Blitz Issue05

ISSUE 5

AUSTRALIAN

JULY 2012

NATIONAL

SHOWCASES: Alberto Machado Paul O’Grady Axtlinge and Mancaver present their award winning teams. PAGES 28 & 100

INTERVIEW: BothDown

This issue we interview Alex from Comixininos and the boys from the BothDown podcast. PAGE 40

BL!TZ HALL OF FAME 2012 Our new champions and stars are inducted into the Hall. PAGE 60

BLOOD BOWL

E-ZINE

PLUS NAF Full Time Siren PAGE 6 Upcoming Tournaments PAGE 10 Tournament Reviews Sandgroper 6 Cane Toad Cup EucBowl PAGE 14 Book Review:

Feudball PAGE 34 Gaming for Charity PAGE 54 Misery in an Ale Tankard P2 PAGE 88 So You Want to be a T.O. PAGE 92 Sub-Mags PAGE 70

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BL!TZ Magazine | July 2012

BL!TZ issue 5 feature articles: in terviews wi t h alex from comixininos and ki lowaug from t he b othdown podcast. team showcases from alb erto machado and pau l from the mancave. the 2012 bl ! tz hall of fame induc t ion. misery in an a le tank ard: part 2. gaming for chari t y with vain

editorial

I c a n ’t b e l i e v e i t ’s b e e n a y e a r ! I s s u e 5 re p re s e n t s t h e full 12 month cycle since this thing called BL!TZ started. That time has been a period o f i n c re d i b l e c h a n g e f o r m e , and has seen the Blood Bowl c o m m u n i t y i n A u s t r a l i a g ro w e v e n f u r t h e r. O n e o f t h e m o s t s u r p r i sing aspects of our success, h o w e v e r, h a s b e e n t h e g l o b a l i n t e re s t . B L ! T Z h a s b e e n s p o k e n a b o u t o n i n t e r n at i o n a l p o d c a s t s a n d i s d o w nloaded by people in many c o u n t r i e s a ro u n d t h e w o r l d . D e s p i t e b e i n g a f a i r l y p a roc h i a l , A u s t r a l i a n - b a s e d m a gazine, it seems communities a s f a r a f i e l d a s E u ro p e a n d North America want to know w h a t w e a re u p t o . With this in mind, this issue sees a little bit of f o re i g n i n f l u e n c e . O n e o f t w o t e a m f e a t u re s i n t h i s i s s u e h a v e b e e n c o n t ri buted by Alberto Machado. While not an Aussie, he is a m e m b e r o f t h e A u s B o w l c o mm u n i t y. H i s a m a z i n g h a l f l i n g t e a m re c e n t l y w o n a F F F i e l d s award. Check it out later this issue. Our interview this issue is a l s o i n t e r n a t i o n a l i n f l a v o u r. Scott (kilowog2814) and Steve (fatfinley) give us the inside scoop on the newest Cabalvision franchise in town; the BothDown podcast.

F ro m there, however, the c o n t ent returns home. Paul f ro m the Man Cave reveals t h e teracotta brilliance of h i s newest team in a second t e a m showcase. Vain (Casper Fe r t ier) discusses how to u s e your gaming for good, n o t evil, in his Gaming for Charity article a nd I review t h e book Feudball. Virral ( R i c hard) and Olaf the Stout ( A d am) also presents part o n e of a ‘how to’ guide to t o u r nament organisation. T h e regulars are here too. B a b s (Stephen) wraps up the g o i n gs-on of the NAF while C a r n ivean (Erin) brings us a n e w instalment of The Last Word . The Sub-Mag editors h a v e been working hard t o b ring you all the local B l o o d Bowl news, while we a l s o review more recent t o u r naments. F i n a lly, we present the 2012 H a l l of Fame induction. The v o t e s are in and we welcome f i v e new Stars, as well as a w h o le host of Champions in t o t he hallowed Hall. Read a l l t he inductees later in the i s s u e. Did you make the list? S o , wherever you’re reading t h i s , enjoy! We have big p l a n s for the coming year, so s t a y with us and, as always, g e t BL!TZed! SinisterDexter (Brett)

Would you like to contribute to BL!TZ Magazine?. Anyone who is a member of AusBowl.com can contribute articles, game reports, reviews, stories, photos, artwork or more. Email souther [email protected]

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EDITOR: Brett Whittaker. AusBowl Chief: Erin McK ee Additional Contributors: • James Russell-Wills • Richard Andrew • Duro Bozic • Casper Fertier • Kin Sum • Stephen Babbage • Alberto Machado

CONTENTS 6

34

Babs (Steven Babbage) discusses all the latest goings-on from the recently electorised NAF. Is there a new sponsorship deal in the works? And what was that strange email we all received recently?

A book with a money back guarantee? Yes, that’s Feudball by Stephen Babbage and Geoff G Turner. In this article SinisterDexter (Brett Whittaker) gives a no holds barred review of the novel.

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40

Our dedicated crew of, well, me, has been out scouring the interwebz for the latest breaking news for our hobby. BL!TZ can’t guarantee it is important, but we’ll report on it anyway.

The Canadian gingers who like to discuss the background of Blood Bowl, give you a rundown on what it is like to put together a regular podcast in our second interview. What is it like being a podcasting celebrity?

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54

Are you saving your pennies for that next big love-in? The upcoming tournaments pages will give you all the dates and details you need to get to your next tournament. Hell, why not go to all of them?

Darkhorse (Jake Kroker) and Vain (Casper Fertier) have been the mad commissioners behind the Breast Cancer Beach Bowl, held in Adelaide. Vain here tells how to use gaming for good, not evil.

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60

Direct from the miasmic epicentre of each Australian tournament, remenisce about tournaments just gone, or check out what you missed, by reading the tournament reviews.

The votes are tallied and the commissioners have sent in their honour roles. This issue we release the BL!TZ Magazine Hall of Fame. Check out all the Champions and find out who was voted for the Star awards?

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70

Axtlinge (Alberto Machado) presents his FF Fields award winning team, the Three Chile Burrito Bandits. Yes, they’re halflings. But mess with these little buggers at your own peril.

Capital Punishment: the thrills and spills of the ACTBBL. Nuffle Says What?!?!: SLOBBing around with the Blue Bloods. Cane Toad Chronicle: live from the QNKBBL. Southern Strike: SABBLers CCKUP everything. Western Juggernaut: way out west with the ABBL.

NAF FINAL SIREN

feudball: book review

• Adam Marafioti • Phill Evans • Paul Mills • Jake Kroker • Evan Whittaker • Jack Taylor • Cody Tiffen • Paul O’Grady

news

interview: bothdown

• Scott Delsigne • Steve Campbell

upcoming tournaments

tournament reviews

gaming for charity

bl!tz hall of fame

BL!TZ Magazine is a not for profit, community based e-magazine produced by the AusBowl Committee. Any funds raised go back to the Australian and New Zealand hobby communities. Blood Bowl is a registered trademark of Games Workshop. No challenge to any copyright is intended © 2012

showcase: axtlinge

sub-magazines

BL!TZ Magazine | Issue 5

88

misery in an ale tankard pt2 It has been a long time coming (for which he apologises) but Hacker (Cody Tiffen) returns with a second instalment of his fiction. Who are the Mountainguard? When will this story include Blood Bowl? All will be revealed here.

92

so you want to be a t.o... Virral (Richard Andrew) is the current Eucalyptus Bowl Commissioner and has overseen the rise of this tournament to the largest in the southern hemisphere. This issue he divulges some of the secrets of his success, with some help from Olaf (Adam Marafioti).

100

showcase: mancaver In our second showcase for the issue, Mancaver (Paul O’Grady) presents his own entry to the FF Fields team competition, which came a worthy second to Alberto Machado’s. Check out the uniquely themed Terracotta Terrors.

104

the last word Finally, Carnivean (Erin McKee) returns to provide the last word on this quarter’s issue.

• COVER: Turn counter, Alberto Machado

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naf final siren

CNC Workshop M i n i a t u re S c e n e r y added as NAF Bl o o d B o w l To u r n a m e n t Sponsor. Followi n g t h e a n n o u n c ement last issue o f a N A F s p o n s o rship deal with K R M u l t i c a s e , D a n from CNC Works h o p h a s a g re e d t o sponsor all Bloo d B o w l t o u r n a m e n t s in Australia and N e w Z e a l a n d . T h i s i s a very different a r r a n g e m e n t t o t h a t

with KR Multicase in that he w i l l p ro v i d e p r i z e s u p p o r t f o r t o u r n a m e n t s a t l i t t l e m o re t h a n c o s t . I f y o u a re a t o u rn a m e n t o r g a n i s e r, p l e a s e contact Babs to discuss how t o a d d h i s e x c e l l e n t p ro ducts (such as dice towers, paint racks and awesome scenery) to the prize pool for your tournament (please d o n o t c o n t a c t C N C Wo r k s h o p d i re c t l y ) . N A F N e w s l e t t e r o u t n ow. T h e f i r s t o ff i c i a l N A F N e w s l e t t e r h a s b e e n p ro d u c e d . A l l N A F members will have had this arrive in their email inbox. If not, please check that your e m a i l a d d re s s i s u p t o d a t e o n w w w. t h e n a f . n e t a n d t h a t y o u r re a d e r h a s n o t c l a s s e d the email as ‘junk’ or ‘spam’. This newsletter is planned for every second month or so a n d w e w e l c o m e t h e g re a t e r communication. N A F o n Tw i t t e r a n d Fa c e b o o k . The NAF also now has a Fa c e b o o k p a g e ( f a c e b o o k . c o m / o ff i c i a l n a f ) a n d a


Tw i t ter account (twitter.com/ o ff i cialnaf). N e w Dice! The new block d i c e colour has finally h i t Oz shores. This metal l i c s ilver with black inlay s e e ms very popular and has n o w been sent t o four tourn a m ents (Tin Solider Cup, WA A CYBowl, Speedbowl and E u c alyptus Bowl), with more t o c ome in the near future. If y o u are keen to acquire the n e w block dice, as a gift for s i g n ing up to the NAF, and w i l l not be at any of these t o u r naments, please contact B a b s or renew online at the N A F website. N A F Tournament Director elect i o n underway. The process f o r deciding the new NAF

Tournam e n t D i re c t o r i s c u rrently u n d e r w a y w i t h a Q & A thread a t t h e N A F f o r u m . Voting o p e n s o n M o n d a y 9 July 20 1 2 a n d c o n c l u d e s at 11:59 G M T o n M o n d a y 2 3 July 201 2 . T h e To u r n a m e n t Director i s i n c h a r g e o f approvi n g ( o r n o t ) N A F t o u rnaments a n d o v e r s e e i n g the rank i n g p ro c e s s . T h i s is, there f o re , a n i m p o r t a n t role tha t i s w o r t h v o t i n g f o r and has , i n t h e p a s t , b e e n willing t o a p p ro v e N A F t o u rnaments w h e n t h e re q u i re d eight w e e k s n o t i c e h a s n o t been giv e n d u e t o o v e r s i g h t . Please l o o k a t t h e c a n d i d a t e s and the Q & A , c o m m e n t o n t h e NAF foru m s , a n d h a v e y o u r voice he a r d i n t h e v o t e a s an impo r t a n t p a r t o f t h e N A F commun i t y.

L o c a l l y. . . I w i l l b e a b s e n t f ro m m y re g u l a r t o u r n a m e n t attendance for the next little while due to the birth of my f i r s t c h i l d , C h a r l o t t e Pa i g e B a b b a g e [congratulations Babs - Ed] . I a m , h o w e v e r, ensuring that tournament s u p p o r t c o n t i n u e s t h ro u g h the post and with the very g e n e ro u s , o n g o i n g s u p p o r t p ro v i d e d b y Vi m e s ( G e o ff Tu r n e r ) . H i s ro l e i n a s s i s ti n g Re g i o n a l To u r n a m e n t Organisation in Australia is n o w o ff i c i a l w i t h t h e N A F, s o p l e a s e f e e l f re e t o d i sc u s s NAF matters with him at any time. B a b s ( S t e p h e n B a b b a ge )

In the first NAF Newsletter: The NAF Championship, a word from The President, the NAF Majors, New Dice and a list of National Tournament Organisers.

The NAF is a volunteer organisation devoted to the global Blood Bowl community. Amongst other things, it organises tour nament sponsorship and support, creates funky limited edition block dice and r uns an inter national ranking system.

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ausb ow l

news july 2012

cya n i d e d un ge onb owl r e le a s ed . C yanide has now released their new o nline D ungeonbowl g ame (at least, in d i gital for mat). The g ame builds on the o nline experience of th e Blood Bowl online g ame, but uses mixedra ce teams based on o ne of the Colleges of M agic. It also includes a dungeon editor so th at you can create a nd share your own. However, there have b een a lot of negative responses based on th e limited release of teams, a number of b ugs and the usual o nline connection i s sues. There is also n o single-player mode. To find out more see: w ww.dungeonbowlg ame.com

eucalypt u s b ow l . T h e l a rg e s t to u r n a m e n t i n th e s o u th e r n h e m i s ph e re , E u c a l y p t u s B ow l , h a s b e e n r u n a n d wo n , th i s ye a r by t r i ba l s i n n e r ( Pe te A re n t s e n ) . 71 c oa ch e s pa r t i c i pa te d i n th e e ve n t i n 201 2 , j u s t s hy o f l a s t ye a r ’s 7 6 . Ne ve r th e l e s s , a l l re p o r t s a re th a t V i r ra l ( R i ch a rd A n d re w ) o u td i d h i m s e l f a g a i n . C o n g ra t u l a t i o n s to t r i ba l a n d V i r ra l a n d a l l c oa ch e s w h o m a d e th e t re k to B u r wo o d ( S yd n e y ) fo r th e ocassion.

na f elect ion resu lts. A s

n o te d by Babs , th e e l e c t i o n o f To u r n a m e n t D i re c to r fo r th e NAF i s c u r re n tl y i n p ro c e s s . I n p re v i o u s e l e c t i on resul t s , Lyc o s wa s re - e l e c te d a s P re s i d e n t a n d G egg s te r ( Pa u l G e g g ) a s Tre a s u re r. J oh n ny _ P, ye s that’s M a i n G u y f ro m th e Z l u r p c a s t , wa s o f fe re d the M e d i a O f f i c e r p o s i t i o n . B a b s ( S te ph e n B a bba g e ) rema i n s th e A u s t ra l i a n re p re s e n ta t ive .


k i c k start ers. In

the las t s i x m o n th s o r so, Kickstarter has emerged as a n i m p o r ta n t f u nding source for companies, sm a l l g ro u p s a n d i ndividuals who want to create a b u s i n e s s i d e a . T he Apes of Wrath were funded in th i s m a n n e r a nd a number of others are cur ren tl y o n l i n e . I mpact City Roller D erby is a new g a m e c o n c e p t by Impact! Miniatures based on th e s p o r t o f roller derby (http://www.kickstarte r.c o m / p ro j e c t s / s pringboard/impact-city-roller-de rby ) , I m pa c t ! i s also seeking funding for a Love c ra f t i a n / C th u l u B l ood Bowl team that includes a ra n g e o f w i e rd a nd wonderf ul creatures to take to th e f i e l d . To b e fa ir, these are not specifically bein g m a d e fo r B l o o d B owl, but would work well (http:// w w w. k i ck s ta r te r. c om/projects/6740034 45/necronom i c o n - c th u l h u mythos-a-new-miniatures-line), F i n a l l y, G re e b o h ave recently started an Indiegog o c a m pa i g n ( l ike Kickstarter) for their Nippon G obl i n te a m , a p ersonal favourite of mine (http:// w w w. i n d i e g o g o. c om/nippogoblin?c=home).

ausbow l legacy team. C ona n h a s ta ke n o n

cnc - naf sponsorsh i p deal . A s n o te d

the ta s k o f a s s e m bl i n g the A u s B ow l l e g a cy team fo r C a n C o n 2013. T h i s ye a r ’s vo te resul te d i n a h u m a n team b e i n g ch o s e n , which w i l l b e pa i n te d in the fa m i l i a r bl u e , orang e a n d g re y o f the A u s B ow l s i te . M o s t posit i o n s h ave b e e n acco u n te d fo r, b u t i f you h ave n’ t ye t , a n d woul d l i ke to, m ay b e you c o u l d c o n t r i b u te a star o r c o u n te r fo r th e team . C o n ta c t C o n a n .

by B a b s , th e N A F h a s s i g n e d a n o th e r s p o n s o r s h i p d e a l fo r A u s t ra l i a n to u r n e y s , th i s t i m e w i th C N C Wo rk s h o p. G re a t wo rk .

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u p co m i n g to u r n a m e nt schedu le:

ju ly / au gu st 2012 c a n b e rr a c u p . 2 8 -29 J u l y 2012 at Ha r m o n ie G e r m a n Club, C a n b e r ra, AC T. C o st $40.

eGYP T BOW L . 2 9 July 2012 at D ar win Bridge Club, Leanyer, NT. D ungeonbow l tour nament .

Beefygoodness

whitetailscramblers

d r ag o n b owl . 4-5 A u g u s t 2012 a t M u d g ee S ol d i e r s Club, M u d g e e , NSW. C o s t $ 50.

Hacker

sou thern shrike bow l 1 8-19 A u g u s t

201 2 a t K l e m z i g Com m u n i ty Hal l , W i n d s o r G ard e n s , S A . Cos t $ 4 5. Olaf

waacy bow l 2 8 July 2012 at G eelong G ood G ame s , G eelong, VI C . Cost $20.

D iesel


u p co m i n g to u r n a m e nt schedu le:

septem be r / oc to ber 201 2 . bushr anger bow l .

Unfo r t u n a te l y can c e l l e d d u e to e x te n u a t i n g circ u m s ta n c e s . Will b e ba ck in 2013 .

tribalsinner

r e d n e ck r um ble.

