Blood Bowl Match Report #1 : First Half.
Before we get started I have to credit “Colin” from the FUMBBL Forum for creating the PSP that made the pitch views so much easier to put together! (Please click on any of the pictures below to enlarge them)
Initial Set Up
As the Humans won the toss and chose to receive, the Orc team sets up first, followed by their pink skinned adversaries. I was quite lucky with the kick and the ball scattered a good distance away from the human thrower. The kick-off table result was a Quick Snap allowing the humans a square of movement before the game started proper.
With their first turn the Humans make a good start. Many Orcs are barged over and the thrower successfully secures the ball. “Griff” rolls a skull on his tackle attempt and Adam spends a reroll to amend this.
Seeking revenge, the Orcs scrabble to their feet, there’s a couple of tussles, then out of nowhere Lineorc 13 smashes Lineman 8 hard and puts him in the dead and injured box with Orc Blitzer 7 making a break past the Humans line with the intention of sacking the Human Thrower.
The Ogre gets back in the action, smashing a Black Orc over. The Human Thrower is biding his time waiting for the right opportunity, which presents itself in the form of Human Blitzer 1 making a dash for it and freeing himself up to receive. Unfortunately, Griff rolls another skull on the block dice and out of sheer disgust Adam refuses to expend another reroll to adjust this (also, it may be put to better use further on in the game). This ends the Human team’s turn.
More frantic fighting in center field which sees the Ogre pushed flat on his arse. Orcs 6 & 9 rush to cut down the Blitzer that made a break for it but sadly, merely push him to the edge of the pitch. However, this is not a safe position to be in as the crowd will tear you a new one if you are unlucky enough to be pushed off the pitch!
Failing to take down the Blitzer proved to be very costly as the plucky human thrower takes a big chance running down the wing and passing to his teammate, who is being hassled by 2 blood-thirsty Orcs. But would you believe it? The pass is good, the Blitzer catches, and despite a short pause to deck a nearby Orc, runs on to score! What a Touch-Down!
So now the Humans kick off to the Orcs. The greenskins are more fortunate with the ball scatter as it lands not too far from their thrower.
The Black Orcs let rip with a mighty bellow, and with fists flying, take out a good chunk of the Human defence. Using this as a distraction many of the quicker Orcs break through, making themselves free to receive a pass. Horror of horrors though as the thrower fumbles the pick up roll! Even with his skill that allows him to reroll! Orc’s turn immediately ends and now I am really worried as I haven’t left a lot of support in my half! I got carried away, now will I suffer?
The Humans are quickly all over this mistake and move forward unimpeded. They close around the butter-fingered thrower but luckily they just can’t take him down. Despite that, it’s going to be very hard to get to the ball with all the tackle zones around.
Luckily, it looks like Gork & Mork were with me every step of the way this turn. Firstly a Human takes a beating and gets K.O.ed, and despite a crazy amount of dodge rolls and pick up/passing/catching tests, I pass every one without even needing a reroll! The Orcs show an almost Elven finesse and gracefulness as they dodge around the bemused Humans and pull off a long bomb pass of epic proportions. Touchdown to the Orcs!
(Every roll I made this turn was crucial and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. It’s crazy plays like this that make me love this game!)
So with the Orcs scoring, it’s their turn to kick off. But obviously tensions are running high in the stadium as the result on the kick off table is “PITCH INVASION”. Oh dear. Each coach gets to roll for each of their opponents players to see if the they get beaten and stunned by the rampaging crowd. As you can see both teams take a beating. (Being stunned means you spend a turn recovering on the ground before you can get up and move again).
Luckily, the Humans get first turn and what remaining players there are left standing can take advantage of their stunned enemies. A few blocks are administered, the thrower recovers the ball and Human Blitzer 4 makes a run deep into the Orcs half.
Stumbling to their feet some of the orcs spot this cheeky human, chase him down and teach him a lesson. Another one for the dead and injured box. Not much else happens this turn besides recovering and Orc Blitzer 7 charging after the Human Thrower again.
Human’s turn and after seeing that last tackle, all they are concerned with is getting the ball down the field. Catcher 6 makes a break into open space, Thrower 7 passes the ball to him easily, the rest of the team provide as much screening as possible and generally get in the Orcs way.
Adam really did a good job here of protecting his ball carrier. It’s very rare that you are presented with a situation you can’t really escape from in Blood Bowl, that’s one of its strengths, but Adam is a great player and used his tackle zones very cleverly, to the point where there was no sure-fire way of stopping him scoring on his next turn. To add injury to insult, I rolled a “Both Down” result when tackling one of his players and even repeated the result with the reroll!
This turn sees the unchallenged catcher casually stroll to a Touchdown, no doubt showboating the whole way! Very well-played indeed.
Very last turn of the half and what I imagine is a common site in Blood Bowl. I am receiving the ball but with my final turn the most I can hope to do is injure as many Human players as possible. To minimise the damage I can inflict, Adam merely puts the required three players on the line of scrimmage. In most similar cases, these will be less important players for the team. Unfortunately, I fail to do any real damage and the half end!
So the Humans are one up on the score, but with two less players on the field. The first half has been pretty awesome already, what will the second half bring? Keep it tuned to Power Armoured Beard to find out, sports-fans!
