How Am I Preparing For A Tournament Using GW Terrain Layouts

I’ll be attending a Teams Event in April and, as my prep time is limited, I wanted to take the opportunity to show you how I am using the Terrain Audit Framework to prepare as this will be my first time playing on this format!

Step 1: Identify Line-of-Sight Blockers

I’ve prepared a summary of how I’ve analysed the terrain. Shout out to rapidingress.com for building a really useful time saving tool!

So, as per 10^th edition rules, all Ruins are LOS blocking unless you are on the terrain “footprint” then it’s true line of sight (you can see it, you can shoot it). There’s a few walls on each of the bigger footprints that you can physically hide models behind.  

Step 2: Map Safe Staging Zones & Step 3: Rank the Objectives

Due to a saving error I have combined points 2&3 into one image. You can see below what staging zones I’ve identified and whether or not I have deemed them Safe, Semi-Safe or Fake. How have I come to each classification? Like this:

Safe Staging: completely behind LOS blocking terrain so safe from opponent shooting

Semi-Safe: on a terrain footprint but behind a wall. Infantry and small bases can hide, unlikely to be safe for vehicles and monsters

Fake: Easy for opponent to step on to the footprint and see my units, also very close to the opponents deployment zone so not safe from being charged!

I’ve also noted the objectives based on the Audit Framework.

Objective 1 is my Homefield and needs to have sufficiently durable units on and screening it. Objective 2 (top left) is my Expansion objective because it is the closest objective to my deployment zone and, due to the terrain placements, gives me space to hide models whilst being within range of the objective markers.

Objective 3 (middle) is High Risk. There is no safe way to stand on the objective and not be seen / shot. You can use this objective to start a trading game with your opponent as being on this objective will force your opponent to do something or risk you getting extra primary.

Objective 4 is Contestable AND Late Game Flip. This is the objective I should be aiming to contest for 5-point swings and flipping in the late game to deny primary to my opponent.

Step 4: Identify Firing Lanes

What is a firing lane? A firing lane is a controlled area where a model can draw line of sight over a medium-to-long distance.  I’ve drawn them out in the red arrows below.

You’ll also note I’ve identified staging points for the firing lanes. If you can use a firing lane, then so can your opponent and standing in one is a great way to lose a unit. You want to get your shooting units to these staging areas, so they are ready to move out when a suitable target appears.

The area I’ve labelled “Strat Reserve?” is because if I am able to use Deep Strike or Strategic Reserves to get a unit in that area, I can attack not just my opponent’s objective, but also their staging area next to objective 3.

Step 5: Define Your Turn 4 Plan (Before Turn 1)

The detail of this will be the subject of the next article. For now, I haven’t decided what army I’m going to run but I can use this analysis to identify things I need to consider before finalising my army and list composition.

1. There are firing lanes that make attacking the middle objective suicidal and attacking my expansion challenging
2. The Semi-Safe staging points have some space to hold the objective, but not a lot. Meaning I will need some units with good OC to hold that ground, the ability to sticky the objective or reactive move more models
3. Both my opponent and I have some great staging points close to each other’s deployment zones. Some fast melee units could be helpful here to reduce the level of safety for my opponent.

Part 2 – Army and List Building coming soon!