AOS League Play?

[Gaz Taylor]

Just wondering if anybody plays AOS in a league format? I want to play more games but I like the idea of smaller games, say 1000 points but want to have some structure round it like a football league. 
 

Does anybody do this? If so what are the league rules and do you have any tips?

Thanks

[DestructionKev]

Sounds very interssting and i felt the same. 

i also like the idea of smaller games, but more of them in a format of a League.  But there is no Format like this in my Area, sadly. 

[Gecktron]

My local group is currently trying to craft some rules for an AoS league next year. 

Some ideas: 

- point limits are up to the player but atleast 1000 points, If both cant agree on a set amount it defaults to 1500 points. 

- 1 game per month 

- players are locked into one faction for the entire league. We are still debating If players should be allowed to switch armies within their Grand Alliance. So we can get a bit more variety, as some factions are rather limited in regards to list diversity and playing the same list for half a year can get boring quickly. 

[gjnoronh]

We've done it in the past starting at low point values and with open ended self matching rather then a set opponent schedule.  It's a great way to build the community in the store as it's less of a commitment then 2K prescheduled games.

 

Rules written by another Da Boyz club member  Kevin G.  He is fine with sharing online.

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Age of Sigmar Escalation League v1.1

Overview

The goal of an escalation league is to gather new players, train existing players, and have fun while building up your army. Events will occur weekly, with an ascending point level, giving players time to build, paint, and plan their core force.

Game Formats:

There are three current ways to play Age of Sigmar—Open play, Narrative Play, and Matched Play. For the escalation league we will be using the Matched Play format. When selecting your army you must choose an allegiance. All units (or warscrolls) in your army must be a part of that allegiance, or be allied to that allegiance. As you build onto your army each week, you can add new units or swap out existing units to learn how they work within your army but only as long as they stay within your army’s allegiance.

Pitched Battles:

The first 4 weeks of the league will involve army point sizes of less than 1000 points . Weeks 5-10 will be 1000 points and larger and will be using the Pitched Battle chart below. You must follow the format listed on the chart when creating your army lists for those weeks. (image below is from the 2017 Generals Handbook. Values may change when the new handbook is released.)

Warscrolls:

All unit rules and statistics are detailed on the unit’s warscrolls. Warscrolls can be found in your army’s battle tome. If you do not have access to a battle tome or do not have warscrolls for your units, you can download warscrolls for each unit at the Games Workshop website. https://www.games-workshop.com/en-US/Warhammer.

 

Schedule

Primary league day is Tuesday with play from 4:00pm until 10:00pm. If a player misses a league day they can organize additional matches with opponents for any day of the week, space permitting, to make up their games, Just let the organizer know ahead of time.

Every week, matches will be played at a given point level. Point levels will increase every two weeks, except for weeks 1 and 2,  giving players plenty of opportunity to acquire and paint new models.

The method used to build your army will escalate as follows:

Weeks One: 500 Points

• Leaders: 1 required (no named heroes allowed)

• Battle Line Units: 2+

• Other Units: 0-1

• Artillery/Behemoths: 0-1 (This means only 1 can be taken in total. So if you take 1 behemoth then you cannot take an artillery unit)

• No unit can go beyond the minimum base unit size listed in the Generals Handbook. We are doing this to encourage army building and to avoid "mob" armies getting an unfair advantage.

• You may bring one piece of terrain as part of your roster.

• Malign Sorcery Spells will not be used at this point level.

• You may purchase a unit smaller than the standard minimum size at a prorated cost.  This is to help players buying a starter set with an odd number of models get started in the game. After the league hits 1000 points we will revert to standard unit sizes. (Example: Sylvaneth start collecting set comes with 16 dryads. The generals handbook lists Dryads at 10 models for 100 points. So the first unit of 10 models will cost 100 points and the second unit of 6 models will cost 60 points)

 

Weeks Two: 750 Points

• Leaders: 1 required (named heroes allowed)

• Battle Line Units: 2+

• Artillery/Behemoths: 0-1 from each category (You can take a maximum of 1 behemoth and 1 artillery unit at this point level)

• No unit can go beyond the minimum base unit size listed in the Generals Handbook. We are doing this to encourage army building and to avoid "mob" armies getting an unfair advantage.

• You may bring one piece of terrain as part of your roster.

• Malign Sorcery Spells will not be used at this point level.

• You may purchase a unit smaller than the standard minimum size at a prorated cost.  This is to help players buying a starter set with an odd number of models get started in the game. After the league hits 1000 points we will revert to standard unit sizes. (Example: Sylvaneth start collecting set comes with 16 dryads. The generals handbook lists Dryads at 10 models for 100 points. So the first unit of 10 models  will cost 100 points and the second unit of 6 models will cost 60 points)

 

Weeks Three and Four: 1000 Points

Follow format for Pitched Battles (Vanguard)

 

Weeks Five and Six: 1500 Points

Follow format for Pitched Battles (Vanguard)

 

Weeks Seven and Eight: 1750 Points

Follow format for Pitched Battles (Vanguard)

 

Weeks Nine and Ten: 2000 Points

Follow format for Pitched Battles (Battlehost)

 

Force Composition

Rules

• This league will be played under the Age of Sigmar 2nd edition rules and follow the Matched Play profile in the 2018 Generals Handbook. Players should be using unit statistics and compositions from their army’s battletome/warscrolls, as applicable.

