Hey everyone, Reecius here with the guidelines for the LVO 2020 40k Champs!

Basic Guidelines

This will be an ITC formatted event.

We will be playing ITC Champion’s Missions numbered 1 through 6 for the LVO 2020 40k Championships in order from 1 through 6.

This event will be run using the Best Coast Pairings app.

We will use the ITC Code of Conduct.

We will be using the ITC Chess Clock Rules. Starting day 2, January 25th, players with an undefeated record will be required to use a Chess Clock. All other players on any day of the event will use a Chess Clock for their game if either player wishes to use one. Frontline Gaming will provide Chess Clocks while supplies last. We recommend players bring their own if they wish to be assured access to one.

All players will participate in rounds 1 through 6 of the event. At the end of the 6th round, the players ranked 1 through 4 will automatically seed into the finals which occur on Sunday, January 26th, 2020. Players ranked 5 through 12 will play in a qualification round on Saturday night, the 25th of January. The winners of which go on to play in the finals. In the instance there are more than 12 undefeated players, this could shift to accommodate allowing players without a loss to have a chance to make the finals.

The finals will be a seeded (player 1 plays player 8, etc.), single elimination format.

To qualify to play in the finals, not only must you meet the above criteria you must also have an army that satisfies our streaming requirements and you must use the dice we provide. Failure to comply will result in your removal from the finals and your spot being given to the next qualifying player in line (ie. player ranked number 9, then 10, etc.). See the LVO 2020 40k Champs player pack for further information.

List Expectations

The cut-off for new rules material for the LVO 2020 40k Champs will be the 11th of January, 2020.

You will be able to begin uploading your lists to BCP starting January 3rd , 2020.

, 2020. Lists for the 40k Champs are due by January 13th , 2020 before midnight, PST.

, 2020 before midnight, PST. You will upload your list in the ITC format for BCP, the guidelines can be found here.

Players that have not uploaded their list correctly within that time frame will be issued a Yellow Card according to the ITC Code of Conduct.

Players that have not uploaded their list correctly by January 16th before midnight PST will be issued a second Yellow Card.

before midnight PST will be issued a second Yellow Card. In the instance you acquire a ticket to the event after the above deadlines, you will have 1 day to get your list uploaded or will be issued a Yellow Card. If you do not get your list uploaded after 2 days, you will be issued a 2nd Yellow Card.

Players that have not uploaded their list correctly by the end of the first round of play, January 24th, 2020 will be issued a Red Card and expelled from the event.

Army Appearance Expectations

All models must be painted to Games Workshop’s Tabletop Quality at a minimum and based. The middle picture below is an example of this.

Here is another example of the minimum paint and basing requirement: 3 distinct colors, a good faith effort to paint the model to a basic level, the base has been finished with a layer of flock and the rim painted.

Clear acrylic bases or bases left or painted black are acceptable as well so long as you consistently do this across your entire army.

In addition to the ITC standard modeling and painting guidelines, we are requiring that all models meant to represent a certain faction, for example, <Iron Hands> (or whatever faction) must be painted in a coherent fashion. This means that visually, your opponent must be able to identify which models are <Iron Hands> (or whatever faction). Sensible exceptions will be made to this rule, for example, if you painted your Space marines Librarian the traditional blue in your <Iron Hands> army, this is fine. Painting Eldar Aspect Warriors in traditional colors for example, is fine. What expressly is not allowed is to have multiple different and conflicting paint and basing schemes and to play them all as the same faction. When in doubt, send in pictures for approval.

The picture below illustrates what is NOT acceptable. Despite all models being fully painted and based, playing something like the below as <Iron Hands> (or whatever faction) would NOT be allowed even if you only have 1 detachment of the said <Faction> in your army.

You may have models painted in the same paint scheme count as different <Factions> so long as you clearly visually distinguish them. For example, if you have an army all painted in the same scheme using Cadian models (or whatever models) but distinguish them using something like Squad Marks (who will have a booth in the vendor area of the LVO) that IS acceptable. Something like colored rubber bands put on to models is NOT acceptable but wrapping them around the base IS. The below pictures illustrate acceptable methods for differentiating factions/units. If all of the red based Cadian models were the same regiment of Astra Militarum, and all of the blue based Cadian models were a different regiment of Astra Militarum that is acceptable so long as you are consistent throughout your army. Models with no base such as Vehicles would require a similar, easily distinguishable and consistent visual indicator of which <Faction> they were. When in doubt, submit pictures to the form linked at the top of the article for judge approval.

Failure to comply with these rulings will result in a judge removing said models from the game, even in the middle of a game. The player in question will not be able to use these models until they at the minimum required standard.

Basing Requirement

Basing Chart

We also require all models be based according to our basing chart. In the instance a model has a secondary base size listed, either of the two sizes may be used at the player’s direction.

For players needing to make their models’ bases larger there are a wide selection of basing rings that are available to increase the base size to the required size, particularly for the 25mm to 32mm increase.

Failure to comply with these ruling will result in a judge removing said models from the game, even in the middle of a game. The player in question will not be able to use these models until they at the minimum required standard. Thanks to the ETC staff for letting us use their basing chart as a starting point. Also, thanks to the ITC TO’s for helping get this done. A large number of people worked on this to get it done quickly, there is a chance a unit may be missing or have an inaccurate base to what is current. If you notice one, let us know in the comments below but please check the GW website before commenting for confirmation on current base size for a kit.