27-28 O ctober 2012 in Albur y, WA. More info T BA. Slothman

moab . U s u a l l y

i n O c tob e r a t S y l va n i a He i g h t s C o m m u n i ty a n d Yo u th C l u b, S y l va n i a , N S W. M o re i n fo T B A .

sangraal

hind ley st bow l . 13-14 O ctober 201 2 in Adelaide, SA. O ne day charity Stree t or Beach Bow l tour nament .

Vain B lo c kto ber f e s t. U sually i n O c tober in M e l b o u r ne, VI C . M o re info T B A . kshar per

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dragonbowl 4-5 August 2012 M udgee S oldiers Club (RSL) Cost $50, 1.15m teams , minimum 11 players (including stars), skill packs applied, CRP rules plus CRP approved races.

contact hacker ( cody tiffen ) ph: (02) 6372 0878 M B : 0418 889 250 dragonbowlcommish@gmail .com

ausbowl fifth birthday prize draw Car ni! Where did the prizes go? N o where! A list of winners h a ve been chosen randomly f ro m AusBowl members and e a ch of them wins a prize. I f your name appears in t h e list alongsi de, I’ll be in c o n tact soon (in the order s h own). You may choose one o f the prizes remaining in the ( b l ue) list which will be sent o u t to you. T h ere are some great g a mes available, plus a KR M u lticase. T h anks to all AusBowl m e mbers for being a part of t h i s amazing and active com m u nity, and CONGRATULATIONS t o all the winners! Carnivean

Winn e r s

Drakeular Woolfe Bruce Horsebob Chavo Vain Dropshort Diesel

Slim_Dangefield Suttbutt Nichren Thomsy 5na KeEyes danielcollins SinisterDexter Fassbinder75

Prize s

Blood Bowl Team Manager (x2) Shadows over Camelot Rune Age Munchkin Deluxe Death Angel Carcasonne Dice Game Citadels Cutthroat Caverns Zombies Monty Python Fluxx Poo Coloretto Card Game Seven! Impossible Machine KR Multicase

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cane toad cup C TC 2 0 1 2 i s a l l d o n e a n d d u s t e d . I t h i n k C TC re a l l y h i t i t o ff w i t h a b a n g i n 2 0 1 2 and I have high hopes to get m o re t h a n 3 0 p l a y e r s n e x t y e a r. I h a d q u i t e a l o t o f p o si t i v e f e e d b a c k a b o u t t h e t o u rn a m e n t f ro m a l l t h e p l a y e r s e s p e c i a l l y a ro u n d t h e p l a y e r s p a c k . Pe o p l e l o v e d t h e i d e a o f b e i n g a b l e t o s t a c k m o re t h a n o n e s k i l l p e r p l a y e r.

D eviltReject (Chris) fully endorses this prize pack!

M o s t B l o o d B o w l t o u r n am e n t s l e a n t o a p ro g re ss i o n o r “ B a s e G o l d ” re g e neration style format. I guess what this pack had is the f i n a l o u t c o m e o f a p rog re ssion (taken further) and re g e n e r a t i o n a l l i n o n e . W h e n I s a w t h i s p a c k I w a s i m m ed i a t e l y d r a w n t o i t . I c a n ’t t a k e a n y c re d i t f o r t h e p a c k at all as it was devised by


1. tribalsinner (Pete) 2. D_Arquebus (Daniel) 3. Carwyn Llewellyn Toadiliser: Chunky The Leaper: Murray Kuhl Best Tadpole: Steve Zimmerman Toad Princess: Gooseman (Jone) Giant Toad: DevilsReject (Chris) Not so wooden spoon: Troy Clifford a n o t her Commissioner from t h e UK who uses it for his o w n tournament s. However, a f t e r obtaining permis s i o n s, I gladly stole the idea, t w e aked the tiers and away w e went. It was a huge win. T h e hard work the orga n i s i ng committee put into t h e tournament beforehand re a l ly made sure that every o n e walked away with some t h i n g. The playe rs pack was w e l l received wi th the dice, t o a d miniature, commemora t i v e bottle cap, the glass and o t h er paraphern alia. O p e rationally there were a f e w things that went awry. I t ’s been a while since I’ve r u n a tournament and I h a d issues with the scoring s y s t em (I figured most things o u t by the end of the tourn a m ent) and generally pro c e s s ing people for sign-on. A f e w small tid-bits will help

improve i t n e x t y e a r, b u t I think wh a t w e ’ v e d o n e t h i s year ha s b e e n m a s s i v e . I think to w a r d s t h e e n d t h i n g s were ru n n i n g s m o o t h l y. I am pre t t y c o n f i d e n t e v e r yone wal k e d a w a y h a p p y. M o s t people re c e i v e d t w o r a n d o m door pri z e s ( r a n g i n g f ro m blisters t o d i c e t o c a r r y c a s e s to full t e a m s ) a n d m o re t h a n their mo n i e s w o r t h . A t 2 2 players i ’ m p re t t y s u re C TC 2012 is t h e b i g g e s t t w o d a y Brisbane B l o o d B o w l t o u r n ament th u s f a r ! Thanks a g a i n t o e v e r y o n e who cam e a n d t h o s e w h o helped o u t . B i g , m a s s i v e props e s p e c i a l l y g o e s o u t t o DevilsRe j e c t ; C TC w o u l d n ’t have ru n i f i t w a s n ’t f o r Dev’s do i n g a s h e d l o a d o f work. Al s o b i g p ro p s t o A d a m for pain t i n g t h e o t h e r t e a m . Kin

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WA I T I N G FO R N U F FLE TO K I C K M E I N T H E b y D u ro Bozic KEGS...

sandgroper cup 6 - 2012

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I hope that trophy isn’t per petual!.

Well, I re m e m b e r i t a s t h o u g h it were a b e e r a g o , s h u ff l i n g into the Albion e a r l y o n a Saturda y m o r n i n g w i t h y o u n g Virral in t o w. T h e re w e re greeting s , n o d s o f a c k n o w ledgeme n t a n d a f e w b l e a r y eyes as t h e c o m p e t i t o r s g a t hered in t h a t w re t c h e d d e n of Blood B o w l i n i q u i t y. T h e ragged b a n d e v e n t u a l l y g a t hered bef o re o u r g l o r i o u s leader, H e r r Re a p e r, t o h e a r the wor d s o f N u ff l e b e f o re the fest i v i t i e s c o m m e n c e d , more co m m o n l y k n o w n a s t h e Sandgro p e r C u p ( E p i s o d e V I ) . Once ag a i n I b ro u g h t a l o n g a Dwarf te a m ( n o s u r p r i s e t o the loca l p l a y e r s ) a n d n a m e d it after t h e l o c a l f o o t b a l l

(soccer to the heathens) t e a m f ro m m y b i r t h p l a c e i n a distant land. I also used t h e c l u b c o l o u r s a s t he i n s p iration for my team colours (blue/white). After perusing the players pack (1.2 million gold pieces, additional six normal skills and minimum o f o n e f a n f a c t o r ) a n d t h i n ki n g b a c k o n m y p re v i o u s S a n d g ro p e r e x p e r i e n c e s , I s t a r t e d t o m u l l o v e r a s u i ta b l e ro s t e r, o n e t h a t I c o u l d h a v e f u n w i t h a n d w o u l d n ’t be too pathetic and weak. In the end I decided on the list i n b l u e b e l o w. I w a s o r i g i n a l l y t h i n ki n g o f t a k i n g G r i m I ro n j a w b u t w i t h a f e w o f l i f e ’s l i t t l e


c u r v eballs cutting into my p a i n ting time I went with F l i n t as he was already p a i n ted. Maybe next year G r i m old chum. I always t a k e the maximum number o f p ositional players in a d w a rf team, especially the r u n n ers and blit zers as they a re the only AG3 players on t h e team. Sure Hands on t h e Runners is gold when y o u don’t have many rerolls a n d there is a good chance s o m eone will turn up with a p l a y er with Strip Ball. Ta c k le was the skill I picked f o r both the trollslayers as I t e nd to do a lot of blitzing w i t h them. With the number o f a gility teams that usually t u r n up at Sandgroper I was s u re it would co me in handy f o r knocking over those p e s ky blodgers. In previous

HNK Hasici 1994 2 Runners (block) 2 Blitzers (guard) 2 Slayers (tackle) 5 Blockers Flint Churnblade 2 Rerolls 1 Bribe 2 Fan Factor

years I o p t e d f o r M i g h t y Blow fo r t h e t ro l l s l a y e r s b u t it never s e e m e d t o b e a s effectiv e a s I i m a g i n e d ( a s it turne d o u t I d i d n ’t re a l l y need Mi g h t y B l o w a s m y d i c e were mo re t h a n c o m p e n s a ting for t h e l a c k o f i t ) . The cho i c e o f s k i l l s f o r m y blitzers w a s i n i t i a l l y a b i t o f a quand r y b u t w h e n I re a l l y thought a b o u t m y p l a y i n g style th e y a l w a y s t e n d t o b e support p l a y e r s , w h i c h n a turally le d m e t o g i v i n g b o t h of them t h e G u a r d s k i l l . I like the m t o s u p p o r t m y b a l l carrier o n o ff e n c e a n d g e t t i n g into spo t s t o h e l p s u p p o r t counter a t t a c k s o n t h e o p p osition b a l l c a r r i e r, a n d b e i n g some of t h e m o re m o b i l e member s o f t h e t e a m t h e y should b e a b l e t o g e t t o m o s t places I n e e d e d t h e m .

The easiest skill choice was taking Block for both my runners. The idea being it should keep them on their f e e t m o re o f t e n d u r i n g b l o c k s and also makes them handy fullbacks when playing defence. This also meant the whole team had Block (easy t o re m e m b e r i n m y d o d d e r i n g s e n i l i t y ) . I n e v e r re a l ly c o ns i d e re d g i v i n g a n y s k il l s t o t h e b l o c k e r s a s t h e y a re s l o w a n d t h e y a re t h e re t o g e t i n the face of the opposition and then block, tackle, bite, kick, scratch and punch them into submission! Day One: Game 1 vs

Greensland Morons ( Orc s ). C o a c h : M i c h a e l Wa t s o n This was the State of Origin Grudge Match! The Beanie C h a l l e n g e ! H e ’s a f o r m e r

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Participants and posers at Sandgroper 6..

C a n e Toad and myself orig i n a l ly from the Cockroach s t a t e, we naturally resort to n i g gling each other about t h e NRL and yet somehow we n e v er faced each other in the l o c a l leagues here in Perth. S o t he beanie was thrown d o w n and I was challenged t o o ur own version of State o f O rigin. We had a little w a g er that the loser had to w e a r the beanie of the other s t a t e’s team for the rest of t h e weekend. So we settled d o w n to play on Virral’s fan t a s t ic Eucbowl beer mat pitch a n d prepared to defend the h o n our of our respective s t a t es. Tu r n 1 I received and p ro mptly fumbled the picku p ! ‘Ah damn’ I thought, ‘ h o pe this isn’t indicative o f t he rest of the weekend’. We then proceeded to arm w re stle for most of the first h a l f as I managed to claw m y way up the pitch to score

late in t h e f i r s t h a l f , t a k i n g out a fe w b l a c k o rc s a n d t h e troll alo n g t h e w a y. M i c h a e l pulled o n e b a c k f a i r l y e a r l y in the s e c o n d h a l f a n d t h e n I procee d e d t o g r i n d u p t h e pitch fo r m y s e c o n d T D l a t e in the s e c o n d h a l f a s t h e CAS mou n t e d f o r t h e Morons (and so m e t e r r i b l e d i c e l u c k for Mich a e l ) a n d i t b e c a m e increasi n g l y d i ff i c u l t f o r t h e m to get to m y b a l l c a r r i e r, mind yo u t h e y n e v e r s t o p p e d trying – t h a t Q u e e n s l a n d ‘Never S a y D i e ’ a t t i t u d e coming t h ro u g h ! Thus wi t h B l u e s B e a n i e o n his head M i c h a e l w e n t t o h i s next gam e . H e w a s a v e r y good sp o r t a b o u t i t o v e r t h e whole w e e k e n d e v e n t h o u g h he seem e d t o b e a ff l i c t e d by the B l u e B e a n i e C u r s e . I breathe d a s i g h o f re l i e f a s I didn’t h a v e t o w e a r t h e Maroons b e a n i e – n o Q L D taint on m y n o g g i n ! T D 2 - 1 . CAS 7-1.

G a m e 2 v s Filiacs ( N e c ro m a n t i c ). C o a c h : B re n d a n M o r r i s o n I have to admit I was a little nervous about this match up; Gnome had been wording m e u p t h e d a y b e f o re a b o u t his game and I have to say I had my concerns about how t o h a n d l e h i s t e a m a nd s t y l e o f p l a y. H e s c o re d i n t u r n 4 against the run of play and it looked like I was about to get schooled. Luckily for me t h a t i s w h e n m y d i c e re m e mb e re d h o w t o b r i n g t h e p a i n . Fo r t h e re m a i n d e r o f t h e f i r s t h a l f I p ro c e e d e d t o k i c k t h e Filiacs a ro u n d , re m o vi n g s o m e o f t h e t h re a t s o n t h e i r ro s t e r, a s t h e d w a r f s dashed for the end zone. In the second half I used the numbers advantage to grind o u t t h e h a l f a n d s c o re l a t e in the game for the winning touchdown. I t re a l l y w a s a g a m e o f


d i ff e ring dice luck, Gnome c o u l dn’t buy a decent roll for m o s t of the game (he rolled m o re double skulls in that g a m e than I saw over the rest o f t he tournament) and my d i c e ran hot for most of the g a m e. Three of the casualties w e re against his two golems - o n e regenerated and came b a c k for more hurt, which it p ro mptly received. Gnome s e e med to get flustered by t h e mounting casualties and t h a t put him off his game, a l l o wing me to keep him off b a l a nce by keeping the pres s u re on with my dice rolling a b s urdly well. I could tell my d i c e rolls were getting silly w h e n he threatened to throw t h e m on the roo f so no-one e l s e had to suffer as he did. T D 2 -1. CAS 7-2. G a m e 3 vs Nevasober Vikings ( N o r se). Coach: Steve Marr I w a s very pleas ed to be p l a y ing Steve. Not only is he a g o od mate but his custom p i t c h is full of awesome! S t e v e only picked up Blood B o w l this year and he has c o m e on in leaps and bounds i n t hat time, a quick study a n d listens to good advice ( s m art enough not to listen t o m e for a start). We had p l a y ed a few friendly games t o h elp him get acquainted w i t h the game but this was o u r first game in anger, so to s p e a k. We both had chainsaw

-equipp e d s t a r p l a y e r s s o that wa s g o i n g t o m a k e things i n t e re s t i n g . B o t h teams w e n t a f t e r e a c h other’s s t a r p l a y e r s w i t h gusto an d m a n a g e d t o h a v e both of t h e m o ff t h e p i t c h part wa y t h ro u g h t h e f i r s t half; I t h i n k w e b o t h p ro b ably got a l i t t l e o b s e s s e d w i t h taking o u t t h e o t h e r g u y ’s chainsa w. M y d i c e h a d a b i t of a bre a k f ro m t h e c a s ualty pro d u c t i o n l i n e , w i t h the Vikings KO’ d b i n g e t t i n g most of t h e w o r k . T h e g a m e devolve d i n t o a v e r y t e n s e arm wre s t l e , d w a r f s a n d Norseme n s m a s h i n g i n t o e a c h other w i t h re c k l e s s a b a n d o n and the p o s s e s s i o n o f t h e ball tra d e d m o re t i m e s t h a n I care t o re m e m b e r. I n t h e second h a l f I m a n a g e d t o secure t h e b a l l l o n g e n o u g h to make a d a s h f o r t h e end zon e a f t e r re m o v i n g a number o f t h e Vikings o ff t h e pitch to t i l t t h e n u m b e r s i n my favo u r, f i n a l l y s t u m b l i n g over the l i n e i n t h e l a s t t u r n of the g a m e . O n l y g a m e t h a t was mo re i n t e n s e t h a n t h i s one was t h e l a s t o n e o f d a y two, lov e d i t ! T D 1 - 0 . C A S 5 - 3 . Game 4 v s Uppity Elves ( P ro Elf). Co a c h : C a m e ro n D a w s o n In the f i r s t h a l f h e h e l d m e out and i t w a s a re a l t u s s l e for the b a l l a l t h o u g h t h e casualti e s a n d k n o c k e d o u t s had alre a d y s t a r t e d m o u n t i n g for the e l v e s b y t h e e n d o f the half . T h e e l v e s re c e i v e d

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i n t h e s e c o n d h a l f a n d p roceeded to do what elves do b e s t , s l i p t h ro u g h t h e l i n e t o c re a t e m u l t i p l e s c o r i n g options, making a mockery of m y d e f e n c e i n t h e p ro c e s s . Tu r n 1 0 t h e t h ro w e r p u s h e d forward to pass to a catcher in prime scoring position, t h e p a t h o f t h e p a s s t r a v e lling over the head of a lowly A G 2 d w a r f b l o c k e r. A g a i n my luck held and the little blighter pulled in the ball, c a s t i n g a b a l e f u l g la re a t t h e e l f i n t h e p ro c e s s . C a m e ro n t h e n o p t e d t o u s e S a f e T h ro w a n d i n t h e s a m e b re a t h t o l d m e i t h a d a l re a d y f a i l e d h i m o n c e e a r l i e r i n t h e d a y. T h e d i e w a s ro l l e d a n d w o u l d n ’t you know it, up comes the 1 . A s I s a i d t o C a m e ro n , y o u n e v e r c a l l t h e ro l l – i t ’s j u s t a s k i n g f o r N u ff l e Tro u b l e . This turned the tide of the game. With ball in hand I p ro c e e d e d t o g r i n d u p t h e field, filling up the CAS & KO’ d b i n s a s t u r n s w e n t b y. He did manage to pop the b a l l l o o s e o n c e b u t d i d n ’t have the players to take advantage of it. Ball quickly re c o v e re d a n d j u s t k e p t o n g r i n d i n g . H a v i n g p o s s e ss i o n o f t h e b a l l f o rc e d h i m to come at my players and this made it a little easier for me to bash the elves as I d i d n ’t h a v e t o c h a s e t h e m a l l over the pitch, nothing better than elves rushing to their d o o m ! I n t h e e n d he c o u l d only field two players for the t u r n 1 6 k i c k o ff ( t w o o f t h e

