Hammabowl V

 I haven written in a long time. I started to put pressure on myself to win and enjoyed the game less. I had a couple of tournaments like it until I played lizardmen at KlingenCon L, where I didn't put pressure on myself because I had barely played the race before. I then went to a tournament after it, taking wood elves, as I now thought that I might have gotten my mojo back, but no. I didn't lose a game, but didn't win any either. So, what should I do?

Well, I figured that I should start taking stunties again, as they naturally come without pressure on the coach, as you're already in a bad position (although it can be argued that it isn't the case anymore).

I had already turned in my roster, using the same one as I used at KlingenCon L (see below), so no (just some speedy) stunties for me. Then I listened to a podcast where they said that the great players didn't go in to a game or a tournament with the mindset to win, but rather leave the opponent thinking "that was a hard fought win". Kind of the same mindset I had when I played halflings. I figured that I should give it a try. Just one game at a time and just do my best. Don't get upset about the dice and try to enjoy the game.

Let's see how this works out.

Roster

6 Saurus (5xBlock, Wrestle)

4 Skinks

Chameleon

Kroxigor

2 RR

Apothecary

Tournament

Before I get in to the games, I have to give a hugh thank you to the organizers. This was such a well organised tournament, with so many great people. I had a blast. Just look at the wooden spon (the cake).

Prize table

 

I'd also like to thank spudWorks for organising a get together at his place on the Friday evening. This made me feel like no matter how my games went, I had a great weekend, even before rolling a single dice.

Game 1 vs humans

 

I kicked and the ball was caught by a lineman, which turned out to be a bad thing for my opponent.

The humans went to one side, where most the their team was (left in the picture) and blitzed the far left saurus. The lineman with the ball could however just make it to the hatch marks. This meant that I could divide the human team in two and put pressure on the cage. My opponent panicked and ran his lineman back to the right, but couldn't manage to protect it. This meant that I could blitz the now alone ball carrier with three dice and the ball was on the ground. A skink picked up the ball and I could stall out my score until turn 8.

I was in a good position and stalled my drive out for a score in turn 16. My opponent went for some difficult dodges to blitz my ball carrier and managed to get the ball on the ground and pick up the ball. In my turn 16 I then failed to get the ball off him and the game ended 1-0 (1-0).

I would previously probably have been upset about not getting the 2-0 win, but now I just liked that my opponent went for the impossible play and made it. A win is still a win, so it didn't matter in the end.

Game 2 vs dwarves

 

This was a very weird game and I know that the dice seldom decide a game by themselves, but I haven't seen so much bad luck in one game.

I got the ball first in the sweltering heat and the audience decided to storm one side of the field, stunning there dwarves there. I went for it, trying to take advatage of the hole created by the lizardmen fans. I started my turn with a double skull, but rerolled and pushed through. Second turn, double skulls, but pushed through again. My opponent did everything to get to my ball carrier and put me under pressure.

I got away and in hindsight, should have scored, but decided to stall a bit more. My opponent managed to base my ball carrier with a blitzer and it came down to a 3+ dodge with a reroll, but it failed. The half ended 0-0.

 My opponent argued the call and rolled a 1, looked at me and said, "I'll use my bribe". I then declared that he couldn't as that's not allowed anymore (see bribe description). When then rolled for the heat, where I lost three saurus and my opponent lost all his AG3+ players bar one. The half was 8 vs 8 and indeed a weird game.

The blitzer picks up the ball and runs forward and I pressure the dwarves, trying to overwhelm them with pure strength. Due to a quad skull from my opponent, the kroxigor stayed on his ball carrier, but couldn't get him down with two tries with three dice. I finally got the ball carrier down and a skink ran away with the balland scored in an attempt to get more saurus in the game as the weather had turned back to nice on the kick off for the second  half.

More bad luck from my opponent and I could steal the ball again and scored for a second time.

The game ended 2-0 (0-0) for me.

