There were a few players looking to find ways to break the game, forcing our gracious hosts to step in and just say no. I'd hope they don't have to do this again this year, but believe it is and should be in Derek and Chase's power to do so if necessary. I'm also inclined to think there should be no refund if such a player is being such a player.
Comments like this, which are incredibly uninformed and almost universally self-serving, are part of why I dropped last year and why I refused to play this year.
We started a rumor about finding some hidden exploitation in the game and it spread like wildfire. It was a joke. People took it seriously, including the store owner, but no one actually ASKED us what we were bringing. We weren't really hiding anything. Hell, the idea of an Emperor on our side wasn't even in our minds at the time! Without actually finding out what was going on with our group, ultimatums were made and assumptions were regarded as facts. I'm not faulting anyone here, I just want the information out there.
Like always, we wanted to bring a tough game. In no way did we sit down with some sinister plan to ruin the megabattle for everyone. In no way did we attempt to break the game. We held back.
Hmm... If you start rumors of "exploitation", if as they spread you do not quash them, are you surprised that your reputation takes a hit? In the paragraph following the one you quoted above, I suggested that we avoid spreading such rumors. I've nothing against good honest trash talk, but talking about exploiting holes in the rules or starting rumors of absurdly extreme armies that no one intends to field is not in all respects positive. At bottom, if anyone doesn't like the heat, they shouldn't play with matches.
Alas, the border between bringing a tough game and a sinister plot to ruin the game isn't as hard and firm as it might be. There are people who enjoy extreme armies. I have no problem with their enjoying and advocating for their preferred style of play so long as they enjoy playing against extreme armies as much as they enjoy playing extreme armies. As long as someone follows a cry for no limits by volunteering to play on the table with no limits, fine. If there are too many volunteers for one no limits table, let there be two such tables, or three.
While the two orderly all big model players haven't checked in yet, at this point no one on the Order side is proposing an army that exceeds the limits I proposed to Chase. The pattern is pretty close to last year's, though it is far too soon to say the pattern will hold. If Disorder too is holding close enough to last year's pattern, there is no need for discussion or heat.
There might be a need for some good honest trash talk. The rumor storms of last year seem to have a lingering effect.
Alas, after last year, Craftworld Elefayin isn't in much of a position to trash talk. Working on bringing a tough game, instead.