Tournament Advice, Tips and Tricks For All Players (2012)

Tips, tricks and tactics to get the most out of your tournament experiences.

1: Remember, even though it is a tournament, it is just a game!
People go to tourniments for many different reasons, but truthfully it should only be about having a good time. Try to go with a big group of friends who are setting out to have a laugh and an excellent weekend out.
 If you purely focus on winning, then you might well win. But everyone there will just think you’re a massive mook. Having fun will ensure that you have the greatest games, the most laughs, and may even get you a beer from your opponent. Whether you win or lose.
Next time you find yourself losing, don’t throw all of your toys out of the pram like a bellend, laugh about it! You may have been “diced” which can be funny in itself (everyone has a story where a really shart unit has done something amazing due to dice rolls – it’s what makes this game fun!) Don’t ruin the atmosphere by complaining about it, nobody else cares. However, if you laugh about it yourself, everyone will laugh with you!

2: Take the army that you WANT to bring.
Don’t take a net-list, there’s no point. Any old douche can win with the latest net-list brimming with filth! But it takes a special kind of player to win with an army of gnoblars, skavenslaves or militia. In a 5 game tournament, you’ll actually get a lot more enjoyment from winning possibly one game with a unique army than you will from smashing someone in the gooch with a power-list that requires no skill to play with.

3: Don’t take yourself so seriously.
You’re playing with toy soldiers at the end of the day. I’m not being derogatory towards the hobby when I say this, but it is the harsh reality. We’re all nerds here, like it or not, and nerds come in all variety of shapes and sizes! It is something to be celebrated joyously (read: quietly). If you’ve ever played a game against a joyless mook you’ll know exactly what I mean! If you’re only aim is to win at all costs, then go home. Seriously. Otherwise you’ll just ruin everyone elses time. Besides the journey home will give you time to rethink your life and reflect on your lack of friends / long lasting relationships, or your unhealthy relationship with your mums cellar.

4: Read your rulebooks.
This might sound obvious but you’d be amazed by the amount of people who rule-query every little detail. If you can’t find it in the rulebook (after actually looking) then call a ref over, but try not to slow down the game by doing so. Do something else while you wait then go back to it.

5: Don’t field Teclis.
I know this sounds funny, but I’m serious. And it doesn’t just apply to that frail little ballbag, if you see something really dirty in your army book, just don’t do it.
Using Tickles as the example, there’s no skill in rolling a double anything to irresistibly cast your spells. Same applies to the Vampire bus, the 100-man slave unit holding the watchtower, the party slann, the duel hydras, the duel steam tanks, three terrorgiests… etc. etc… You’ll have no fun, and neither will your opponent. And if you find yourself against such an opponent, shake his hand at the start, say “good game” and make him feel as small as possible. I say it again; net-lists ruin the hobby, require no skill, and are the crutch of bad players.
(Note I have played against all of these lists and won, however the game turned into an absolute no-mercy bloodbath for the offending mooks, and is no fun).

6: Have a few beers!
Should go without saying, but don’t be the tool who refuses to drink because it “might affect me game”. Some of the best games I’ve had have been where I’ve been off my pecs on alcohol! The last throne of skulls I was son hungover for the first game that when my opponent deployed his first unit for the battle for the pass scenario, I was staring at it for a few minutes thinking he was an idiot for deploying sideways! Warhammer is enjoyed most when you’re not taking yourself so seriously. One of my mates was so drunk last year his opponent had to help him set up! And to add insult to injury, he then beat him while off his chops. That is the kind of stories you remember, not who won or who lost. If you win the tournament you’ll be forgotten quickly, if you’re fun and memorable then you’ll be remembered for a long, long time.
Relax, and get the beers in!

Now that the mook-bashing is over with, time for some actual tactical advice.

7: Make sure you destroy enemy units.
Sounds simple right? Wrong. A canny opponent will run that last clanrat away from you. One clanrat hiding at the end of the game is worth about 150 points. One phoenix guard waving a flag around in a wood could be worth several hundred! I lost one game to a bretonian player (I know, don’t ask) simply because he had one knight in every unit alive at the end of the game! And my army had taken very little damage. But when those points tally up at the end of the game, what seemed like a massive crushing victory can actually be a minor defeat to you.
It works vice-versa as well, don’t go stupidly charging into a combat with your last remaining ogre, sometimes discretion is the better part of valor. Don’t hand your opponent victory points.

