Hello, fellow Warhammer 40k fans! SaltyJohn from TFG Radio, and one of the Las Vegas Open Head Judges, here to bring you a wrap up of this week in the ITC.
With most of the competitive community still in a holding pattern waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop with Chapter Approved coming out on the 15th, I figured it was a good time to start looking at the Las Vegas Open and the end of the ITC season. To that end, I have begun to reach out to the top players in the ITC this season to get their feedback on this season and what they are anticipating with the LVO this year. This week I have responses from Don, the Mastodon, Hooson and Steven Pampreen for you. Before that though let’s talk a bit of shop about the Las Vegas Open as it gets closer and closer.
As a Head Judge for the 40k Championships at the Las Vegas Open the run-up to the event has begun to take on a busier tone. In the coming weeks, probably around the first week of January, you can expect another PSA video from the Head Judges like I produced last year. In there you’ll get information about the different expectations of players, army standards, news about terrain etc. There are going to be some changes this year that will be important for you to know if you plan to attend the LVO so look for those announcements in the nearing future. I was going to discuss Chapter Approved leaks and my thoughts on the new paradigm of Formations paid for using CP but I want to wait to read the actual book before discussing. Instead let’s look at the top 10 in the ITC right now, and then jump into my interviews with Don and Steven.
Andrew Gonyo is back up in the top 10 and Nick Nanavati is continuing his reign at the top. The top 10 are all within striking distance of winning the ITC overall if they attend, and perform well enough at, the Las Vegas Open! Don Hooson has graced the top 10 of the ITC a few times this season, most notably he won the Bay Area Open going 6-0 with a CP starved Death Guard list and keeping me from winning by a mere 16 points. I’m not bitter I went 6-0 and didn’t win. Promise. He’s an all-around good player and a wonderful opponent. Hopefully, he not only attends the LVO again this year, but he does well too!
Don “the Mastodon” Hooson Interview:
With the ITC Season coming to a close, can you give me a rundown on how you feel the ITC is going as a whole and where you would like to see it go in the future?
I believe the ITC is in a very healthy spot right now. I also believe that it will only become better as the rest of the codexes come out.
How do you feel overall about your ITC season? Clearly, you had some great successes, probably some setbacks too.
I feel pretty good about the ITC season so far. I was able to show that some units are still viable when previously they would have been laughed at. I would have liked to have been able to go to some more big events. My testing of odd lists has had as many failures as it has had successes. I am sure that next season I will do better.
What do you think was your greatest accomplishment this season? Greatest failure?
My greatest accomplishment was the BAO 2018 with the use of Blightlord terminators. It was interesting seeing people reexamining these units, and others like them, to break the mold and create new list ideas. I failed at trying to bring a harlequins army to a tournament that, I didn’t realize, had a bunch of “planet bowling ball” tables. It proved to be my worst performance of the year.
Are you planning to attend the Las Vegas Open?
Yes
If you’re planning to attend, how do you prepare for the largest Warhammer 40k tournament in the world? Is it different than preparing for a regular Major or GT? Explain.
It will require some adjustments with the Chapter Approved tweaks. I will, surely, have to reconstruct a list and practice with it so I can know what to expect. I don’t believe that it is any different than preparing for any other Major or GT. Though, I tend to take a relaxed approach to these events.
What do you like, or anticipate liking if you’ve never been, most about the Las Vegas Open?
I enjoy meeting new people and playing different types of armies. I have met quite a few friends at the LVO and look forward to making more.
Do you know what you will be running for the Las Vegas Open yet? If so, or if not, how do you think Chapter Approved is going to shake up your choices and the overall meta of the LVO?
I am, most likely, going to be using the Death Guard. I do believe that it is still a strong codex. I am interested to see how Chapter Approved will shake things up. The points updates will make an impact on the meta. That is certain.
Steven Pampreen Interview:
With the ITC Season coming to a close, can you give me a rundown on how you feel the ITC is going as a whole and where you would like to see it go in the future?
The ITC is in a fantastic spot. My only concern about the future is how dependent it is on Reece and Frankie. I would like to see them groom successors for when they’re tired of the business. I would also like to update the points algorithm to count the ELO of players at an event or players you played. Also balancing the points of placement. I think it can be a bit brutal that getting too many placements at majors gets you barely any more points than winning an RTT.
What do you think was your greatest accomplishment this season? Greatest failure?
Game wise, my best game was my Adepticon plague bearer and crawler army beating 7 dark talons by surrounding a culexus and standing on all the objectives for 3 turns. Results wise, I was thrilled to win renegade open with orks. I started playing orks when I was in 6th grade. That army was carried around in a utility box full of ork trucks and egg cartons of orks. A lot of things have changed but I still love my orks!
Are you planning to attend the Las Vegas Open?
Yes
If you’re planning to attend, how do you prepare for the largest Warhammer 40k tournament in the world? Is it different than preparing for a regular Major or GT? Explain.
Yes, normally I can pick out the names of people I think are good enough to beat me and ask around for what they’re playing and practice those match ups. At Renegade I had one practice game and it was against the army I played in the final. At ATC I had practiced against 3 of my opponent’s lists. I doubt I’ll be so fortunate for LVO. The general rule still applies. Pick some armies that are scary, practice against them. Hope you can beat anything weird and new that people come up with.
What do you like, or anticipate liking if you’ve never been, most about the Las Vegas Open?
I’m not a huge vegas guy so it will likely be very similar to a normal major. Play some game and hang out.
Do you know what you will be running for the Las Vegas Open yet? If so, or if not, how do you think Chapter Approved is going to shake up your choices and the overall meta of the LVO?
Definitely running Orks of some kind. I think chapter approved will definitely shake things up. With that being said, I was definitely given a rude awakening playing at Socal open to how different the game is with enclosed boxes all over the board. I think terrain will be the biggest meta shift for me and other non-west coast folks.
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