Middle Earth Pre-Con

The Middle Earth Pre-Con is seperate from WBC and requires its own registration fee. Click the Pre-Con icon for pricing information. Tribune level members may attend all Pre-Cons AND WBC free of charge.

The story of the One Ring will be retold once again at the WBC! Will you prove your mettle with the SP or the FP? Who will prevail in this years battle for Middle Earth?

In War of the Ring, one player takes control of the Free Peoples (FP) and the other controls the Shadow Peoples (SP). The theme and mechanics are highly meshed producing a game which captures the overwhelming numbers of the Shadow and the glimmer of hope from the Fellowship's quest. There exists two paths to victory for each side. For the FP they can win by destroying the One Ring in the Crack of Doom or militarily by capturing four VPs of Shadow strongholds/cities. The SP can win by corrupting Frodo to succumb to wielding the One Ring or militarily by capturing 10 VPs of Free People strongholds/cities. All the main parts of the books are involved in the game via miniatures, events, and/or combat cards.

From BoardGameGeek http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/9609 : "Each game turn revolves around the roll of Action Dice: each die corresponds to an action that a player can do during a turn. Depending on the face rolled on each die, different actions are possible (moving armies, characters, recruiting troops, advancing a Political Track). Action dice can also be used to draw or play Event Cards. Event Cards are played to represent specific events from the story (or events which could possibly have happened) which cannot be portrayed through normal game play. Each Event Card can also create an unexpected turn in the game, allowing special actions or altering the course of battle."

The tournament is an Advanced class and all games will use the Twilight of the Third Age additions. The GM will provide handouts for rules summaries and expansion differences for anyone who needs a refresher. No demo will be run and anyone wishing to play in the tournament should have played War of the Ring previously so you are familiar with how the game mechanics function. One GM and two assistant GMs will be available to answer any unique rules questions as they occur.

The bidding rules will remain the same as last year, namely the use of Dwarven Rings. The full rules can be downloaded at: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/file/info/28563 In a nutshell, you are bidding an amount of start of the turn action dice re-rolls. Allowing a bid amount of mulligan rolls, based on the rules in the link, can temper bad action dice luck for the side which people figure is at a disadvantage to start.

Tournament Guidelines

15 minutes before scheduled start time: sign in and setup games. There will be a 4.5 hour time limit for each game to complete. A warning will be given when 90 minutes remain and another when 45 minutes remain. Please keep the games moving and avoid analysis paralysis. In the event of an adjudicated game, the GM will take into account action dice rolled, possible draw ahead hunt tiles, board position and cards in hand to determine a winner.

You are free to play in as many or as few rounds as you like. Just inform the GM at the end of your current game if you do not plan on playing in the next round. Considerations for keeping the field an even number are greatly appreciated.

A game owner for sake of these guidelines relates to anyone bringing a copy of the game to the event room.

Tournament Format

Round 1: Players will be randomly paired with people with and without games. Anyone with a game should sign in and start setting up immediately as directed by the GM.

Round 2: Winners will play winners, non-winners will play non-winners. Please setup games prior to the start times. If an odd number of winners, a non-winner will be randomly selected to play one of the winning players.

Round 3: Likewise, 2-0's will face off, along with 1-1's and 0-2's. If an odd number of undefeated players happens, 1-1's will be randomly assigned to play the 2-0 player(s). (restriction: you cannot play the same person you played in Round 1)

Semi-final: The four top players will compete in single elimination play starting Sunday morning. The four finalists will be posted on the kiosk once determined so we can get an on time start for the semi-final round. The semi-final games will play to completion, but please keep the games moving.

Final: The Final will begin after the completion of both semi-final games or the two finalists can agree to complete the game at a different day/time that suits them better so they could attend a different event that day. The only restriction would be the Final has to be completed by the end of the Tuesday Game Auction.

When making game assignments, different opponents will be assigned as far as possible, precluding random assignment if the case dictates.

Rules Clarifications:

Servant of the Secret Flame Combat effect pertains to both FP combat and leader re-rolls

Cruel As Death Combat card effect requires 2+ Nazgul leadership

Words of Power can stop a companion using Mighty Attack.

You can not give up leadership twice, for two different effects.

Condensed rules with expansion and FAQ all in one, very good refresher prior to the convention: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/307762

Combat card effect matrix, I will have handouts available of this at the convention: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/file/info/29436

Logistical Items:

Tie-breakers for final four

1. Most wins

2. Win for both sides

3. Wins strength, based on combined win/loss record percentage of your opponents (better % advance, if a player played and won only two games, add one 0-1 record to their percentage (does not apply again with byes))

4. Random selection

Odd number of participants (byes): Since we all come to the pre-con to play War of the Ring and not to sit and watch it played, here are the bye rules in the event of an odd number of players at the start of any round.

No person gets more than one bye.

A bye equals a win vs an 0-1 player of the same side as any of your actual wins

Players may choose to receive a bye in the following hierarchy

1. Previous year's WBC winner, followed by each previous WBC year winner

2. Random selection from any other players willing to take a bye

3. GM sits out the game, if not previously given a bye

4. Random selection from all non-game owner players not previously given a bye

5. Random

 A spielbox promotional gollum figure to the winner.