8: Keep the scenario in mind all the time.
If you’re playing watchtower, actually defend the watchtower! I’ve turned a sure win into a catastrophic loss by ringing the bell and knocking down the watchtower, allowing my opponent to swamp me from every side. Similarly, make sure your list is not only an all-comer list (I.e. can take on every army out there evenly), but also make sure it can compete in each of the scenarios. If you’re playing wood elves with no bsb and a shite-load of forest sprites, then fair play! But if you roll blood and glory you’ve instantly lost because you’re starting at the break point.

9: Make sure you’ve got a counter for every eventuality.
This is a note on your army composition. Any idiot can tailor their army to beat any other given race, however in tournaments you never know what you’re going to be put up against, and you won’t be able to know what army you’ll be facing, and you won’t be able to use your crutches and change your list. Make sure you can do all of the following if you want a competitive list:
•   Take out enemy war machines.
Scouts, especially with poison are good for this. Or your warmachines if desperate.
Making sure you have a butt-load of warsaves or regen across the board can help too if possible.
•   Have a good magic defence.
A dispel scroll is compulsory, as is at least a level two mage or two (unless you’re dwarves of course, in which case ignore this point and go back to your ale – you’ve got this covered! …bastards).
•   Try to have some shooting, or at least be able to get into combat very quickly if you don’t.
Don’t cry bitch and moan about this point, it makes a lot of sense! You don’t want to find yourself in the position where your opponent can stand at the edge of the board and bombard you while you sit there like a twat not being able to do anything about it. If you can’t move quickly, and have no shooting, take something like a storm banner. If you can’t counter it at all, then bend over and grit your teeth.

10: Lastly, keep your general alive…
Again sound simple, but there are two sides to it. Your general will give up his points when he dies, and an extra 100, and all of your units will no longer benefit from his leadership… it’s all very grim. If he dies, you’ve cocked up.
However the same applies to your opponent! If you can take out their general early on, then half the battle is won. Bonus points if you can bag their bsb too, after that just shout “BOO” at their army and watch them run.

This is some interesting advice. I play with people who like to ''powergame'' all the time and it's often boring for me, even though I've won more (with my LM army) then lost. Might be because I was running a Life Slann bunker myself (rest of the army was really soft compared to what you usually see though, I even include some Cold One Cavalry). That being said, facing Kairos Fateweaver and Skulltaker every single game isn't much fun.

Some people will say that in a tournament, unless it's comped, everything is fair game and while we might expect to see any dirty trick, it still doesn't make it fun!

A pet gnoblar for the advice given in the post, especially the last points on gaming. While some of these things are obvious, it's so easy to get carried away by the idea of a glorious sacrificial charge or killing the big unit of new opponents instead of finishing those 3 running goblins...

I like your advice, most of it is sound and good. I would like to say that even when someone spams something or uses a lot of good stuff, it might be just because he wants to see why people like it so much. People are allowed to use whatever they want to here except in tournaments because people are sensible and respect people's decisions.

Not only was this advice thread a royal laugh reading through it's given me some useful tidbits to think on. Not just for my Ogre's but for all 3 of my WHFB armies. I'm pretty much in agreement with you on all points but inparticular points 1-6. If you were a salesman on those points alone I'd be bankrupt by now! 

I'm inclined to disagree with Teclis. I know exactly where your coming from though, as a long time Khalida user I have had all the comments and cracks however I only use 40 archers max. not the 60-100 you often see. I am a fan of Teclis but that's purely because I'm a dirty elf lover and I've never actually used him myself. I do plan on using him when I get round to picking him up but he certainly will not be my regular go to general. I'm happy with the Prince or Archmage setup's available.

Lol thanks guys :-) especially for the gnoblar lol. Hopefully it'll start a revolution, a move away from the basement dwelling mooks :-P

Note: If you’re a “keyboard warrior” – shut the fuck up.

Really?

Note: If you’re a “keyboard warrior” – shut the fuck up.

Really?

My thoughts exactly. I would have given this a gnoblar. Instead I thought about reporting it. But I'm sure someone else will. Might as well sit back and relax.

The advice is great and thinks about having fun as well as being competitive.  The use of bad language however is not nice.  I would kindly ask you to edit that second line to something more polite.

Otherwise A nice read.

The advice is great and thinks about having fun as well as being competitive.  The use of bad language however is not nice.  I would kindly ask you to edit that second line to something more polite.

Otherwise A nice read.

