Question on the Legality of maps

[MattPetersen]

OK, I just wanted to run this by some other people in case it may cause a problem.
The players and I at the store got tired of playing the same 2 x 3 maps each week (this is the size that can fit on the tables, we don't play the larger ones).
Yesterday, I took some extra 3 x 3 maps (Fantastic Four Headquarters, Hulk Battle Arena, and Legion headquarters: all Wizkids created and Wizkids legal) and cut them to be 2 x 3 maps and laminated them. I made sure to keep the starting areas on opposite sides correct.
Now, they are the same size as the other 2 x 3 maps with correct coloring, starting areas, etc.
Would anyone here make a fuss about these a a tournament?
Would anyone consider them to NOT be tournament legal?
I don't foresee any problems, but people can surprise you (especially when they are looking for something to blame over a loss in the game).

[normalview]

OK, I just wanted to run this by some other people in case it may cause a problem.
The players and I at the store got tired of playing the same 2 x 3 maps each week (this is the size that can fit on the tables, we don't play the larger ones).
Yesterday, I took some extra 3 x 3 maps (Fantastic Four Headquarters, Hulk Battle Arena, and Legion headquarters: all Wizkids created and Wizkids legal) and cut them to be 2 x 3 maps and laminated them. I made sure to keep the starting areas on opposite sides correct.
Now, they are the same size as the other 2 x 3 maps with correct coloring, starting areas, etc.
Would anyone here make a fuss about these a a tournament?
Would anyone consider them to NOT be tournament legal?
I don't foresee any problems, but people can surprise you (especially when they are looking for something to blame over a loss in the game).

Technically, they aren't the 2 x 3 maps. If someone wanted to make a fuss about that, they'd be within their right to do so.


That said, I too have narrow tables at my venue and when we've been required to use the 3 x 3 maps before (Coming of Galactus, Starro Harbor, WWH Arena, etc), I've simply folded them a little and made them as evenly matched as possible. None of my players ever had a problem with it.

[MattPetersen]

Technically, they aren't the 2 x 3 maps. If someone wanted to make a fuss about that, they'd be within their right to do so.


That said, I too have narrow tables at my venue and when we've been required to use the 3 x 3 maps before (Coming of Galactus, Starro Harbor, WWH Arena, etc), I've simply folded them a little and made them as evenly matched as possible. None of my players ever had a problem with it.

Yeah, its always the "technically" part that gets in the way of fun sometimes.
I'm still going use them at the store, I don't think I'll here anything from anyone, but I just wanted to see if I had any official sway in the matter if someone DID complain.

[lancelot]

Funny, I've done this a lot...for Horrorclix, cutting out and resizing Heroclix maps then slapping on blood spot stickers. Yep, good times!

[Maraud]

1.5.1 Maps
Any WizKids-created HeroClix map is considered official, though some are retired (see Section 2.4). Official 36- by 36-inch (3 x 3) maps can be used in any HeroClix event in which they are legal. Official 24- by 36-inch (2 x 3) maps can be used in HeroClix events in which they are legal when only two players are playing on that map. Official maps that are not of these sizes can’t be used in sanctioned tournaments, but within a single tournament both 3 x 3 and 2 x 3 maps are permitted. In cases of limited play space, at the judge’s discretion official maps can be folded or otherwise sized to fit available playing surfaces. If this is done, it must be done uniformly for all players such that all resultant maps must be the same size. Certain events (as in Prerelease tournaments or event series) require the use of a specific map. These requirements will be posted in advance of any event.

From the HeroClicTournRules PDF

[MattPetersen]

1.5.1 Maps
Any WizKids-created HeroClix map is considered official, though some are retired (see Section 2.4). Official 36- by 36-inch (3 x 3) maps can be used in any HeroClix event in which they are legal. Official 24- by 36-inch (2 x 3) maps can be used in HeroClix events in which they are legal when only two players are playing on that map. Official maps that are not of these sizes can’t be used in sanctioned tournaments, but within a single tournament both 3 x 3 and 2 x 3 maps are permitted. In cases of limited play space, at the judge’s discretion official maps can be folded or otherwise sized to fit available playing surfaces. If this is done, it must be done uniformly for all players such that all resultant maps must be the same size. Certain events (as in Prerelease tournaments or event series) require the use of a specific map. These requirements will be posted in advance of any event.

From the HeroClicTournRules PDF

AWESOME! So I do have legal precident per the rules!!
Excellent.
I don't know how I missed that reading over my own copy....
Just goes to show you that after 6 years of judging you can still learn something new!!!
Thanks!! ;)

[normalview]

1.5.1 Maps
Any WizKids-created HeroClix map is considered official, though some are retired (see Section 2.4). Official 36- by 36-inch (3 x 3) maps can be used in any HeroClix event in which they are legal. Official 24- by 36-inch (2 x 3) maps can be used in HeroClix events in which they are legal when only two players are playing on that map. Official maps that are not of these sizes can’t be used in sanctioned tournaments, but within a single tournament both 3 x 3 and 2 x 3 maps are permitted. In cases of limited play space, at the judge’s discretion official maps can be folded or otherwise sized to fit available playing surfaces. If this is done, it must be done uniformly for all players such that all resultant maps must be the same size. Certain events (as in Prerelease tournaments or event series) require the use of a specific map. These requirements will be posted in advance of any event.

From the HeroClicTournRules PDF

You know, I thought there was something like that in the Tournament doc, but I couldn't find it for some reason. I just assumed I was recalling it incorrectly and answered the way I did above. Thanks for digging it up.


It is worth noting, that this only allows you to alter maps to fit a table. This still doesn't give you licsence to alter maps willy-nilly in an offical capacity. Custom maps are fun and all, but are still technically a no-no.

[flatmatt]

You know, I thought there was something like that in the Tournament doc, but I couldn't find it for some reason. I just assumed I was recalling it incorrectly and answered the way I did above. Thanks for digging it up.

I knew that that there was a similar rule back in the days when the rules said that all maps used in a tournament had to be the same size, but I figured they might have removed it since then.

[nbperp]

I knew that that there was a similar rule back in the days when the rules said that all maps used in a tournament had to be the same size, but I figured they might have removed it since then.

As I recall, it was removed and replaced with a line that said the venue could decide to restrict map size based on their needs. At the conventions, while we laid out 2x3 maps, we tried to make sure each place had room for a 3x3 maps, if that's what the first player wanted to pull out.