I don't think that they can do that and still claim it as an official FFG sanctioned event.

I mean you can set up any rules for a tournament that you want, but if you don't follow the FFG rules for it, I don't think it would be recognized by FFG.

Officially, yes they are. In regarding the Star Wars LCG, I was reading about a specific store that is offering 1 free mulligan to people that came to 4 of their 6 organized play events, and 2 free mulligans to anyone that came to all 6. This was questioned as to whether it was legal, and FFG responded that they provide guidelines on how to run events, but the stores are free to make their own alterations, as long as it is known in advanced.

Officially, yes they are. In regarding the Star Wars LCG, I was reading about a specific store that is offering 1 free mulligan to people that came to 4 of their 6 organized play events, and 2 free mulligans to anyone that came to all 6. This was questioned as to whether it was legal, and FFG responded that they provide guidelines on how to run events, but the stores are free to make their own alterations, as long as it is known in advanced.

Isn't a mulligan a little different than not allowing legal pieces to be played? If a store imposed a you can't play Sith on the LCG in a sanctioned event would that be legal?

Officially, yes they are. In regarding the Star Wars LCG, I was reading about a specific store that is offering 1 free mulligan to people that came to 4 of their 6 organized play events, and 2 free mulligans to anyone that came to all 6. This was questioned as to whether it was legal, and FFG responded that they provide guidelines on how to run events, but the stores are free to make their own alterations, as long as it is known in advanced.

Isn't a mulligan a little different than not allowing legal pieces to be played? If a store imposed a you can't play Sith on the LCG in a sanctioned event would that be legal?

I suppose that's a fair point. I guess it would be analogous with allowing you to reroll your evade dice whenever you want. Something that gives you a huge advantage, but doesn't actually change how you play the game. But I expect FFG to have a similar stance - the store can do what they want with their kit, we have their $$, if you don't think it's fair, don't give the store your $$, and the store will learn to play fair or not at all.

I'd suggest contacting the store itself as well. It's their reputation at stake. I know that as a TO, I work with my local store to set up tourneys, but beyond the date/time/prize support, they don't really get involved with the event.

Note - for Store Champs, I have told my FLGS that I'm willing to do all the organizing, but I don't want to be the day of TO since there's some debate as to whether its fair or not to TO your own event (even though FFG allows it). You could suggest this as well, especially since the TO has already shown that he's not a "neutral" judge.

A Tournament Organizer at a Local store is planning to impose squad restrictions at the STORE CHAMPIONSHIP. This TO is also participating in the tournament and typically plays squads that fit his restrictions, and loses to squads that fall outside of his restrictions. These restrictions are you can either have 4-25pt ships or 5-20pt ships. This does not allow players to build to the standard X-wing rules. This would cut out the ability to play swarms, use large ships or even use a lot of named pilots.

Is a venue allowed to impose these rules for a Store Championship? I've sent a message to FFG for clarification as well but wanted to hear what the community has to say.

If this is legal, i don't see a large turnout.

It also seems that this TO either hates named pilots, or hates TIE swarms.

I predict the winner of that tourney is a rebel squad of 4 rookies /w PT

But I expect FFG to have a similar stance - the store can do what they want with their kit, we have their $$, if you don't think it's fair, don't give the store your $$, and the store will learn to play fair or not at all.

Does being a store champ have any effect on the larger regional tourneys? I may very well be miss-remembering, but I thought they did. If that's true, then you're no longer just changing the rules of a single tournament, but effecting other ones down the road.

But I expect FFG to have a similar stance - the store can do what they want with their kit, we have their $$, if you don't think it's fair, don't give the store your $$, and the store will learn to play fair or not at all.

Does being a store champ have any effect on the larger regional tourneys? I may very well be miss-remembering, but I thought they did. If that's true, then you're no longer just changing the rules of a single tournament, but effecting other ones down the road.

If affects who gets a first round bye in regionals

If affects who gets a first round bye in regionals

That's what I thought I heard... In this case it seems like changing the rules like the TO is trying to do, gives someone an advantage in the Regional, which I'd think FFG would care about.

If affects who gets a first round bye in regionals

That's what I thought I heard... In this case it seems like changing the rules like the TO is trying to do, gives someone an advantage in the Regional, which I'd think FFG would care about.

I would agree. I'm basing this off of the fact that they didn't seem to care about extra mulligans given to local player base for a Store Champ. Now, if that was a lie, or outlier in their general philosophy, then I have absolutely nothing to base that on.

And at that point, I would 100% agree with all of you (actually, I still 100% agree with all of you regarding it affecting regionals which supposedly FFG does care about). As I said - contact FFG and contact the store... the store may not even know the TO is planning on changing the game so he wins.

