Wargaming ASKEW: Is There Room?
Ard’ Boyz is one end of the spectrum. Every event is of course different, but as I have traveled across America this year to watch and play I have noticed certain things all events have in common. First off, every event starts way too early! I have a life you know! I go clubbin, get my groove on. I enjoy my sleep and the idea of waking up after a night of gross debauchery and pushing models is neither fair to my boyish looks or my opponent’s sense of smell.
Besides the lack of sleep, all the events had some combination of soft scores (sportsmanship, composition), along with painting and battles scores. They all had some artistic, casual, win at all costs, competitive, hobbyist, and female players. They all had some 20 somethings, ex-military, married, virgins, and bearded players. Regardless of player make up every tournament had some varying degree of tension.
This tension was always the highest during the first game and the last game of an event. Not surprisingly this tension is directly related to the competitive level of the event. The more competitive the event the more the tension could be felt.There is really nothing intrinsically bad with this tension… well besides body odor levels. Still at some events it was a bit too much– really is a battleforce box worth an uncomfortable eight-hour day?
This got me thinking back to my first tournament and enjoying almost everything from creative fun missions to the simple plaques as your only rewards. Looking at myself today I think about how much I despise soft scores, how they get in the way of a balanced and competitive event. How all the theories that me and others have running in our heads can never be truly tested with all that unnecessary stuff floating around. Deep down I want a perfect tournament with all the verisimilitude I crave.
What of the other end? What of the end where you feel like you are playing in your garage kicking back and enjoying the simple connection among fellow players. A tournament that is just for the joy of the game. Where everything about the game is celebrated. Would I pick that event over my mythical perfect competitive tournament? I think I just might. As chance might have it as I was doing research for tournaments I discovered for myself an event that might recall those memories and good feelings of years past.
It is only fitting that our hockey loving socialist friends to the north would hold such an event. The tournament is known as Astronomi-con. Ever since 2001 it has been THE 40k tournaments of Canada. With one simple call: To celebrate all aspects of the Games Workshop hobby.
If you go take a look at their Website you will find that everything under the sun is allowed. From Forge World to Kroot Mercs to even vehicle design rules! It does not end there, every table’s terrain determines the mission you will be playing which can be anything including city fight. The organizers of the event even given a special thanks in the new Battle Missions book. The scoring and awards reward individuals that excel at their particular passion. As people from my blog have testified Astronomi-con is an event like no other in 40k. An event like this is what my heart craves, but my competitive side is telling me something else…
So in the current competitive tournament scene does an event like Astronomi-con survive? Should an event like Astronomi-con be the rule not the exception? What balance do you look for when going to a competitive event? What does Ard’ Boyz say about 40k in America? See more information and comments about Astronomi-con at Blood of Kittens