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t h re e in the KO’ d bin refused t o c ome back on), so he con c e d ed the game. It was the f i r s t time I have ever done t h a t and I felt really bad for C a m eron, he wa s such a good s p o r t and his never say die a t t i tude was a j oy to witness ( w h odda thunk elves could b e so ballsy!). TD 1-0. CAS 5-0. T h e Draft. The Draft is a nice l i t t l e feature of Sandgroper, w h e re each coach gets t o p ick up two skills/stat i n c reases/etc to add to two p l a y ers on the team who d i d n’t get any of the six free s k i l ls. Last place gets to c h o ose first and then con t i n u es down until first place a n d then once again for a s e c ond round. Sitting in top s p o t at the end of the day m e a nt I would have last c h o i ce in the draft. I picked u p +1MA in the first round a n d +1AV in the second

round (T h e o t h e r c h o i c e l e f t in the s e c o n d ro u n d w a s Thick Sk u l l – s i n c e m y e n t i re team alre a d y h a d T h i c k S k u l l it wasn’t re a l l y m u c h o f a choice). I p i c k e d u p + 1 M A a s its very h a n d y f o r a d w a r f team to h a v e a M A 5 b l o c k e r – I have o n e s u c h p l a y e r i n a BRAWL l e a g u e t e a m a n d t h a t extra mo v e m e n t h a s p a i d o ff many ti m e s w i t h a s u r p r i s e sack of a b a l l c a r r i e r w h o thought h e w a s s a f e f ro m t h e slow dw a r f s . A s f o r t h e + 1 AV, having a n AV 1 0 b l o c k e r w a s just a b i t o f a c h u c k l e . Day Two : G a m e 5 v s Barba Bellum ( D w a r f ) . C o a c h : D a n n y Powell Danny’s t e a m n a m e w a s quite ap t f o r o u r g a m e , i t means ‘ B e a r d Wa r ’ i n L a t i n . I was qu i t e c o n c e r n e d a t t h e start of t h i s g a m e , D a n n y had bee n p o u n d i n g t e a m s pretty h a r d i n d a y o n e a n d

had a not lost a game either ( t h re e w i n s / o n e d r a w ) . H e had four players with Mighty B l o w a n d a D e a t h ro l l e r, s o I was expecting to get a bit of a k i c k i n g f ro m h i m . H e h a d no runners in the team, this o c c u r re d b e c a u s e h e h a d t o change his team list on the m o r n i n g o f D a y 1 d u e t o f o rgetting the mandatory fan f a c t o r – h e s w a p p e d ou t h i s l o n e r u n n e r f o r a b l o c k e r. With no runners I knew I just had to get rid of his blitzers and he would have re a l t ro u b l e h a n g i n g o n t o the ball as it would leave him with only having AG2 players left on field. The GFI curse struck him in the first two turns of the game; 1 re ro l l 1 . T h i s m e a n t h e h a d u s e d u p h i s re ro l l s a nd e v e n worse for him, both players w h o f a i l e d t h e G F I s w e re t h e blitzers and I managed to CAS both of them. With his main ball movers out of the g a m e h e re s o r t e d t o t r y i n g t o beat up my team but his dice o b v i o u s l y m i s s e d t h e p re g a m e p e p t a l k a n d d i d n ’t d o much for him. Once I had the b a l l s e c u re l y i n h a n d I j u s t played the trusty old grind g a m e a n d s c o re d a t t h e e n d of each half. It was the first g a m e h e d i d n ’t g e t t h e b o n u s point for CAS. Funny moment of the game was when I set u p o n d e f e n c e a n d h e u n w i tt i n g l y p l a c e d h i s D e a t h ro l l e r i n f ro n t o f m y AV 1 0 b l o c k e r, which I foolishly pointed out, thinking the little sod would


b e f ine. He then proceeded t o k nock over AV10 boy with o n e of his own blockers, p l a y ed the Blatant Foul Dirty Tr i c k special pla y card (which m e a ns you bypass armour w h e n fouling) and fouled my g u y off the pitch with the D e a t hroller. That’s what I get f o r getting cocky with AV10! T D 2 -0. CAS 4-2.☺ G a m e 6 vs Tantra Bay Bunnyears (Amazon). Coach: D re w Lovell D re w had been saying all w e e kend that he didn’t want t o p lay my team. Whereas I w a s very cheery about the p ro s pect, not only did I get t o c rush ‘zons but I also got t o p lay on his awesomely p i m ped out pitch – it was s o f luffy I wanted to keep r u b bing it and s troking it! In w h a t can only be described a s g ross and obvious TO corr u p t ion it came to pass that D re w had to face that which h e d readed most. I am sure o u r last state league game w a s playing on his mind as h a d I crushed his wood elf t e a m into elf pa ste. One t h i n g that was a little daunt i n g was the fact he had four b l i t z ers with Guard – four b l o d gers with Guard! The c h e e k of his ‘zons having m o re Guard than dwarves! He a l s o had Roxanna Darknail a n d I knew she was going t o b e the main threat in his t e a m.

The gam e s t a r t e d w i t h t h e dwarves re c e i v i n g , a t t h e end of t h e f i r s t t u r n o n e of his p l a y e r s w a s i n t h e Dead & I n j u re d b i n a n d another i n t h e KO’ d b i n . I was hop i n g t h i s t re n d w o u l d continu e . D re w c a m e a t m y team pre t t y h a r d a n d t h e blitzers w i t h G u a r d w e re giving m e a l l s o r t s o f h e a daches ( t o g o a l o n g n i c e l y with the m i g r a i n e I h a d develop e d t h e n i g h t b e f o re ) . Eventua l l y D re w g o t Ro x a n n a into a p o s i t i o n t o b l i t z m y ball car r i e r. S h e s w o o p e d down an d s t r u c k h a r d , b u t only ma n a g e d t o p u s h h i m back wi t h a t w o d i c e b l o c k (remem b e r t h e t h i n g I s a i d about B l o c k k e e p i n g r u n n e r s on their f e e t ) a n d w i t h Frenzy s m a c k e d h i m a g a i n , once ag a i n o n l y re s u l t i n g i n a push b a c k . W i t h h e r h a v i n g to follow u p d u e t o F re n z y I had to c o n t a i n m y e x c i t ement an d s t a y s t r a i g h t f a c e d as I rea l i s e d w h e re s h e w a s left sta n d i n g . W h e n D re w came to t h e s a m e re a l i s a t i o n I saw hi s f a c e d ro p , s h o u lders slo u c h a n d I t h i n k h e even di e d a l i t t l e i n s i d e . Fo r much to m y j o y, Ro x a n n a w a s now sta n d i n g n e x t t o F l i n t Churnbl a d e . I n m y f o l l o w i n g turn I d i d a f e w o t h e r a c t i o n s to draw o u t t h e s u s p e n s e and the n t u r n e d i t o v e r t o Flint – t h e c h a i n s a w ro a re d to life, t h e re w a s a m i g h t y swing a n d i n t o t h e c ro w d went Ro x a n n a ’s h e a d . T h e Bunnyears a p o t h e c a r y w a l k e d

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out on the pitch, poked the b o d y w i t h a s t i c k a n d p roceeded to announce that ‘ Ye p , s h e ’s g o t n o h e a d ” . With his main striking power g o n e D re w w a s u p t h a t p roverbial body of water in a native Indian water craft with n o m e a n s o f p ro p u l s i o n . O n c e a g a i n I re s o r t e d t o t h e g r i n d t o p u t m o re o f h i s p l a y e r s o ff t h e p i t c h a n d s c o re d l a t e i n b o t h h a l v e s . C A S s c o re w a s n ’t a s h i g h a s I h o p e d ; I ro l l e d a n o u t s t a n d i n g n u mb e r o f 7 ’s f o r a r m o u r. I t w a s t h e o n l y g a m e w h e re I m i s s e d h a v i n g M i g h t y B l o w. T D 2 - 0 . C A S 4 - 1 . F i n a l v s Blackhearts ( D a r k Elf). Coach: Bruno Schuts B r u n o ! D e a r N u ff l e , w h y Bruno of all people! He is the o n e p e r s o n I f e a re d p l a y i n g in the final and also the person I would have most w a n t e d t o p l a y. A l l o u r p revious encounters have been g re a t f u n ( e v e n i f I h a v e been his whipping boy for most of them) and I still h a v e t h e s c a r s f ro m h i s victory over me in the last ro u n d o f S a n d g ro p e r C u p I V ( s t i l l h a v e n i g h t m a re s a b o u t t h e P u n t s p e c i a l p l ay c a r d because of that game!). Going into this game I was thinking this is the game w h e re N u ff l e f i n a l l y k i c k s me in the kegs! He has built me up with six games of a w e s o m e d i c e f o r me a n d suckage for my opponents

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a n d what better time to s c re w me than in the final! A s a ll devotees of Blood Bowl k n o w, Nuffle has a particu l a r l y sick & perverse sense of h u m our. We shook hands and wished e a c h other luck as gentle m e n do and then got down to o n e of the most tense games I h a ve played in many, many y e a rs of gaming. I received i n t he first half and Bruno m a naged to deny me scoring i n t he half with some dogged d e f ence even as I started to c h i p away at his numbers. It j u s t seemed that there was a l w ays a dark elf in the most i n c onvenient place every turn n o matter how hard I tried to g e t them off the pitch. Flint C h u rnblade should take the s l a y er oath for his appalling p e r f ormance as he seemed t o h ave brought his nerf bat t o t he game instead of his c h a i nsaw (he managed to b re ak armour once for the e n t i re first half before he w e n t off) – one too many p re - game brews or perhaps a s n e aky dark elf trick! W i t h him receiving in the s e c ond half and the score s t i l l nil all, there were some v e r y concerned looks in the H N K dugout. Bruno is an e x c ellent coach and I thought I w as in a whole mess of t ro u ble if he managed to s c o re as I would struggle t o e qualise considering the f i r s t half. Second half started

much li k e t h e f i r s t h a l f h a d ended, b i t o f a n a r m w re s t l e as we jo c k e y e d f o r p o s i t i o n . In turn 1 4 h e t h re w a s i n g l e dice blo c k w h i c h re s u l t e d i n a skull a n d w i t h n o re ro l l s left, it w a s a t u r n o v e r. T h i s one dice ro l l c o s t B r u n o t h e game, i f h e h a d p u l l e d i t o ff he woul d h a v e o p e n e d a c o rridor for h i s b a l l c a r r i e r t o slip thro u g h a n d o ff l o a d t o a player i n m y b a c k f i e l d ready to s c o re ( m y c o v e rage wou l d n ’t h a v e b e e n enough t o s t o p i t ) . I n s t e a d I was abl e t o c r u n c h t h e b a l l carrier ( g e t t i n g h i m o ff t h e pitch in t h e p ro c e s s ) a n d then gri n d d o w n t h e d a r k e l f numbers w h i l s t ‘ s p r i n t i n g ’ f o r the line a s o n l y a d w a r f c a n . I could t e l l h o w t e n s e t h e game w a s b y t h e f a c t B r u n o was so i n c re d i b l y f o c u s e d t h e whole ti m e , n e v e r s e e m h i m so serio u s d u r i n g a g a m e o f Blood Bo w l , h e i s n o r m a l l y all smile s a n d c h u c k l e s – I am sure I m u s t h a v e l o o k e d the sam e a l t h o u g h I t r i e d t o

play it cool and not show any s i g n s o f s t re s s – l a u g h a b l e a s that is! In the end I think we w e re t h e f i r s t g a m e t o f i n i s h i n t h e ro u n d ; a q u i c k g a m e i s a good game. It gave us the chance to go check out a few other games and wind down f ro m t h e p re s s u re c o o k e r o f our game. TD 1-0. CAS 3-0. Looking back over the w e e k e n d I t h i n k i t ’s f a i r l y obvious my playing style comes down to bash, grind, harass and patience – during this tournament I played a m u c h m o re c o n s e r v ative game and focussed on d e f e n c e a n d m a i n t a i n i n g p o ssession (shows in the fact I had five clean sheets out of seven games). As I said at the time, I had a lot of luck during the tournament. On s e v e r a l o c c a s i o n s m y o p p onents had some shocking l u c k a t c r i t i c a l j u n c t u re s a n d I was lucky enough to be in position to take advantage of their misfortune – and the


d i c e rolls for CA S were pretty o u t r ageous at times. T h e most important thing I f o u nd about the weekend w a s my own attitude going i n t o each day/game – I was t h e re to enjoy myself first a n d foremost and hopefully h e l p my opponents enjoy t h e experience as well (by re s i sting the urge to be an o v e r ly-competiti ve ratbag). S a n dgroper Cup is the one t o u r nament of the year that

is mand a t o r y a t t e n d a n c e f o r me and o n c e a g a i n I w a s reminde d w h y, b e c a u s e I always w a l k a w a y f ro m t h e tournam e n t j a z z e d , m a y b e a little t i re d a n d e v e n m o re excited a b o u t B l o o d B o w l and the u p c o m i n g s e a s o n o f BRAWL.

that it is, thanks to all the o t h e r c o m p e t i t o r s ( p a r t i cu l a r l y M i c h a e l , B re n d a n , S t e v e , C a m e ro n , D a n n y, D re w & Bruno) for the fantastic a t m o s p h e re . S p e c i a l m e n t i o n to the chaps who travelled f ro m a c ro s s t h e c o u n t r y t o b e t h e re , i t w a s e x c e l l e n t m e e t i n g y o u g u y s ( s o r r y, So in co n c l u s i o n , I w o u l d l i k e b u t t h e C u p s t a y s i n WA t h i s to say b i g d w a r f y t h a n k s t o year!) Drew, Da v e a n d t h e i r m i n i o n s who ma k e S a n d g ro p e r C u p BRING ON SANDGROPER CUP the outs t a n d i n g t o u r n a m e n t VII!!

RESULTS

MVP:

1. Duro Bozic

2. Bruno Schuts

Best Painted:

Most TDs:

3. Joel Brokaw

Stunty Cup:

Best Support Staff:

Most Casualties:

Chris Stratford

Best Custom Pitch: David Cotton

Steve Marr

Steve Marr

Steve Marr

Cameron Dawson

Duro Bozic

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eucbowl Eucalyptus Bowl wants to thank its fantastic sponsors, it wouldn’t be the same without you. Artisan Studios, BothD own, Clever Mojo G ames, CNC Workshop, Combat Company, Comixininos, Fantasy Bowl D ices, FF F ields, G aspez Arts, G reebo Miniatures, G riffin G rove, Impact! Miniatures, KO’ed D ice Bags , KR M ulticase, Maow Miniatures, Micro Art Studio, MilSims, S cibor ’s Monstrous Miniatures, S partan G ames, Thomarillion, Titan Forge, Vesper- O n, Willy Miniatures.


We l l a n o th e r E u c a l y p t u s B owl has come and g o n e , a n d th i s year wa s a h u g e h i t w i th th e pl aye rs. T h e B o g g y H u n t re t u r n e d , s e e i n g B o g g y s a c ro s s t h e t o u r n a me n t b e i n g h u n t e d re m o r s e l e s s l y f o r their scalps and the Unlucky Door Prize was another big hit with all prizes going in Game 1. With t h e B o g g y H u n t s p re a d a c ro s s t h e e n t i re t o u r n a m e n t , w e m a y i n v e stigate doing something similar next year with the Unlucky Door P r i z e s o t h e y d o n ’t a l l g o i n o n e g l o r i o u s f l u r r y o f r u b b i s h ro l l s ! It was a tight field as always, w i t h t r i b a l s i n n e r ( Pe t e A re n t s e n ) t a k i n g t h e w i n a s t h e o n l y u n d efeated player (finishing up with a 5 / 1 / 0 re c o r d ) . R i g h t b e h i n d h i m w e re B o g g y ( J a m e s R u s s e l l - W i l l s ) a n d S h a d o w ( A n d re w Vu l l i n g ) , b o t h o n 5 / 0 / 1 re c o r d s . As usual for Eucalyptus Bowl we had massive player gift packs including dugouts, dice, coins a n d a P l a t y p u s s t a r, a n d we also had a huge prize table with a w e s o m e g e a r f ro m o u r s p o nsors like a Custom Board made w i t h h e l p f ro m G r i ff i n G ro v e Gaming, a copy of Impact City

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Ro l l er Derby courtesy of I m p act! Miniatures and even a v oucher for a fully custom i s e d Dice Bag by KO’ed Dice B a g s. My philosophy when i t c omes to setting up the p r i z es is making sure there i s n o “right answer” when it c o m es to picking the prize, t h e first place winner has to re a l ly put some thought into w h a t they want to take home. E u c alyptus Bowl just wouldn’t b e t he same without our a m a zing sponsors! S o i f you missed out on the b i g g est tournament in the A u s tralian Blood Bowl cal e n d ar, make sure you join u s next year for another h u g e event! The organisers h a v e already confirmed that E u c Bowl 2013 will occur on 6 a n d 7 July next year. So book y o u r diary and get there! Virral


RESULTS 1. tribalsinner (Pete Arentsen - orc) 2. Rabid_Bogscum (James Russell-Wills - orc) 3. Shadow (Andrew Vulling - norse) Stunty King: Creature (Paul Morris - goblin)

*first coach to have won EucBowl itself and Stunty King

Sportsmanship: Millsy (Paul Miller - chaos dwarf) Best Painted Team: The Chad (Clayton Teschward - underworld) Most TDs: Carbrawn (Phill Evans - wood elf) Most Casualties: Knockout (Josh Tytherliegh - ogre) Best Team: The Paper Street Soap Company Saturday Champion: sangraal (Bill Murphy - dwarf) Sunday Champion: Mancaver (Phil O’Grady - Khemri) Best Custom Board: Drusus82 (Drew Evans - Norse) Best Single Mini: NFA (Nick Allsop - human) Most Kills: Greedysmurf (Nathan Thompson - lizardman) Encouragement: Alphadingo (Tom South - dwarf) Best Newcomer: MattyCole (Matt Cole - elf) *8th place in first tourney Furthest Travelled: ClayInfinity (Clay Meteyard - underworld) - Dubai Comeback King: Beefcake (Stephen Gibb - Norse)

*55th and of day one, 16th end of day two (39 places)

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showcase

A lberto M achado FF Fields recently ran the Team Too Cool contest, aiming to collect pictures of the ‘ hidden gems’ out there in the community. Alberto, a local of Portugal, won the “ best original concept” categor y for his amazing team, the Three Chile Bur rito Bandits .

