Depending on which blogs you read and which podcasts you listen to, you might have heard that competitive 40K is dead, or dying, or so out of control its not fun. Evidently the 2015 Adepticon 40K main event didn’t sell out in under and hour (as I’ve heard it has the past few years) and this is being touted as proof positive. I know that the last three years, since the demise of 5th edition, locally our tournament scene has been hurting a bit. The local premiere event sold out at 90 players in January 2012. We’ve been lucky to sell half that number of tickets the last 3 years. This gave rise to a feeling of doom and gloom about the state of competitive 40K. However, with the conclusion of the 2015 Las Vegas Open, hosted by Frontline Gaming, that cloud appears to have lifted.
The Independent Tournament Circuit, coordinated by Frontline Gaming has generated a tremendous buzz and has brought players together to do what they love, kick in some teeth with plastic army men. In the 2014 circuit, over 700 players took part in one or more events across the world, although last year’s events had a heavy west coast locus. Their website lists at least 24 tournaments, although I know a few more took place that never got listed in advance. On top of those excellent numbers, The ITC awarded almost $3000 in cash to the top 3 players from the season. The California Central Valley’s own Paul McKelvey, of the Left Coast Corsairs, took top honors and a nice paycheck. My club, the Mercy Killer’s Steve Sisk took second and Team Zero Comp’s Geoff Robinson narrowly missed 2nd place for 3rd.
We’re only 2.5 months into 2015 and already 23 events are calendared. I think the work that Reece and Frankie are doing at Frontline has been an amazing catalyst to bring together the scene. Tournament organizers have already been doing the hard work to run great events for their local players with no reward but the occasional thanks. Now, with some prize money, a “ranking” system, but most importantly a way to bring people together the tournament scene is looking up this year, again!I know it has caused me to run my first RTT last month and plan another for June this year. You can find out more about my next event, No Mercy 2 here.
What do you think?
Attending tournaments is expensive if you are not a local. I don’t see an event not selling out instantaneously as a bad sign. Now having huge #’s of slots open when the event is about to start? That’s more of a problem.
I’m pretty sure LVO had a wait list, and all 256 slots were filled on day 1.
I honestly think that about 90% of the internet doom and gloom population is from individuals who got rid of their armies years ago, because some aspect of the game changed that they didn’t like…and they have been waiting for the company to fold and go under, so they can finally feel good about their decision. A lot of times the people screaming at one another don’t even own the armies in question, have never attended a GT, and don’t even play tabletop games anymore…but seem to have endless free time to poop over everything.
Every time I go to their tournaments…its an absolute joy. Everyone is awesome, it’s a great time, and there isn’t any of the negative feedback and rancor that you get on the internet. Based on forums and some news sites, you’d think everyone would just go into a tournament, and throw kittens and spit on each other, while screaming about broken rules.
Yes, I agree with your sentiments. I think it was a suprise that it didn’t sell out immediately, based upon previous years. LVO, however, sold over 300 tickets to the main event and exactly 256 started on day 1. It was a blast, including thrown kittens (I jest).
We’re lucky here in Northern California that there are a lot of active players and a lot of support from TOs for good events.
Plus you have much better weather. I had a blast at LVO too :). Then I had to come home to 4F weather in maryland. 🙁
No arguments there. My wife and I traveled to Boston and Portland, Maine in the early spring 2 years ago. I’ll deal with living on the Left Coast if it means I get 75 degree weather in early March. She had the convertible out this weekend.
Bit jealous :). I’m hoping this warm weather stays around in time for adepticon next week. I’m sick of winter coats!
I’m not going to make it out to Adepticon this year, but hopefully next. I have to figure out how to fly with my army. You’re right, we’re spoiled with local events out here.
I used one of those elite battle foam cases…it was expensive, but it made it through checked luggage AND tsa inspection with only minor damage to the ork walkers (some exhaust bits popped off, that was about it).
With all my pointy daemon models I’m seriously frightened about checking baggage, even in a well packed case. I’m going to look at the Battlefoam PACK Air, or just using my travelpro and carrying on my army with clothes in a backpack.
Peter,
One thing to make ABSOLUTELY sure of…if you are doing that, make sure you get onto the plane early (pay for earlier boarding). There was a fellow at LVO that had packed his army for transport on the plane, ended up boarding later, there was no room in the overhead bins…they had to store his luggage…the results were saddening to put it lightly.
Testing here.