Lazy Laundry Tournament

When I do laundry, I like to play Heroscape with myself. Over time, these games have developed into tournaments. I build the armies from my own collection (no proxying units or multiples that I don’t have) and my rule is that every unit I have must be represented in the tournament, no matter how crappy they may play. I usually start by building around the crappy units first in the hopes of leveling the playing field, but also in the hopes of finding a great new, unrealized combo in which that unit shines. This time around, I decided to start building armies around 3-figure, non-bonding melee common squads, and I think I ended up with more interesting armies than I have in past Laundry Tournaments. Anyway, once I’ve built all the armies, I sort them out based on my guess as to how many rounds they’re likely to win and seed them accordingly. Then I place them in the brackets based roughly on seeding, while also trying to keep duplicated units in different quarters to avoid potentially confusing match-ups in which both armies use many of the same units. Once I have the match-ups in place, and before I’ve put together a map, I make predictions about which team I think is likely to win.

I usually make up the map on the fly and try to change it (or, at the very least, the glyph selections) each round to keep things fresh. This time I got it in my head that all the maps should include all the types of terrain that directly affect figures in the game, so all the maps included lava, ice, snow, jungle trees, roads, walls, etc. In fact, I tried to build maps using the correct percentage of terrain pieces based on how many hexes they represent in all the HS Master and Terrain Sets (assuming only one of each set). So, if the ideal HS Master Set had, say, 360 hexes of terrain in it and, say, Snow Tiles represented 3% of all hex space, then I would try to include 12 or 13 Snow Tiles in the map I was building. My justification for doing this was that some units, through no fault of their own, get screwed on a lot of maps—the Dzu-teh don’t get the benefits of Snow & Ice Enhanced Movement on most maps, while Venoc Vipers get frequent opportunities to use Slither, not because there are a lot more water tiles in the game, but rather because that’s just the way people tend to build maps. I decided that a proper tournament map should allow all units the opportunity to use their powers to good effect.

This was a very surprising tournament. Usually I get 75% to 85% of my predictions correct, but this time I was way off, especially in the later rounds— I picked correctly only about 50% of the time. I’m sure the map design and glyph choices had something to do with it, but much of it had to do with the way the new D&D units affected the game. I wasn’t expecting the Mezzodemons to be quite as dominant as they were, and I was downright shocked to see them lift the Anubian Wolves into contention. Moltenclaw was a pleasant surprise and his large single-hex base made him a great addition to a Marro Hive-based army. Siege, for a while, looked like the missing piece for a traditional frenzy army. Sharwin Wildborn and Erevan Sunshadow were tremendous tools for a Legionnaire based army. Mogrimm and Darrak continued to be devastating actors in an Axegrinder army. After foolishly losing the Hulk in his second round match, his Wyrmling teammates almost pulled out a win without him. Evar Scarcarver was even the MVP of an otherwise crappy all-hero Saylind army. And many of the D&D units that didn’t make it very far showed enough potential to make me realize how I had misused them or had inserted them into the wrong kind of army.

Whatever the case, it was all a fun learning experience. Below is a round by round listing of my latest Lazy Laundry Tournament. The bolded armies are ones that advanced to the next round. The * shows which armies I picked to win each match-up.


CHAMPION

Khosumet, AnubiansX3, MezzodemonsX4, Guilty


FINALS

MinionsX2, ProtectorsX2, Atlaga, EarthX2
Khosumet, AnubiansX3, MezzodemonsX4, Guilty *


SEMI-FINALS

MinionsX2, ProtectorsX2, Atlaga, EarthX2
ImperiumX2, Kiova, 10th RegX3 *

Khosumet, AnubiansX3, MezzodemonsX4, Guilty
Cyprien, Mimring, Krug, Sonya, Arrow GrutsX2, SwogX2 *


QUARTERFINALS

MinionsX2, ProtectorsX2, Atlaga, EarthX2
Sgt. Drake1.0, Sharwin, Marcus, Erevan, Me-Burq-Sa, LegionnairesX3 *

Mogrimm, Migol, Microcorps, AxegrindersX3, Darrak
ImperiumX2, Kiova, 10th RegX3 *

Khosumet, AnubiansX3, MezzodemonsX4, Guilty
Moltenclaw, Hive, StingersX2, DronesX3 *

Cyprien, Mimring, Krug, Sonya, Arrow GrutsX2, SwogX2
Major Q10, ShadesX3, WoAx2, Marro Warriors *


