The Ironmanj Shield -- 30/31 Janurary 2010 -- York, UK

[Nippy Longskar]

Also there are 4 different categories of card at 50K (misc mayhem, special team, magic item and dirty trick) so would be useful to state whether you have to stick with the same category of card.

I'd suggest that as part of your team build if you are taking cards you have to nominate the categories on your roster (e.g. 1 magic item, 1 dirty trick) that you will use for the tourney, but draw the appropriate number afresh at the start of each game (cards would be less useful if later opponents knew exactly what you had)

A further question (kind of generic); if both players are using cards, do they share a single deck (thus making it impossible to both get the same card) or do they have to use a deck each?

[Purplegoo]

Hmm, looks like I need to read up on these cardy type things.

Anything that's a real bugger? Exploding ball, tripwire, that kind of dealio?

Time to rtfm...

[Joemanji]

Spoke to Pippy and he seemed a bit worried about special play cards. But I don't believe in not using something without trying it first. The good thing about having different rules at different tournaments is we can find out what works. Also, I have used cards a lot in the MBBL league where you got 100K free of cards every game (played over 250 games). Whilst they seem great in theory, in practice you don't often get the right card at the right time. Sometimes they can work very well. However, none of them affect a game as much as starting a turn with double skulls or snake eyes. My hunch is after the tournament people will decide they'd rather have had a reroll or reserve.

One small problem is that I think one of the 50K decks is obviously better than the rest (Dirty Tricks). For that reason we will use the following rules for cards:

- A coach may allocate an amount of money for cards in his inital team selection. This money is fixed throughout the 2 days and may not be later allocated to other inducements.

- If a coach wants to use cards he must bring his own set of playing cards to the tournament. If both coaches are using cards then they can decide between themselves whether to draw from separate decks or the same one.

- Before each game a coach may spend this card money on cards in denominations of his choice. For example if you allocated 100K you may buy a two 50K cards one game and a 100K card the next.

- 50K cards are drawn from a combined deck of all 4 suits. I.e. 52 cards not 13.

- Your opponent may ask to inspect the deck before you deal and may ask to shuffle them for you.

Failure to abide by these rules will result in all cards being lost for the game in question (or for the next game if card(s) already played).

[sann0638]

Also, I have used cards extensively in the MBBL league where you got 100K free of cards every game (played over 250 games).

And I thought it was 50k. Ya big cheater

[Joemanji]

They downgraded to 50K a few seasons back, but I played most of my games before then.

[Lycos]

Thanks Joe, thats good. As long as we know in advance then its covered. I think you have that sorted.

oh and I'm not disagreeing they may be rubbish but so what. I also agree that until I have tried, how is it I think I can have opinion? I can't surely? So I will test them, see how they go!! Plus, the coach opposite is going to be thinking "what the hell has he got, what stoopid thing is he gonna do"

[Pipey]

Yeah I texted Joe to say "is this going to become special-play-card-bowl?". You could take two or three 50k cards with some teams (zons, dwarfs, orcs etc.) and be sure to get some powerful cards.

Maybe it wouldn't have been so unbalancing, but I like the changes you've made Joe. I'm thinking of taking one 50k anyway to see what happens...

[Purplegoo]

what stoopid thing is he gonna do"

Roger that, assume I'm playing Pete.

Was just thinking what doesn't need the extra TV room... Taking Zons or Dorfs, Dave?

I like the idea of the variety anyway, should be funny to have the novelty.

[Jimjimjimany]

I think the special play cards are really cool. It benefits the teams that don't gain as much help from TV120, which is good. All of the elf teams are taking reserves and extra re-rolls that are really going to help them out, an extra orc lineman or a 5th re-roll for the amazons isn't going to help at all so taking a card is nice for those teams.

Pippy, have you come around to special play cards then?

[PubBowler]

I'm just going to blame Special Play Cards for my inevitiable downfall...

[bigallium]

hi joe. Can you stick me down on the 'interested' (rather than interesting, more's the pity) list. Will confirm and pay once i have sorted out acc and travel. Cheers.

Presuming you have spaces left of course...

[Pipey]

Pippy, have you come around to special play cards then?

I had a bad experience once

But I got over it!

[Grumbledook]

Pippy, have you come around to special play cards then?

Our Pip doesn't like change

Don't personally agree with the picking different value cards per round as I alluded too earlier. I can't change my skills after allocating a number of points to tier 1 and tier 2 skills...

[mubo]

I might take a 50k card, and drop some (subtle) hints about having trampoline trap/heckler, which is where I think the value of the cards is.

[Ironjaw]

Yeah that 50k card that means you don't score on a 4+ is a right ball ache.

Can anyone lend me a vampire team? I know Nippy has one but I'm not using his in fear of destroying his amazing models.