Golden Gargant 2014 Info, Rules, and Regulations!

UPDATE: THERE HAVE BEEN TWO SMALL CHANGES TO THE TOURNAMENT RULES! THEY ARE MARKED IN RED TEXT TO MAKE THEM MORE VISIBLE!

UPDATE #2 (5/1/14): FINAL UPDATE BEFORE KUBLACON! THE RULES HAVE BEEN ALTERED TO REFLECT THAT WE WILL BE PLAYING UNDER 6TH EDITION THIS YEAR, REGARDLESS OF NEW EDITION RELEASES. ROUNDS ARE 2 HOURS & 20 MINUTES LONG. SCENARIOS CHANGED TO USE DAWN OF WAR DEPLOYMENT FOR LOGISTICAL REASONS. CHANGES MARKED IN RED.

Hey, all! This marks my second year running the Golden Gargant tournament at KublaCon! This year instead of having a grotesquely long and complicated event listing on the KublaCon event search I'll be posting it here! Now you won't have to bounce all over the place looking at different sources for all the rules just to figure out what's going on! Before I go on I want to thank and give credit to the crew over at Frontline Gaming for providing an awesome tournament format that lets other tournament organizers have an easy base to work from and tweak for their needs. They also have some cool gaming mats that will be adoring a few of the tables this year (they're beer proof to boot...but let's avoid testing that for the sake of the terrain and minis).

Here's the basic rundown:
Sunday, May 25th.
Tournament Registration starts at 8:00 AM.
First Round starts at 9:00 AM.
1,750 Points. Standard Force Organization.
Three, Two-Hour & Twenty-Minute Rounds (Meal-Break After Round Two)
Hyatt Regency SFO

Full weekend passes go up to full price on April 15th, so get yours now if you plan on being at the con for more then one day! KublaCon Registration.

Click here to find the official event listing, though anything you need is likely in the rest of this post.

Tournament rules and more info after the jump.


Tournament Format
Every scenario has a total of 10 possible battle points. Whoever has the most battle points, wins. Equal points is a tie. There are no degrees of victory; winning by 1 point or 10 is counted the same.

The tournament is a Win/Loss/Draw format, with accumulated battle points used to determine standings within a given bracket. For example, if you end the event with a 2(W)/1(L)/0(D) record you will be ranked within that bracket according to how many battle points you accumulated throughout the event. 

The official scoring is 1,000 points for a win, 500 points for a tie, and then the accumulated battle points from each game. A player with a 2(W)/1(L)/0(D) record who accumulated 7 points in each of his 3 games would end with a final score of 2,021 points. This way your win ratio takes precidence, and accumulated battle points determine specific rankings for the event.

Pairings are Swiss style, based on strength of schedule.

Scenarios

Each scenario is built using two book missions played simultaneously (i.e. Primary and Secondary Mission) with all 3 book bonus points. Each mission is distinct; for example Heavy Support units in Big Guns Never Tire can not take the Relic. Winning one mission earns that player its points. If a mission is tied, neither player earns the points. Any bonus abilities and points earned via Warlord traits, damaging super-heavy vehicles, etc. apply to winning the primary mission only. For example, if your Warlord becomes a scoring unit, that will only apply to the primary mission.

Book bonus points are independent, and are added to the game total; not to each mission. Example: Winning the Primary mission, losing the Secondary Mission, and getting First Blood, Slay the Warlord, but not Linebreaker, would score you 6 points total (4 for primary, 0 for secondary and 2 of the 3 book bonus points for 6 total). You will have a score sheet for each scenario that makes tallying the points straightforward.

All Rulebook Fortifications are allowed. If you are placing a large Fortification that would displace a piece of terrain already on the board, simply remove it.

Mysterious objectives are used.

Mysterious Terrain is not used.

• Scenario 1: The Scouring (Primary - 4pts) and Relic (Secondary - 3pts). Dawn of War Deployment. There are always 6 objectives for The Scouring; each player places 2 objectives in their opponent’s deployment zone and 1 outside of either deployment zone following normal objective placement rules. Each player has a 1, 2, and 3 point objective, which are revealed just before the role to seize the initiative as normal. Destroying fast attack choices counts for points to this mission.

• Scenario 2: Purge The Alien (Primary - 4pts) and Big Guns Never Tire (Secondary - 3pts): Dawn of War Deployment. There are always 4 objectives for Big Guns Never Tire; each player places 2 objectives, one in their own deployment zone, the other in their opponent’s following normal objective placement rules. Destroying Heavy Support choices counts for points to this mission.

