the Road to the BAO

Its 1 week away and I'm getting excited. For those that don't know the Bay Area Open is one of the premier competitive 40K tournaments on the west cost  put on by Team Zero Comp up north. What Makes it the premier competitive Tournament may you ask?
     

            Well for one thing they use a Win/Lose/Draw scoring system so your playing smart to win (not just trying to crush your opponents which not all armies can do). They also are implementing this year playing all three missions at once. This further lets all armies compete by letting them choose what goals they have a chance at while being challenging for veteran players trying to juggle the three basic missions at once. I have play tested these missions several times and have been play testing some new stuff. Like running Snikrot (while finding him a great delivery system for ghaz and a great disruption to the capture and control 3rd of the mission but found the missing Loota squad/lack of Ghaz with Nobs/1 less Nob in squad hurt my army more then helped). Against a good general these missions are complicated with a lot to think about during the game especially when a contesting unit can easily cause a loss during close games. For another thing the points range 1750. you really have to just put in what you need and heavy on the troops as 2/3 of the mission during all games is objectives. You also have enough points to get 1 or two extras but at this point level you really have to make tough choices. The last thing is the simple thumbs up/down sports scoring (with having to explane to a judge and the other player why) and of course zero comp.

         Also this year the Top spot not only earns you a fully painted 1750 point army of your choice with display travel case but a spot on the American Team for the European Team Championships. Its an event that pits the best players in the world against each other (Rock on toy soldiers!). Last year they had about 70 people playing at the BAO (the most at an event I have been to yet) and with this announcement I expect there to be more with some of the Net famous 40k players in attendance So it should be a long difficult road to the top. I made 7th place last year close to Yakface who is another competent Ork general (we'll get our battle in sometime). Warboss Russ also made it to the Top table in the last round so the Waaagh shall be in full effect. I had some issues with an opponent's slow play last year so I will not be so hesitant to use the thumbs down this year (if I have a valid complaint) and with getting to the top tables twice at big events I pretty sure I have the tools to contend. Orks defiantly have been feeling the squeeze from some of the newer codex's lately but I've been practicing tons and feel ready for almost anything.

           My army is ready, got my ticket, and I got a hotel room (like I said I cant wait till next week). I will be taking pictures and taking notes so expect some battle reports to follow. Remember you can bring beer, there are no places to eat near by so bring lunch, and change for drinks is scarce so bring dollar bills. Good luck and hope to see you there.