Fair play, modified :-)

Note however, that it is a lighthearted look at how some gamers act, didn't realise the f word caused offence amoungst adults, I apologise, honestly.

s*** f***tard

Missed a spot. This is a FAMILY site

Missed a spot. This is a FAMILY site

Lol let me know of any more

THINK OF THE CHILDREN! Won't somebody think of the children!

THINK OF THE CHILDREN! Won't somebody think of the children!

Nah, my concern is that this site deteriorates into a Warseer clone with acting cool boys and their big keyboards.

That'll never happen. We have gnoblars

THINK OF THE CHILDREN! Won't somebody think of the children!

Yes, please do. Most of us are adults here and don't give two hoots about this sort of thing, but we are indeed a family friendly site, so take a bit more care with the language in the future please.

Mod-squad out.

Wow, so much I agree with yet so much I don't!

1. It's just a game. This is always good advice and it's worth keeping in mind the whole exercise is meant to be fun!

2. Take the army you want to bring. Hmm. For some people this is true, winning with a top tier army list cheapens the experience. However, it is implied that there is something wrong with bringing a "netlist". Really, there isn't and netlists become netlists because they work. I tend to find even when I build a list from base principles and test it myself, what I end up with is something that looks a lot like a netlist. "Take the army you want to bring" cuts both ways and if you want to bring the filth - bring it! If you want to compete, if you want to seriously try to win, bring Teclis or spam hydras or whatever! The idea that bringing a competitive list to a tournament is bad - that's ridiculous!

3. Don't take yourself so seriously. This links in with number 1 and to a degree it isn't bad advice. Don't take yourself too seriously. But take the game seriously. If I've traveled for many hours in a car, paid hundreds of pounds/dollars for entry, lodging, food, etc. If I've spent dozens of hours getting my army ready, playtesting the scenarios and practicing with the list - yes I'm taking things seriously or I wouldn't be here! It's all part of the fun and I want to play against other good players who also take the game as seriously as I do. Sure, I agree with "don't be a WAAC jerk" but that is a different issue I feel.

4. Read your rulebooks. Yep. Not just this but "know yourself and know your enemy". This is one of the hardest things to achieve - you need to know not only your army inside out but also every other army you could face. This "burden of knowledge" is a major barrier in competitive play. In practice you need a handle on most netlists, combos and tricks.

5: Don’t field Teclis. Rubbish. If the tournament allows Teclis, bring Teclis! Bring the chosenstar, the Ld-bomb, the knight-bus whatever. This is a tournament! There is absolutely nothing wrong with bringing a list built to win. Now many tournaments will comp or restrict what you can take for numerous reasons but if a build is allowed, bring it. I played 9 games last year at Ard Boyz, no less than 5 were Teclis high elves. I killed him every time. Bring it! If the tournament allows a build then it is fair game. Do not confuse bringing a powerful list with bad sportsmanship. I've had some of the best games ever against absolutely filthy armies. As long as everyone is on the same page and everyone brings the hardest stuff they can, it's all good. The idea that these lists require no tactics is also wrong. While the tactics might well be more about synergies and game combos than classical simulationist tactics, each tactic has a counter.

6. Have a few beers.  The after-game drinks is a great part of the tournament, but yeah, I don't want to play with a hangover thanks.

I like your tactical advice for 6-10 and I can't really fault it. Especially keeping the scenarios in mind. I can add some more:

11. Don't give up! If things go bad early on, you may be able to turn it around but you have to keep trying!

12. Get every "soft score" point you can. Get your stuff painted as well as you can! Look at the paint checklists.

13. Practice, practice, practice! Learn your army inside out, play the scenarios until you're sick of them. Play as many opponents that you can, seek out the worst filth you can. Don't refuse to play the guy with Teclis, play him as many times as you can.

*grumble grumble* have to agree with Gutlord Inquisitor AGAIN!!

The last part I can agree on, but the first few points are actually the way YOU like to play the game.
If somebody likes to play netlists, likes to bring teclis or is competative in his way of playing it is his right and it might be that this is what he enjoys.
You don't drive for a few hours to just hope you get one good win with your mediocre army.
You can do that in smaller tournaments closer to home.

So please get off your high horse and accept, that other people enjoy tournaments in other ways then you.

Oh I love the extra 3 points :-D good show!

