Armati Nationals
Glasgow Round
November sees Phoenix host the Glasgow round of the 2002 Armati Nationals gaming competition, where players compete for the Phil Rodgers Trophy.
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Format
Competition gaming usually follows the format of each player bringing along a set army list, with a couple of minor points variation options, submitting them to the organisers a week or so in advance, and then playing games based on randomly drawing another opponent. Points are awarded for the manner of each win, and at the end of 2-3 days, those points are totalled for a winner.
The drawback with this, particularly with rules using a large number of often obscure armies, is that you end up with either super armies (everyone wants to play Real Madrid on the computer footie too), or you end up with Ancient Egyptian light chariots trying to hold off Super Heavy Teutonic Knights fresh from the crusades.
Many have referred to this as a pack of old tosh which should be discouraged, and far be it from Phoenix to disagree.
For the 2002 Armati Nationals, Phoenix (and in particular Craig Tannock) as hosts hit upon the idea of fitting the players to the battles, using historically matched pairs and approximations of actual battles wherever possible. Rather than facing whichever army your opponent had chosen to best highlight their method of gaming, you and your opponent would be faced alike with a new army and terrain each battle. Each round, the random draw was not only for whom a player would face, but which battlefield and with what as well. The test was truly on your generalship!