Better Playtesting: Tournament Prep

Playing in an 8 round tournament is not the same as playing 8 games of 40k over two days.  Is that a huge understatement, or what?  Today we are going to talk about how you can use your playtesting sessions to avoid making mistake on the big stage.

There is a difference between strong technical play and deliberate play.  Technical play is, as I have said, usually a matter of making sure you remember all the 'little things' and being a good book-keeper for your match.  Deliberate play, however, is more a style of play.  The top Magic pros all play very deliberately.  Watch two of the all time greats.  Both players have perfect technical play, and perfect deliberate play.

Even if you aren't familiar with the game, you can see their their every action is deliberate and measured.  This is the proper pace to play any tournament strategy game.  A deliberate playstyle has the following benefits...

• Confidence.  You will appear confident and assured.  This can throw someone who is less confident off their game.  It can be a huge advantage to come into the game when your opponent already believes he is going to lose.

• Proactivity.  If your actions are deliberate, it puts you in a proactive stance.  It puts your opponent in a reactive stance.  He is reacting to your game plan, and ignoring his own.

• Pace.  The value of maintaining a stable pace of play cannot be underestimated in a timed round environment.  In every tournament I've ever been to, I've had opponents pressure me to play faster at the end of a round.  I won't do it.  They can't accuse me of slow play, either, because I maintain the same pace the whole game.  Note, I'm not suggesting slow playing from the start.  Play with a deliberate, measured, medium pace the whole match.  Fast playing at the end to get one more round in is insanity.  The choices you make at the end of the game are just as important (or moreso) than the ones you make at the beginning.  Putting any less thought into them is ridiculous.

• Touching on an above point in regards to an opponent pressuring you.  A deliberate playstyle will help you resist your opponent's pressuring.  You cannot allow an opponent to pressure you into playing faster or slower to suit them.  If they want to play speed rounds, let them play it on their turn.  Opponent will try to pressure you on more than pace though.  They can and will pressure you on rules interpretations and scoring.  Without arguing over any disagreements, call for a judge.  There is no sense in being pressured into losing or drawing a match because a guy is trying to intimidate you over the rules.  Maintaining your calm, deliberate style will allow you to stay level headed and be above that kind of intimidation.

 Lastly, I want to close by saying that playing 4 rounds of 40k in one day at a tournament level is grueling.  In the weeks leading up to a tournament you should try simulating 4 rounds in one day.  Get your playtest partner to play 4 timed games in one day in order to simulate the event.  I would highly suggest playing with no take backs of mistakes, which I normally say are good to allow in playtesting.  You want to really see the effects of the tournament on your mental stamina.  Keep track of how many mistakes you make game 1 versus game 4.  It should be pretty telling.

I would also advise you when you do this test to eat the food you would eat at the event.  I talked before about what you should eat at tournaments.  Try to make a food plan prior to the tournament, and use that food plan on the day of your simulated tournament.  It will show any weakness in your plan ahead of time, hopefully.  If you get headaches, eat more good carbs.  If you get hunger pangs, eat more high quality proteins.  Basically, adjust as needed to ensure success.  Better to have the headaches while playtesting than at the event.