Ha lflings are one of the m o s t i n t r i g u i n g ra c e s to e ve r s e t foot on a blood bowl p i tch . A g a m e th a t p u t s a l o t o f e mphasis on r unning, throw i n g bl o ck s a t th e o p p o n e n t s w hile handling and passi n g a ba l l , cl e a rl y s e t s th e m a fe w s teps behi nd in the starti n g l i n e a g a i n s t p ra c t i c a l l y e ve r yo n e else, even before the g a m e b e g i n s !

Nacho Villa

Fo r o n e t h e y d e f i n i t e l y a re n ’t t h e t o u g h e s t g u y s on the block, and when depending solely on their short little legs it tends to take them an eternity t o m o v e f ro m o n e e n d z o n e t o t h e o t h e r. A n d I ’ l l j u s t s k i p t h e b a l l h a ndling skills all together… as they tend to. Without these basic tools

to thrive on the pitch, these chubby little fellows re a l l y n e e d t o “ g e t t o u g h or die” (to quote Johnny C a s h i n A Boy Named Sue ) , a n d t h a t ’s t h e a p p ro a c h many coaches take when having a go with them in the game, yours truly included. But then, if y o u ’ re a b i t o f a B lo o d Bowlaholic like I am, you’ll most likely end up

Cactus Jam Jackson

this tea m c a m e u p a n d t o o k shape!

Rob Espinosa

What be t t e r t h e n a b u n c h o f tough lo o k i n g o u t l a w s a n d despera d o s t o re m i n d y o u , they’re s u p p o s e d t o g i v e a s good as t h e y g e t , a n d l e t t h e opponen t k n o w h e w i l l re g re t having t h a t k i n k y - l o o k i n g steroid- p u m p e d w a r d a n c e r laying d o w n o n t h e p i t c h f o r a single s e c o n d ? O h y e a h !

p l a y ing more than one team a t t he same time (be it in t h e same league, or in dif f e re nt leagues in the same o r o ther clubs), and chances a re you might forget you w e re supposed to be fierce a n d mean when playing with t h e m… ahem… halflings! And t h a t ’s when the concept for

“ Pardon? So what if you’ve killed & maimed five of my wild bunch? For crying out loud, just I’ll recruit a few more exactly like those for next game! And while I’m at it I’ll do that ‘gang up’ thing on that poor fellow you call “catcher” who’s laying down, right next to Nacho Villa… ”

I guess by now you got the p i c t u re , s o a f t e r s e t t l i n g m y m i n d o n t h i s Te x - M e x theme for the guys, turning t h e t re e s i n t o t h e s e g i a n t s a g u a ro c a c t i w a s j u s t a small step.

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Billy the Chilly

Jelly James

Butch Hot Camote

Rattlesnake Stew

The c o n v e r s i o n s : Most c o n v e r s i o n s a re re a l l y easy t o s p o t . A l l t h e h a t s and p o n c h o s h a d t o b e scratc h b u i l t f ro m p l a s t icard a n d g re e n s t u ff ( o r a mix o f b o t h ) , a n d t h e n some l i t t l e d e t a i l s h a d t o b e added e i t h e r t o t a k e a d v a ntage o f t h e o r i g i n a l m i n i (most o f t h e m h a d s p e a r s i n their h a n d s t h a t w e re c o nverted i n t o b o t t l e s , g l a s s e s , a burrit o i n t h e c o o k ’s h a n d , o r a bibl e f o r t h e p r i e s t ) , o r j u s t to giv e t h e m t h a t e x t r a s o m ething t o m a k e t h e m ‘ s h i n e ’ (like t h e s t a r o n t h e S h e r i ff turn c o u n t e r, t h e c ro s s o n E l Padre ’s n e c k , a n o p e n p u r s e with g o l d c o i n s t o b r i b e t h e ref on W y a t B u r p , e t c … ) . The c a c t i w e re a l s o s c r a t c h builds , w i t h t h e i r s t r u c t u re made o f w i re c o v e re d w i t h a cou p l e o f l a y e r s o f p a p e r strips a n d w h i t e g l u e , t o g i v e them t h e b a s i c s h a p e . A f e w plasti c b i t s w e re a d d e d t o give t h e m s o m e e x t r a ‘ a r m o r ’ (and t o g i v e m e s o m e w h e re to pai n t n u m b e r s a n d t e a m colors ) , a n d t h e n s o m e g re e n stuff t o s c u l p t s o m e f a c i a l feature s ( m o u s t a c h e s , e y e s , noses ) a n d a f e w d e t a i l s l i k e spikes , ro p e s , e t c t o b r i n g i t all to g e t h e r. The p a i n t i n g Havin g d e c i d e d t h e c o n c e p t of the t e a m , t h e c o l o r choice s w e re o b v i o u s ; d u s t y white s a n d y e l l o w s o r b ro w n

e a r t h t o n e s w i t h s tr i k i n g re d and blue patterns on top to make the ‘ponchos’ stand out. Of course like every true grit gang a few had to wear black too. T h e t re e s … I m e a n t h e c a c t i … all started with the same d a r k g re e n t o n e , b u t w e re t h e n p a i n t e d a n d hi g h l i g h t e d w i t h d i ff e re n t m i x e s o f w h i t e or yellowish tones to be easy to tell them apart on the pitch. Fo r a l l t h e b a s e s , o b v i o u s l y t a k i n g i n t o a c c o u n t t h e i r ‘ t e rritory’, the colour choice would be dusty yellows and b ro w n s , t h a t w o u l d l a t e r b e sprinkled with a few patches o f g re e n h e re a n d t h e re


( w e ’ v e got to have something slann, all fl a v o u r s o f f o r t h e horses to eat, don’t chaos, and e l v e s , b u t n e v e r we ? ) . halflings! T h e g a me:

A couple of y e a r s a g o I ’ v e decided to c h a n g e t h a t , a n d I p l a y i n and have commished after grabbi n g a f a i r l y g o o d a l o c a l Blood Bowl League deal on a Ga m e s Wo r k s h o p ( t h e N A BBO League), for 12 halfling tea m , I c o m m i t t e d y e a r s o r so. what would p ro v e t o b e a grave mista k e a n d … u n d e rI n a l l t hose games, between coated them ! T h e L e ague and the Chaos Pancho Frijoles C u p ( t h e two major compe t i t i o n s that complete our s e a s o n ), with some regular c o a c h e s and a few others i n a n d out (like any other l e a g u e I suppose), we have n e v e r had a halflin g team p l a y i n g amongst us! We’ve h a d o g res, more than one g o b l i n team, underworld,

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N o t t h a t t h e re w a s a n y p ro b l e m w i t h t h e u n d e rc o a t , the major setback was that s o m e h o w w o r k re l a t e d s t u ff c a m e u p , I l o s t t h e m o m e ntum to paint them, and since I ’ m e x t re m e l y p i c k y o n u s i n g halfway painted minis in g a m e s ( e i t h e r t h e y a re c o mpletely painted or not at all), I j u s t c o u l d n ’t g e t m y s e l f t o field them like that, and they

Kid Churro

Three Chile Burrito Bandits

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s t a y ed on the shelf, primed a n d waiting for paint. A t t he end of th e NABBO L e a g ue past season the Te x - Mex concept struck me a n d , since I wasn’t going to c h o p or convert the origi n a l GW minis (quite fond of t h e m, unpainted and all…), I d e cided not to commit the s a m e error, and decided

I would c o n v e r t a n d p l a y a leagu e w i t h t h e m , a n d would t h i n k o f p a i n t j o b s afterw a r d s . And so I d i d . T h e s e a s o n began a n d m y f i r s t g a m e w a s against a f r i e n d ’s A m a z o n team ( H i t h e re P ro w l i n g Goddes s e s , y o u k n o w i t w a s you!). I w a s n ’t t h a t c o n f ident be c a u s e t h e G o d d e s s e s

w e re a l re a d y i n t h e i r s e c o n d season, and I still had a ‘grudge’ against them for giving my last season dwarf team the beating of their lives (casualties wise, even scoring a kill or two…). A n y w a y, i n s p i re d b y t h e i r theme, the chubby fellows “kicked like a mule and bit l i k e c ro c o d i l e s ” ( t h e re w e h a v e M r. C a s h a g a i n ) a n d m a n a g e d t o s c o re a 2 - 2 t i e (last turn fly) winning the casualty war by 3-1. Not a bad start, I thought, b u t l e t ’s j u s t s e e f o r h o w much longer will I be able to keep this stunt. T h e v e r y n e x t d a y, w h i l e s t ro l l i n g o v e r a f e w re g u l a r war gaming sites, I stumbled on an announcement that re a l l y c a u g h t m y a t t e n t i o n : t h e g u y s f ro m F F F i e ld s w e re putting up a contest named “ Te a m To o C o o l ” w h i c h a l o n g with other categories would also praise the “Best Original Concept”. T h e p r i z e f o r t h e w i nn e r would be a custom pitch (and man do they have good looking fields on their site…), s o t h e B a n d i t s c o u l d n ’t h e l p themselves and had to have a go at that goodies train! A n d t h a t w a s i t , t h e f i e rc e , (yet) undefeated, converted b u t u n p a i n t e d T h re e C h i l e


Black Buche Bill

Wyat Burp

Da Cook

B u r r i t o Bandits team, left the L e a g u e circuit for the paint i n g t a b l e and, after some p o w d e r on their noses and a p h o t o session, they would s e e t h e i r career catapulted t o s t a r d om by winning their c a t e g o r y in the contest and b e i n g a c knowledge by the B l o o d B owl community!

Cody Tequila

El Padre

Wel l … a t least a part of it. To w r a p it all up, the League h a d i t s f inals last week and a s y o u c an probably guess I h a v e n ’t managed to do it w i t h t h e short legged fellows. L o o k i n g at the bright side, at l e a s t n o w I have an awarded a n d p a i nted halfling team to p a r t i c i p ate in the next one. H o p e f u l l y that is because, b e i n g t h e Bandits that they a re , N u ffle knows what t h e y ’ l l c ome up with the next t i m e I e xpect them to have a s h o o t o u t in the league… Axtlinge (Alberto)

Thompson

Deeproot Star

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book review:

I n 2010, S te ph e n B a bba g e ( B a b s ) and G eo f f G Tu r n e r ( V i m e s ) s e l fpublishe d a b o ok c a l l e d Feudball . It ha s b e c o m e a p o p u l a r b o ok of th e fa n ta s y fo o tba l l g e n re amongst A u s t ra l i a n re a d e r s a n d i s reviewe d h e re by S i n i s te r D e x te r ( B re t t W h i t ta ke r ) .

I ’ v e b e e n m e a n i n g t o re a d Feudball f o r a g e s . I g ra b b e d a copy online about six months ago and have had it s i t t i n g p ro v o c a t i v e l y o n t h e shelf, teasing me, since then. H o w e v e r, o v e r t h e re c e n t school holidays I finally got a chance to crack it open and h a v e a re a d . I m u s t s a y t h a t i t w a sn ’t what I was expecting. Feudball f o l l o w s t h e ad v e nt u re s o f A l e x B a t h g a t e , o f all things a bookkeeper who

The cover art of Feudball, created by Malcolm Van D rempt.

r u n s afoul of the law forl a u n dering the accounts and, a f t e r a sojourn on the high s e a s , eventually finds himself i n o ne of his homeland’s corre c t i onal facilities. There he m e e ts an ex-feudball player b y t he name of Gordon Ta n ner who is coerced into c o a c hing a team of the rebel l i o u s ‘cons’ in a local compe t i t i o n as an ‘experiment’ in p r i s oner rehabilitation. T h e experiment works and t h e Flagstaff Jailbirds go on

to becom e a s u c c e s s f u l a n d famous f e u d b a l l t e a m . B u t many of t h e J a i l b i r d s , e s p ecially Al e x , h a v e c h e q u e re d pasts, a n y o n e o f w h i c h c o u l d comprom i s e t h e t e a m ’s n e wfound co h e s i o n . C a n t h e y earn the i r f re e d o m t h ro u g h the brut a l s p o r t t h e y h a v e come to l o v e ? Stephen B a b b a g e a n d G e o ff Turner a re w e l l - k n o w n member s o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n Blood Bo w l c o m m u n i t y. B a b s (Stephen ) h a s b e e n t h e

d e v o t e d re p re s e n t a t i v e o f the NAF in Australia and New Zealand for as long as anyone re m e m b e r s a n d Vi m e s ( G e o ff ) h a s re c e n t l y a l s o s t a r t e d a s s i s t i n g w i t h t h i s ro l e . I h a v e n ’t m e t e i t h e r m a n p e rs o n a l l y, b u t h a v e n e v e r h e a r d a bad word spoken about e i t h e r. N e i t h e r a re p ro f e ssional writers, although both have worked on other writing p ro j e c t s , b u t Feudball re pre s e n t s t h e f i r s t p u b l i s h e d novel for both..

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T h e n ovel is set in an altern a t e world from both our own a n d t he Warhammer World in w h i c h the Blood Bowl game i s s i t u ated (for reasons that s h o u l d be obvious). This w o r l d includes many famil i a r e l ements to both settings a s t h e authors have used t h e p ost-medieval Earth as a t e m p l ate for this new back g ro u n d. Alex comes from a p l a c e called Brython, the c a p i t a l of which is Lowden a n d t he pride of which is t h e i r remarkable navy. Pirates p l y t h e waters, preying on t r a d e r s to the colonies, a n d t he cities of Brython a re b e coming dominated by n e w f actories that belch the s m o k e of industrialisation i n t o t he nation’s skies.

But the s e t t i n g a l s o h a s much in c o m m o n w i t h s i m i l a r fantasy g a m e s a n d s e r i e s , with orcs , e l v e s , d w a r v e s and unde a d a u g m e n t i n g t h e human c o m m u n i t i e s . T h e authors h a v e g i v e n s o m e o f these rac e s t h e i r o w n t w i s t , with orcs b e i n g a m p h i b ious swam p - d w e l l e r s a n d elves pos s e s s i n g a n i n s e ctoid grac e . T h e y h a v e a l s o added so m e r a c e s o f t h e i r own, suc h a s t h e b e a r- l i k e nausican s . The game o f Fe u d b a l l i t s e l f i s also a mi x t u re o f t h e k n o w n and unkn o w n . M a n y o f t h e basic rul e s a re a s a p l a y e r of Blood B o w l e x p e c t t h a t game to b e i f i t w e re t r a n slated int o ‘ re a l ’ l i f e , w i t h the objec t o f t h e g a m e b e i n g

The orc crashed against the advertising signage and slumped for ward, his match well and tr uly over. Alex then upended the orc striker, which landed hard onto the turf and didn’t get back up. Rex casually stomped on the prone striker ’s ar m, leaving a set of sprig marks. He looked around guiltily to see if the ref had spotted the foul. He hadn’t. ( pa g e 2 1 1 ) .

t o c a r r y t h e b a l l a c ro s s t h e g o a l l i n e t o s c o re ( w i t h almost anything allowed in t h e p ro c e s s ) . H o w e v e r, m a n y aspects have been changed. The field positions of the players sport names such as ‘ s l i n g e r s ’ , ‘ s t r i k e r s ’ , ‘ f i e l de r s ’ a n d ‘ t re n c h e r s ’ a n d t h e p i t c h i t s e l f re s e m b l e s an Australian Rules football g ro u n d . T h e g a m e i s , t h e ref o re , a n i n t e re s t i n g m i x t u re o f A u s s i e R u l e s , g r i d i ro n a n d Ro m a n g l a d i a t o r i a l c o n t e s t that is at once familiar and strange. This is a tested template t h a t w o r k s e x t re m e l y w e l l i n t h i s c o n t e x t , p ro v i di n g e n o u g h t h a t i s f am i liar both to players of Blood Bowl and fans of Australian or American football while s t i l l b e i n g d i ff e re n t e n o u g h to maintain a unique brand. T h e b o o k ( a n d i t s w eb s i t e ) includes detailed appendicies on the rules of the game and the world it exists within, a l t h o u g h a g re a t d e a l o f t h i s can be gleaned in the text i t s e l f . I n f a c t , i t i s t h e r i c hness of the setting, both the w o r l d a n d t h e g a m e , t h a t a re a m a i n s t re n g t h o f t h i s n o v e l and that lend the characters and plot additional life. Being a book about a team c re a t e s t h e i n t e re s t i n g p ro b l e m o f h a v i n g t o d e t a i l a lot of characters. The brutal n a t u re o f t h e s p o r t i t s e l f


e x a c erbates this as chara c t e rs meet their doom w i t h inevitable regularity. H o w ever, the authors deal w i t h this well and each chara c t e r has their own back g ro u nd and foibles that allow e a s y identification through o u t . Further, the varied past l i v e s of each ‘con’ provides a m p le source material to c re a te conflict and suspense, w h i ch is used to great effect i n t he multiple sub-plots t h a t wind around the main c h a r acters.

