ABBF Winter Championship 2511 - "Da Big Boys League"!

[schwager]

Welcome Sports Fans!

The ABBF Winter Championship 2511 - "Da Big Boys League"! will kick off this Sunday at the CityGuard.

That's right folks, the "Not the Face League" has been successfully concluded, and what do you know, the Elves won it. Congratulation s to the Ponytail Prancers and their head coach Nathan "I'd rather shoot myself than coach Elves again".
The Prancers snatched the title from the Drakenburg Demons Vampire team, with an end to end play on the last turn of the match. Keep an eye out for the full match report later in the week.

So now, after all this light-footedness we've decided to change the pace and add a bit of stompy action to the game. The new season is all about the big brutes of the game and there'll be Big Guys available to all the teams... there's even Unicorns for the girls!

To find out all about the new season, simply download the PDF from the link below:
http://www.solitudo.com/bloodbowl/download/ABBF_big_rules.pdf

We will kick things off on Sunday at the CityGuard, Freeman's Bay and Monday at the Manor House in Grey Lynn. Check out the ABBF website for all the details:
http://www.solitudo.com/bloodbowl/index.html

All are welcome and coaches can join in on the fun at any point during the season.
If you intend to play, please send us a quick email with your contact details (especially phone number) to help us keep track of things. Contact us anytime if you have any questions.

We'll look forward to stomping you on the pitch!!!

[schwager]

Welcome Sports Fans!

Finally, Big Guys get a chance to show their stuff, and with loner gone and special BG only incentives and MVPs, they are chortling. Seven games to open, with some mixed results; what are frogs and humans doing winning?  Deep rumbles of discontent.  Want in?  It's going to be a League like no other.

http://www.solitudo.com/bloodbowl/index.html


Darkpact Debacle (Chaos Pact/Nick) vs An Experiment In Finesse (Ogre/Dan)

Both teams lined-up expecting an odd game with two rookie big-guy teams, but what happened was a one-sided affair decided solely by Nuffle. Finesse received off the start and straight away the Ogres managed a whole bunch of pushes followed by a snotling failing its GFI with a RR to get into its cage, leaving the ball exposed. The Debacle managed to get some players nearby and when Finesse bone-headed and skull'd out their turn, they managed to take the ball clear. By this time the Debacle's Minotaur had been having plenty of fun with snotlings, leaving them down players. Receiving again, again the same story occurred but the Darkpact weren't able to capitalise, leaving the score 1-0 at the half. Receiving at the start of the 2nd half with the numbers (and Nuffle) advantage, the Debacle walked the ball down-field, tying up the Ogres with players and ignoring the snotlings. This lead to a rash of KO's occurring on both sides, Finesse took the receive and headed off down-field, by now the every growing amount of KO's meant there were 11 in the bins of both teams, leaving only 3 non-Big-guy players on the pitch. With no snotlings, the Ogres had a hard time with the ball and couldn't make the end-zone before the clock ran out.

Chaos Pact 2-0 [4-0] Ogres


Tobaro Tridents (Human - Nathan) Vs Liberez (Paul - Slann)
 
While the crowds poured into the Stadium for the match, the heavens poured down, turning what promised to be an interesting match into a greased pig competition. Although some might argue that the wet conditions was perfect weather for frogs, in practice, this was not the case.The end result was many failed Leap rolls for Liberez, resulting in a painful second match for the Slann team with the Tridents, running away on points and casualties.
 
TD: 3-0 CAS: 4-2
 
 
Tobaro Tridents (Human -Nathan) Vs Maw Butchers (Mark-Ogres)
 
The crowd didn't feel like turning out for this match with barely 12K fans between both teams. Most were Snotlings who had snuck under the ticket barrier, drowning out the cries of the Human fans. The Tridents received in the first half and quickly scored after only 3 turns while the Butchers Ogres hammered away at the Trident's linemen to no avail. This also rang true for the Trident's blitzers who tried as they might, could not hit the Snotlings hard enough to cause significant casualties. However, the Butcher's coach saw to that problem with incessant fouling befitting an Ogre team which rarely bore fruit and saw three Snotlings sent off by the Ref during the game. Through the second half, the Ogres seemed to be having troubl concentrating and a spate of failed Bonehead rolls saw the Trident's dominating the pitch. A second Trident touchdown, led to a touchback to an Ogre who made it halfway into the Tridents zone before being sacked by the Trident's own Ogre, Donk. A couple of injuries towards the end on the part of the Ogres, led to another win for the Tridents.
 
