Ok, so this is me having translated it off the German site. I'm going to try and get hold of Ray on Monday so I can put something concrete up here.

The good news: we're not in Germany's Battlegroup (grats Austria and Switzerland)

Basically, the Top 8 Qualify from each qualifer. That's broad, but also means we can have a massive tournament in April/May (at this fucking rate that will probably be the first big EU tournament...)

There are two tournament styles: one is Constructed with best of three swiss rounds, 60 minutes each (entry fee is 5 euros so expect £3-£5). The other is sealed (ie, the one I'm going to encourage TOs not to hold), which would be the usual £10-£15 varying with TO (again, I'm going to encourage TOs not to hold sealed pack qualifiers because it is a shite format and I for one won't travel to your qualifier).

Unfortunately, right now I have no idea who is in our Battlegroup (although UK and Ireland will be together for sure). Be prepared for the possibility of France though. Looking at the map of Europe as per UDE's site, we should get away with avoiding that (France being one group, Spain/Portugal being one group, Germany/Austria/Switzerland being one group, UK/Ireland being one group, Denmark/Norway/Sweden/Netherlands being one group etc)

The only prizes at the moment are the Top 8 getting places at the main tourament where each participant get's an EA Wraith Scythe. With the entrance fees though, we can probably look to expect booster support at least that isn't just the leftover stock of Through the Dark Portal (*rolls eyes*)

May I agree that if a TO holds a sealed tournament, I shall not travel (exception probably being Reading as its near enough to not matter). Sealed MotL sucks balls as the format does quite literally break down to how many power cards you pull.

So basicaly, Group Qualifiers are City Champs with the invites tacked on? I'm actually hoping that we're in the same group as France, as it would make this a lot more interesting, instead of it just being 'Nationals 2'.

Oh, and I won't travel to a sealed tournament, obviously ^^;

It's Uk and Ireland as 1 group, going on info from the application form.

And yeah, sealed motl sucks

I'm not a fan of sealed as it means i never actully get to play all these constructed decks i make :-/

Even though i don't mind MOTL sealed (mainly because i came 1st at sneak peak and 2nd at citys )

Where do folk get the idea it is Sealed. I am running a Group Qualifier this weekend and it is constructed as I would expect all the others to be.

Also it is a replacement of Regionals not City Championships.

Hope that helps ?

When you applied you could ask for Constructed or Sealed.

On the application form entitled "GROUP CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON 1: FEBRUARY 2008 – APRIL 2008" there is no mention of the format. I still don't see where you get the bit about it can be sealed ?
I would have thought most organisers would realise that it has to be constructed ?

I'll reiterate what I said about advising TOs not to hold a limited tournament if they want people to turn up. People want tournaments they can use their new cards in.

Here are the first two group qualifiers. Bear in mind these were originally converted from Regional Championships:

3-Feb-08 London Bush Bash, Basement, 67 Lakeside Road
3-Feb-08 Sheffield Patriot Games, 1-2 Lady's Bridge
9-Feb-08 Manchester Fanboy 3, 17 Newton Street
9-Feb-08 Glasgow Spellbound Games, 15 Forth Street
10-Feb-08 Leicester Phoenix Games, 51 Church Gate

The top 8 from each qualifier will be allowed to compete in the Group Finals (UK and Ireland) in May.

The promo items have been confirmed* as follows:
 Participation card – Cannabalize
 Top 8 prize card – “Lowdown” Loppo Shadefizzle
 Top 8 T-shirt


The rest of the program (there will be about 20 qualifiers in total across February, March and April) will be confirmed next week once we have ironed our clashes etc.

Thanks for your patience

Ray


*confirmed as being definitely being given out at these events. Getting them in time for these first set of events is another damning story in its own right which I won't go into because it annoys me just thinking about it....