Grand Tournaments are one the most exciting aspects of the Games Workshop hobby. An entire weekend of non-stop gaming action awaits those who sign up for these events. It is understandable though if some people have questions/concerns about the Canadian Grand Tournament system. Fear not! J.B. Coulter the high and mighty master of Canadian GT's is here to help. If you have any questions regarding these weekends of wargaming bliss send them here. Want to know if your Imperial Guard Armoured company containing 14 Leman Russes is tournament legal? ask J.B.! Want to know if you can use your brand new Forge World Dragon in your High Elf list? ask J.B.!

Please, only send questions directly related to Canadian Grand Tournaments or the Canadian Grand Tournament System.

Q: Are there day pass tickets for those who do not want to compete but watch and buy bitz etc? If so, have costs?

A: There is no cost to people who wish to spectate and shop at the event store, all I ask is that if you are watching the tournament that you do not interfere in any games by making comments or standing in the way of the players and please never every touch someone's figures with out asking permission!

Q: Will the the magic lore updates (for Beasts, Heavens, and Life) from WD264 be used at the Calgary GT or will the unmodified lores from the Rulebook be used?

A: No they are trial rules so they wont be used at this time.

Q: I had a very big question to ask you guys before I sunk myself into more modeling. With all the changes in the IG codex and Forge World books, I wanted to know the following things....

1. Will you still be letting people use flyers in the GT?

A: Yes

2. Currently the only rules for the Valkyrie are for the Armoured Company, however It states that it was used for Esylian Drop Troops and Storm Troopers. My question is that can I use the Valkyries and Vulture gun ship with the current IG codex?

A: YES and I asked Warwick about this and here is the official answer for all Canadian GT's.

"Yes, missing the transport capacity for the Valkyrie was an ommission from the book. The capacity should be ten, and it is a transport option for Storm Troopers, Inquisition Storm Troopers, and any Drop Troop infantry squads."

"However you disembark from the Valkyrie just treat it like disembarking from any other vehicle (like a Chimera), all the various methods don't matter, the player can image it however he likes, but for the rules it is just disembarking. If the Valkyrie drops off troops it cannot fire in the same turn (as per the orbital lander rules). If it then enters VTOL mode and stays on the table it can fire in its players next turn. You're spotted an omission from the IA volume 1 - the orbital lander rules, which govern the Valkyrie dropping off troops. I shall be doing an errata sheet for the book which covers this, and some others points."

3. If not will you...

a. Let people use the Esylian Drop Troop list from the Chapter Approved 2003, with or without the Valk and Vulture?

A: No since you can use it with the new codex

b. Let me use it in the Daemonhunter codex since they use Stormtroopers and forgeworld makes models with Daemonhunter insignias.

A: Yes

Q: Just to clarify:  Will the Q&A be in effect for the 2004 Canadian circuit or just the remainder of 2003?

A: The Q&A is in effect immediatly, so yes it covers rules for Calgary.

Also:  Will the Canadian GT's follow the rest of the world and 1) raise the army point values? 2) Use the trial assault (and possibly vehicle) rules?

A: The rest of the world? well yes and no... yes we are following the U.K. example and using the "out of the box rules" there will be some variation in what Amries we allow (we tend to be more liberal in this than most) as for the points values being raised... havent you spent enough money yet? seriously though i think the points values are good the way they are, you get a decent sized army on the table yet you still have to make some hard choices knowing there are some very diverse armies out ther to play against plus the different terrain and senarios too. Hope that helps

Q: I am using an Imperial Guard Armoured Company, using the list in the Chapter Approved book. There have been a few changes in the rules for some of the tanks I am using, and I have a few questions about how to accommodate the new set.

1. The Hellhound has had many changes, including a substantial points cost increase. In the interests of my current army list, am I allowed to use the Hellhound rules found in the Armoured Company list, or should I use the new set? (My personal guess would be no, but 45 points is a big increase on such short notice)

A: You need to use the new I Codex rules for that, 45 points more yes but you can shoot 24" now! And don’t have armour 10 on the side plus no more automatic penetrating hits if you get glanced!

