SDS Tournament Rules translated

I just finished the translation of the Tournament Rules for Song of Drums & Shakos.
The current version (3.0) comes from 2 years of gaming here in Italy and over 200 games played.
A word of warning: the game plays differently in Tournament due to these rules.
Every player needs 2 squads, one from the French pool and one from the Allied pool. Only historically consistent clashes are allowed. Squad composition has some constraints, originating from few killer squads that appeared during the 2010 Italian National Championship.
The rules are based on 4 rounds swiss style tourneys and the pairing off is regulated so that you always play against a historical enemy.
Organizers are kindly requested to contact me if they need some support.
The rules will be edited shortly and then will be available in some form (pdf download from the Gamesha website?). I'll let you know...

Last 2011 SDS Tournament results

Last sunday the last SDS tournament for 2011 was held during the CON Magna con Phersu in Perugia, and here are the final standings:

1. Filippo Simoncini Firenze (BRAVO PIPPO!!)
2. Marco Gasbarri Arezzo
3. Alessandro Salini Arezzo
4. David Casagrande Arezzo
5. Max Salvagnini Firenze
6. Alessio Bozza Perugia
7. Stefano Alano Perugia
8. Roberto Bagna La Spezia
9. Claudio Bartolucci Viterbo
10. Sandro Mariani Roma

Being the last tourney, we have also the final standings of the National SDS Championship, which is as follows:
1. Marco Gasbarri points 51 SDS National Champion
2. Alessandro Salini points 40
3. Maurizio Cisotto points 28
... followed by about 20 other players.

My congratulations to Marco, who won the second title in a row and a special thanks to all SDS players who took part in the 6 Tournament held this year.
As already announced, I won't personally organize tournament anymore (maybe just one in my hometown) leaving the organization to individual clubs. If your club is interested, please send me a request and a proposed date/period and I will answer immediately.
The 2012 calendar should be ready for end of january 2012 at the latest, so your requests should come to my within this year.
Pics of the event will follow....

SDS Tournament Update

Everything is ready for the last 2011 Tournament of SDS in Perugia.
The tourney will crown the Italian Champion for the current year: the competition is between Marco Gasbarri (42 points) and Alessandro Salini (34 points) both from Arezzo, as the third in line is too many points behind (Maurizio Cisotto, 28 points).
Alessandro will have - however - a hard nut to crack: he should win (12 points) and hope that Marco won't get at least 4 points...
There is still place for some other participants, just drop me an e-mail if you want to be in (sergio.laliscia@yahoo.com as usual).

During the MAGNA CON PHERSU convention I will also demo Drums & Shakos Large Battle, my new, Divisional level game whose premiere was in Lucca Games 2 weeks ago.

All gamers in Central Italy should not miss the opportunity to visit this convention which is growing year after year in Perugia. The location is also new: this year we'll be hosted by the "Città della Domenica" which was the first amusement park in Italy as far as I know (I remember going there with my family when I was a child - many, many years ago :).

Hope to see you all there!

2011 last SDS Tournament in Perugia

The Tournament will take place on sunday november 20th within the CON Magna con Phersu in Perugia. As usual, it will be on four rounds swiss style, with ruleset 3.0 and we'll start at 9.30 AM.
The "double 6" rule and the Territory Control rules will be in effect.
Participation fee 7 euro as usual.
For any information please contact me by e-mail (sergio.laliscia@yahoo.com)

Arezzo Tournament results

Here are the results of yesterday's Tournament in Arezzo.
This was the first official SDS Tournament with the new (3.0) rules, already tested during the Tuscany Open Day some time ago. Even if I was not there, Marco said there were no problems and they finished as usual around 5.30 PM.
1° Salini Alessandro 2081 pts
2° Gasbarri Marco 2046 pts
3° Tognozzi Andrea 907 pts
4° Frosini Simone 871 pts
5° Bartolucci Carlo 710 pts
6° Bagna Roberto 536 pts
7° Simoncini Filippo 522 pts
8° Gasbarri Giovanni 227 pts

Next (and last) 2011 tourney in Perugia during the Convention MAGNA CON PHERSU next november 20th.
For the title of Italian Champion, the struggle is now restricted to Marco Gasbarri (2010 Winner) and Alessandro Salini from the same Club (Compagnia della Chimera from Arezzo).

SDS Open Day in Tuscany

A very nice initiative of the Club "Falchi del Mugello" was to organize an Open Day (SDS Tournament not valid for the Italian or FIW Championship) for Tuscany players only. A sort of unofficial Regional Championship to be played in one day (4 rounds as usual). Andrea Tognozzi kindly offered his house garden to host the games AND a Barbecue break for lunch :))
Participants to the Open Day from left: Leo, Andrea, Ale, Max, Giovanni, Marco, Filippo (with his son I guess) and Roberto. Giovanni is Marco's son and gained the second position (after his father) in the tourney: really a good start!
And finally, Andrea's father preparing lunch: I suspect this was the REAL reason for the meeting :) more pics on Filippo and WASP blogs (see links)
Great job guys!!!!

