The Versatility Gauntlet (Galactic Attrition!)The concept is simple - round robin format, 1 game a week. Standard competitive 200 pt level 75 minute games with all current legal sets available to use and all balance committee rulings in place (exception below.) Every match you MUST play a different faction. Once played, you cannot play that faction again (until perhaps the finals). (All-Fringe will be considered a faction for this event)
(Side note - To declare a squad a faction, it must have at least one piece from that faction. Seems obvious right? But the reason for this rule is to prevent someone from potentially using an all-Fringe squad and declaring it any faction they want. You could still go mostly Fringe and a piece with Independent Outfit - that's fine. Because that squad is still exclusively that faction.)
*Recent balance committee ruling exception - we won’t be enforcing having to have a reinforcement/reserves list. We’re not even submitting squads (which by nature must change every single round), so we obviously can’t ask for a reinforcement/reserves list.
Legal maps will be the current restricted map list.
- Theed Palace
- Mushroom Planet
- Rancor Pit
- Crime Lord's Palace
- Modular Base aka Rebel Fortress
- Desert Palace
A few twists to how the tournament will progress-
Have 1 squad from all factions
ready to go. Then just prior to your match (immediately prior to picking your squad), you get to eliminate some faction options for your opponent (just for that game), and have to choose a faction from the ones left!
Week 1 - you each eliminate 5 factions for your opponent (you pick from the remaining 5)
Week 2 - You each eliminate 4 factions for your opponent (counting the one you played the prior week, you pick from the remaining 5)
Week 3 - You each eliminate 3 factions for your opponent (counting the two you played the prior 2 weeks, you pick from the remaining 5)
Week 4 - You each eliminate 2 factions for your opponent (counting the three you played the prior 3 weeks, you pick from the remaining 5)
Week 5 - You each eliminate 1 faction for your opponent (counting the four you played the prior 4 weeks, you pick from the remaining 5)
Week 6 - You each choose from the remaining 5 factions you have left.
Week 7 - You each choose from the remaining 4 factions you have left.
Week 8 - You each choose from the remaining 3 factions you have left.
Week 9 - You each choose from the remaining 2 factions you have left.
Cut to top 4 -
Semi-finals - You must play the last faction you have not played!!!
Finals - You select 3 factions for your OPPONENT to choose from. One week to prepare the squad.
*It must be significantly different than any of your prior squads.* (How do we ensure this? Read below)
(After faction options are given, An independent 3 judge panel will go through the squads each player has already played in the tournament, and outlaw SIGNIFICANT pieces for that player. If both players played the same piece, it will either be on the ban list for both players or neither. But otherwise the ban lists will vary between players because it's based on what they already played. We are talking Thrawn, Mother T, Boba BFH, Revan SC, Han Correlian Legend, Mandalore the Vindicated, 8th Cortex Shaper, Critdu, etc, etc. Pieces that could be brought in to another faction via affinity or CE could be included on the ban list. Basic minor tech pieces will always be allowed - ie ugnaughts, mouse droids, XT-droids, Mas Amedda, etc)
Quote:
A little more detail that's somewhat abstract but a way for the Judge panel to think about it.
What "type" of squad did each player play the first time they played each of the 3 factions? How would you describe it to another player?
Examples:
They played a "Thrawn Swap squad with Boba BFH and Morrigan Corde" (Nix Thrawn (Mitth'raw'nuruodo), Grand Admiral Thrawn {because they play so similarly}, Boba BFH and Morrigan Corde. If the player played Mother Talzin in their Fringe squad, she could be nixed here too, even though she wasn't played in their Imperial squad)
They played an "8th Cortex squad with Shedao Shai, Tsavong WE and Khalee" (Nix 8th cortex Shaper, Tsavong Lah Warrior Elite and Khalee Lah Warrior Progeny) {I personally wouldn't eliminate a shaper or priest that may have been used, because while they are important, it's not core to how it's played. 8Th Cortex IS core. I also would not eliminate Warmaster Tsavong Lah because they play significantly different})
They played "Double Lancer" (Nix General Grievous Droid Army Commander -or- Whorm Loathsom {whichever was played, if either was played}, Darth Sidious, Lancer Droid, and IG-86 {significant attacker in this squad}. I would not eliminate the Battle Droid Officer or Gha Gnackt, etc. ALSO to consider - if the player has already played Talon Karrde, even if not in Fringe - I'd nix him too so they couldn't play him again with Sep Independent Outfit characters)
So judges can look at all pieces each player played, mainly focusing on the 3 factions they have to choose from and what squads of those factions the player played. But ALSO, fringe and affinity pieces that were already played in DIFFERENT factions, that could be used in one of the 3 factions for the finals.
The idea being that they have to be creative with squad building, and not fall back on the same power pieces. Play a different type of squad altogether.
So ideally everyone will have (at least) ONE 200pt legal squad for each faction ready to go. To be clear - I will NOT be asking for squads in advance. Since VERSATILITY is literally the name of the game, I want you to be able to pick the best squad you want to use (out of what hasn't been potentially nixed by your opponent) in a game-time decision. So I'd recommend allowing a little extra time in scheduling games to allow for you (and your opponent) to examine the other's squad for a bit before starting.
I envision it like this - you schedule a game-time with your opponent. You meet up in discord and Vassal (or whatever method you choose), and lay it out.
Quote:{Round 3 as a random example}
(Player 1) OK I know you already played NR and Separatists. I have my picks for the other 3 you cannot play this round.
(Player 2) And I know you played Sith and Rebels in the first two rounds. I have my picks ready too. Lets type it in the vassal chat and simul-send.
(Player 1) great sounds good. (types in) One, two, three, send
(Player 1 sent in type) OR, Republic and Sith
(Player 2 sent in type) I choose Vong, Imperials and OR
(Player 1) OK I've played Sith and Rebels, and you took out Vong, Imps and OR for me. That leaves Republic, Mandos, NR, Separatists, and All-Fringe for me.
(player 2) Correct. And I've played NR and Seps, and you nixed OR, Republic and Sith for me. So I have Mandos, Rebels, Imps, Vong and All-Fringe.
(Player 1) - you got it. Let's take 2 min to select squads
(Player 2) sounds good.
(Player 1) OK have mine typed in the chat with a link
(Player 2) Me too. One two three, Send
{Links simul-sent. Map selection is notated in the comments in the squad builder for each specific squad}
(Player 1) OK great - you're Mandos.
(Player 2) Yup, and you're all Fringe. OK cool - meet back in 10 min?
(Player 1) Sounds good.
Then study your opponent's squad, and meet at the agreed upon time and play!
We need all players to understand how this works very well, because there will be a bit more expected for the players to do themselves with each other immediately before their match than usual. It will throw a lot of things off if someone plays a faction more than once (I could see this happening accidentally, not understanding how independent outfit works as an example.) We also need everyone committed to the full 9-12 weeks and ready to communicate any schedule conflicts. Real life gets in the way sometimes, but clear communication is expected if that happens.