Looking for Escalation League rules and advice

[JMichael]

Our LGS wants to start an Escalation League and I'm looking for input for the rules.
Through my searching I have found some rules, but it seems that most leagues handed out their rules instead of posting them online (makes sense).
I've never ran or played in a 40k league and only one of our players has (and we didn't like that format).

Anywho, here's what we want to have and the questions I need some help with from the experienced BoLS community.


6 weeks - We have a weekly gaming/league night every week
1st week is 750pts
Each week you add 250pts to that list (so week 2 is 1,000pts). You can change the wargear and unit sizes but otherwise you are simply adding to the previous weeks list.
Random opponent each week and you won't play the same person twice.


Other than that the main questions I have are:
1. Should we have a set mission for the entire 6 weeks? Same mission for everyone each week (6 mission types, 6 weeks after all), or random every week?
2. How would you score this? Adepticon style (e.g. 14pt=win, 8pt=tie, 0=loss or similar), straight W/L, also points for painted and sportsmanship?
3. What if players miss a week or two? How to ensure they can still have a chance to place (so they don't just quit).

Any other advice, issues you've seen and/or your league's rules are appreciated. Assuming this goes off well, we may do this twice a year.

-JMichael

[Rissan4ever]

Everything you've got looks good to me except the scoring. I don't think a loss should be worth more than a tie.

As for players missing a week, you could let everyone drop the score of their worst week. That way, the ones that miss a week can simply drop that week. Alternatively, you could give each player one or two Bye Weeks, giving them a free pass to not show up one week.

[JMichael]

oops. Changed the scoring, should've been swapped.
I like the idea of dropping the lowest score. I hate obligating everyone to show up every simple week. We all have things (family, work, etc) that can take priority.

[JMichael]

Our league started last week. Here are the rules. Our organizer grabbed these from one or more online resources (though I don't know where).



ARMY CONSTRUCTION
Your army for the entire league must be from 1 Codex and 1 Codex only - No Allies (same codex for all 6 weeks).
This is an Escalation League. Week 1 your army will be no larger than 750pts. Each following week your max army size increases by 250 pts (week 2 is 1000, week 3 1250, etc)
Each list MUST contain the same units as the previous week's list. Though these units may have different weapons and wargear. These units may increase in model size each week but may NOT be fewer.
e.g.
Week 1: Space Marine Cpt w/power sword - 2x 5man Tactical squads - Dreadnought with Multi-Melta
Week 2: must still have a Space Marine Cpt (though may change armor and other wargear) - 2x Tactical Squads (may have more and/or may increase their size) - Dreadnought (may change weapons and wargear)

PRE-GAME
ALWAYS bring a copy of your army list and your Codex to every battle. You should also bring copies of any FAQ rules you may be using.
Before you begin you and your opponent should swap lists for 5 minutes and review them (Open List). Answer any of your opponent’s questions and clarify any rules either of you may be fuzzy on. Note that your opponent has the right to ask what models are equipped with DURING the battle as well; this is just a chance to get familiar with the enemy. If you have any conversions or other exceptional models that might be confusing to your opponent, please bring these up to your opponent at this time.

SETUP SCENERY
Set up terrain in any agreeable manner. It is often best to have an unbiased League member not involved in the game set up the scenery. Players should agree on the effects of each piece of terrain before the game starts.

DETERMINE MISSION TO PLAY
Once the table has been completely setup, the mission is decided by the players. This is done by a series of D6 rolls. The league missions will have a Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary objectives. The selection of the objectives are completed as follows:

Primary Objective: The primary objective and deployment is determined as normal using the charts for setup and Mission in Warhammer 40K rulebook.


Secondary Objective: The secondary objective is determined by rolling a single D6 and consulting the chart below.
1. Headhunter- For this objective, you must kill your opponent’s Primary HQ. If your opponent has more than one HQ choice, the Warlord is the Primary HQ. If both players complete this objective, the result is a draw.

2. Table Quarters- For this objective you must hold more table quarters at the end of the game than your opponent. Table quarters can only be held by units that can hold objectives and can be contested by any unit that can contest objectives. (Note: The whole unit must be completely in the table quarter to hold it. If both players hold the same amount of quarters, the result is a draw. Note: A unit must be wholly in the table quarter to be considered holding it.

3. Gain Ground- For this objective you must have more scoring units in your opponent’s deployment zone than your opponent has in yours. If both players have the same amount, the result is a draw.

