I need tips / tricks for timed turns at 35 pts.

[Eradanphx]

So i'm a convert from Menoth / Khador to the Cryx family. I have now shelved all of my other factions. But i do have one issue that still remains, the high model count and timed turns. I recently participated in a 35 pt SR 2012 tournament, and the timed turns KILLED me. At least 1/2 of my turns i could only activate and resolve 70% of my models and KEY things didn't happen due to time constraints. One thing i know for sure is i haven't been practicing w/ the timer which has hindered me (So now i have a timer and play all my games with it even if my opponent does not). I have been trying to memorize stats on all of my cards and playing the exact same list every time so i have everything memorized which speeds things up quite a bit. But i still can't get it under time. Without altering the lists too significantly (Going jack heavy) what are some pro-tips / suggestions from the Community?

My search-fu is weak and i couldn't find anything pertinent.

[Kuwanger23]

A lot of it has to do with how assertive you are. When you are rolling dice and your opponent is marking damage or taking his time keep rolling calling out your result. You don't have time for him to melt your clock. Don't be afraid to stop your clock if he asks you a question. If they ask you why up are doing this simply tell them you have a lot of stuff to activate. As for faction specific things that is very list dependent. Usually I like to mess up my opponents clock by doing something drastic at the end of my turn like:

Throw down caustic mist last.

Base them with 10 black banes.

Things that change how their entire turn will work. They will struggle to re plan their turn so quickly.

[Decade]

1) make sure your list is tailored to a timed environment. If you want to get all of your models activated, make sure you don't have a lot of models to activate. I know its very easy for us to run a giant infantry horde, but in a timed scenario, that doesn't work. Take fewer units, add some jacks. If you're running a caster that doesn't like to hand out focus, bring an Iron-lich overseer.

2) If you don't want to change your lists (which appears to be the case), then get out a timer, and practice. And keep practicing. Then practice some more. Learn the list, and learn it good. Be sure you have everything down. What its win condition is. Who and what needs to be the first thing activated, and what you can afford to not activate if you run out of time. Polish your game play continually till it shines like a piece of newly blown glass.

[Teleologica]

I only started playing timed turns earlier this year (been playing since Hordes mk2 field test, but not a tournaments previously). The lessons I've picked up are, in no particular order:

1. Practice. This means practicing with a timer, and with your list so you generally know which stuff goes first and which goes later in the turn, rather than having to think it through from scratch every time.
2. Plan your turn in his turn. Think about what he's doing in terms of how you're going to counter it or how it affects your plan. You should know in at least general terms what you need to achieve that turn before you start the clock.
3. Build a list you can realistically activate. This is a personal thing. I'm not a great player, but time pressure doesn't bother me especially, I play a 60 model Skarre list at 50 pts no problems. However, like I say this is a personal thing - don't feel you HAVE to spam infantry, try out a few jacks and see what balance is right for your playstyle.
4. If you do spam infantry (say, three max units plus support at 35) then don't try to do something meaningful with every model. You probably feel like everything has to be doing something or it's wasted points. You're never going to be able to roll that many attacks, damage rolls, tough, marking cards etc etc in 7 minutes. I'd plan - at least before the armies shrink due to kills - on assuming at least one thing in three in the army will just run. It's a wasted activation if you run out of time to activate a unit; it's NOT if taking 30 seconds to run them into a better position is actually part of the plan.
5. Lastly, know your opponent's army and the scenario before you start. Don't waste time having to check cards or make sure you know how to score, because it eats clock time, and you can forget and crash & burn if you forget something important. A friend did exactly this last night - committed everything he had, including moving Krueger up and burning all his fury, to score a second CP. 'That's 2 CPs, I win', he sadi. 'Uh, no, it's first to 3 in this scenario', his opponent replied, immediately before killing him. Time pressure makes us make mistakes, so know this stuff before you start.