Moving to 400pts?

Jim Webster wrote:I'm not convinced that 400 points with three commands would last longer than 350 points with one command to be honest

Not that relevant Jim as the 350 point format you must take 2 or more commands

Well I never play such small games so that's one of the rules I've never noticed

At 400 points with half minimums you can actually field 2 whole Mid Republican Roman Legions without them having to be C class. No supports of course but the only way ive seen so far to get them on table.

starkadder wrote:
I guess it depends ultimately on how you view what we call competition. If it is win at all costs because it validates your opinion of yourself then you will always try to "adjust for success".

As we are experimenting with 400 points I'd be curious for people to consider whether fortifications should still be halved.

Gaius Cassius wrote:As we are experimenting with 400 points I'd be curious for people to consider whether fortifications should still be halved.

If you are truly experimenting, might I suggest, try 400 pts with MAX/MIN limits and no limits, FOR halved and not halved. 

Try a few ideas not just little incremental steps.

We are liking the move to 400 points. More variety in the army lists and the use of allies is now realistically possible. Still have misgivings about allowing the full use of fortifications on such a small table.

We're playing at 300 points for 25/28mm, and haven't even moved to 350.  And with a relatively low key approach to our "tourney" gaming.

How about Cowardly Generals - Lorenzo mentioned no Incompetent?

Cyrus The Adequate wrote:How about Cowardly Generals - Lorenzo mentioned no Incompetent?

I'm presuming Cowardly are out as well ? ....in that the Incompetent 'exclusion' is a new 'inclusion' to the existing competition guidelines.

The previous version didnt allow cowardly generals with Genius \ Charismatic types IIRC. I can still see a place for cowardly generals but in all honesty that may just be leaving a loophole best closed - shrug, no particular view other than would like a clarification

Hi I am looking forward t trying 400points in this way. Going forward a few of my armies will need a figure boost to get tem up from a 300 point game.

Can I check that Lorenzo's original post note - "Also no halving of maxima but only minina" is what everyone is thinking of adopting.

This is critical for me if I buy some extra figures.

Cheers Jez

That is how we are playtesting 400 points. So far so good.

With respect, the MIN/MAX restriction really needs better clarification.

I have had a number of queries as to how it is supposed to work particularly where Allied commands are used.

I thought starkadder that the maximums were now in play but the minimums were still halved. This applies to the main list and allies.

I confess that I haven't been keeping up with this discussion as well as I might. The holiday season
and house renovations have been distracting me.

The first question I always get, Gaius, is whether the restriction applies to the army as a whole or are allied forces a discrete entity? It's a valid question as allies are generally useless in 350-400 pt games.

A I have said, I like the idea of 400pt games. I do wonder if we are inching towards Hellenism, though ("You have five decks on your galley? I'll have six.")

We run four-round comps in Oz but, increasingly, they are finishing early. We either get bigger or have five rounds (which I prefer).

Whatever is done, for tournament purposes anyway, the explanations have to be crystal clear. There is a bit of opacity in some of the Impetus material.

dadiepiombo wrote:In Italy there is a general consensum to move 28mm competitions (and standard games) to 400pts with no Incompetent Generals (you cannot buy them, but a Poor general can become Incompetent). Also no halving of maxima but only minina (as per 15mm format).

I don't see anything I Lorenzo's initial comment that would lead one to believe that allies are excluded from using the full maximums. I agree starkadder that without the full maximums most allies are kind of useless to field. One of the things I most like about going to 400 points.

Hi All,

Based on Lorenzo's initial note above if a unit is listed as 0-4 in the army list - for a 400 point standard competition I would have the option to field all 4 units?

Not trying to be awkward but at the moment I have armies for 300 / 350 points so this decision is critical for me in order to be able to confidently buy an extra couple of units and be able to still take part in the potential 400 point competitions.

Using the above example to date I have been restricted to "half mins and max" so have just bought 2 units for 300 and 350 point use.

A particular example of this is for available horse archers in the Teutonic Knights army - happy to field all 4 units of LC but not sure if this then overbalances this aspect - were this many LC historically available to the Teutonic Knights?

Cheers Jez

Yes, my group now plays the lists as maximums are full value and minimums are half value. So 4 units of CL is totally fine. There are certain minimums in the Teutonic list and buying 4 CL will cost up to 1/4 of the total points available. Not sure if that is going to be the best choice for the Teutonic player.

Gaius - thanks as was unsure if I was reading it differently. You are probably right might be an unbalanced choice ..............

Cheers Jez

Personally I think using the full maximums probably gives players a bit too many options at 400 points but on the other hand, it is now more fun to make up army lists and the allies are now usable.