2nd SDS Tournament in Spilamberto, MO

Yesterday, 4th SDS 2011 tournament in Spilamberto (Modena). As last year, the guys organizing "Dadi & Sudore" invited us to share their fantastic (and air-conditioned) gaming space. Lots of people, many tournaments, lots of games. We had 10 participants for SDS from Arezzo, Firenze, La Spezia and Pavia. We started at 10 AM and everything was over at 4.30 PM.
Above a picture of our tables (which I spray-painted on friday :).
4th round: the final match between Marco Gasbarri (right) and Maurizio Cisotto (left). This was the game that gave the final Victory to Marco, after a couple of Tourneys dominated by Maurizio and the guys from Pavia.
Third place to Filippo Simoncini from Firenze (above), who succeeded in drawing both games against Maurizio and Marco.

Above, me and Alessandro Salini (second place) from Arezzo. Alessandro is now 4th in the National Championship after Marco, Maurizio and Antonio Pietra (5th yesterday).

And finally (above) Marco Gasbarri, winner of the Tournament and leading the National Championship with 33 points followed by Maurizio Cisotto with 28.
We had a good time, and during the lunch break discussed all together the new version of the Tournament Rules (3.0). We agreed to try them at the next Tournament in Arezzo (probably early september, date to be decided soon).

SDS Tournament in Spilamberto, MO

Sunday june 19th the fourth SDS tourney of 2011 will take place in Spilamberto (Modena) within the CON "Dadi e Sudore".
All interested players are kindly requested to enlist sending me an e-mail.
As usual, 4 round swiss style, starting time 0930, estimated end at 1730. The Tourney is also valid for the Italian FIW League.
Registration fee 7 euro, prizes for the 3 best classified.
Tournament Rules version 2.2.4

Join us in Spilamberto!

SDS Tournament Rules

Some of you are maybe wondering why the translation of the Tournament rules is not out yet.
The reason is that - since a couple of months - I am completely rewriting the squad composition and terrain making rules.
After 2 years and many (Official and Unofficial) tournaments, I realized that the "choose whatever you want within the 400 points" principle is wrong.
Wrong on the historical point of view, wrong because allows too many tricks that kill the game, wrong because the last games I witnessed looked boring.
When I designed SDS I envisaged a game full of movement, of coup de theatre, of heroic actions ("my Officer draws his sword and attacks your Grenadiers!!"). Competitive gaming is much different - and I am not blaming anyone, to be clear.

Therefore, with the help of many proficient SDS players, I started to collect opinions, ideas and proposals: and the results are now at hand.
Please bear in mind that any modification I make on the Tournament Rules should NOT heavily affect the normal Rules, as we don't want to have 2 different sets out.

As a general anticipation, the new Tournament rules ask you to choose in advance which type of squad you want to build (Line, Light or Cavalry) and 250 of your 400 points must be of that type. The other 150 point can be chosen among the SPECIAL selections, which include Heavy Cavalry, Grenadiers/Guards and the like.
The terrain generation rules will reflect your basic choice (if you have a Light squad you'll want many woods on the table... :) and will give you (and your opponent) options.
Finally (drums beating....) when your soldiers are fired upon, you'll always add 2 to your die roll - no matter what your C is. This is the only real change to the pick-up games rules, but for competitive play I decided to listen to the many voices of players telling me that "a bullet is always a bullet, no matter what head it hits"...

The die is cast.

Arezzo Tournament Postponed

Importante!
Il Torneo di SDS di Arezzo (domenica 22 maggio) è stato posposto a data da destinarsi dopo l'Estate. Insieme agli organizzatori, stiamo cercando una data adatta nei mesi di settembre/ottobre.
Vi terremo informati sia attraverso e-mail sia tramite questo blog.

Important!
The SDS Tournament in Arezzo (sunday, may 22nd) has been posponed to next Autumn.
We'll keep you posted via e-mail and this blog.

Pics from Milan Tournament (March 20th)

Thanks to the friends of X Legio Gemina (organizers of the Tournament) I can show you some pics. They are all close up on the miniatures, so we can appreciate the painting quality. Above, three French Voltigeurs firing from behind a wall.
Some French Light Infantry in a sort of column, about to turn around the corner of a building.
Not 100% sure about the nationality of those guys above..... suggestions? (Voltigeurs of the Polish Vistula Legion?).
A French Line Infantry Officer ordering the Drummer to beat the "Pas de charge"..
A clash between Russian Pavlov and Grenadiers against..... Italian Light Infantry (or Provisional Croatians?).
And finally a Group of Austrian Grenadiers. Thank you for sharing X Legio!

PLAY2011: SDS tournament results

While collecting all the pics we made, here are the results of the SDS Tourney held on saturday:

1. Maurizio CISOTTO
2. Marco GASBARRI
3. Antonio PIETRA
4. Alessandro SALINI
5. Max SALVAGNINI
6. Massimo GAFFURI
7. Andrea TOGNOZZI
8. Filippo SIMONCINI
9. Carlo BANDINI
10. Sandro MARIANI
11. Roberto BAGNA
12. JOLLY player

With these results, Maurizio Cisotto from Pavia becomes the new Leader of the Italian SDS Championship (24 points), with Antonio Pietra following (22) and Marco Gasbarri third (21).
Next tournament will be in Arezzo, on May 22nd...