2. The Griffon has been removed from the Imperial Guard list altogether. Would I still be allowed to use the rules for the Griffon as presented in the Armoured Company list?

A: Yes

3. The just released Imperial Armour: Volume 1 has an army list for “Imperial Guard Armoured Battle Groups”. Does this replace the current Armoured Company list in the Chapter Approved book, even though the new book costs about 75$ American?

A: The rules we will use are from the Chapter Approved book, with the changes for the Hellhound found in the Imperial Guard Codex. There is a very important point here though, once the 2004 addition of Chapter Approved is released the Armoured Company reverts back to being a Trial Rule. All is not lost however because at that point starting with the Vancouver GT in January I will allow the Armoured Company to be fielded using the Imperial Armour List. It’s a large investment for the rules but the sort of folks who are going to field this army very likely have the book plus the rules are far better and well rounded.

Q: Hi. i have a rather pressign question regarding the upcoming GT. I have already bought my ticket, and am playing WFB. Now, I'm intent on bringing my Dark Elves, and the question regards that slippery revision that has been floating about on the web. It has been stated that it will be part of the 2004 Annual, but it is otherwise yet unpublished. I have been playtesting these rules for some months now, and have grown quiet attached to someone of the logical fixes contained within (for instance, Executioner heavy armour). My question is will the revision be permissable, or should I wait until it has been made official (next year)? It perfectly understandable that it not be allowed, but confirmation is always appreciated.

A: If what you looking for is in the 2004 Chronicles then it will be official as soon as it is released.

Q: Hi, I live in Vancouver BC, and I was wondering if I don't need to use the hotel over the weekend, can I get a discounted ticket? I mean it makes sense that I wouldn't have to pay for a hotel room when I live down the block!

A: The cost of the event doesn't cover a hotel room, it covers the cost of the venue, catering, shipping, table rentals, t shirts, and the GT program booklet, almost.

Q: I was just wondering whether or not you will be putting up a GT list with all the names of the people already signed up, on the website. 

Secondly, will we need to bring any special army counters/messenger models or will this information be included in our GT packages. Thanks

A: I am going to get the list posted asap. (In fact it's up now.) We are sending out the GT program to everyone that enters and it has all the information you need to make any counters needed.

Q: Thanks for the quick response, I just have one more question; though the tournament scenarios make an allowance for "always attacker" special rules, is an Armoured Company always the attacker, since it's "always attacker" is somewhat conditional, as some missions are excepted from that rule?

Oh, right, before I forget; what is the address that I need to send my army list to?

A: The Armoured Company armies will have to go along with the rest and determine who is the attacker from the rules for the individual scenarios that are used at the tournament. So no they won't count as "always the attacker"

Army lists can be snail mailed to...
Games Workshop Events Department
2679 Bristol Circle, Unit 3
Oakville, ON.
L6H 6Z8

Or Emailed here.

Q: Just wondering what the odds are of getting a BFG mini-tourney on, say, the Friday night before?

The LA GT is running one of these, the cost was next to nothing, and I definitely would love to get in on something like that!

A: I am very interested in running some extra gaming/hobby events at all the GTs. A Friday night mini tourney to me sounds very doable but I wouldn’t charge anything for it. BFG would be easy to do but I would need some one to run it... If you or some one else out there are interested please contact me.

Q: Hi. Another question came to me when I got my GT packet. Previously, even earlier this year, there was an insert regarding hotel accommodations with the Radisson. This time, it seems there isn't. My question is will the rate that is included on your ad on the website, 109$ per night, extra 1-$ per person, still be available?

A: Yes I have the same deal as last year, the lack of an insert is my fault and I will fix that ASAP by having it on the GT Website (In fact here it is.) that you can print off and fax or e mail to the Radisson.

