• The Period Umpire is: James Hamilton

• The List Checker is: James Hamilton
  17 Davenport Park Road,
  Stockport,
  Cheshire,
  SK2 6JU.
  Tel 0161 483 9131
  E-mail: james@urgentdawn.freeserve.co.uk
  
• The list checker can only respond to queries in connection with army lists. All other queries must be addressed to the organisers.   The list checker will provide a standard excel format along with the requested lists and would appreciate it, where possible, if players could use this to ease checking.

Rules, Lists and Clarifications to be used

• The competition will use the latest version of the Flames of War rules latest errata from the Flames of War website and the “More again lessons from the front” clarifications.
• The list submitted must not exceed 1750 points. Periods offered are Mid and Late War.
• Lists should be submitted two weeks prior to the event i.e. by the 20 th of March.
• Submitted lists should indicate the period, nationality and the book or PDF used to draw up the list.
• Once an army list has been submitted it may not be changed or altered other than to correct any errors. Players may only correct their errors by making reasonable changes to their list. It is not allowed to completely re-write the list, and the list checkers decision on this is final.
• Please note that the BHGS Challenge is a single list format.
• If players are willing to submit both an Axis and Allied lists before the event it will enable axis and allied numbers to be balanced which will reduce “blue on blue” games
• Any incorrect list discovered after a game has commenced (after set up dice have been rolled) must be corrected prior to deployment if spotted in time, and fully corrected in any case before the next match.
• Players must fully define their troops as they are placed on table.  Figures must provide a reasonably accurate representation of the troops they are trying to represent – they must not look deliberately misleading.
• All figures must be painted and based to an acceptable standard.
• Table size is 6' x 4'

Terrain

• Terrain will need to be provided by the players. Any clubs or individuals who can supply terrain for the competition please contact the period umpire as your help would be greatly appreciated. Each table will be preset with terrain at the start of the tournament, where possible players will be allocated to tables that they have yet to play on.

Game Start Time and Duration

• Players must be present and ready to start the match at the appointed time. Where a player has a reasonable excuse for arriving late the match start will be delayed by up to 30 minutes. After which time the effected player will be awarded a bye. No player will be awarded more than one bye for any reason.  A bye will carry 32 points.
• If a player resigns from a game at any stage after the first set up dice have been rolled their opponents will be awarded maximum points, and they will be awarded 0 points.
• When time is called, play will continue until the end of the turn of the player who moved second, such that both players will have had an equal number of turns.  Play will stop immediately before the joint action phase following this.
• Game lengths for the three Saturday games will be 2 and a half hours plus a 1 – 12 minute random factor. The two Sunday games will be 3 and a half hours plus a 1-15 minute random factor. The random factor will be determined by the umpire prior to the start of the round, and will not be revealed until the announcement is made. Players may always commence games earlier than the stated time by mutual consent.

The Draw

• A modified Swiss Chess system will operate throughout the competition. Players may not play against fellow club players in the first 2 rounds, nor players whom they have played in earlier rounds, nor against any relatives in the first degree of consanguinity. Thus a player cannot be matched against his/her spouse, parent, brother, sister, and/or child.
• Where possible the draw will be such that axis vs allied games are maximised but it is more than likely that some “blue on blue” games will occur. If Axis and Allied forces can be balanced there will be no “blue on blue” games on the Saturday.

Scenarios

• Game 1 will be one of breakthrough, hold the line or cauldron
• Game 2 will be one of the two scenarios not played in game 1
• Game 3 will be fighting withdrawal
• Game 4 will be encounter or the scenario not played in games 1 or 2
• Game 5 will be free for all

Scoring

• Work out who is the winner of the game, and consult the victory points table for the mission.
• If the winner scores 7-0 (which will be unlikely, but possible) then the winner scores 32 tournament points
• If the winner scores 6-1 then they score 28 tournament points, plus or minus 1 point per the difference in the number of platoons destroyed to a maximum of 32 points, or minimum of 25 points.
• If the winner scores 5-2 then they score 24 tournament points, plus or minus the difference in the number of platoons destroyed, up to a maximum of 28 points or a minimum of 21 points.
• If the winner scores 4-3 then they score 20 tournament points, plus or minus 1 point per difference in platoons destroyed, to a maximum of 24 points or a minimum of 17 points.
• If the game ends in a draw, then the winner is the player who has destroyed most enemy platoons, he scores 16 tournament points, plus 1 point per difference in platoons destroyed, up to a maximum of 18 points, or a minimum of 14 points
• The loser scores 32 points MINUS the winners score
• Both players scores MUST add up to 32.

Painting and army background

• Please leave your army displayed between games 4 and 5 to allow it to be judged for the painting score.
• Painting will score 0-16 points as follows:
• 0 – Single colour painting, plain bases, no detail
• 8 – Painted but lacks detail
• 12 – Good basic painting, including faces, hands, boots etc.
• 16 – Well-painted force with added details and scenic basing
• Uniformity will score 0-8 points as follows:
• 0 – Totally different styles, plain bases, no coherency at all
• 4 – Several different styles, little if any coherency
• 6 – Similar style across the force, one or two units out of place
• 8 – The whole force fits together well
• Background will score 0-8 points (The background doesn’t need to be long, technical or academic. A one-page story telling how the force came to be is more than enough.) as follows:
• a) 0 – List not submitted on time (20 th March)
• b) 4 – Correct list submitted on time, but no additional background material to support it.
• c) 6 - Correct list submitted on time with some background information.
• d) 8 – Correct list submitted on time with good historical background information with maps or photographs that brings the force to life.
• Best painted Axis and Allied forces 0-4 points:
• All players will get a vote for the best Axis and Allied forces on display over the Sunday break. The forces receiving most votes will get an additional 4 points.

Sportsmanship

• Each round is worth 0-8 points based on the following questions each worth 2 points each.
• 1) Did you feel that your opponent fielded a fair and balanced historical force or one designed to take advantage of the rules?
• a) Very fair and balanced force giving a flavour of a force of that time - 2pts
• b) A fair force - 1pt
• c) Units seems to be a mix of troops picked for their gaming potential rather than any historical reasons - 0pt
• 2) Did your opponent play the game at a pace that was suitable for both of you?
• a) I was happy with how the game ran, this is the pace I like to play at – 2pts
• b) The game ran at a good speed - 1pt
• c) I feel that my opponent was trying to run out time for a draw, or alternatively they rushed through things and I was not really sure of what was happening – 0pts
• 3) Did you enjoy the game?
• a) Yes it was a cracking game – 2pts
• b) Yes – 1pt
• c) No – 0pt
• 4) Would you wish to play this opponent again?
• a) Yes – 2pts
• b) No – 1pts
• c) After that I don’t think I ever even want to enter a tournament again – 0pts

Sundry

• Admission to the tournament is at the sole discretion of the organisers and their decision on all matters is final. An application to enter denotes acceptance of these rules.