Underground Cup IV

Underground Cup IV

This was one of the two tournaments I'm co-organizing with Spielmacher and you can find the rules for the tournament on our webpage.

As I won't be able to play in many tournaments this year (due to life), I decided to play as a normal participant. This meant that all my organizing would be prior to the actual tournament.

I had a real struggle on deciding a roster for the tournament, going from dwarves to undead, but as it turns out, fate would have it otherwise. As I was still an organizer, we had said that I'd switch to halflings, if we had someone turn in a stunty roster, in order to have a best stunty award. A halfling roster was sent (and later also an ogre and a goblin roster) in and I played the following;

Roster

2 Treemen (2xBlock)
10 Halflings (4xSide Step)
Puggy
Deeproot
Master Chef
Assistant Coach
Cheerleader

This is more or less my standard halfling roster, although the current meat seems to swing towards Karla and Zara, but I don't have them painted. I was also thinking about going with the Karla and Willow roster, but again, not painted.

Regarding skills, block trees are awesome and I feel that four side steppers is the perfect amount to have. Everything else would just be icing on the cake (in my case, I like to take two diving tacklers and a sure feeter).

Game 1 vs Halflings (Cubefarmer)

What a draw, I was up against a fellow halfling player. Deeproot took money from both team and "ran" for it, but his roster didn't include Puggy, which mine did. He had a reroll instead, which I stole.
I started with the ball and scored at the end of my drive. I then prevented his OTTM attempt with my set up.
In the second half, one of his tree rooted early and I could pressure him (both with position and Puggy blitzes, taking out his halflings) which resulted in an early throw. The halfling scattered backwards, towards my defense and landed in two tacklezones. The flung fling didn't make it and the ball landed in the outstretched arms of one of my flings. I scored in turn 16, sealing the deal.

It was a fun game, but the second half was very one sided.

TD 2-0
CAS 3-2

Game 2 vs Norse (Kohli)

A norse roster without and apo and just 12 players. He'd gone for a sure hands thrower, kick lineman and block on the Yeti. Not the skills I would have gone for, but I'm not a norse player.

I got to kick the ball and was hoping for some damage in order to control the second half. The game started with a blitz and a fling off the field, but my trees responded with two CAS and that got the ball rolling. I could get the ball safe and scored late in my drive. After the second half, my opponent had seven players left on the field, to my ten.

Things just continued the way they started and I pitch cleared my opponent and scored in turn 16.

TD 2-0
CAS 6-4

Game 3 vs Humans (Madfrog)

This was my second game on table 1, but I knew that it wouldn't last. Humans can be quite difficult for flings and this proved to be the case. He pressured me and I lost Puggy to a failed dodge midway through the first half. This prevented me from scoring, but I could stop him from scoring as well.



In the second half, I stole zero rerolls, which made this an uphill battle. I pressured him and had two 1d blitzes on the ball, but both were pushes. I pushed his ball carrier into my endzone in turn 14, leaving me two turns to score a OTTM. Sadly, the kick landed on the sideline, in the endzone. Worst case scenario and I failed a GFI after picking the ball up, which meant that I couldn't get to the ball at all. The human player later went on to winning the whole tournament, so not too sad about losing. Was a fun and close game.

TD 0-1
CAS 2-*don't remember*

Game 4 vs Dwarves (Steinhammer)

Game 4 and best stunty was still up for grabs. I was also in the running for Best Defense, Most CAS and Most TD! I didn't like my chances though, being up against dwarves.

Before Deeproot was killed

I got to receive the ball and thought the game to be lost when he in turn 2 blitz Deeproot with his mighty blow troll slayer. A 5 on the dauntless, knock down and then an 11 on the armour. Shit....a 9 for the injury, plus that mighty blow. No Deeproot! The situation was dire and I didn't manage to score (but neither did he). 

Star of the second half

He played very conservative in the second half, but went down one sideline and after Puggy blocked a blocker away, I could blitz a tree in next to his runner. He dodged out and passed over the tree, which of course made the interception. I had enough turns to score with a treeman, but failed my dodges to screen the tree off. This meant that he could again blitz with a troll slayer, getting the tree down. Sad as it was, that we weren't going to see a treeman TD, I managed to get the ball back and run a fling out of reach from his team. I could score the winning TD in turn 16.

TD 1-0

CAS 4-4

Conclusion

I had so much fun this tournament and very happy, that fate decided to have me take flings. In the end, I won Best Stunty and Best Defense, being the only player to just allow one TD. 

I managed to inflict 15 CAS, which was one less than the Most CAS-winner on 16.

Here are the final standing, which saw me in fourth place. I was ecstatic with my performance and 3-0-1 with flings is a great result.

Thanks for reading

A new year, a new season

It's a new year which means a new season for BBBL.

Last season ended with me having to concede the semi final due to scheduling issues and then losing in the game for third place against amazons. It was a weird game with casualties on both sides. Also very close, but the amazons just managed to get away with the W.
This means that my dark elves ended up in fourth place.

Not too happy with that result as I would have played the wood elf team in my division in the semi finals, whom I had beaten three times before. I would rather have played that game and lost in the finals, but that's life.

I was considering taking the dark elves for a second season, but decided against it.
What I wanted to do was to play some slann, since there are some excellent frogs from JBone on the horizon. I however decided against this at the last minute and decided that I'll build that team up first in our open league and paint them first. Who knows, I might play slann 2018.

What did I go for in the end?
Well, I wanted to try something and have thought about it for a while. Halflings!
Would I be brave enough? Would I be able to win a game?

With there being some new coaches in our leauge I thought it was fairer to them, so I went for it!

I ended up in a division with two new coaches, one semi new and one experienced coach.
I'll be facing dark elves, khemri, necro and nurgle. Nurgle being the experienced coach with a monster team on TV1840. Wish me luck!

On the wood elf front, I've painted all the elves for the team and I'm waiting for the temperatures to rise so I can undercoat my treeman. I'm still on schedule to have the team painted for the first tournament (and my 20th) of the year on the 25th of February. Pictures will follow ones the treeman is done (and perhaps some wip pictures as well).