Q: I am preparing my army for the Calgary GT, and I have some modeling questions: I am a Sisters of Battle player, and both of my units of Seraphim (my list's jump pack troops) will be carrying Melta Bombs? Do I need to model Melta Bombs for each my 16 Seraphim? I have heard that, generally, one does not have to model grenades, but I wasn't sure if that extended to krak grenades and Melta Bombs. With the Seraphim, there is no chance of confusion, as all of them have Melta Bombs.

Secondly, I have some characters who will be carrying meltabombs, who are not Seraphim. Do their meltabombs have to be modeled on?

A: Melta bombs do not have to be modeled but it is always good and sporting to let your opponents know who has stuff like that as they are looking over your army list at the beginning of a game since it would very likely affect there tactics.

Thirdly, which assault rules will be used at the GT? In the Rules section, it does not specify, so I have been assuming that the rules in the main rule book apply. It is still possible, however, that the Trial Assault Rules from Chapter Approved may be used, and if that is the case, I wish to practice with those rules.

A: We are using the rule book assault rules. That being said if you and your opponents prefer to use the trial rule then go ahead, I won't loose any sleep over it, your not gaining an unfair advantage by using them so go for it. BUT you may not pester, bully or bribe your opponents into using them if they do not want to!

Q: Are mutable Tyranid Hives (custom Tyranid armies) allowed at the Canadian GTs?  A friend found this an interesting question because in the regular Tyranid army list the Warp Field (to get a 2+ armour save) is fairly expensive, yet in the mutable list he can simply mutate some of his units and give them the same 2+ armour save for a lot less.  I had also heard that they were not allowed in GT, and yet there is nothing that explicitly says no.

A: Yes you may use the "creating your own hive fleet" rules in all the Canadian GTs. I have played against many of these armies and find them interesting to play against but not "cheesy".

Q: Oh, another question.  Supposedly - according to White Dwarf (or at least how I interpreted it) - the fact that the Leman Russ Executioner and the Griffin are not in the new Imperial Guard Codex still does not preclude regular I.G. from fielding them.  Is this the case in the GT, or does that only apply to Armour Companies? 

If we can field them, is either the old Codex or the appropriate Chapter Approved book an adequate source for their rules?

A: The Tanks that are missing from the Imperial Guard Codex are still usable, you can get them from the first Chapter Approved book, or if you don't have it you may... and this is the only thing you can use it for now, use the old IG codex. But that is the only thing you can use it for now that the new one is out. This is no different than using any of the Forge World kits in an army, you simply use the entry from one of the Forge World books.

Q: Are the Goblin Ecology rules from the 2003 annual allowed? I have a fire kobold unit and am thinking of adding some hill goblins or troglagobs for the Calgary GT if I can bring them.

A: Yes they are allowed.

Q: Just a few questions regarding the Missions. 

Mission #1: Can the markers be picked up and moved by the controlling unit or are they stationary?

A: You may move a counter as long as the unit moving it a) has hand or other equivalent grasping appendages and b) the unit is not broken.

Mission #4: Would a Saim-Hann army be able to recycle its Jet Bikes and Vypers or only "Troop" units?

A: The rule applies to troop choices only so if as in your case your jet bikes are chosen as troops then yes you may bring them back.

Mission #6: A) If a transport inspects a marker and it's a trap, do all passengers of the transport suffer the S5 hit or does the vehicle suffer the hit? B) Can a Troop /Elite or HQ unit pick up the objective then embark on to a transport with it?

A: Only the vehicle takes the hit just like a normal shooting attack, the only time the passengers are affected is if the vehicle is destroyed. Models may take the marker in to a transport as long as there is room ( the objective takes the up the same space as a figure. That means if you try to squeeze a 10 man space marine squad into a rhino along with the objective they will not fit! you will have to get one of them killed off first:)

Q: One more reguarding Infiltrators. Can units deploy as infiltrators if they are using a transport? i.e.: Scorpions with Stealth & a Wave Serpent.