Last call for Wargames Olympics Tourney in Modena

The 3rd SDS Tournament will take place next saturday (march 26th) in Modena, within the Convention PLAY2011. I invite all players who are still in doubt to take a decision and let me know immediately, as tables are running out...

Il terzo Torneo di SDS si svolgerà a Modena durante la Fiera PLAY2011 il prossimo sabato 26 marzo. Invito tutti i giocatori che ancora non l'avessero fatto a comunicarmi la loro partecipazione immediatamente, dato che i posti sono limitati...

Milan Tournament Results

Here are the final standings of the Tournament held yesterday in Milan, and organized by X Legio Gemina (thank you guys!). In the list you have Name, primary Army, points and matches won...

1. Antonio Pietra Russians points 1714 (3 won)
2. Maurizio Cisotto Austrians points 1217 (2 won)
3. Cristian Parmigiani French points 1193 (2 won)
4. Massimo Gaffuri Russians points 973 (1 won)
5. Roberto Berto French points 953 (1 won)
6. Fabrizio Tasca French points 918 (1 won )
7. Antonio Ciocca Russians points 874 (1 won)
8. Stefano Breviglieri British points 682 (1 won)

Antonio Pietra is the leader of the National SDS Championship after 2 Tourneys.
Congrats Antonio!

Official date for Arezzo Tournament

This year's SDS Tournament in Arezzo will take place as last year in Fumettopoli shop on may 22nd, 2011.
Marco and Alessandro are organizing the tourney, whose theme will be:
"1814: la Patrie en Danger"
i.e. only squads from France, Austria, Russia and Prussia will be allowed.
More information soon...

New dates for Tournaments in Italy

Please take a look at the side column, as there are a couple of new dates/periods for the Tourneys of Arezzo and Spilamberto.

Pics from Carpi Tournament

As promised, here are some pics from sunday's Tournament in Carpi. It was held within the CON GiocaCarpi and above you can see a view of the hall from our table.
First round of the Tourney: Antonio from Pavia (left) and Andrea from Firenze (right) in the early stages of their battle.
Those two strange-looking guys are Roberto from La Spezia (left, you have seen many of his painting works in this blog) and Alessandro from Arezzo.
Fourth round: Roberto (left) and Maurizio from Pavia (Maurizio is the European DBA Champion) immediately after deploying their troops.
Prize time: 3rd classified Max Salvagnini from Firenze. (the "red" guy with the microphone is me).
2nd: Alessandro Salini from Arezzo (the 2 guys behind the glass are looking at us like we were Aliens...)
The WAU: (Winner As Usual) Marco Gasbarri from Arezzo.
2010 SDS Italian and FIW Champion, Marco started this new year with another victory. We are thinking to give him some money NOT to take part, or maybe a 2000 points handicap.....
Behind me the Ganesha Table with (extreme right) a pile of freshly printed copies of 61-65 in italian ;-)

Carpi Tournament Results

It was quite a Tour de Force yesterday for the Tournament in Carpi: wake up at 5:00 AM, 4 hours drive in the fog and we arrived in Carpi just in time. After the competition, back in the car for another 4 hours drive and home at 9:00 PM.
The Tournament was hosted by the CON "Gioca Carpi" and there were at least 3 other competitions ongoing (WH40K, Blood Bowl, Schutzengruppe). We had just 10 players this time, but considering the season - and the weather - that was ok I guess. Tourney started a bit late but we were able to close it on time (as usual at 5.00 PM).

The results just confirmed what happened in 2010: Arezzo caput mundi with first and second place, and 2010 SDS Italian Champion Marco Gasbarri won again (his score is now almost incredible: 19 W and 1 L), followed by Alessandro Salini (also from Arezzo) and Max Salvagnini (from Firenze). More about this (with pics) soon....

Last call for Tournament in Carpi (sunday)

The first 2011 SDS Tourney will take place next sunday in Carpi (Modena), within the CON Gioca Carpi. All players interested in taking part should send me an e-mail to me: we still have some places left. As for last year, the formula will be the usual 4 rounds swiss style, and there will be prizes for the winner, second and third classified. Participation fee is 7 euro.
We'll play with Tournament Rules version 2.3.3, which seem to be the one I'll keep as official from now on (with the exception of minor details). Tournament will start at 10:00 and everything should be over around 5:00 PM, as usual.
SDS Tournaments are valid for the FIW (Italian Wargames Federation) Championship, and we are very proud that last year's SDS Champion (Marco Gasbarri) also won the Italian FIW title.

For info on the Convention
www.giocacarpi.com (italian language only, I fear...)

A new feature

I have added a new feature to the blog: an SDS scheduled Tournament list.
It is on the left sidebar, below the games' covers. I hope it will be useful for those players looking for a quick update (instead of searching through the blog for a date).