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Hey all, in the Random Thoughts thread, I mentioned that I was looking for some people to test out some tournament rules for "official EFT tournaments".

This document is pretty barebones at the moment, but it has the basic structure of the event. At the moment I'm looking for two main things to be tested right now:
1) Game Length - I get lost in the number of turns while playing, so I think 10 turns is too short of a game but Matt has pointed out that we're using 7 turns in a lot of scenarios.

2) Round Length - I'm curious if 45 minutes is enough time to complete a 10 Crystal game (though I'm interested in the other part size/time limit combinations).

If you'd like to help, just download this pdf and play a few games. If you'd like to use this run your own tournament to help playtest, that's fine by me.

If you test this, please provide the following information:
Party Size
Scenario (stick to Main Rulebook scenarios atm)
Turn Length
Time Limit per game

Thanks!

Not a question on your rules specifically, but are bosses (purple cards) allowed for standard campaign and tourney games? I feel like we've talked about it before, but i don't remember.

As for turn limits, most of my games end with total party kill around turn 7 or 8. This might be because of the units we tend to pick, but it has been my experience. I'll be keeping a closer eye on game times moving forward.

 Galen wrote:
Not a question on your rules specifically, but are bosses (purple cards) allowed for standard campaign and tourney games? I feel like we've talked about it before, but i don't remember.

As for turn limits, most of my games end with total party kill around turn 7 or 8. This might be because of the units we tend to pick, but it has been my experience. I'll be keeping a closer eye on game times moving forward.

I don't see why they wouldn't be allowed in tournament games. They're generally pretty balanced, and do need a lot of support. I could see the extra phases being the difference in a tabling on turn 7 and a draw on turn 8...

I'll look into testing bosses after I get some of the timing stuff down.

Do you pick commands once for each model when you pick your 1.5Xcrystals for the tournament, or before each game?

Is the 1.5 times items based off the Crystal value of the tourney or the total item value of a player's models?

 Galen wrote:
Do you pick commands once for each model when you pick your 1.5Xcrystals for the tournament, or before each game?

Is the 1.5 times items based off the Crystal value of the tourney or the total item value of a player's models?

You pick your commands before each game. So you'll know your opponent, but not what they're bringing.

The item cards may have to be tweaked. I may look make it something like "1 item deck" and then w/e comes in the stock EFT item deck off the webshop is the item deck you use. The item cost one is a little bit more difficult to pin down. I mean I've got like 6 item decks, which gives me a huge advantage if I want to just stack basic items. But I think limiting it to just an "item deck" might be the best way going forward. Scope the edit below

Thoughts on that?

I've been thinking about the Bosses, I know that the bosses without phases shouldn't be too big of an issue beyond their point cost and some of their abilities (like Yazz only being targetable from specific sides. I think the King Gel might pose a problem because not only does he have 2 phases, but he's also bringing friends along with phase 2. I'll play with him this weekend, and let you know what kind of happens.

Edit: Nixed the Item card limit for standard tournaments atm. Mostly because Item Deck #2 has nothing but 1 offs, so it doesn't provide redundancy if you're only allowed 1 of each type of deck. I don't believe any of the cards are OP so there shouldn't be a restricted list. Convention cards should be goofy more than anything, so I'm thinking for now no restriction on items.

I declare that there will be no restricting of items to official cards until I have a proper Hero's Sword!

I'm not sure I would ever be in favor of restricting multiples of common items or restricting types of items to an arbitrary deck of options (at least not in "standard" tournament format.) I would be open to requiring item choices set before tourney start, or a limited pool of item points to rotate in between games. I personally like 1.5 or 2 times the party's total ITM value as available items. This would limit lopsided item stacking to play for scenario win, while still giving the ability to rotate in some different packages. Items, like models, should require either the card or the source of the item's rule to play.

This does give me an idea for variant tournament options. Bonus XP for voluntarily restricting lists. Fielding only models with MAG 2 or lower, +1 XP. Including nothing but consume items in your party, +1 XP. Including 3 or more models of different elements, +1 XP.

I am wary of bosses but would lean on the side of allowing until I see evidence of horrible brokenness.

So, For a 10C Tournament:
Bring a list of 15C of models you will be using as your Inn for the tournament. Before every round, after scenario and pairing is announced, build a 10C party out of the models in your Inn. Choose commands and items at this time per normal game play rules. Losses are not permanent. Players have access to their entire camp of 15C each round regardless of the outcome of previous games.

It sounds nice and straightforward to me. Now if I were making it I'd be more of a and require set Inn lists with commands (and items) pre-chosen, then just whittling down 15 or 20C to a 10C list each round. Of course, I can see how this might not be the best for an all comers tournament.

 Galen wrote:
I declare that there will be no restricting of items to official cards until I have a proper Hero's Sword!

This was part of the other reason why I don't want to restrict item usage atm.

I am wary of bosses but would lean on the side of allowing until I see evidence of horrible brokenness.

Same, I remember back when we were playtesting early AI rules, it was really simple for a party of more models to gang up on Yazz's weak sides and take him down pretty easily.

So, For a 10C Tournament:
Bring a list of 15C of models you will be using as your Inn for the tournament. Before every round, after scenario and pairing is announced, build a 10C party out of the models in your Inn. Choose commands and items at this time per normal game play rules. Losses are not permanent. Players have access to their entire camp of 15C each round regardless of the outcome of previous games.

It sounds nice and straightforward to me. Now if I were making it I'd be more of a and require set Inn lists with commands (and items) pre-chosen, then just whittling down 15 or 20C to a 10C list each round. Of course, I can see how this might not be the best for an all comers tournament.

Yeah, the standard tournament format will function like that. A "hardcore" format that doesn't whittle down your resources due to deaths, etc... Would probably require you to build one 10 Crystal List where everything is listed and written down, models, commands, items, etc... You walk in with those, you try to be the best with those. But that's down the road some. Gotta get people playing in regular tournaments before I set my eyes on "hardcore"

Alright,

So time limits seem to be okay with where they're set. played a few games with very little issue on time. Had a game with a large party against a large party (think 10 models per side...) and we came up on time.

Now to think of what I need to do next.

Added scenarios. These are the scenarios from the core rulebook, I don't mind tweaking them for tournament play however.