THE SOCIETY OF ANCIENTS DOUBLES MASTERS 2008

15mm DBM COMPETITION RULES

1. 1. The rules to be used are DBM version 3.1 and the official clarifications published by the authors dated 25th March 2001. The 2nd edition Army Lists and current errata to the lists issued by the authors. DBMM army lists published four weeks before the competition may also be used.  The current  IWF Clarifications (where applicable) and Guidelines for fair play, together with the BHGS scoring system and the current  BHGS Army List Interpretations. We will also be using Blitz Finishes to all matches (see details below)
   2. The permitted Army Lists for each Venue are also specified on the entry form. Any army from the book specified may be chosen. 
   3. Allies: The initial foreign or internal allied command chosen cannot be unreliable, its general does obtain the same benefit to movement PIP as the overall army CinC. Any subsequent allied commands do not receive these benefits.
   4. The cost of an Allied general may be reduced by 10 points if regular and 5 points if irregular, if this has not already been altered in the army lists.
   5. Army lists must be submitted allocating all elements including baggage to a command. They must specify the number of element equivalents and demoralisation levels for each command and for the whole army. If more than one ally is used the list must also specify which general is guaranteed reliable. The total army size must not exceed 500 AP and the list must indicate the climate, aggression factor, year, geographical region, general where relevant and all double based elements. 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.
   6. Army lists must be submitted for checking in advance and must be received by the List Checker not  later than two weeks before the event. A penalty of 2 victory points per round, for each round of the competition (at any venue), may be imposed for late submission of lists. Any incorrect list discovered after a game has commenced (after set up dice have been rolled) must be corrected prior to the next match.
   7. The List Checker is Jeremy Morgan, 28 Poplar Close, Haverhill, Suffolk, CB9 9EJ. Email marjer@tesco.net. Please note that only incoming calls are possible, and that the list checker can only respond to queries in connection with Army Lists. All other queries must be addressed to the organisers.
   8. Players must fully define their troops as they are placed on table.
   9. Table size is 6' x 4' and players must supply their own terrain pieces. These must be to an acceptable standard, and umpires will have the discretion to remove unsightly items.
   10. Each Player must command, move and be responsible for at least 30% of the elements in the army and commands must be equally distributed between both players with an imbalance of no greater than one.
   11. To speed game play, players may only control commands that are adjacent i.e. each player must operate at his/her end of the table. To further speed game play it is permissible to move individual elements, which are not in your original commands, nevertheless, command integrity remains.  Commands (not players) may subsequently be freely switched on the battlefield to satisfy any tactical situation, but commands must continue to be distributed with an imbalance of no greater than one.
   12. Teams must be present and ready to start the match at the appointed time. Where a team has a reasonable excuse for arriving late the match start will be delayed by up to 30 minutes. After which time the effected team will be awarded a bye and 32 points. No team will be awarded more than one bye for any reason.
   13. If a team resigns from a game at any stage after the first set up dice have been rolled their opponents will be awarded 32 points.
   14. It is expected that games should achieve at the very least a MINIMUM of 12 pairs of bounds. This is not regarded as a satisfactory norm or target to be achieved and players must make every endeavour to continue to play in a timely fashion after the MINIMUM number of bounds have been played. Deployment (Including all pre-game preparations) should not exceed 30mins. In order to further encourage timely play a "blitz" finish will apply to all matches that have not achieved 12 bounds when time is called. The Blitz rules are fully set out in our document BHGS Blitz 2005
   15. Matches will continue until the end of the defenders turn in the current pair of bounds when time is called.  Time will be called after 3.5 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
   16. The event will be adjudicated by player umpires.
   17. A modified Swiss Chess system will operate throughout the competition. 
   • The draw for the first game at the first venue is RANDOM.
   • The draw for the first game at all other rounds is based on the Swiss Chess System using the teams current score to-date. Teams that did not play at previous venues will be included randomly at the bottom of this draw.
   • The draw for games 2-4 at each venue are based upon the teams' scores so far at the current venue only.
   • No team will ever play the same opponents twice, at venues 1 and 2. At venue 3 teams may play teams that they played earlier in the year, but cannot play the same team twice at that venue.
   • Teams will not play others from the same club in the first game at any venue, but may do so in games 2-4.
   18. There are 5 separate venues and each is a competition in its own right. The overall winners will be determined by considering each teams total of their best three results scored at any of the 5 venues. These will be used to calculate the final championship placings.
   19. Each team is allowed to make up to 3 substitutions per year. Named players from teams may combine to form a new team, with its own score or, alternatively, their result may count towards the score of either one of the original teams.
   20. Teams may participate at as many or as few venues as they wish.
   21. Follow this link for an entry form and details of each venue including the periods to be played.
   22. The timetable for each venue unless specifically notified is as follows;

       Saturday	Check in 8.45am - 9.15am	Sunday	3rd round 9.00am - 12.45pm
       	1st round 9.15am - 1.00pm		4th round 1.45pm - 5.30pm
       	2nd round 2.00pm - 5.45pm		Prize Giving 5.30 Approx

   23. 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.