First round immunity applies to every character that has not been moved or placed or taken an action (any action) during the first round of the game. The effect is that player 2 can use their first turn to position, assuming player 1 didn't forfeit immunity. It's not perfect, but I've yet to see a better solution.
And you're correct: to maintain immunity player 1 has to pass. Any character moved, placed or given an action becomes fair game. Map choice can make a lot of difference in what your best choice is. Of course, sometimes the player who rolls high doesn't want to move first, they want to be reactive. But they also want map choice, so they'll pass first turn to see what player 2 has planned.

I probably haven't addressed it because that's not what I said.

Anyway, from posts I've seen of yours in the past, it seems to be pretty obvious that we have different ideas on what Heroclix is. I'm not going to argue senselessly with you, because neither of us is going to convince the other that we're in the right.

necrodog for the win!

Not if they're tournament legal. If that's the case, then he is only doing what he is supposed to do as a judge: hand out impartial rulings based on the parameters laid out by Wizkids. If they're not tournament legal, then yes it is his problem. Otherwise, don't blame the guy for Wizkids' failings.

They're only tournament legal if the Judge allows them. There is a specific clause in the tournament rules that "legally" allow a venue to restrict the maps that are played.

The Judge can not allow those maps to be played and still be following proper tournament rules.

The parameters laid out by Wizkids, though, are "do what you think is best for your venue." They don't enforce build totals, retirement, maps, or anything else. They just say, here are some suggestions.

And on the topic of maps specifically, the comprehensive tournament rules even include a line about using only official 2x3 maps.

Fair enough. I am not a judge, so I don't know the specifics of this stuff. In this case, yes, the judge should be smarter than to allow that kind of nonsense.

Still, I think there's something to be said for Wizkids' inability (or unwillingness) to come down hard on one side or the other with regards to these and many similar issues. It's like they're afraid that if they do, it might expose some kind of balance issue in their game...

Hey, look, it's this thread again!

Unsurprisingly, the oranges are right.

If that's not what the quote below meant, then maybe you could explain the quote. Because it sure looks to me like you're suggesting player 1 loses FRI if they pass.

I don't know what posts you've seen, since almost all of mine are in response to rules questions. I try not to argue senselessly. My idea of HeroClix is that it needs to be attractive to as many different types of player as possible, because that's how you maintain a wide customer base and how the game remains profitable and, therefore, available. So you will see me post against those "house rules" and "improvement" suggestions that, effectively, say "you need to play this way or you're not doing it right, and if you don't play the way we think is right then we don't want you to play". If you have a different idea of what HeroClix is then I'd be interested in hearing it, but you're right: you're not likely to convince me.

While I would prefer all venues follow the rules to the letter, I can't really see how Wizkids could possibly enforce that. It's also nice to be able to have options if you don't agree with some of the rules.

I didn't mean 'enforce' as in 'monitor every single game at every venue,' I meant enforce in that they come down clearly and firmly on one side of the issue and state that while house rules can be made, that the event ceases to be Wizkids-endorsed at that point. There needs to be a clear-cut reference for judges to point to.

Yeah, I'm not seeing a connection there at all.

What the heck does WK mandating event formats have to do with balance? If tomorrow WK made an annoucement that all venues must play 300 points Modern Age, and only on certain maps, what does that have to do with balance issues?
Yep. If WK was to enforce a format like I mentioend above, my interest would drop significantly. I'm fine with a 300 point modern game on occassion, but if that was the only format we were allowed to play in tournaments, I'd get real bored with it real quick. I like the options of being able to actually play with all the clix that I own.

It was a light-hearted poke at the currently unbalanced state of Heroclix. Try not to take yourself, or the game, too seriously.

Amen. We've experienced an excess of control, and it wasn't a positive thing IMO. Maybe more than now would be better, but managing that in a fair way is not a fun time. Been there, done that, have the T-shirt.

Unless I missed a newer version, no they don't.:

Restricting the maps to 2x3 is clearly laid as an acceptable house rule for smaller venues... and frankly doesn't make sense as there are even smaller maps to use if space is a concern. It should say "2x3 or smaller."