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With the latest announcements by Games Workshop, the GBHL Management Committee thought it important to clarify their current stance on the future of the league, and the announcements about some of the range becoming 'Legacy' models. ~ Harry P (GBHL Marketing Coordinator):
"With the latest announcements about the new edition of our beloved Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game, the GBHL Committee would like to clarify a few situations going into the new edition and season.
Firstly, as we do not know when the new edition will be available - but assuming it will be around the release of War of the Rohirrim - we have made the decision to mandate the new edition ruleset from February. All Tournament Organisers (TOs) that have events in January have already been asked about their choice of edition and all bar one are choosing to adopt the new rules when they are released (the one that hasn’t is due to the rules pack being highly narrative based around the current edition rules). TOs that have released rules packs and sold tickets before the new edition, have the ability to change and tweak rules packs providing they give plenty of visible warning to the players. Major changes to rules packs should be reapproved through the TO’s Regional Representative.
Secondly, Legacies. As we have just had the announcement of what is being moved to Legacy and has caused much conversation within the community, we thought it right to announce the GBHL stance on the matter.
Currently, there's a lack of information on exactly what a Legacy profile will look like, but we have no plans to prevent the independent TOs of the GBHL doing what they feel is right. The GBHL has grown and prospered due to independent TOs and we want this to continue, but it must clearly be stated within rules packs regardless of the direction the TO has chosen to go in (e.g. “Legacy Profiles are allowed at this event” OR “Legacy Profiles are not allowed at this event”). As and when Games Workshop reveals more details on how Legacy profiles will work we will clarify our position.
With the new edition coming, the Committee is excited for what it could bring; we understand the nervousness around Legacy Profiles and event rules packs close to the start of the season. So we hope we have clarified the League stance, and welcome any questions and queries (contacts here).
Thanks,
GBHL Committee"
I'll bring you more detail about the way the league will adapt to changes in the game as and when GW releases more about the new edition. In the meantime, a few parish notices from the GBHL:
The GBHL Finale
First, as noted above, most events will be moving over to the new edition at the start of 2025 to ensure a fair competition and consistency (although the variety and spice of events will continue to make the GBHL the joy it is). But that means there's one big opportunity to give the current edition of the game a final hurrah.
So far there are at least 45 people due to attend this illustrious event run by the committee. You'll have a chance to play 7 games, including the most popular scenarios in each Matched Play Guide Pool (as per a vote of hundreds of gamers) and the most popular overall scenario. There'll also be the customary (but optional!) festive jolliness of fancy dress on the saturday and the opportunity to suit up in formal attire for the end of season awards which give out prizes to the league's winners as well as regional, painting, sportsmanship and Hobby Hero awards.
I'm also very excited about the number of people planning to come to a screening of War of the Rohirrim near the finale location on the Friday night before it (Event is on Sat/Sun 14/15 Dec) . It'll be a great opportunity to see the movie alongside a huge raft of MESBG fans. (Comment on the post on the event page if you're keen to join us).
The GBHL Masters
Every year the Great British Hobbit League hosts an event where some of the most successful gamers in the league duke it out to crown that year's GBHL Master. This year's winner Matthew Light-Barnett is almost certainly likely to return to the fray to defend his title against veteran winners like David Farmer, Ed Ball and others, but who else will be among the 16 best players attending? The top players of the league, Best Newcomer and Regional Winners get a ticket to the invitational event which takes place on March 29/30 2025. Keep your eyes peeled for an update soon, but in the meantime keep that weekend clear in your diary...
League Update
The most recent GBHL100 event to take place was The Battle of Unnumbered Tears in Sutton in Ashfield. An event which has run for 9 years with Owen Wright and Ed Ball at its helm. Sadly Owen will be bowing out from running it again next year - but I wanted to take the opportunity to thank him for his near-decade of work providing an outstanding event for the league.
The event itself saw Hayden Cartwright and John Partridge given hobby awards for their outstanding efforts at bringing their models in line with the quirky event pack. In the gaming though, congratulations must go to Jamie Wiggans who took home his first ever GBHL100 win with a Mordor army (see pic below). In Second was Jakub Krochmal, with an unusual army of of Gandalf, Boromir (with Ring and Narsil as per event special rules) and Earnur with around mid 40s model count. In third was Jake Rawson with Galadriel (wearing the Crown of Morgul), Rumil, Haldir and Orophin (armed with Narsil!) and 52 elves.
That result means the musical chairs at the top of the GBHL League Table continues. Jake Rawson's third place improves his lowest score enough to put him in pole position once again. It leaves last year's runner up (and Jake's arch nemesis) David Farmer in second place. But knocking at the door of the top positions is Jakub Krochmal, whose domination of major events has been unrelenting this season. His result at the Battle of Unnumbered Tears sneaks him ahead of Jake Rawson in the Central League but still fractionally behind in the main table
VERY little separates the top players, who've all won three GBHL100 events this year. It means the next few GBHL100s, (including Atomic Bertacon, The Scouring of Stirlingshire and The Emergency South West GBHL100) are more criticial than ever in shaping the league result. And who knows, it could all boil down to the GBHL Finale like it did last year...
With that, I bid you farewell for now...We'll talk more about the 2024 league soon, but in the meantime check out the calendar of events here, and check where you are in the placings for both gaming and Hobbying here!
CURRENT GBHL TOP FIVE:
Jake Rawson
David Farmer
Jakub Krochmal
Ed Ball
Ben Haslam
Central League Podium
Jakub Krochmal
Jake Rawson
Matthew Light-Barnett
Scotland, NI, ROI Podium
David Reid
Finlay Staniforth
Andrew Laurenson
North England Podium
Ben Haslam
Jack Thurlbeck
Alex Johnson
South West Podium
Dewi Evans
David Farmer
Jamie Wiggans
South East Podium
Thomas Seccombe
Miles Sage
James Goble
Best Newcomer
Miles Sage
Caleb Silvergleid
Mark O'Brien
Artisan of the Year
Alex Bourdas
John Partridge
Richard Croydon
Friend of Middle Earth
Douglas Moore
Ben Haslam
David Reid
Until Next time, may this hobby be a light for you when all other lights go out.
BURARUM - HARRY - GBHL Marketing CoOrdinator
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