Game 3 vs necromantic

 

I decided to take the ball in the first half and tryied to take things slow, moving side to side and hopeing for a removale or two, as my oppoent only had 11 players. I managed to CAS one zombie on the first block, but it regend. The numbers advantage proved very useful and I could score in my last turn, but my opponent did a good job of putting pressure on me and I had some key dice rolls that I needed to make for the score.

I was able to put my opponent under pressue in the second half and managed to steal the ball for a 2-0 (4-0). The four casualties looks like a lot, but three regend, but was still a factor.

Game 4 vs chaos dwarves

 

I had the choice of starting on defense, which I did as the rain was pouring down. The ball landed close to the LOS and my opponent failed to pick it up and I could blitz a dwarf on to the ball, which bounced towards my lines. I tried the pick up with a skink, but failed after using a reroll.

A large scrum ensued until the ball finally ended up in the hands of the minotaur around turn 5. I then blitz it with a skink and some friend, managind a pow and the ball was on the ground again. It ended up in the hands of a saurus after another scrum and the half ended 0-0.

 My chameleon managed to catch the ball on the kick off and I could move up the pitch and score in my turn 4. The rain cause issues for my opponent and his sure hands bull centaur was out. Fun fact, his minoutar manged the same amout of casualties on his team as my team. There was four chaos dwarves/hobgoblins in the dug out and I could steal the ball with my numbers advatage.

The game ended 2-0 (2-0).

Game 5 vs dark elves

 

I don't like this match up, for either team, so I knew that I was in for a tough game. My oppoent decided to receive and nothing really happend until turn 2, whwn a saurus was killed and later in the drive a skink. I tried to keep my cool and try to get the dark elves to score early. It became more and more difficult and I couldn't stop the elves from scoring at the end of the half. My OTTD-attempt failed and I had to make a decision to go for the draw, unless something happend.

I played very conservative and tried to move a bit every turn, but I couldn't get through. The dark elf defense was solid and I had to put some pressue on the evles. I moved my saurus in and forced my opponent to do something. Sadly, I missed a chain push and my opponent pushed my skink one square backwards, out of scoring range. One elf was next to my cage though and after what felt like a lifetime of thinking, I saw a chain push (the elf had to be pushed four or five times). Things wasn't made easier due to the crowed gather around our table. I went for it and managed to push my ball carrier back in to scoring range and scored, 1-1. I've never gotten applause after a turn of blood bowl, but now I have.

My opponents OTTD-attempt was stopped by a solid defense and the game ended 1-1 (0-2)

Game 6 vs khemri

 

Last game of the tournament and I was up against khemri. The bone guys received and started with twleve players on the pitch. I noticed during the kicked off and told my opponent. I didn't want to win the game (and tournament) due to that error, so we just removed a skeleton and put it back in to the dugout.

The khemri picked up the ball directly (a shame) and I tried to get in the way of the cage and split it from the rest of the team, but things were made hard by the krox not doing anything for the first four turns and me having to use my rerolls on double skulls. I did my best, but couldn't stop the khemri. Sadly, my OTTD-attempt was cut short as the chameleon couldn't manage the pass.

In my drive in the second half, I went side to side and managed to make the bone guys over commit, which left an opening for my score in turn 4.

It was a do or die situation, I needed to steal the ball and score for the win. I got a good chance as a pitch invasion cause the throw-ra in the back and the killer blitz-ra to be stunned and it was a deep kick, but I failed a one in nine dodge with a skink when I tried to screen off the players in the back of the khemri team. I tried to put pressure on and my opponent went for a potato play at the end of the drive.

Two skinks dodge out and powed the potato throw-ra and then managed to pick up the ball. My opponent left his throw-ra on the floor and blitz with a tomb guardin. Three dice, no pow. Reroll, both down and pushed. The both down is chosen and the skink lives, the ball bounces in to a tackle zone.

