Hi everybody! I’m back, this time with the rules for the 3++ Vassal 40K Ladder. I read all of the comments and have come to a couple of conclusions on the questions I asked. I’d like to thank everyone for their contributions and input as well as Kirby for help with formatting and technical stuff (I’ve never used blogger before, see?) as well as providing me with a platform to reach all of the readers from. I’d also like to thank VT2, ZJoekov and Mcdmk2 for giving me the encouragement I needed to take the leap to start truly putting my thoughts out there.
How it all works
As I explained in my last post, a ladder is a system that allows players to compete against one another and track their progress in relation to the other participants. All players will start with 0 ladder points and will earn them by playing and winning games against other players. A player will earn more points by defeating a player of equal or higher rank than he would for beating someone lower on the ladder.
How to sign up for the Ladder
People wishing to play in the ladder should join the official forums (coming soon!). Follow the instructions found there to finish registration.
How to play a ladder game on Vassal
In order to play a game for the ladder, a participant need only find an opponent either by bumping into them on Vassal or by challenging them directly via email, private message on a forum or any other means of communication (such as the chatbawks). Ladder challenges may be refused, though remember that refusing to play someone just because they’re higher ranked than you is silly! If you win the rewards are huge whereas if you lose the amount of lost ladder points will be negligible. When issuing a challenge be sure to work out details such as the size of the game being played, if any supplements will be used, which mission will be played and so on. In cases where neither side can agree upon one or more details refer to the Ladder Defaults:
The default point value of ladder games is 1,750 points.
The map pool can be downloaded from the official forums (coming soon!).
The default rule set is the 5th Warhammer 40,000 rulebook, including the most recent FAQ/Errata document found here on the Games Workshop website.
Legal Codices for the ladder are as follows: Black Templars, Blood Angels, Chaos Daemons, Chaos Space Marines, Dark Angels, Dark Eldar, Eldar, Grey Knights, Imperial Guard, Necrons, Orks, Space Marines, Space Wolves, Tau Empire, Tyranids and Witch Hunters. Remember to have a copy of your Codex's official FAQ on hand while playing. When new books are released (like the up and coming White Dwarf Sisters of Battle Codex) these books become legal three days after their official retail release date. This gives everyone time to purchase the new rules or read up on their opponents as well as to give players of that new army a chance to digest the new rules before writing lists.
Participants are encouraged to make playing the game as easy as possible so using Skype or another voice chat program is encouraged but not required.
Once you’ve found a willing opponent, feel free to play the game at your earliest mutual convenience. Unless both players meet randomly on Vassal and decide to play right then and there be sure to be punctual – it isn’t fair to keep your opponent waiting!
Remember that you can only play the same person once per week for the Ladder. If you wish to arrange non-Ladder games with someone, feel free!
Remember that you can only play the same person once per week for the Ladder. If you wish to arrange non-Ladder games with someone, feel free!
During the game
Once you’re inside the game with your opponent, randomly determine which one of the approved Ladder Maps to use. If your opponent agrees, feel free to make a mutually agreeable map. Be sure to discuss terrain, how it effects line of sight, cover saves and so on even on the approved maps before starting deployment. Players may find it helpful to start a log file at the beginning of the game and then attach it alongside their report in the event of any sort of less than reputable behaviour. Log files are basically recordings of a Vassal game and show every move made and every word typed in Vassal made until the log file is ended. Obviously this will not record any voice chat that players decide to use, so be aware of this before deciding to go ahead and use Skype and similar.
As far as rule disputes go, I want to be explicitly clear:
Do not email or message me with in game rules questions. If a debate arises discuss the rule calmly and politely and come to an agreement as quickly as possible. If the game cannot be completed due to a rules disagreement and I catch wind of it both players ladder points will be reduced to 0.
It is however acceptable to report a player for inappropriate conduct during a game. A few examples of inappropriate behavior are:
Being disrespectful of your opponent or those observing the game.
Intentional cheating
Other dickish stuff. Basically, don’t be a jerk, because if someone reports you for it you’ll be at my mercy and I’m not overly tolerant of bullshit.
Being disrespectful of your opponent or those observing the game.
Intentional cheating
Other dickish stuff. Basically, don’t be a jerk, because if someone reports you for it you’ll be at my mercy and I’m not overly tolerant of bullshit.
A few potential consequences of being a jerk are:
Being assigned a loss for the game in question.
Having ladder points removed from your score.
Being temporarily suspended from the ladder.
Being removed from the ladder permanently.
Being assigned a loss for the game in question.
Having ladder points removed from your score.
Being temporarily suspended from the ladder.
Being removed from the ladder permanently.
I usually tend to use a three strike system, but I’ve been known to get in bad moods from time to time so it’s just safer to not screw around in the first place.
After the game
After the game
After the game players will need to report the results on our nifty website (coming soon). Be sure to include the size of the game (in points), mission played and which (if any) supplements were used. This is also the place to report your opponent for any unseemly behavior.
Games are worth the following amounts of points:
A win is worth 8 points.
A draw is worth 0 points.
A loss is worth -8 points. A player can never go below 0 ladder points.
NOTE: These values will change (sometimes considerably) based on the difference between the two players’ ladder rankings. A player who is considerably higher ranked than his opponent will earn proportionately less points for a win and his opponent will lose fewer points as well. On the flip side, if the lower ranked player beats the higher ranked player he would earn a far larger sum of points and the higher ranked player would lose more as well. This encourages people to play against opponents who are of similar skill level and discourages highly ranked players from noobstomping.
Example 1:
Player A is in 1st place and has arranged a game with Player B who is in 25th place. Player A wins the game and thus earns only 2 ladder points. Player B only loses 2 ladder points.
Example 2:
Player A is in 25th place and has arranged a game with Player B who is in 1st place. Player A wins the game and thus earns 24 ladder points. Player B loses 24 ladder points.
Conclusion
I fully expect to find that I’ve missed something or haven’t explained something clearly enough, so I encourage everyone to post questions in the comments below. Additionally I’d appreciate feedback from people who think they have worthwhile suggestions. I’m also hoping to get the official site finished very soon (I’m waiting on a third party at the moment) so that we can get things going.
Thanks for reading!
Katie D
