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First off I apologize if this has a thread somewhere else...
Second Sorry if this is not the appropriate thread for this question.

Alright so the question that has been racking my brain is I'm trying to get a straight answer on models/conversion in regards to tournaments (like LVO/Adepticon/WHworld/etc..)
I have several neat conversion ideas that I want to try out, but since I hope to one day go to events like LVO or Adepticon what are the rules in regards to model conversions and say third party bits and whole kits?
I've read some of their official docs saying that you must use miniatures from the original manufacture for the game that you're playing, but then I see YouTubers and the like playing with models that are not even GW, and this is were my confusion comes from.

Is there a specific rule to how much the mini has to be made from GW/FW for games of Warhammer 40k/killteam/etc...?

While I can certainly ask the local game store as to their rules for when I play at their location, it'd be nice to know ahead of time what can and cannot fly at Adepticon/LVO/etc... before I go mad happy crafting my custom forces to only find out that I can't use them.

Thanks,
Dave

The only real answer is 'ask your tournament organiser'

If a tournament is run by a manufacturer or getting a lot of prize support from them they're more likely to want only genuine kits

and a fair number more want people to use genuine kits simply because it's a lot easier for players to remember something is an eldar with a shiruken cannon if that's what the mini is (rather than, say, a US marine with a BAR)

but a lot will go with the rule of cool, so if it looks good, is the right size and easily identifiable they'll be fine, but you have to ask (or at least have one of the correct minis to swap in if they rule out your conversion)

As above, there’s no “official” rules for conversions outside of what your particular tournament / opponent will agree to.

In a tournament, everyone that participates agrees to arbitrary rules set out by the TO. If one TO allows wild degrees of proxies / counts-as the next might require 100% original kits with perfect WYSIWYG.

In non-tournament gaming, the only limit is what your opponent will agree to play against. Some don’t care at all, some are particular. Depends on the human you’re interacting with at that time. With the stipulation that if you’re playing at a club / store, that store may have requirements similar to a tournament.

Thanks for the feedback,
What is your folks experience with tournaments like LVO or more importantly Adepticon?
Just curious as to one day I'd like to play at one of these places and wouldn't want my army stopping me from doing so.

Send them a picture of a couple samples, see what they say. Or email with a description of what you want to do, and which manufacturer’s parts you want to use.

I’ve never been to either, I couldn’t say their particular policies. WH world is GW sponsored, if I recall. I expect they’d want mostly if not entirely GW parts.

What are you thinking of doing?

 greatbigtree wrote:
I’ve never been to either, I couldn’t say their particular policies. WH world is GW sponsored, if I recall. I expect they’d want mostly if not entirely GW parts.

WHW is inside the GW HQ in Nottingham. Totally owned and run by GW. They want complete, 100% GW kits, with no 3rd party bits (except bases) but as long as it’s GW, they’re fine with conversions. Tbh, I’ve played there with the odd conversion and non-GW model in an event and they’ve never noticed (one model amongst thousands) but I wouldn’t take, say, my Scibor Custodes army there!

I’ve never had a problem at independent events, though I’d echo what other posters have said - as long as it’s obvious what the conversion is meant to represent, and it’s the correct size, you’ll probably be fine. The majority of issues I’ve seen at independent tournaments have been with people building confusing conversions (these big animals are tanks, etc).

As was said before.. always email a TO with a picture.

- Dont model to advantage. Keep your Mod as close as possible to size, height and width of the original.
- Consistancy...try to do something that wont confuse your opponent. Keep your mod looking similar to what you are replacing. If you are building multiples.. they should look the same.
- Rule of cool...Most TOs and players are fine with conversions. If its done well.. you shouldnt have a problem.
- Proxies: most GTs wont allow them. RTTs maybe.
- Forgeworld: This is tricky.. most GTs will require an actual Forgeworld model.. proxies and conversions can be frowned apon.

- Independent Tournaments generally dont have an issue with conversions..keeping the above in mind.
- Bigger GTs such as LVO, Adepticon and NOVA are Independent Tournaments that do have a GW prescence..so keep in mind. If its not a GW product you wont be able to play on a streamed Table (generally)
- GW Tournaments.. will allow Conversions as long as its all GW bits.. Non GW product wont be allowed.

LVO rules that top table armies had to be 100% GW.

This was due to GW sponsorship. At bigger events this might become a thing.

Any rulings on recasts? Not that anyone would know unless they inspected the model.

Listen, this question has come up a thousand times.

Build the army you want, with the models you want. You paid for it, you have to live with it, tournaments with arbitrary rules should not decide what you are and are not allowed to collect.

If there's a specific tournament you want to attend and you have custom models, contact the TO and ask. You can do this a year or two out, it's usually possible to get an opinion long before things happen.

If you do need to swap something out to make your army tournament legal, figure out the cheapest and fastest way to do so. It's usually eBay. You can have your real army and your cheap, 3-color tournament-only units sitting side by side.

The way I look at it, you want to get as many games in without hassle.
If you like a shelf/display army you can do whatever you want.

All of the above is good advice because you will off and on be catering to two groups:

The manufacturer:
- It would be a bad thing if the overall winner for a GW 40k event has converted Privateer Warmachine model parts used for dreadnaughts.
- Sponsored events is another form of advertising and no-one wants to pay out prizes that help their competitor.
- GW has a long history of taking runs at small companies that make add-on bits. Yes, it may make the model BETTER but again, it takes focus away from the original GW model and how "awesome" it is.

The players:
- 40k 8th edition is simpler than it ever has been in most respects, but it really helps if you can look at a model and know it's loadout in a glance. The more standardized the differing bits are, less confusion = happy opponent.
- The "Rule of Cool" is this judgement call on the conversion being made so the model looks better, interesting or thematic. People get really critical when they realize you converted for advantage, to make the model cheaper (at least hide it creatively) or a more "lazy" means of build.

Side notes:
- Kit-bashing has been a long tradition, just mix and match parts from the same manufacturer's catalogue, stealing the odd item from another army or from Age of Sigmar (Necromunda is looking awesome) can look quite good when carefully thought out.
- Orks can be a bit of an anomaly, toys have been converted to Ork vehicles, a guess would be if an item is used, as long as it is not from a direct "competitor", you will most likely be good.
- Sculpting or incorporating "found" objects are not usually a problem, it is assumed some measure of this will be done.
- Some copyright issues are at the heart of not using other products, the "Hello Kitty" space marine force is awesome but may not be allowed in any GW publications.
Like this, rule of cool is off the charts:

 Irkjoe wrote:
Any rulings on recasts? Not that anyone would know unless they inspected the model.

Given the fact that most events are hosted by businesses that depend on legitimate purchases for survival I think the chances of them accepting your recast army are zero.

 Peregrine wrote:

 Irkjoe wrote:
Any rulings on recasts? Not that anyone would know unless they inspected the model.

Given the fact that most events are hosted by businesses that depend on legitimate purchases for survival I think the chances of them accepting your recast army are zero.

More specifically, I meant FW recasts at larger events. I know that people do get away with it in major tournaments, just wondering if any organizers have condemned it. All of my miniatures are legitimate and FW has no bearing on local stores. And for clarity, I don't mind if somebody uses recasts, 3rd party conversions, etc.