Dark Fire Cafe
40K Event Pack for Singles Events (1v1)
Last Updated: 23/6/2026
What to Expect
Warhammer 40k events at Dark Fire Cafe are a staple of the Hertfordshire 40K scene and our St Albans Slams events pre-date the venue itself starting in 2022 in a local Scout Hut.
Our events are used by a wide range of players from the county and beyond, ranging from local veterans to newer players stepping into their first competitive experience.
Expect to play 3 rounds lasting 3 hours each in our dedicated gaming hall, on bespoke standing height tables with plenty of storage space.
Player will recieve table service all day from our cafe bar stocked up with Hot & Cold Drinks, Beer & Cider and Pizzas & Paninis.
Every event we host has event specific information detailed on that events ticket page. This information will include the event schedule, round layouts, army size and awards information. Section below may refer to 'event specific information' which will be found on that ticket page.
Lastly each event is overseen by one of our experienced Tournament Organisers (T.O.s) who are one hand to make sure the event runs as smoothly as possible.
Your Army Requirements
Mustering Your Army
Your army must adhere to the Chapter Approved 2026-27 deck condtions for mustering an army, including any errata, FAQ or Balance dataslate changes made to this and detailed on the Warhammer Community website.
Your army must use the points costs listed in the Munitorum Field Manual found on the same website. The event specific information for your event will detail a cut off date for this document. Players are expected to turn off app updates from this date until the event to ensure any changes made to the game do not skew the event. Any players found to be usuing the wrong points in their list will be subject to the conditions for submitting an incorrect list detailed below.
Proxies, Old Models and Conversions.
Dark Fire Cafe events are not restricted to Games Workshop miniatures, allowing for a wider range of sources and customisation. However all models within your army must adhere to all of the statements below. Any models found in breach of these points will incur a penalty.
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Models are painted and based to a battle ready standard or beyond. If models do not meet this standard you will lose your battle ready points for that and subsqeunt games until the matter is resolved. Any models found unpainted or just primed will not be able to take part in that or subsequent games during that event.
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Models must be modelled with appropriate wargear that represents your choices on your list. There should never be an instance where your opponent cannot identify what something is equiped with outside of normal expectaions (such as pistols, grenade of abilities). Models equiped with incorrect wargear will be expected to not take part in that or any subsequent games until the matter is resolved.
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Models must share the same shillouette and base size as their official counterpart model. This means older models would need to be rebased and potentially increased in size somehow.
If you are unsure of any of your models please email events@darkfirecafe.com including photos of the respective units so that we can get one of our Tournament Organisers (TO) to review and feedback to you if it/they meet the correct standard.
List Submission
Lists must be submitted to the event page on Best Coast Pairings prior to the list submission deadline listed on the event specific information.
Lists should ideally be created with the official 40k app and uploaded to included the version data. If you are using a third party app please format your list so it matches an official app list and write at the bottom which list builder you used to create your list.
All lists must include your detachment choices, disposition choice and all wargear, upgrades and enhancements you wish to use. You will not be allowed to change these after the list submission deadline.
List will be checked by our T.O's prior to pairings being made, and any lists found to be incorrect will be require players to make corrections. Any players required to make corrections to their list after the deadline will be subject to an automatic yellow card (see below).
What To Bring
There are some essentials each player is required to bring with them. Please make sure you bring the below:
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Your battle ready army
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The official rules for your faction (Physical or Digital)
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Dice (With dice tray recommended)
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A way of moving your army from table to tabe (tray, box etc)
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A water bottle (We will refill this for free as part of your table service)
Chess Clocks and Dice Rolling Apps
Chess Clocks
We highly recommend the use of chess clocks in games to ensure the fairest possible amount of game time.
Players who are undefeated (including draws) in round 3 will expected to use a chess clock and if both players do not have a clock then one will be provided.
Players should be consistent through the game on whether the clock will be passed between them for split activations, or remain on the active players time (for example, passing the clock to your opponent to roll armour saves). Switching approach part way through a match, particularly towards the end, is likely to be viewed as a sportsmanship infringement.
When the active player passes the clock to their opponent for split activations, they (the active player) are responsible for ensuring that the clock returns to them before they continue their turn.
Players are responsible for finishing their turns within the portion of time available to them. When one player is short or running low on time, it is expected that they play in such a way that they can finish their turn 5. This may require very short turns with limited activations.