And don't get me wrong, I'm not on a high horse, this is meant as a pee-take of some of the ultra-serious players out there. Just grinds me up the wrong way :-p came after reading a post, actually from an ogre player, that literally said "Build me an army"

I agree with sharing advice and tactics, don't get me wrong. But when new players purpously strive to get net-lists from players who have worked it out the hard way... thats just wrong in my eyes. Test stuff out, do it your way, and practice in tourniment after tourniment (and locally obviously) until you win.

I agree with the better part of the list and the added points. I think the odd drink + game is a great way to lighten the mood - but I don't want to play someone that is sloshed.

There is a lot of satisfaction to be had from busting a filthy/net/etc list with a less conventional one too.

A while back I saw some headline of a tournament where, added together, there was a display table full of Mournfang. People take them because they work. I wouldn't put that in the filthy/cheese category - but that it would probably be perceived as an auto-include/netlist.

Deathfisting SM with Fencer's Blades and Glistening Scales protected in a character-filled gutstar? Considered pretty filthy by a lot of people.
Deathfisting SM w/ various options in a fight against the "Teclis" (specifically and otherwise) models? You could be so lucky to get some death snipes off.
As was said - it depends on the tourny comp, and the perspective from both sides of the table.

Oh I love the extra 3 points :-D good show!

And don't get me wrong, I'm not on a high horse, this is meant as a pee-take of some of the ultra-serious players out there. Just grinds me up the wrong way :-p came after reading a post, actually from an ogre player, that literally said "Build me an army"

I agree with sharing advice and tactics, don't get me wrong. But when new players purpously strive to get net-lists from players who have worked it out the hard way... thats just wrong in my eyes. Test stuff out, do it your way, and practice in tourniment after tourniment (and locally obviously) until you win.

That's settled then

My feelings on No2 are that there are two major downsides to netlists, at least for veteran players.  First, everyone knows them (and their counters) and the best list might not be the best list for you.  What I mean to say is, if you have a lot of good personal experience with what the internet considers to be a sub par choice (ie in my case Tyrants, ect), then play what you know.  The reason is that you, as a player, will always make better and more informed tactical choices with a unit you have a lot of experience with than one you have less experience with, even if it is tactically superior.  Further, people sometimes do not know how to contend with oddball choices because they do not turn up on the internet flowchart of victory that came with their army when they downloaded it.  Finally, taking the unusual is a good way to set yourself apart and/or soften your comp score.

Wow Phazael, can you use paragraphs? that's almost one long sentence.

I agree, that you can try out different builds, but when you drive to a tournament and spend a few hundred (fill in your currency) you want to have a list you know.
And yes if it is oddball and you feel comfortable, then fine.

Actually it isn't saying anything for or against the "take a net-list" arguement 

Heh.
Minimum core + Skragg and as many Gorgers as I can legally fit + poison scouting maneaters and some filler.
"Saw it on the internetz, thought it'd break your head when everyone jumped out all, 'Surprise!'"

*Note: One of these days I'm going to try it at the local shop, for great justice.

That was one paragraph all pertaining to one subject.

But really I am down on netlists because people who take them are generally following someone else's game plan and not one they worked out the details on for themselves.  Ergo, when someone shows up with something outside of the "bestest of the interwebz" in their list, they often do not know what to do to adapt so something outside of the known playguides these lists invariably come with.  Obviously, some armies are so strong (or matchups so lopsided) that this is not always an issue, but my crew win a lot of games taking uncommonly used things because these netlists are metagamed to the point where they have no answer for it. 

This is basically where theoryhammer and math-hammer end and actual experience take over.  When you work these things out for yourself, you get really good at fiting a square peg in a round hole when you have to.  Meanwhile Jonnie Netlist with his tuned to perfection by Leenus cookie cutter Dark Elf army sits there scratching his head when facing something off the wall like a 300 model Night Gobbo force or Mr Bill's Dragon Ogre Shaggoth because he never expected to see anything like it and he only knows the basic flowchart play that came with the army.  It happens a lot at high end tournament play, actually.  And invariably, the netlister guy goes away butthurt because he can't understand how his photocopy of a GT list lost to such "crap", then said netlister usually moves on to the next big netlist trend.

+1 Gnoblar for Phazael for thinking almost like me on this matter. List you know and are experienced with is alot better than list that you dont know and have no experience with.

And just to say my own opinion..I dont really care about the winning part, mostly about the experience, new tactics and learning. And also the enjoyment I get when playing against new people and getting to know them (even for a while) and the after tourney partying.

But great advices anyway! Nice things to know!