MOAB 2011 Match Reports - Day 1

Well, three weeks after the event I finally get around to working on my reports for MOAB. My 31st tournament had me taking my 15th race, that of the Chaos Dwarves.

I have never used Chaos Dwarves competitively before. I've played a couple of solitaire games with them, but that's about it. I had to borrow a team for this one, seeing I'm nowhere near getting my own CD team at the moment. Mind you, I come up against them often enough.

MOAB was a 1.15k start-up, with three normal skills for day one, and three for day two, to be given before round one and round four. The second lot of skills can include a double, but no player can have more than one additional skill. The skill selection for this format was something I really didn't have to think too much about. I had long decided that my two bulls were going to get Block, and a hobgoblin was going to get Sure Hands. For day two, my minotaur got Block, and two blockers got Guard.

The Myths Busted team improved as the tournament progressed. The first two games were mostly forgettable, games three and four were frustrating, and the last two were quite good. A hard fought (and thought) win over D'Arquebus in the last round was definitely the highlight of the tournament for myself, which promoted me to 7th place. It also gave me my second NAF race rating over 150. The prize voucher for Mil Sims came in handy, as it allowed me to add an extra set of tiles for my Carcassonne board (the second set of river tiles) and get a discounted copy of the Blood Bowl Legendary Edition PC Game. Now I just need a machine capable of running it!

My best player (in terms of SPPs) was a bull centaur, Red Flag, with two touchdowns and two casualties. He was the only player on the roster in double figures. Once again, the the SPPs were spread around, with only three players not registering any points (two blockers and a hobgoblin). The team only finished two touchdowns in the red for the event, but was three casualties for the good. I was leading most casualties after two rounds, but a poor round three match casualty wise put an end to that. (From memory, the prize was actually picked up by a High Elven team.)

Okay, onto the reports.

Day One – 1 Oct 2011

Game: 654
Round: 1
Opponent: Gnome
Team: Undead
Result: Lost 1-3
Casualties: Won 4-2
Toss: Won - received
Fame: Opponent+1
Initial weather roll: Fine
Kick-offs (in order): High Kick - dropped, Brilliant Coaching – opponent gained a re-roll, Blitz, Perfect Defence, Change of weather – fine.

Well, another encounter with Gnome in the first round, and yet another first round encounter with the eventual winner of the tournament. (Last year, it was Double Skulls who creamed me in the opening round to win MOAB.) Strangely enough, DS played Undead as well. Gnome's team featured a wight with Tackle, a blodging ghoul and a ghoul with Sure Hands.

With the kick-off high, deep, and eventually dropped, Bug Bomb (hobgoblin) quickly regathered and advanced down-field with two of his warty team-mates in support. With both sides pushing each other around in the centre of the pitch, the CDs elect to force the issue down the right flank. Bug Bomb tripped over an errant rock as he got closer to halfway, but the ball fortuitously bounces to Salami Rocket (hobgoblin) who manages to hang onto it. He doesn't keep it for long, as he is blitzed by one of the ghouls, who creams him, and snatches the ball as it bounces straight back to him. Salami though gets carted off the pitch where the medics work on setting his broken leg. Lethal Penny (minotaur) then evens the numbers up on the pitch by bashing a zombie senseless, who fails to pull himself together. Hand Grenade Hero (blocker) darts after the ghoul with the ball, but can't put him down, and the beastie dances away, whilst the wrestling match in the middle sees a mummy swing poorly at a bull centaur and go crashing to the ground. Ninja Walk (hobgoblin) trips over trying to get to the runaway ghoul, who continues his run all the way into the end zone. [Turn 5]

With the kick-off barely getting over the halfway line, Red Flag (bull centaur) goes on the rampage and tramples a zombie to his second death. Like his undead team-mate, he can't get together either. Bug advances into the protection of the cage, picking the ball up en-route, but Lethal Penny can't clear a path for it, seeing he's throwing a tantrum. Bug manages to weave through the line, Ninja gets through as well, but suffers some cramp trying to promote his position. With his support picked off one by one, Bug Bomb gets knocked over, a ghoul saunters through, grabs the ball, and hurls a long pass down the pitch. On the fly, a wight takes the catch, and with Coke Mentos (hobgoblin) pulling up with cramp as well trying to get to the wight, and Lethal still roaring away in the middle of the pitch, the wight walks in for his team's second right on half-time.