I was now face with the decision to either secure the tie or go for it all, which I did. I had to blitz a throw-ra marking a saurus away with a skink blitz, including two GFIs, then pick up in a tackle zone (4+), make a pass (5+) and then catcht with the now free saurus (5+). All I had to do after that was two GFIs and I made it all without using a reroll.

The game ended 2-1 (0-2).

That meant that I had now won my first NAF tournament. Yes, I had luck along the way, but most tournament victories do.

Conclusion

 It would be to easy to make the conclusion that "as long as you don't pressure yourself, you win", but I think that my formula is to stress out less and accept the game as it is. Just try your best and the rest will come. I guess it's why I liked stunties so much, becuase that's exactly how I felt when I played them.

So, why don't you give stunties a go? Perhaps a team you haven't played before, which looks interesting. For me, that would currently be the khorne roster. 

All I know is that I will try to stop putting pressurre on myself and just play the game, trying to give my opponent the toughest game possible. If I lose, they will hopefully think "that was a hard fought win".

Thank you for reading.

KKnD V

 Rules

The tournament was played using the EuroBowl 2021-rules with the addition of a modified kick off table, which used elements from BB2020.

Roster

I decided to play slann as I might not have the possibility to do so once BB2020 hits. I had a look at what I wrote after the last tournament with slann and adjusted my roster accordingly. The main points being losing the apo and not bringing a blitzer.

1 Froxigor (Block)

4 Catchers (3xDodge)

8 Linemen (2xBlock, Wrestle, Strip Ball)

3 Re-rolls

1 Coach

Game 1 vs Dark Elves

I got to decide if I would like to kick the ball and decided to do so, the decision made easier to the rain. The dark elves were cautious and let the runner stand in their own half with the ball for a couple of turns and the frogs used this to remove some elves from the field. As the runner then moved forward and passed the ball to one of the witch elves, thereby forgetting the rain, a re-roll was used and the dark elves retreated again. They were then forced to go down a sideline and the froxigor could blitz in and base the ball carrier next to the side line. The dark elves blitzed through the frog screen and the witch elf would have to dodge away from the froxigor and hand off the ball to a lineman in scoring range, but the witch elf failed her dodge due to prehensile tail and the ball went out and was thrown deep in to the half of the dark elves. The frogs then picked up the ball and scored in turn 8.

Most of the KOed elves didn't want to get back on the field and things were looking up for the frogs. However, I made an error in my set up and left a weak point for a blitz. The kick off was a blitz and the dark elves managed to stun the strip ball lineman and move in to catch the ball. The frogs surrounded the lone blitzer but couldn't bring him down with six block dice. The dark elves were forced to score after that and the frogs lined up to receive the ball again.

The frogs can't bring the dark elf blitzer down

The second drive ended in a frog touchdown with time left on the clock for the dark elves.

As the dark elves moved forward to get players in scoring range, the frogs marked them and blitzed the "middle" dark elf, which would force a long pass. The runner moved up for the pass and rolled a 1. The last re-roll was used and it was another 1. The frogs could put tackle zones on the ball and the dark elves had one last chance to get the pass off, but once again a dodge away from the froxigor failed and the game was over.

End 2-1 (2-3)

Game 2 vs Ogres

Second game and I was up against some ogres with Brick and Grotty. The ogres started with the ball and the lineman with strip ball leap in and got the ball on the ground. The ogres (or rather Grotty) managed to dodge through the frogs and pick up the ball. Grotty was then thrown towards the endzone, but the frogs reached him and got the ball back. The frogs then stalled out the rest of the half and managed to remove one ogre in the process.

The second half saw the frogs in trouble, when some snotlings managed to blitz the ball carrier, but the frogs could get the ball back and scored with three turns left for the ogres.

The ogres couldn't get their offence going and the frogs stole the ball and ended the game with a third touchdown.

