Frontline Gaming’s new ITC standards for 40k competitive play may just be the right thing for a year marred by bad sportsmanship and subpar events.
Frontline Gaming has been busy for a while now working out the kinks of the ITC format. 2018 has been a rocky road for competitive play as certain players have tried to bend the rules wherever they could. Hopefully, these rule-benders will be a thing of the past with this new update to the format.
Let’s check out all of the changes to the ITC by Frontline Gaming’s official announcement.
ITC & LVO 2019 Updates
Standardized List Format
Any time you can standardize something is a good thing. It makes confusion less of a problem as everyone is on the same page. There are so many different list builders in the gaming community that sometimes it’s hard to read and understand all the different formats. Someone could easily slip in some unpaid plasma pistols in and nobody would bat an eye…
In order to put everyone on the same track, Frontline Gaming is going to ONLY be accepting lists made in these formats and uploaded to Best Coast Pairings.
So now that we’ve got the list confusion out of the way, how will sportsmanship be handled?
ITC Code of Conduct
It’s unfortunate that there has to be a strict code of conduct guidelines in a gentleman’s game. With that said, the ITC will be rolling out a color card system as they have in soccer.
- Yellow Cards are given for non-disqualifying offenses.
- A player may only accrue 2 Yellow Cards during an event. If they receive a third they receive a Red Card and a DQ.
- Red Cards are given for a disqualifying offense, or in the case of multiple Yellow Cards.
- If a player receives one or more Red Cards in an event they can be ejected from that event and future events at the Organizer’s sole discretion.
- that seems to indicate a banned list of storts for the ITC
If you’re like most of the community, you should have absolutely no problem following the code of conduct. Basic things like:
- deceiving your opponent
- moving models out of phase
- slow playing
- name-calling
- showing up late to the game..etc
are all frowned on. The ITC format backs the spirit of the game and wants to create the levelest playing field as possible. Speaking of a level playing field, let’s check out some of the changes to ITC terrain.
Dealing With Awkward Terrain
40k tables are full of different levels of terrain. Players will end up putting their models wherever they can fit them. Consequently, there needed to be some clarifications to make things fair when it comes to the ITC terrain kits both for sale and at events.
Essentially, a Flying model can only end its movement inside terrain if it is open-topped. (Or unless the model could fit through a doorway/window like a Captain with Jump Pack.)
There were also some problems where one player would cram all of their models on the second story of a building so that it was virtually impossible to fit any enemy models within 1″ and keep them there. People thought that meant that the unit was unchargeable. However, the ITC ruling lets the charger now get as close as possible to the enemy unit and still attack from the ground floor.
Now, you’ll be able to touch that pesky ten-man Devastator squad that was huddled up on the roof.
There are also some terrain pieces that were never designed to have models placed on them in the first place. Some players were using them as hills and balancing models on the edges. Those pieces of terrain have always been seen as impassable terrain.
A Change for the Better
Make sure you read over everything the code of conduct sheet has to offer. It’s a lot of information, but it will protect you in your future games. You may also want to practice with the new list-building format to familiarize yourself.
All in all, it looks like the Frontline Gaming has brought a new level of standardization to the hobby. Both players can end their games feeling like they were given a fair game. What are your thoughts on the ITC changes? Do you think the card system is a good way of dealing with issues between players?
Let us know in the comments of our Facebook Hobby Group.
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
