In this ITC-dominated Warhammer 40K culture, it can be difficult to find non-competitive events. While tournaments have their place and are important to keeping the hobby going, they only cater to one slice of the community, a subject we discussed at length in an earlier blog.
Though narrative- and sportsmanship-based events are hard to come by, the ones that do occur eclipse any competitive format I’ve seen. Each year I regularly attend a regional event that equally awards all aspects of the hobby, the Ordo Fanticus Club Challenge (OFCC).
Challenge Accepted
The OFCC, hosted by the Ordo Fanaticus game club based out of Portland, OR, is the only major event in the region that does not place its primary emphasis on “Best General.” OFCC consistently caters to a wide range of individual gamers’ tastes while bringing the community together as a whole. In short, there’s something in it for everyone.
How It Works
Players register as four-member teams. Throughout the event, a team’s cumulative score each round determines which team they will play in subsequent rounds, similar to individual matchups in competitive events. It’s up to the captains of each team to determine player pairings. At the end of this two-day, five-round Warhammer fest awards are given out for the following categories: best generals, best painted, best sportsmanship, most achievements (in-game experiences like your warlord facing off with an opponent’s warlord), and best overall (the team’s cumulative score for all four categories).
In addition to their traditional team challenges, there are a number of smaller competitive events, including Infinity, Blood Bowl, 9th Age, and an ITC Warhammer 40K tournament.
But Wait, There’s More
Beyond the event itself, the OFCC continually cultivates a sense of community. Some of the best games I’ve played have been at the OFCC. I’ve made lots of friends and, in addition to pounding back a few shots during the day, we usually socialize with other teams at night.
The Future is War
I’ve participated in the OFCC for the last five years and it is the one Warhammer 40K event I look forward to above all others. Players come from all over the U.S. and Canada to participate. And though it doesn’t seem to get national recognition like the Bay Are Open (BAO) or the Las Vegas Open (LVO), it’s cultivated a dedicated player base.
With this year’s OFCC less than a week away, I can’t help but get a little excited. Our team has been fortunate enough to win best sportsmanship two years in a row and most years we’ve ranked in the top five overall. I’m looking forward to what’s in store this year, and I’ll be sure to share the details once it’s over.
To learn more about the Ordo Fanaticus, visit: ordofanaticus.com.
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