In cont r a s t , e x - Fe u d b a l l player G o r d o n Ta n n e r i s a man w i t h a v i o l e n t p a s t who gr a s p s h i s o p p o r t unity to c o a c h t h e F l a g s t a ff Jailbird s i n b o t h h a n d s and ru n s i t p a s t t h e g o a l line. Ta n n e r h a s re a l d e p t h and is c o m p e l l i n g t o re a d about a s h e r i d e s t h e ro l lercoas t e r o f p e r s o n a l s e tbacks w h i l e a l s o f i e l d i n g honest c o n c e r n s f o r h i s team m a t e s w h i l e s h e pherdin g t h e m t o w a r d s f a m e and glo r y.

A h alf-dozen characters, h o w ever, provide the main e l e ments of the plot and do s o with varying degrees of s u c c ess. Alex Bathgate is t h e main character, through w h o m we learn about the w o r l d and Feudball itself a n d with whom each of t h e others is associated. D e s pite the focus on him, B a t h gate appears a little bit o n e dimensional compared t o o ther team members. He a p p ears to come from delib e r a t ely average beginnings, w i t h his journey prior to m e e ting his team mates and h i s ability to link the story m a k ing him important rather t h a n his strength of charac t e r. He does mature as the s t o r y develops, but always re t a ins the feeling of a man t o w hom things happen, r a t h er than an agent of his o w n destiny.

Jailbird s K y m , Ta l l i n a n d Filch, a s w e l l a s Wa r d e n Potter, a l l s t a n d o u t a s cast m e m b e r s w h o ’s b a c kground s , a g e n d a s a n d intenti o n s h a v e a l a r g e effect o n t h e n o v e l ’s climax . O t h e r c h a r a c t e r s such a s P s y c h o , S h a r k a n d Father K i l k e n n y a re m e morable f o r t h e i r f o i b l e s o r exploit s . E v e n t h e o p p o sing tea m s , e s p e c i a l l y t h e pirates l e d b y C a p t a i n Arnder s , a re c h o c k f u l l o f charac t e r, m a k i n g t h e o n pitch s e g m e n t s o f t h e b o o k pop off t h e p a g e .

But the writing is not p e r f e c t . U n f o r t u n a te l y t h e e d i t i n g p ro c e s s w a s n o t t h o ro u g h e n o u g h a n d a number of spelling and g r a m m a t i c a l e r ro r s p l a g u e t h e b o o k . Fo r m a n y re a d e r s this will not be an issue, but for an English teacher like myself it caused many cringes and made some p a r t s d i ff i c u l t t o re a d . Thankfully these parts w e re f e w a n d f a r b e t w e e n a l t h o u g h I h i g h l y re c o mmend another edit for f u t u re p u b l i s h i n g r u n s .

And it i s t h e s e o n - p i t c h parts o f t h e b o o k t h a t are the t r u e s t a r s . T h e Jailbird s e n g a g e i n a b o u t a doze n Fe u d b a l l g a m e s throug h t h e n o v e l , e a c h one lov i n g l y d e s c r i b e d s o that a re a d e r c a n t r u l y

The writing style itself c a n b e a l i t t l e b i t f o rc e d , with some dialogue not flowing as naturally as it could and some situations not ringing as genuine. In some places the topic of conversation changes

e n v i s a g e t h e m a t c h u n f o l ding. Each clang of helmet on helmet and each crunch of boot on bone can be felt as the warriors of the Fe u d b a l l p i t c h s t r u g g l e t o achieve their goal. Every m a t c h h a s i t s o w n c h a llenges and tactics, and the fatal consequences f o r s o m e p l a y e r s a re n o t s h i r k e d . I f f o r n o ot h e r re a s o n , Fe u d b a l l i s w o r t h re a d i n g t o i m m e r s e y o u rs e l f i n t o t h e a d re n a l i n e soaked action of the game itself.

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a b r u p tly, or an ev ent that w o u l d have caused most p e o p l e to pause or react with g re a t surprise is brushed o v e r with very little fanfare. T h i s h appens, for example, i n t h e romantic liaison that A l e x b ecomes involved in a n d l e aves that particular e l e m e nt of the text a little e m p t y. H o w e ver, despite these incon g r u e n ces, the story and chara c t e r s remain convincing. Pa r t o f the reason for this is t h e b reakneck pace at which t h e n ovel takes place. A great d e a l o f content is crammed i n t o t he book, wit h even the f o r m a t needing to adapt to t h e re quirements of the text. E v e n though the authors h a v e crammed a 400 page b o o k i nto just under 300, the

pace is h e c t i c , w i t h e a c h n e w game cre a t i n g a m a n d a t o r y milestone t o t h e o n g o i n g o ff pitch act i o n . T h i s m a y c o ntribute to s o m e o f t h e c h a racters’ a t t i t u d e s t o e v e n t s beyond t h e i r c o n t ro l a n d such inci d e n t s q u i c k l y s e e m minor as t h e p l o t ro c k e t s past. Ind e e d t h e p l o t , w i t h its variou s i n t r i g u i n g t h re a d s , is well th o u g h t o u t a n d s a t i sfying as y o u re a c h t h e e n d .

Feudball i s c e r t a i n l y n o t a work of l i t e r a t u re , b u t t h e n it doesn’t p re t e n d t o b e . I t also migh t b e p ro b l e m a t i c f o r someone n o t f a m i l i a r w i t h Blood Bo w l t o u n d e r s t a n d . However, a s a n o v e l s p e c i f ically wri t t e n f o r t h o s e w i t h an intere s t , Feudball i s a n enjoyable re a d a n d a ro l l i c king ride t h ro u g h t h e f a n t a s y

f o o t b a l l g e n re . T h e re a re s u rprisingly few attempts at w r i t i n g i n t h i s g e n re , w h i c h m a k e s B a b b a g e a n d Tu r n e r veritable pioneers in the a re a . W i t h t h e a d d i t i o n a l b u r d e n o f h a v i n g t o c re a t e a believable new world in w h i c h t o s i t u a t e t h e s t o r y, t h e y h a v e d o n e i n c re d i b l y well. O v e r a l l i t i s t h i s s e t ti n g , t h e c re d i b i l i t y o f t h e p l o t a n d t h e ability to bring not just one or two character to life, but t h e e n t i re J a i l b i r d s t e a m t h a t m a k e Feudball a p l e a s u re t o re a d , e v e n re c o g n i z i n g i t s f e w s h o r t c o m i n g s . I t h o ro u g h l y e n j o y e d i t a n d re commend it to all Blood Bowl players.

S everin was head butted by one of the taller bear-like men, and slumped to the ground in a heap. Alex then desperately tried to fend off the attacking bearsark, who was frothing at the mouth, and grinned wickedly when he forcibly threw him off the pitch. The fans decided to add some br uises to his old ones... Feudball c an be purchased from www.feudball.com. You can also purchase through Impact! Miniatures. The book costs AUD$22 plus postage (a list of alternate cur rencies can be found on the website).

( Pa g e 153 )

sponsors t h e a r my pa i nt e r c lev e r mojo games a rt i s a n studios b ac k -tobase-ix b ot h d own p o d c a st co m i x i ninos cnc wo r k s hop da r k s o n designs

Are you a s p o n s o r?

I f you have sponsored an Australian or New Zealand Blood Bowl event in the last year, contact us to list on the S ponsors pages of BL!TZ. More l ater ...

interview

both down Yo u’ ve all heard of Three D i e B l o ck , a n d th e Z l u r p c a s t “ f ranchise” - the global o c to p u s th a t a b s o rb e d Ta ckl e zo n e R a dio. But have you heard o f th e n e w g i n g e r s o n th e bl ock? BothD own! B L I T Z:. Hey guys , welcome t o B L!TZ. Tell us a little bit a b o ut everyone involved in B o t h Down. And no cheap e ff o rts or cop-outs pasting f ro m the “About Us” page on t h e BothDown website! S T E V E: Thanks for having us. W h o ’s involved? That’s pretty e a s y. It’s just m e, Steve C a m pbell(kilowog2814) and S c o t t Delsigne(fatfinley) that d o i t. We’re just a couple of B l o o d Bowl loving guys from O k l a homa, USA. We record a t m y house and I edit, then

Scott up l o a d s i t . We had h e l p f ro m S c o t t ’s coworke r a n d f e l l o w B l o o d Bowl co a c h , B ro c k , w h o helped w i t h t h e w e b s i t e and get t i n g f e e d s s e t u p . A s well as T h e C o u c h P i r a t e s (couchp i r a t e s . c o m ) w h o host a b u n c h o f d i ff e re n t podcast s a n d a l l o w u s t o be host e d o n t h e i r s e r v e r space. Now, as t o s o m e t h i n g a b o u t each of u s , I ’ l l l e t S c o t t t a l k about h i m s e l f . A s t o m e , I

came into Blood Bowl later t h a n S c o t t f o r s u re . We m e t p l a y i n g H e ro c l i x a n d became good friends. He had always talked about Blood Bowl and wanting to start up a l e a g u e , a n d w h e n H e ro c l i x lost a lot of its appeal, he set one up and I jumped aboard. I ’ m y o u r t y p i c a l c o m ic b o o k geek, for example of how g e e k y, I f i n i s h e d o ff m y G re e n L a n t e r n c o l l e c t i o n l a s t y e a r. E v e r y c o m i c s i n c e h e

re l a unched in Showcase 22 in 1960. I a l s o love movies, games, b o o ks, etc. Recently I’ve g o t t en more and more into P i n b all machines as a hobby. I t e nd to keep myself busier t h a n I should... B L I T Z: I can empathise with t h e keeping too busy thing, j u s t ask Brett about him t r y i ng to get me writing stuff f o r BL!TZ. And how are you t r a v elling Scott? S C OT T: I am doing quite well t h a nk you! First off, let me j u s t say that it’s an honor t o b e interviewed by BL!TZ M a g azine. What you guys do f o r the Blood Bowl community i s a wesome. Now let me try t o a nswer your question by a d d i ng to Steve’s response. A s h e stated, it’s just the two

of us on t h e p o d c a s t s o t o spice th i n g s u p w e t r y t o g e t the loca l h o m e - l e a g u e g u y s to come o n f o r i n t e r v i e w s , o r record b u m p e r s f o r u s . To b e perfectl y h o n e s t , I a m v e r y blessed t h a t I d o n ’t h a v e t o do much m o re t h a n s h o w up for re c o r d i n g s i n c e S t e v e has take n i t u p o n h i m s e l f to hand l e a l l o f t h e e d i t i n g and mes s i n g a ro u n d w i t h t h e technica l s i d e o f t h i n g s . M y job’s fai r l y e a s y. I j u s t t r y to be m y s e l f w i t h o u t c u s s i n g too muc h , a n d t a l k a b o u t t h e great ga m e o f B l o o d B o w l ! As for m y s e l f , I h a v e a l w a y s enjoyed ro l e p l a y i n g a n d table-to p g a m e s t h a t a re n ’t your typ i c a l b o a r d g a m e s . I don’t w a n t t o p l a y M o u s e Trap, so r r y, o r M o n o p o l y. Give me g a m e s l i k e D u n g e o n or the o l d T S R M a r v e l Superhe ro e s Ro l e p l a y i n g

Game any day of the week. My Blood Bowl obsession all started when a friend bought the second edition game for h i s b i r t h d a y. I p l a y e d s p o r t s all of my life, and loved the fantasy setting of Blood Bowl, s o i t re a l l y w a s t h e p e r f e c t drug for that part of my life. Like Steve I have been re a d i n g a n d c o l l e c t i n g comics since 1986 so when H e ro c l i x w a s re l e a s e d i t w a s a natural fit as well. I ran tournaments and met tons of people because of the game. I am thankful to say t h a t I h a v e s e v e r a l f r i e n dships all because of those little plastic men. After the s t o re w e p l a y e d i n s t a r t e d h a v i n g f i n a n c i a l p ro b l e m s and eventually shut down ( R . I . P. D r a g o n f y re C o m i c s ) , I encouraged some of the guys t o g i v e B l o o d B o w l a tr y, t h u s

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t h e p e rfect drug made its’ re t u r n into my life, and it f e l t g reat! B L ! T Z : Thanks Scott. It is still q u i t e a shock how far this i d e a o f a magazine has gone. I k n o w our venture was h u m b l e in the beginning and w a s j ust something we threw a ro u n d. What was your own v i s i o n for BothDown when y o u s t arted and how has it c h a n g ed to what we “see” today? S C OT T: To me, the vision w e o r i ginally had for the s h o w is almost all there. We w a n t e d a show to talk about B l o o d Bowl flavor and fluff, w h i l e promoting a tourna m e n t now and then for ours e l v e s . Our main focus in t h e b e ginning was that we w a n t e d to present the Blood B o w l community with a show t h a t l et everyone know that t h e re is more to the game t h a n crunching the numbers o r j u s t playing tournaments. T h e re is a rich but very l o o s e history to Blood Bowl’s

backstory a n d t h e w o r l d i t takes pla c e i n . I p e r s o nally want e d p e o p l e t o s e e how with a l i t t l e e ff o r t y o u can turn y o u r s t a n d a r d d w a r f team into s o m e t h i n g s p e c i a l by giving t h e m a h i s t o r y a n d purpose. F u r t h e r, I w a n t e d our show t o l e t p l a y e r s k n o w that the g a m e B l o o d B o w l has a set t i n g , a n d p l a y e r s shouldn’t f o r g e t t h a t w o r l d and what h a s b e e n e s t a blished be f o re . On the to u r n a m e n t s i d e of things S t e v e a n d I b o t h came fro m H e ro c l i x w h e re we judge d a n d r a n e v e n t s for playe r s a l l t h e t i m e s o running B l o o d B o w l t o u r n aments wa s a n a t u r a l t h i n g w e both wan t e d t o d o , e s p e c i a l l y since the re i s o n l y o n e e v e n t within a c o u p l e h o u r ’s d r i v e in our are a . We t h o u g h t o u r area need e d t o u r n a m e n t s a n d that we c o u l d d o t h a t . Overall t h e s h o w i s e x a c t l y on track t o w h a t w e w a n t e d , or at leas t w h a t I w a n t e d . The big d i ff e re n c e b e t w e e n

“I love all the teams I have played. I make a point to invest time into the team name, the backstor y and the players so ever y team I play I get ver y deeply attached to.” .

Epsiode 1 and Episode 8 is p ro b a b l y S t e v e a n d I i m p ro ving and learning as we work t o g e t h e r. Yo u w o u l d t h i n k that podcasting with a friend w o u l d c o m e e a s y, b u t w e still struggle at times. One example is when trying to close certain segments, and one of us is talking too much. OUCH! See? Steve just kicked me in the knee. I will l e t S t e v e t a l k n o w. S T E V E : U h . . . Ye a h , t h a t p re t t y m u c h s u m s i t u p . I just wanted something that I c o u l d b e p ro u d o f o n t h e technical side. I got us some g o o d re c o r d i n g e q u i p m e n t , I do our editing and get our bumpers done. I like hearing new things a l l t h e t i m e . N o o ff e n s e t o J o h n n y a n d Xt re m e a t Z l u r p c a s t , b u t I g e t t i re d o f h e a r i n g t h e s a m e c o m m e rc i a l s o n t h e re . T h o s e c o mm e rc i a l s a re w h a t h oo k e d m e on their podcast, I like being surprised. So, one of my goals was to do the bumpers a n d h a v e t h e m b e d i ff e re n t each time. Of course, that being said, I k n o w w h y t h e y d o n ’t d o n e w o n e s a l l t h e t i m e . . . I t ’s hard! I only have so many voices and so many people that want to do them. I was h o p i n g w e ’ d h a v e m o re s e n t i n f ro m l i s t e n e r s , b u t n o t m a n y s o f a r.


B L ! T Z: That’s great that things a re coming together as you e n v i sioned them and I know f ro m this e-mag that it is v e r y satisfying. As you say t h e re is a lot more to it than ro l l i ng dice and the new p l a y er can easily bypass all t h e richness we had thrust at u s y ears ago. G i v e n now that we are on the u n d erlying aspect of Blood B o w l, what is your favourite p e r s onal team/player that y o u have coached over the y e a r s? S T E V E: For me, that’s a very e a s y question. My favorite t e a m is my Nors e team, the Cambyl Claymores . T h e y were my first team, t h e y ’re two time Dragonfyre B l o o d Bowl League champi o n s and they ha ve my favori t e player, Axjon Jokson. He’s m y runner with 4AG, Diving Ta c k le, Dodge, a nd Catch. O n a more “game level”, I j u s t love how the Norse play. I l i k e bashing, a nd they do i t b est. I play very aggres s i v e and the Blo ck helps keep m e from killing myself. Plus, t h e y somehow n ever get hurt w h e n I play them. Nuffle has b l e s sed them. B e f o re getting them, I had a s s umed painting was n e v er something I’d do or

be com f o r t a b l e w i t h , b u t they h e l p e d c h a n g e t h a t . I bough t t h e m o ff e B a y and th e y w e re p re t t y m u c h alread y p a i n t e d w i t h a color s c h e m e I l i k e d , b u t I went i n a n d re p a i n t e d everyt h i n g a n d f l o c k e d them. I t o p e n e d u p m y eyes to t h a t p a r t o f t h e game I n e v e r t h o u g h t I ’ d be a p a r t o f a n d n o w I paint m y o w n t e a m s . L i k e everyt h i n g e l s e , j u s t n e e d to find t h e t i m e h e h e .

b e c a u s e o f h i s t o r y. W h i l e I d i d n ’t c o m e u p w i t h t h e name it was the team I t o o k w h e n w e s t a r te d t o play second edition and has been a love of mine since. Now for my favorite player?

