Matt's OwlCon Cup 2013 Report

I went to OwlCon XXXII at Rice Univ and played in the OwlCon Cup Blood Bowl tournament put on by the great guys from the South West Houston Blood Bowl League. If you are a gamer in the Houston, TX II highly recommend this great game con. We were in the building with all the board and miniature gaming as well the vendor hall. Although there was a small turnout, 5 coaches (Plus the TO Aiden), we all had a blast!

The rules for the team build were 1,100K plus a skill pack: 6xNormal or 4xNormal and 1xDoubles or 2xNormal and 2xDoubles. I took my Black Orc Bock Bashers Orc team. with the skills listed below

Points 55 pts Win, 30 pts Draw, 10 pts Loss

Bonus's: Loss by only 1 TD +6 pts, Win by 2 TD+  +6 pts, Same Cas, but >0 +8 pts, More Cas +8 pts

1 x Passer

4 x Blitzers (2x Guard, 2xTackle)

4 x BoBs (2xBlock)

3 x Linemen

3 x RR

1 x FF

Full Player list:

Player - NAF - Race - Team - League

Matt McDonough - WildManTX - Orc - Black Orc Bock Bashers - ABBL

Patrick Wynn - Sturmjarl - Slaan - The Nevermore Ravens - SWHBBL

Kent Raffray -  KRaff - DE - Phrog Phorce Phi - ABBL

Duane Moore - (TBD, joined onsite) - DE - Blood Bowl G's - ABBL

Brad Wales - Temujin71 - Necro - The Dead Rebels - SWHBBL

Aiden O'driscoll - mrrip - Khemri - The Desert Dogs  - SWHBBL

Game 1

The Nevermore Ravens - Dark Elf

Patrick Wynn - Sturmjarl

1xRunner (Leader)

4xBlitzers (1xGuard, 1xDodge)

2xWitchElfs (Wrestle)

4x Linemen

1xRR

2xFF

Apo

Game started off with Patrick getting +2 Fame but thankfully it never really played into the game. The first half showed off his agility and my caging. Half ended with game tied up at 1 but I had kept one of his WE out of most of the first half in the KO box. In the second half I caged up but time was running out so I had to force the ball forward to go for the win, but runner tripped and ball was loose. The DE scooped up the ball and were able to get ball within a few squares of a TD. My Black Ors saved the day first by blitzing the ball loose and they by bracketing the ball on the sidelines. In a last ditch effort the DE tried a bunch of insane dodges and a pickup to go for the score, they came close, they dodged to the ball and picked it up but failed to dodge back out. I could never really hurt his WE, even with Tackle or take out his lone Guard Blitzer. Great game and Patrick ended up 2nd overall

Black Orc Bock Bashers - Orcs 1 (2)

The Nevermore Ravens - Dark Elf 1 (0)

38 Points (Got the Hurt 'Em Bad Bonus, for causing more casualties)

Game 2 (Ringer)

The Desert Dogs - Khemri

Aiden O'driscoll - mrrip

4xTomb Guardians (2xMighty Blow)

1xPassRa (Leader)

1xBlitzRa (Guard)

7xSkeletons (2xBlock)

3xRR

1xBloodwieser Babe

Aiden was the TO and playing a Ringer team to even out the tournament. I really thought I was in for a beating from the Khemri, (they ended up handing out 7 Casualties in 3 game). Much to my surprise I KO's a Tomb Guardian on turn 2 and was pretty much able to beat him down with some RED hot dice rolling and get 2 first half scores. The second half was no different and the game ended midway through the second half.

Black Orc Bock Bashers - Orcs 3 (3)

The Desert Dogs - Khemri 0 (0)

69 Points (Got the Hurt 'Em Bad Bonus, for causing more casualties and Blowout for +2 TD)

Game 3 (Table 1)

Phrog Phorce Phi - Slaan

Kent Raffray - KRaff

4xCatcher (1xDodge, 1xSure Hands)

2xBlitzers (1x Guard, 1xTackle)

6xLinemen (1xWrestle, 1xKick)

