How to Host Your First Heroscape Tournament

[Dad_Scaper]

How does everyone feel about running a tourney at a church...?

Rule #1 is, conduct the tournament in a manner in which people will attend.

Most questions - this one included - can be answered by consulting Rule #1.

 

[Unhinged Manchild]

How does everyone feel about running a tourney at a church...?

I would do that!

I've also been thinking, I saw a kid running a DnD session at a library a few weeks ago... Has anyone tried playing scape at a library? I'd guess that if there are more than 10-15 people planning on playing, it wouldn't really work out.... but I guess you never really know....

The library here has some sort of "Memorial" room with tables and such, I think it's more for meetings, but it's definitely perfect for board gaming, too. That DnD session almost made me jealous enough to ask the librarians if I could do a scape day!

 

[caps]

How does everyone feel about running a tourney at a church...?

I would do that!

I've also been thinking, I saw a kid running a DnD session at a library a few weeks ago... Has anyone tried playing scape at a library? I'd guess that if there are more than 10-15 people planning on playing, it wouldn't really work out.... but I guess you never really know....

The library here has some sort of "Memorial" room with tables and such, I think it's more for meetings, but it's definitely perfect for board gaming, too. That DnD session almost made me jealous enough to ask the librarians if I could do a scape day!

Some libraries have community rooms and such that would be great for 'Scape. A few people could probably also play 'Scape in the little study rooms that some libraries have, but most of those aren't big enough for a tournament.

 

[Dad_Scaper]

I've been to a tournament at a library. It was fun!

The chief reasons to use a game shop are (1) a dedicated space and (2) an easy solution for prize support. The chief reason *not* to use a game shop is (1) there isn't a suitable one at a suitable location.

If for any reason you are not using a game shop, use whatever space works best for the people you want to attend.

 

[MegaSilver]

Yeah, I've ran a couple of tourneys at a library. They didn't have much room though, so we moved it from my local place and took it up to where everyone else was in Shepardsville, KY.

 

[Dad_Scaper]

That's another thing I forgot to mention. If possible, have your tournaments with MegaSilver, El Diablo, NecroBlade, and their crew in Kentucky. If you can. They're good peeps.

 

[MegaSilver]

That's another thing I forgot to mention. If possible, have your tournaments with MegaSilver, El Diabolo, NecroBlade, and their crew in Kentucky. If you can. They're good peeps.

Thanks.

 

[Dad_Scaper]

Oh, for heaven's sake. As often as that guy posts, you can tell him it's a miracle I remember his user name at all.

 

[elvenwizard9]

I've played six player game days at the local library. I wish they'd give us their meeting room! It would be absolutely perfect!

On another note, I attempted to secure the church once and I discovered that every single Saturday was booked. Indefinitely. I could use another room but the one I had in mind would've been perfect.

I'm going to host it two weeks from tomorrow. Short notice? Mildly. It's the only chance I'm going to have though, and it just presented itself. I hope it goes over well... I'm nervous, honestly.

 

[Dad_Scaper]

It's ok to be nervous! Make a tournament thread and post it in the Events subforum. Don't reinvent the wheel, base it closely on one that's already there. Be encouraging and positive and be certain that everyone who attends will have fun, because everyone who's there will have fun, no matter how many people it is.

Read through the OP of this thread again (if you haven't recently) for more practical advice and upbeat encouragement.

Good for you, and have fun! Being nervous is perfectly normal, by the way. I'm still nervous before my events. As Chris Rock said to Conan O'Brien once before Chris went out on stage, "Of course I'm nervous! Anything you can [bad word] up should make you nervous." So, don't worry about being nervous. Just remember to be confident, too, and to have fun.

And to breathe. Remember to breathe.

 

[flameslayer93]

Just have fun and take the first bye of the day so you can do TD stuff. ^_^

 

[elvenwizard9]

It's ok to be nervous! Make a tournament thread and post it in the Events subforum. Don't reinvent the wheel, base it closely on one that's already there. Be encouraging and positive and be certain that everyone who attends will have fun, because everyone who's there will have fun, no matter how many people it is.

Read through the OP of this thread again (if you haven't recently) for more practical advice and upbeat encouragement.

Good for you, and have fun! Being nervous is perfectly normal, by the way. I'm still nervous before my events. As Chris Rock said to Conan O'Brien once before Chris went out on stage, "Of course I'm nervous! Anything you can [bad word] up should make you nervous." So, don't worry about being nervous. Just remember to be confident, too, and to have fun.

And to breathe. Remember to breathe.

Thanks so much DS. I've read through the stuff and found it very helpful. I've hosted private tourneys with my friends before but I'm hoping to diversify my crowd and have a more open, social event. I just wish I could get some HSers to come... Probably not, but oh well. I plan to recruit new ones to fill the ranks left empty by those who make "selling my collection"
posts.

As a side note, I have a unique problem. I know that it's nice to have extra MS figures available to use for new players, but most of the friends I 'Scape with always use my collection. Always. Only three of them ever bring their own armies and sometimes they borrow from my collection to supplement their own. I've never had a problem with this, but I am aware that a huge part of tournaments is drafting. Typically with my private game day mini-tourneys my friends select an army of one of 6-10 pre-made ones that I have tailored to be mildly competitive and functional. The purpose of this is to speed things up and get into the action ASAP, but I want to give people options here.

