[Team Blog] Morgred Longbeards

[Morgred]

Hey there sports fans,

I loved reading other team blogs so i thought id try my hand at it.

Had the start of the Griffon Shield II (a local tabletop league).
I have entered my Chaos Dwarf team the Morgred Longbeards.

The league consists of 7 teams. A Chaos, Human, High Elf, Ogre, Skaven, Dark Elf and myself. With mostly experienced coaches of 4 years or more with the excusion of one newbie with less than 10 games under his belt. All teams are starting from scratch at TV1000

I decided to take a risk on my start roster:
6 Chaos Dwarves
2 Bull Centaurs
2 Hobgoblins
Minotaur
1 RR

And i must say, my gamble paid off (so far)

Game #1 (vs Skaven; coached by the Griffon Shield I Champ)
23,000 screming fans rocked up to see the season opener. Mostly Skaven fans as he had +2 FAME. However, i won the toss and elected to recieve.
Started with a 'get the ref' and blocked beautifully on the line putting one linerat in th KO box. First of many. Successfully picked up the ball with my 'bull carrier' and caged up mid pitch still just in my half. With the exception of his Rat Ogre his rats were no match. By the turn 5 i was within scoring range with my well protected Bull and took the opportunity to stall and bash.
Half time saw it at 1-0 with 2 rats in the dead and injured box one with a smashed collar bone -1 ST and a badly KO'd rat giving me a 3 player advantage going into the second half. All that and i didnt use my RR.
The advantage didnt last long. After a 'High Kick' I must have pissed off his Rat Ogre because turn 1 he badly hurt my Minotaur. Then a linerat gave one of my Chaos Dwarfs a serious concussion (MNG). He was able to get the ball to a Gutter Runner who was on the half way line and it looked like he'd be scoring turn 2. But a failed dodge away from a dwarf caused him to burn his RR only to roll another 1! Game on. I got 3 Dwarves and a Hobo on the ball making it near impossible to pick up, so i thought. A blitz from his angry Rat Ogre cleared 2 Dwarves with some controlled pushes and a 4+ pick up from his Gutter Runner saw him with the ball and out of blitz range threatening to score turn 3. All i could do was bash. Sent a Bull back to apply some pressure and bash i did, broke another collar bone. Another -1ST, this time his Thrower. 2 more KO'd Rats (one his Ogre) and he is down to six on the pitch. He scores next turn 1-1.
My turn 3 recieving. He recoved his KO'd players meaning im still one player up. A 'brilliant coaching' gives his a RR and we get back into it. Some tough blocking by my boys sees alot of rats on their back. Although it took me a few turns tp pick up the ball. With an approaching Gutter Runner on turn 5 i use my RR finally picking up the ball and caging mid pitch. A block by a dwarf and a well placed boot from my hobo puts the gutter runner in the KO'd box and my Hobo sent off. My #4 Chaos dwarf inflicts his 2nd Cas. His down to six on the pitch again as my steady cage gets close enough turn 7 but a blitz turn 8 for the win and we end up a draw.

My 2 cas dwarf was my MVP. And the only skill increase. Rolls a 5. He gets Guard.
Game #2 took place straight after but ill put that in a second post.

[Morgred]

Team update:
#1 Chaos Dwarf-
#2 Chaos Dwarf-(MNG) 2 SPP
#3 Chaos Dwarf-
#4 Chaos Dwarf- Guard 9 SPP
#5 Chaos Dwarf- 2 SPP
#6 Chaos Dwarf-
#7 Minotaur-
#8 Bull Centaur- 3 SPP
#9 Bull Centaur-
#10 Hobgoblin-
#11 Hobgoblin-

Game #2 (vs Dark Elf; coached by the newbie)

This was really a bit of a training run. He was fielding 2 Blitzers, 2 Witches, a Runner, 6 Linelves and had 1 RR.
21,000 fans gave him +1 FAME. I won the toss and elected to recieve. We both were feilding a journeyman, mine a hobo his a linelf. He set up and it was clear he didnt know what he was up against. 6 elves on the LOS had my Dwarves in a good mood. A high kick put my 'Bull carrier' under the ball. A casual 6 on the catch roll and i started turn 1 ball in hand. With all those elves to block turn one saw my cage at the half way line and 4 elves lying on the pitch 2 stunned 1 KO'd and 1 Badly Hurt (thankyou Mighty blow Minotaur). This was going to be a long day for those dark elves. By turn 3 i had a solid cage around my 'in range Bull carrier' and had added 2 more to the KO box. I then bashed away with little success. His turn 7 however, an amazing dodge (5+ no RR) by one of his witches had my Bull blitzed 2D my choice. His Witch was strechered off Badly Hurt. I Ran in the TD turn 8 after another elf was KO'd.
Half time. 1-0 He only had 2 in the D&I box and none that stayed KO'd. IMO he was lucky.
A riot started the second half. Cutting the half to just 7 turns each. His offence was all over the place. A fumbled throw left a big hole for my Hobos and Bulls to run through, letting me put multiple TZ's on the ball. My dwarves did what they do best putting 3 elves face down on the pitch. He miraculously managed to dodge in (5+) pick up ball (5+) only to fail the (2+) dodge out, giving me a pick up ball (with RR) and a GFI to score which i did successfully. Second half turn 4 score at 2-0.
At this point, with the win safely tied up i offered some pointers. With my help he got the ball in the hands of a Blitzer within scoring range with a loose cage protecting solidly. A block from a linelf put #3 out for the rest of the match badly hurt. And it looked like he might score. A Minotaur block that killed his runner ment I was able to get a TZ on the ball carrier though and a failed dodge next turn ended his hopes of pulling one back. My turn 8 saw a Hobo throw (yes throw!) to a Bull who caught it (amazing) but my #9 Bull failed the hand off which would have allowed him to run in for his second and the teams third TD.
Final score 2-0 cas 3-1

