The tournament will use the Tournament Scenario supplied with the game. The game designer, Ed Beach, will GM the tournament and teach the game during the scheduled demonstrations on Tuesday and Thursday evenings (just prior to each preliminary heat). For the latest details on this new game see the designer's web site: http://home.comcast.net/~ebeach/

Tournament Format
The Here I Stand tournament will conform to the new WBC standards for a Heats Most Wins (HMW) event. Therefore, the following rules apply:

We will have a preliminary round both on Tuesday and Thursday nights (7pm each night) to determine our semi-finalists.

The number of semi-finalists will be based on the total number of players present at the preliminaries, as follows:

Up to 35 entries -12 semi-finalists (two games)
36 - 47 entries - 18 semi-finalists (three games)
48+ entries - 24 semi-finalists (four games)
Semi-finalists are chosen and ranked according to these criteria (the WBC tie-breakers, adapted for an event with only two heats):
Anyone with two wins
Win in first heat entered
Win in second heat entered
GM Tie-breaker: Total VP earned in all preliminary games played
Average finish in all heats entered

*** UPDATED FOR 2009: We will be continuing the "Natural Enemies" system introduced last year, but with only the Ottoman and Hapsburgs as natural enemies.  The one impact of this special tournament rule is as follows: if your natural enemy is the winner of a heat or semi-final, your VP earned will be dropped to 1 VP below the lowest score in that game for the purposes of determining advancement.

Finalists are chosen first from the semi-final winners; then from those non-winners with the highest semi-final point total (ties go to player with higher rank from preliminary rounds). Alternates will be posted after the second preliminary round. Alternates are encouraged to appear before the start of the semi-finals at 9am Friday so we can ensure that all semi-finals are played with a full allotment of six players. Alternates will also be chosen for the Final.

Pairings and Power Determination
Preliminaries: All table assignments are determined at random (though Team Tournament teammates will be separated). Players choose powers in the numerical order assigned to them during the random draw. Considerable effort will go into ensuring that a full complement of six players are present in each game between players wishing to advance to Thursday's semifinal round.
Semi-finals: Table assignments are done according to rank from preliminary rounds (distributing the highest ranked players to different tables). Highest ranked players get first choice of power at their table.
Final: Semifinal winners get first choice of power (in order of semifinal point total, ties going to player with highest rank from preliminary rounds).

Rules Interpretations
Please check out the Official Errata and FAQ posted at: http://home.comcast.net/~ebeach
Please note these new two entries in the Errata that have been added to improve balance in the Tournament Scenario.

1532 Scenario Setup:  The Papacy now begins in control of Siena (SCM) and Florence (HCM).  Initial Papal VP thus start at 17.  One Papal regular moved in the initial setup from Rome to Florence.

Tournament Scenario - New Special Rule (#4): The card 'Dissolution of the Monasteries' (# 63) is normally added to the deck at the start of Turn 5 or 6 if Henry VIII has married Anne Boleyn on the previous turn. For this scenario, set this card aside at this time.  When dealing cards to the English player for the turn, please give this card to the English player instead of the first card they would have been dealt from the deck.

GMT will provide merchandise certificates for all laurelists of this event in the amount of $20 for 1st, $15 for 2nd, $10 for third, and $5 for 4th thru 6th.