I'll leave you with some wip of the no finished thrower and last lineman.
Thanks for reading!

Underground Cup II

Underground Cup II

It was time for the second installment of my co-organized tournament and this time around we had 20 coaches, which is a decline from last year, but it was an improvement to last year in terms of venue.

Since I was organizing and playing, I didn't really have time to note down my games and this will be a brief report.

I was playing halflings, since I wanted there to be a stunty cup (or at least I hoped that there would be one, since I handed my roster in before anyone else).

Gesundbrunnen Picknick Packers

2 Trees (2x Block)

10. Halflings (4x Side Step (green ring), 2x Diving Tackle (yellow ring), Sure Feet (white ring))

Puggy

Deeproot

Master Chef

Cheerleader

Assistant Coach

There was one coach brave enough to join me in taking a stunty team and the stunty cup would be won by either halflings or goblins. Let the games begin!

Game 1 vs Norse

I was facing a norse team with just eleven players and if I managed to get them of the pitch, this could work out. My opponent elected to receive and I managed to shut him out in the first half and reducing him down to just six players for the second half.

Halfling defense holding tight

I felt confident that I'd least get a draw out of this game as we started the second half, but that changed fast. I don't know how, but I couldn't pick up the ball and my opponent dodge through tackle zones, picked the ball up and somehow managed to score in turn 16. I lost the game, not a good start to the tournament.

Halflings can't pick up the ball

0-1 (5-3)

Game 2 vs Slann

This was a fun game, but also horrible. My opponent was also playing with an eleven man roster, which made me happy. Frogs without block against three mighty blow block trees? I should have the upper hand when it came to casualties. 

I got to receive the ball and I got one lineman out from the get go. Secured the ball and handed over to my opponent. He just leaped over my screen without any problem. I thought I had him, when he leaped a blitzer over my diving tackle and then dodged away, but he managed to roll a 5 on the reroll. Darn. He knocked my ball carrier down and leaped a catcher over my screen, dodged into two tackle zones, picked the ball up and dodged out. It was a series of 4s, 5s and 6s, just when he needed them. He scored in his second turn, because I couldn't get the catcher down with three block dice (blitzed with Puggy against a catcher with dodge). Frustrating, but such luck couldn't possibly continue, right?

Just before the frogs steal the ball for the first time

Second kick off and he does the same thing and by turn 4 or 5, I'm behind by two TDs. At least I'm up on casualties and my hope was that he'd run out of players, so I could at least tie the game.

I managed to score the 1-2 and he was running out of players, but I didn't manage to score again and the game ended 1-2, but it was close and exciting until the whistle was blown.

1-2 (4-1)

Game 3 vs Skaven

Skaven is one of the teams that I don't like to face with halflings, due to their speed and that proved to be the case in this game as well. I defended and shut him out in the first half, but a gutter runner managed to get the ball from me in the second half and scored at the end of the game. A fun and close game against a rookie tournament player.

0-1 (4-1)

At least I was up on casualties and actually in the lead for most CAS. Having lost all my games so far, I should be up against a soft team and I might be able to score even more casualties. Yeah, that's the plan, let's go for most CAS.

Game 4 vs Dwarves

How can you be on the bottom table and face dwarves? I was not liking this match up, but it proved to be a game in which my luck turned. The game started with a pitch invasion and I had +2 FAME. Eight dwarves were stunned. 8!

Pitch Invasion!

With such a lucky start, I managed to shut him out in his drive and then scored in mine. Also worth noting is that I managed to CAS three dwarves. 3!

1-0 (3-3)

Game 5 vs Dwarves

Facing dwarves twice in a row isn't really what you want as a halfling player. This was the first game in which I didn't stop my opponent from scoring in his/her drive. My opponent scored in his turn 6, which left me with enough time to score an equalizer before half time.

Jelly Nelson on his way to scoring the equalizer

I received the ball in the second half and my opponent was very aggressive, leaving me little room to run. He did however overcommit. I managed to get my ball carrier next to a tree, free the tree with a blitz and then throw the halfling with the tree. An okay scatter and some dodges later, he was screened of from almost the whole dwarf team. There were two longbeards who could reach the ball carrier, but they needed to dodge. To make it even more difficult, I dodge Puggy through his line and managed three 3+ dodges to be in a position where only one of the longbeards could reach Jelly Nelson with the ball. If I had gone for a fourth dodge, he would have been out of reach for the whole dwarf team, but I didn't want to push my luck any further. The longbeard dodged out, GFIed twice and knocked the ball lose. 

I had a second chance, to pick up with a halfling, but didn't manage the pick up in a tackle zone. My opponent then picked the ball up, KOed or CASed the players who could reach the dwarf with the ball and scored the final touchdown in turn 16. What a close game and I'm still debating if I should have made the fourth and final Puggy dodge.

1-2 (0-6)

My opponent later got Most CAS. His skill choice was 6x mighty blow and yes, he was thrilled to have faced halflings.

Game 6 vs Humans

This game was against my co-organizer Spielmacher, who had to fill in for day two. We play a lot of games against and they're all fun games. So was this one.

I managed to yet again stop my opponent from scoring in his drive (first half). It was pouring rain, which helped neither team. I did however managed to pick the ball up on a bounce in the second half, but spent to much time trying to be safe, that I didn't make enough progress forward. The game ended 0-0.

0-0 (3-3)

I was happy with how I played, stopping my opponents in all but one game. I just need to work on my offense. It was fun playing halflings again after a couple of tournaments with dark elves.

Here are some pictures from the tournament

The prize table

Players in action on table 2 and 3

Players in action

Worth noting is that the winner of the tournament, Melisqus had a 6-0-0 and won Most TD, with dwarves! Very very impressive.

What's next?

EurOpen is almost here. I'm leaving for Sweden tomorrow and will be playing in the EurOpen with Spielmacher and JBone. I'm taking dark elves, but with a different build this time.