I may have recorded my first win but it didnt feel like it. Though a win is a win.
MVP was #1 Chaos Dwarf. And #8 Bull rolled a 7 for a skill incease. He gets Block.

So 2 games in the table looks like this:
. Team Played-W-D-L TDs
1. High elves 2 2-0-0 5
2. Chaos Dwarf (me) 2 1-1-0 3
3. Chaos 2 1-0-1 3
4. Human 2 0-1-1 1
5. Skaven 1 0-1-0 1
6. Ogre 1 0-1-0 0
7. Dark Elf 2 0-0-2 0

[Morgred]

Team update:
#1 Chaos Dwarf- 5 SPP
#2 Chaos Dwarf- 2 SPP
#3 Chaos Dwarf-*2 SPP (correction from last post)
#4 Chaos Dwarf- Guard 9 SPP
#5 Chaos Dwarf-
#6 Chaos Dwarf-*
#7 Minotaur- 4 SPP
#8 Bull Centaur- Block 8 SPP
#9 Bull Centaur- 3 SPP
#10 Hobgoblin-
#11 Hobgoblin- 1 SPP

I think ive got Chaos next. The only thing i know is that he has a Minotaur with Claw. Other than that i think he is unskilled.

Any advice?

[SorroW]

Sounds like a good start for your team! I for one was thinking "doom and gloom" when you started with 1 rr... But it looks like you are doing fine.

Against Chaos you have more skills and he have more Strenght. So use you blockers to whittle down his beastmens. And try to win the Bloking war. I think it should be doable, Guard really helps there.

Of course he will most likely think the same, so positioning will be key. And Crowdsurfing a warrior or 2 is always a good thing.

Anyway, I have nearly no idea what I am talking about. Just wanted to say that it is really fun reading some team blogs with none standard choices, and see how they are doing!

Also your TT league sounds like a blast! Hope you don't scare the new coach away though... Who let him have one rr on his first team?! O.o

/SorroW, who really shouldn't be giving "advice". :-)

[Morgred]

Thanks SorroW.. I always appreciate input from fellow coaches.
Yeh most cringe at the idea of starting with only 1 RR but i figure that all i have to do i is pick up the ball and run it down the pitch. As long as i make sure the ball carrier is protected the rest is blocking. And the dwarves only have a 1/36 chance of failing as long as i throw 2D blocks. Youre right when you say guard helps with that. My first half i didnt use my RR.
Yeh the new coach (poor bloke) i dont know who let him start a Dark Elf team with both Witches and only 1 RR. I guess he'll learn the hard way. But he was high spirited and seemed to enjoy it still.
So you think the key to Choas is to target some of his Beastmen. Ill be honest, usually feel pretty safe behind my AV9 but that Mino with Claw is a scary bastard.
I have 120,000gp in the tresury. Do you think i should invest in an apoth or wait and save for my 2nd RR? At the moment im leaning toward the apoth.

[SorroW]

I would go for an Apoth as first buy.

Since that Mino with Claw will kill someone. :-)

/SorroW

[Coach]

I would pretty much always get an Apothecary as the first purchase, losing a player costs a lot of money early on in a team's life. As for that Minotaur, try and Blitz him down with your Block Centaur and a couple of assists (you could try a one die hit as well though it is a bit riskier with only the one reroll) and then use Hobgoblins to foul it.

[Morgred]

Yeh ill feel better when his Mino is off after taking a Hobo's well placed boot. An apoth on my sidelines will give me a little piece of mind

[Morgred]

Game #3 (vs Ogre)

After a scheduling error from the Griffon Shield II operations board was rectified by the commissioner himself it was to be a fixtured match between the 'Snotling Revolution' Ogres up against the Chaos Dwarves of the Morgred Longbeards.

After an impressive win in their last match the Longbeards were eager to continue challenging for the top spot. Current table leaders the Polden High Elf team are undefeated and untied to this point.