I would be so screwed with these rules. Most of my signature squads aren't adaptable to these rules. I might end up running:

4x OGP + Engine upgrade

just to mess with people. I wouldn't plan on winning, but no one that faced me is likely to chew through 40 HP to get an unmodified win.

But that's just it. The fact that I immediately started planning how to troll my opponents shows how these squad restrictions are, in fact, restricting the fun that the players can have here.

I would do what Khyros says: contact the store. It could very well be that they are unaware of what the TO is doing. Express your reasons why the TO's restrictions will have a negative impact on the tournament. If I were in your position I might even print out a bunch of common, innovative squads that fall outside the restrictions. But above all else, be polite to the store staff because your reasonable approach will go a long way to giving them a reason to ask the TO to drop the restrictions.

Now, if the tournament was not part of the FFG qualifications and had a specific theme described up front, that would be a different story because the participants are voluntary. But if this event is used for qualification, the participants are playing because they hope to advance and they probably don't have the option of selecting a more reasonable venue.

Your polite, logical, and honest interaction with the store staff might be able to resolve this situation.

I would do what Khyros says: contact the store.

Going to echo this... When I first read your post I assumed it was the store putting these limits in. My LGS the TO is also the owner... So if I didn't like what he was doing I wouldn't have anyone to talk to. But if this guy doesn't own the the store I'd go to the store owner or a manager.

Try to make them see how the TO is trying to stack the deck in his favor and not only will this make for an unfair event, it will most likely mean a lower turnout.

If the TO is playing in the Tournament then there has to be a second TO to arbitrate rulings that affect the first. I would get the second TO to eject the first TO for breaking the "Unsportsmanlike Conduct" clause of the tournament rules, namely:

Unsportsmanlike Conduct

"Players are expected to behave in a mature and considerate manner, and to play within the rules and not abuse them ."

Using your TO position to exclude Large ships, swarms, and elite pilots because that's what he knows how to play is definitely an abuse of the squad building rules of tournament play. No question.

I would still go with the squad that I wanted to play and if he wanted to bar me from playing it I would point to the tournament rules showing it to be legal. If he didn't allow me to play it I would smack my vigil and redeemer corvettes onto the table for 50 points and say "bring it".

This is out of line. The store can do whatever they want with "their own" tournaments, and by extension so can their TO. But if the Store Championship is run this way, I would strenuously object to that winner being given a bye at regionals. In fact, so much so that I would appreciate you identifying the store so that we can all register objections to any regionals their Store Championship feeds into.

I imagine most people would see a pretty major competitive advantage if they could design a squad, and then write the tourney rules so that only their squad was legal....

This is out of line. The store can do whatever they want with "their own" tournaments, and by extension so can their TO. But if the Store Championship is run this way, I would strenuously object to that winner being given a bye at regionals. In fact, so much so that I would appreciate you identifying the store so that we can all register objections to any regionals their Store Championship feeds into.

I imagine most people would see a pretty major competitive advantage if they could design a squad, and then write the tourney rules so that only their squad was legal....

Before we get ahead of ourselves and start registering complaints, let's take a breath.

First, this hasn't happened yet. Maybe the TO will see reason yet. Or maybe that TO will fold under pressure. Maybe the OP was incorrect about the details.

Second, it's not our place to register complaints with the regional organization unless and until we have more information. 'I read it on the internet' isn't good enough evidence.

Third, there could be other factors that we have not yet heard. Perhaps this isn't a full store championship but was, instead, some form of beta testing. Maybe certain products are being used that aren't released yet and the goal is to see how they operate in a specific environment. A long shot, sure, but I can think of a dozen unlikely scenarios.

Look, we're a good player base. I've seen a lot of good players and kind players and generous players. We pride ourselves on flying casual. The problem is that we tend to want to swoop in and fix perceived wrongs. That's a good thing, but we must always be careful lest it also become vigilante justice. Before we flock to a banner and claim that this day we fight for right, let's actually make sure we are fighting for good.

We need more information and we can't convict people of future crime. Let's do the right thing and know before we judge.

During a tournament, there must be at least one TO who is not playing. Tournament Organizers and Judges for premier championship tournaments (Regionals, Nationals, and Worlds) are expected to commit their full attention to organizing level. judging the event, and therefore are not permitted to participate in their own Regional, National, or World Championship events as players.

So if he wants to cheat this time he will only have to play by the rules next time anyway. The store champion should be the best person. Surly the store would want the local player with the best chances of winning to go to the next level.

Id print of the tournament rules highlight the above section and take it into the shop.

