How would you react?

[Stubbdog]

First, a note to say that this will NOT be happening at the upcoming tournament that I am hosting at Gamwyze on the 15th. This was just a thought I had and after some interesting discussion with a couple of people, I wanted to get more input from people around here.

 

Question... If you went to a tournament with your army in hand and AFTER you get there, you find out that in round #2, you will have to swap armies with whoever your opponen of that round is and play with their list against your own list that they will now be playing.

 

 

What would be your reaction?

 

Would you get P'd? Would you refuse because either you would feel innadequate cause your knowledge in other armies is not good? Would you refuse because you wouldnt want anyone else toucing your minis (even though they would be right there at the same table as you doing it)? Would you get kinda rush out of it trying to go against your own "perfectly" built army? Would it be exciting because you would get the chance to broaden your horizons in the game in live action?

 

How would you react?

 

Now, a secondary queston...

 

What if you knew BEFORE you get to the tournament that you would be doing an army swap for one of the rounds? How would that change your feelings?

 

Would you not go? Would you leave out your favorite mega model cause you would not want to have to face him yourself? Would you specifically change your build to not give your player opponent anything "special" or just hope that your opponent isnot familiar enough with your faction to be able to properly take advantage of any tricks that you have included in the load out?

 

 

How would you react?

[tabascojunkie]

I'd go for it as a one-off thing. Sounds like a good twist, but not something I'd want to do on a regular basis.

[mattmcl]

Ditto, and I would definitely want to be warned about it.

[Qwyksilver]

If it was dropped on me without notice, I would not be happy. Not in the least. Depending on my mood at the time, I would consider withdrawing from the round or tournament, if I did continue I would most certainly be speaking with the coordinator after the fact. If this is done under the guise of "learning to play another army" it can be done in another setting other than a tournament. I just don't find a tournament an appropriate place to do this, when a demo or event, or a couple games with your friends at the FLGS would suffice. I play in tournaments for fun, and I am not going to have fun with that kind of unsuspecting mind twist. There are armies that I have played, that I just don't enjoy playing because the army doesn't suit my style of play. Honestly, I am not even a fan of bringing two lists to a tournament, or tweaknig lists between rounds. I firmly believe in winning with the army you brought to the table all the way through. I have no problem with other people playing with my models provided they treat them respectfully. I've played, tested, or played repeatedly against every faction so I have no issue with not knowing how to play another army. As I said before, there are just some armies I am not going to have fun playing. But if the rules for a tournament state X, and you show up, and they have decided to change them to Y, I am not a fan.

 

I would have no issue if I knew it was going to happen, or if it was a possibility of happening (for example the official Warlord tournament scenarios, I know the tourney may have 4 of the 6, but I don't know which 4). But as I indicated above, I probably would not enjoy that round. I also wouldn't purposefully build an army to screw my opponent because that would also screw me during other rounds. And, that might be a tournament that I decide to pass by as well. Knowing it will happen provides me with the option of declining. Depends on my mood at the time.

Edited August 20, 2007 by Qwyksilver

[Brushmaster]

I for one would be quite p---ed off if this was sprung on me without for warning , you can't go changing things mid stream . I am not a fan of this in a tournament setting because quite often you don't who they other players are and will they respect your minis . As Qwyk has said , this is OK for a friendlier setting and I have done it with some people to show how I'd use their armies but not as a tournament rule .

[jdripley]

I'd definately want to know ahead of time.

 

I'm not sure I'd like that idea. Typically a person plays a faction because they like that faction. i.e. if I was in a tournament and I had to switch to, say, Darkspawn or Mercinaries, I'd get fairly grumpy because I don't particularly care for those factions.

 

I think the "don't touch my mini" factor is pretty big. Sure they're tabletop quality paint jobs (for the most part), but they are still the specific player's art, still their hobby, still the work of their own hands, and let's face it, minis are fragile. There are models of mine that I know will break or fall apart if I handle them in such and such a way, so I'm extra careful. Random Player # Whatever isn't familiar with my collection's quirks. I just think there's a truckload of potential angst in this area. If we were playing a game like Mageknight or whatever where the minis don't break, it'd be another thing.