LVO Terrain Guidelines

You can read the LVO/ITC General Terrain Guidelines here.

Ruins

We make several modifications to the normal Ruins rules for our events. We have a type of Ruin at our events that is not commonly seen and so requires some extra explanations. We refer to a Ruin with all four walls and a roof which form an enclosed space as an Enclosed Ruin. Enclosed Ruins use the normal Ruins rules per the BRB but with one house-rule we add to them for ease of play:

Units with the Fly keyword may not end their movement inside of an Enclosed Ruin unless they would normally be able to pass through the walls of a Ruin if they did not have the fly keyword, such as Infantry.

Further, for this event we are playing a second house rule for ruins:

If it fits, it site: Vehicles with the Fly keyword may only be placed on a level above the ground floor of a ruin if the entire base fits: meaning the entire base, with no part of it off the ruin, can be legally placed. In the case of models that do not measure distance to and from the base, but use the hull instead, the entire hull of the vehicle must fit.

There are some rule interactions that create bad play experiences with models trying to fly into an enclosed ruin without this clarification. For example: Per RAW, a Flyer (such as a crimson hunter) would be able to end its move inside of an Enclosed Ruin if it completely fit inside, seeming to fly “through” the walls of the ruin unharmed. This causes frustrating model placements and abuses of the wobbly model guidance, and is not the intent of how our terrain is meant to be used, and is the reason why this rule is in effect.

Here is an example of an Enclosed Ruin we typically use.

And, here are some examples of normal Ruins that would NOT use the Enclosed Ruin house-rule that are commonly seen at our events:

These are not Enclosed Ruins because the walls and roofs do not form an enclosed space. If in doubt, discuss it with your opponent prior to playing the game and, of course, you can always call a judge.

Some of our buildings have natural openings in them that are quite large. If a model can naturally fit in to a ruin with such an opening, they may enter regardless of unit type. Example: the Knight in the picture below can actually walk into the Ruin in question and can therefore enter into it as it is not moving “through” the walls.

Additionally, there has been some confusion in the past on what types of buildings can be entered into versus which ones cannot.

The above buildings would be treated as Enclosed Ruins and can be entered by units that can typically pass through the walls of a Ruin such as Infantry. If the terrain piece has doors built into it, it is intended to be able to be entered by units that could typically enter a ruin. They’ve been designed to have a removable top but when you have a volunteer corps building them, they sometimes get glued together on accident. In the case you can’t put models inside of them because the building has been glued shut, or simply don’t want to bother with opening it up, place the models on the roof and declare where their actual position is to your opponent.

Terrain pieces such as the one above lacks any doors and is not intended to be entered into. Treat them as impassible terrain.

Bottom Level Openings in Ruins that Block LoS

Our second (and final) modification to Ruins is one most of you are already familiar with, but one we wanted to add some clarification to. We treat the openings on the first floor of Ruins as being opaque, even if you can actually draw LoS through them. This is for windows or openings that are fully enclosed, not partially open on one side. Again, this is a deviation from the BRB but we choose to play them this way as much of the terrain we have has openings in them which (if played with true LoS) would not provide a sufficient amount of cover for a fun and fair 8th edition game of 40k.

This ruin is an example of what this rule applies to. The windows highlighted in red which would normally allow LoS through them, but at our events would be treated as opaque as they fulfill the criteria listed above:

The openings are entirely on the bottom floor. The openings are enclosed on all sides (i.e. it is a whole window frame).

Assaulting into Ruins

Due to the nature and amount of multi-level ruins we have at the LVO, we chose to use a different method of assaulting into them than is presented in the recent FAQs. This is a conscious choice to deviate from the FAQ in order to facilitate smooth, more enjoyable games. We included a few pictures to help illustrate these concepts.

The Lychguard declare a charge against the Terminators, roll for it, and can make the charge with the distance rolled.

However, the models won’t stand on their own without falling.

Place the models as close to their true position as possible and then count those models that would have been able to make it within 1″ of enemy models (assuming part of their base could have fit on the upper level) as being in combat. Those models that would not make it up a level would not be able to attack in melee as they would not be within 1″ of an enemy model or a friendly model within 1″ of an enemy model.

Cargo Containers

We have a LOT of Cargo Containers at the LVO. Like, hundreds and hundreds of them, haha. So, it is important to be clear on how to correctly use them. We treat Cargo Containers as hills for all intents and purposes. It occasionally comes up how to complete Charge actions against models standing on them.

In the instance a model rolls high enough to make the charge, but their model won’t fit on the Cargo Container, simply place the models as close as possible just as you would with a normal hill.

These terrain features are common at our events and not intended (or designed) for models to be placed on them (typically models cannot stand on them). Treat them as impassible terrain.

Huge thanks to the literal hundreds of people that contributed to this! It wouldn’t be possible without everyone’s help and input.

Let us know if you have any questions in the comments section below and we look forward to hosting you at the biggest and best LVO yet!

And remember, Frontline Gaming sells gaming products at a discount, every day in their webcart!