4x Blitzer (2x Dodge)

1x Witch (Wrestle)

1x Runner (Leader)

5x Linemen (2x Block)

2x Reroll

1x Fan Factor

Apo

I've tried this roster in a couple of games and I like that it's more resilient and less "all eggs in one basket". Wish me luck!

Practice game vs Spielmacher

Wood Elves

A quick update on the wood elves, which are still on track for being painted for the first tournament of the year, next year. Preußenbowl on the 25th and 26th of February

I'm currently working on the wardancers

and here's the rest of the team

Thanks for reading!

X-Mas Bowl, a tale of three losses

X-Mas Bowl, a tale of three losses

This was my worst tournament to date and the report will be quite short, since I'm trying to forget and move on.
But it's not all bad. There's probably some lessons to be had from these three games.

The Gesundbrunnen Picknick Packers (thanks to Kohli for the picture)

Game 1 vs Norse (Kohli)

FAME -1

Blizzard

I got the honor of kicking of and it was going well at the start of the game. I forced him to the sidelines and could even surf his Yeti, but my defense was also split in two. I did however manage to get the ball on the ground, but an unlucky bounce saw his runner take of with the ball, out of my reach. I then focused on removing his players with fouls and blocks. Sadly I didn't manage to do more than KOs.
He scored in his turn 8 and my flung 'fling scattered back, out of reach of the endzone in my turn 8. I did manage to CAS two of his players.
He got all his KOs back and it was 11 vs 10. All i could hope for was a draw.

After my turn 9 (thanks to Kohli for the picture)

I moved up the pitch, screening my ballcarrier, but he still managed to mark the ballcarrier as I was beginning to run low on 'flings. Puggy was called in for the blitz on the ulfwerner marking the ballcarrier and he skulled. I used a loner reroll and failed. Puggy went down and the norse had a good shoot at the ball, but thanks to dodge, they couldn't get the ballcarrier down. It did cost me a turn of advancing and I had to score soon to tie the game.

Moving forward, I couldn't completely screen the ballcarrier of and my opponent could blitz him with his Yeti (which was prone), but I felt that this would be the best option for me. It wouldn't be a 3d block and the Yeti didn't have block nor tackle. As it turned out, the block was a push and a both down. My opponent went for the both down and my 'fling was stunned.
In my last turn, I picked the ball up, handed it off, threw a 'fling, but the flung 'fling didn't land and I lost the game. Even if he would have landed, he would have had to make a GFI, so it was far from certain.

This was a close game where I felt that I had a good chance of tieing or even winning, but all his KOs came back and I didn't  cause enough casualties or rather not early enough.

0-1 (3-3)

Game 2 vs Pro Elves (Heroic_Tackle)

FAME +1

Blizzard

I elect to receive the ball in the hope of getting some elves of the pitch, which I do, but just KOs.
I move up the pitch, screening my ballcarrier of and it's looking promising, but as I approach the endzone, my opponent goes for it and dodges in with a blitzer with dodge. He doesn't even need to use the reroll on the dodge for 5+ and the ball is on the floor. A catcher snatches the ball and runs off. I can't do much about it and I'm fouling and hitting, hoping to get a man advantage in the second half.

Turn 1 for the Picknick Packers

That doesn't work since all of his KOs come back and it's 11 vs 11. He scores late in the half and I go for a OTTD, which succeeds. It's now 1-2 and he moves a couple of targets forward for the score. I don't even bother defending and move everything forward, throwing a 'fling which blitzes the thrower in his backfield. I can't get the thrower down and he easily scores in his turn 16.

1-3 (1-2)

Game 3 vs Wood Elves (Seagull)

FAME -1
Nice weather

This game was close. I moved up the pitch, trying to get some elves out, but couldn't manage anything but KOs.
In my opponents turn 7, he leaps with his strip ball wardancer (without a reroll) and get's a hit on the ballcarrier. To add insult to injury, the wardancer picks the ball up and dodges back out, which means that the half ends 0-0 and without any casualties. This is however my fault, since I could have made it harder for my opponent.

The picknick Packers moving up the field (thanks to Kohli for the picture)

In the second half, my opponent gets his KOs back and it's 11 vs 11. I managed to stop him from scoring twice, but I can't do so a third time and it's 0-1. I fail the landing in my turn 16 and thus landing me last place at this tournament.

0-1 (1-0)

This means that I drop a total of 9,08 in NAF ranking with the 'flings. I don't think I'll get back up above 150 again.
Did I mention, that this was my 13th NAF tournament? Yes, the unlucky number 13.

My next tournament will be Preußenbowl and it's got even more adventitious rules for 'flings. I might play them again, just to prove to myself that I can play them or let them rest until I've forgot all about this tournament. I guess it depends on my progress with the dark elves 2.0.

Thanks for reading

Roster for X-Mas Bowl, flowers and dark elves

I haven't posted since StockBowl Cup VI report, but I've been busy painting.

But first, I'd like to talk about my roster for the X-Mas Bowl on the 13th of december.
It's a very small tournament here in Berlin and it's just going to be three games and around 10 coaches taking part.

I asked on twitter if I should go for undead or halflings and the result was undead. Since then, the rules for the tournament have changed and I've painted four dark elf linemen.

Dark elf linemen (I need to work on my photography)

What does the linemen have to do with it you ask? Well, my plan was to play haflings at the Preußenbowl in February next year, but by the looks of it, I'll get my dark elves done in time. That means that I'd like to play my dark elves 2.0 and the main reason for that would be that it will be the most recently finished team, but also because next year will be the year of the dark elf for me. I'd like to play them at the Dungeonbowl and also at Eur'Open. I also feel like Preußenbowl is one of the tournaments in which I'd have a chance at a NAF trophy and a tournament win.

