Matched Play

Matched Play is a little different from Open Play and Narrative Play, focusing more on introducing balance to battles. It is ideal for those who wish to play in a competitive spirit, and is also more useful for those who wish to play against opponents they do not regularly play, ensuring a more-or-less fair fight. This makes it ideal for leagues and tournaments, but also for battles fought at gaming clubs and pick-up games in local gaming stores.

A battle fought using the Matched Play rules pits two players against each other, each taking command of a battlegroup that is selected so that its Battle Rating falls within a certain range. Although one player might still have a higher Battle Rating than the other, the mission (and Stratagems available, as described later) should ensure a fair fight.

Styles of Matched Play

There are several ways to enjoy Matched Play. One-off battles are probably the most common form of Matched Play, where two players (who may or may not be regular opponents) come together to pitch their battlegroups against one another. Alternatively, a gaming group might organise a ladder campaign or long-form league, effectively recording the results of a number of one-off battles between a set number of players in order to determine an eventual winner. Gaming tournaments, in which players gather in one place to play a number of games in a single day or weekend, for example, are also ideally served by the Matched Play rules.

Battle Level	Battle Rating	Stratagem Points	Approximate Length	Underdog Margin
Skirmish	700-1,250	2	Under two hours	150
Confrontation	1,250-1,750	3	Around two hours	200
Epic Clash	1,750-2,500	4	Two to three hours	350

In this book, we will primarily cover one-off battles, but the Meeting Engagement rules found on the following pages could easily be used for any form of Matched Play. Later supplements will go into more detail on other ways to engage in Matched Play.