Squad Leader Academy (SQLA) is pleased to announce the 2004
Squad Leader Masters PBEM tournament. VSQL will be the standard interface,
participants may elect either PBEM or server play. This event is not to be
Boardgame Player Association (BPA) sanctioned but rather ran as a SQLA event.
The impact is 2004 BPA membership is not required to participate (although
still encouraged) and SQLA will incur all the charges for the plaques which
will be passed on to the participants.
This event targets experienced players proficient in the
use of VSQL, the SQL rules, SQLA rule conventions and with a AREA history.
This is not intended as a novice event but rather a steady paced tournament.
This event will be Swiss/Round Robin as a function of the
number of participants (minimum is five players). Players will be placed in
pools with approximately three-four preliminary rounds with the final four
or two to move into a championship playoff. All players are encouraged to
play all rounds. Details will be determined by the number of participants.
All matches will be AREA rated and SLlist ladder. AREA ratings
as of 8/31/04 will be used to seed the participants as a function of the tournament
start date.
New SQLA scenarios will be used, often with boards higher
than 1-5. This may necessitate some higher level terrain rules given the limitation
of VSQL transformations (i.e. crags, graveyards, brush, forest trails, orchards
etc.). Scenarios will be ‘partial bid’ as balance will not be
tested with 50+ plays prior to use. Partial Bid Format: Each player sends
the GM their preferred side in the scenario. If players pick opposing sides,
scenario is played as written. If players pick the same side, the lower rated
bids first, bidding the number of dominant squads added to the other sides
‘At Start’ forces. The Lowest bid is ‘0’ and all bids
must be integers only (0, 1, 2, 3…). Bid continues until one player
elects to play the opposing side augmented by the extra at start squads. This
data and game results will work to modify the scenario forces over time.
A Personal Leader Counter competition will be conducted
within each tournament. The best performance of surviving leaders as measured
by net Élan points will earn a plaque in addition to the first place
tournament winner. Costs incurred to generate and ship the two plaques per
tournament are estimated at $100 for this tournament. Entry fees and contribution
will be used to offset these costs as the WGA/SQL coffers are empty. Those
with financial hardship (I can personally relate to this) will be granted
a stipend to offset any entry fee. The goal is to maximize participation.
All appropriate Squad Leader 4th edition rules will be used
as modified by the 2002 compiled Q&A) and superceded by SQLA Rule conventions
will be in force. A SQLA ‘Rule Czar’ with alternates will be defined.
Player’s individual ‘House Rules’ are not applicable to
this or any other SQLA event.
This event is expected to become annual events, augmenting
the BPA Squad Leader and Cross of Iron PBEM championships (annual January
start date), the BPA Squad Leader Series tournament at the World Boardgame
championships (typically the first week in August, Baltimore, MD, USA) and
other FTF and PBEM events run by SQLA. BPA sanctioning in future years will
be assessed if the participant pool meets BPA requirements (presently minimum
of 16 players with 100% BPA membership).
If a real life priority prevents a player from starting
a scenario, please inform Michael as soon as known so a replacement player
can be secured. A roll call will be conducted prior to each round. Once the
game has started, all are committed. As we are all responsible players, if
you cannot continue due to real life once a game has started, you are expected
to concede the match for all purposes. However the remaining player must still
earn the victory. If the opposing commander leaves the battlefield (KIA),
he will be replaced with one of the mercenaries. If the remaining player wins,
he earns a win, the vacant player a loss. If the remaining player loses, the
match is a null game for both the vacant and remaining players. The mercenary
has no investment in the win/loss result other than for the scenario record.