With the kick going deep, the CDs surge forward to try and force an error so that they can get back into the game. A ghoul races back to pick up the ball, but Red Flag arrives, forcing him back. The ghoul dodges clear of the bull, but the hand-off to get the ball down-field is fumbled, and the CDs go on the offensive. Old Dog then Bullet Proof (blockers) inflict successive casualties, the former slaying a ghoul, the latter badly hurting a wight that can't regenerate either. Coke darts through, picks up the ball with a ghoul looking on, steps away from him, throws a short pass to Ninja, who takes the catch and runs in for the score. [Turn 2]

The CDs appreciate a chance to reset their defensive line, and kick shallow. The undead though are awake to the plan, and retaliate, with Old Dog and Hand Grenade (blockers) being knocked out in quick succession, then Lethal being ganged up upon, and injured by a powerful strike from a ghoul. The Sure Hands ghoul has managed to get the ball, and advances cautiously down the pitch. Ninja steps clear of an opponent and forces the ghoul back, whilst Bull China (bull centaur) gallops back to increase the pressure on the ball carrier. Bug Bomb the targets the ghoul, but gets a bad case of cramps as well and goes down agonizingly close, allowing the ghoul an easier dodge to get away. Bull China sprints after the ghoul, after Red Flag flattens the wight marking him. Bull China's charge is successful, but the ghoul doesn't stay down, and he gets back up to his feet, dodges clear, scoops up the loose ball and scores. [Turn 7]

What little time there is left in the match, Bug Bomb tries desperately to get something going, but fumbles the ball. With the scoring opportunity gone, Ninja and a few team-mates take out their frustrations on a fallen skeleton, knocking him out just as the full-time siren blows.

Game: 655
Round: 2
Opponent: Barks
Team: High Elves
Result: Lost 1-4
Casualties: 2-0
Toss: Won - received
Fame: Opponent+1
Initial weather roll: Sweltering Heat
Kick-offs (in order): Throw a rock – dead catcher (apothecary failed), Perfect defence, Cheering Fans – opponent gained a re-roll, Change of weather – fine, Change of weather – pouring rain, Cheering fans – opponent gains a re-roll.

The weather played a considerable part in this match. Both opposing catchers received a skill each, one Block, one Dodge, whilst a line elf picked up Kick.

It was a good start for the CDs. The rock sniper struck, and struck well, and they were already a player for the good up without even having to make a tackle. Even better it was the Block catcher. Salami Rocket needed a little help in picking up the ball, but he got there. The deep kick didn't help and whilst my slow-pokes took their time getting back up field, the elves were quite quick in getting down-field. Salami handed the ball on to Coke Mentos, and he headed down the right flank, seeing there were a few more team-mates there. The lone catcher still managed to get through and have a shot at him, but the hobgoblin stood his ground, and it was the elf who hit the turf. As the cage advanced, another elven player stepped up to the plate to have a crack, but was tripped up. Lethal Penny then made his presence felt, colliding with the Dodge catcher, and the big guy claims a fatality off a clumsy hit. An elf blitzer tries to step clear to blitz, but is tripped up, and with Bull China and Old Dog clearing a path, Coke takes it and walks straight in for the opening point. [Turn 5]

