CanCon 2018 Part 1: Australian Blood Bowl Nationals

Last weekend was CanCon. I took the Entwives to the Australian Blood Bowl Nationals, which had a new resurrection format this year. It cut down on the bookkeeping, and made squishier teams (such as Wood Elves...) more sustainable.

The details: 7 games, 3 days, resurrection, 1.1million build, adding skills after each game.

The Entwives

I changed my roster at the last minute, and finished a Treeman that was sitting around incompletely painted. My plan was to play fairly conservatively. My roster was two Wardancers, a Thrower, three Catchers, the Treeman, and four Line Elves. I had two rerolls.

Match 1. Roland's Humans

So, the conservative plan went swiftly out of the window. I rolled four successive 1s which left me in a dismal situation, and my Tree rooted himself to the spot. I went down 3-0, suffering 4-1 casualties...

Elves push for the line- I have no idea where the ball is!

Match 2. Patrick's Orcs

I wasn't looking forward to playing Orcs, and struggled in the first half. I tripped over on the line, and the Tree spent most of this game flat on his back failing to get up. I was lucky in my armour, only suffering three casualties from a barrage of blocks. With only six players on the pitch in the second half, I pulled an Elfy comeback and won 3-1.

Orcs punch into my left pitch

Match 3. Andrew's Orcs

More Orcs! I had a fun game against Andrew, where again I had to modify my conservative plan after my Tree was injured very early on. I played for time in the first half, and then got lucky with a cheeky Blitz kick-off to score under his nose, to win 2-1.

A Wood Elf Catcher flees from the Orcs for a touchdown.

Match 4. James' Dwarves

From Orcs to Dwarves, all the Elves' natural enemies... For my first action of the game, the Treeman knocked himself out... then James killed my Wardancer with his first action! He got a bit overconfident after that, and I was able to claw back a draw 2-2 in an enjoyable fight.

Elves face a strong Dwarf cage

Match 5. Virral's Humans

Virral is a long-time Australian Blood Bowl personality, but we don't play each other very often. We had a fun tight game, and he was able to equalise 2-2 on his last turn. I still suffered 4 casualties.

An exposed Elf dares the humans to catch her

Match 6. Aaron's Ogres

I was a bit mentally fatigued at this stage, and wasn't up to the challenge presented by multiple Guard Ogres and Sidestep Snotlings. I suffered a 4-0 casualty beating, but it was another 1-1 draw. Aaron took home the Stunty King award.

An Elven nightmare of tacklezones. Snotlings were tissue with (I hope) green paint

Match 7. Michael's Norse.

This Norse team had a lot of Tackle, and I was in another uphill fight. I was down to six players in the second half, but got one touchdown to lose 3-1.

Elven survivors face a full Norse defense

So, at the end I had two wins, three draws, and two losses. I averaged exactly four casualties against me every game. Many of my second halves were quick as all I was doing was rolling stunned players over!

I was glad to take the Treeman- he gave me a few options and absorbed a lot of punishment. I eventually gave him Jump Up, which was excellent. My conservative plans were quickly scuppered by some bad rolls which left me in dire straits requiring ever-crazier tactics. I had many games with hardly anyone upright.

There were 34 coaches present, and I came 22nd. The winner, Luke, had Dark Elves and had six wins and a draw.

I forgot all my anguish when I received the award for Best Painted Team! Again!  [smug mode]

Next: other CanCon pics

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

Blood Bowl Norse

Hasn't it been great to see a resurgence of interest in Blood Bowl recently!

I'm very happy with my Icelander team from Roll Jordan. The Pillage People are painted with more than a nod to the blue-grey and yellow Space Wolf palette.

Blood Bowl Norse- The Pillage People

I wanted a slushy, snow and mud base for them. I drybrushed a bit of white over brown painted sand, then I added a paste of Woodland Scenics' 'Realistic Water' and 'Soft-flake snow' and Secret Weapon's 'Ground glass' for extra sparkles.

The Snow Troll has a great face. He's huge, on a 40mm base.

Blood Bowl Snow Troll

The Ulfwereners also have good monstrous anatomy. I based them on 30mm bases. (NB for a more historical bent, check out my SAGA Úlfhéðnar).

Blood Bowl Ulfwereners

The Berserkers are my favourite sculpts, absolutely ripped torsos with a great helmet.

Blood Bowl Berserkers

One of these runners reminds me of Paul from the Man Cave... The other one is a bit like Smurfette... Norsette?

Blood Bowl Norse Runners

The throwers have great expressions.

Blood Bowl Norse Throwers

I really like the lineman with the eyepatch enjoying a frosty one.

Blood Bowl Norse Linemen

Blood Bowl Norse Linemen

The team also came with a turn counter which I added to a 25mm base, painted in team colours and added snow.

Turn counter

This team took up valuable AHPC time! They came with a few extra markers which I will be doing for the challenge. Next week, I may have my first AHPC entry.

Happy New Year!