This menas that I'll play less halflings next year, so why not play them next weekend? Just for fun and who knows, I might reclaim the #1 spot as the best halfling player in Sweden, if I win three games (not going to happen). The roster will be the standard one with:

2 Trees (2x block)
10 'flings (4x side step)
Master Chef
Peggy
Deeproot
AC
Cheerleader

To inspire the Gesundbrunnen Picknick Packers, I've added some flowers to their bases and display base. I've been meaning to do this for a while and I've finally come around to doing so. I wanted to add something to the bases, so they don't look "flat".

Here's some pictures



Wish me luck at the tournament!
Flower Power!

Dungeonbowl 2015

My first ever Dungeonbowl and I was both excited and anxious, because I wasn't sure how the halflings would preform without two block trees from the get go. You'll find my roster here.

I was very surprised over how good the venue and organization was and that alone will see me back next year.

As we got our goodies after registration we also got a name tag. Mine was quite easy to find, due to the only one with a blue and yellow flag.

Name tags

For this year, Marian had made a 3D dungeon board for the final. It was very well made as was the prizes.

Dungeon and prizes

Game 1 vs Lycos Undead 1-1 (5-3)

The draw for the first round saw me playing against Lycos. I didn't think I'd stand a chance, but I might lear a thing or two and losing the first game might not be the worst thing, since I'd then hopefully play an easier opponent in game 2.

Lycos played a quite standard roster with a tackle wight, block ghoul and a guard wight, if I'm not mistaken (3 RRs).

FAME -1
Nice weather

Lycos wins the toss and elects to let me kick, which isn't so bad, since I'd be able to defend with 11 players as well as probably being able to line up 11 players in turn 8, increasing my chances of throwing a halfling for a score.

After the set up, I role for my master chef and I steal 3 RRs, which is extremely lucky and it's actually the first time I've stolen three.

The kick off result is an 8 and Lycos gets a RR.

The half was really brutal and both teams lose a lot of players The worst offender is his tackle wight, which knocked out (or worse) several halflings. Once it's clear that he'll score, I back my players of of his team to protect Puggy. He'd already CASed all of my side steppers so I just leave him to score in turn 8. 

My OTTM failed because the halffling landed on a skeleton, which was a shame. He'd otherwise be in a good position for a score.

At the start of the second half, my master chef manages to steal 2 RRs, so he was very effective this game, but that was just what I needed this game. 

I start a slow drive up the field and I manage to get some of his players off of the field. It's however not enough and I get bogged down half way up his half. I see no other chance but to throw the halfling with the ball. He lands and runs in the equalizer in my 7th turn.

That leaves two turns for Lycos to score and he runs in with multiple receivers in my half and leaves a wight with the ball in his half. The wight however stands four squares from one of my trees, so I blitz the zombie next to the tree and GFI my way up to the wight, to at least force a dodge. I then fail a dodge with a halflings, who'd otherwise mark one of the receivers. This leaves me quite exposed, but Lycos needs to dodge, GFI, catch and then GFI twice for the win and he's got his RR left.

As it turns out, Nuffle didn't want Lycos to win and he fails his dodge on a 2 rerolled into a 2. The game ends 1-1 and I'm over the moon with that result.

It was a great game and Lycos is a great opponent.

I was also nominated for the Best Painted award, which was a real honor, although I didn't think I'd win. (Spoiler: I didn't). My team is well painted, but not best painted level.

Game 2 vs MostMost Skaven1-1 (2-1)

My opponent had the following, 4 Gutter runners, 1 Blitzer, Hakflem Skuttlespike, 6 linerats, 1 thrower. One block GR, one wrestle GR and Leader on the thrower.

FAME +1
Pouring rain

I decided to kick, because of the rain, hoping that he might fail the pick up, giving me some more time to beat on his linerats.

My master chef stole 2 RRs, which left him with just his leader RR.

Kick off nice weather, but at least it's a deep kick

He moves a cage of gutter runners up the field and I mark it with Deeproot and another tree. I then suround it with halflings, making it difficult for him to block or dodge his way out. He can't and he loses the ball. A halfling picks it up and I can score 1-0 in turn 6, I think. It leaves him enough time to score the equalizer.

1-1 after the first half

I was liking my chances for the second half. Just grind und the field with the trees and screen of the ball carrier for the 2-1 win in turn 16. He'd have a hard time one turning against three trees.

I steal his 2 RRs and he's yet again left with just his leader RR.

He rolls for the kick off and it's a Blitz!

I can't beleive it. From going for the win I'm now faced with the task of keeping him out of my endzone. He floods my backfield with gutter runners, but I still manage to make it to my trees, but it doesn't mean that I'm out of the woods yet.
I got bogged down and had to throw a halffling in turn 7. The halfling lands, but my opponent couldn't blitz him down, but swarmed the poor halffling instead. I couldn't dodge through (would have been two GFIs as well). This leaves him with a long bomb for the win, which he fails and the game ends in a draw.

I thought I had a good shoot at a win in this game, but it wasn't to be.
I hate the blitz result...

Game 3 vs peterd Undead 0-2 (2-7 CAS)

For some reason, Peter didn't want to play against me. Must be because he just had two rerolls. His roster was 3 ghouls, 2 wights, 2 mummies, and a mix of skeletons and zombies for 14 players. 2 RRs.
One tackle Wight, sure hands ghoul and block ghoul.

FAME 0
Nice weather

I decided to kick for the same reasons as given in game 1 (although it was fored up on me in that game)

I don't remember a lot from this game, except that it wasn't good. Peter blitzed with his tackle wight almost every turn and got a halfling of the field.
Another thing I remember is Puggy catching a bouncing ball thanks to his nerves of steal. I thought "I might still have a chance" but Puggy trips on his own hair feet while trying to get away.

Everything that could go wrong went wrong and I lost 0-2.
In hindsight, maybe I shouldn't have kicked, but I'm not sure that would have changed the outcome of the game.

Game 4 vs Letzy Skaven 0-1 (2-3)

Another skaven game. Skaven might be the worst match up for halflings, together with elves.