TD: 2-0 CAS: 1-2


Les Fleurs Du Mal (Dark Elf/Greg) vs Mutant Ninjas (Underworld/David)

Dark Elves had a lot of nerve entering this season of big guys, especially when their own big guy, a cold one, has only barely participated in the two games so far:  in this one, she went off with a KO in turn 4 and came back only in Turn 16.  Piggishly, she demanded the MVP.  The first half went the way of the Underworld for the most part, with the Fleurs down to 7 by 4 turns, including a dead blitzer (the apo 6'd her too).  Nevertheless, they played good defense and managed to steal the ball and score.  Second half, kick-off went to the Fleurs, and they looked in fair shape, despite the shortage of players.  However, a bungle on the part of their coach led to their passer being unable to dump-off as the range was too far, and the Underworld gathered in the blitzed ball, to stall, then score.  One turn left, and an excellent kick led to a chance for the Underworld:  6 gfis, a successful block, a one in 8 bounce, a pick up and hand off, a successful thrown gobbo who moved forward two spaces in the air, and a win was within reach.  But the gobbo was so eager he began running while still in the air and tangled his legs upon landing for an ignoble but well deserved fall, ending the game.

1-1  (3-5) one death


Les Fleurs du Mal (Dark Elf/Greg) vs Liberez les Grenouilles de guerre (Slann/Paul)

The kick-off to the new season featured a couple big guys, but only one focused on the game.  The Slanns large ape-krox was everywhere, creating chaos, while cold one Xidde Bonedragon was disinterested and marginalised.  But it was not that that was to win the game:  it was the diving tackle of the well placed frog blitzers, about which the darkgirls simply couldn't remember .  Kick off came to the girls, and they worked an ok sideline pattern and throw, for a quick score.  Grenouilles came back with one of their own.  Girls tried for a second, but that diving tackle.... and end of half.  Second half, the froggies scored a quickie, and the girls likewise.  Then came the turning moment:  Fleurs stole the ball and had a chance down the sideline.  But too many players off the pitch and tied up by the cursed diving tackle, they tried a chancy move down the sideline. However, having used up all their rerolls by the 3rd move, the attempted handoff, which would have led to a late TD and a win, was dropped then thrown by the crowd conveniently to a frog stronghold.  One turn from there for an easy try for the win.

3-2 (2-1) no deaths


Travelling Snot (Goblin/Kyle) vs Les Grenouilles De Guerre (Slann/Paul) 1-4 (1-5) 1 killed

Clearly, snot didn't travel too well thru the air, much to the relief of diners at the Manor House, but the frogs croaked noisily, all the night thru, much to the annoyance of the patrons of the Manor House.


Snotlings rule the skies
M.O.M. (Orc/Dale) vs Mournheim Munters (Ogre/Christian)

The last match in week 1 of "Da Big Boys League" took place between M.O.M. (the Orcs were still debating what it stands for when the match got underway) and the Mournheim Munters Ogre team.
The crowd of 13,000 rabid fans was heavily in favour of the Orcs... but that's only counting the spectators that actually paid to get in.

M.O.M. sneakily got their hands on a "Big Potion" before the match. Unfortunately the potion had already gone bad and thus the Orcs' Troll had to start the match in the KO'd bin.

The first kick got underway in sweltering heat, as the Munters put the ball deep and started things off with a Blitz! The Ogres put pressure on the Orcs frontline and the first Snotling went airborne... only to be KO'd on a botched landing.
The Orcs moved several players back to cover the ball, but things just weren't going their way. The ball was dropped and the Ogres keep on closing in. Eventually an Orc Blitzer managed to slip through the line, closely followed by a big hulking Ogre. The attempted pass into the open failed, however, and the Orc Thrower dropped the ball right at the feet of several Ogres.
After much to-ing and fro-ing the Munters managed to get the ball clear and into the Orcs backfield. Despite the ball carrying Snotling tripping up just short of the endzone, the Orcs could not get to the ball in time, and the Munters scored just before halftime.