Yes th a t i s a l l t h e t e a m s I have p l a y e d i n o u r h o m e league , t h e D r a g o n f y re Blood B o w l L e a g u e . C a n that be m y a n s w e r ?

Man I love talking about h o w t h e s e p l a y e r s a re l i k e re a l l i f e p e o p l e , a n d I g u e s s t h e y k i n d o f a re t h a t w a y t o u s . I d o n ’t have one, but I will give t h e m t o y o u a n y w a y. F i r s t S p l i t Te n d o n c u t t e r s t a r b l i t z e r f ro m s e c o n d e d i t i o n Underworld Creepers , y o u m i g h t re m e m b e r h i s c a r d a n d s u c h f ro m t h e o l d S t a r Players book. I love this p l a y e r, h i s a t t r i b u t e s w e re n o t c r a z y g re a t b u t i n o u r old league this guy was just a good solid player and always a star on the field. I wish he was in the c u r re n t v e r s i o n o f B l o o d Bowl.

Serious l y t h i s i s a q u e stion a l o t o f p e o p l e a s k me and m y re s p o n s e i s I love al l t h e t e a m s I h a v e played . I m a k e a p o i n t t o invest t i m e i n t o t h e t e a m name, t h e b a c k s t o r y a n d the pla y e r s s o e v e r y t e a m I play I g e t v e r y d e e p l y attach e d t o . I f y o u m a d e me pic k o n e t e a m i t w o u l d be the Dwarf Giants , o n l y

Second is Nailer Goldheart. He was a dwarf blitzer for m y o r i g i n a l a n d n e w Dwarf Giant t e a m s . I n s e c o n d edition, we kept stats like “paces rushed” and such a n d N a i l e r w a s t h e Dwarf Giants’ s t a r b a l l h an d l e r, who managed to rush for over a 100 paces each g a m e . I w a s v e r y p ro u d o f t h a t . W h e n I re b u i l t t h e

SCOT T: Fa v o r i t e t e a m … O k a y ready? New Quetza Saints (lizard m a n ) , Black Water Bulls ( c h a o s d w a r f ) , Dwarf Giants ( d w a r f ) , Chrace White Lions ( h i g h e l f ) , St. Llewins Hams ( h a l f l i n g ) ,

Wasch-Eng Tomb Deadskins (Khem r i ) , a n d Hellpit Skorpionz ( u n d e r w o r l d ) .

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t e a m under LRB5 rules for t h e D r agonfyre Blood Bowl L e a g u e, the Dwarf Giants won o u r S eason 1 Championship ( 2 5 0 8 for actual fl uff year) a n d N ailer Goldheart scored t h e l o ne touchdown, earning t h e D r agonfyre Cu p MVP. It w a s t he perfect bridge for m e b e tween second edition h i s t o r y and the current l e a g u e. F i n a l l y, and probably my f a v o r i te player of all time, i s S e a rs Mayfeather. He is a h u m an Blood Bo wl player t h a t w as also created during t h e s e cond edition era. Back t h e n he was everything from a c a t c her for the Everbold Unicorns and Athelorn Avengers to being a blitzer f o r t h e Reikland Reavers . In t o d a y ’s Blood Bowl world, h e w a s a catcher for the Middenheim Wolfpack before b e i n g traded to the New World Patriarchs where he b e c a me legend. By legend I m e a n he literally became the f i r s t e ver legendary player in o u r l e ague. He wa s always a s o l i d player in second edition a n d i s crazy awesome in our c u r re nt league. He is a player c h a r a cter that has been c o a c h ed or used by three dif f e re n t coaches (and never o n c e by me), so saying he is m y f a vorite is say ing a lot. S e a r s Mayfeather, to me, i s a n y of us, if we played B l o o d Bowl and by us I

mean us h u m a n s . I n a g a m e with wac k y s t ro n g a n d a g i l e races its n i c e w h e n a l o w l y human s h i n e s b r i g h t . P l u s Sears Ma y f e a t h e r w a s n ’t j u s t created b y m y s e l f h e w a s a group e ff o r t . S e a r s w a s created b y Ro b e r t H e n r y, Gary Brow n a n d I , t h e g u y s that star t e d t h i s j o u r n e y o f Blood Bo w l . W i t h o u t t h o s e guys buy i n g B l o o d B o w l there wo u l d n ’t b e a S e a r s Mayfeath e r a n d p o s s i b l y never be a B o t h D o w n . T h a t ’s of course , i f y o u b u y i n t o t h e whole bu t t e r f l y e ff e c t t h i n g BL!TZ: Go o d t o s e e y o u a re just as c r a z y o v e r i n t h e U S as we are o v e r h e re ! There is o b v i o u s l y a c e r t a i n nostalgia t h a t s u r ro u n d s Blood Bo w l a n d t h e re a re other gam e s t h a t w e re m e mber fondl y. P re v i o u s l y I talked ab o u t t h e F i g h t i n g Fantasy g a m e s a n d p e r s o n a l l y games lik e M e c h w a r r i o r ( P C and RPG) a l w a y s w i l l h a v e a certain c h a r m . Fo r y o u g u y s , is there a n y t h i n g t h a t w o u l d be consid e re d u n u s u a l w h i c h you also h a v e t h e n o s t a l g i c connectio n t o o ? STEVE: We l l , a s I m e ntioned ea r l i e r, I ’ v e b e e n getting m o re a n d m o re i n t o the Pinba l l h o b b y. I g o t m y brother a d d i c t e d , s o h e ’s g o t about 30 m a c h i n e s n o w a n d I’ve been w o r k i n g o n h i s a n d my own s o m e . I j u s t g o t m y

Flash Gordon machine up and r u n n i n g a n d t h a t ’s p u re n o st a l g i a t h e re . A s t o m o re t r a d i t i o n a l t y p e o f g a m e s , I h a v e a f o n dn e s s f o r the Dungeon game that was put out in the early 80s. It was basically a Dungeons and Dragons boardgame and I’ve had it since I was a kid and s t i l l e n j o y i t . I a l s o re c e n t l y b o u g h t s o m e o l d b o ar d g a m e s b a s e d o ff m o v i e s ( S t a r Wa r s , Krull, etc) and have been enjoying those. I’m definitely a big fan of nostalgia. I like old movies, collect old comics, and hang a ro u n d S c o t t , s o I ’ m j u s t s u rro u n d e d b y o l d n e s s . H e h e S C OT T: Re a l f u n n y b u d d y, I ’ m not that old. L i k e S t e v e t h e re a re s o m e old comics I try to collect, s t u ff l i k e G . I . J o e a n d Tr a n s f o r m e r s , t h e o n e s p u blished by Marvel Comics. I tried the newer sleeker updated versions of those b o o k s , b u t I w a n t t o re a d t h e s t u ff I e n j o y e d a s a k i d . S u re t h e a r t m i g h t n o t b e as cool and the writing sub par but its what I enjoyed and still do. Another comic I am always looking for is Pe t e r Po r k e r, t h e S p e c t a c u l a r S p i d e r- H a m , y e s t h a t i s t h e S p i d e r m a n p a ro d y b o o k f ro m M a r v e l ’s S t a r I m p r i n t . I l o v e t h a t s t u ff . B e s i d e s t h e s e


t h re e books I look for those o l d Marvel 25th Anniversary c o v e rs (http://kleefeldoncom i c s . blogspot.com/2006/11/ m a r vels-25th-anniversary. h t m l). They were the books t h a t had the one lone chara c t e r in the middle while all t h e Marvel Characters borderi n g the comic with a frame. A g a i n something I thought w a s awesome when I was a k i d, and if I can find any o f t hose covers I try to pick t h e m up. B e s i des old com ics I still t r y to find some of the o l d Kinnikuman stuff or M . U . S.C.L.E. Men (http:// e n . wikipedia.org/wiki/ M . U . S.C.L.E.) as they were n a m ed here in the States. I w a s and still am to this d a y a big pro wrestling fan s o when these little pink

cosmic w re s t l e r g u y s f o u n d there w a s i n t o s t o re s I was ho o k e d . I h a v e m o s t of thes e , b u t s o m e s t i l l escape m y g r a s p a n d some g o f o r m o re t h a n I am wil l i n g t o p a y f o r o n ebay b u t i t s a f u n t h i n g t o look fo r. N o t s u re I w o u l d ever w a n t t o g e t t h e m a l l , becaus e t h e n t h e h u n t would b e o v e r a n d a l l t h e fun is i n t h e h u n t . BL!TZ: M u s t s a y t h a t I h a v e been s i m i l a r l y b i t t e n b y the com i c b u g a g a i n . I h a d a bad e x p e r i e n c e w i t h a comic b o o k s t o re d o i n g t h e wrong t h i n g b y m e y e a r s ago wh i c h p u t a s t o p t o i t , but sin c e re - e n t e r i n g t h e scene I h a v e g o n e d o w n the ha r d c o v e r t r a d e s p a t h . Nothin g l i k e h a v i n g a l l t h a t stuff w e re m e m b e r ( d o d g e y

a r t a n d a l l ) i n a c o ff e e table-esque hard cover tome! Pe o p l e a re a l w a y s t h i n king up thematic ways t o re p re s e n t t h e i r B l o o d Bowl teams. Have either o f y o u t h o u g h t a b ou t a comic themed team? Steve, I was thinking you w o u l d h a v e t r i e d s o m ething like a human team o f L a n t e r n s ! Re d L a n t e r n s for blitzers, White Lanterns f o r l i n e m e n , G re e n L a n t e r n a s G r i ff , S i n e s t ro C o r p s f o r catchers, etc. S u re l y y o u h a v e g o t s o m et h i n g t o t a l l y o ff t h e w a l l happening? S T E V E : We l l . . . N o t h i n g q u i t e s o t h e m a t i c s o f a r. I t e n d t o t r y t o k e e p m y te a m s

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w i t h i n the fluff of the uni v e r s e . Not that I haven’t been t e m p t ed to do a T hundercats t e a m using Slann stats, but s o f a r, I’ve been pretty tame. T h e e x ception to that is with m y a mazon team, the Ashfall Scorchers . Their n ame is f l u ff ( they hail from a vol c a n i c area, so hence it’s c a l l e d Ashfall. They burn up t h e f i eld, hence Scorchers) b u t t h e player names were a l l f e male Green Lanterns. L u c k i l y not many got hurt or c u t , s i nce there’s not a ton o f f e male GL names. S C OT T: I have never really c o m e close to having a the m a t i c comic tie in but I am g u i l t y of defaulting to pro w re s t l ers for a sub theme at t i m e s . When I created the Stamfordheim Titans for the B u g m an’s Bowl tournament, I w a n ted to take a vampire t e a m but I wanted the vamps t o h a ve a reason to attack t h e t h ralls. In wrestling, guys t u r n o n each other all the t i m e t hus the vamps became t h e w restling heels (bad g u y s ) that would occasion a l l y “ Heel Turn” and attack t h e f a ces (good guys), thrall t e a m - mates. W h e n I use names of wres t l e r s I always try to dis g u i s e the names so they a p p e a r like they fit in the B l o o d Bowl universe, so if y o u h appen to be a wrestling

fan you m i g h t l o o k a t m y roster an d g e t w h a t I w a s trying to d o . E x a m p l e o f t h i s is with th e Titans . T h e w re stler know n a s t h e U n d e r t a k e r was the t e a m c a p t a i n a n d head vam p i re , s o I c h a n g e d his name t o B i s h o p M a rc u s Calaway t h e C a l l o u s . T h e “Bishop” p a r t o f h i s t i t l e being a r a n k i n g w i t h i n t h e vampire c o m m u n i t y. I f o u n d on the w e b , t h a t “ M a r k Calaway” w a s h i s re a l n a m e (so I wen t w i t h M a rc u s ) a n d finally, “ t h e C a l l o u s ” w a s added be c a u s e b e f o re h e w a s the Unde r t a k e r h e w a s “ M e a n Mark Call o u s ” e a r l i e r i n h i s career. W h e n u s i n g n a m e s or theme s t o n a m e p l a y e r s , I love wh e n p e o p l e d i s g u i s e them to f i t t h e w o r l d o f B l o o d Bowl. The Stamfordheim Titans w a s also a pl a y o n w o r d s i n v o l ving the W W E . T h e y a re l o c a t e d at Stamfo r d , C o n n e c t i c u t h e re in the Un i t e d S t a t e s . U p u n t i l 2002 the a c t u a l n a m e o f t h e company w a s Ti t a n S p o r t s . S o I use Tita n a s t h e m a s c o t a n d added so m e h e i m t o S t a m f o r d and got t h e Stamfordheim Titans a s m a l l v a m p i re c o mmunity lo c a t e d i n N o r t h Eastern S y l v a n i a . BL!TZ: Ve r y f e w g a m e s s e e m to have t h i s k i n d o f a b i l i t y t o cross ove r i n t o o t h e r g e n re . Recently h e re t h e re w a s a Street Fig h t e r t h e m e d t e a m , and there a re n u m e ro u s

others that take a modern day concept and place it on the Blood Bowl field. What a re s o m e o f t h e w a c k iest themes you have seen locally? Do you think this is something that draws people in? S C OT T: A s f a r a s w a c k y t e a m s , w e h a v e o n e g u y u s i n g d i ff e re n t c l o w n m i n i a t u re s f o r a g o b l i n t e a m . I n t h e f l u ff t h e y a re a l l p r i s o n e r s d re s s e d as clowns to entertain the locals. What better way to entertain people than by playing Blood Bowl? I know our buddy Alan wanted to r u n a n o g re t e a m a s a b u n c h of wizards and animated towels. He wanted them to b e t h e Tallis Towelboys , w i t h the name being a play on the Dallas Cowboys . I a s s u m e t h i s w a s b a s e d o ff o f t h e c h a r a c t e r To w e l i e f ro m S o u t h Pa r k , b u t w i t h A l a n y o u n e v e r k n o w. H e b u i l t a l l o f t h e m a gically animated towels and glued them to bases, but t h a t ’s t h e l a s t I ’ v e s e e n o f them. They looked good so I ’ m n o t s u re w h y h e d i d n ’t f o l l o w t h ro u g h w i t h t h i s i d e a . Alan also ran a Norse team c a l l e d t h e H’Naa Barbarians b a s e d o ff t h e H a n n a - B a r b e r a cartoons characters. I d o t h i n k t h e c u s t o m i s at i o n p a r t o f B l o o d B ow l i s w h a t d r a w s p e o p l e i n . Pe o p l e describe it as a table top sports game, but to me when


y o u play in leag ues it takes o n a role-playing game cam p a i g n life of its own. Much l i k e a role-playing charac t e r you create, what you put i n i s what you get out, and i t w i ll continue to grow as y o u play from game-to- game, a n d from season-to-season. T h a t is what makes this game s o g reat!

like a re b i r t h w i t h i t g o i n g from s t re n g t h t o s t re n g t h over th e re l a t i v e l y re c e n t history o f t h e g a m e .

S T E V E: I think the themes and c re a tivity is a big draw. Alan i s a great example because h e l oves to stretch things a n d make them fit into the u n i v erse.

STEVE: I t h i n k a l o t o f t h e revival c a n b e t r a c e d t o one ov e r a l l f a c t o r, t h e interne t .

We all in our own way bring o t h er elements into the game a n d also allow ourselves to b e c reative with themes, l o g o s, pitches and etc. T h e re are a ton of things that m a y draw people into the g a m e, but overall, people s t a y with it because it’s fun. Yo u may have the greatest t h e me ever, but if nobody h a s fun while playing or s h o wing off their team, then i t ’ d drive people away. B L ! T Z: I think we all have s o m e kind of wacky idea f l o a ting around that we want t o v isualise, but there is a l o t t hat never see the table. I h a ve been playing for a l o n g time and we here have n o t i ced a renais sance, almost

Why do y o u t h i n k B l o o d Bowl h a s h a d t h i s k i n d o f new le a s e o n l i f e a n d d o you se e a n y o t h e r n i c h e type ga m e s h a v i n g a similar re v i v a l ?

The NA F a n d o t h e r w e b s i t e s allow p e o p l e t o c o n n e c t with a n d f i n d e a c h o t h e r. So, yea h , I m a y p l a y i n a small l e a g u e s o m e w h e re , but I c a n m e e t u p w i t h people o n l i n e a n d t a l k about i t a n d f u r t h e r m y enjoym e n t o f t h e h o b b y. In add i t i o n t o f o r u m s , there a re s o m a n y w a y s

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t o c o n n e c t n o w. We h a v e Fa c e b o o k , Tw i t t e r and email on our smart phones and not to mention podcasts. I l o o k a t m y o w n e x p eriences, and I’ve been playing for years and I’ve known of the NAF and F U M B B L a n d o t h e r w e bs i t e s , b u t I w a s n ’t t h a t i n t e re s t e d i n t h e m . I d i d n ’t feel a need to connect with p e o p l e re a l l y. H o w e v e r, along comes my fancy smart phone and I start looking at webpages at w o r k a n d l i s t e n i n g t o p o dcasts, and it makes me f e e l m o re c o n n e c t e d t o t h e h o b b y. Z l u r p c a s t i s t h e m a i n f o rc e b e h i n d u s g o i n g t o t o u rnaments and doing a podcast. I enjoyed hearing them talk about the g a m e a n d t a l k i n g ab o u t

“ There are a ton of things that may draw people into the game, but overall, people stay with it because it’s fun. You may have the greatest theme ever, but if nobody has fun while playing or showing off their team, then it’d drive people away.”