In the above scenario, where one player has more time remaining, it is not expected that they split this time with their opponent, and instead they should instead use it to ensure that they can finish all of their own turns fully.
Chess clocks are an important tool to help players manage the round time and to ensure that games are played out to their natural conclusion - and they should be seen as such. Any behaviour that is seen to abuse or weaponise the clock will incure action being taken by the T.O (see below).
Dice Rolling Apps
Dice rolling apps are not allowed at Dark Fire Cafe events.
Map Layouts and Terrain
Map Layouts
Games will use the map layouts from the official event pack. The event specific information will detail which layout to use in each round.
Terrain
At the time of writing the Battlefields: Armageddon terrain set shown on the layouts is not released. It is our intentio to use these sets as well as our own sets that for the purposes of this pack will be reffered to as 'Battlefields: DFC Terrain'.
The event specific information will detail which terrain set will be in use for that event. Please see below for additional information on using these sets.
Battlefields: Armageddon
There are no additional rules or considerations for using this terrain set.
Battlefields: DFC Terrain
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Terrain is pre placed onto footprints by the TO at the start of the event. Please do not move/switch these pieces unless the map specifically asks you to (ie some ruins do switch footprints from map to map)
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All ruins have their intials marked underneath their platform.
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Some ruins have a ground floor taller than 3", so for all ruins enclosed openings (doors & windows) cannot be used to draw line of sight on the ground floor of any ruin.
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Once the layout is setup have a discussion with your opponent to clarify any terrain pieces you're not sure about, to ensure both players have the same understanding before the game begins.
Player Conduct, Sportmanship and Penalties
Player conduct and expectations
Generally the majority of players are all looking to have an enjoyable time and want the same thing for their opponents. The following is the expectations players shuld have of each other at Dark Fire Cafe events.
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Players treat each other respectfully and no abusive actions or language are used during the game.
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Players know their faction rules and are using the correct and in date rules for their faction and the game.
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That the players make sure all measurements are made clearly in front of each other and if at any point a player finds issue with their opponents measuring, they will demonstrate their expectation so that both players can continue without confusion.
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Dice should always be rolled in sight of your opponent and no dice should be picked up until the opponent has witnessed the results.
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It is imperative that players finish their games in time. If you struggle to finish a game on time then you owe it to your opponents to use a clock in all subsequent games.
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Armies meet the battle ready standard with all wargear easilly recognisable by the opponent.
Calling for assitance
Often if any of the above are demonstrated by your opponent they are easliy resolved by referencing this pack and the expectations of the event. If this does not resolve the matter players are expected to involve the Tournament Organiser.
A Tournament Organiser will always pause any active clocks and talk to both players in order to understand the situation, before then applying any ruling or penalty they see applicable (see below). Play may not continue until the T.O. has given permission.
Penalties will always be applied with discretion prior to and during events. After the event the T.O will update that players list within the event detailing any penalties applied and why.
Please note that sending a 'report' after any event on a player is less helpful and may not incur any penalty at all. The only exception to this is if you have discovered rules have been played incorrectly.
Penalties
Penalties can be handed out by T.O's only and are solely there for ensuring a better event for all involved.
Points Deduction
This is only applied if models are found to not meet the Battle Ready Standard.
Units 'Removed' From Play
This is only applied to models that are unpainted/primed or are in breach of our proxy/conversion standards (see above). Please not T.O's do not physically remove models but ask you to no longer use them that day. They will then check back in subsequent games to ensure this is maintained.
Warning
This penalty is applied if a T.O believes a player is in breach of a conduct expectation, but has not done so deliberately. Any further breach (of any type) will escalate to a yellow card.
Yellow Card
This penalty is applied if the T.O believes that a player has deliberatly breached a conduct expectation, or has gone against a ruling made by the T.O that day (such as removing models from play). Any further breaches will escalate to a Red Card
Red Card
This Penalty is applied if a player has earned two Yellow Cards or has been found to be cheating. The Player will be dropped from the event and an event ban will be installed set to a period decided by the T.O.
Competitive Circuits
Dark Fire Cafe events always apply for event tokens for the ITC and UKTC circuits.
Event results and conduct violations are shared with these circuits. Any player found to be banned by one of these circuits will unfortunately not be able to participate in our events as it impacts our events being approved for those circuits.
Contact
For clarifications on this pack or to submit models for approval please email events@darkfircafe.com