My question is, how do I make a balanced drafting system, allowing them to select from a large pool of figures of my collection, while still spending no more than five to ten minutes on the process? Or, ultimately, should I just stick with pre-made armies, especially since the novices would probably end up saying "Oh he looks cool, derpity derp!" and not listening to a word I say... Probably ending up with an army that looks like:

DW8K 130
Grok Riders 260
Sgt. Drake Alexander 370
Romans 420
Finn the Viking Champion 500

 

[Dad_Scaper]

I've never run a draft. It wouldn't work for my crowd, which includes many very young people, who want to bring units, and armies, that they like and that they're comfortable with. Like yourself, I loan my personal collection to my friends as needed, so they can bring what they want.

I would recommend, unless you have a really good reason to use a draft format for your first tournament ever, let people bring pre-built armies. If you think your friends won't come (and they may be the only attendees, but that's ok, too) if it isn't a draft, then do a draft. But otherwise, make it public-friendly.

Again, .

 

[elvenwizard9]

I've never run a draft. It wouldn't work for my crowd, which includes many very young people, who want to bring units, and armies, that they like and that they're comfortable with. Like yourself, I loan my personal collection to my friends as needed, so they can bring what they want.

I would recommend, unless you have a really good reason to use a draft format for your first tournament ever, let people bring pre-built armies. If you think your friends won't come (and they may be the only attendees, but that's ok, too) if it isn't a draft, then do a draft. But otherwise, make it public-friendly.

Again, .

I meant that I literally must lend out my collection, as most prospective attendees don't own any heroscape at all. Most of them are on my level thiugh, having played with me for years. That doesn't bother me.

I just wonder if I should give them choice of building an army or just let them choose one premade by me.

To draft or not to draft? That is the question...

 

[caps]

For at least one of my recent tournaments I pre-built as many armies I could build with my collection (including some proxying) and had everyone pick from them right before we started playing. It went great.

My Co-organizer brought armies as well and I know some of them were used.

If you DO want to Draft, the Amazing Army Auction can be fun. Normally I wouldn't recommend it to first-timers but if your primary audience is the buddies you already play with then it could work.

 

[Dad_Scaper]

Ah. Well, in that case, I would do what I do: Announce the format to everyone at the same time, and loan out my own 'Scape on a first come, first served basis. If you think you might be stretched thin, you will want to have smaller armies.

 

[elvenwizard9]

Ah. Well, in that case, I would do what I do: Announce the format to everyone at the same time, and loan out my own 'Scape on a first come, first served basis. If you think you might be stretched thin, you will want to have smaller armies.

I don't think I'll be stretched that thin, especially with the C3V's supplement to my collection. Speaking of the C3V, I know it might not seem like the best idea to allow them at my first tournament, but I have a few reasons.

1) I own a good bit of C3V. Armies featuring the Varkaanan Wolves and Cathar Spearmen frequent my table, and I often field Haduc and Van Nessing, too. My friends were as impressed as I was with the quality of these units, and we all have growing affections for them.

2) Now, I understand that the #1 priority is to fill seats, but seeing as most people who would come either have seen the C3V units and enjoyed them or have no knowledge of them (for lack of knowledge of HS in general) and would be indifferent. I don't think I would lose participants over it.

3) I feel compelled to, as one of the goals I am trying to accomplish is to establish a stronger 'Scaping community in my town. My friends who do have 'Scape of their own have very little, and those who would like to acquire some would find it difficult to not break the bank. I find that the C3V units offer an easy way to get quality units, as all of the miniatures used are still in print, and novices would find an easy way to expand their collection after acquiring a master set.

 

[Dad_Scaper]

If allowing C3V means you have more minis to share, and means you and your friends will have an opportunity to use those fine customs, with which you are already familiar, then go for it. There is a danger some people will be discouraged from coming, but there is also a chance some people - maybe including your friends - will be energized by the dynamic* metagame.

 

[elvenwizard9]

Thanks so much for the advice/encouragement. This thread is amazingly helpful. As soon as I pin down a location I'll go ahead and post the tourney thread.

I can supply four maps on my own, and my friends can bring three or four. We can support a decent crowd, up to 14-16, if I'm that lucky. There's nothing wrong with small tourneys, though.

 

[Dad_Scaper]

14-16 is not a "small" tournament. It's not "small" until it's down to 4-6. I've run one with 6 myself, and it was great.

Don't worry about the number of attendees, that's out of your control. Just set it up as best you can, market it as best you can, and when people show up, have a good time.

 

[caps]

14-16 is not a "small" tournament. It's not "small" until it's down to 4-6. I've run one with 6 myself, and it was great.

Don't worry about the number of attendees, that's out of your control. Just set it up as best you can, market it as best you can, and when people show up, have a good time.

Most of my tourneys tend to run 6-12 people.

 

[elvenwizard9]

Well I'm not worried. Eight and I'll be happy, more I'll be ecstatic, fewer I'll have fun. Now, entry fees and prizes... Hmm... Orm's Return and a box set of C3V units sounds like good selection to me. Time to hit up miniature market.

 

[Tornado]

For at least one of my recent tournaments I pre-built as many armies I could build with my collection (including some proxying) and had everyone pick from them right before we started playing. It went great.

My Co-organizer brought armies as well and I know some of them were used.

Great suggestion cap. ZB ran one like that but we had to run a different army for every round. It was rich with C3V builds which was really cool to see them in action. Plus no one had to bring figures, bonus.
I like the new avatar.

 

[elvenwizard9]

Stopping by the library tomorrow morning, going to ask them if I can use their meeting room. If not, then on Sunday I'll ask my pastor after the service.

 

[flameslayer93]

Good luck! Have a blast! If your a smoker, make sure your lighter is on safety! ^_^