Letzy had 4 Gutter runners, 2 Blitzers, Ratogre, Thrower and 4 Linerats. 2 wrestle GRs, 2 guard Blitzers, block on the ogre and something else that I can't remember. 3 RRs

Fame +1
Nice weather

I decided to receive in order to maybe knock some rats out early.

I start with a slow grind up the pitch behind my trees.

After my first turn

Things are going well until turn 5. I blitz with Puggy, to open a hole, through which I can run my loose cage/screen and be in a good position to score. I roll for the block and it's a double skull. Darn.

Letzy can't get to the ball, but I can't score as easily. I still try, but I can't make the two dodges needed to get into the endzone and my halflings CASes himself in the process.

It's 0-0 at halftime and it's not looking good for the second half.

He scored in in his second turn of the second half. That left me with seven turns to score for the draw.
I almost make it, but it wasn't meant to be. My second loss of the tournament.

Game 5 vs Gninocker Underworld 1-0 (2-1)

He had a bit of a unusua roster.
1 troll (leader), 2 throwers (pro, block), Nobbla Blackwart, 1 Blitzer (mighty blow) and enough goblins for a 16 man roster (side step, two heads), Apo and 2 RRs

Nice weather
Fame +1

I get to kick, but I might have done that anyways, so I was okay with that.

My master chef steals 2 RRs.

The kick off is an 8 and he gets the reroll.

He starts his turn by going after Puggy. To do so, he dodges Nobbla in to two tackle zones and I point out that he can't use the positive effects of stunty with a chainsaw. He shruggs and rolls the die. It's a 6!
That's how this game went, more or less. He dodged his players away from my trees, into tackle zones, picking up balls in tackle zones and didn't roll below a 5. He even dodge away from my diving tackle player several times, but it doesn't matter when you're not rolling below 5.

I still manage to steal the ball and get my ball carrier close to his endzone. My ball carrier and a friend was standing next to the endzone, with a side step goblin in the endzone. I thought, that my odds were better, just blocking the goblin with 2d, since I just needed a push. which would have meant that I could follow up when his side step goblin was pushed. It felt safer than dodging, but I'll have to check the odds for the next time.The result is a both down and the half ends 0-0.

After some weird turn of events, I manage to score in my 16th turn, but it wasn't easy. He made all his Skaven dodges and yet again ignored my diving tackle halfling. He however failed one dodge with his two headed goblin. A 1 rerolles into a 2, so I used my diving tackle halfling, for the first time in the game. This meant that he couldn't put pressure on my ball carrier, seven squares away from the endzone. I had to make a 2d block to push a thrower (without block) out of my ball carriers path and make two GFIs. It all succeeds and I'm up 1-0, with just one turn remaing.

I fails in his attempt to block down the tree next to the troll and the game ends 1-0.

Game 6 vs Steamroller Necro 2-0 (4-2)

He had 2 werewolves (block and mighty blow), 2 flesh golems (both block), 2 wights (guard), 2 ghouls (sure hands), 3 zombies and 2 RRs.

Nice weather
FAME -1

I elect to kick and steal one of his RRs.

I scored in my sixth turn and I've by then inflicted 3 CAS and a KO. 2 Zombies out and just one of the CAS was regenerated. It was looking quite good for me and he didn't have enough zombies to cover my trees.
He had three turns to score, but without a reroll it might prove a difficult task.

He gets a RR on the kick off, but still can't score. He tried to attack me on both flanks, which was spreading himself a bit thin. I managed to surf a werewolf and that was it for the first half.

I steal both his rerolls and roll a perfect defence on the kick off. He couldn't have a worse start.

After the perfect defence

That stops him and he can't recover. I can steal the ball and walk in for a 2-0 score in turn 16.

That means that I end the tournament with a 2-2-2 record and place 36 out of 68.
I'm the best halffling player and the second best stunty player, which I'm happy with. I feel like I could have won one more game, but at least I managed a 50% record. Hopefully, I can win that third game at the NAFC instead. Speaking of which, I thought it would be more brutal not having two block trees from the get go, but as it turns out, it wasn't that much of a difference. I'm looking forward to the NAFC even more now and I'll probably keep the same skills as the NAFC has the same rulepack.

At one point during my last game, my opponent picked Deeproot up and dropped him on the table, due to his cheese doodle fingers. From what I could see then, there was no damage done, but once I got home and had a closer look, he'd chipped some of the paint of. I hope that I can repair the damage, but don't eat and play Kids! I'll also start being a bit more selective on who moves the miniatures.

Chipped Deeproot

Roster for Dungeonbowl

I'm going to Dungeonbowl next weekend and I'm taking 'flings. After the success at Blood BaTTTH I might as well give it a go.

The rules for Dungeonbowl are a bit different and I'm getting less skills, which is a bit scary.

Here's the roster

2 Trees
10 Halflings
2 FF
1 Master Chef
Deeproot
Puggy

It's the same roster as I've used in previous tournaments, but the skill selection is different.

Skills day 1: 3x Side Step
I was thinking about getting a skill for one of the trees, but I don't believe that there's a skill that's better than side step on a 'fling. For me, it's all about defense with the 'flings and side step allows me to slow down my opponent until the trees can arrive and help. Break tackle could be nice, for the threat, but I can't count on getting rerolls and it seems like a turnover waiting to happen.

Skills day 2: Block, Side Step, Diving Tackle
The double skill seemed like a given, it had to be block on a tree. You can't get a better skill on a tree, since it adds reliability and it makes him harder to knock down. To that I added yet another side step 'fling and a diving tackle 'fling. I liked diving tackle at Blood BaTTTH and thought I'd give the skill another try.

Let's see how it goes.
Wish me luck!

Blood BaTTH 2015

First tournament of the year and I was excited (you can find my roster here). As the venue started to fill and people started to pack out their teams, my spirit sank a bit. Out of the twelve teams there were two chaos dwarf and a normal dwarf team. I was hoping that I wouldn’t face any of them, but it wasn’t to be…

Game 1 vs Chaos Dwarves 0-1 (1-2)

Nice weather
Fame +1

1st half (No Rerolls)

He elected to receive and I set up my trees on the LOS. He started to go down one of my flanks, which is exactly what I want. Sadly though, he got one the tree on that side down on the ground and the tree on the other side rooted. Deeproot alone couldn’t stop the chaos dwarves from breaking through as the downed tree stood up three turns later.