• Scenario 3: Emperor’s Will (Primary - 4pts) and Crusade (Secondary - 3pts): Dawn of War Deployment. There are always 3 Crusade Objectives; they are placed outside of either player’s deployment zone. Emperor’s Will objectives are placed in each player’s own deployment zone.

Mission Order of Operations

1. Roll for Warlord Traits. If rolling from the choices in the Big Rule Book you roll 1d6 choose any trait with that number; otherwise generate the trait as normal.
2. Generate Psychic Powers.
3. Roll for Night Fighting.
4. Roll for Sides. The player rolling highest chooses their deployment zone, and deploys their Fortification (if any). The player going second then does the same. If you are placing a large Fortification that would displace a piece of terrain already on the board, simply remove it.
5. Place objectives. With the player that chose their deployment zone first, placing the first objective. This can be any objective. The Relic automatically goes in the middle and is placed before any other objectives.
6. Deploy forces according to the scenario's listed deployment.
7. Roll for first turn, and Seize the Initiative as normal.

General Tournament Guidelines

Allowed Armies

• Army lists should be built to 1,750 points, using normal Force Organization.
• All current codices and codex supplements will be allowed, as well as dataslates.
• Forge World 40k armies are allowed (no 30K lists, sorry).
• Forge World units will be allowed so long as they are listed as "40k Approved". The most recent version of the rules must be used.
• Each player MUST have the pertinent rulebook or a photocopy with him to show his opponent the most recent rules for any units and armies they may be using.
• Warhammer 40k Escalation and Stronghold Assault rules, units, and fortifications will not be used.
• Units that comprise a dataslate formation take up the appropriate force organization slot for those units from either army detachment, or from both.
• Maximum of three army sources (e.g. Primary/Ally/Inquisition, Primary/Ally/Dataslate, or Primary/Inquisition/Dataslate)

Rules Judgments
Rules issues will be dealt with swiftly by a roaming judge. We use a hierarchy for determining rules issues as follows:

1. Main Rule Book (6th Edition)
2. Official FAQs and Erratas
3. Adepticon WH40K Errata & FAQ
4. Consensus of judges present at the time. 

Please note, that these judgments are final.

Rules FAQ and Errata
The Golden Gargant will being using the Adepticon WH40K Errata & FAQ alongside the Official FAQs and Erratas documents.

Additionally this year the Golden Gargant will be making one change of its own. All 2+ save rerolls will be taken on a 4+. This has been a common change many tournaments have been implementing, and we feel, supported by data from other tournaments, that it doesn't appreciably hamper the army lists that have it while making the game more fun for everybody involved.

Painting
There are no painting or basing requirements for this event. We will use a painting rubric for judging paint and hobby scores. The painting and hobby rubric can be found for your perusal here. 

Army Composition
There will be no army composition scores for this event. We feel that there is not currently a fair, consistent, and simple system to judge army composition in Warhammer 40k. If you have any ideas or insight on how to judge army composition while meeting these three requirements then please contact Eddie at Bustanado@Gmail.com separately from your tournament registration.

Sportsmanship
Sportsmanship is a simple thumbs-up, thumbs-down check box on the results sheet. The temptation to ding someone on sports after a tough loss is often too much for many players to resist. We therefore are providing a very narrowly defined set of terms under which a player may mark their opponent with a thumbs-down for sportsmanship. This system is intended to punish those who are being abusive, but to not allow players to abuse it for gain.
Legitimate reasons to give an opponent a thumbs-down for sportsmanship:
Your opponent was 15 or more minutes late to the round.
Your opponent was verbally abusive. This does not mean you argued with your opponent or that your personalities clashed, but that they were verbally abusive and insulting.
Your opponent intentionally cheated. Be prepared to support your case to a judge.
Your opponent slow played. We define slow playing as not completing THREE game turns of play. In the case of 20 or less minutes left to play, divide the time remaining between players to complete one full GAME turn. Time each other during this period to ensure that each player has an equal amount of time to complete a full game turn. If one player does not finish within their limit, the other player can force them to stop and then begin their turn. This mechanic is in place to ensure no one is slow played out of a turn of play.
What does NOT constitute a thumbs-down on sportsmanship:
You argued over rules with your opponent.
Your opponent beat you.
You didn't like your opponent’s army.

