[Team Blog] OCC / SSC - Sturmwald Strongholds

[Gallows Bait]

Decided to play safe and take the guard option on both - as pointed out, I could get pinned in easily and I recall how that affected my Chaos team back in CCIII, hopefully this will let me fight back in a few critical places.

Game is fixed for tomorrow and I am nervous, really only aiming to survive!

[Gallows Bait]

Well, what an interesting game.

Not only did I survive, but I came away with a 1-1 draw.

The Khemri slugged down the flank to score in turn 6 and my turn 8 attempt at equalising was reliant on a long bomb, which predictably failed.

I attempted to push forward in the second half and got one blitzer through the crowd to allow for a throwing play, once I got my thrower free from the brawl that surrounded me. It was intercepted by a Tomb Guardian - the same one already has 1 interception in an earlier match, to give him 2 in 4 games!

The Khemri tried to slug down, but a block with the ball carrier brought him down and gave me a chance to steal the ball with my thrower and run in for a touchdown, but not without some risky moments.

I was very much aided by the injury rolls, suffering 2 KOs and 1 badly hurt, while I badly hurt 1 skeleton (regenerated) and fractured the arm of one TG (failed to regenerate) and killed the mighty blow blitz-ra (failed to regenerate) along with a couple of KOs, to give me the numbers in the second half, despite being down in the first.

The kill also takes me to 3 kills in 3 matches, which is pretty cool.

My thrower's touchdown takes him to 5spp, my remaining unskilled blitzer got up to 9 spp so will level up - waiting to roll. And MVP went to a 0 spp lineman to bring him to 5spp, leaving me 2 of them close to skills and 1 on 2spp along with my ogre.

Wood Elves next, which given nuffle's humour, will probably massacre me.

[nufflehatesme]

nice result. khemri offence can be brutal if they make a clean pick up t1. sounds like u brutalised him though!

[Barmution]

Seconding NHM here in that you got a very decent result there! For some reason, I find myself massively interested in Human teams blogs at the moment, so I'll be following the Strongholds

PS. Yes, that means I'm already stalking your Basterds, NHM

[FTJUK]

Nice results Gallows! We want to see more pain inflicted in the next game against the Woodies!

Early doors in terms of strategy, but 2-1 grind and try and keep your guard players next to the ball carrier to try and ensure that any pesky wardancers always has a 2 die roll in your favour.

[Gallows Bait]

Yup, the wood elves are a little beat up, but they have some wrestle linemen and one of the wardancers has strip ball. So I'll need to spread my line around the cage and position those guards to watch against the leaping wardancers.

Other than that, I'm just glad I have a tackle blitzer to try and deal with the wardancers more effectively, as I'd be struggling otherwise.

But with no catchers and some loners on his team, I'm quite hopeful that grinding is the way to go.

I'm not sure whether to buy a catcher now or wait until I can afford two of them, one is never quite the same threat, but a 12th player could play to my advantage. I'd be risking a hefty inducement though, so I may wait.

[FTJUK]

You have to grind otherwise you will be playing the Elfs at their own game, but with less agility. It could work but the odds would be against you for sure.

Getting a catcher now may not be such as bad idea as Woodies are one of the least bashy teams and have a lack of both block and tackle to start with. At least it gives you a alternative scoring threat should the Wood Elfs look like they could steal the ball. Keep him close to the thrower in the pack and have him ready to ponce for the TD when in scoring range.

Catcher also gives you a fast covering player on defence.

[Nikolai II]

Caging the thrower with the guards in opposite corners is probably the safest. Sad that he hasn't gotten block yet.

[Gallows Bait]

Normal skill on my blitzer sees him take tackle, given I have wood elves, gobbos and flings to come, I'll get value out of it I think.

[Gallows Bait]

So tonight sees me face off against Rander's Wood Elves at last.

The Sturmwald Strongholds currently stand at:

Ogre - Mighty Blow, Thick Skull, Throw Teammate, Bonehead, Loner
Blitzer - Block, Tackle
Blitzer - Block, Guard
Blitzer - Block, Guard
Blitzer - Block, Tackle
Thrower - Pass, Sure Hands
Lineman -
Lineman -
Lineman -
Lineman -
Lineman -

3 x RR
1 x Apoth
2 x FF

TV 1,120


My opponant currently stands as follows (if my memory is correct, which is difficult):

Wardancer - Block, Dodge, Leap
Wardancer - Block, Dodge, Leap, Strip Ball
Thrower - Pass
Lineman - Wrestle
Lineman - Wrestle
Lineman - +1MA
Lineman -
Lineman -
Lineman -
Lineman -
Lineman - MNG - (Replaced by Loner for this game)

2 RR (I think)
1 Apoth (I think)

TV estimated 1130 + some from fan factor.

So I'm looking to either be even on TV or slightly under his, which means I could perhaps by a cheerleader or assistant coach, if I wanted to, though they may make little difference.

Alternately I could get one catcher and give away a Bloodweiser babe in inducement, or even 2 and give away either a re-roll or an extra apothecary, but not give away a wizard.

I'm in two minds on the catcher(s) - I could do with the game experience on one, but with no elf catchers on the wood elf team, he'd be the only St2 player on the field, and given my plan is to grind he may not be as useful, and it would at minimum allow my opponant to take a babe.

Still, if I take one now I'll be 12 players vs his 11 and if I could skill him up, then I'd have a good reciever for my games against slower Chaos and Nurgle later in the season.