A New Player’s Guide to Legion Tournaments
By Jeff Van Laethem (@Painting_For_The_Emperor)
It's inevitable. Maybe you have a competitive streak in you or maybe you have persuasive friends. Perhaps you just like the idea of a full day of playing Star Wars: Legion with new people. Whatever the case may be, new Legion players will eventually hear something like, "Hey, have you signed up for the tournament?"
If taking the leap from throwing dice on the kitchen table to playing casually at a local game shop is a step in itself, going from casual play to a tournament can feel overwhelming. As humans we fear the unknown, so with this article I hope to shed light on tournaments to the uninitiated. The more people playing Legion, the better, after all!
What to Expect at a Tournament
A major question I get about tournaments is simply "what IS a Legion tournament"? There are some variables, but at the basic level you can count on the following:
Some set number of rounds of Legion to be played (typically 3 for local 800pt games)
Rounds are typically timed (Typically 2.5 hours per round)
There may/may not be requirements for army painting completeness (Not typical at local events, more common at larger conventions)
There may/may not be an optional painting competition
There's typically some form of prize support!
All of the items above should be clearly communicated by the TO (Tournament Organizer) in any event description. If you're interested in a tournament, but don't see one or more of the items above spelled out, feel comfortable reaching out to the TO to get clarification. TO’s are there to help, and if you reach out to one explaining that you’re new but are interested in the event, you can expect to be welcome with open arms.
Tips for Tournament Success
Not "I went undefeated!" success, but "I had fun and didn't feel intimidated!" success. A great kind of success in its own right!
Be prepared to play timed games. 2.5 hours is the usual limit for a game in a Legion tournament, and that includes getting to your assigned table, deploying, and playing. The best ways to fit that in and not feel rushed;
Know your army inside-out.
Focus on your game! It might be tempting to talk to your friend who is playing next to you, but save it for between rounds.
However you transport your models and cards, make sure you can quickly deploy/pack them to/from a table.
Try to have a good sense of the overall strategy of your game in your head so you can quickly pick a unit when your turn comes around.
Sit when you can! Maybe this is old-people advice, but stooping over a board for 3 x 2.5-hour rounds in a day can be rough on knees and back. Before the event and between rounds, find a chair!
Have FUN. Everyone knows that bad dice rolls feel bad. No one enjoys playing against their bad matchup 3 games in a row. But worst of all is seeing someone getting salty because of it. Having fun is more of a choice than you think. Laugh it off, lightheartedly swear revenge, or remember the last time an opponent of yours was on the bad end of a die roll. You're spending a hard-earned weekend day to push little plastic guys around a big table. So have fun doing it. Remember - making a new friend who plays legion is worth more than winning a game. If you approach the event with that mindset, you’re going to leave a winner no matter what your record is.
Communicate! Talking out your intent each activation goes a long way and is a good habit to get in. Don't just quietly plop a movement tool and shove your minis around in a haphazard manner. Verbally walk though everything you're doing with your opponent. Most players would much rather hear more than not enough from my opponents. "OK, I'm activating my squad of B2s here. I'm going to move them up to try to get them into as much cover as possible. And for their second action, I'm going to tap the HA weapon and fire at THIS squad of phase 1 clones, just inside range 2. So 3 red, 4 white, 3 black dice, no cover." You’ll find that when you talk out your intent, your opponent will be much more flexible and willing to work with you to accomplish what you’re trying to do. This is also a good way to learn and grow at the game, and help prevent any misunderstandings between you and your opponent.
Common Myths
I'm not experienced enough to play in a tournament/people won't want to play against me in a tournament because I'm new or still learning
False! Your average local tournament will be billed for players of all experience levels, and they mean it! The average player will be HAPPY that newer people want to play. New players are how a community grows, and experienced players can remember when they were new and first learning game. Playing a few games in a day and watching others play is a great way to learn!
My opponent will be mad if I call for a judge
False! Experienced tournament goers know the friendliest and most diplomatic way to resolve any confusion in a game is to call a judge. In a game of measurements, cover calls, and lots of rules, there WILL be times when players aren’t sure how a rule interacts with something. There WILL be insanely close measurements that are just tough to tell and require an outside opinion. Calling a judge is always preferred to debating your opponent and is looked at as a friendly approach to ensure the fairest decision is made. If you ever feel confused about something your opponent has done on the table, ask them nicely to explain it. If you're still unsure or confused, call a judge for an explanation. On the flip side, you should make every effort to know the rules, and your army, well. While calling a judge for close calls or strange scenarios is preferred, you may raise some eyebrows if you're calling a judge every time your opponent picks up their range ruler.
I won't have fun because I don't know anyone else going to the tournament
Balderdash! I've played hundreds of nerd games in my day, and I've found that Legion players are very friendly people. Locally, we go out of our way to interact with newer players because we value an atmosphere of camaraderie. You know you have something in common with everyone at the event - you love legion - so you immediately have something to relate over. It’’s easy to start a conversation with new players simply by asking “What army do you play?”, commenting “Ooo that paint job is cool”, or even introducing yourself with a “Hi, I’m new here, what’s your name?”. You aren’t surrounded by strangers, you’re surrounded by friends you just haven’t met yet. Also, If you find yourself at a 5280 Tournament and I'm there, come say hi. You'll have a teammate for the day, and we can hang out between rounds. I have a big beard and a rich baritone that sort of sounds like Kermit the Frog. You'll find me.
May the Force be With You
Hopefully this will help you feel comfortable getting into the Legion tournament scene. I've had loads of fun in the tournaments I've been to, and the advice above has helped me and others have a good time. Either way, have fun and enjoy the game!
By Jeff Van Laethem (@Painting_For_The_Emperor)
Edited by Stephen Cobb (@ASpaceVIkling)