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Dash we have weekly tournaments here I am wondering if the same is for you as the prize support can only be so high per tournament. Did you also win an ard boyz 2nd round for a free army?

I had 2nd round 40k ard boyz in the bag but had to leave while in first place before the third round to go to my brothers wedding. My dual lash whip, 9 obit and rhino's with havocs would of had fun with a horde orc army. lol, kind of sucks but gak happens. I just won first round of fantasy ard boyz. Im gonna take mytomb kings to the second round and win one for khemri

For non-GTs, I generally see $30-100 in prize support for 1st.

I didn't win the semi-finals for 'Ard Boyz last year. I was leading in points until game 3, where a leafblower list beat up my Orks in the L deployment mission...where no matter what I did, the IG could literally come out on the opposite corner and shoot me. =p

For all intents and purposes, that was my first 'Ard Boyz semi-finals.

I should have taken a picture of the pile of IG stuff I got for the semis win in 2009. I don't have a winnings pile like Dash's anymore as pretty much everything's been sold or painted.

I'll snap a pic of my trophy shelves sometime, though. I like trophies best anyway. Anyone who can afford to play this hobby competitively doesn't really need monetary winnings. I'm in it for the glory and chicks.

Mannahnin wrote: I'm in it for the glory and chicks.

I have to fend the chicks off with power weapons at tournaments myself....

Since the old man is too old to do anything anymore.

When I took first place at Buckeye Battles, I got this sweet axe for krumpin fools.



This is where I got my golden ticket, and I also won a baneblade and a nice plaque describing my awesomeness.

Edit: I'm only slightly less pale in real life.

That's a sweet axe.

What I'm curious to know is how much entry into all those tournaments and travel expenses cost. I'm sure you come out ahead, but those winnings aren't "free" exactly.

Spellbound wrote:What I'm curious to know is how much entry into all those tournaments and travel expenses cost. I'm sure you come out ahead, but those winnings aren't "free" exactly.

I've been to 9 tournaments this year, where I have won two of them, and gotten best sports and 2nd overall in another. So for $90 in entry fees, I've gotten about $180 of prize support. There is the cost of gas, but most of them weren't too far so it's fairly negligible.

Seems like a good deal with all of the cool gamers I've been able to meet, and all of their awesome armies to drool over!

Spellbound wrote:What I'm curious to know is how much entry into all those tournaments and travel expenses cost. I'm sure you come out ahead, but those winnings aren't "free" exactly.

Uh....tournament entry fee for non-GT events: Generally $10-25. In the last two years, I've won every non-GT tournament I've been to everywhere with the exception of four.

-I didn't win 'Ard Boyz semi-finals last year in Florida; Mech IG took down my Orks in the third round.
-I didn't win the "Win an 1850 Army" tournament in December; Mech IG seized the initiative on my DE in game 2 and it was a turkey-shoot.
-I didn't win one of the five Atlanta Circuit tournaments; two of the players intentionally played me for a tie and managed to avoid me the whole game.
-I didn't win a local tournament a month or so ago; my last round opponent slow-played me with a virtually completely proxied army; in two hours we got three turns. I was completely in reserve too, and got two units on turn two. Seriously. Slow-played me out of the game despite being the only player on the table. =p

The cost of travel for GTs makes up any sort of profit I've made off of local events. Attending a GT is about $750-$3,000 depending on how far I'm going, whether I'm flying, and whether my wife is coming. I'll be going to my first GT solo in May when I fly to Bugeater.

So I don't make money off of 40k if we account for travel. On the flip side, I live in the middle of nowhere, and EVERYTHING is 1,000 miles away or more.

Dashofpepper wrote:
I'll be going to my first GT solo in May when I fly to Bugeater.

Bugeater you say??? I issue a challenge then my friend. Make it to the latter rounds and we shall meet. I will be running my cookie cutting IG. So atleast you know what to expect. The variable is my play style

It's likely he will be TK unless he runs into me in an earlier round

I feel so small and insignfcant..........

and you should!!! DASH!! buddy, you should give me those baals i have plans for them!!

Grimgob wrote:Whats the pont of this thread and how other then "you can win stuff if you play in them" does this have anything to do with tournaments besides showing off?

I was thinking the same thing.

I agree with Mannahnin, I prefer trophies/plaques to product. I am at a place in my life where I can afford to buy whatever toy soldiers I want. I honestly couldn't say what models I've got that came from prize support over the years. All the bling says what it's from though, so it's a nice reminder of glory past.

I think alternate prizes to product are much better for the reasons a lot of people have listed. The person winning tends not to be the type short on miniatures... or even looking to get many more in the short future. When they need them, they buy them.

I know one local tournament gave out custom pewter mugs to the overall and best general stating as much on them, along with plaques and such that looked pretty decent. Nothing huge or over the top, but they were clearly Warhammer-themed. It's a nice option, if you feel like nerding it up, to break out the mug to hold your beer during some friendly gaming.

When you have armies, getting more miniature men isn't a big deal anymore. When you're still aspiring to build them, its pretty big.