All I could do was foul a chaos dwarf with guard in turn 7, which resulted in an injury.

The chaos dwarfs then scored in their turn 8 and my TTM attempt in my turn 8 failed.

2nd half (No Rerolls)

My turn 9 started with a tree rooting, so I decided to go down the other side. I got bogged down and started to make my way back to the rooted tree. 

Back by the rooted tree

The plan was then to keep the dwarves occupied with the other two trees and running down the other side. This however didn’t work and in a last attempt for the TD in turn 7, I rushed the ball carrier forward and put him next to the chaos dwarf in the back and blitzed with another ’fling. The plan was to get the chaos dwarf tied up, leaving him with either a dodge followed by a blitz or a blitz with a hobgoblin, which would be okay odds, since the ’fling had side step. I didn’t work, since I got a skull on the blitz.

After that it was all over and the chaos dwarves had won.

It was however a close and fun game and I’m kind of happy with the result.
This guy (Junior) ended up wining the tournament, which makes me even happier with the result.

Having weathered the storm, I was looking forward to playing something else than dwarves.

It wasn’t to be…

Game 2 vs Chaos Dwarves 1-1 (3-4)

Nice weather
Fame +1

1st half (1 Reroll)

He elects to receive and move forward, but I manage to blitz his ball carrier (Puggy dodges by his bull centaur and hit the hobgoblins for a 1d blitz). After a bit of a scrum, he recovers the ball and scores in turn 8.

In my turn 8, the TTM attempt fails due to the ’fling scattering one square back, out of reach of the endzone, but at leasts he lands.

2nd half (1 Reroll)

Not much to say about this half. I get a lot of his players of the field and can score in turn 16.

A lot of chaos dwarves watching the game from the side line

On the last turn of the game, we get a pitch invasion, where my whole front line is stunned, but it doesn’t matter. The game ends 1-1. 

The only pitch invasion that didn't go my way. I guess the Picknick Packer fans was having, well, a picknick

Game 3 vs Amazon 0-1 (3-2)

Blizzard
Fame +1

1st half (1 Reroll)

Not much to tell. I tried to run through my opponent and then down a side and couldn’t break through. I got some amazons of the pitch and that was it..

2nd half (No rerolls)

The second half started with a pitch invasion in witch half his team hits the ground, but none of mine.

A pitch invasion and the ball next to the LOS. I should have played it cool

This was however my downfall, since I saw an opportunity to win this game, which made me too eager. I moved forward too much and my opponent could move around my players and form a safe cage. He scored in turn 16

I then failed my TTM attempt and thus the game ended 0-1.

Game 4 vs Goblins 1-0 (5-3)

Nice weather
Fame +2

1st half (1 Reroll)

My opponent wanted to receive the ball and after picking it up he decided to pass it to a waiting goblin in turn 2. The pass failed and I could pick it up and move forward.

The Picknick Packers scope the ball up after the failed pass

My opponent constantly put my under pressure and played good defense and I didn’t manage to score. He got Deeproot down on a one die block with a troll (without block) which forced me to dodge through with the ball carrier, but I failed and lost the ball. Otherwise Deeproot would probably have move the troll out of the way (35/36) so that the ball carrier could have run forward towards the endzone. I was however not that sad, because I would receive the ball and I had the player advantage.

2nd half (1 Reroll)

I walked up the field scoring CAS and a TD in turn 7, because I wanted to be sure of at least a draw. He also just had one troll left, so a TTM wouldn’t be so easy, even with two turns.
He failed the attempt and I won 1-0.

Game 5 vs Goblins 2-0 (4-1)

Nice weather
Fame +1

1st half (1 Reroll)

Pitch invasion!

No one of my players go down to half his team which means that I can advance up the field removing his players as I go along. The only threat was the bomber (after having injured the ball and chain), who had done nothing so far, but in his turn 6, he throws a HMP-Bomb that lands on top of my ball carrier, killing him outright!

I scope the ball up with another ’fling and run it in in turn 8.
Thus forcing him to use a bribe on the bomber.

In his turn 8, he manages to throw a bomb, that injurys a ’fling and KOs Puggy. A hard blow.

After that the chainsaw cuts Deeproot down and KOs him. He doesn’t manage the TTM, although he came close.

2nd half (2 Rerolls)

Sadly, Deeproot stays KOed, but at least Puggy came back, giving me a numbers advantage for the second half.

Deeproot taking a nap, leaving Aaron Dodgers with LOS duty

My opponent tries to cut down another tree, but fails. The tree in return smashed the goblin, stunning him and he is finally removed after being kicked in the head by Clay Muttons.

At the end of the half my opponent has three of four players left, two of them being stupid trolls.

I can score in turn 16, securing the stunty cup!

Game 6 vs Slann 2-1 (2-1)

The final game of the tournament and I’m up against DocMAXX, who’s a very competent Slann player. I didn’t expect to win this at all, but I was currently leading the race for most CAS, so I thought I’d go for that.

1st half (2 Rerolls)

He kicks to me and I start by injuring one frog and KOing two, I think. This game is a bit of a blur where the frogs leave the pitch in droves. I was really lucky while DocMAXX wasn’t. I think he had five players left on the field at the end of the first half in which I score.

2nd half (2 Rerolls)

His KOs doesn’t want to come back, so he starts the half with seven players (I think).

He sends a couple of frogs down the field and I ignore the catcher with the ball in his backfield and go for the receivers instead. Getting them out to blitzes and fouls. Another goes down to a diving tackle. He scores in turn 12.with just four players on the pitch. I can’t stop him, but I could have made it more difficult than I did. I made a misstake on a blitz, choosing both down instead of a push, hoping for an armour break on a linefrog, but it wasn’t to be. That of course ended my turn and I didn’t foul his catcher. I should have gone for the push and fouled the catcher, maybe leaving him with a harder leap and catch for the long bomb from the catcher in his backfield.

