OK, this is somewhat of a counterpart to the Malton Necromancer 500pt challenge, and in some ways less demanding - in others possibly more so. I went to a local club recently and it occurred to me that, although I don't play the uber-max of tournament lists (my usual suspects, CSM, have no oblits nor lash in - being Khorne I spit a little on lash princes.) Anyway after issuing a drubbing, I thought, how can I limit and challenge myself and not trot out the same stuff again and again.
And thats how the VEGAN was born. VEGAN because they eat absolutely no animal products, so no cheese or spam allowed.
Here is the vegan challenge:
The disclaimers first: As with MN and the 500, don't try and change it, whinge about it or anything - its about reaching a point where if you minmax tournament style, you've a good chance - so it is a conscious handicap. Do or do not, I care not, but don't whinge. I know this may be unbalanced but in my circumstances it will be tres amusent, YMMV.
Points - just use your usual points for whatever you are playing.
How this works: You must choose 1 HQ and 2 troops first. You then fill up the rest of your army by choosing units from the sections in order they are found in the codex.
Ie 1 x HQ, 2 x troops, then 1 x elites, then 1 x fast attack, then 1 x HS, before going back to 1 x HQ, 1 x elites, 1 x troops, 1 x fast attack, 1 x HS.
Limitations: Unless your codex has only 1 option in a given slot, you must choose one of each unit type before selecting a second. For example, SW, first could be Grey hunters or Blood Claws, second will be the opposite, third could be either, fourth will be what you only have one of and so on.
HQs: MUST be either named characters OR codex specific entries for your first choice. If you come round to a second, you can choose anything. However, no second choices unless they are from the same Chapter/Craftworld/Traitor Legion/Icon of Chaos/Guard Regiment/Ork Clan/Your codex division structure here.
So, for example, vanilla marines. Can't take a captain, commander or librarian first (as these come into DA, BA, BT etc). Must be named. If they take from Hestan or Lysander they can go for the generics second, but can't add Cassius or whoever. In fact ultras are probably the only ones if i recall who could do 2 x named.
CSM: take kharn, no bile or lash prince (because they are slaanesh). Take Ghazkull? No non-Goff characters. Take Creed? he is Cadian, so no Straken etc.
All other FOC slots: The player MUST take their first choice as a codex specific entry for example Blood Angels: Cannot take tac marines first as they are also in Codex Space Marine. Could take a jump pack troop squad first, then a tac squad as the second troop.
Unit upgrade characters: Limited by your HQ choice. So, IG: If you went Cadian (Creed) you cannnot have Harker as a squad Sgt (Catachan). If you went Lysander (Imperial Fists) no Telion or Chronus.
Vehicles including transports: 1 of each type until you have exhausted all options. Spacewolf example: You have 4 squads you want to transport. The options are rhino, pod, razorback. You may have one of each and the fourth can be one of any of these, the fifth one of the 2 you only have one of etc.
Squadrons are allowed to have multiple vehicles within legal choices. So, IG, you can have a LR squadron in HS, and assuming you get round to HS again, you can go Basilisks and if you got round to HS a third time you could have bombards or Hydras whatever.
Unit arming limitations. You may only use the same WEAPON options in a unit once. So, if you have troops choices, you may only have 1 x plasma squad, then next you must use say , melta, and next something else. this does not apply to wargear.
I will post up some examples later. If you do this, it restricts you. But, it channelises you into using YOUR own codex army, not creating a hodgepodge - it will be fluffy and with no cheese and minimal spam unless you are playing a squillion points. I would appreciate thoughts and comments!