4xRR

This was a ABBL showdown with a coach and team I was familiar with as I had recently faced Kent's Phrog Phorc Phi in the ABBL fall season twice and had a record of 1 L 1D. Also this was critical as a Win could win it for us but a Draw could cause us both to lose out. After winning the coin flip the Orc proceeded to cage dance down the pitch for 8 turns. I tried to keep my guard in opposite corners of the cage to prevent a leaping cage break. The Bashers scoring on turn 8 but also did not cause any significant carnage. The second half started with the Slaan sprinting down the sidelines. I was able to find a way to crowd surf the ball carrier out, cover the ball pretty well but failed to pick up the ball in a tackle zone. This left Kent a pick, pass and catch away from an easy score which he did. In typical Orc fashion the Basher caged right back up and started to drive, but the clock was starting to wind down. The Phrogs were able to pop the ball out with the Orcs in scoring range but it was still in scrum. The Orcs cleared the Slaan away from the ball and were a pick and handoff away from the win but the Passer double failed the pickup. The Slaan then attempted a Pass/Punt to clear the ball away from the end zone and seal the draw but an Orc Blitzer intercepted the pass and a quick handoff later had won the game!

Black Orc Bock Bashers - Orcs 2 (0)

Phrog Phorce Phi - Slaan 1 (1)

55 Points (No Bonus)

The Black Orc Bock Bashers still had to sweat out the final total as Patrick's The Nevermore Ravens has also finished with 2W 1D. When the final totals were in the Black Orc Bock Bashers were OwlCon Cup Champions edging out Patrick's Nevermore Ravens Dark Elf team by 2 points! I really tried to play a conservative game with careful but no over aggressive Defense and a Guard enhanced cage on Offence. I got a play coaches Patrick and Aiden that I had never played before.

Black Orc Bock Bashers Final Stats:

2 Wins 1 Draw

6 TD's Scored, 2 TD's Allowed

5 Casualties Given, 1 Casualty Received

2 Completions

1 INT

Other ABBL results:

Kent finished 2W/0D/1L

Duane finished 1W/0D/2L

We also did an informal ABB vs. SWHBBL Challenge, Here are the final totals

Records: ABBL - 5W/3L/1D SWHBBL - 3W/5L1D - Winner ABBL

TDs: ABBL - 14 TDs SWHBBL 7 TDs - Winner ABBL

Casualties: ABBL 10 Cas SWHBBL 13 Cas - Winner SWHBBL

Awards:

OwlCon Cup Champion - 162 pts - Black Orc Bock Bashers - Orcs - Matt McD - WildmanTX - Austin, TX

Runner-up - 160 pts - The Nevermore Ravens - Dark Elf - Patrick Wynn - Sturmjarl - Houston, TX

Most Offensive - 5 TDs - Phrog Phorce Phi - Slaan - Kent Raffray - KRaff- Austin, TX

Bloodthirster - 7 Cas - The Desert Dogs - Khemri - Aiden O'driscoll - mrrip - Houston, TX

The Wooden Spoon - Not awarded, too few coaches, But I think Aiden or Brad won it!

Best Team - The Nevermore Ravens - Dark Elf - Patrick Wynn - Sturmjarl - Houston, TX

A brief history of The Black Orc Bock Bashers

Here is a bit of the history of the Orc Team, The Black Orc Bock Bashers, that I am taking to the Chaos Cup, the US Blood Bowl Major.

Everyone knows the dark tale of Josef Bugman and his Brewery. Bugman was a master dwarf brewer who was world renowned for his famous beers, known as Bugman’s XXXXXX. One night, returning from a trading trip in the Empire, he found his brewery ablaze, attacked by a raiding party of Goblins lead by the Goblin Warboss Git Guzzler who destroyed the brewery, killed his kin and stole his brew. Legends (spread by Dwarfs) say that Bugman hunted down and recovered every cask of the XXXXXX. Not so! One cask remained in greenskin hands. After many bloody changing of hands, it fell into the possession of the Orc Great Shaman Shiznit. Shiznit was able through long study, prayers to Mork and random combination of ingredients to unlock the secrets of beer making. Once he had the secret, Shiznit built a fortified lair and laboratory, improving on the dwarven recipes with “eksperry-ments” of his own...the Black Orc Brewery was born! *