• Unit sizes and point costs should use the most recent available source (e.g. 2018 Generals Handbook).

• Armies should be built using Pitched Battle points.

• Command Points for units as detailed in the rulebook.

 

Army Selection

• All units in your army must share a Grand Allegiance or Faction keyword (e.g. Order, Chaos, Destruction, Death, Stormcast, Nurgle, Ironjawz, etc…) and must follow all build restrictions based on your chosen faction keyword.

• Players are encouraged to try out different lists and builds within their army from week-to-week. This is an opportunity to try out new units and tactics.

• There are no items, units, abilities, or powers that are banned. However, players are encouraged to build fun lists and not “min/max” type lists designed for competitive tournaments.

• We reserve the right to ban items, units, abilities, or powers as the league progresses if they seriously hamper the fun nature of the league.

• Players that are found to be disrupting the fun, casual aspect of the league may be asked to change their army list or cease future participation.

 

Models

• Models should be WYSIWIG (What You See Is What You Get) as much as possible.

• “Primary” weapons should not be “proxied”

•  It is not necessary to model every minor item or secondary weapon on a figure

• Any WYSIWIG deviations should be pointed out to your opponent prior to your battle.

• As not everyone may be familiar with the weaponry of other factions, players should point out to their opponents what weapons are carried by their models.

 

Organizing the Battle

Battles will be determined by the league each week prior to Tuesday and posted in advance.

• The Triumphs table will not be utilized during the league.

• Terrain rules will be in effect during the league. Players roll off to determine terrain types at the start of each match.

• Realm of Battle rules will not be in effect for weeks 1 through 4. We will most likely work in the Realm of Battle rules in larger format games and once players have had a chance to learn the core rules and how their army’s work.

• It will be up to players to schedule games with other league players. We will not be assigning matches.

 

Scoring League Games

During the duration of the escalation league, players can play any number of league games per week but only the first 2 league games played each week will count towards your league points. You will earn a number of league points based on the degree of your victory as outlined below.

Major Victory (as outlined in the scenario):	4 League Points
Minor Victory (as outlined in the scenario):	3 League Points
Draw (if no scenario objectives are met):	2 League Points
Loss (as outlined in the scenario):	1 League Points

 

 

Players can score additional league points if the following objectives are met:

• Your starting general kills your opponents starting general (Only once per game): +2 league points

• Your kill your opponents starting general with any unit other than your starting general (Only once per game): +1 league points

• If you show painting progress from the previous week. +1 league point per unit

• If you play a league player for the first time: +1 league point

 

Score sheets will be provided each week. 

 

Painting Standards

While there is no requirement to paint your models, the purpose of the escalation league is to encourage players to build and paint their armies over time. Depending on the number of league participants, at the end of the league players will vote on the best looking army. The player with the highest votes will be awarded a prize.

The purpose for painting is not to judge a player’s skill or ability to paint. At a minimum, models should be painted to a basic tabletop standard. This standard is generally considered to be 3 colors minimum, not including primer. Colors can include shading and highlighting, but this is not necessary. Bases should be finished with sand, gravel, texture paint, grass, or other appropriate basing materials. Bases do not need to be identical and should show a common theme or style. It is acceptable and encouraged to have more elaborate basing for character models to show off their uniqueness in the army.

If you are new to building your models and painting them, many players who have been in the hobby for awhile would be glad to teach you how to paint and base your figures. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice on how someone did a certain effect or what materials they used. Remember, no one starts out a professional at painting miniatures.

 

 What to Bring Each Week

• Miniatures (obviously!)

• Warhammer Age of Sigmar 2nd Edition Rulebook (print or electronic)

• Battletome or Warscrolls (print or electronic)

•  Any supplemental material being used (2018 Generals Handbook)

• Measuring Tape or Range Ruler

• Dice

• Wound Markers to keep track of model wounds

• Two copies of your army list (for yourself and your opponent)

• Score sheet (provided by league organizer)

• Players are encouraged to bring any other materials appropriate to their army that they may own such as magic cards, wound trackers, counters, etc…
   

Please be sure to bring all of these materials that you need to play each week—in most cases, the store cannot loan materials to players.

Fees and Prize Support

Registration Fee: $10

All monies from league fees will be used as prize support at the end of the league.

Players are expected to pay the initial registration fee at the start of week 1-2.

Prizes will be awarded in the form of store credit at Millennium Games. Total awards will be determined at league end based on the number of participants.

Depending on the number of participants, awards will be given for:

• Best player (player with the most league points at the end)

• Best painted army (judged by the players)

• Favorite opponent (judge by players/sportsmanship scores)

 

 

 

Edited December 2, 2019 by gjnoronh