A: Regarding infiltrating with a transport I think that it is fairly obvious in the rules that you may not!

Q: I am wondering how many points are required to play in the tournament, as I cannot find it in the website. Please clarify this for me. Thank you in advance.

A: 2000 for warhammer and 1700 for 40K.

Q: As special characters are normally allowed I just wanted to check that special characters who alter your selection choices are still ok. For example Sehenesmet (WD 281, page 32) radically alters how a tomb king army may be chosen. Would this be ok or is this special character a no-no?

A: ummmm.... The rules for Sehenesmet are Trial Rules, therefore this fellow is definably a No-No

Q: What are the rules about Hero's of the Imperium, that can be found in the basic rulebook pg 260 and 261?  I know there is a codex out for Assassins but what about Inquisitors, Missionarys and such?  Specifically I have a Valhallan army with a Russian theme and each unit has a Preacher, their Political Officer, a Mordian Sgt modified with a storm bolter. Don't run or we will shoot your sister kind of thing. 18 Preachers, with a storm bolter painfully modified onto each.  A lot of work not to mention money.  Is this now a legal Tournament army?

A: Wow, were do I start with this one... um... no the Heroes of the Imperium list, in fact all the army lists in the rule book have been out of date for a long time now. So what you need to do now is get a copy of the new Imperial Guard Codex and use it to organize your army, (nice theme by the way). You can have up to 5 Priests (Preachers) as advisors, each must be attached to a different squad. Inquisitors can be selected using Codex Daemon Hunters and make fine allies to an Imperial Guard army I look forward to seeing your Valhallans in Calgary.

Q: Will the GT venue be open for pick up games Friday night?, if yes what time?

A: We set up on Friday afternoon, but typically yes we can open it up for pick up games at say... 6pm? if set up goes well. We are having a BFG tournament that evening too if your interested. We will likely have a Friday night early bird registration set up. 

Q: I had a question about bringing the same army to a different GT.  I was fortunate enough to win Best General in the Vancouver 2003 GT, and I was wondering if I brought the same or similar army to Calgary would I be eligible for a prize.  My thoughts behind bringing my Dwarfs again were to be on a GT "tour" with them, and bringing a new army for 2004.

A: There are no restrictions on using the same army over and over again, I mean really, why would I penalize someone for playing their favourite army all the time? If you have found the "magic formula" for winning with a certain army well good on you. that shouldn't mean you can't win with it any more. Besides it's only a matter of time before someone figures out how to beat you:)

Q: At a recent Rogue Trader tournament in our area, a player was fielding 'Chaos Cultists' in his Chaos Undivided army.  They weren't the 'Traitors' or even 'Mutants' from the Lost and the Damned in the Eye of Terror Codex, but were Chaos Cultists, presumably from the (very) old White Dwarf article.  What I'm wondering is if those are still legal or not?  I thought they would be out of date because of both a new Chaos Marine Codex (which the cultists were supposed to compliment) and the Lost and the Damned army list seeming to take up the full role of the cultists.  If they are still legal, would you be able to point me at the WD issue they are in?

A: I believe the only way to field Cultists at the moment is as part of an Alpha Legion army from the Chaos Codex, otherwise you can field a Traitors army from the Lost and the Damned list.

Q: One thing, if a player could not send in his army list but has paid, what would be done with him at the GT.

A: If people do not get there army lists in I make them stand in a corner while I look there army list over. cheers.

Q: Thank you for the replies. I take it then, from your answer to question 3, that Lictors deploying with "Secret Deployment" would do so after both objectives are placed and side has been determined, but prior to army placement. Is this correct?

A: Yes

Q: Does a tank that is part of the Attacking force in Mission 1 have to = worry about running out of ammo when firing ordinance weapons?

A: Yes tanks with ordinance weapons run out of ammo if they scatter a shot 6"

Q: Just to clarify a question already asked: You can move objectives in = both Mission 1 and Mission 6. Correct?

