Summer League-ing, Happened So Fast (Part Two)

Summer is drawing to a close, and so too has the Kings of War League that I organized for my local scene (see Part One for more details). It is hard to believe it was eight weeks long, as it feels like it happened so fast! As I sit and reflect on all that transpired, here are my main takeaways, presented for your entertainment and edification, should you choose to run a league of your own.

Flexibility is Key

While I originally had eight players sign up to participate in the league, the final number ended up being six. We rotated the game night each week between Tuesdays and Thursdays in order to accommodate everyone’s schedules as best as possible. We communicated in the days leading up to each game night to coordinate matchups. In spite of this, we still had a handful of nights when someone dropped at the last moment. We also had folks traveling intermittently for work and vacation. It was rare indeed for there to be three games being played simultaneously. Understanding in advance that even the most dedicated players will struggle to maintain perfect attendance across eight weeks was crucial for the successful organization of the league. I was flexible, and so were my players. I always had an army handy to serve as the Ringer, even when I wasn’t expecting to need to do so. My players sometimes met on off nights to ensure that as many folks as possible could get games each week. These efforts went a long way in sustaining the momentum across all eight weeks.

Variety is the Spice of Life

By increasing the points size of the games every two weeks, I was able to make sure that even when players faced each other for a second time (which happened in a few instances), the game would be very different because the points size was different. It also meant that if you weren’t enjoying and/or finding success with your list, you would be able to mix it up and try a different approach in the next week or two. I also planned for a different scenario each week, mixing up the type of scenario (objective based, loot counter based, bluff token based, etc.) on a weekly basis. Here is the way the schedule played out:

Be the Most Organized and the Most Enthusiastic

As the league organizer, it was my responsibility to be the most organized member of the group. I arranged the matchups the day before each game night so as to ensure the greatest variety of opponents for each player. I printed out copies of army lists to distribute at each game night, as well as the rules for the chosen scenario. I brought a box of my own terrain to the FLGS each game night to supplement their collection and create interesting, balanced battlefields. I sent out a recap email at the end of each week with some photos of the games, the results of the games, and the updated standings. Here is an example of one such email:

Good evening!

The third week of the Summer League has come and gone.

Both games this week featured some crazy dice rolls.

Here’s a look at the current standings. With a few people missing out on games this past week, things have gotten even closer!

Week 3

Chris M. – 7

Chris D. – 6

Keith – 6

Jim – 5

Matt – 5

Pat H. – 5

Right, with that sorted it’s time to focus on our next game night – Thursday, July 20th. Who is planning to be there for a 1495 point game and a chance to take the lead? Who can’t make it and would like to schedule a game on an alternate night? Speak up!

Best, Greg

I also felt compelled to be the most enthusiastic member of the group, as evidenced in the above email. Celebrating the highs, commiserating with the lows, facilitating the good-natured trash talk, documenting everything with ample photographs, and keeping everything running smoothly and on schedule. Eight weeks is a long time, and the organization and enthusiasm of the league organizer can make all the difference between reaching the end or fizzling out early.

Listen to Your Players

As the league organizer, I ultimately had to be the person making official decisions. This was only required of me a few times, but each time I made sure to listen and act with the best interest of my players. I certainly never wanted folks to feel like I was making unfair decisions and/or flexing my authority.

Upon the conclusion of the league, I canvassed feedback from my players to help me understand what went well and what could be improved upon for next summer. Here are some examples of what they had to say:

“I enjoyed the different points levels we played with. Also, the alternating days we played helped me attend more of the sessions.”

“I really enjoyed being able to take a new army this summer, and it was a great way to consistently get games in… We are so lucky to have such an awesome local group of players. It was great to introduce Matt and Pat to the game and build our community.”

“To improve for next year, perhaps include some of the optional rules like building your own monster.”

“Tell my opponents to stop shooting me, please ;-P Next year let’s make it more narrative!”

Having a Presence at the FLGS Generates Interest

This was the most consistently we have been playing Kings of War at our FLGS since before COVID. Other folks in the store absolutely took notice. I had many more interactions with people outside of our group than when we have simply shown up for a random tournament practice game. The people I spoke to were impressed with the visual spectacle of well painted armies clashing on the battlefield and were eager to learn more. Will any of them follow through and play Kings of War? I’m not sure! But the important thing is that opportunities to grow the community were built and can most effectively be built by having a public presence.

Establish New Traditions

While the specifics may change from year to year, I am really looking forward to continuing the Summer League for many years to come. Here are some photos from throughout the eight weeks:

And I can’t finish this article without extending a massive congratulations to the winner of our inaugural Connecticut Kings of War Summer League!