He however had to use his last reroll and as I received the ball, the frogs stayed in the KO-box and I could score in turn 16.

This went so much better than I could hope for and it was because of the dice.
DocMAXX was good sport about it and I tip my hat to him.

As it turned out, I had one best stunty, best painted, most CAS and third place, which is way better than I’d hoped for. I’d like to thank all the Gesundbrunnen Picknick Packer fans that should up and beat my opponents to the ground during the pitch invasions.

The Gesundbrunnen Picknick Packers with the prices

I’ve already got my next tournament coming up this weekend (PreußenBowl), but I’ll be playing dark elves. It’s the same roster as I’m using in the RTTNAFC.

Wish me luck!

Gesundbrunnen Picknick Packers Logo

After asking twitter about the new logo, I got some great feedback.

I've now iterated the logo.
Here's the steps I took to find the now adopted logo.

Original logo

First rework

Change of font

Addition of a G on the helmet

Final logo

 What do you think?
Any suggestions on improvements are welcome

Roster for BLOOD BATTTH and a new logo

I thought I'd continue the tradition of sharing my roster and thoughts for tournaments. This time it's the BLOOD BATTTH tournament in Hannover on the 7th-8th of February.
You'll find the rules here.

The roster is going to be quite similar to the one for StockBowl Cup but with additional skills.
The first day will be exactly the same, which means block on the trees and three side stepping 'flings.
On day two, I added a fourth side stepper, but that means that I've reached the maximum of four of one skill. I thought about adding two sure feet 'flings, but having had some bad experince with them at Oktoberbowl I instead opted for going even more on the defensive. So I added to diving tackle 'flings. I haven't tried them out in a tournament yet, since I think side step is much better, but I'll gladly give them a go.

So, here's the roster
2 Trees (2x Block)
10 Halflings (2x Diving Tackle, 4x Side Step)
2 FF
1 Master Chef
Deeproot
Puggy

The Gesundbrunnen Picknick Packers

Lets see how it goes.
Fingers crossed.
If I can improve on my NAF-Ranking at this tournament, I'll be very happy.

To help the Gesundbrunnen Picknick Packers further for the 2015 season, I decided to improv the logo.
Hopefully, this brings luck and who knows, maybe even a stunty cup somewhere.

New logo

StockBowl Cup V

You’ll find my roster here.

Game 1 vs Chaos Dwarfs (Thursablot)

The first draw was in and I was up against chaos dwarfs. Not the greatest start to a tournament when you’re playing ’flings. On the positive side, my rival and friend brocCooLi (the other ’Fling player and the greatest rival for the Stunty Cup) was also facing chaos dwarves. 

This would be my third game against Thursablot. We’ve so far won one each, but this match up was not in my favor. 

We rolled for the ball and it turned out to be a stab-ball. I also got fame and was forced to receive the kick-off. First thing that happens is that one of my ’flings is badly hurt by a thrown rock from the chaos dwarf fans. Already down a player.

I don’t remember too much from the game but he pressured me and I was loosing players to dodges and blocks. He stole the ball and scored in his turn 8.

In the second half I can line up with 9 players (3 trees, no Puggy) and the game ends 2-0 after a perfect grind from the chaos dwarves.

TD 0-2

CAS 2-3

Game 2 vs Dwaves

After the first game I was hoping for something softer than chaos dwarves. I had a look at the match up for round 2 and felt another loss coming my way.

We once again got a stab-ball and I’m forced to receive the ball.

The kick-off result is a blitz and puts me under pressure. I screen of my ball carrier, but make the mistake of not seeing a troll slayer behind on of my trees (I thought it was a regular blocker, might be that he also had a blue skill ring). It was  hard to tell the positional apart. They all looked the same, except that the base edge was blue (troll slayers), brown (blitzers) or grey (runners) instead of black. 

Pink dwarves, where I had a bit of trouble telling the positional apart

He then blocks my tree with the slayer, needing a 4+ on the dauntless roll, which he succeeded with. He made three dauntless blocks on my trees during the game, needing 4+ for two of them and a 5+ against Deeproot. He made them all. This opens up my screen and he can get to my ball carrier.

Fortunately for me he can’t get to the ball so the half ends in a draw. He’s however lost dwarves and I’ve got a man up on him in the second half.

In the second half, I try my best to stop him from scoring, but he breaks through my defense and he’s in a semi safe position. He stops at the goal line and I surround him with ’flings. After a couple of tries I can blitz his ball carrier with Puggy and get the ball. I scramble up the field to a waiting tree who then throws the ’fling. Sadly, he scatters out of TD range by a square. He does however land. At least that is something.

The game ends in a draw, which I am very happy with.

TD 0-0

CAS 3-3

Game 3 vs Norse (Skoberget)

Not the greatest match up, but the best so far.

Once again it’s a stab ball, but this time I don’t win the fame.

I’m forced to receive the kick off and start by killing one of his linemen. Great start to the game.

I then set up a screen and try to move up the field. In my turn two, I start by blitzing with Puggy to move the screen up the field, double skull. My turn ends and I’m now under pressure from my opponent and he can blitz my ball carrier. The ball bounces around for a while before it lands in the branches of a rooted tree. The half ends in a draw.

Of the five KOs (one of them Puggy) only a side stepping ’Fling wakes up.

It’s now 10 ’Flings (incl. 3 Trees) against 8 Norse.

He moves down one of my flanks and I can pin him with my trees. After a coupler of turns, I get a blitz on his ball carrier with a ’fling. 2d up hill, but it’s a pow and a dodge pow. The ball is on the ground. My opponent then has a turnover when blocking/blitzing (double skulls) and since he doesn’t have any rerolls (I’ve got them) I can pick up the ball and run for the endzone. His players screened of by trees.