ROUND 3

Silver Surfer, Ana Karithon, Thorgrim, KoW, Eldgrim *
MinionsX2, ProtectorsX2, Atlaga, EarthX2

Sgt. Drake1.0, Sharwin, Marcus, Erevan, Me-Burq-Sa, LegionnairesX3
Airborne Elite, GGx3, Krav, Warden 816 *

Mogrimm, Migol, Microcorps, AxegrindersX3, Darrak
Jotun, Syvarris, Raelin1.0, Tagawa ArchersX3 *

Iron Man, BrutesX2, DED, GoblinsX3 *
ImperiumX2, Kiova, 10th RegX3

Khosumet, AnubiansX3, MezzodemonsX4, Guilty
Siege, Venoc Warlord, AubriensX2, VenocsX5, Kyntela *

Moltenclaw, Hive, StingersX2, DronesX3
Tor-Kul-Na, Ice Troll, Arrow GrutsX2, NagrubsX3, Swog *

Venom, Warhulk, Templars, EOV, Axegrinders
Cyprien, Mimring, Krug, Sonya, Arrow GrutsX2, SwogX2 *

Sub-Bak-Na, Sir Hawthorne, StingersX2, DividersX4, Nagrubs *
Major Q10, ShadesX3, WoAx2, Marro Warriors


ROUND 2

Silver Surfer, Ana Karithon, Thorgrim, KoW, Eldgrim
Braxas, Shurrak, Kelda, Dzu-tehX2 *

Taelord, OmnicronsX3, Death KnightsX2 *
MinionsX2, ProtectorsX2, Atlaga, EarthX2

Imperium, Valguard, Parmenio, Iskra, Rechets, Sacred BandX3
Sgt. Drake1.0, Sharwin, Marcus, Erevan, Me-Burq-Sa, LegionnairesX3 *

Werewolf, Morsbane, WoB, Emirroon, WoAx2, Arkmer, ChainfighterX2
Airborne Elite, GGx3, Krav, Warden 816 *

Mogrimm, Migol, Microcorps, AxegrindersX3, Darrak *
DW9000, Hydra, Marrden HoundsX3, Zettians

Zelrig, Sgt. Drake2.0, Pulverizer, Death ChasersX2, Marcu *
Jotun, Syvarris, Raelin1.0, Tagawa ArchersX3

Iron Man, BrutesX2, DED, GoblinsX3 *
Red Skull, GIE, Moriko, Shotgun Sullivan, Shiori, Theracus

ImperiumX2, Kiova, 10th RegX3 *
Agent Skahen, Raelin2.0, MonksX3, BlastatronsX2

Spartacus, Crixus, Retiarius, CapuansX3
Khosumet, AnubiansX3, MezzodemonsX4, Guilty *

Sudema, GladiatronsX3, BlastatronsX2, Black WyrmsX3
Siege, Venoc Warlord, AubriensX2, VenocsX5, Kyntela *

Moltenclaw, Hive, StingersX2, DronesX3 *
Nilfheim, Gurei-Oni, 10th Reg, GreenscalesX2, Roman ArchersX2

Tor-Kul-Na, Ice Troll, Arrow GrutsX2, NagrubsX3, Swog *
Nakitas, QuasatchX3, Heirloom, Gorillinators

Venom, Warhulk, Templars, EOV, Axegrinders
Captain America, ObsidiansX2, Zetacron, RepulsorsX3 *

Cyprien, Mimring, Krug, Sonya, Arrow GrutsX2, SwogX2 *
Spider-man, Sonlen, Rhogar, DeathreaversX4, Otonashi

Sub-Bak-Na, Sir Hawthorne, StingersX2, DividersX4, Nagrubs *
Hydra, Scarcarver, DW7000, MajorX17, Brandis, Saylind

Hulk, Blue WyrmX4, Red WyrmX3 *
Major Q10, ShadesX3, WoAx2, Marro Warriors


ROUND 1

Silver Surfer, Ana Karithon, Thorgrim, KoW, Eldgrim
Bye

Warhulk, Tandros, Brunak, Death ChasersX2, Roman ArchersX2 *
Braxas, Shurrak, Kelda, Dzu-tehX2

Taelord, OmnicronsX3, Death KnightsX2 *
MotH, Iron Golem, Tornak, Mind Flayer, Mohicans, Blade GrutsX2

