Super ROOM-SIZED 40k MEGABATTLE!!! Who's interested?

[dragonlady]

If people were willing to travel a bit, I do have a High School that is available over the summer.  The cool thing about that is that it would be available for a multi day game (one day to set up, two days to play even).  I have lots of tables there, and plenty of fast food restaurants close by to feed the troops.

Its located in San Juan Capistrano, right off the I5.

Though I agree that this would also be a killer con event.

I have most of the miniature room available the Mondays of Strategicon.  You could start the game on Sunday night and run it through Monday Afternoon.

While the room is available for next week, you could hold it next convention on Labor day and spend more time for planning and advertisement.

Robyn

[bartschy]

Interessting we could make that even a mini campaign,

game 1 setuop for the big game strategizing getting ready and every player get's to play a smaller game or two for advantages in the mega battle ....

Thanks

Marko

[Sheepshagga]

All helpful ideas Marko.  Thank you.

I had already thought about the table setup, since there are several deep objectives that need careful placement, not to mention time needed to set the stuff up without delaying game time.

If we stick with GE, I was actually going to ask someone to open up the store at 0830-ish in the morning, simply because I'm not in a position to hang around until they close Friday night.  If they agree, I'd rather show up early and do it then.

Of course teams will have to be identified beforehand.  I'd like an even amount per side, and if that's not possible, then perhaps some players can make up the point difference by bringing more.  Early enrollment will be required.  I also still like my particular idea of having renegade Imperial Guardsmen.  This slight addition to the evil side of things might give badly needed fire support, or perhaps a flock evil Vultures or Valkyries.  If you are a person who has an IG army and would like to be on the bad side for once, you have but to ask... 

The simulataneous deployment idea has prospects.  Once all players are present, I could set a time limit that team captains can develop a plan, then give a time limit to full army setup.  First army done can go first (perhaps).

If people were willing to travel a bit, I do have a High School that is available over the summer. 
Its located in San Juan Capistrano, right off the I5.

Thanks for offering up such a nice place.  Sounds great, although I hope San Diegans don't consider it too far of a drive.  I live at the southern end of Pendleton, so it's just quick hop for me.  I'd be there! 

Great idea about a multi-day event.  But it brings up a concern: It's a long drive for some people- how many would be willing to drive up there 2-3 times?

Interessting we could make that even a mini campaign,
game 1 setuop for the big game strategizing getting ready and every player get's to play a smaller game or two for advantages in the mega battle ....

We're getting beyond the realm of what I was hoping would be a one day event.  It's massive to begin with and requires a ton of logistics, not to mention an extremely long day from the players.  The table setup is huge and there are some bugs that will obviously need to be worked out beforehand.  And depending on where we actually get to set up, it could be a long drive for the participants, and they may not be willing to drive that distance several days in a row, and perhaps their families may not be willing to part with them that much.  I'd rather not let my idea spin too far out of control.  While I appreciate the enthusiasm, let's keep this first endevour to just the megabattle, please. 

[bartschy]

If we stick with GE, I was actually going to ask someone to open up the store at 0830-ish in the morning, simply because I'm not in a position to hang around until they close Friday night.  If they agree, I'd rather show up early and do it then.

You might want to keep both ideas open, think about Cliff, it is much easier for him to let us take over the game room at 9:00 on Friday to setup than to come in 830 or pay one of his employees to come in at 8:30.

The minicampaign idea was really for a multiday event, thought of a day and a half or something, everybody get'sa warmup game and we can sort thru questions while we are at it.

thanks

Marko

[dragonlady]

Well, I can get us access to the HS at approximately 7:30am, and as long as I lock it up in the end, we could stay through the evening hours for a one day event.

For multiday events, there are several little hotels in the vicinity, since San Juan has the Mission as a tourist destination.

Robyn

[captkurt]

San Juan is closer for me than GE

[Sheepshagga]

The dates that I proposed earlier were based strictly off GE's calendar (space/table availability).  Given that every Sunday is packed to the gills, and Saturdays are hit or miss with other large events (Warmachine, RPG's, etc...), we were left with very few dates, and those are pretty far away.

With Robyn's offer of a classroom, that opens up quite a few more date possibilities.  I PM'd Dragonlady asking about date availability, and once I hear back, we can start looking at a hard date to kick this off.

This is an event worth driving to, so San Juan Capistrano is not too far of drive.  I was willing to drive all the way to Arizona for a battle this big.  I commute from Pendleton to Miramar everyday, and I drive to GE nearly every Saturday.  It's not that bad.

We'll keep this first event to a single day, but with the brains that are already chewing on the mechanisms of this scenario, it should not have any game-breaking issues.  A person will able to show up, have a great time, then walk away anxious for the next one.   