At this point, many of the Orcs collapsed due to the weather, as a relatively fresh looking Munters side set up to receive the ball for the second spell.
As the kick sailed through the air, there was a change in weather, much to the relieve of everyone on and off the pitch.
Except the Ogres, of course, who seemed to be unaffected by all this weather nonsense. To drive the point home, they put on a magnificent display on how to win a match through areal superiority. And it went like this:
A Snotling collected the ball in the backfield and handed it off to another Snotling. The frontline Ogres clear the LOS of opposing players. One of the Ogres grabs the Snotling with the ball and hurls him over the heads of the Orcs defenders. Said Snotling lands the successfully and scampers off into the endzone for a 2-0 lead.

The only consolation for the Orcs was that they now had a full team available, with the Troll finally returning from the KO'd bin, and had a whole half still left to play.
During the next kick-off it looked as if the weather might be changing again, but it stayed fine after all as a gust of wind bounced the ball around a bit more.
The Orcs were keen to get on the scoreboard now, but their troubles continued with more failed pick-ups and incoming Snotlings.
The ball went back and forth a few times and play was all over the pitch, but the Orcs were increasing the pressure.
In the end it was through sheer determination and with the aid of some seemingly impenetrable Snotling armour (AV5) that the Munters succeeded in keeping the Orcs out for the rest of the match to secure a 2-0 victory.

0-2 (4-1)


Until next time...

[schwager]

Welcome back Sports Fans!

More thumpin' n pumpin' this week from the big guys.  No, we're talkin' Bloodbowl.
Some interesting confrontations as the big guys gain their skills.  No, we're talkin' Bloodbowl.
There are now 13 teams participating.

On another note:  City Guard is making Bloodbowl coaches an offer they can't refuse:  become a member and play Bloodbowl for free! on Sundays.  This is a good deal, and will also come in useful during the World Cup, when play at the Manor House may become questionable (it's the nearest licenced accommodation to Eden Park).

http://www.solitudo.com/bloodbowl/results/current.html


Ogre Aeronautical Tactics Squad (Ogre/Murray) vs. Pots & Pains (Halfling/Greg)

A glorious day revealed OATS playing against Pots and Pains.  A meagre crowd of mostly halfling supporters turned up to see the action. And action there was. OATS elected to receive and after a first turn fumble, a snotling was working the right sideline with a solo ogre body guard as a ruck formed in the centre between four ogres and the treemen. The halflings ignored their wooden bretheren and sped (well, sauntered) over to put pressure on the ball carrier (after jumping OATS captain Ralph en masse and tearing him down to the astrogranite). However, the snotling broke away with some impressive dodges to open the scoring in turn 4.

Pots and Pain were keen for revenge, and started trying to find give in the ogre line. They thought they had found this on both sidelines, however the two snotlings holding each end of the line obviously had taken moonwalking classes, slowly backing away from the halflings and refusing to go down (for three turns, and after at least 5, 3 dice blocks!) However, something had to give, and the halflings rushed through the gap, forming a defensive  bubble near the touchline for the ball carrier, who was tripped by a snotling and dropped the ball on the way there. The snotling then grabbed the ball and sprinted through the trees on the line of scrimmage, and passed, but it went wild and bounced off target.

The second half started with a quick snap, which allowed the avid chefs to leave the ogres at the front in tatters, as they worked the ball up to the treemen for an excellent throw, but the landing was not as good, and wasn't properly covered as a halfling was lost in the forest.  Again, a snotling was there to clean up, and took the ball up to the LOS for his turn at aerial maneouvres, but landed head-first and KO'ed. In an uncharacterist ic show of intelligence, 3 ogres rushed upfield to head off the halfling horde heading for the ball. After a couple of halflings went down, one ogre remembered to pick up the ball and score.

That left only a handful of turns, and a high kick to the halflings meant that the ball was caught and brought up to the trees again. The throw went awry, with the hapless halfling landing ungracefully into two enemy tackle zones. Last chance for an ogre touchdown, but a failed handoff to a willing aeronaut just as the team captain was warming up his throwing arm cut short hopes of anyone else scoring with time ticking down on the clock.