A: Both missions allow models to move objectives if they have "hands" of a similar grasping appendage. But any "model" may inspect or claim an objective.

Q: Are objectives placed in Mission 1 and 6 after picking sides but prior = to army placement?

A: Always place objectives first, before picking sides and army placement, its more exciting that way.

Q: Hey JB while reading the UCCC posting on the website I found I had a couple of questions for you so here goes.

1. Do we have to bring the Codex with us? (I know it would help but I don't own all of them and I'm thinking of trying a different race just for fun in this event)

2. Can we use an IC model as the base to build or character on> for an example if I was going to use an Orc Warboss in mega armour could I start from Ghazghkull Thraka model?

3. I'm not quite getting the IG thing...does that mean I could have a IG Looie with 4 bodyguards or just a Commissar/officer/psyker or any of them with a bodyguard? Thanks for answering these questions JB...I know you'll probably be besieged with them.

A: It would be a good idea to have the rules for what ever character you want to make available since you will need to write out his/her stats on an entry form, plus you'll need to know the points cost for them too.

You get to build from what is in front of you, you wont likely see Grazghkull amongst the piles of plastic sprues and sprinklings of metal bitz but you can still make a mega armoured ork.

Ok the deal with the Imperial Guard is...you can make a character who is either a Commissar, a Psyker, a priest, all at the normal points cost, you just ignore the rule that would make you attack them to a unit. The officers are more complicated since the points cost for them includes the 4 Guardsmen that accompany them. So.. Simply subtract the cost of those 4 guys from the cost of the officer and you field him on his/her own.

Q: HI there, My name is Chris Van Tighem and I live in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. You are probably aware that GW games are very popular here and we have some of the best Warhammer Generals in Canada (at least they tell me they are some of the best). What you might not be aware of is that we also have a huge Mordheim community as well. Currently our league boasts 25 registrants who play at least one warband each, with several playing multiple warbands. On any given night there are at least eight players throwing down at our local game store, who also is our league sponsor (www.dragonsdengames.com)

I understand that in the UK they have Mordheim as one of their GT events and I was wondering what the possibilities were to have a Mordheim aspect to the next GT in Calgary (2004, not 2003)? Who would I contact to pose this question to? If it was possible I would even volunteer to assist in whatever capacity was needed. Good luck with your upcoming GT in Calgary.

A: That sounds like a very interesting idea! There are some big plans afoot for the Canadian GTs in 2004 (keep your eyes on the web and White Dwarf in late December for the details) This is the sort of thing I am keeping an eye out for Chris so keep in touch cause I will take you up on your offer to run it!

Q: For the Warhammer Fantasy Scenario "Gain Ground", it states in the victory conditions box, that in order to claim an objective, you must have a model or unit with a "unit size" of 10+. Since you can not have a "Model" with a unit size of 10, is this supposed to read unit strength?, or are 10 actual models required.

A:  Yes, it should read "Unit strength not size. sorry. 

Q: As you stated eariler, the Dark Elf revision will be official as soon as it is released. WD286 comes out about 6 days before the GT, with the Dark Elf Revision in it, is it still legal to use the revision so close to the GT?

A: Oh... Man would I like to be able to do that! I really like the Dark Elves my self and am very happy to see the rules revisions, there going to be a very nasty army. But... the problem is this revision would force Dark Elf players to totally revamp their armies at the last minute before the GT and that would be madness. There fore it will not be in effect until the Vancouver GT in January. 

Q: Is the Emissary subject to the Tyranid "Shoot the Big Ones" rule?

A: No. look at his stats. He certainly isn't a "big one"

Q: A simple question about entering the UCCC, will i need a GT Calgary ticket to enter? Or will its be open to whoever gets there first?

A:  The U.C.C.C. is open to all, it's a first come first registered event and runs at the same time as the GT (so it would be impossible to play if you were competing in the GT.