MinionsX2, ProtectorsX2, Atlaga, EarthX2 *
Abomination, MohicansX3, Brave Arrow, Isamu

Thanos, WarforgedX3
Imperium, Valguard, Parmenio, Iskra, Rechets, Sacred BandX3 *

Dund, Mika, Laglor, MicrocorpsX2, Deathreavers, Black Wyrm
Sgt. Drake1.0, Sharwin, Marcus, Erevan, Me-Burq-Sa, LegionnairesX3 *

Kato, Eltahale, Kozuke, Izumi, Harquebus, Yari *
Werewolf, Morsbane, WoB, Emirroon, WoAx2, Arkmer, ChainfighterX2

MotH, Wo-Sa-Ga, Sentinels, Wyvern, Pulverizer
Airborne Elite, GGx3, Krav, Warden 816 *

Mogrimm, Migol, Microcorps, AxegrindersX3, Darrak *
MotH, GroksX2, Pulverizer

WerewolfX2, WoBx3, Aubriens
DW9000, Hydra, Marrden HoundsX3, Zettians *

Zelrig, Sgt. Drake2.0, Pulverizer, Death ChasersX2, Marcu
MotH, Frost Giant, Death KnightsX2, WaterX2, AirX2, DumutefX3 *

Charos, ProtectorsX2, Acolarh, Greenscales
Jotun, Syvarris, Raelin1.0, Tagawa ArchersX3 *

Iron Man, BrutesX2, DED, GoblinsX3 *
Tul-Bak-Ra, Groks, Ne-Gok-Sa, Legionnaires, DrudgeX4

Red Skull, GIE, Moriko, Shotgun Sullivan, Shiori, Theracus
Othkurik, Grimnak, Agent Carr, Heavy GrutsX3, Chainfighter *

ImperiumX2, Kiova, 10th RegX3 *
DW8000, Torin, Mind Flayer, ZombiesX4

Bye
Agent Skahen, Raelin2.0, MonksX3, BlastatronsX2

Spartacus, Crixus, Retiarius, CapuansX3
Bye

Pelloth, James Murphy, PhantomsX3, DrowX3
Khosumet, AnubiansX3, MezzodemonsX4, Guilty *

Sudema, GladiatronsX3, BlastatronsX2, Black WyrmsX3 *
Dr. Doom, Templars, Sentinels, Concan, Repulsors

Ninjas, OmnicronsX2, Feral Troll, ArmocsX3
Siege, Venoc Warlord, AubriensX2, VenocsX5, Kyntela *

Moltenclaw, Hive, StingersX2, DronesX3 *
Hydra, Runa, Minions, BrutesX2, GoblinsX2

Warhulk, Ulginesh, Iron Golem, Jorhdawn, Chardris
Nilfheim, Gurei-Oni, 10th Reg, GreenscalesX2, Roman ArchersX2 *

Tor-Kul-Na, Ice Troll, Arrow GrutsX2, NagrubsX3, Swog *
Hatamoto Taro, Tagawa Samurai, Kaemon Awa, HarquebusX2, YariX2, Red Wyrm

Warhulk, Frost Giant, GIE, Deathstalkers, SahuaginX3 *
Nakitas, QuasatchX3, Heirloom, Gorillinators

Major Q9, DeathstalkersX3, White WyrmX4
Venom, Warhulk, Templars, EOV, Axegrinders *

Frost Giant, Kee-Mo-Shi, Mind Flayer, Ornak, Nerak, Blade GrutsX2
Captain America, ObsidiansX2, Zetacron, RepulsorsX3 *

Cyprien, Mimring, Krug, Sonya, Arrow GrutsX2, SwogX2 *
Alastair, Sir Gilbert, Feral Troll, Finn, MacDirksX2, Tarn

Sujoah, WyvernX2, Estivara, SpidersX3 *
Spider-man, Sonlen, Rhogar, DeathreaversX4, Otonashi

Sub-Bak-Na, Sir Hawthorne, StingersX2, DividersX4, Nagrubs
Kurrok, FireX5, EarthX3, WaterX3, AirX3 *

Hydra, Scarcarver, DW7000, MajorX17, Brandis, Saylind
Sir Denrick, GorillinatorsX2, Kumiko, MacDirks, KoWx2 *

Sir Dupuis, Templars, Sentinels, 4th MassX3 *
Hulk, Blue WyrmX4, Red WyrmX3

Bye
Major Q10, ShadesX3, WoAx2, Marro Warriors