2 - 0 (Cas 3-7)


Darkpact Debacle (Chaos Pact/Nick) vs Maw Butchers (Ogres/Marc)

With a nifty potion giving one of their ogres block, the Butchers started off their receive on the kick-off well, casualty to a marauder on the first knock-down. The Debacle and Butchers then traded a casualty each way for the next 3 turns till the Butchers, with their ball in the open were forced to spend more attention to getting it back than hitting the opponent. The Debacle took full advantage and aimed straight for the little snotlings who were booting them every-time they fell down. Stealing away the ball from the last few snotlings on the pitch, the Debacle walked it into the corner, receiving again the ogres were only just unable to score due to some poor timing of boneheads and the corresponding double skulls once the RR was used. Receiving in the 2nd the Debacle quickly ran the ball up the pitch while taking even further aim at the little snotlings, leaving the Butchers with only 2 snotlings for their next receive. By this time there were some serious casualties occurring to the Darkpact, out of 3 injuries in total they suffered a death, a -ST and a niggling injury. With an Ogre missing and no snotlings left the remaining 4 ogres were tied up by the last few standing Debacle players as a loner marauder headed off down field to get the lonely ball sitting in the back-field. He needed some assistance from the team Minotaur after a lone Ogre got free, but with some good dice, the final TD was run in.

Final Score: Chaos Pact 3-0 [7-3] Ogres


Pots n Pains (Halfling/Greg) vs Tobaro Tridents (Human/Nathan)
 
A rookie Halfling team vs the League leading humans did not look a fair match:  that is until Deeproot and a chef entered after the team.  Four trees including one with block:  could be ugly, and it was.  Potheads got the kickoff, and clustered in the forest for a while, hoping to eliminate enough of the humans for an easy score.  Not to be, however, as few cas and KOs inflicted on the humans, whereas the Potheads suffered 2 halfling deaths in one turn and a few KOs.  With the lil guys running out, it was time to throw, but the tree managed to chuck the ball carrier into the crowd:  a spectacle unheard of and so unexpected the crowd let the lil guy off.  The ball was crowd-thrown deep into human territory, but the potheads still had a chance for it when a human pick up (with sure hands) failed.  Another halfling thrown into the crowd, what is with these trees?  Then a great chance for a pothead score, but a failed dodge and another halfling off the pitch.  Soon no lil guys left:  but that didn't matter, as the humans couldn't pick up the ball again, and again.  Half ended.
 
Lots of 'lings came back from the KO bin, and by this time the Humans were 3 down.  A dash down the sideline, but trees were able to get over, and more Humans off.  Ball loose.  A halfling grab.  Busted.  Loose again in the forest.  Finally a halfling grabbed it and was hurled into the clear.  Score.  Humans down to 7, and more ones:  every GFI, every dodge and most pick ups.  Ball loose.  'Ling pick up and another flung 'fling for another score.  Lots of happy little voices, chirruping away.  Tough on the two who didn't make it, but hideho.

2-0 (3-4) 2 deaths


M.O.M. (Orc/Dale) vs Mutant Ninjas (Underworld/David)

With the Orcs peeved in their orkish manner with goblins playing against them, it was going to be ugly, and so it was, with gleeful fouling (4 sent off!) and heavy hitting, 4 cas to 1 against the Ninjas.  But the telling point was an amazing 6 completed passes by the Orcs - their new de QB coach? - vs 3, and a 4-0 run-over.   No deaths, but one stat decrease.

You just had to be green, and not just green, but big and green.

4-0 (4-1) no deaths

[schwager]

Welcome Sports Fans!

5 games this week, lots of cas, including some amongst the countless flying li'l guys crashing to the pitch.
Queens Birthday Weekend, but the mayhem will continue regardless, Sunday at City Guard (free for those with memberships) and Monday at the Manor House.