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t o u r n aments. It m ade me w a n t t o go. T h e n I started list ening to o t h e r podcasts and then t e l l i n g people locally about t h e m and it snowballed. I t g o t us interested more i n t o u rnaments, made us e n j o y the game more and it s h o w e d Scott and I where the o t h e r podcasts were lacking, t h e f l uff. So that’s how we m a d e the decision to make B o t h D own (The #1 Blood Bowl p o d c a st... In this sentence). A s t o other games ? I have no c l u e . I ’m the novice to min i a t u re games, maybe Scott k n o w s some... S C OT T: I think Steve said it a l l t h e internet has made the w o r l d smaller and more con n e c t e d. If you think you are t h e o nly one that collects or e n j o y s something strange, y o u ’ re wrong. Heck there l i k e l y is a podcast or YouTube s h o w about whate ver it is t h a t y ou enjoy. I w a s shocked to hear Z l u r p c ast. I couldn’t believe t h e re was a podcast about B l o o d Bowl. I mean really, a w h o le show about Blood B o w l . I knew me and my b u d d i es did podcasts on w re s t l ing or various other m a n - l ike subjects over at C o u c h pirates.com but Blood B o w l ? I was amazed and so h a p p y that Steve found those

guys. Tha t o p e n e d t h e d o o r to the Ta c k l e Z o n e R a d i o and Thre e D i e B l o c k p o dcasts. Th re e p o d c a s t ’s d e d icated to B l o o d B o w l . I w a s i n Heaven. B e f o re 2 0 1 1 I h a d n o clue anyo n e b e s i d e s m y s i x to eight f r i e n d s p l a y e d B l o o d Bowl here i n t h e s t a t e s , through t h e i n t e r n e t w e n o w know oth e r w i s e . I also thi n k s o m e o f t h e resurgenc e o f B l o o d B o w l i s money an d g ro w i n g u p . W h e n I first go t i n t o B l o o d B o w l w e played al l o u r g a m e s w i t h t h e plastic te a m s f ro m t h e b o x . We could n ’t a ff o r d t o p u rchase all t h e e x t r a m i n i atures for o u r t e a m s . I t h i n k teams at t h e t i m e w e re 16 mini’s a n d s o l d f o r 3 0 dollars. We w o u l d l o o k a t a team and t h i n k o n e d a y I a m going to b u y a c o u p l e t e a m s and pain t t h e m , b u t i t n e v e r really ha p p e n e d . I t h i n k I was the o n l y g u y t h a t g o t a dwarf an d s k a v e n t e a m f o r Christma s . T h a n k f u l l y m y dad was v e r y s u p p o r t i v e w i t h us being s o i n t o a t a b l e t o p game. Ot h e r w i s e w e w o u l d pull our m o n e y t o g e t h e r t o buy a pa c k o f s t a r p l a y e r s and split t h e m u p . N o w t h a t we are ol d e r, w e h a v e b e t t e r jobs and h a v e m o n e y t o d e dicate to t h e h o b b y. I h a v e a t least 14 t e a m s a t h o m e , s o m e painted, s o m e p r i m e d , s o m e just meta l , b u t t o t h i n k i f could gra b y o u n g S c o t t P r i m e and show h i m w h a t h e w o u l d

one day have and then tell him that he was still playing B l o o d B o w l h e p ro b a b l y w o u l d have pooped himself. L a s t l y, a l l u s o l d e r g u y s p l a y i n g B l o o d B o w l a re s t a r ti n g t o h a v e c h i l d re n .

Our kids see us play Blood B o w l . T h e y s e e u s p ai n t B l o o d B o w l m i n i a t u re s a n d m o s t kids want to be and do things l i k e t h e i r p a re n t s . I k n o w m y d a u g h t e r, Wa k e l y n n , w h o i s f i v e , a l re a d y s t a t e d s h e w a n t s a v a m p i re t e a m . S h e l o v e s v a m p i re s a n d e n j o y s watching football with me, s o i t ’s a p e r f e c t f i t . S h e h a s a l s o e x p re s s e d i n t e re s t e d i n


p a i n ting figures with me. So w h e n I can, I let her give it a t r y. She assisted me on the “G i v e him a Gob lin Contest” t h a t was all ove r Twitter. You c a n see her work, with some a s s i stance from myself here

of fact , t o h e r a n y s m a l l figurin e l i k e a H e ro c l i x or a D& D M i n i a t u re i s a Blood B o w l f i g u re t o h e r. Hearin g a t o d d l e r y e l l i n g “Blood B o w l ! B l o o d B o w l ! Blood B o w l ! ” w i t h s o m u c h excitem e n t i s re a l l y f u n n y. As for o t h e r g a m e s I w o u l d love to s e e p e o p l e p l a y more o r m a y b e s e e a re release o f w o u l d D u n g e o n or Mor d h e i m . B u t i f t h e y don’t re t u r n I c a n s t i l l enjoy m y o l d c o p i e s o f those g a m e s t o o . I a m lucky t o h a v e S t e v e a n d a good b u n c h o f g u y s t h a t will du s t o ff t h e s e re l i c s and pl a y s o m e g a m e s w i t h me. BL!TZ: OK s o m e i n t e re s t i n g though t s t h e re . H e re ’s o n e for Ste v e :

( h t t p://bloodbowlmayhem. b l o g spot.ca/2012/04/ghagc o n t est-raffle-re sults.html). T h i s weekend we will start w o r king together to paint a c o u ple of Nurgle Rotters for t h e Chaos Cup Legacy Team. H e r sister Eden is only two a n d gets excited anytime I g e t the Blood Bowl stuff out t o p lay or paint. As a matter

Being a n o v i c e t o m i n i a t u re gaming i n g e n e r a l , h o w d i d you fin d t h i n g s c o m i n g i n as a “m a t u re a g e s t u d e n t ” of the f i e l d ? W h a t d re w you int o m i n i a t u re s t o start w i t h ? I m e a n y o u could h a v e i g n o re d S c o t t and go n e a n d d o n e s o m ething s t i l l i n t h e i n d u stry . . . b o a r d g a m e s , b a c k to D&D , w h a t e v e r. W h a t grabbe d y o u ? Steve: W h a t ? I g n o re S c o t t ? I’m no t s u re i f y o u ’ v e l i stened t o t h e p o d c a s t , b u t

i t ’s k i n d o f h a r d t o i g n o re him. B u t s e r i o u s l y, B l o o d B o w l appealed because of the f l u ff , t h e s u b j e c t a n d t h e l i m i t e d n u m b e r o f f i g u re s u s e d . I f i g u re d i t w a s a good game to start. I found it to be a lot of fun o b v i o u s l y. I l o v e f i n d i n g m i n i a t u re s t o b e m y t e a m , t h a t a p p e a l s t o t h e c o l l e ct o r i n m e . I l i k e t h e f l u ff and painting, it appeals t o t h e c re a t i v e s i d e o f m e . Then the competition of it a p p e a l s t o t h e c o mp e t i t o r in me. U l t i m a t e l y, I t r i e d i t because my friends wanted t o p l a y. I s t a y e d a n d f l o u rished for all the other things I’ve talked about. I see me staying with it and keeping with the podcast because of the community and listeners. It all works itself together into a big spiky ball of hapiness. BL!TZ: And one for Scott. D o y o u re m e m b e r y o u r f i r s t Blood Bowl game? I know w h e n I f i r s t s t a r t e d t h e re w a s j u s t re a l l y t h re e o f u s p l a y i n g a n d w e w e n t o v e rb o a r d w h e re w e w o u l d hook up the cassette p l a y e r a n d p l a y i n t ro m u s i c f o r o u r t e a m s . We b u i l t

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g o a l p osts out of the sprues a n d r unners from other min i a t u re s. For us it really was a l o v e at first sight once we p l a y e d the game. Wa s i t a similar revelation for y o u r o wn players? S c o t t : I vaguely remember t h a t f irst game. I know we p l a y e d it with the simple q u i c k - start rules. I was the Dwarf Giants and I think I p l a y e d against the Elfheim Eagles . I remember winning 3-2. I w a s sold when I opened the b o x . I loved the artwork. I l o v e d the miniatures. I loved

the fluff. I l o v e d i t a l l . T h e re was thre e o f u s w h e n w e started a n d w e a l l f e l t t h e same wa y. We starte d a L e a g u e w i t h 4 0 teams an d a 1 6 w e e k s c h e dule right a w a y. We t h o u g h t that was j u s t w h a t y o u d i d to play B l o o d B o w l a t l e a s t according t o t h e b o o k s t h a t came wit h t h e g a m e . Ye s w e played it a l l o u t , e v e r y s i n g l e game wit h e x p a n d e d p l a y o ff s . So in our 2 4 8 9 B l o o d B o w l World the Orcland Raiders beat the Oldheim Ogres 3 - 2 for the N A F C h a m p i o n s h i p that year. I h a v e e v e n modded t h e L R B 6 r u l e b o o k s

I was sold when I opened the box. I loved the artwork. I loved the miniatures. I loved the fluff. I loved it all. There was three of us when we started and we all felt the same way. We started a League with 40 teams and a 16 week schedule right away. We thought that was just what you did to play Blood Bowl, at least according to the books that came with the game.

w e u s e t o re f l e c t t h i s . We d i d n ’t h a v e t h e m e m u s i c b u t w e d i d s t a r t Bloodweiser Illustrated , w h i c h w a s a p l a y o n t h e Sports Illustrated m a g a z i n e . We w o u l d d r a w o u t a s c e n e f ro m t h e g a m e w i t h a s m a l l re c a p o f w h a t w e n t o n . We l o v e d t o d r a w s o i t w a s a lot of fun. We w e re i n d e e p w i t h B l o o d B o w l t h a t y e a r. I f w e w o u l d have chased girls with as m u c h e ff o r t a s p l a y i n g B l o o d Bowl we all would have become men a lot sooner than we did. But looking back I have no re g re t s , s o m a n y g re a t m e m ories with lifelong friends and i t s t i l l c o n t i n u e s t o d a y. B L ! T Z : S o I w i l l j u s t t h ro w i n a f e w q u i c k q u e s t i o n s b e f o re we wrap things up. Cats o r D o g s ? Fa v o u r i t e D r i n k ? Wo r s t H a b i t ? S t e v e : C a t s , D r Pe p p e r a n d s p e n d i n g t o o m u c h m o n e y. Scott: Cats, sweet tea, wasting money on hobbies ( t h e w i f e a n s w e re d t h i s ) . BL!TZ: And with that guys I would like to thank you for coming aboard for this issue of BL!TZ. C a r n i v e a n ( E r in M cKe e )


advertise in bl ! tz BL!TZ Magazine is going from strength to strength, with issue 4 being downloaded almost 2000 times in May 2012 by a global audience. We can provide space for half, full or double page spreads, with or without additional exposure on the AusBowl discussion board, all at ver y reasonable prices. Target your advertising at the fantasy football community. Contact Erin at [email protected] for infor mation.

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sponsors com b at company game qu es t gaming dr agon good games greeb o impac t ! miniat ures q-workshop griffin grove micro art s tudio milsims neomics shadowforgE spartan games thomari ll ion maow miniat ures gaspe z arts ko’ed dice bags ff fie lds kr mu lticase sci b or miniat ures


gaming for charity

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Is this team strategically devides, or just strategically placed?

So, you l o v e B l o o d B o w l , a n d you love h e l p i n g o u t a g o o d cause. Aw e s o m e ! Yo u w a n t t o run a Ch a r i t y To u r n a m e n t ? Even be t t e r ! I t i s g re a t t o s e e people d o i n g g o o d a n d c h a llenging t h e p e rc e p t i o n s o f the trad i t i o n a l “ n e r d ” s t ereotype . We a re n o t m a d e u p entirely o f b a s e m e n t - d w e l ling troll s , w e a re p e o p l e w h o live, wo r k a n d i n t e r a c t i n t h e commun i t y a n d t h e re i s n o reason w h y w e c a n ’t u s e o u r hobby p a s s i o n s t o s u p p o r t a good ca u s e . First thi n g s f i r s t , y o u n e e d to unde r s t a n d w h a t k i n d of perso n y o u a re . A re y o u running t h i s t o u r n e y b e c a u s e you hon e s t l y h a v e a d e s i re t o support t h e c a u s e o r d o y o u have an o t h e r re a s o n ? T h i s i s a bit of a b i g t h i n g . M a i n l y because i f y o u a re t h e f i r s t kind of p e r s o n t h e n y o u a re going to b e p u m p i n g i n a l o t

o f t i m e , e ff o r t a n d p o s s ib l y m o n e y t o a n e v e n t w h e re you will not be getting much p e r s o n a l re w a r d o t h e r t h a n the satisfaction of helping out whatever cause you have b a c k e d . I f y o u a re m o re o f the latter kind of person, t h e n y o u h a v e t o u n d e rs t a n d t h a t r u n n i n g a t o u r n e y, even a small one, is a major h a s s l e a n d t h e re m i g h t b e e a s i e r w a y s t o a c h i e v e w h a te v e r g o a l s y o u a re t r y i n g t o achieve. O k , n o w t h a t b i t o f i n t ro s p e ction is complete what does a f l e d g l i n g C h a r i t y TO n e e d t o know and do? 1) H a v e a C a u s e . A re y o u t h ro w i n g b l o c k s f o r B re a s t C a n c e r ? A re y o u d o d g in g f o r D i a b e t e s ? Fo u l i n g f o r C y s t i c F i b ro s i s ? F i n d s o m ething that means something to you and have a chat with


t h e i r organisation, responsi b l e body or representative. T h e talking part is import a n t to make sure that they a re ok with you trying to r a i s e money on their behalf. S o m e organisations can be a l i t t l e weird on what they will a n d will not allow and who k n o ws, if you can get explicit p e r mission perh aps you can g e t extra backing from them. T h i s backing could be any t h i n g from permission to use t h e i r logo all the way up to m a t erial backing in the shape o f rewards and prizes or even s o m ewhere to hold the event. 2) Have a Location. Well y o u are going to have some r a m bunctious Bl ood Bowlers r u n n ing around and you are g o i n g to need to put them s o m ewhere. Make some esti m a t es of how many you will b e a ble to attract, and then s t a r t looking for places you c a n obtain. Depending in the s i z e you might be able to get i t d one in a large house or y o u might have to hold it in a p roper hall. One suggestion I h a ve to is to make whoever i s i n charge of the loca t i o n aware you are doing it f o r charity. Some places can b e really cool about things l i k e this and will do it for a re duced price or even for f re e . 3) Have Receipts. As bad a s i t may sound, always keep re c e ipts and be ready to w h i p them out in a moment’s

notice! W h i l e y o u a re d o i n g this out o f l o v e ( y o u a re doing th i s o u t o f l o v e r i g h t ? ) it is alw a y s a n a w e s o m e i d e a to be ab l e t o s h o w w h e re a l l the mon e y h a s g o n e . I f s o m e douche a c c u s e s y o u o f t r y i n g to sipho n o ff s o m e o f t h e fundrais i n g ? B a m , s m a s h h i m with yo u r 1 0 0 % l e g i t p a p e r trail an d h e l o o k s l i k e t o t a l cockroa c h . I f y o u d o n ’t h a v e it, or if i t i s a j u m b l e o f c o nfusing c h i c k e n s c r a t c h e d notes, t h e n i t i s p o s s i b l e f o r your rep t o t a k e a m a s s i v e blow. 4) Have Advertising. No matt e r h o w m u c h y o u r tourney i s g o i n g t o ro c k , i t won’t ra i s e a n y m o n e y i f people d o n ’t k n o w a b o u t it. Adve r t i s e o f t e n , e a r l y and eve r y w h e re . Po s t i t o n forums, i n s h o p s , g e t y o u r league m a t e s a n d f r i e n d s to sprui k a b o u t i t t o t h e i r friends. To b e a b l e t o d o a l l of this i n e n o u g h t i m e y o u

need to… 5) Have a Plan. If you want to be successful you need to know what is going to happen, when it is going to happen and who it is going to happen to. If you fail to plan, you plan to f a i l . Ye p , i t i s s o o b v i o u s t h a t t h e re a re c h e e s y c l i c h é s a b o u t i t . G i v e y o u rs e l f a t i m e l i n e w i t h d e a dlines and stick to them. H a v e n ’t b o o k e d a l o c a t i o n yet and your deadline is next Monday? Get on that phone and make some damn calls! 6) H a v e Fo o d . A s m u c h a s i t i s t h e s t e re o t y p e , B l o o d B o w l e r s a re g e n e r a l l y n e r d s . Nerds generally have terrible e a t i n g h a b i t s , b e i t re l a t i n g to the quantity or the quality o f t h e f o o d . Ta k e a d v a n t a g e of this and use it for your o w n a l t r u i s t i c e n d s . Ha v e a sausage sizzle running, have cupcakes for sale, do

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w h a t you can to prevent y o u r players from going up t h e s t reet to Zombway and s p e n d ing their money there. T h e m ore money they spend w i t h y ou, the more you are s q u e e zing them for your c h a r i t y.

you with t h e t e d i o u s d a t a entry. If y o u d o e v e r y t h i n g b y yourself t h e n y o u a re g u a r a nteed to f e e l i t a t t h e e n d o f the day, a n d y o u w i l l m a k e more mis t a k e s a l o n g t h e w a y than you w o u l d h a v e i f y o u had some h e l p .

7) Have a Support G ro u p . As awesome as you a re , h aving people who can h e l p means you get to be a w e s o me elsewhere, thus s p re a ding your awesomosity. T h i s c ould be gett ing your s i g n i f i cant other t o help you p re p a re the food, or getting a t a l e n t ed friend to paint up a R a ff l e prize miniature or even j u s t s omeone who can help

8) Ha v e s o m e G u t s . D o not be af r a i d t o a s k p e o p l e and comp a n i e s f o r c h a r i t y. You are d o i n g t h i s f o r a c h a ritable ca u s e a re y o u n o t ? A s k companie s f o r s p o n s o r s h i p , ask fello w TO s i f t h e y a re willing to p a r t w i t h s o m e o f their tou r n e y l o o t i n re t u r n for a bit o f s p r u i k i n g a t t h e event.

