Itinerary
Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th January 2026.
Games will start at 09:00 on both days.
Breakfast is served between 07:00-09:00. Lunch is served between 12:00 and 13:50, dinner is between 19:00 and 21:00.
Cancellation
We need to confirm numbers with the venue well in advance of the event so refunds are not guaranteed.
The priority of the organisers is to ensure that all spaces at the tournament are taken up, so please contact us if you are no longer able to attend. If we can fill your spot with a replacement player, you will receive a 70% refund on your registration fee.
Game rules
The tournament will be played using standard rules, with the most complete and up-to-date version of Twilight Imperium available. Timing and logistics allowing, this will include the new expansion anticipated later this year.
Games will be six-player (except in unavoidable circumstances) and will be played to 10 Victory Points.
The players at the table should ensure all rules are followed and should aim to resolve any errors or disputes by consensus wherever possible. If consensus cannot be reached, then a tournament organiser should be contacted and they will make a ruling.
Beyond aspects of the game which are intended by the rules to be kept secret, play should be open and transparent. Players should not intentionally hide any interaction or components in order to deceive other players. Secret conversations between players are permitted, but all other players in the game should be aware that this interaction has taken place.
Participation
All players should be at the table for 09:00 each day, and games should begin as soon as possible after that. Players who are running late on the day should contact an event organiser at the earliest opportunity. Players not ready to play at the game start time may be removed from the tournament.
Players are expected to participate fully in both days of the tournament. Late arrival, early departure or partial attendance is not fair on other players.
Drafting
Each game will begin with a draft using the Milty Draft procedure. Snake draft will be used and the order of this will be determined at random.
Drafting takes place online and the Day 1 draft will be sent to players three weeks before the tournament.
The map slices to be used in the tournament will be communicated to players in advance. Slices available will be the same at each table. There will be a new selection of slices on Day 2 of the tournament.
The factions available in the draft will be randomly generated for each table.
External assistance
The use of online battle calculators during gameplay is not permitted. You may use the internet for reference information during games.
Players should ensure that use of electronic devices does not result in slowing of play.
‘Live’ assistance or advice either in-person or via the internet during games intended to improve a player’s performance is potentially unfair and is not permitted. Player’s gameplay decisions during tournament games should be their own. Clarification of rules is, of course, always permitted.
Conduct
Any player cheating may be immediately removed from the game and banned from the remainder of the current and/or all future tournaments. Cheating includes intentional misuse of any component or game rule.
Derogatory language or symbols of hatred or discrimination will not be tolerated. Harassment of another player is grounds for immediate removal from the tournament.
Any disputes between players in respect of the above rules should be brought to the attention of the organisers.
Good vibes please!
Health and Safety
While all reasonable measures have been taken to ensure the health and safety of all tournament participants, the organisers cannot accept liability for any injury or illness of any persons or loss, theft or damage to any property as a result of participation.
Any participant who would require special assistance in the event of a building evacuation should make this known to the organisers before the event takes place.
Any participant who wishes to make the organisers aware of any other health condition or special requirements is encouraged to do so.
How will 12 winners become 6 finalists?
Our previous tournaments have seen 36 players competing, generating a nice round 6 Day 1 winners to go into the final on Day 2.
With up to 72 players and therefore up to 12 Day 1 winners, we have introduced a points-based Tournament Score system for determining the Day 2 table allocations based on the draft of each Day 1 game.
You will be awarded points based on the faction, slice and speaker position you drafted on Day 1 for a total score out of 18. Stronger picks score lower, and weaker picks score higher - rewarding players who started the game from a comparative position of disadvantage.
The 6 players with the highest draft score out of their cohort of 12 (winners, 2nd placers, 3rd placers etc.) will take the higher table on Day 2 and the bottom 6 will take the lower.
6 pts
FACTION
Factions are ranked based on their Async Twilight Imperium Win Rate in 10VP Games. These rankings are based on thousands of Async games.
The statistically best available faction in your draft scores 1 point. The statistically worst available faction in your draft scores 6 points.
6 pts
SLICE
Slices are ranked based on total combined resource and influence value.
The highest value slice scores 1 points. The lowest value slice scores 6 points.
Ties are split by influence value, followed by number of planets.
6 pts
SPEAKER POSITION
Speaker = 1 point
2nd position = 2 points
3rd position = 3 points
4th position = 4 points
5th position = 5 points
6th position = 6 points
Your total Tournament Score is the sum of these three points. A LOWER Tournament Score indicates a stronger starting position (e.g. top-tier faction, wealthy slice, early speaker position). A HIGHER Tournament Score indicates a comparative disadvantage in starting conditions.
Day 2 Table Allocation:
After all 12 Day 1 games conclude, players are sorted for Day 2 tables within their finishing position (e.g., all 1st place finishers are grouped, all 2nd place finishers are grouped, etc.).
For each finishing position (e.g., 1st Place):
- The 12 players are ranked by their Day 1 Tournament Score.
- The 6 players with the HIGHEST Tournament Scores (meaning they overcame a comparative disadvantage) will be assigned to the higher-tier table for that position (e.g., Table 1 for 1st place finishers).
- The 6 players with the LOWEST Tournament Scores (meaning they had a comparative advantage) will be assigned to the lower-tier table (e.g., Table 2 for 1st place finishers).
This process repeats for all positions: 2nd place finishers go to Table 3/4, 3rd place to Table 5/6, and so on, down to 6th place finishers going to Table 11/12.
Total Tournament Score ties will be broke in this order:
- Player with the higher Faction score.
- Player with the higher Speaker Order score.
- Player with the higher Slice score.
- If still an exact tie, a coin toss will decide.
Here's an example of how it works
In this draft (the thrilling final of the Manuevering Jets London Twilight Imperium Tournament in July 2025), the available factions are ranked as follows according to Async statistics:
- Naaz-Rohka Alliance
- Winnu
- Empyrean
- Nomad
- Embers of Muaat
- Sardakk N'oor
The slices are ranked based on their combined resource and influence value - with the richest slice scoring 1 point and the poorest slice scoring 6 points.
Speaker position scores 1 point, increasing each time up to 6th position which scores 6 points.
Good Gnus has the statistically worst faction in the draft as Sardakk N'oor (scoring 6 points), has the Speaker token (1 point) and their slice scores them 5 points - giving them a total score of 12.
JK has the statistically second-best faction in Winnu (yes, really) for 2 points, second position for 2 points and the wealthiest slice in the draft for 1 points - scoring them 5.
Andy scores 1 point for having the best faction with Naaz-Rohka Alliance. His slice scores the maximum 6 points for having the lowest total values, and is in third position. He scores 10.
WalrusBerserker has the third best faction and third best slice, scoring 3 points for each, and is in 4th position for 4 points - a total of 10.
Michal has the fourth best faction, fourth best slice and 5th position - 13.
Beavs has the fifth best faction, second best slice and is in 6th position - 13.
