Starting Zone Hexes - Limit ( yes / no & how? )

[Codeman]

My goal here is to start a debate, discussion, or maybe ridicule. I’m not necessarily proposing to come up with any standard or official ruling. I’m just trying to gather people’s thoughts on limiting starting zones, especially in tournaments.

I took it upon myself to limit the Tree Town Tournament starting zones to 20 / 21 hexes using a 490-point army. I see the DFW group did something similar by limited there starting zones to 24 with only a 400-point army.

The obvious reason for doing so is to keep someone from bring 15 sets (60 blade gruts) into a tournament that is hosting a 600-point army. The other benefit would to limit the number of figures on the board so most people could finish a game with in an hour ( for tournament purposes ). Lastly it adds more strategy to the game.

First I will say that I am in favor of limiting starting zones as I think it adds another element of strategy …. make the best army for the points that also has to fit on to the board.
So to start out the debate I’m throwing out the idea that if you take how ever many point army you want to play and divided that by 20.5 to give you the number of starting zone hexes ( this is kind of a compromise of the TTO & DFW tourney ) I also did not round up.

Example 350 point army / 20.5 would be 17 hexes

Using the 20.5 factor here’s how it would look:

19 hexes = 390 – 405 point army
20 hexes = 410 –430 point army
21 hexes = 435 – 450 point army
22 hexes = 455 – 470 point army
23 hexes = 475 – 490 point army
24 hexes = 495 – 510 point army
25 hexes = 515 – 530 point army
26 hexes = 535 – 550 point army
and so on… 600 point would be 29 hexes

Do you like the concept … if so do you like this ratio…. Is there a better ratio?

[LilNewbie]

6 (or 7) Hexes per a full 100 points seems reasonable to me. It allows squads but keeps swarms under control and it's easy to figure.

Newb.

[ninthdoc]

I like the 24 to 400 rule. I'd like to see it go to no more than 28 for a 500 or 600 point army.

[auralerogeny]

Personally, I do like this ratio. I've never thought of using a ratio to see what would be an appropriate starting zone size for a given point army. Their has been some discussion over starting zones in this thread:

HS Battlegrounds Discussion Thread

Some of the results from your ratio fall nearly perfectly in line with what has been discussed within the above thread.

Good job, I think that I may use this ratio in the future.

[LilNewbie]

Um..which ratio?

Newb.

[Aranas]

x army points / 20.5 = nbr hex

[kenjib]

I must admit to being slightly bummed that I can't field a 3xrats 4xmass army.

[CupidsArt]

Well I came across this prob with my:

2x Glad
2x Blast
3x Rats

28 hexes worth of figs for 400 points, yeah you can build an army like that but honestly should you. Hendal gave me a hand by giving everyone permission for larger 400 point armies, I thought it was GREAT!

Looking back now I can see where it would cause a prob, I like the idea of limitations on hex use for army sizes and I think 24hex/400pts is good, close to the line, but good.

the x/20.5 seems like it would work out great. A great army can still be built with only 21 hexes and as armies get larger around here the more often Larger figures get used, so a 48hex/800pts doesn't really happen that much.

Sure for fun games using a million rats would be fun for you, but I see the opponent getting angry with your lack of creativity or constantly figting the same strategy every, single, turn......

[CornPuff]

hehe, there is quite a bit of discussion about this on the battlegrounds thread.

Should start zone sizes be determined by points or by map?

Would any tournament organizer ever tell the participants that they can only use 20 hexes as their start, even though a map has 24 hexes? It seems event organizers are willing to do the opposite (adding tiles).

Would it be fun to play a 600 point game with 18 hex start zones? Would it be too limiting, or would it just force you to adjust your draft style? And of course, would it speed up the game?

[Bixby]

Not that my comment will bear any value to tournament play, but when we make our large maps and a player has more figs than the starting zone will allow the extra figs do not begin the game on the board. At the end of every turn, figs are added to any vacant starting zone spaces. It has worked well the few times this has occurred. Keep in mind we play very large maps and opponents rarely get to another players starting zone very quickly.

[Riggler]

This has been talked to death for the last two weeks in the thread on HS Battlegrounds discussion thread in Maps and Scenerios Forum. Quite a bit of analysis has already been done there.

[Snotwalker 8000]

Originally Posted by Bixby

Not that my comment will bear any value to tournament play, but when we make our large maps and a player has more figs than the starting zone will allow the extra figs do not begin the game on the board. At the end of every turn, figs are added to any vacant starting zone spaces. It has worked well the few times this has occurred. Keep in mind we play very large maps and opponents rarely get to another players starting zone very quickly.

But if you're playing the AE, and they come out in round 1, those opponent's figures that aren't yet on the board are now perfectly protected and safe from your grenade attack... could lead to probs...