A negative mark on sportsmanship will be met with administrative action as follows:
First Thumbs-Down: A verbal warning from a judge, up to reversing a win to a loss.
Second Thumbs-Down: Reversing a win to a loss, up to disqualification from any prize support.
Third Thumbs-Down: Disqualification from any prize support, up to starting with a single thumbs down status at next year's event.
Fourth Thumbs-Down: Disqualification from any prize support, up to being asked to not attend the Golden Gargant the following year.

Modeling:
What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG)
All models are expected to be WYSIWYG as much as is reasonable. Proxies are not permitted. "Counts-As" armies/detachments using multiple rules sources will only be permitted if they represent a clearly concerted effort to build a unique army around an obvious theme. For example, an Adeptus Mechanicus army using extensive kit bashing and conversions will be fine. If you go this route, you are required to have a handout to show your opponent what each unit in your army is along with its stats and pertinent rules. You must present this to each opponent prior to the game so that they have time to understand what they are playing against. There will be no exceptions to this.
"Counts-As" armies using a single Codex is acceptable as long as they meet WYSIWYG requirements (armor, weapons, wargear, etc.). No exceptions.
Converted or scratch built models with Forge World rules are acceptable so long as your model is as close to the represented model as possible in terms of equipment, size and shape. We will not be lenient with this.
If you have any questions about your army, contact us prior to the event so that we can let you know if what you have will be acceptable or not.

Modeling for Advantage
There is a fine line between creative freedom and modeling for advantage. We do not wish to stifle anyone’s creativity, but in the end, this is a game that relies heavily upon the physical characteristics of the models being used. Modeling for advantage will be handled on a case by case basis. To resolve a possible abusive situation, follow these steps:

1. Ask the player to play the model as if it were a GW standard, modern version.
2. Call a judge to ask for a judgement.
3. Possibly substitute the model with an appropriate replacement.

Examples of what we consider modeling for advantage:

• Using out of date and inappropriately sized models (e.g. the rogue trader era Eldar Avatar or Gorkamorka Trukks which are less than half the size of modern versions). If an army is made predominantly of Rogue Trader era minis (or any era) and is clearly going for a theme, then exceptions will be made. If it appears to a judge that the player is in fact modeling for advantage action will be taken.
• Increasing or decreasing the size of models to gain an advantage in gaining or granting cover. Custom Battle Wagons often fall into this category.
• Altering a model to increase the range of a model or to benefit your LOS.

Terrain
Terrain will be prearranged and laid out by the Event Staff prior to the event. We will not be using terrain placement rules per the book as it is too time restrictive. If you come to a table and feel that it is not sufficiently or fairly arranged, or that it may have been moved by the previous players, alert a TO who will arrange the terrain appropriately.
Hills: All hills are open terrain, granting cover via LOS blocking/interference as normal.
Barriers: All barriers grant cover per the book and are not considered to be Aegis Defense lines unless they were purchased and placed by a player.
Buildings/ruins: All buildings and ruins are assumed to have a ladder or other means for moving up and down. Rules in the Big Rule Book will be used for Ruins and Buildings.
Crates and Can Towers: Are impassible and block LOS completely (even if there are actual gaps in the terrain pieces).
All other terrain functions as outlined in the book.

What to Bring

• Your Army
• All pertinent gaming materials (e.g. tape measure, dice, templates, etc.).
• All pertinent rules for your army (e.g. codices, White Dwarf articles, Forgeworld rules, rule book etc.).
• 4 Objective Markers, in two distinct groups of 1 and 3. Objective markers may be 25mm and/or 40mm at your discretion, however all objectives in a group should be of the same base size. Objectives may also be tokens of the appropriate size and are not required to specifically be bases.
• 5 Typed copies of your army list (including one for themselves). Be sure to include write how many Kill Points each of your units is worth on your list for ease of reference. If you are using a counts as army you must have your player handout for your opponent to identify what each unit in your army is, no exceptions.
• All entrants are required to have registered at the KublaCon front desk in the hotel foyer.

Awards
Players will be graded on, and awards given for, generalship, painting/hobby, and a combined score of both for best overall. Prizes are in the works, and if you'd like to contribute we're always happy to give away any hobby related product you'd like to donate. Last year we had the awesome guys from Powered Play donate a bunch of gift certificates for lighting kits that went to some very happy people!

Early tournament registration and list submissions by email are encouraged! Day of registration will be first come first serve.

For additional questions, early tournament registration and list submissions please e-mail Eddie at Bustanado@Gmail.com.

Cheers.