'Flings running away with the ball

I score in my turn 8 and that ends the game.

TD 1-0

CAS 5-0

Game 4 vs Underworld (Jox)

Final game of the day and I’m getting tiered. I’m up against underworld, which I’ve never played against in a tournament.

A great looking Underworld team. The game is always better with nicely painted miniatures

The game starts with me kicking off to him and he moves down one of my flanks, where I then pressure him with my trees and screen of with my ’flings.

Before my 'fling loses the ball

I get a blitz in with Puggy and pop the ball free, but he picks it up with Skitter Stab Stab after blitzing my 'fling who caught the ball and runs in for a TD in turn 6.

This leave me with two turns to score. He kicks deep and I spend one turn getting the ball to the LOS. I get two productive turns, KOing one player and CASing Skitter Stab Stab and a goblin.

I also land with my ’fling in turn 8 and he runs in for the score.

My opponent made two errors here, setting up his guys at the endzone, which meant that the landing was as easy as it could be and I didn’t even have to dodge in, thanks to a lucky scatter. (He didn’t have enough players to cover the whole line.) He also place Skitter Stab Stab within blitzing range of Puggy.

This meant that I had 8 turns to grind up the field against his 9 players (against my full team).

I got some more CAS and scored in turn 8. 

TD 2-1

CAS 5-3

Before game 5, I was leading best stunty and most CAS.

The red cape for most CAS

Game 5 vs Undead (Skuld)

I’ve played Skuld once before at Oktoberbowl and we had a good time. I was expecting no less from this game and I wasn’t disappointed.

For the first time in the tournament, I had a sleeping ball.

I kick the ball off to him and then I screen his progress, putting him under pressure, which he escapes by dodging his ball carrier away, followed by me yet again forcing him to dodge. He even had to go backwards after the picture below was taken.

Ball carrier under pressure

I was happy with my defense and if I hadn’t failed a dodge with the last ’fling, who was supposed to plug a gab in my screen (between the rooted trees), I might have been able to hold out longer. My opponent did, because of this gab, dodge his ball carrier out, pass the ball to a waiting ghoul, who the ran out of my range. He scored in turn 7, leaving me two turns to throw a ’fling, which I did in turn 8. He however scattered out of range and didn’t land.

In the second half, he kicks very deep and he gets his ghouls through my screen, dodging through two tackle zones and can steal the ball for his second score in turn 7. 

I once again try to throw a ’fling, but I yet again scatter out of range, but I improve upon my last try by landing.

My opponent didn’t fail any dodges during the game and he made at least two every turn (sometimes into tackle zones). This killed me even though I think I played some good defense in the first half and that was with two rooted trees (knocked down in turn 1, rooted in the turn they got up (turn 2 and 3)).

TD 0-2

CAS 1-2

This meant that I was no longer leading the most CAS, but brocCooLi also lost, which meant that I was still in the lead for best stunty. All I had to do was win my last game.

Game 6 vs Amazons (Bim)

I haven’t played a lot against Amazons, but they aren’t a good match up, since they do what you do, only better and with blodge and guard.

The ball doesn’t want to be caught and there’s a -1 modifier for handling the ball.

That’s great, since I’m kicking to the Amazons, but she managed to pick up the ball and moved down one of my flanks. I once again put pressure on my opponent with Deeproot (both the normal trees rooted, even with a reroll, in turn 1 and 2). The amazons can’t escape Deeproot and he blitzes the ball carrier, knocking her down and the bouncing ball lands in the hands of a ’fling (o a 5+). He then runs of as fast as he can, while I try to screen the amazons of. She manages to blitz the ball carrier in turn 7, but he’s got side step and just steps in to the end zone (I was stalling as much as I dared, forcing her to dodge and GFI to get to him. She didn’t have any retools left, so I felt kind of safe doing this, since she couldn’t blitz with a block player and I had side step).

In my turn 8 I then KO one and CAS two Amazons.

Second half and I’m feeling quite good about the situation as the ball goes to sleep on the kick-off.

I move up the field, screening my ball carrier, but mid through the half, I leave a space for a blitz (which I didn’t see. Damn Willy trees, being so large). She knocked the ball lose and I change my plan to just screen the ball off so the Amazons can’t get to it. Thanks to a couple of chain pushes the ball finally bounce out from the scrum of trees and ’flings. This was a great play from my opponent and the Amazons can then score in turn 6.

This leaves me with two turns to score. It’s no over yet.

I catch the ball on a high kick and set up for a throw, but after handing the ball off to the waiting ’fling, I decide to throw in my turn 8. I decided to do so for one reason, being that if I fail, I don’t want to leave my opponent two turns to move it the length of the field (which is possible for Amazons). 

I start regretting my decision when my opponent start basing my throwing tree, but due to a failed dodge, the Amazons just get one lady next to the tree. Peggy then pushes her away and the tree throws the ’fling in to the air. He scatters within range of the endzone. I just need to land and make a GFI.

The landing is a 6! My pulse is running high. I can win this!!

I lift my dice cup to reveal a 1. A 1!!!

(I know, I didn't lose the game on the one, but rather on my positionning during the second half)

To make things worse, the ball scatter into the crowed, who then throws it straight down the pitch. It lands in a good position for the Amazons to score in their turn 8. I hold my breath as my opponent dodges out, picks the ball up (using a reroll), hands it off in a tackle zone, dodges out again, passes and fails. The ball scatters, but it lands just next to the reciever. The game ends in a tie.

TD 1-1

CAS 3-3

I was now on 6 points after 6 games (2-2-2) and had a look at how my rival was doing. brocCooLi was winning, which meant that we were tied at 6 points.

That left it down to the first tie breaker, strength of schedule, which he won by one point. One point!

If it had gone to net TD and CAS, I would have won on a plus 3 to his plus 1.

So close!

I’ll get you next time brocCooLi!

I really enjoyed the tournament and I’m quite happy with how I faired.

Thanks to the organizers and all the players.