TNT: Your team, the Leafblowers, has issued an open challenge to all Cup hopefuls. First, can you tell us a little something about the team - its history, or playing style, etc?

Cloggy: The Leafblowers have a history as an elfballing team, but I rarely schedule games for them anymore. This is mainly because, being a bashy coach at heart, I also like coaching elves in kind of a bashy style. The way the team has developed makes it a pure elfballing team now, and frankly I kinda suck at coaching high-level elfball games.

My guys have played Blood Falcons a couple of times for instance, and I got a result only once, (a 4-4 tie - ed) because Malthor nearly fell asleep on his clipboard.

TNT: Has the team participated in any majors before? And how did they fare?

C: The team has played in the Warpstone Open I, and got knocked out by Fischerking's woodies (the Deepwood Junkies - ed) after getting too badly beaten up to field a full squad. They made it to the quarterfinals.

TNT: What did you think of the experience?

C: The intensity of the games, and the loads of spectators making noise were quite fun. I have played in two majors so far, the other being the GLTII with my chaos dwarves. In both cases I enjoyed the games themselves, but that injoyment was lessened by a look at the draws. Seeing teams in the draws that you can't expect to beat except by ludicrous luck is something that doesn't help for an overcompetitive coach such as myself.

TNT: What influenced your decision not to try to qualify for the Cup, and why did you decide to invite all comers to play your team?

C: I guess the main point I have against the majors is the lack of variation. The serious participants play only a small number of races because of their ability to shine at that level of competition. The fact that these teams are there leads to a cold war style weapons race, that forces other teams to build up to such high payrolls as well. In order to get there they need to play a certain type of game to avoid damage, since ageing is dangerous enough on its own at these levels.

As a consequence of these dynamics, the majors have basically become a sort of expanded XFL where elf teams, orcs, and chaos battle it out for the Cup.

I invited everyone to play me because I like to play a BIG game every now and then. Hopefully I will in the process be able to trim down the team and have fun without all sorts of wizards and stars.

TNT: Has many teams accepted the challenge yet?

C: I have had 5 takers so far, and I expect to get more offers soon. My guys should especially be attractive opponents for recovery/warm-up games between the qualifiers and the main event.

TNT: You've played your first of these matches, against a Wood Elf squad, Buggered by Fate. What did you think of the match and the team?

C: Obviously it's a beautiful team. Not too many players with abnormal abilities or unique skills, but just a very well built squad. The match itself was quite boring to coach from my side, and kind of illustrates my point about the uber teams in Majors.

My team never had any chance to cope with the fact that nearly all opposing players moved and fought like wardancers. The only way I could win a game vs Buggered by Fate without getting REALLY lucky would be to build my own guys up to their level by getting some soft games.

TNT: Thanks for your time, we'll be keeping an eye on you - maybe you'll give a warm-up match to the champs this year.

Sam Walkerson is a reporter for TNT. His articles have appeared in Spike! Magazine and Averland Castle and Garden