On this page
FAQ
Short answers to common questions. For step-by-step help, see the quick start, the captain's guide or the user guide.
About PairForge and the beta
What is PairForge? A web app for Warhammer 40k team events. Players score their matchups against the field, and the captain uses the scores to run each round's pairing while the team follows live.
Who makes it? GashHammer Gaming. PairForge is an independent fan-made tool and isn't affiliated with or endorsed by Games Workshop.
Which formats does it support? Teams of 3, 5, 6 and 8, with the 11th edition pairing stages (Initial Skirmish, Main Engagement and Champion) and layout rules.
Why is the beta approval-only? We're opening PairForge to a small number of teams at a time so we can support each one properly. Every team is reviewed by hand.
How do I get my team in? The captain taps Request beta access on the front page, signs in with Google and registers the team. You'll get an email when it's approved.
Do I need to install an app? No app store needed. It runs in the web browser on your phone, tablet or laptop. You can also add it to your phone's home screen so it opens like an app: see the PairForge on your phone card on your team page.
Accounts, teams and invites
Do I need a Google account? Yes. PairForge uses Google sign-in only, so there's no separate password.
Do players need to apply for the beta? No. Only captains register teams. Players join through their captain's invite.
How do I invite players? On your team page, tap Invite & manage players. Share the team link in your chat, or send personal invites by email.
My invite doesn't work. Why? Email invites last 7 days and work once. A team link stops working if the captain makes a new one. Ask your captain for a fresh invite.
Can I be in more than one team? Yes. Use Switch team at the top of a team page, or pick from your list of teams.
Can I change the team name? The captain can, even while the team is waiting for approval.
How do I make someone vice-captain or coach? The captain taps the player on the roster and picks their role. A team has one vice-captain at most.
What happens if someone leaves the team? The captain removes them from the roster. They lose access straight away; their past scores stay for history.
Scores and the matrix
What does a score mean? How you expect a game against that army to go, from 0 to 20. 10 is an even game.
Why are some of my scores already filled in? They're pre-filled from your archetype scores, or from an earlier event against a similar army. Check each one and confirm or change it.
What's an archetype? An army type you score once, such as Orks or Imperial Knights – Disruption. That score pre-fills your matchups against every opposing army tagged with it.
What's the difference between simple and advanced mode? In simple mode you score each faction once. In advanced mode you score each faction against each Force Disposition. The captain chooses per event.
Can my captain change my scores? Yes. The captain and vice-captain can enter or fix any player's scores. Their changes are marked.
What are flags? Scores worth a second look: ones carried forward from an earlier event, and a player's scores into the same kind of army that are far apart. The captain reviews them.
Can I reuse my scores from last event? Yes. On My scores, tap Copy from a previous event to bring over your army and archetype scores.
Who has to finish scoring, and when? Everyone playing, before the event. Captains can send email reminders to anyone with gaps on High and Medium priority teams.
Pairings
Does PairForge choose the pairing for us? No, by design. It shows who's left, the scores and the totals. It never ranks or recommends a choice; the captain decides.
What does the captain enter? Each step after the reveal: defenders, attackers, refusals, then layouts. PairForge knows the order for your team size, locks games as they're decided and fills in what follows automatically.
How are layouts decided? Each defender picks layout A, B or C for their own game. Refused attackers' and Champion games use the round's layout from the event setup.
Can players see the pairing as it happens? Yes. Each step appears on the team's screens moments after the captain records it.
What are what-if previews? Pretend choices the captain can try to see the totals they'd lead to. Only the person making them sees them, and nothing is recorded.
What if the captain makes a mistake? Tap Undo last step. If pairings were confirmed too early, Reopen pairings.
Can more than one person record steps? Only one at a time. The vice-captain can tap Take over running this round if needed.
Can we practise? Yes. Practice pairings runs a full mock pairing against any opposing team. It isn't part of event history and doesn't count as drawing that team.
On the day
What happens if the venue Wi-Fi drops? The captain can keep recording pairing steps: they're saved on the phone and sent when the signal is back. Scores and in-game updates need a connection, so retry those once you're back online.
What are in-game updates? During games, players post how they now expect their game to finish. The team sees a running total on Live round.
Our event doesn't allow phones during games. What then? The captain can set the event so only the captain, vice-captain and coaches enter updates. They ask players in person.
How do final scores work? When a game ends, the player (or captain) enters the final score. The round is finished once every game has one.
Can we look back at a round? Yes. Review shows expected against actual for each game, lets you add notes, and replays the pairing step by step. Save as picture makes an image to share.
Will PairForge send me notifications? If you turn them on. Install PairForge on your phone, then tap Turn on notifications on the PairForge on your phone card. You'll be notified about score reminders, scores to recheck, choosing your layout as a defender, and in-game update requests. On iPhone, notifications only work when PairForge is opened from the home screen.
Privacy and your data
Who can see our scores? Only members of your team. Access is checked by the database itself, so another team can never see your matrix.
Can the PairForge admin see our scores? No. The admin sees team names and captains, to approve teams, and nothing else.
What does PairForge know about me? Your name, email address and profile picture from Google sign-in, plus what you enter (your armies and scores).
Is anything deleted? Pairing steps, in-game updates and results are never deleted, so every round can be reviewed later. Undo adds a step rather than erasing one.