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General Introductory Information
Fri, 01/29/2010 - 04:22
In Manchester, England the local Games Workshop decided to break a record for the largest wargame. To do so, they collected tanks and fielded over 1850 of them. When the Chicago battle bunker decided to challenge this record they broke it by fielding almost 2800 miniatures. The problem was that this included unpainted models and allowed bikes and certain other infantry models to be counted. Manchester cried foul. After all this didn't meet their rules for painted vehicles (have a vehicle stat line) or tyranid monstrous creatures. To try and cement their position, in 2009 Manchester hosted another painted tank collection. This time, over 2500 vehicles or tyranid monstrous creatures took the field. They claim this is the biggest battle ever.
We think they're full of it.
Why: we have our reasons.
1) This was not a battle. It's not even clear that dice were rolled and even if they were tanks were simply lined up side by side, there was no maneuvering, no tactics, and no strategy. It was at best a showcase turned shooting gallery.
2) No point value is recorded and they had less than 3000 miniatures take part. Even if we give them some benefit and assume that the average tank is 150 points, this is only around 375,000 points. Larger battles (such as at Games Days) have been claimed to be in the 400,000 point range and even smaller point battles will have had more miniatures. As such this battle may have more tanks than any others, but it isn't really the largest "battle." Instead it added artificial rules to make an arbitrary record.
3) The battlefield is one long line with no indication of edges, in some places tanks appear to be placed 10 or more deep. This isn't a battlefield, its just a way to line up all tanks and call it a battle.
With that in mind, we think we can do better.
In August 2010, Siegeworld intends to set the real record for the largest battle ever and we will do so using rules to show that it really is a battle.
Our rules for the biggest battle:
The battlefield: Must be a single physical location and must have a defined single and continuous outer "table" edge which must encompass the entire playing surface. While their may be walkways or similar spaces defined, models must be allowed to move or shoot over them.
The Game: Must utilize the Warhammer 40K and Apocalypse rulesets and allow for all players to use all entires in their codex(s), other rulesets may optionally be used. It must include objectives to be captured and defined victory conditions based on objectives. The Game must last at least 4 full turns and during the game at least one model must shoot, one model must move, and at least one assault must be carried out. The game must be contiguous (cannot play multiple days, unless you play through the night) and entirely played on the above battlefield.
The models: All models must be fully assembled and painted (at least three colors). Infantry, vehicles, and any other unit type may all be used. No Citadel or Forgeworld model (of any generation) may be excluded from play, and all conversions, scratchbuilds, or other models shall be allowed to play so long as each 1) is painted in accordance with the owners army and 2) the owner provides a reasonable ruleset for fielding it. Models currently owned by Games Workshop (e.g. those painted by the 'eavy Metal team as part of their employment) may not be counted toward the total. This rule explicitly excludes all Games Workshop sponsored mega battles at Games Days from the record calculation. let's face it, when you own the factory and employ professional painters, its overly easy to field anything you want. Private armies of Games Workshop employees may count toward the total.
The record calculation: Is based on total point value which takes the field or is destroyed in the process of getting there by its actions or the actions of an opponent (e.g. deep strike mishap, ambush strategic asset). A unit can only count toward the total once, if it is recycled (killed and brought back) such additional point value of such action is based solely on their being an apocalypse datasheet or other GW offical rule granting such ability and the points of such datasheet or rule. All custom units must be fielded in accordance with an official GW publication or published Siegeworld custom datasheet (where no reasonable official rule exists).
Total number of miniatures present will also be recorded in the event of point disputes.
The goals:
500,000 total points
30,000 total miniatures
20,000 square foot battlefield
1,000 "vehicles"
1 truly huge spectacle.
How to play:
Sign up sheets (and this website) will be used to register your army. When you register your army you will need to register your race (or races) and the size of the total force you are bringing (all races combined). There will be certain size categories from armies ranging from small armies (standard tabletop sized forces) to massive collections. Smaller armies will get certain benefits to make them more playable on a battlefield of this size and it is important to remember that any army of any size will help contribute to the record attempt. Even a 500 point force will have a place and its player should have a good time.
You will be assigned to either be an attacker or defender. Generaly, non-imperial forces will be defending while Imperial forces will attack. But forces will be balanced between sides so this is not necessarily the case. The Attackers ultimate goal is to take the citadel, the defenders ultimate goal is to defend it.
The general categories:
Small armies: 3000 points or less (non-apocalypse forces). These forces will be attacking from drop either to assault the defenders lines, or disrupt the attackers. They will have all the special rules granted to an attacker in planetstrike regardless of their side and may take 5 points worth of Planetstrike strategems. They will only have apocalypse stratagems which are provided to them by datasheets and/or formations.
Medium Armies: 3,001-6,000 points. These forces will have 2 apocalypse strategms in addition to those granted by any datasheets or formations. They may also take up to 3 points of defender planetstrike strategems. Any army of this size may bring additional planetstrike terrain (buildings/strongpoints, defense line, landing pads, interceptor guns) to deploy in its deployment area and use in addition to terrain which will already be present.
Large Armies: 6,001-10,000 points. These forces will have 1 apocalypse strategem in addition to those granted by any datasheets or formations. They may also take up to 1 point of defender planetstrike strategems.
Massive Armies:10,001+ points. These forces are fielded as is. They have no strategems other than those granted by formations/datasheets that are used.
All players when they arrive will be assigned a drop zone and an objective. Your drop zone will be marked out on the table to allow you to know where to deploy. Your goal is to complete your objective. Most objectives will have an in-game effect (such as firing a mega cannon, disrupting deep strike, etc.)
Victory is determined by which side controls the most objectives at the end of the game.