Age of Sigmar: Games Workshop Chats About ‘Casual Matched Play’
A new Metawatch video is out today focusing on the most popular way to play Warhammer: Age of Sigmar. Let’s chat about Casual Matched Play.
If your buddy messaged you and ask if you wanted to play a 2000 point game of AoS tonight, you’d have a pretty good idea of what they were expecting for the game. Or if you showed up to your FLGS to play on an open game night for other locals looking to play a 2000 point game of AoS you’d know what to expect — even without planning a game before hand. How is that possible? Are all Warhammer players psychic? No. Of course not. The truth is that we’ve all just picked up on a common way to play. And that is what “Casual Matched Play” essentially is.
The new Metawatch video is taking a step back from the data and win rate discussion to talk about this mode. The discussion also brings up some good points about Spearhead, too.
Casual Matched Play And Warhammer
“Matched Play gives everyone a shared language and set of conventions to make it easy to arrange a game with minimal effort, where both players can have clear expectations of what they are getting into.”
The very spirit of Matched Play is spelled out above. It’s that “shared language and set of conventions” that allow any player of AoS to play against any other player and know what to expect. Foundationally, a 2000 point game using the 2024-25 GHB for AoS is going to be the exact same as a game in the US vs a game in the UK — or any other country around the world. Sure, the spoken language might be different but the game is going to be the same.
It’s kind of amazing when you think about it. Do you know the rules of the armies at play? Then you don’t need to even understand the spoken language to understand what’s going on. With some pointing and dice rolls, you can follow along just fine. But back to the whole “Casual Matched Play” discussion — this is the most popular way to play Warhammer. And that’s true of both 40k and AoS.
But Matched Play Is For Tournaments, Right?
Matched Play might be thought of as the “Tournament” mode but it’s also used for general pick-up games between friends at home, members of gaming clubs, and random games at your FLGS. That’s also why you see tournament results and win rates impact how we collectively play in “Casual Matched Play” games. Why is that? Because: “[Tournament data and tournament play is] often the clearest sources of data and feedback for the Warhammer Studio to use in balancing the game in a way that benefits everyone. ”
It works that way because both Casual and Tournament Matched Play games are still fundamentally using the same base. Tournament Matched Play is generally looking to push the envelope so it’s easier to see when something is over/under performing. Plus, generally speaking, Tournament Matched Play is more of a controlled environment. The data is reported with wins/loss and army lists, too. It’s easy to see why that data is used vs the unrecorded data of the thousands (and thousands) of Casual Matched Play games.
So Where Does Spearhead Fit?
Spearhead is an interesting option to me. It’s essentially a new “Matched Play” format designed for smaller, faster, and “streamlined” games. It takes the list building out of the equation and it allows players of all levels to just dive right in. Personally, I’ve been curious to see how the tournament side of things will take this mode. I could easily see Spearhead Tournament Play implemented precisely because of those factors. That said, it still feels like a great option as a “Casual Matched Play” game.
“This fast new game mode leaves less to worry about, outside of when and where you’re playing. Fewer game aids are required, with no objective tokens, and standardised terrain. Spearhead levels the playing field even further, and with no need to learn a large roster of units and their abilities, you can quickly brush up on yours and your opponent’s forces. The Battle Tactic and Twist cards add plenty to think about in the moment.”
I also think Spearhead is a great way to experiment with new armies. If you’ve ever wanted to dabble with an army but didn’t want to commit to a full 2000 point list the try Spearhead. It’s just a box of miniatures away from getting going with that faction.
Casual Matched Play – Home of Warhammer Legends
There’s one final thing about Casual Matched Play that is worth noting: GW wants it to be the home of Warhammer Legends.
“Legends miniatures aren’t suitable for tournament play. In Casual Matched Play, however, they are positively encouraged! Due to their limited availability, Warhammer Legends are restricted in competitive events to maintain a fair playing field – but we very much encourage their use in Casual Matched Play. From a Studio perspective, Warhammer Legends should be considered legal in all Casual Matched Play games throughout the entire edition, whether they be games with your friends or at your local club.”
So if someone does happen to show up to your FLGS on AoS Game Night and is using the Battletome for the Beasts of Chaos, fear not! That supplement is good for at least a year. And if they happen to have a different army with some Warhammer Legends miniatures in them …it will be fine for Casual Matched Play.
So what do you think of Casual Matched Play? Is it your preferred game mode or would you rather play a different way?