End 3-0 (4-2)

Game 3 vs Old World Alliance

I've never played against OWA and I was forced to receive the ball. I lost some players and was quite early down in numbers, which forced me to take some risks. I went to the right, to the left and back to the right. I needed a leap to work, to seal the edge, but failed it even with a re-roll. This left the door open for a blitz on the ball carrier and the OWA managed to steal the ball and scored in turn 8.

Not ideal

As I was down on both players and on the scoreboard, I had to up the pressure and I tried to leap in to the cage and get the ball on the ground. It worked once and the ball was pick up by a catcher. Things looked good, but the froxigor decided to be stupid in the wrong moment which opened the door for a blitz on the ball carrier (I activated the froxigor for a 2d block to avoid a leap with a lineman). 

OWA get the ball on the ground in the second half

The ball was picked up by the OWA team and they scored their second touchdown in turn 16.

End 0-2 (1-5)

Game 4 vs Chaos Renegades

An exciting game against a fouling chaos renegades, which started with the ball. No time was waisted and players were being removed from the get go. The frogs responded by removing the troll, mino and leader lineman in the first half. The was also a notable situation where the froxigor intercepted a bomb from Bomber Dribbelsnot, which was thrown towards the renegades, but scattered on to Dribbelsnot. He couldn't catch it and left the game due to his own bomb.

The frogs still couldn't stop the renegades who scored in turn 8.

The all in blitz from the renegades

The second half started with a deep kick and a blitz. The renegades went all in on one side and the ball went out in the endzone. The catcher on the opposite side got the ball and moved up the pitch on the other side. There was no possibility to stall out the game for a draw due to the low numbers of frogs on the field, which made things exciting. This game could go either way, but the renegades had the advantage due to number, a blodging dark elf and the lack of strip ball on the side of the frogs (CASed).

I gave it my all, but I couldn't stop the renegades and the tournament ended with a loss.

End 1-2 (3-4)

Conclusion

I'm not too happy with my record for the tournament (2-0-2), but considering the coaches I played against and the fact that the last game could (and should) have been a draw it looks worse than it is. I also had the highest opponent score which also says something.

Final standings

I'm happy with the roster and didn't feel that I missed the apo as I either had enough players or had so few, that an apo wouldn't have made a difference. Having 13 players also enabled me to foul and not really worry too much about sustained CAS. I didn't miss the blitzer either as the linemen are as good, in my opinion, for what they do.

Thank you for reading.

Bad Pony Garden Brawl II

 It was once again time for a tournament in the garden and this time with four games.

(EuroBowl 2020-Rules)

I had thought about what to play and decided on wood elves in order to try to get above a NAF ranking of 200 again. It had also been more than a year since I played wood elves and I figured that it was time.

I had a look at what I had written about the wood elves in my last tournament with them and adopted my roster based on that. The biggest changes being that I took frenzy on a wardancer and left the apothecary at home in favor of a reroll.

Roster

2 Wardancers (Strip Ball, Frenzy)

Treeman

Thrower (Leader)

3 Catchers

4 Linemen (Block, Wrestle)

2 Rerolls

Game 1 vs chaos pact

I was up against a star play that I hadn't seen before, Bob Bifford. Joining him was a mino with claw and a block troll. The team only had one leader reroll on the roster, which is risky.

The game started with the pact team on the receiving end of the kick off and they wasted no time and KOed an elf and the mino killed the treeman on the blitz. Not a great start for me, but I did my best to get in the way of the the pact team to slow it down. I managed to get the ball on the ground using my strip ball wardancer and I then tried to scatter the ball again to get it away from the pact team, but it ended back in the hands of the dark elf, but I had at least based the ball carrier.

In the following turn, my opponent rolled a one for the troll and the mino, which forced him to dodge with the ball carrier, without the reroll as it had already been spent. Another one and I could pick it up in turn 7 and move up the field, in to scoring range. The pact team could only push the ball carrier and I managed to score in turn 8.

