Hi All,
I would classify the LVO Narrative as one of the three major 40k narrative events in the US. I got the opportunity to interview the organizer last year and I am thrilled to get the chance to do so again this year. In many ways, these events are the gold standard and you can get a lot of great ideas for running your own campaigns through attending.
1. What is the story ahead of this year’s event? How is the event structured?
Our story began in a small corner of the Braxtorian subsector, a cluster of planets amidst a
smattering of asteroids. For untold millennia, these worlds enjoyed a largely untroubled existence,
possessing little strategic worth and only modest resources. This relative quiet might have continued on
indefinitely, had one man not accidentally unearthed the treasures of a long-dead xenos race.
That man was Helveticus Torque, infamous Rogue Trader. Torque immediately sought to capitalize on the treasures, seeing the xenos-artefacts as his chance to achieve unimaginable wealth and power. Wasting no time, he brokered deals with any who would listen, regardless of loyalties.
What became of Helveticus Torque? None can say. Some reports claim he ended up fleeing
across the stars as fast as his warship, “Lasting Integrity” would take him. Others say he was
assassinated by a precision orbital strike after the Inquisition discovered what he’d done. Still more
whisper that he discovered something deep within those alien catacombs that changed him forever.
Yet it is no matter. The debts of Helveticus Torque have come due. Forces from all across the
Segmentum and beyond are converging on the area. Some plan to conquer and fortify. Others look only
to claim their prize, no matter the costs. While some seek only to prey upon those foolishly drawn to
the system’s wealth. Rather than dividing the teams into traditional factions, Imperium vs Chaos vs Xenos vs Votann, the factions will be based around the ideologies each of the players feel their army brings to such an event. First up, we have the Crusaders. This faction is here to conquer and fortify the worlds of the
Braxtorian subsector. Hot on their heels are the Invaders, their goal to take what they want from these
words and crush any in their way. Next, the Raiders, these are the opportunistic types, looking to
achieve their goals through the disarray of their foes. Finally we have the Watchers, those looking to
maintain balance in the sub-sector, just as it was before Torque’s involvement, no matter the cost.
Once players have selected their faction, they’ll be paired into 2v2 matches to fight over territories on the sub-sector map. The added twist is that each team will assign players to specific missions and places. Would your force excel at grabbing much-needed supplies or perhaps demolishing enemy strong-points? This adds an extra layer of strategy and makes for some memorable team-ups.
2. Is this year’s story tied into last year’s event? How do you develop ideas for your events/
missions?
While last year was a grand ol’ time (shout out to Kyle Kurtz for an excellent event), this year we opted
to go for something in a different section of the universe. We did decide to continue the long-held
tradition of the 40k Narrative being a doubles event though, as we felt it helped players feel a part of
something larger than just what their individual army was doing. My ideas come from a variety of sources, be it official Games Workshop products, things I’ve liked or disliked from past events I’ve attended, and firsthand experience running events at my local FLGS in Santa Cruz, California.
3. Are you using standard crusade rules? Any changes or additions? Will you allow legends units?
In my experience a few games over the weekend wouldn’t allow for the proper depth that Crusade
benefits from. Many of the game’s factions have lofty Crusade agendas about ascending to daemonhood,
or taking over entire planets, and having over 100 players trying to accomplish those things on their
own over just the weekend didn’t sit right with me. This way, all the players are working to impact a
grand narrative that we’re making together. So while we are using Matched Play rules, the goal is still a narrative experience. Oh and yes, Legends units are allowed.
4. How are you structuring the event to account for the extra crusade bookkeeping while maximizing the number of games players will participate in?
This was the other reason we opted for a shared narrative experience, rather than 100+ individual ones.
When players come to LVO, I want them to be able to focus on relaxing and playing fun games against
cool armies and even cooler people. By eliminating player bookkeeping, we’re putting the focus back
on enjoying our all-too-short weekend together and not on worrying about accurate roster management.
5. How is designing a narrative event different than putting together a GT or RTT? What extra
considerations do you have to account for?
With a GT, you already know what the missions will be and the players do too. Chances are, they’ve
played the Nephilim missions dozens of times, if not a good deal more. With a narrative event, not only is there the need to provide missions that are fresh, engaging, and largely balanced, but they also need to tell a story. For a GT, we all know that standing on a particular circle of the board can win us the game, the packet tells us that. For the narrative, we have to not only know what the circle is (a valve control), why the circle matters (it lets you control the flow of burning promethium), and how it relates to the larger picture (taking this refinery grants valuable resources to your faction). We also have to consider that this is a doubles event, so the missions need to accommodate 2v2 as well.
6. What are you most excited about for this event?
While I am very excited to be running my first event of such magnitude, at LVO no less, my favorite
thing will always be getting to see all the amazing armies people bring from around the world. There is
some truly tremendous talent in this hobby of ours and every year I’m stunned by the creativity in both
modeling and list-building. For example, last year we had an army composed entirely of Khorne dogs,
how cool is that?
7. If someone is trying to decide between a competitive event at LVO and your narrative one what would your pitch to them be for why they should choose the narrative one?
Odds are, you’ve played the GT missions multiple times, but when else will you get to play missions
like these? Don’t have the time nor inclination to deal with the current competitive meta? Want a chance to dust of some of your models that you don’t normally get to, like your Chaplain Dreadnought or that gorgeous Bonesinger you painted up? Finally, you’ve read the lore, why not take a chance to craft some of your own, fighting side-by-side with some truly excellent hobbyists? What are you waiting for? Earn immortality amongst the hallowed halls of the LVO 40k Narrative!
Thanks again for the interview Darren. While I won’t be able to make it I am eager to hear how it turns out!
And remember, Frontline Gaming sells gaming products at a discount, every day in their webcart!