I know many people out there can only game on Saturdays or Sundays, so careful consideration will go into date selection.  Room availability is first priority, then for a Saturday or Sunday when the majority of interested parties can make it.  If it happens to fall on a date that you normally cannot game on, I'm sorry.  Can't please everybody all the time.  Enough advance warning will go out that perhaps you might be able to adjust your schedule to make the game date.

And once we have a hard date, then I will start actively taking enrollments.  One of the killers of the last big megabattle was that people said they would show up, but didn't.  This especially hurt the attackers as they lost all their long range firepower and deepstrike ability.  I ask that if anyone signs up for this, be serious about showing up.  And for those that do show up, bring a few extra thousand points worth of goodies in case one of your allies bails out, and you are asked to fill the gaps with additional troops.

[Sheepshagga]

Ok, we got a good location and after some calendar-scrubbing, we have 3 possible dates.

Location:  San Juan Capistrano school.  It will be a room with plenty of tables and chairs.  Battlefield will most likely be two giant table arrangements which represent one major city (see the pics at the first part of this thread).  Each table arrangement will be a minimum of 6x16 (could be 18 or 20' long!).  There's also plenty of chow locations for a nice lunch break.  Directions to follow...

Dates:  June 14, July 12, or July 13. 
           The date will be picked based on feedback from players who are interested.  It's entirely possible that we hold it more than once if enough people are interested and can't make certain dates.  So, let me know what dates are good for you, and I'll determine which date works best for the majority of people.

Players- 7 or 8 per side.  4000 points per player.  I'd like a good mix of armies, so if you are interested, let me know what army you prefer.  But if you are flexible enough to change armies/sides, please let me know that as well.  And again, if you are IG and want to be on the evil side as renegades, let me know.

Enrollment fee: $10 per non-PACMAD member, $7 per member.

Kick-off:  will be 9 am.  A few of us will show up around 7:30 to start setting up, but gaming begins at 9.  Expect the game to last 8-10 hours.  The scenario will last 10 turns, with about 45 minutes per side to move, shoot, assault, consolidate.   

Rules:  I will post the rules of the scenario later this afternoon when I get home, but refer to the table arrangment to give you an idea of what to expect.  Just to get the ball rolling and to answer some questions now:
          -both sides will be granted "without number" for troop choices only, and attackers can bring destroyed units back twice, whereas the defenders can only bring back units once.  No other similar ability will be allowed.
          -up until Turn 6, both sides can bring back one destroyed HS choice (single model or vehicle, but not a flyer/squadron/battery) per turn.
          -IA and Apoc datasheets will be used
          -Strategic Assets will not be used
          -4000 points per player, and up to 20% of an army's total can be spent on Superheavies.
          -FOC adjusted as such- no more than 3 HQ per player, and all 0-? choices are doubled (0-2 now 0-4).  2 troop minimum.
          -no special characters or assassins.

Prizes: will be given out.  Details to follow.

Again, let me know who's interested and on what date.  I'll do what I can to come up with the best date possible.

[DarkBlood]

If someone brings an inquisitor army, why no assasins?  Just curious...

[captkurt]

For that matter, at these kind of point levels, why no special characters.

[spaz102]

So I can't use a deathwing or ravenwing army

why?

[DarkBlood]

Those aren't special characters anymore, so yes you could.  They are just named HQ.  Special characters would like Vect for the Dark Eldar.

[Sheepshagga]

So I can't use a deathwing or ravenwing army
why?

Why wouldn't you?  I don't see any restrictions preventing it.. 

If someone brings an inquisitor army, why no assasins?  Just curious...

Truth be told, I have no experience with Assassins, but from what I understand they are real game-breakers at regular games.  This is not a regular game and they might be able to fit in, I guess.  Please PM me some specifics about assassins and we can discuss it.

For that matter, at these kind of point levels, why no special characters.

Before certain Codices adjusted for competitiveness and playability, they were too powerful.  With the release of more recent codices, some are balanced, while others would still be left out because of the cheese factor.  If I were to allow Special Characters, I would like them drawn only from the more recent army lists, such as Eldar, Orks, Dark Angels, Blood Angels, and Chaos.  However, this will probably open the door to complaints from other players.  But even GW acknowledged that before these new Codices, the special characters were a bit too special.  If people are good with just the listed Codices, then I will allow only those special characters.

[captkurt]

At the 1850/2000 point level in a one-on-one game, I agree that there were several special/named character that were or could be game breaking.  Likewise with assassins.

But at this point level with this many players, even the most broke special characters will have minimal impact and I think in most cases will add a significant level of enjoyment.

Make one of the objectives killing assassins and special/named characters.

[Sheepshagga]

Great idea, Kurt!