I think we should consider alternative formats to make it interesting and encourage different tactics. I propose the following formats:

1) Standard - A player is awarded 3 points for win, 2 points for a draw and 1 point for a loss in match. The order of tiebreaks are as follows:
i) The number of monster form kills inflicted
ii) The least number of combined damage on forms

2) "Monster Crush" - Is like standard but awards an extra point for each form kill

3) "Beserk!!!" - a win is awarded in match only if you kill more monster forms than your opponent otherwise both players end up with a loss.

I'd like to rotate these formats in kit events. What are your thoughts?

I wouldn't attend a regular tournament of either 2 or 3 they would both encourage particular styles of play and de-emphasise others.

In the long term I don't think there's ever a justification for forcing a loss on a player, I would never attend a tourney that forced me to lose for an additional condition that wasn't part of the ruleset (the exception being some sort of scenario-based condition).

I also think having a double-loss condition is great way to encourage players to table-talk and do back-room deals to manipulate who's going to win.

Don't forget, though of the current player base we have there are a couple of people with multiple forces, most of our players, and you could expect any new players, are only going to have one or possibly 2 factions to play from.

In the short term, running the most open, simplest format possible is best. Once people have settled in and have a couple of different choices it's easier to start having the odd custom tourney with whacky conditions.

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I would be happy to attend a specific tournament that was all about the crushing though I wouldn't want to do it a lot in the current ruleset as it's restrictive for new players.

I'd quite like to see a no flying/jumping monsters tourney (though at the moment you'd have to restrict that to alphas probably)

edit - bit of re-ordering for clarity.

There is always the possibility for back room deals in any format. Under the current format both players in the final battle can agree to have a draw to guarantee they get 1st and 2nd. The agreed draw is the worst (and easiest to find) abuse of tournament rules in my opinion, thus the only one I have any plans to regulate against in the short term. The other factor in only looking at these abuses is that it you only punish those involved as it is not a situation where someone is trying to bring another player down for the benefit of a third player.

But with that said, I still believe that the bulk of tournaments you run should be run under the basic system with very minimal changes to the guidelines. In other systems I have felt that too often the bulk of the tournaments have been run at non-standard sizes or with innovative formats and you start to miss a good old fashioned standard game. However if you are playing the same old format week in, week out, it does get a bit boring and repetitive. If 1 in 3 tournaments are run using different criteria I would quite enjoy that, but once you start getting to be more than that you start to lose flavour of why these different tournaments are special.

Both the formats that are proposed here are fine and perfectly valid for the occasional tournament. The only mistake Ian has made here, which is why he has raised your hackles, is suggesting two tournaments that reward the same criteria, destroying monster forms. To this end I propose tournament format (4) Limited Units: Each unit can only be spawned once. Once it is destroyed it is removed from the table and can never be brought back.

If we're going to mix it up, I'd rather see crazy changes than (stlye) limitations.

2 monsters, no units ! Aquaphobia where you have to play on one of the water maps and monsters can't enter water, scenarios (kill 15 units the fastest, whatever)

After we're over our bunch of upcoming tournaments I'd love to do a team night.

I suspect when I chomp NY comes out a lot of the current 'issues' will balance themselves (such a terrasaurs getting a flying monster, martians getting ground units, etc).

I also wonder if in the short term a multi-list solution might be a good option, most players have both faction monsters and sometimes just a monster change might be enough (such as flicking from Ghorgadhra to Rozgor when you're facing an attrition enemy who can keep their distance)

I've had a good think and have decided that we will be going with the "standard" format for a full set of kits ie. from 1 to 6. After that, with any additional repeat kits (which are optional) I decide to run (which will be of my own bat), I reserve the right to use alternative formats. I think this is probably the best arrangement since it does not "buck" the current system and but still gives opportunity to be more adventurous with new formats.