Id explain the TO is braking the rules, if they let it continue the risk FFG coming down hard eespecially if the winner is the TO he may lose his spot any way after people complain to ffg and not just the participants as it effects who gets a bye at the next level of events expect a lot of people here to be outraged.

Explain this behaviour may put people off from attending and in officially sanctioned tournaments you can play any squad or upgrade card thats listed in the tournament rules.

Then if that doesn't work name and shame the store if the To is using a squad he knows how to fly to give himself an unfair advantage to win he will only have to use a different squad and play by the rules at the next event.

It's worth noting, since the example has been brought up, that FFG was not ok with the store doing the SWLCG tournament allowing extra mulligans and that that situation has been fixed.

It's worth noting, since the example has been brought up, that FFG was not ok with the store doing the SWLCG tournament allowing extra mulligans and that that situation has been fixed.

Oh that's good. Last I read they were. That makes me feel better about FFG. And as stated earlier, this is "more extreme" than extra mulligans. Therefore, if brought to the attention of FFG, they should also say no to this one would think.

Thanks for update about that dbmeboy.

This is out of line. The store can do whatever they want with "their own" tournaments, and by extension so can their TO. But if the Store Championship is run this way, I would strenuously object to that winner being given a bye at regionals. In fact, so much so that I would appreciate you identifying the store so that we can all register objections to any regionals their Store Championship feeds into.

I imagine most people would see a pretty major competitive advantage if they could design a squad, and then write the tourney rules so that only their squad was legal....

Before we get ahead of ourselves and start registering complaints, let's take a breath.

First, this hasn't happened yet. Maybe the TO will see reason yet. Or maybe that TO will fold under pressure. Maybe the OP was incorrect about the details.

Second, it's not our place to register complaints with the regional organization unless and until we have more information. 'I read it on the internet' isn't good enough evidence.

Third, there could be other factors that we have not yet heard. Perhaps this isn't a full store championship but was, instead, some form of beta testing. Maybe certain products are being used that aren't released yet and the goal is to see how they operate in a specific environment. A long shot, sure, but I can think of a dozen unlikely scenarios.

Look, we're a good player base. I've seen a lot of good players and kind players and generous players. We pride ourselves on flying casual. The problem is that we tend to want to swoop in and fix perceived wrongs. That's a good thing, but we must always be careful lest it also become vigilante justice. Before we flock to a banner and claim that this day we fight for right, let's actually make sure we are fighting for good.

We need more information and we can't convict people of future crime. Let's do the right thing and know before we judge.

Yes, of course. But as often happens on internet posts, the qualifier in my post, "if the Store Championship is run this way" was lost. I am not advocating a witch hunt based only on da interwebz, but I am suggesting that IF the Store Championship is run this way, that the store be identified so that we may take appropriate steps to object. It most certainly IS our place to contact FFG, and complain, if we are informed (even through the internet) that some serious shenanigans are taking place. At that point, I would expect FFG to look into the matter, and once they have determined the facts they can take appropriate action. That action could include a censure of the offending store, voiding the bye for the Store Champion, or letting us know that all is well and we were lied to by the interwebz. This is not the rules violation we were looking for, move along, move along.

Personally, I would much prefer to hear that this was much ado about nothing. But it is appropriate to ask someone to check into it.

It most certainly IS our place to contact FFG, and complain, if we are informed (even through the internet) that some serious shenanigans are taking place.

I don't wish to turn this into a political debate but, what this store is doing is akin to voter fraud, in that it effects everyone else who plays by the rules.

Setting up a tournament in such a way to give myself a massive advantage is only a problem if it effects people other then the ones involved in the at event.

If I were to have a tourney at my LGS in which I ruled that rebels got 150 points and Imperials got 75 points for list building, but it wasn't an FFG sanctioned event, there wouldn't be an issue here. The only people the rule would effect would be those who chose to take part, and no one else.

But in this case, since this is the Store Championship, it effects the regional tournament by giving someone a bye who didn't deserve one. That has a pretty huge impact on the region in question, which is a lot of people.

That all said. The OP did say that he sent something to FFG about this already, and so they should be aware of what's going on. It's up to them to fix it at this point, not us. So I don't see what good knowing who and where this is going on does at this point in time.

So just wanted to update you guys on the situation. I have yet to hear back from FFG, although I did give them the store in question so maybe they were contacted and it was not followed up with on my end.

The store owner has stepped in and organized the tournament and I believe also will be the one TO'ing the event. I believe other people who were aware this was happening may of talked to him so I don't know how but it appears as if things have been worked out.

I'll let you know closer to the day if something fishy happens, it's at the end of this month so wish me luck, hoping to bring home a regional bye.

thats good to hear

Thanks for following and letting us know what happened.