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I have a potential dilema and would like it to be as fair as possible and I need suggstions if I'm not being fair.

I am the main organizer behind the Cincinnati 40K tourney. I posted on here my list of what I would use if I had to play in the tournament. The only way I would play is if we had an odd number of players and didn't have someone to play against the odd person. The reason I posted my list was for the players so they would see what I would playing. seeing as I have people sending me their lists so I can look over them for inaccuracies before the tournament. It was brought to my attention that requiring the list before hand is not the norm. Granted I have not played in too many tournaments but every one I did play in required that. I am asking for them sooner than the tournament so I will have time, as I do not have enough knoweldgeable volunteers to help me comb through them on the day of the tourney.

I basically wanna know what the general concensus is about this.
I want to do what will be the best for the tournament. So critique away.

Thank-you

I helped out at a tournament a few months back. One of my roles was as an extra. In case a player had to step out for a bit and was unable to attend a game then I would step in to ensure that the odd person out will still get in their quota of games promised. In the end I did not play any games that day. My advice is to have someone else fill the role as an alternate. The tournament organizer had more than his fair share of things that needed his attention and having me fill in as an alternate was one less thing he needed to worry about.

unfortunately i don't have any extra players at the moment

Generally it is accepted that a tournament organizer or a judge will step in and play a ringer army.

They are not eligible for prizes, and they exist out side of the Swiss system because they always play the lowest ranked player.

Having another person do it is much better. A friend who knows the rules and is prepared to either a)hang out and help or b)play for free.

I have both run and played in a tournament once; I had 17 players and no one else available to play the ringer army. So I made a very fluffy bunny list, with a low model count and from a codex I was EXTREMELY familiar with so I could play my games FAST. Of course I was disqualified from winning any prizes, and after the first round I played only the lowest-ranked player each round. That way the winners could play against each other, and I could just play a casual game against the bottom-rung guys and focus on making it quick and fun.

Even with all those factors, it was difficult and I was constantly running around; it made the tournament take longer because I couldn't get all the stuff done during the rounds that I would have liked to.

You don't think that playing a low model count "fluffy" Army just "because" would kinda make the players that have to play me feel they are that bad?
I posted my list in the army list section for people to look at. It is exactly what I would have used if i had a chance to actually play. ANd yes it is competative...

I've played in several tournaments that required the lists sent in before hand.

I also don't see anything wrong with the tournament organizer playing in the tournament as long as he/she isn't eligible for prizes. The number 1 goal of the tournament should be to have a good time and the vast majority of players aren't going to be winning prizes. I don't know if I like the dummy easy army, but I definitely agree with playing against the lower tier players who are out of the running. It seems more desirable to me than the alternative, telling a person who wants to play he can't. This would probably not go over to well with the owners of the stores hosting the tournaments as their goal is to usually get as many people in the store as possible.

Please bear in mind that the opinions I'm giving here are based on my experiences as a tourney organizer and player, and one who has done exactly what you're asking about. I want your tourney to be a success and for everyone to have a good time. With that in mind:

You SHOULD (was tempted to say MUST) play a low model count I-have-used-this-codex-and-these-specific-units-one-zillion-times-and-know-their-rules-forwards-and-back army specifically because you need your games to go fast and end early. If you are the ONE organizer there it is ABSOLUTELY MANDATORY that your games end and you have your models cleaned up and on their display/movement tray at least 15-20min before the round actually ends, so that you can start taking game results and processing them.

Makari wrote:You don't think that playing a low model count "fluffy" Army just "because" would kinda make the players that have to play me feel they are that bad?

No. After the first round, you're just going to be playing the guys who are the bottom of the pile. They already know they've lost a game and are not going to win the whole thing. If you KNOW that all the people who are going to be at your tourney are hardcore competitive types who would not enjoy a game against a medium/soft list, then feel free to make the list a little tougher. But it MUST be one that plays FAST.

Makari wrote:I posted my list in the army list section for people to look at. It is exactly what I would have used if i had a chance to actually play. ANd yes it is competative...

I commented over there. High model count infantry horde = exactly the wrong thing for what you're trying to accomplish. It's shooting yourself in the foot and guaranteeing your tournament to run long.

I always bring the army I normally play when ever I host a tournament. In the event I have an odd number of players I will step in and play and play the army I am familiar with. I give every play my best game and if I beat them I beat them far and square.

Yes, it does make for a more challenging tournament but that's something to be expected. On the plus side, I know how the ruling will be judged on my tables ;-)!

I think you are asking if you can play competitively at an RTT with the Ringer army even though you are ineligible for prizes? Then the answer is no.

You poll question needs to be clearer then. It is not fare that you play because you have prior knowledge of the missions, the army lists, and the scoring. You want to avoid the appearance of impropriety.

The purpose of a ringer army is to be a seat-filler and take up space. It should play fast, and be an easy to beat army.

The ringer army should be playing against the bottom armies so it does not interfere with the scores at the top tables. It is not there to play 3 games at an RTT taking up space at the top tables, and knocking out good players with good armies that are trying to win it.


And a horde ork army is the worst army you can play, because you will never get to turn #6 and you will be the last one to finish every game.

You can only play if you play Magnus Calgar Ultramarines with full honour guard.