We said way back in December that players should be banned, and after 7 months worth of cheating scandals at Warhammer 40k tournaments it’s finally happening.
We wrote this piece back in December that called for a system to be put in place for banning cheaters and bullies, and the internet lost its mind.
But now, seven long months later, it’s happening, and judging by the internet this morning people are calling for a more permanent solution to the problem.
We Said Players Should Be Banned, & The Internet Lost Its Mind.
First, the LGT banned Andrew Harrison for cheating, and now we have Team Happy’s 5 man team disqualified from play after they were caught with a provable infraction at the 40k American Team Championship. Currently, it is unclear if that will lead to a permanent ban from the event.
Aelong, Gorham, & Grippando pictured Left to Right
Team Happy includes Aaron Aleong, Tony Grippando, Aaron Towler, Tim Gorham, and Justin Curtis whose names may be familiar to you because Tony was embroiled in the recent LVO debacle that was live on video, and Aaron, of course, was the topic of an illegal list at Adepticon a few years back.
But what you may not know is that Peter Elias (sp?) of Tony’s and Tim’s team (then named the Jack Booted Thugs) a few years back at the ATCs was first docked points for an unpainted army, then asked not to come back to the event because he harassed a lady player.
So, in essence, the ATC has DQ’d more players over the past few years than any other event out there, in an attempt to keep our hobby safe for all to enjoy.
Plasmapalooza & Gatorgate 2018
Some players at the event over the weekend made comments to the effect that the TOs waited too long to remove Team Happy (who was already on thin ice in many people’s minds because of his stunt at the LVO). But consider this, just because someone is accused of cheating does not mean they should be thrown out of any event sight unseen. We live in a democratic society, we are all innocent until proven guilty are we not?
When a provable infraction did occur, action was taken against the team, and Team Happy was disqualified from play from the 2018 ATC.
Where do we go from here?
Rewind back to our article from December of 2017, where we called for someone of authority (whether it be the ITC, or Games Workshop, etc.) to create and maintain a banned list of players that are not allowed to play in “official events” whatever that qualifier would be, just like Magic the Gathering (Wizards of the Coast) maintains its DCI banned list.
I’m not saying for how long or what the criteria should even be for such punishments, however. That IMHO should be left up to whatever governing body is put into place to police such matters.
It’s clear the system we have right now is not working. 7 long months later, players have grown weary of one debacle after the next. All of which seem to be due to players not adhering to a social contract of player interaction that does not involve selecting cheating, lying, and just being bullies on the tabletop.
As a community, I feel like we need to pull the trigger on the cheaters issues, and not the TOs and the people working to make good hobby things happen out there.
It’s time for the bullies and the cheaters to find a new hobby, and for the rest of us to keep hobbying strong.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments on our Facebook Hobby Group.
Alea iacta est.
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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.