 

I'd also want one heck of a solid reason why I'm switching. "for the heck of it" and "to learn another army" won't fly with me. I know quite a bit about every army that I've gone up against, simply because I'm on the receiving end of it. You learn what you can and can't do with an army as your opponent does or doesn't do it. Plus everything's free to access, so if learning is your thing, it's free and easy. I'd want a fluff sort of reason... some sort of terrible dark wizard with an AOE mind control spell, or something wacky like that.

[ixminis]

1. Don't like it sprung on me, but it's been done before. Voiced my opinion before during and after the fact - but didn't have a terrible time... it was livable. Wouldn't do it to someone else.

 

2. I have also done this with advance knowledge and enjoyed the game-play. My only concern is mis-handling someone else's figures AND/OR having mine mishandled due to negligence.

 

There's a variant that I've done of this where you intentionally "point-out" a legal but tragically weak army & bring it to the tourney. That is the motivation for playing both sides. You prove your mettle with an army that has trouble finding it's way to the battlefield. Most entertaining.

 

Rgds,

[Alfhedil]

If I had minis, I would object because the minis I would play with would be personal to me, and it just would not feel right playing with someone else's army, and vice versa.

[Saint Vierzehn]

Would you get P'd?

 

Nope.

 

Would you refuse because either you would feel innadequate cause your knowledge in other armies is not good?

 

Nope.

 

Would you refuse because you wouldnt want anyone else toucing your minis (even though they would be right there at the same table as you doing it)?

 

Nope.

 

Would you get kinda rush out of it trying to go against your own "perfectly" built army?

 

Yes. Big time.

 

Would it be exciting because you would get the chance to broaden your horizons in the game in live action?

 

Maybe.

 

How would you react?

 

I like a good challenge, and facing my own army certainly would be one.

 

What if you knew BEFORE you get to the tournament that you would be doing an army swap for one of the rounds? How would that change your feelings?

 

I think this would be a better way to handle things. There are perfectly valid reasons why some people wouldn't want to do this.

 

Perhaps, for one round, you could give participants a choice to opt in for the swap or not. And perhaps give a tiebreaker point or a chance to compete for a special prize/award to those who opt in. That way, those who opt out would still be able to get a good game and compete in the tourney as usual, and those of us who are the real kung-fu masters would get a special chance to shine.

 

-StV.

[Feanor]

I'd do it with friends but in a tourney setting I would be mostly opposed for the many reasons stated above. And then I'm only slightly for it because I know my army in and out and back again so I could deal with it.

[Castlebuilder]

If I'm running a demo or a friendly game and both armies are mine, this is a good tactic. In a tournament it becomes a gray area because I don't know who I will be handing my army over to. Most gamers would respect it, but switching my nicely painted tournament army with the kid who has unpainted minis that don't even have all the pieces glued on would freak me out! If you tell me about it ahead of time, it's my call. If you throw this on me when I arrive, I think that I would be pretty upset.

 

Castlebuilder

[kristof65]

I'm another one who wouldn't like it sprung on me. Advance notice would probably be ok. Presentation of the format by the organizer would make all the difference in whether I wanted to play in the tourny or not.

 

The only way it would affect my army build was I would only choose models I could live with another player damaging on accident (which for most of my armies is 95% or more). My favorite, prized models wouldn't get used.

 

I also wouldn't want to see this in a tourney with a significantly large prize. A $10-$20 prize for 1st at most, and hopefully participant prizes for everyone would make it more livable as well.

[Spike]

I agree with what Qwyk said. It's one thing to arrange a gaming night with buddies where everybody knows ahead of time that they'll be trading armies. Also, most people game with friens who they trust to handle their minis with respect.

 

Surprising tournament players with such a scenario is going too far. Even if I personally have no problem with other people handling my minis, I know there are those who do. Whenever I play anybody for the first time, I ask before I handle their minis, even if it is only to move them half an inch.

 

Also, army-building IS part of game strategy, and while winning with an army list that was just laid in your hands five minutes ago might prove that you have a good knowledge of all the armies available and can improvise a good battle plan, it does not necessarily prove that you are the best player.

 

Imagine if such a rule were applied to a painting contest.. you start the model, then pass it to your opponent to finish. Neither participant would really have the chance to prove their ability.