5 Important Things I Learned at My First Kings of War Tournament. Number 3 Won’t Shock You.

Do you spend evenings trying to herd children? Local gaming club prefer other fantasy-themed wargames? Nearest Local Gaming Store (Friendly is often debatable) too far for regular gaming? No room at home for a 6′ table? If you answered yes to any of these, you probably find yourself longing for opportunities to play Kings of War. This is where tournaments can be a lifeline to the game-deprived hobbyist. In need of an opportunity to play, I signed on to my first Kings of War tournament. Six games of lovely, fantasy goodness with total strangers, using a rules system I was still working to fully appreciate. Here is what I learned…

1. Perfect is the enemy of done

Typically, both children decided to catch colds and be off school in the weeks preceding the event. This left me five days for painting 3/4ths of my army, finalizing a list, and getting my bags packed. It was tempting to be up until midnight ensuring my models were painted to the standard I wanted. Perhaps I could have had a shot at the painting competition in that case? Maybe my list would have been more effective had I tweaked the magic items before submissions ended?

Instead, I opted to get my basic colors down and send my list to the organizers so they could notify me of issues in plenty of time. Then I got two decent nights’ sleep before rolling up for a rather intense weekend of gaming. Turning up rested and refreshed allowed me to enjoy the experience. Ultimately, wargaming is a cooperative experience where fellow players will appreciate a considerate opponent over a beautiful army or perfect list.

2. Prepare your reference material

Nothing is worse than staring across the table in confusion. I exaggerate, worse things happen with CCGs, yet it is embarrassing. Tournament games can be fast-paced and a good opponent will have you focusing on several threats at once. Planning ahead will aid your enjoyment by keeping the game flowing smoothly. With several pages of special rules, magical artifacts, and an array of movement options, it’s not practical for everyone to memorize the entire rulebook.

Friday evening before the tournament was spent bookmarking the rulebook for quick reference. It allowed me to consult my opponents’ lists and look up unit abilities whilst they got on with playing. It helped call up information quickly in moments of confusion to avoid long pauses. Between rounds, I could quickly locate the rules I wanted to revise. Having the information you need in a readily accessible format makes a real difference. Some opponents opted to print reference cards and one person had unit stats on their bases. Find what works best for you.

3. Keep a record of your games and opponents

It’s your last game on Sunday. Someone hands you a voting slip for the Sportsperson award. You want to cast your ballot for that opponent before lunch on Saturday. The one with the… Ummm… that person? Or was it? Hmm. Not to worry, just look up their name in your records. Alternatively, you can cast a Sportsperson vote for whichever name you remember.

Being able to look up the names of my opponents really helped me network online after the event. I was also able to look again at the results and note where my major failings were. Whilst I only won one game (with a Pyrrhic victory at that) I could identify my losses were greater facing Abyssals and Horde-focused armies. That has led to introducing new units in my army for future tournaments. More articulate hobbyists often use their records to write battle reports post-event.

4. Don’t be afraid to ask for help

In the excitement and worry of getting everything together pre-event, you can easily miss things. I hadn’t prepared Bluff counters for the scenarios that required them. By being open about this with my opponents they were happy to share their spares. Everyone I faced over the gaming table was willing to explain rules I was unfamiliar with and talk through what they were doing. At every instance, it was better to be open about the help I needed. Everyone is at an event to have fun together.

Tournament organizers, referees, venue staff, and even the internet are there to help. Whatever your issue there will be someone who can lend a hand. I found the venue especially helpful after a pre-event phone call to plan my access needs. During the tournament, I found every opponent willing to accommodate my requests for aid when loss of function left me unable to roll dice.

5. Be generous with your hobby compliments

Tournaments are a showcase for the hobby. You can see beautiful painting, creative modeling, impressive display boards, cunning army composition, elaborate army list presentation, team uniforms… the list goes on. Even if the execution isn’t perfect you can guarantee someone has worked hard. My heart beamed with pride when I received a compliment on my Clansfolk. Despite earlier limits on painting time the stress had been worth it.

Compliments allow you to connect with other players on a social level. You don’t even have to be socially adept to start a conversation with them. Everyone appreciates the recognition of their efforts and creativity. You can also learn a huge amount from discussing the work of your fellow hobbyists. The absolute worst-case scenario is you make other people feel good about themselves.

In conclusion…

Tournaments aren’t the sole domain of competitive players. They provide an opportunity to enjoy the game regardless of skill or experience. If you’d like to attend one take a look on the official Mantic website under the Events section. If there isn’t a local event listed there you can try fan forums like the Kings of War Fanatics group on Facebook which has a comprehensive Events list. Have fun!