About the League #
This league is designed as an escalation format, where your army will grow in size over time, starting at 350 points and culminating at 800 points. The League will begin on March 1st.
Schedule & Format #
The league will run over 4 months.
Each round will consist of one game at the same point level, to be played during the month. Players are responsible for arranging the time and location of their matches.
Swiss-style pairings will be used after each round. Adjustments may be made to avoid repeat fixtures (e.g. facing the same opponent more than twice).
If a player cannot complete a match, a result may be issued as a draw or forfeit win at my discretion based on the context. If there is an odd number of participants, a ringer player will be used, selected at random each round.
Points Escalation & Dates #
Round 1 - 1st March - 31st March - 350 pts
Round 2 - 1st April - 30th April - 500 pts
Round 3 - 1st May - 31st May - 650 pts
Round 4 - 1st June - 30th June - 800 pts
Army Building Rules #
Armies must follow all official rules, points, and restrictions from the most recent MESBG rulebook, FAQs, and expansions.
Any legal army list from the many, many books which are identified as current edition legal books can be taken.
Armies do not need to be WYSIWYG, but any proxies or conversions must be clarified with me beforehand. Conversions are encouraged where appropriate.
Theme Evolution - Due to the point restrictions on certain lists, a Theme Evolution mechanic is being introduced. This allows a force to evolve into a different list over the course of the league, as long as there is a strong narrative or thematic link between them.
For example, a 350-point list could represent The Road to Rivendell. At 500 points, this might evolve into The Fellowship, representing the next step in the journey. By 650 points, the list could transform into The Breaking of the Fellowship, and so on.
For this mechanic, theme is king. If you wish to incorporate a thematic evolution into your list progression, please discuss your plan with me before the league begins. Once agreed upon, this theme must be followed consistently throughout the league; you cannot change it partway through.
Army Progression Rules #
Submit your list before the start of the slow grow. Once submitted, no changes are allowed for that round.
Army limits per round: 350, 500, 650, and 800 points.
You may not remove models from your army between rounds. You must build upon your previous force.
Warband composition and wargear may change (e.g., reallocating troops or upgrading wargear).
Exception for Monsters: If a model with the Monster keyword is being replaced (e.g., Cave Troll → Watcher in the Water), this is allowed to accommodate large jumps in cost.
Scoring & Rankings #
Match Point breakdown
Win: 3 points - Draw: 1 point - Loss: 0 points
Painting Bonus - 1 TP point awarded at the start of each round for having all models painted and based.
Secret Mission Bonus - At the start of each round, each player will receive two secret missions. You will select one of the two missions to attempt. Don’t show your opponent! If you complete the chosen mission during your game, you earn 1 TP point
Total tournament points = Match Points + Painting Bonuses + Secret Mission Points.
Ties will be broken by Total Victory Points Scored
Prizes & Awards #
- 1st, 2nd, 3rd Place
- Wooden Spoon
- Best Painted Mini (peer-voted)
- Most Sporting Player (peer-voted)
- Best Theme (peer-voted)
Sportsmanship & Conduct #
This is a community-driven league designed to promote fun, hobby growth, and friendly play. Disputes should first be resolved between players, but I can be contacted (via Facebook or group chat) to clarify rules if needed and act as an unbiased third party.
Play fair, be gracious in victory or defeat, and most importantly, enjoy the journey of growing your force!