The heat claims three at this point, two of them being CDs. The restart allowed the chaotic ones to reset their defensive line, and as the elves try to get clear, a blitzer trips over, allowing Bull China to gallop after the catcher and pin him to the sideline. With the minotaur screaming blue murder in the middle of the pitch, the thrower lines up the pass, and hurls it. Cork Bat (blocker) somehow got a hand to it, but couldn't drag it down, and the catcher, totally ignoring the bull, takes the catch, then proceeds to step around then away from the bull and the scores are neatly tied up. [Turn 6]

The heat doesn't affect anybody this time round. It's a deep kick, and Bug Bomb ambles back to grab the ball and use a couple of his mates as cover. Bull China and Coke Mentos charge down-field, with a line elf getting his head clipped by one of the hooves and having to be carried off the pitch to the koed bin. The elven defence sweeps across, parceling up the potential scorers. Bug Bomb still elects to pass, and it's a good throw, but even though Coke got a hand to it, he was out-muscled by two defenders and the scoring opportunity is lost for the CDs, but not the elves, seeing the ball conveniently bounces to an elven blitzer. With the minotaur throwing another big guy tantrum, the blitzer dodges past Coke and Bull China, then makes the extra yards to hand the ball off to a line elf, despite one of the blockers standing next to them. The line elf dodges away from him, then through the collective grasp of another blocker and a hobgoblin, stumbles into the end zone, but manages to stay on his feet to score and the CDs are left scratching their heads as they are now down a point at the break.

The heat significantly hampers the dwarves after the break, as both bulls and Bullet Proof (blocker) succumb to the weather, along with two elves, just before the weather changes for the good. The elves take advantage of this, and from a shallow kick-off they are able to go straight on the attack. Salami Rocket attacks the ball carrier, forcing him back, but the elf steps away, hurling a beautiful long pass down-field to a team-mate, who takes the catch, then blitzes Ninja Walk off the pitch, and makes the extra yard to double the elves' lead. [Turn 2]

Then the rain starts. Bug still has to sprint to get to the ball, and with Lethal taking himself as well as an opponent out, Bug feels a little vulnerable. The feeling passes soon enough, as a line elf is tripped up trying to get to him. The CDs then start whacking away, and with the cage trampling forward, there are only two elves left standing. One of them, the catcher, charges at Bug, and despite two team-mates standing either side of him, the elf flattens the hobgoblin, then miraculously grabs the bouncing ball in the middle of the cage! The CDs are speechless for a moment, then hit him back. Elves are flattened and cleared away from the ball, giving Ninja a chance to dodge through, pick up the pigskin, hurl it down-field to Red Flag, who gets both hands to it, but drops it on the second try. A line elf dodges back, picks up the fumbled ball, then hurls a long pass down-field to the catcher who dances away with it. Bug is back on his feet by this time, and hares off after him, but can only force him back. Another line elf darts into the end zone, and with Bug doing his best to try and stop the pass, it's too good, and the elves grab their fourth. [Turn 6]

There's still enough time to get one back, and make the score appear respectable, and Bug Bomb retrieves the ball once again, as the team gets busy pushing aside the elven defence. Ninja Walk spies an opening, and dashes through, but just as he gets in scoring range he gets a bad case of cramp and falls to the ground. The elves charge at Bug, knocking him over, but the warty one manages to get back up, wander over to the ball, as Ninja gingerly gets to his feet and hobbles into the end zone. However, with the rain driving in, Bug cannot grip the ball, and the game finishes.

Game: 656
Round: 3
Opponent: William L
Team: Chaos
Result: Drew 2 all
Casualties: Lost 1-4
Toss: Won - received
Fame: Me+1
Initial weather roll: Fine
Kick-offs (in order): Quick snap, Quick snap, Brilliant coaching – opponent gains a re-roll, High Kick (dropped), High Kick (caught), Brilliant coaching – opponent gains a re-roll.

Relieved somewhat that they weren't facing elves for the final match, the team was keen to at least get something out of the first day. Up against them, was a rather unusual looking minotaur with Tentacles, and a beastman with Sure Hands, and a second with Frenzy.

