole focus. Sure, I'm sure some people are fixated on it, but that's not the reason for the tournament. And there's no such thing as a sure thing.

People tend to respect the opinions of people who've done well on the GT circuit because they have a perspective on high-level play that a great many people are familiar with. There's a reference, if you will. It's like Wikipedia; you need to cite your sources.

Hope this helps!

Iorek wrote:

Carnuss wrote:I'm only half serious with the questions. I'm not too worried about it, and I didn't expect to make an NFL signing bonus for joining into one. I am curious what the payoff is for the work other than "mine is bigger than yours." Which clearly, that must be true regardless of whether I win or not, as it is the only thing that holds one's frail male ego together.

I'm not trying to offend you, but it seems that your view of the GTs is rather warped. The real reason to go is to compete at a high level and just to Have Fun. Yeah, winning is nice, but it's not the sole focus. Sure, I'm sure some people are fixated on it, but that's not the reason for the tournament. And there's no such thing as a sure thing.

People tend to respect the opinions of people who've done well on the GT circuit because they have a perspective on high-level play that a great many people are familiar with. There's a reference, if you will. It's like Wikipedia; you need to cite your sources.

Hope this helps!

I don't think i completely understood that. You mean that there are other things that you should go to a tournament for? Are you suggesting that sportsmanship, enjoyment of the hobby, and general camaraderie can substitute the drive... nay! The NEED to win?!?!?

I'm offended.

There. I said it.

I'll be sure to attend a GT in approximately 3 years when I finish painting my army, and then I'll show you.

Carnuss wrote:

Iorek wrote:

Carnuss wrote:I'm only half serious with the questions. I'm not too worried about it, and I didn't expect to make an NFL signing bonus for joining into one. I am curious what the payoff is for the work other than "mine is bigger than yours." Which clearly, that must be true regardless of whether I win or not, as it is the only thing that holds one's frail male ego together.

I'm not trying to offend you, but it seems that your view of the GTs is rather warped. The real reason to go is to compete at a high level and just to Have Fun. Yeah, winning is nice, but it's not the sole focus. Sure, I'm sure some people are fixated on it, but that's not the reason for the tournament. And there's no such thing as a sure thing.

People tend to respect the opinions of people who've done well on the GT circuit because they have a perspective on high-level play that a great many people are familiar with. There's a reference, if you will. It's like Wikipedia; you need to cite your sources.

Hope this helps!

I don't think i completely understood that. You mean that there are other things that you should go to a tournament for? Are you suggesting that sportsmanship, enjoyment of the hobby, and general camaraderie can substitute the drive... nay! The NEED to win?!?!?

I think that's the *theory*. 'Course we all know that in theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice they seldom are.

A quick glance at the army lists and discussions are here are enough for me to see that power gaming, meta-gaming, spammed broken lists, and win at all cost lists are the order of the day.

I'm not sure why this thread is still going, since the original poster is obviously trolling.

But I'll chime in to say that some of the best *hobby* experiences of my life involve games played at GTs and friends I've made there.

At a given GT, usually there's the tournament taking place on the top five tables, and the tournament that everyone else is playing in. The guys on the top tables have fun their way, and everyone else has fun their way.

I feel sorry for you guys and your closed-minded attitude toward something that you've never experienced. Although I'd add that if that's your attitude, I don't recommend you attend a GT, because your expectations going in have a lot to do with what kind of experience you have there.

Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:Difference is with Magic, other than banned card lists and limitations on which Blocks and Sets you can create your deck from, you could be coming up against anything. The 'Metagame' largely goes out the window, especially as you could indeed put the hardest deck possible together, but you still need the draw to be favourable, and if not, know how to change that.

40k and Fantasy however, have more restrictions on what you can or can't take, and some combinations available are noticably nastier than others.

But every player of 40k in this tournament has access to all armies. or are you going to send an invitation to each player that says "you have to play dark angels this year"

gorgon wrote:I'm not sure why this thread is still going, since the original poster is obviously trolling.

But I'll chime in to say that some of the best *hobby* experiences of my life involve games played at GTs and friends I've made there.

At a given GT, usually there's the tournament taking place on the top five tables, and the tournament that everyone else is playing in. The guys on the top tables have fun their way, and everyone else has fun their way.

I feel sorry for you guys and your closed-minded attitude toward something that you've never experienced. Although I'd add that if that's your attitude, I don't recommend you attend a GT, because your expectations going in have a lot to do with what kind of experience you have there.

What are the "Top 5" tables?