4. Locate the Artifact- For this objective you must have 6 objectives numbered 1-6. Each player takes a turn placing the artifact markers face down on the board. No marker can be within 12" of another marker. After all markers are placed, roll a d6. The number rolled corresponds to the marker number that must be held. In order to complete this objective, you must hold the designated artifact marker with a scoring unit at the end of the game.

5. Kill em All- Inflict heavy losses on your opponent to weaken the army's resolve. For this objective you must have more scoring units remaining on the field than your opponent.

6. Crossed Communication- Lines of communication have been crossed and lack of communication leads to confusion on the true objective. Roll on this chart at the beginning of the 3rd turn . If a 6 is rolled on the second attempt, the Primary objective counts for the Primary as well as the secondary.


Tertiary Objective: The tertiary objective is determined by rolling a single D6 and consulting the chart below.

1. Hold the Center- For this objective you must hold an objective placed in the center of the board with a scoring unit.

2. Heavy Losses- For this objective you kill must your opponent’s most expensive unit. This does not include any transport purchased with the unit as it is counted separately. If both players complete this objective, the result is a draw.

3. Strategic Location- For this objective you must hold more terrain features than your opponent. Discuss with your opponent pre-game what is considered a terrain feature. If both players have the same amount, the result is a draw.

4. Hit em hard- For this objective you must have twice as many point's remaining on the table than your opponent. For example, if you have 1000 points left at the end of the game, your opponent must have 500 points or less remaining. Any other result is a draw.

5. Targets of Opportunity- For this objective, each player must roll a d6 at the beginning of the game. Elites = 1-2, Fast Attack = 3-4, Heavy Support = 5-6. You must eliminate all components of your opponents army that fall into this category to claim this objective. If your opponent does not have any units that fall into this category, you re-roll the die. If both opponents complete this objective, the result is a draw.

6. Crossed Communication- Lines of communication have been crossed and lack of communication leads to confusion on the true objective. Roll on this chart at the beginning of the 3rd turn. If a 6 is rolled on the second attempt, the Secondary objective counts for both the Secondary as well as the Tertiary objective. If the Secondary objective is Crossed Communication, it means that the Primary objective counts for the Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary objective.
A unit can contest or hold multiple objectives. If a player is completely wiped from the board, they lose all objectives.


POST GAME

Calculate Game Points
Calculate the victory conditions for all the objectives (Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary) and consult the table below to determine league points earned for the game.
Win Draw Loss
Primary 20 points 10 points 0 points
Secondary 10 points 5 points 0 points
Tertiary 6 points 3 points 0 points

Example 1: Player A has a Draw on the Primary objective, a win on the Secondary objective, and a loss on the Tertiary Objective. Player A has accumulated 20 points for the battle.
Example 2: Player B has a win on the Primary objective, a win on the Secondary objective, and a loss on the Tertiary Objective. Player B has accumulated 30 points for the battle.
The Rule of 10: The lowest score a league member will earn for a game is 10 points, even if the total accumulated points would be less than 10.

At the end of League points totals everyone drops your lowest scoring game.

[magickbk]

A little late to the game, but something I just thought of for escalation-style leagues where painting is the goal could be for unpainted units to not count as scoring, or for units that are already non-scoring, they no longer count as denial units. I don't think I've heard of anyone trying that yet.

[herigonz]

The rules look great! I do have a question though...

Are the match ups randomized before hand or is it done on the day of the games? Reason I ask is mostly if you have a matchup between a player who is there and one who doesn't show up. Obviously if you decide the day of, I guess the player that doesn't show up gets 10 points. Lets say your league has 16 members and only 13 show up, does it mean that the one player who doesn't get to play gets max points? 10 points?

[JMichael]

The rules look great! I do have a question though...

Are the match ups randomized before hand or is it done on the day of the games? Reason I ask is mostly if you have a matchup between a player who is there and one who doesn't show up. Obviously if you decide the day of, I guess the player that doesn't show up gets 10 points. Lets say your league has 16 members and only 13 show up, does it mean that the one player who doesn't get to play gets max points? 10 points?

We meet every Friday. Your list for that week has to be done and turned in (really just shown to) the organizer. Then matchups are made randomly. If you can't make it on Friday then you can still play with your opponent later that week. If you can't make the 'make up' game then the person who actually showed up on Friday gets a win.

Dropping your lowest scoring game is our way of basically allowing you to miss 1 week due to work, etc and still remain in the total standing.

Even if you don't show and thus get an auto loss you still get 10pts, but as that would be your lowest scoring game will be dropped.