So last night at NAGA Wayne Phillips returned the favour for last weeks demo of Star Wars X-Wing by bringing his Blood Bowl stuff along for a game. It had been quite some time since my last game, at least over a decade, and when I last played Games Workshop were still running the show. Now the game is in the hands of the players and is using the Living Rule Book (LRB) which has some key changes made to both the Teams and the game rules.
We decided we’d run with League rules so following the full pre-game procedure and post game procedure but whilst playing we both realised we were treating the game as a 1 off and going for broke.
Wayne opted for an Undead Team called “The Deadites” and I lumped for an Orc Team called “The Green Machine”.
Waynes team “The Deadites” were set-up as follows:-
2 x Mummies – 240,000gps (3-5-1-9 Regenerate, Mighty Blow)
2 x Wights – 180,000gps (6-3-3-8 Regenerate, Block)
3 x Ghoul – 210,000gps (7-3-3-7 Dodge)
3 x Skeleton – 120,000gps (5-3-2-7 Regenerate, Thick Skull)
1 x Zombie – 40,000gps (4-3-2-8 Regenerate)
3 x Re-Rolls – 210,000gps
My team “The Green Machine” were as follows:-
3 x Black Orc Blockers – 240,000gps (4-4-2-9)
4 x Orc Blitzers – 320,000gps (6-3-3-9 Block)
2 x Orc Throwers – 140,000gps (5-3-3-8 Sure Hands, Pass)
2 x Orc Linemen – 100,000gps (5-3-3-9)
3 x Re-Rolls – 180,000gps
2 Fan Factor – 20,000gps
The teams setup…..Orcs playing up and Undead down.
The Undead inflict a single casualty on the Orc Team sending a Block Orc Blocker to the Dead and Injured Box.
The Orcs leave only 6 payers on the pitch for the Undead.
Having tossed the ball downfield the Undead play at damage limitation as the Orcs start to turn the screw and put even more players in the Dead & Injured box.
The intended pass is missed and drops just wide of the Blitzer receiver. Double coverage from a Wight and a Ghoul make it difficult to reclaim the ball.
The Undead swarm around the thrower as he desperately tries to throw the ball away downfield.
Having just decimated his Wight partner the ex-Reikland Reaver Zombie faces a block from the same Black Orc. The Black Orc stumbles and falls.
The Orc Thrower in the backfield is looking for a free receiver to pass the ball to.
The Undead pack the backfield to stop the Orc Blitzers from creeping through. The Black Orcs do what they do best and put the hurt on the Undead.
Orcs Line up to receive the ball again. Now they outnumber the Undead team.
Score to the Deadites!!! 2-0 on the whistle of halftime.
After twice fumbling his pick up roll the Orc Thrower is forced to chase back and attempt a blitz to recover the ball from the Ghoul. He slips whilst going for it and falls over leaviing the Ghoul free to trot in an easy touchdown.
First blood to the Orc team…..a Mummy is permanently removed from the field of play courtesy of a Black Orc. Almost the end of the first half.
After a bad kick-off result the receiving Orc team are caught flat footed and the Undead break through their lines.
The Ghould dodges away and scores for a 1-0 lead. The teams setup again.
The Ghoul escapes and runs for the line. the Orc Thrower goes back to try and slow him as the Blitzer Blitzes him. Double Skulls! After a re-roll….Double Skulls! Unbelieveable!!!!
The Undead build a loose cage but the only Blocker capable of getting back and putting coverage on is a Black Orc who will be outnumbered.
The Orcs scramble back to provide coverage but their slower players struggle to get back leaving their most potent blockers upfield.
The Undead swarm forward in numbers pushing the Orcs aside as the Ghoul gets up, grabs the ball and retreats into the safety of the Undead cage.
An Orc thrower and Blitzer chase back to bring the Ghoul down.
The Undead break the cage and escape downfield with a Ghoul carrying the ball.
With one Mummy down and another not in contact with an opposing player their threat has been negated. The Orcs roll onwards with Thrower 9 carrying the ball inside the cage.
The Green Machine rumbles upfield slowly causing carnage with its 3 Block Orc Blockers smashing everything in their path.
The Ghoul is knocked down and the Orc thrower carrying the ball advances upfield over the LoS.
A ghoul and a Wight roll around the right flank to attack the cage.
After turn 1 a mini-cage has formed in the back field. The Undead need to choose between blitzing with Mummies or going for the ball carrier.
The defending Undead team set-up conservatively to Kick-off to the Orcs.
The receiving Orc Team lines up looking to form a cage down the left flank.
The Line of Scrimmage.
Final Scores are in:-
The Deadites 3 – 0 The Green Machine
Casualties 1 – 5
Competions 0 – 1
A resounding and thumping victory for “The Deadites” with the Ghouls showing their real worth and stealing the show. Clearly the Ghoul with 2 Touchdowns would be MVP.
For “The Green Machine” it was difficult to choose a single MVP as all three Black Orcs caused carnage throughout, one of the Throwers remembered his worth in the end with an amazing collection of rolls and the Blitzers were a serious impact. In the end for the casualties alone I gave the MVP to the Black Orc that removed a Wight and a Mummy.
This was my heaviest ever defeat at Blood Bowl with a team im somewhat unfamiliar with but it all came flooding back. There seemed to be some interest at NAGA for a game or two here and there so Wayne and I may look at setting up a once a month league with a few teams. The dice did not favour me tonight and thats not an excuse because I was beaten by a better team coached better. I enjoyed myself and will definitely be playing more.
Right I had better go as I have teams to paint and LARP gear to pack ready for Empire this coming weekend.
talesfromthemancave 