Question about Alternate Models & Tournaments

By Hulksmash, in Star Wars: Armada

So I'm pretty sure of the answer but I figured I'd ask.

How do people feel about using a similar ship that you like the design of more for a tournament. Example would be a MK I Assault Frigate instead of an MK II or a Corellian Gunship to represent a CR-90A and a normal corvette for the B?

I'm assuming it wouldn't be legal at Worlds or higher level competitive play but I was just curious to peoples thoughts.

Depends on the host/TO. Most of them will say no, especially if it is a tournament that can lead to regionals/Worlds or officially sponsored by FFG (seasonal store tournaments). Causal tourneys/ones that don't use FFG standard tourney rules would probably be fine.

Tournament rules state that its not allowed so any official tournament that uses a FFG kit or the Pre-Release should not be letting you do this. For just random games, leagues, etc go right ahead.

Technically not true guys. The only events where the hammer comes down is Premier Events, which so far are only Regional, National, and World Championships.

For say, the Massing at Sullust, which qualifies as a Competitive event, that would be more of a check with the TO, and prepare accordingly kind of deal.

Personally, as a TO, I'm okay with proxy models, as long as you have the actual ship as well.

I'd say that it is technically true, Bipolar, but in practice you're quite right.

I can't add a lot to what's already been said, but I did have an official FFG reply to a query regarding a converted rebel assault frigate which skirts the proxy vs. official model (which is based on aesthetics). Keep in mind that it was asked about a specific project and about the Massing at Sullust as well, but it was directed at tournaments and conversions in general.

"The TO has the authority to request that you use an unmodified Assault Frigate as per tournament rules. However, since the Massing at Sullust event isn’t a premier-level tournament, your converted Assault Frigate probably won't be an issue. If your conversion is pushing the boundaries of what would be considered acceptable for play, it wouldn’t hurt to check with the TO ahead of time."

Emphasis mine, but the point is that even small alterations (such as inverting the fins, which I mentioned in particular) can be singled out. No, it's not likely that it will ruffle many feathers, but final rulings are at the discretion of the TO; such is their burden of authority beyond sections 4 and 6 of the tournament rules. But yeah, basically as the 'tier' of tournament increases, so too does the assumed restrictions regarding proxies, conversions and the likes.

On a purely personal level: so long as my opponent makes it clear what the model represents, I'm totally alright with it. But that's because of my background. The 'hobby' aspect of wargaming has been something really special and significant to me in my nearly 20 years involved with the pastime. But FFG is a licensee that deals with another group's IP and all the legal bits for multinational distribution that goes with that. It's more complicated and nuanced than my opinion.

You said it better than me.

Thanks mate :). As a bit of a question on a TO level, would you accept a proxy model if the player had one of those proof of purchase chits rather than the model present? I've always been a little puzzled that FFG took such good care in stamping them. It's almost novel to include them like that.

The chits are for turn in at Gencon. You get swag like little pins and stuff like that. Also for customer service, but they're so easy to lose track of. :/

And yes I guess? I'd be super annoyed since i'd have to actually look up the **** code on it, but yes, I would accept.

Well to be 100% truthful I wouldn't even require you to have the model on hand. Things I'd personally look for would be that the stand base card thingy (what do we even call that?) would be authentic for the ship, and that the proxy is about the right size relative for its size class. I don't want to see something Victory sized sitting on a small base, nor a Corvette perched atop a large base.

I'd prefer people to bring the actual models as a backup, simply because that's technically what you're supposed to field. There are also some players who'd get their panties in a bunch about facing the proper ships, and it'd be better to just simply swap out imo.

Edited by Bipolar Potter

The chits are for turn in at Gencon. You get swag like little pins and stuff like that. Also for customer service, but they're so easy to lose track of. :/

And yes I guess? I'd be super annoyed since i'd have to actually look up the **** code on it, but yes, I would accept.

Well to be 100% truthful I wouldn't even require you to have the model on hand. Things I'd personally look for would be that the stand base card thingy (what do we even call that?) would be authentic for the ship, and that the proxy is about the right size relative for its size class. I don't want to see something Victory sized sitting on a small base, nor a Corvette perched atop a large base.

I'd prefer people to bring the actual models as a backup, simply because that's technically what you're supposed to field. There are also some players who'd get their panties in a bunch about facing the proper ships, and it'd be better to just simply swap out imo.

wait. . . WHAT!!!! I did not know that!!! Thankfully I have been saving mine. . . I think I am up to 16 with armada products alone. . .

Yeah the owner of one of my LGS's goes every year, and all the xwing/armada guys just give ours to him. He makes out like a bandit.

You posted this same question in the Twin Cities Armada group, didn't you?

Also good to know who is local on the forums.

You don't say Bipolar Potter, you don't say...

-smirks and rotates one of the lovely now rainbow-coloured chits in front of the light- I wasn't aware of that either. I kept every single one of these lovely nerd doubloons because I found them 'cute'. The irony of me colouring them to act as test-beds for real tokens is pretty delicious. Now that I know they have a purpose, I feel almost like some Saturday morning cartoon villain, scheming up evil ways to leverage my treasure (preferably against some kind of sentient woodland creature). That's actually really clever and thanks for the info mate!

Oh, oh, me! I know that one: the 'base card thing' is apparently called a Ship Token! I had to look that up in the rulebook last week. Which sounded wrong to me, I just call it the base card (but apparently the 'ship card' is the actual ship cardstock IE Victory I vs Victory II).

I always wonder about the gamers who only ever want to use sanctioned models, and that's one of the reasons why I'm here too. I don't want to devalue someone elses enjoyment of the game based on aesthetic. So, like Hulksmash, I'm interested in the opinions of people on proxies and conversions as well.

You don't say Bipolar Potter, you don't say...

-smirks and rotates one of the lovely now rainbow-coloured chits in front of the light- I wasn't aware of that either. I kept every single one of these lovely nerd doubloons because I found them 'cute'. The irony of me colouring them to act as test-beds for real tokens is pretty delicious. Now that I know they have a purpose, I feel almost like some Saturday morning cartoon villain, scheming up evil ways to leverage my treasure (preferably against some kind of sentient woodland creature). That's actually really clever and thanks for the info mate!

Oh, oh, me! I know that one: the 'base card thing' is apparently called a Ship Token! I had to look that up in the rulebook last week. Which sounded wrong to me, I just call it the base card (but apparently the 'ship card' is the actual ship cardstock IE Victory I vs Victory II).

I always wonder about the gamers who only ever want to use sanctioned models, and that's one of the reasons why I'm here too. I don't want to devalue someone elses enjoyment of the game based on aesthetic. So, like Hulksmash, I'm interested in the opinions of people on proxies and conversions as well.

Oh Vykes. You make my day so much better every time.

You posted this same question in the Twin Cities Armada group, didn't you?

Also good to know who is local on the forums.

Indeed I did :)

The Twin Cities Armada was more to get a feel for our local TO's if they post on there and how the group as a whole saw it. On here it was about how people in the larger group view it. I'll agree that it's good to know who's local.