I then scored again in the middle of the second half and had thereby probably already won the game.

The following kick was short and the orc caught it close to the LOS.

I was able to put some pressure on the pact team and my opponent decided to give the ball to Bob.

No the worst idea, but I could hinder the advance from the pact team and keep them off the scoreboard

End 2-0 (0-4).

Game 2 vs norse

This was the best game of the tournament. Very tactical and the first half was a thriller.

I forced my opponent to go to one side and then back again, but he could as the yeti killed the treeman, that was covering his route to the other side. At least the treeman lasted longer in this game, all the way to turn 4. However, the position enabled me to chain push my block lineman in to his cage and put an assist in place. Sadly, I coldn't get the ball carrier down and my opponent escaped again. I had a chance, but failed the leap with my strip ball wardancer and my opponent could score in turn 8.

At this point, I had five elves on the field, but I still set up for the OTTD. The kick off was a touchback, which helped, but I made an error with my thrower in the back field. He needed to go forward and cover a square for the last push, which I hadn't seen. A mental error, but I almost managed the push part of an OTTD with just five elves.

I was down on players which sadly meant that I couldn't hold off for the draw. I was forced to score early and I didn't get enough people back on the field to really be able to stop my opponent.

End 1-2 (1-4)

Game 3 vs dwarves

Up against some dwarves and their deathroller. I got to decided and went for kicking, which I usually do. The first turn for the dwarves wasn't that spectacular and I was a bit hopeful. I then started my turn and the treeman rooted. Not great, but no the end of the world. I wanted him to tie up a couple of dwarves, but alas. The deathroller then blitz my frenzy wardancer, killing him in turn 2 and I was now down two players and the half got very difficult. However, my opponent left me a 4+ dodge for a 1d on the ball in turn 7 which I took and the ball was on the ground. I couldn't pick it up, but I had forced the dwarves to roll some dice. This proved too much and the runner failed to catch the ball in the endzone.

I then started the second half by rooting my treeman, which wasn't great. I had to score earlier than I wanted, which left the dwarves four turns to score. I managed to knock the ball out of the runners hands, but couldn't pick it up with my wardancer and the dwarves could run of with the ball in the hands of a blitzer. I could reach, all I needed was to dodge out, but I rolled a 1.

End 1-1 (0-3)

Game 4 vs dark elves

Dark elves with all four blitzers (two with dodge), both witches (with block) and a leader runner.

I kicked and my opponent started the game by blocking with his linemen, using the blitzers for the assistant. Very weird and risky. His blitz was also risky as it was a 2d in to a 1d, even though it didn't have to be. I then answered by sending some players through his line and threatening his runner with the ball in the backfield. My opponent then scored in turn 2 and I had the whole half to surf two blitzers and get some hits in before scoring in turn 8. My surfs did nothing and I caused nothing but a stunned or two. My opponent managed some KOs and I was down on players in the second half.

All I had to do now was to keep my cool and score late for at least the draw, but everything went down hill fast. My opponent managed to KO some of my players and I managed to fail dodged and thereby killing my own players. I was swamped by the dark elves and I couldn't hold on and was overwhelmed, losing the ball and my opponent could score in turn 16.

End 1-2 (0-0)

Summary

First of all, I was happy with the frenzy wardancer and when/if I play wood elves again, he'll be on the roster. I didn't miss the apothecary that much as I lost so many players, but the reroll was essential. Not sure if either option is wrong, but I think I'll go for a reroll next time.

Considering that I was down on players in every game, I'm not too unhappy with my play. The most annoying thing is the loss in game 4. I should have one that one, but the amount of failed dodges and KOs just meant that it was too easy for my opponent.

My NAF-ranking will take a hit, but that's how it works. Hopefully I'll be able to salvage it sometime in the future, but I will take a break from AG4 teams for a while. I'll play lizardmen in my next tournament in three weeks (if the Corona rules aren't changed before then). Wish me luck and more CAS inflicted than received.

