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I've never played in a tournament before, and I'd like to be able to do so. I will be playing both AoS and 40K. What are some helpful tips to keep in mind when building a competitive list? Are there any tips unique to AoS or 40K that don't work so well for the other?

Play the objectives to me is #1. ITC missions are pretty straight forward. Events that use the cards I think are best avoided. The cards take a lot of strategy and makes luck a key factor in winning.

Playing according to the meta can also be a good idea. I'm still in the learning process of how to read the meta. So hopefully someone else can chime in on that front.

Mycomancer,
It could help to tell us what army are you playing. Otherwise, ask yourself if your list has enough tools to deal with what's out there.

Can your list kill a Magnus or Mortarion or other such high T, Invuln saves and wounds unit? Plus Morty's Disgusting Resiliency. Can your list deal out d6 damage blows, via LasCannons, meltas, Thunder Hammers, B&D Lances or other high damage output toys? Along these lines, are also ShadowSwords.

High volume? There are hordes of poxies & cultists. Can you snuff 20 wounds in a round? That'd usually mean 24 Wounds dealt (cultist 6+ t-shirt saves means saving 1/6 wounds, which on 24 wounds means only 4 will save an AP0 set of wounds). Plus, another one-third for the times you rolled 1s or 2s 'to wound' (based on a S4+ gun), so 32 wounds? Plus, of those 32, you add another third to account for missed Hits, so 40 shots per turn, based on BS3?

One of the ways to figure things out is to reverse calculate what you need to kill things, like I did in the paragraph above.

Do you have HQ buffers that help give synergy to the army?

Moving on to Mobility. Can your army get across the table to hold objectives, tie up and tarpit (like, plague drones are great at that)? Do you have a few Deep Strike units? Do you need transports?

Along these lines, though not as important as a month ago, but do you have scoutty, anti-Deep Strike, buffers? Rangers, Nurglings, Stealth Suits?

Differently than list building is, does your army have the strategems needed to accomplish things?

That's incredibly helpful, thank you for the tips so far! I wasnt necessarily asking for my armies specifically, rather in a "this advice might be helpful to anyone" way.

Brothererekose, I will be playing Death in AoS, and Tyranids in 40k, if that's more helpful to you.

 Mycomancer wrote:
That's incredibly helpful, thank you for the tips so far! I wasnt necessarily asking for my armies specifically, rather in a "this advice might be helpful to anyone" way.

Brothererekose, I will be playing Death in AoS, and Tyranids in 40k, if that's more helpful to you.

Okay, bugs. One of the hard counters I ran into a 'Nid opponent was ... I think it was 2 to 3 spore mines landing close by every turn. It made it very tough on my Bloodletter Bomb list. I don't know enough about nids to further advise there.

On to tourney advice:
Call and speak to the TO of the events you plan on going to, like 1 to 2 weeks in advance. Ask about:
1. time schedule, especially for how long lunch is, and are there favorite restaurants nearby, parking, etc.
2. prize support is good to know about although, if you're a tourney newbie, the veteran fish are likely to win. That is not a dig or insult. I have been a tourney regular, going once a month to a RTT and 2 or 3 GTs a year, for like 6 years now. I have only won 2 RTTs and no GTs. I suck.
3. How do disputes resolve at their events
4. What is the terrain and do they have any house rules for it
5. Do the use ITC rules? Missions? Find out if you can get the missions in advance to study up

In addition:
a. Get a display or carry tray. A fast food restaurant tray is good in a pinch, but there are many of those, whachya call 'em? ... burned ancromym named wood carry tray things. Shop around.
b. Have a copy of the 40k & AoS rules, your list typed or in spread sheet format and your codex. Army Builder, I think, is generally discouraged, but ask your TO
c. Don't be a afraid to ask an opponent to show you the rule on something she/he is doing. If they won't show or insist they're right about it without showing you the rule, call the TO over.
d. wear good, supportive shoes
e. practice with your army, know its rules so you don't kill time looking up Movement & BS & damage. Like 1 to 2 games the weekend before and maybe get 1 or 2 games in during the week (near impossible for older, family dads, like me)
f. bathe & use deodorant, drink water, and combat halitosis. srsly Nurgle's Rot is cool as a concept, but not in reality

Watch batreps, Frontline Gaming is a great resource for 40k tactics, batrep videos and info.
Get buddies to go with you or meet you there to hang out with and share stories and talk trash. srsly

If you want a good list, head over to www.glasshammergaming.co.uk for a list design service

Take 3 of the best unit, 3 of the second best unit then pad out Battalions with Minimum Troop Squads.

Tailor your army to the mission, so read the missions carefully and build an army that can accomplish just enough to win after taking a beating.

Thank you for the advice! I hope others will be able to get use of this thread as well.