“FUMBBL CUP: Round Three

Where to begin? I guess the only place to begin is at the beginning. I spent a great deal of time considering my options when it came to team values and the perspective 180k worth of inducements I would be receiving for this match; mostly at the cost of one of our blitzers with Guard missing this match due to a broken leg. With all that Guard and Tackle I figures that the dark elves of Cold Fury III were going to come out with the game plan of smashing us into the ground, so I debated hiring a few extra linewomen to bolster our ranks, expecting to lose the war of attritician. But, on the other hand, what if the elves decided to come out and elfball, screening the ball safely away with a well timed pass followed by a stall maneuver? Would it be better to hire a chainsaw welding maniac to help motivate against the stall, and perhaps inflict several injuries against the stalling elves? What about a wizard? Too many question, all depended on too many variables. But hey, that's BloodBowl for you.

When game time rolled around, we went with hiring two additional linewomen, and inducing a babe, just in case any of our better players were merely knocked out rather than injured.

With a short kick the dark elves secured screening and scoring position by the end of their second turn, so both teams spent the next four turns fouling and attempting to maim the other team's players, to little to no avail. Sure, there was a surf, and a few KO's, but no real damage to give either team a permanent numbers advantage. After the Dark Elf TD, we receive the kick off and managed to fool them with a swing low-cut back high maneuver, which resulted in the ball being coughed up, but a recovery by our thrower for a pass into the endzone for the tying TD before the close of the first half.

The Blitz! really didn't help, as we now found ourselves surrounded, and for some reason I went with an all-or-nothing play involving hitting their most dangerous player while using the ball carrier as an assist. The only thing of real note from the second half was our third turn, the turn in which Lisa made 5 consecutive Dodges, and then a GFI blitz to POW the ball carrier, causing a causality, and catching the ball. But then, two turns later, Heather did something very similar, so maybe there was more to watch. We attempted to pass the ball out to clear it, and maybe save the match, but the pass went wide. The elves recovered and took the lead 2-1.

The short kick might have played to our advantage, but the bumbled pick-up and the failed dodge the following turn to possibly surf the elf covering the ball, cemented our defeat.

I knew coming into this match that a win would be difficult, still, these ladies did well under pressure, and pleasant conversation was had with my opponent, with lots of laughter. It was an enjoyable match, all the way around, regardless.

OTS, best of luck in the tournament.”