Thanks for reading.

Edit:

It did not work out as I had hoped. I lost some NAF ranking points instead of gaining.

Oh well, I'll have to give the wood elves another go sometime in the future, probably under the new BB2020 rules.

Bad Pony Garden Brawl

Bad Pony Garden Brawl

The location for this tournament was the garden of the organizer and the purpose (except for just having some fun) was to introduce some new players to the NAF and tournaments in general.

Location for the "Bad Pony Garden Brawl"

Roster

1 Kroxigor (Block)

3 Catchers (2xDodge)

1 Blitzer (Block)

7 Linemen (2xBlock, Wrestle, Strip Ball)

3 RR

4 FF

Game 1 vs orcs

I rolled a six for my fans, adding four in fan factor, but my opponent rolled an eleven. Great start.

I was forced to receive to start the game, which isn't really what I like to do. I managed to score, but earlier than I wanted due to KOs. I however got enough frogs back to field 11 and managed to stop the orcs from scoring ending the half 1-0. I felt like I had secured the draw and expected the orcs to just grind up the pitch for a turn 16 score, because I was yet again down on players.

As I kicked the ball to the orcs, a 10 was rolled and I was able to screen of the orcs from their thrower in the back and mark said thrower with the blitzer. If all went well, I'd be able to steal the ball in turn 9. It wasn't to be as the blitzer was stunned by the thrower and the orcs could eventually pick up the ball and start their walk down the field for a turn 16 score.

End 1-1

Game 2 vs pact

I yet again lost the roll for FAME, even though I had a fan factor of four.

This time I got to kick and my opponent went down the sideline, which I didn't mind at all. His ogre and troll took turns being stupid and I could put pressure on him early on. There was a situation where I blitzed his mino with my froxigor and a push would have surfed his ball carrier, but I got double both down, stunning the mino. My opponent recovered and then decided to go for an unnecessary block with his ogre, which resulted in a double both down and he failed his loner. That changed the drive and I got the ball on the ground. I also managed to injure some of his key players before the second half, making things easier for me. I managed to hold out for a 1-0 victory in the second half.

End 1-0

Game 3 vs dark elves

Third and final game of the tournament and this time I managed to get the FAME advantage. 

The elves elected to kick and I moved forward, slow and steady. Playing it as a bash team, pushing the elves backwards. My opponent had to cash dive in the later stage of the half, managed it, but couldn't pick the ball up, which was very lucky for me (well, getting the cage dive was also lucky). I then picked the ball up, secured the ball and could score in turn 8. My opponent had suffered some casualties in the first half, so I liked my odds of winning this one and my luck continued. I could eventually put some pressure on the elves and they handed the ball to a blodge blitzer, but lacking sure hands and dump off, the ball was striped out of his hands and the frogs could recover the ball for a 2-0 win.

End 2-0

Summary

It was a fun tournament and everyone enjoyed themselves. We had four new NAF member sign up, which was the idea behind the tournament and I think some of the new guys will be back for more.

I managed to come in in second place on the same score as the winner. Very happy with that and I really like playing the frogs.

Final standings

I tried something new for this roster, removing the apo and a lineman in favor of a blitzer, compared to my world cup IV roster. I didn't feel that I missed the apo too much as I don't really have any player that I can't live without, except for the froxigor, but he rarely leaves the pitch and the team would work without him. However, I didn't feel that the blitzer did enough to warrant the extra cost. His extra skills and movement is good, but a lineman can usually do the same job just as well.

Considering that I didn't really miss the apo and wasn't convinced by the blitzer, I'm thinking about trading in the blitzer and 3 fan factor for a lineman and a fourth catcher. I'd then leave two catchers naked and give the blitzer skill to a lineman. Might try that roster at Hammabowl in October. 

Thank you for reading.