Eventually Black Orc Bob and his band of goons got a taste of Black Orc Bock and the Blood bowl world has never been the same. The effects that Black Orc Bock has on Greenskins is exceptionally suited for the Blood Bowl pitch. It appears to make them more aggressive and impervious to pain while whipping them into a wild frenzy, which is saying something for the Greenskins! In order to promote his Black Orc Bock "Speshul Brews" Shiznit now sponsors the Black Orc Bock Bashers Blood Bowl team coached by the infamous Black Orc Bob the BSB. The Bashers have quickly earned a reputation as one of the most out of control and violent teams in the Old World making them a fan favorite. From time to time Shiznit himself will attend a match and serve as the teams Apothecary especially for the more important and well promoted matches. Shiznit, his Black Orc Bock "Speshul Brews" and the Basher have become a force to be reckoned with in the Old World

*Blatantly plagiarized from the Alamo IGT website alamoigt.com. The idea comes from special army that you can take to The Alamo IGT, a Warhammer Fantasy tournament in San Antonio TX. If you bring this Greenskin list properly converted you drink on the organizers tab for the weekend, which I have done the last several years…..

ABBL Weekly Update 9/5/12

Matt's Bad Habits - PE vs. Nathan's Army - HE


Well Blood Bowl fans if there was ever an example of how not to coach a second half with a 2-1 lead this game was it. The Pro Elf coach who was down 3 players at start of the second half appeared to be over aggressive and verge of panic. He left only one player deep to make the throw and sent all the catchers long. Unfortunately he failed a dodge and gave up and easy score when ball scattered free and there was no cover at all for the ball. And they he did it again and then again! Yielding 3 second half scores to the Army High Elves. Nuffle was not with the Pro Elves as they double failed skills and GFIs, as well as many Double Skulls throughout the second half. Both Bad Habits Journeymen were badly hurt, one from a trip and the Bad Habits Passer spent 4 kickoff in the KO box. This coupled with the fact that Nuns had no casualties, 1 KO and very few stuns.

Final
TD: 2 – 4
CAS: 0 - 1 (BH on Journeyman, +1 BH from trip on Journeymen)

Overall I made some really stupid knee jerk mistakes that cost me dearly and when combined with some rotten luck it just made it that much worse. On a high note a Blitzer rolled doubles and takes Guard! Also I fired #13 who was double Niggled and coming back on the roster again, fearing she would get the next couple of MVPs for sure. I'd rather play with 2 Journeymen. 


In other news

With only 9 days until the Chaos Cup I was rather disappointed in my coaching of this game but hopefully it will serve as a reminder of what happens when a coach gets over aggressive.  I am furiously painting my team for the Chaos Cup, The Black Orc Bock Brewers (Orcs), my entry for the Nurgle King Legacy Team, a Cheerleader, and my display board. Hopefully I'll get it all done by next Thurs night!

Opening Kick Off

Hello and thanks for checking out my Blood Bowl blog!

I love playing Blood Bowl. I been playing since around 2002ish just about every week. Currently I play tabletop in the ABBL (Austin Blood Bowl League) weekly at a local store in Austin, TX called Dragons Lair. I also occasionally play the Cyanide and FUMBBL computer games where you can find me as either NuffleHateMe or WildManTX.

I have quite an extensive collections teams models (Mostly in some unpainted state) including every current GW team except Amazons, most GW Star Players and several alternative team like the Shadowforge Nuns, Bunnies, and Female Elves. I have a few converted teams like Lizardmen and Orcs (Currently on the paint table) from GW WFB models and even one Necro team made from the old Mage Knight pre-painted minis (The MK All Stars).

I wanted a place to document my league team fluff and game summaries. Also it will serve as a place to document my conversion and painting projects. Finally I'm heading to the Chaos Cup, the USA Blood Bowl Major, in Chicago in a few weeks and wanted to document my preparations, my actual results and any other shenanigans that happen on the trip. I may also occasionally go off track into other topics like Warhammer Fantasy or other games I might be playing at the time.

Lastly I want to thank my wife for "understanding" (by that I mean barely tolerating) my hobbies which include taking over a room in our house, weekend trips to tournaments and conventions, my "purchases", and my general insanity!

- Matt