Day One Report
Yesterday, heroes from all-over-the-planet (but mainly, France) once again gathered for the much-anticipated Iron Dream Tournament 4, Ghosts of Negromundheim – the greatest WarEngine tournament in the world.
For those unfamiliar with WarEngine, it is the generic set of rules (by Dark Tortoise Productions) that gave birth to GWAR – Rumble in Antarctica and the 2nd edition of ShockForce. These universal rules feature an alternate activation system and opposed dice rolls for combat resolution, and are adaptable to any genre and period. Our group of friends chose them a few years ago to adapt for our favourite armies, to create new armies, and to pit them against each other during the few days of our annual game-fest: the Iron Dream Tournament, a tongue-in-cheek competition that is now open to any miniature enthusiast who wishes to join.
This year, once again, you could feel the heavy pressure weighing on the shoulders of the elite competitors during the opening ceremony at a café in Versailles, which was the occasion for a first round of observation (and a few rounds of beer).
- NBFGH88 - the renowned and rightly feared doctor in the ancient art of war, who won the last two tournaments, was here once again, ready to defend his title with an impressively tooled Redneck force, and a proud NeoSoviet clone-trooper army converted from East Riding Miniatures slicks.
- Chrono Hal, his nemesis, had brought his own subtle sense of strategy... as well as an army of Squats, one of NeoSoviet Politburo, and a small band of Obelisk Miniatures Skaviet spies and scouts (recruited amongst the bravest peasants-workers-soldiers in the People's Democratic Revolutionary Guard).
- SebVoinot - AKA "the Cheesemeister", AKA "the FireBird of Nanto" - showed his determination to the crowd by ordering a third round "...because the weather was dry." A determination which, he hoped, he would transmit to his Olley's Armies Scrunt troops - without the side-effects...
- It seemed obvious that JerBoud (who missed last year's tourney) was planning a stunning return to the competition from the back of his armchair. Everyone gasped in awe when he announced, "I've brought a Zookoo army."
- As for Slereah, he was faithful to his ascetic tradition (which, it is said, he inherited from Hindi-Tibetan ancestors) and observed every move by his opponents, certainly to see what flaws in their plans his mob of flower-power hippies could exploit.
- Finally, Matthieu's kung-fu impressed the Iron Dream Tournament committee, who were not used to beholding such mastery in a new challenger.
The tension was further heightened in the morning, when the competitors met at Le Mesnil Saint Denis' ancient dojo and exposed the mighty forces that would compete for the domination of the Negromnium mine - and the fate of Negromundheim...