It was a perfect day for blood bowl as the fans came out to see this highly anticipated match. So anticipated because the Longbeards are leading the competition in injuries inflicted with 7 in their two matches so far this season and Ogres being known for their ability to hurt the opposition. 13,000 fans came through the gates. A small crowd. Though, to be expected as Ogre fans have trouble remembering theres a game on and the ones who do arrive having trouble with the turnstyles. So the majority of fans Longbeard supporters, the Dwarves had +1 FAME.

The Ogres won the toss and elected to recieve. The fans were really lively at first kick off and the cheers of the electric crowd gave the Longbeards the added confidence of a second re-roll for the half.*

The game started meeting expectation. First block for the offensive Ogre breaking the armour and the jaw of the dwarf Ul-hark on the defensive line. He'll be out for the rest of the match and will be sidelined for the next match. The coach instructing the teams new apothocary not to act. In the mean time the a snotling gathered the ball and the offence assembled its play.*

The defence were quick to recover. The Longbeards Minotaur, Rager had an impact early putting an Ogre in the crowd. The crowd relatively kind as he is able to walk straight back to reserves. A blitz from the captain, dwarf Thurnf and the ball was loose. The outstanding blocking skills of the dwarves left few players standing and by turn 3 the longbeards had got the ball to #9 Hiltoth a Bull Centaur and had caged around him.*

The Ogres, on the back foot, stuggled to get back into formation as the dwarves slowly grind their way down the pitch. Mustar the Bull sends a snot off on a stretcher and #11 Snibbler the Hobgoblin badly hurts another snot although going prone himself. Both snots looking like they will take no further part in the match the Dwarves are able to hold out to score turn 8.

Half time 1-0 Longbeards. Casualties at 2-1 also longbeards way

The second half starts with the wind picking up as the balls in flight. Its a touch back. Hiltoth again takes the ball and cages up the right hand side of the pitch. Even the power of the Ogres couldnt slow the cage. The Minotaur again having an impact badly hurting a defensive Ogre. The Minos 3rd casualty in 3 games.

*A couple of snots seeing stars in the KO box and another badly hurting himself failing to dodge, leaves the defence badly out numbered and in trouble. A complete bonehead move by the opposing coach sees ALL the Ogres forget what they are doing allowing the dwarves to take down the Ogres. Hobo #11 Snibbler fouls and KOs one. The ref not having a bar of it as he sends him straight off. #10 hobo Dribblez suffers the same fate as he stuns one of the 3 remaining Ogres.

Turn 5 and the opposing coach manages to get a snotling back to mark the 'bull carrier'. He does well refusing to go down as the bull cant shake him. Incredibly and relentlessly sidesteping every block and blitz for 2 turns until he is knocked down by captain Thurnf turn 8 allowing #9 his 2nd TD for the match. *

Full time 2-0 Longbeards win. With 5-1 casualties.

Chaos Dwarf #6 Ul-Hark was awarded the MVP after his jaw was broken. And the team was awarded 50000gp for the win.*

Post game wrap: Minotaur 'Rager' gets Guard. #9 Bull 'Hiltoth' gets Block. Ul-Hark the Dwarf will miss next game.*

[Morgred]

News of the 'Old' World

Coach of Morgred Longbeards was interviewed after his teams second win of the season last night against the 'Snotling Revloution' Ogres.

Reporter: Coach, your team are leading the competition in injuries inflicted. And with another 5 tonight, its clear your team is playing tough. Is this a deliberate tactic or just the violoent nature of your players?

Morgred: We definately aim to ensure the opposition leave here battered and bruised. But really our tactics involve scoring. That said our players are tough and we do utilise that advantage.

Reporter: Tonights game showed your defensive line is strong. With only 1 touchdown scored against you so far, even a snotling couldnt dodge his way through. Is that a focus of yours?*

Morgred: Definately. The majority of our boys are not quick so the ability to keep the opposition in front of our line is vital. We still havnt played the High Elves or Pro Elves yet so stopping those guys scoring will be a good challenge for our boys.*

Reporter: Your Minotaur 'Rager' is your leading casualty scorer. How important is he to your team?

Morgred: That depends on the day really. Against the Dark Elves he had a shocker. Spent most of the game 'MOOing' Our team is built around everyone not just one player.*

Reporter: Your second on the table with the Stirland Steelers Humans next. How do you see the up coming match?

Morgred: The Steelers will be tough. Their coach is a veteran and they have the ability play a good flowing game. I dont think they have the strength to match us but it should be a good match.

Reporter: Rumor has it that the club has been approached by Ancient Tourism Co. With talk of a sponsership deal that could see the teams name change among other things. Can you comment?

Morgred: We are in the process of negotiating a deal with numerous potential sponsers. The board will be making the decision. My focus is the next match and getting that win.

Reporter: Thanks for your time coach and well done on the win tonight.

Morgred: Thanks mate