I understand why prize support exists. If you collect money for entree fee from each player and it then gets turned into guaranteed sales for the FLGS in the form of store credit or prize support, then the owner supporting the tourney knows he will move 200$ of merchandise that day.

Personally I would rather have a trophy or something, but then the store owner doesn't get any benefit for hosting the event.

I have also seen events which do door prizes or raffles for people just participating in addition to winners. Maybe if they did that, product would still get moved and winners could maybe get something a little more dramatic for their shelf at home than a box of models he doesn't want or need.

Mannahnin wrote:I should have taken a picture of the pile of IG stuff I got for the semis win in 2009. I don't have a winnings pile like Dash's anymore as pretty much everything's been sold or painted.

I'll snap a pic of my trophy shelves sometime, though. I like trophies best anyway. Anyone who can afford to play this hobby competitively doesn't really need monetary winnings. I'm in it for the glory and chicks.

Well said and I agree.

@Megadave

that is one sweet axe

I got 100$ this weekend at two 'Ard Boyz fantasy prelimes.

I ran into a wall in the third round of the 1st tourney and took 2nd, then placed first earlier tonight. Got a Daemon Prince model for fanstasy and a Dreadknight for 40k.

Out of pocket cost? 0$.

My friends who carpooled with me payed the gas to Tulsa and I live around the corner from the store in Oklahoma City.

Okay, semi related and dosen't need its own thread, but where do you guys hear about these big prize support tournaments? I mean, if I wanted to earn some free swag for winning games, where would I look?

The cost of gas/lodging should be factored into any winnings if you're debating the profit involved with tournaments

I've gotten like 10k points of free minis just from 'ard boyz tournaments in the past 3 years but now I just coach players and run events mostly.

Okay, semi related and dosen't need its own thread, but where do you guys hear about these big prize support tournaments? I mean, if I wanted to earn some free swag for winning games, where would I look?

'ard boyz semi finals are by far the largest bang for your buck event. However, it does require a bit of knowledge about your location, psychology and absolutely no shame in creating a totally unfun to play against list (even if you dont have the models, do some quick conversions). No paint score = Gluing IG rocket launchers on terminators cause you dont have 17 cyclone missile launchers

However, if you're interested in loot.. Uh its probably more cost effective to just work extra hours at your job and then play 3 friendly games with your game group tbh

Thunderfrog wrote:I got 100$ this weekend at two 'Ard Boyz fantasy prelimes.

I ran into a wall in the third round of the 1st tourney and took 2nd, then placed first earlier tonight. Got a Daemon Prince model for fanstasy and a Dreadknight for 40k.

Out of pocket cost? 0$.

My friends who carpooled with me payed the gas to Tulsa and I live around the corner from the store in Oklahoma City.

Ide only report for one as if GW finds out about both then you will get dqed!

Kirasu wrote:The cost of gas/lodging should be factored into any winnings if you're debating the profit involved with tournaments

I've gotten like 10k points of free minis just from 'ard boyz tournaments in the past 3 years but now I just coach players and run events mostly.

Okay, semi related and dosen't need its own thread, but where do you guys hear about these big prize support tournaments? I mean, if I wanted to earn some free swag for winning games, where would I look?

'ard boyz semi finals are by far the largest bang for your buck event. However, it does require a bit of knowledge about your location, psychology and absolutely no shame in creating a totally unfun to play against list (even if you dont have the models, do some quick conversions). No paint score = Gluing IG rocket launchers on terminators cause you dont have 17 cyclone missile launchers

However, if you're interested in loot.. Uh its probably more cost effective to just work extra hours at your job and then play 3 friendly games with your game group tbh

... 16 and cant have a job, but I digress.

The thing is,, its not the loot, but the light at the end of the tunnel. And it would draw people, so I can play against people I have never seen before. I know Washington has one tournament, it must have one, but I can never figure out when it is.

I noticed Spokane, WA on this list:

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?catId=&categoryId=300002§ion=&pIndex=2&aId=14700053&start=3&multiPageMode=true

I bet if you gave the store owner a call sometime, he could possibly direct you to others that maybe didn't make it onto the master circuit.

Happygrunt wrote:Okay, semi related and dosen't need its own thread, but where do you guys hear about these big prize support tournaments? I mean, if I wanted to earn some free swag for winning games, where would I look?

Look at the sticky at the top of the tournament forums listing GT events.

Question. For most of the tournaments that you entered, did you have to pay to play? It seems to me that is the case more often than not.

Yes, prizes come from attendance fees + sponsors + GW prize support

Most tournaments do not have sponsors and GW prize support was bumped down to like 100$ per month. Large tournaments create a critical mass of excitement which brings in MORE players..

Small tournaments do not general much buzz so turnout is low , you have to push them for years to get it going

Our local tournaments give out like 500$ in prizes normally

Dashofpepper wrote:

Happygrunt wrote:Okay, semi related and dosen't need its own thread, but where do you guys hear about these big prize support tournaments? I mean, if I wanted to earn some free swag for winning games, where would I look?

Look at the sticky at the top of the tournament forums listing GT events.

Thanks, I guess. Now I know I have to travel a couple hundred miles to get to any GTs.

Oh well, maybe seattle will get something someday...