The quick snap put the CDs straight on the offensive, hitting and pushing away, but not having anything to show for it. Bug Bomb recovered the ball off the kick-off, just before the tentacled monstrosity charged through and nearly throttles Coke Mentos to death. Bullet Proof (blocker) retaliates, and smacks down a beastman, cracking a few ribs. Bug darts up to Ninja Walk, gives him the ball, and the hobgoblin runs to the cage. A charging beastman collects him, and the pair tumble to the ground. Hand Grenade Hero (blocker) smacks a beastman back onto the ball, and it conveniently bounces back into his arms. With the tentacled one chucking a wobbly in the centre of the pitch, a beastman drops his head and goes after the blocker, but trips over. Hand Grenade can't believe his luck, and continues his shuffle down the pitch. Lethal Penny barrels a chaos warrior down, and now covers the blocker's rear. Bug Bomb unfortunately receives a visit from the tentacled one, and he joins Coke in the casualty ward. The beasties are trying hard to cut the blocker off, but with Lethal and Bullet Proof smashing players out of the way, he has an easy run for the line, and breaks the deadlock. [Turn 5]

The fight though is clearly going against the CDs, as Old Dog is frenzied off the pitch, and is subsequently beaten up by the crowd, making him the third one in the casualty ward. A beastman darts through to pick up the ball, but fumbles it, the ball conveniently bouncing to a team-mate. Ninja knocks himself out trying to dodge clear and get to the ball carrier at the same time Red Flag charges and pushes the frenzy beastman off the pitch. The crowd are considerably more lenient with him. The beastman with the ball surprisingly takes to the air, and throws a neat pass to an open team-mate, who dashes for the line. However, Ninja dodges away from an opponent, and with Cork Bat in support, they take the ball carrier down. Unfortunately, a second beastie arrives on the scene, stumbles past the blocker, recovers the ball and the score is evened up in the shadow of half-time. [Turn 7] With the kick going deep, the CDs decide that there is no sense in trying to recover it, and elect to get some tackling practice instead before half-time is called.

It's a good start to the second half for the chaos side, as their tentacled one very nicely smashes Lethal Penny to the turf, injuring the big guy in the process. A beastman saunters back to pick up the ball, but is charged down by Bull China, after he stepped away from an opponent. Salami gets to the ball, and despite a beastman standing next to the ball, he manages to pick it up. He then gets shunted off the pitch, but it's a friendly section of the crowd he falls into. Bull China again is showing the agility of an elf, and steps clear, and charges for the ball. Even with a beastman nearby, the bull is determined, and he picks it up as if the opponent wasn't even there. The surprised beastman is then pushed out of the way, and the bull continues his gallop for the line. Ninja, who was running though to support him, is cleaned up by a beastie and he wakes up in the koed bin. Another beastie charges towards the bull, but he pushes this one aside as well, and gallops in to retake the lead. [Turn 5]

With the sole minotaur on the pitch going nuts, Red Flag charges after the beastman who managed to catch the ball off the kick-off. The minotaur recovers to flatten and knock out Hand Grenade, but the ball carrier decides to charge Red, and fails terribly. The ball however bounces to a team-mate. Red though smacks him down, and Bull tries to break clear of the defence to get to the loose ball, but is tripped over. The ball is then scooped up by a beastman, who shortens the distance for the pass, and it finds it's mark, and the score is locked up once again. With time practically up, the six CDs left on the pitch pick off one of the beastmen, and Salami charges up to lay the boot in. The referee, wanting to get off the pitch for a cold ale, pretends he didn't see the fouling attempt and calls time.

At least the side is on the board at this stage. Next post, their marvelous comeback on the second day.

Before I go, the Babster came around last night and finally collected the CD team. In our discussion, we talked about ideas for the sequel to Feudball. Strangely enough, we both had a few similar ideas for the second installment. I plan to start working on it seriously during the summer, once we have agreed upon a plot outline and a synopsis.

Stay tuned for further details. Cheers!