When there are no wars to keep the Knights of Bretonnia occupied, they hone their skills by means of colourful contests of martial prowess. These contests are known as jousts, tournaments or, in their grandest and most spectacular form, tourneys! Tournaments are held in each of the great dukedoms of Bretonnia several times a year. These are magnificent events lasting for several days and attended by Knights from all over the realm. Smaller affairs are held at the castles of lesser nobles eager to show off their wealth and influence. On occasions a full tourney is held in order to attract Knights Errant as suitors for the hand of a duke's daughter - a most desirable prize indeed, and what better way for the most worthy Knight to prove himself than by feat of arms in competition with the finest Knights in Bretonnia.

Full Tilt is an entertaining variation of Warhammer that can be played in a small area and within a relatively short space of time. The only models needed are a few Bretonnian Knights, so anyone with a copy of Warhammer will be able to take part. The tourney is a contest between rival teams of Bretonnian Knights who joust against each other for a grand prize and, of course, most important of all, the honour of victory! Apart from the hand of an eligible heiress, prizes at tourneys can be many and varied. Sometimes the prize is a magic item, in which case Knights often compete on behalf of their local grail chapel to which they will donate the prize should they win.

The greatest tourneys are held each year in the ducal cities of Couronne, Quenelles, Parravon, Brionne, Bordeleaux, Gisoreux and L'Anguille, but no longer in Mousillon (it's currently occupied by the Undead!). Bretonnian tourneys are usually purely Bretonnian affairs attended by Knights from the various dukedoms, but on rare occasions even Elven or Empire Knights have been known to attend. Usually Elven Knights will only take part in a tourney if the prize is a magic item that they believe to be one of their ancient heirlooms and which they desire to win back.

It is, of course, against a Bretonnian Knight's code of honour to use any magic items in the tourney itself. This is a rule which no worthy Bretonnian would even consider breaking, for to do so would besmirch the Knight's honour and bring shame to his family. Elves and such like will of course ignore the rule if they can get away with it. Sometimes even Bretonnians are caught lapsing from the code of honour and have been forced to go on a quest to redeem themselves! It is also against the rules to take part in a tourney riding a monster instead of a warhorse, but such an infringement of the rules is so easily detected that even Elves wouldn't dare attempt it.

Needless to say Bretonnian tourneys are extremely popular, noisy and ribald affairs attended by hordes of commoners from the surrounding countryside as well as all the nobles from miles around. The inns and taverns are filled to bursting point and the feasting, drinking and carousing goes on for many days. Some Knights wander the rutted tracks of Bretonnia entering one tourney after another earning themselves a valiant reputation. Indeed, winning a tourney is sometimes made an errand of Knighthood and a way of acquiring a retinue, since a successful Knight can expect to be followed by a baggage train of prizes, armour and warhorses and a retinue of grooms, squires and troubadours eager to immortalise his feats in song.

The tourney in Bretonnia has been refined over the centuries into an art form with many conventions and traditions which can be baffling to foreigners who do not understand the subtle references involved. Tradition dictates that on the first day there is no combat at all. Instead the Knights gather for a parade and to solicit favours from the Bretonnian ladies in preparation for the contests ahead. There are two contests in a proper tourney: firstly there is the joust which takes place over a whole day, and this is followed the next day by the tableaux de bataille. Smaller events often feature only the joust or attempt to cram things together to reduce costs, but a full tourney would not be complete without the pomp of the parade or the final dramatic conflict of the tableaux de bataille.

Tourneys are usually fought a la plaisance which means fighting with blunted weapons. More rarely they are fought a l'outrance which means fighting with sharp weapons. Blunted weapons are used in most tourneys so that the best of Bretonnian chivalry is not slaughtered leaving the realm woefully undefended! Serious wounds are rare and the tourney is an excuse for outrageous fun. However, if sharp weapons are used, contenders may be mortally wounded and such contests are therefore reserved for matters of honour or trials by combat serious enough to warrant fighting to the death. The rules described here are intended for tourneys fought a la plaisance, so Knights will rarely die or suffer serious injuries.

Tournaments are not open to just any old Knight, only to those considered eligible on grounds of renown, prowess, honour, or in some other fashion. This is a matter for the heralds, who are versed in all matters of chivalry, heraldry and honour. The heralds organise the contending Knights into teams, usually two teams, one consisting of all the Knights from the host's dukedom, and the other comprising Knights from the rest of Bretonnia. The heralds are great sticklers for the rules, and not only do they disregard those who are inexperienced or unknown, but also those who are rather too awesome!

To keep matters in hand the heralds maintain carefully worked out lists of eligible Knights called the tourney rolls. Only if a Knight is named on the tourney rolls can he enter the tourney as a contender. The herald selects the teams who will take part from the list of entrants for each tourney. This ensures that the teams are well matched to make for an exciting contest. Bretonnians are not amused by watching one paladin unhorsing a succession of hopeless contenders, a feat that does nothing for honour or entertainment!

The tourney is fought between two or more teams of Knights and each team is represented by a player. You and your opponent can start playing straight away each using one of the two example tourney rolls printed at the end of this article. After a while you'll probably want to make up your own team, as its much more fun! To help you do this we have also provided a blank tourney roll (are we good to you or what?). First each player takes an equal number of Bretonnian Knights. We suggest you try six Knights as this makes a good sized team for a tourney. As you will see on the accompanying tourney rolls, Tournament Knights employ the same profile as a Knightly Hero in a Bretonnian army even though some of the characteristics are simply not used in a joust. You can use any Knight models in a Joust: Knights Errant, Knights of the Realm, Questing Knights or Grail Knights. In a Joust all Knights count the same.

Tournament Knights ride warhorses and carry lances and are perfectly represented by the Bretonnian Knights from the Warhammer box or, indeed, any similarly equipped Bretonnian Knight models. The heralds' rules dictate that Knights may not have magic items or ride monstrous beasts as such things would be an unthinkable afront to the code of chivalry! However, Knights can have Knightly Virtues and may also have a Lady's Favour as described later.

If you want to create your own team just photocopy the blank record sheet at the end of this article. It has spaces for you to fill in details of each Knight's name, his Knightly Virtues and any Lady's Favour he may have been granted. There is also space to record wounds he might suffer during the tourney. Invent a suitable name and shield device for each of your Knights, choose appropriate Knightly Virtues and then roll for a Lady's Favour. You are now ready to begin.