As you may or may not know, the Warhammer ETC community is preparing bids for the ETC 2013 venue. This year in Gorzow, FoW was just a side event to the ETC, but it was said that after the event the WHFB and 40k captains will vote on the permanent inclusion of FoW to the ETC. But this has not happened and it seems that the new venue for the ETC will be chosen without considering FoW. Also, it seems that the ETC is already almost too big, even without FoW. There are already around 60 Fantasy and 40k teams and the number is growing, adding FoW with 20 teams (but this number might also grow in the future) just doesn't seem good for either party in the long run.
I have discussed this with some Captains already, straight after the event, and we came to conclusion that ETC (in understanding of WHFB and WH40K) can simply not meet the standards we require. Poland, Germany, England - these are the countries in Europe with big enough FoW communities. Possibly also France and Spain, I'm not sure how big FoW is there, but here the list probably ends. As long as the ETC stays in those countries, then I see no problem for FoW. But if it moves to a smaller country like last year in Switzerland, then I don't really see a possibility for FoW. Let's face it, terrain-wise making a Fantasy tournament for 30 teams of 8 players is not really a problem. You've probably seen the Fantasy tables in Gorzow 6 pieces of semi-terrain per empty table. I'm sure even Slovenia could organize a Fantasy tournament of that size with that quality of tables and terrain. But FoW is a completely different beast.The cost of a fantasy table is around of 5-10 EUR whereas this of FoW is about 200 EUR which gave us this year a cost of just making tables amount to about 12.000 EUR (this is what we calculated and invested in tables-making ourselves). Not every community will want/be able to put up with such a cost for just terrain making. Fantasy parties struggle and quarrel (just read Fantasy forum) over 10-100 EUR let alone 12k. We simply play in another league which they are not even aware of.
Even if we (the FoW teams) get to vote on the ETC venue, it will still be 20 of us, and then 60 Fantasy and 40k teams and I think that the ETC will eventually move to a smaller country again and then we'll have a big problem for FoW.
Because of this I'm not really sure that being attached to the Fantasy/40k ETC is the best move for FoW in the long run. I'm afraid that in the end we'll always be the third wheel, because we're the smallest and newest system to the ETC. And I don't know if every future FoW ETC organiser will have his position strong enough in negotiations with the host orga and the chairmen as was the case this year. All this could lead to a poor tournament which I'm sure no one wants.
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Once we agree on this we may discuss/vote on any possible venues for ETC FoW 2013 with the countries that want to organize it.
Kysymys kuuluukin, onko turnaukselle eduksi olla osa ETC päätapahtumaa? Itse olen vähän sillä kannalla, että hyödyt ei ole kovinkaan suuret, mutta en tietty tiedä asiasta hirveän paljoa.
Toinen kerta lienee kriittisin jatkuvuuden takaamiseksi ja puolalaiset ehdottivatkin alustavasti seuraavaa:
Kertokaas mielipiteenne."I and my orga crew of the FoW ETC 2012 would like to propose that we organise the FoW ETC again in 2013. The venue in Gorzow is open to us, whether the ETC stays in Poland or not. We have the manpower, tables and terrain, so we are confident that we can provide you with a tournament of equal if not better quality than this year. Please, do not understand this as if we would like to organise this event for ever. This is not the case, believe me, I would be more than happy if the venue changes each year as I find this ETC tradition quite nice. Even in 2013, if there is another community that would like to make a proposal, I would be more than happy to go elsewhere and not bother with all the organisational stuff :). Nothing will be set in stone and we will of course continue with the practice where every team captain has a say on all matters. I just want the FoW ETC to be the best it can be and I think right now it's best that it goes it's own way.
Piotr aka zamli, FoW main Organizer at the ETC 2012 Gorzów Wlkp./POLAND"
