CanCon 2017 Part 2- Blood Bowl tourney

The main reason I went to CanCon was to take my Norse team, The Pillage People, to the Australian Blood Bowl Nationals.

The Pillage People

Fine print: Six games, two days, 1 000 kgp, no cards, standard progression with coach-selected MVP.

My starting team: 2 Berserkers, 2 Ulfwereners, 7 Linemen, 3 Rerolls, apothecary.

I could only make five of the six games due to having to leave early on the final day. Previous CanCons have been a marathon eight games (2016 Halflings) and seven games (2013 Lizardmen). The shortened format was less gruelling, and allowed me more of a leisurely look around the convention than previous years.

Match 1. Cullen's Chaos Dwarves, Bashy

Can the hobgoblin hold on to the ball for long?

Cullen was the youngest player there, but being the son of Rabid, one of Australia's strongest players (and- spoiler- winner of the tournament), he comes from good stock. He played a solid game but I was able to win 2-0 with 2-2 casualties.

Match 2. James' Amazons

Forget the ball, the Norse fight the 'Zons!

This was a fairly straightforwards match between his dodging Amazons and my blocking Norse. We wound up with a 1-1 Draw and I took out the casualties 3-2.

Match 3. Thomsy's Dwarves, the Hammer Throwers

The Hammer Throwers smash the Norse defence

This was not a game I was looking forward to, and my apprehensions were proved accurate. Thomsy is a great guy and a strong player, and his dwarves barely put a foot wrong. He took out an Ulfwerener and a Berserker on turn two, and it went downhill from there. He won 3-1, and also took the casualties 3-1.

Match 4. Sangraal's Norse, The Tanelorn Rebels

Blood on the snow- Norse on Norse

This was the best match of the tournament. Sangraal is my long-time BB opponent, and I think we can each say we've fuelled the other's BB addiction over the past 15+ years. His team were also Norse, using vampire biker gang figures. I was again apprehensive going in, as I was understrength following my drubbing at the hands of Thomsy's dwarves.

Receiving the ball, some lucky rolls and a wizard's fireball allowed me to score in the first half, and I delayed his scoring until well in the second, leaving us with a 1-1 tie and 3-3 casualties. With this match concluded, my earlier casualties returned from the hospital and I was able to face my final match with a full team. Furthermore, I was able to hire a Snow Troll with my accumulated winnings. I was feeling good.

Match 5. Leigh's Humans, the Grey Ravens

The Ravens prepare for upcoming carnage

So in my last match, my rookie Snow Troll got injured in the third turn, and then my team got taken apart. I've not seen someone roll so many tens... I suffered a massive nine (!) casualties, until the ball became an afterthought and I was fighting to survive. Leigh was apologising profusely for the farcical damage. I lost 3-1, and was thankful I didn't have to play a sixth match as I wouldn't have had anyone there!

Conclusion and Happy Ending

So, one win, two draws, and two losses. I don't think the Norse suit my preferred playing style, but I did have a fun time and a great set of opponents. It was, of course, good to see other old friends also playing in the tourney.

There were 25 coaches (4 Orc, 4 Undead, 4 Amazons, 3 Norse, 2 Human, 1 each Slann/ High Elf/ Skaven/ Chaos Dwarf/ Dwarf/ Chaos/ Dark Elf/ Dwarf). I don't yet know where I came overall. I think more coaches wanted to play, but there was a strict cap due to table space limitations and (I hear) fire regulations.

To ease the pain of that final match/ massacre, I was stoked to receive the award for Best Painted Team! There was some good competition, and I haven't won one of these since my Pro Elves took it out at the inaugural 2005 EucBowl.

Tomorrow: Social events and my loot