All the reports are not in, but the contests below are ugly enough:


Darkpact Debacle (Chaos Pact/Nick) vs Mournheim Munters (Ogre/Christian)

With a handy potion giving their Minotaur block for the game the Debacle received, and with an obliging ogre coach putting 3 snotlings on the LOS, 2 of them were promptly injured. With the ogres throwing further snotlings into the KO bin, the Debacle merely changed direction of their push once, and had plenty of spare players to occupy the ogres and sneak past for the score. On their receive the ogres managed to accomplish absolutely nothing against the impenetrable armor of the pact before in typical snotlings fashion the ball was fumbled. Taking full advantage of the ogres sheer inability to successfully do anything, the pact swept past again. At this point, the only worthwhile note is to chart the absolutely miserable dice that the Munters had to endure. Despite being marked by marauders a plenty, and getting a good percentage of knock-downs with the Ogres, only 3 KO's against the pact were managed the entire game, as the Darkpact armour stood incredibly tough this match. In a string of 9 dice, the Ogres managed an awesome total of six 1's! This only being the absolute tip of the iceberg as far as nuffles disfavour went.
The only bright note for the Munters was the sweltering heat. With a full 11 players finishing the drive, the Pact were aghast to find 4 players out with the heat - this 4 included 2 out of the 3 Big Guys and 3 out of 4 of the teams mighty blow/piling on players! Unfortunately at this stage it was far, far too late, with nothing but ogres able to take the pitch for the Munters.
The Munters were cursed by Nuffle in this game, and even the Debacle hopes he relents before their next match.

Chaos Pact 4-0 [5-0] Ogres


The Mutant Ninjas (Underworld/David) vs Pots n Pains (Halflings/Greg)

Pots n Pains felt cocky coming into this contest. The Mutant Ninjas (aka goblins ) seemed the ideal playmates. With fine weather and 17 K fans both sides faced off. With only 100 TV, the Halflings were able to hire a Master chef, who unfortunately was not ready for the kick off (0 rerolls stolen for first half). With luck going their way, the Ninjas chose to receive.

On the kick-off the Ninjas received another reroll for coaching. The first play saw the Ninjas CAS a treeman (badly hurt, then MNG by the apothecary), KO a halfling, push a hole down one side of the pitch, and fumble the pickup. The treemen came back swinging, badly hurting a goblin before a halfling ended the play with the first of many pitch diving GFI plays, ending badly hurt.  The Ninjas were now able to play the ball and swing down the open side. With receivers streaming and Halfling trying to cover, the ninjas scored easily in turn 4.

Back with three trees, the Halfling received the kick deep in their half. More goblins were badly hurt by the trees but the rest streamed through to put pressure on the ball carrier. Despite several turns of broken play around the ball, it wasn’t until turn 8 that the ball bounced into a skaven hands and he dodged into the end zone for a TD. 2-0 to Ninjas at half time but they were now down to 10 player while the Halfling were still at full strength (just).

The second half saw the Halfling receive another deep kick and no ref. This allowed the Ninjas to rush the quarter back. This  ended in 8 turns of broken play, more hurt goblins, more Halfling self abuse (in the last two games the Trees have been unable to successfully hurl a halfling in 8 attempts), and the Halflings just about scoring as their numbers started to tell.

The nice thing about Halflings, they are light enough, you can carry two at a time into the KO bin, and they don’t come back quickly.

Final score: 2-0, Ninjas, 6-2 CAS to Halflings,


Les Fleurs du Mal (Dark Elf/Greg) vs EEEK! (Skaven/Paul)
 
Damaged Dark Elves looked forward to flattening a few rats, but it wasn't to be:  who knew 7 armour was superior to 8?  Game started with a rat receive, but the evils managed to slow things down considerably keeping the rats from a score for half the half:  but it was costly, from the first play of the game, the Fleurs were down a player, then two, then three, not to return.  Finally a rat score, and 7 Fleurs lining up for the kickoff.  It was almost enough, and through some desperate play, the journeywoman managed a score.  Fleurs received the second half, but this time couldn't hold on to the ball, and rat recovery for a score.  Still at 7, the DEgirls managed a desperate dash thru the centre and then down the sideline and a score.  But with not enough DE players to defend well, the rats cleared a blitzer and ran in for an easy score.  For the first time, no DE deaths, or even serious injuries, though they did have 5 cas.
 
2-3 (3-5) no deaths.
 

Results will be up soon.
http://www.solitudo.com/bloodbowl/results/current.html