Warhammer 40K: Top 5 Things To Do Before Going To a Tournament
Goatboy here with all the things you should do before you head off to your next Warhammer 40K event.
I wrote this while sitting in the Austin Airport as I prepare to fly out to Las Vegas for the LVO. I have gone to every one they have had and still plan on going as much as I can. I enjoy going to Warhammer events, enjoy seeing friends I normally don’t get to see, and just throwing dice on neoprene tabletops. This list is all the things you should do before you head off to the event.
These are things I ran through my head last night and this morning before heading to the airport. I always try to be fully prepared two or so days before and it just ensures that I am ready to play and win a few games. This list shifts a bit when I don’t have to fly but for the most part I follow this list to the letter and hope I get everything in my car and in my bags. Having a checklist really helps keep your stress level down when you’re packing things up and getting ready for that ride to the airport.
5. Prepare Your Army – Lock in Your List 1 Week Before
I won’t go into all the times I have “shifted” my armylist a day or two before the event. Each time I have done it I have had a really rough experience with not knowing the rules too well, getting mixed up with models, and just forgetting so many things. Heck I even forgot models a few times too. Really I want to make sure I lock in the list, pull out all the models, and set up the traveling “box”, bag, or tray to make sure it all gets there safe and sound. The last week before a tournament you need to let your 40K “muscle memory” kick in that is based on all the practice you’ve build up with your specific list. It’s not the time to move stuff around.
4. Lock In Your Game Tools 1 Week Before
Lucky for me I have been pretty locked on what dice I like to use and have just recently added some new colors. Locking in your dice, tape measures, dice trays, and any other things helps out a ton if you plan it before hand. Last week I wrote up my cheat sheet for an army I have played the last 7 tournaments, but I would a rather have it just in case I need to look something up and the WiFi gets shoddy in whatever area I am at in the event zone.
3. I An Extra Day of Shirts, Underwear, and Socks
This is crucial as I have gotten stuck in a city as my flight got canceled one time. It was an ATC event in Chattanooga where we flew out of Nashville to get home. The planes got locked down for two extra days as I had to front the money for a Hotel room. My buddy who was with me went ahead and got a flight for the next day while I was stuck for another day. I had to wear my swim trunks one day as pants and finally went ahead and washed my clothes as I sat in the hotel room watching some weird show about Polygamy and a crazy group of people. Ah 40K memories…
2. Preset Your Games In Tabletop Battles or Your Favorite Method
Locking in all your games means you can hit the tabletop, get to rolling dice, and get started as quickly as possible. Not everyone is as prepared as you so making sure you got the time to finish the game in a generally decent manner will be important. I also like having it all set up there so I can remember the games if I want to write a battle report or remember some bad move I did to get crushed. Remember those critical minutes you save getting started fast at the very start of each round will be treasure when you need them as the clock ticks down at the end.
1. Bring Cough Drops, Cold, and Allergy Meds
You wonder why this is the most important one but as someone who is a bit of a social butterfly – having all of those things with you means I won’t lose my voice too badly at the end of it. There is a joke with my employees at work that I come back from these events sounding like a very beautiful lady who might have smoked cigarettes for too long. Just having this stuff on you will make sure you at least fighting any new allergy that comes along, keeps your nose clear, and can help settle stomach stuff if you ate something you shouldn’t have. Which is one of the reasons we go to these events is to chow down on food that would probably wreck you at home. Also, any defense you can give yourself to defend against con-crud is a plus!
Happy Gaming!
