A League of their Own

So, Starting a League for new players for 40k.

Rules:

General Rules:

• NO ENTRY FEE!
• You are encouraged to start something new you haven't used before, or at least a small army you'd like to add to. Extra points this way!
• Contact information of some kind is required (so we can schedule matches). We promise only to give this information to other players.
• All rules, including scoring, are subject to change. Before the start of the event, we may change them at any time. After the start, they will only be changed by a vote of more than half the participants present on League Day.
• League Day is the 2nd Saturday of each month at 3:00PM, starting with March 5th 2011
  • Not being on time MAY force a forfeit unless you inform us beforehand.
• All rules and scoring judgements will similarly be made by majority vote.
• I'sm currently open to suggetion on prizes (see below).

Tournaments:

• You will play in Swiss Rounds for a tournament win each month. This means that you will play 3 to 4 maatches (depending on number of plyers) each month, and while your first match is random, the others will be based on winners fighting winners.
• The first round will occur on League Day. If you cannot be present League Day but wish to participate for the month, special arrangements must be made. It's possible that we won't have enough official tables. You can either agree to use a smaller table, or you can set up a different time.
• Being late (after 6pm sharp) MAY cause a forfeit unless you let us know beforehand.
• After League Day, ynou will play your 2d round sometime during the following week. You set this up with your opponent. The obvious suggestion is the following Saturday.
• Further rounds proceed similarly, 1 per week. When all matches for a week have been played, new postings will be emailed for the following week's matches.
• Leaguree battles may occur anywhe both players agree, on whatever terrain both players agree to. However, official judgement can obviously only occur in the store. Thus, unless you know your partner, playing in the store is encouraged. Out-of-store battle results must be confirmed by both parties.
• The winner of the tournament each month will get an as-yet-undecided prize.

Forces:

• First month: 250 points. Force requirements are 1 HQ, 1 Troop. Normal maximums.
• Subsequent months: add 200 points to your current total. Normal Force Organizations.
• Between matches: you may modify your layout by 10% of current point total. Thus, if you have a 450 point max, between each match, you may exchange 80 points of models or equipment for 80 different points of models or equipment.
• Between months: you may modify your previous month's layout by 25%. Thus, if you had an 800 point max, and are moving to 1100, you may remove (800 * 1/4) 200 points of equipment or models from the 800 point batch, leaving 600 points as the "core" force that is moving on. You may then add models to reach the new total of 1100.
• Each time you lose a match, you add 20 points to your total for next month. This is done to make sure a new player or weak army still has a chance.
• Thus, if there were 3 rounds, and you lost all 3, next month you'd have 360 more points in total.
• The League is intended to run 6 months, ending with a total of at least 1250 points.
• Players joining after the start of the League will have point totals matching the 2nd lowest total for any player.
• Roster sheets showing exactly where all of your points were spent are required. They don't have to be official sheets, but must be organized and legible.

Scoring:

• In addition to the tournaments, there will be general scoring and prizes based on it.
• At the end of the League, there will be prizes for everyone over certain score totals, as well as prizes for the highest scoring player(s). These will be bigger than individual tournament prizes.
• Score awards are as follows:

  Being present on League Day	10
  Having an army ready to play on League Day	10
  Having 80% of the new pieces in this group newly bought from the store (not used in previous events). This helps us get prizes!	20
  Having complete models with all gear (no proxies except in the case of fragile or otherwise in-danger pieces, which must still be present during play)	10
  Having a paint job that is "complete" and at least 3 colors ("complete" judged by majority vote)	10
  Playing your matches (Forfeits do not count)	5 each
  Winning a match	5
  Winning a tournament	5

• Also, on League Day each person will get 2 "That ROCKS!" cards to give to other players. Giving them out is worth 5 points each. Receiving them is worth 10 points each. These can be used in any way you choose (as long as it relates to the game), but we suggest that you give them for things that make the League experience more fun for you or others. Examples: great paint job, neat army theme, cool battle tactics, awesome conversion, or even just a consolation prize.
• All score awards are doubled during the final League tournament!
• Scoring Examples:
  • Player with complete pieces but no paint wins all matches and tourney: 10+10+10+0+15+15+5+0=65
  • Player with great pieces earns 2 cards but wins no matches: 10+10+10+10+15+0+0+20=75 
  
  
  
  
  
  You can get more informatio at Good Games Montana.

The best part about all of this is it helps build up a new generation of gamers in my area.
While you may not be in my area, I encourage you to start your own league. Leagues are fun and help build the gaming community in your area and even start something new yourself.

The great part about running a league as opposed to running a tournament is that you can participate and start an army that you've always wanted to try.