9) Have a System. How a re y o u g o i n g t o re c o r d t h e ro u n d s ? W h a t a re y o u g o i n g t o d o b e t w e e n ro u n d s t o p ro m o t e a n y o f y o u r s p o n s o r s o r ‘ s i s t e r- t o u r n e y s ’ ? All of this was hard earned e x p e r i e n c e f ro m r u n n i n g l a s t y e a r ’s H i n d l e y S t re e t B o w l I V: B re a s t C a n c e r B e a c h B r a w l event. Hell, I would have loved to have a little check l i s t l i k e t h i s b e f o re I r a n i t . Especially 1, 4, 7 and 9. I was on the back foot for those p o i n t s e s p e c i a l l y. H o p e f u l l y y o u c a n t a k e f ro m m y e x p eriences to make your first times a lot easier than mine. Va i n ( C a s p e r )

At the end of the day, it’s about having fun while making a buck for a good cause.

sponsors the tin s o ld i e r p e n r it h t ita n forge w illy m i n i at ures fa n ta s y b ow l d ices v e s p e r - on games wa r p u p py m i n i at ures, games & h o bby house the naf

Are you a s p o n s o r?

I f you have sponsored an Australian or New Zealand Blood Bowl event in the last year, contact us to list on the S ponsors pages of BL!TZ. thank you.

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the road to glory We are looking for four coaches to participate in a yearlong fantasy football jour ney... . T h i n k you’ve got what it t a k e s? The four participants i n “ T he Road to Glory” will re c e i ve a fantasy football t e a m from one o f four minia t u re companies and will take t h a t team from a local league t o A ustralia’s biggest tourna m e n t; Eucalyptus Bowl 2013.. B u t what’s the catch? The f o u r participants will need to c o m mit to painting their team a n d creating a background a n d history for it. They will n e e d to be able to complete o n e season of a local league a n d will need to be able to a t t e nd EucBowl 2013. Most i m p ortantly, the participat i n g coaches must commit t o w riting an article about t h e i r journey by a dead l i n e for four issues of BL!TZ M a g azine. U p f or it? Email us by 10 Aug:

southernstrikeeditor@gmail .com


ironbowl challenge Knockout painting competition. T h e re are plenty of talented A u s s i e painters out there. If y o u ’ re one, maybe you have w h a t it takes to become the I ro n b owl Challenge “Iron Pa i n t er”!

S u b m i s s i o n s : T h e re w i l l b e a d e a d l i n e g i v e n f o r s u b m i ssions that must be met. The s i x - w e e k t u r n a ro u n d a l l o w s time for photigraphy and development of the BL!TZ article.

E a c h round a cha llenge will b e i s sued to participants, l i k e “ undead”, “orange” or “ b l i t z ”. Your job is to use t h i s t heme to paint and c o n v ert a miniature over a ro u n d six weeks.

Submissions must be newly painted and should be accompanied by a short blurb a b o u t h o w t h e ro u n d ’s t h e m e h a s b e e n a c c o m m o d a te d . So, if you can:

T h e p iece will be judged on h o w well the theme has been i n c o r porated, with the winner p ro g ressing to the next ro u n d. This is more about i n c o r porating the theme than b e i n g a stunning painter. M o re creativity the better. Pa r t i cipants will face off a g a i n st each other in a head t o h e ad format w ith pairings d r a w n randomly each round. I f t h e re are weird numbers of p e o p l e for a straight elimi n a t i o n, wildcard progression

1 - f i n i s h a f i g u re i n s i x weeks, 2 - follow the challenge task, to the n e x t ro u n d a n d p o s s ibly byes w i l l b e u s e d u n t i l a “power o f 4 ” i s a c h i e v e d ( 1 6 , 32, 64, e t c ) . Each rou n d w i l l c o i n c i d e with an i s s u e o f B L ! T Z s o w e can brin g y o u t h e a m a z i n g results.

3 - f i n d a c re a t i v e w a y t o incorporate the theme; Contact us and get involved. We h a v e t e n p a r t i c i p a n t s s o f a r, d o n ’t m i s s o u t .

admin@ausbowl .com

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dr agon bow l

egyp tb ow l red n e c k r umble

fame

euca lypt us bow l

so ut h e r n s h r i ke gathering of might b ow l

2012

gosford gaun tlet

spe e dbow l c u p

qnk bbl xmas cup

leviat han tin s o ld i e r moab pen r ith o n e sandgroper cup day e r

wi nt e rco n

waacyb ow l

This is the second Hall of Fame induction.. However,

In the final issue of Southern S t r i k e M a g a z i n e , t h e p red e c e s s o r t o t h i s p u b l i c ation, a series of coaches w e re i n d u c t e d i n t o t h e H a l l o f Fa m e . W i t h t h e e x p a n s i o n of the Strike into BL!TZ, it is t i m e t o w e l c o m e a n e w c ro p i n t o t h e re f u r b i s h e d B L ! T Z M a g a z i n e H a l l o f Fa m e . Inductees to the Hall come in t h re e f l a v o u r s . Champions. Those who win a t o u r n a m e n t o r l e a g u e a re worthy of being inducted as B L ! T Z C h a m p i o n s . A n y c o mmissioner of an Australian o r N e w Z e a l a n d t o u r n am e n t a re w e l c o m e t o s u b m i t Champions to the Hall. S t a r s . T h e H a l l a l s o rec o gnises five individuals each year who have exemplified o n e a s p e c t o f t h e h o b b y. Nominees for these awards, which can be found explained o n t h e f a c i n g p a g e , a re v o t e d o n b y t h e c o m m u n i t y, the winners becoming BL!TZ Stars. L e g e n d s . Fo r t h o s e t h a t p ro v i d e e x t e n d e d a n d v a l uable contributions to the c o m m u n i t y, B L ! T Z L e g e n d status may await. As yet t h e re a re n o L e g e n d s i n t h e Hall, and the honour must be earned. If you think someone f i t s t h e b i l l , l e t u s k n o w.

the first induction was undertaken when BL!TZ was still S outher n Strike Magazine, so it only included S outh Australian induc tees. Now we welcome all Australian inductees..

Congratulations to the 2013 inductees.


T h e Vain Gauntlet. An arcane m e c hanical gauntlet of unknown o r i g in, the Gauntlet glows with a s t r a nge, green, inner light. It is a w a rded to the coach voted most b r u t al during the year. O n e Eye’s Helmet. A battered g re e n helmet once worn by the i n f a mous Lag B. Hind and contain i n g the jawbone of an ogre, killed o n t he sacred field. It is awarded t o t he coach voted most tactical a n d strategic during a year. T h e Cod Piece of Sharnt. Possibly t h e dirtiest and most battered c o d piece ever worn, this item h a s protected the balls of over a t h o usand halfling players and is re p uted to have once belonged t o h alfling legend Johy Sharnt. It i s a warded to the best coach of s t u n ty teams during the year. T h e Sinister Garter. A tarnished red g a r t er, trimmed with gold, used t o s ecure a scabbard that once h e l d the sword of a knight who g a v e it up to follow Nuffle’s laws. S a i d to have then been cursed by t h e Lady of the Lake, the garter i s r umoured to be under a sinis t e r enchantment. It is awarded to t h e coach voted best presenter of t e a ms during the year. T h e Darkhorse Ribbon. A mouldy b l u e ribbon that supposedly once a d o rned the Chaos Cup itself and w a s retrieved by the Darkhorse on p i l g r image to the Chaos Wastes. It i s a warded to the coach voted the b i g g est contributor to the commu n i t y during the year.

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B L!TZ stars G auntlet - Helmet - Cod Piece - G arter - Ribbon

T h e Vain Gauntlet.

The Sini s t e r G a r t e r.

T h e D a r k h o r s e R i b bo n .

2 0 1 2 : GardenGnome (Brendan M o r r i son - NSW)

2012: Si n i s t e r D e x t e r ( B re t t Whittake r - S A )

2012: Drakeular (Gavan Pe a rc e - A C T )

2 0 1 1 : Vain (Casper Fertier - SA)

2011: Si n i s t e r D e x t e r ( B re t t Whittake r - S A )

2 0 1 1 : D a r k h o r s e ( J a k e K ro k e r - SA)

congr atul ations to t he bl!tz stars and thank you O n e E ye’s Helmet.

The Cod P i e c e o f S h a r n t .

to 2 0 1 2 : Thomsy (Ste ven Thoms - NSW)

2012: Th o m s y ( S t e v e n T h o m s - NSW)

2 0 1 1 : One Eye (Evan W h i t t a ker - SA)

2011: Sh a r n t ( J o h a n n e s Dongelm a n n s - S A )

everyone who voted.


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B L!TZ champions First Place in Aus/NZ Leagues and Tour naments

A C T Blood Bowl League ( A C T BBL). 2 0 1 1 Season 7 GMT2: C a r brawn (Phill Evans - ACT - s k aven) 2 0 1 1 Season 7 FAC2: sum b l o k e (Peter McAndrew - ACT - s k aven)

2011 S e a s o n 6 G M T 1 : B i g A (An d re w R i n t o u l - A C T - nur g l e )

2010 Season 4 OC1: Nik_the_ Pig (Nik Keeling - ACT - dark elf)

2011 S e a s o n 6 G T L 2 : S h a d o w (Andre w Vu l l i n g - A C T - d a r k elf)

2010 Season 4 BB1: Shadow ( A n d re w Vu l l i n g - A C T - n e c ro m a n t i c )

2011 S e a s o n 6 E R C : J a m e s R ( Ja m e s R a v e n s w a l d - A C T - vam p i re )

2 0 0 9 S e a s o n 3 G T L 1: S h a d o w ( A n d re w Vu l l i n g - A C T - n e c ro m a n t i c )

2011 S e a s o n 6 D B 2 : Beefy G o o d n e s s ( B e n Va n z i n o ACT - u n d e a d )

2009 Season 3 CC1: Lelruthus (Leigh Cole - ACT - dark elf)

2010 S e a s o n 5 S V S 2 : G r i m ro d _ Waag h f i s t ( Ro d N o y - A C T - elf) 2010 S e a s o n 5 A C : Beefy G o o d n e s s ( B e n Va n z i n o ACT - u n d e a d )

2 0 1 1 Season 7 OC2: Sledge ( S i m on Mortimer - ACT - n e cromantic)

2010 S e a s o n 5 S T 2 : L e l r u t h u s (Leig h t C o l e - A C T - d a r k e l f )

2 0 1 1 Season 7 CC2: Shadow ( A n drew Vulling - ACT - n e cromantic)

2010 S e a s o n 4 FA C 1 : S h a d o w (Andre w Vu l l i n g - A C T - liza r d m a n )

2009 Season 2 DB1: Phil L (Phil Lindenmayer - ACT - skaven) 2008 Season 2 ST1: Hugh62 ( H u g h G re g o r y - A C T - h u m a n ) 2008 Season 1 SVC: Carbrawn (Phill Evans - ACT - chaos)

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Seaso n 3 : a n c 0 0 1 ( A l e x Coom b e - S A - e l f ) Seaso n 2 : Ka n g a 1 8 6 9 ( M a r k Forste r - S A - N o r s e ) Seaso n 1 : Wa r R a v e n ( D a r re n - SA - d a r k e l f )

A d elaide Dungeon Bowl Cup ( A D BC).

B r i s b a n e A re a B l o o d B o w l League (BABBL)

2 0 12: Jimm ( James - SA - dark elf)

2012 Season 11: Hosko (Matt Hosking - QLD - dark elf)

2 0 11: Olaf the Stout (Adam M a rafiotti - SA - skaven)

2 0 1 1 S e a s o n 1 0 : Fo x f i re ( A a ro n U n i a c k e - Q L D - s l a a n )

A d elaide Fantasy Open Under L i g hts (AFOUL). S e a son 6: Chris (SA - goblins) S e a son 5: K anga1869 (Mark Fo r ster - SA - s laan) S e a son 4: K anga1869 (Mark Fo r ster - SA - K hemri)

AusBo w l S t a t e C h a m p i o n s h i p (ASC)

2 0 1 1 S e a s o n 9 : Wo o l f e ( A a ro n Ti t m a n - Q L D - h u ma n )

2011 A S C 1 : A u s t r a l i a n C a p i t a l Territ o r y Te a m - S h a d o w (Andre w Vu l l i n g - n e c ro m a ntic), A z z a ( A a ro n G re e n dwarf ) , B i g A ( A n d re w R i n t o u l - woo d e l f ) , B e e f y G o o d n e s s (Ben Va n z i n o - u n d e a d ) , Cuttan t ( A n t h o n y C u t t i n g skave n ) , G r i m ro d _ Wa a g h f i s t (Rod N o y - o rc ) .

2010 Season 8: Maeglammen (Ivan Sykes - QLD - chaos)

AusBo w l Te a m C h a m p i o n s h i p (ATC) 2012 ATC 1 : S L O B B B o n e Idlers - R a b i d _ B o g s c u m ( Jame s R u s s e l l - W i l l s - l i z a r dman), G r u m p s h ( I a i n F i s h e r - dwa r f ) , t r i b a l s i n n e r ( Pe t e Arent s e n - u n d e a d ) , Re d c a r d (Brad M i l n e r - N o r s e )

2 0 1 0 S e a s o n 7 : Wo o l f e ( A a ro n Ti t m a n - Q L D - h u ma n ) 2 0 1 0 S e a s o n 6 : Re d n i c k ( N i c k Ashby - QLD - chaos dwarf) 2 0 0 9 S e a s o n 5 : Z o m b i e -X ( Pa u l J a c k s o n - Q L D - n e c ro m a n t i c ) 2 0 0 9 S e a s o n 4 : Re d n i c k ( N i c k Ashby - QLD - chaos dwarf) 2008 Season 3: Mango (Jason Chellew - QLD - undead) 2007/8 Seasons 1/2: Sparticus (Matt Kelly - QLD - n e c ro m a n t i c )


Season 2 : I n c o g n i t o ( B r y a n Blundell - S A - d a r k e l f ) Season 1 : H a v o c ( C l a n c y Cunningh a m - S A - d w a r f )

B r i s b owl

Drakebowl (Cyanide)

2 0 1 2 : Greedysmurf (Nathan T h o m pson - QLD - lizardman)

Season 2: Slothboy (Sam - VIC - o rc )

2 0 1 1 : Greedysmurf (Nathan T h o m pson - QLD - lizardman) 2 0 1 0 : DevilsReject (Chris S t r a t f ord - QLD - chaos pact)

CanCon - A u s t r a l i a n N a t i o n a l s (Major To u r n a m e n t )

Season 1: Slothboy (Sam - VIC - o rc )

2012: Gru m p s h ( I a i n F i s h e r NSW - hig h e l f ) 2011: trib a l s i n n e r ( Pe t e Arentsen - N S W - u n d e a d ) 2010: Tho m s y ( S t e v e n T h o m s - NSW - u n d e a d ) 2009: Ben O’ N e i l ( d w a r f ) H i n d l e y S t re e t B o w l ( H S B ) Previous w i n n e r s u n k n o w n .

C i t y of Churches King’s U n i t e d Prize (CC K UP) League

2011: GuppyShark (Brad Carletti - SA - elf)

S e a s o n 6: One Eye (Evan W h i t t aker - SA - orc)

2011: GuppyShark (Brad Carletti - SA - Norse)

S e a s o n 5: Someone2040 ( M a t hew Weiss - SA - chaos dwarf)

2 0 1 0 : Va i n ( C a s p e r Fe r t i e r SA - skaven)

S e a s o n 4: Havoc (Clancy C u n n i ngham - SA - dwarf)

Bushrang e r B o w l

S e a s o n 3: Someone2040 ( M a t hew Weiss - SA - Khemri)

2011: Cre a t u re ( Pa u l M o r r i s NSW - hu m a n )

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2007: C re a t u re ( Pa u l M o r r i s NSW - d a r k e l f )

COTT

2006: d o u b l e s k u l l s ( I a n Willia m s - N S W / UK - o rc ) 2005: Vi r r a l ( R i c h a r d A n d re w NSW - n e c ro m a n t i c )

C l a sh of the Titans

Bouthern Shrike Bowl (SSB)

2 0 11: sangraal (William M u rphy - NSW)

2011: Rabid_Bogscum (James Russell-Wills - NSW - wood elf)

New S o u t h Wa l e s O p e n

2010: D_Arquebus (Daniel Hutchinson - NSW - wood elf)

2011: H a m m e r ( M a r k Hamm e r s m a - N S W - u n d e a d )

2009: One Eye (Evan W h i t t a k e r - S A - o rc ) 2008: Olaf the Stout (Adam M a r a f i o t t i - S A - o rc )

E u calyptus Bowl. 2 0 12: tribalsinner (Pete A re ntsen - NSW - orc) 2 0 11: GardenGnome ( B rendan Morrison - NSW - n ecromantic) 2 0 10: D_Arquebus (Daniel H u t chinson - NSW - Nurgle) 2 0 09: Azza (Aaron Green - ACT - d warf) 2 0 08: Rabid_Bogscum ( James R u ssell-Wills - NSW - wood elf)

Southe r n A d e l a i d e B l o o d B o w l League ( S A B B L ) Season 4 : J i m m a h ( J a m e s Scott - S A - o rc ) Season 3 : O n e E y e ( E v a n Whittak e r - S A - w o o d e l f )

WA A C Y B o w l 2011: not run

Season 2 : S t o n e C o l d S p i d e r (Graem e Fa z e r l a k e y - S A - d w a r f )

2010: D_Arquebus (Daniel Hutchinson - NSW - chaos pact)

Season 1 : To r t u ro u s ( D re w Stearm a n - S A - a m a z o n )

2 0 0 9 : k s h a r p e r (K y l e H a r p e r V I C - o rc )


Season 17: Longshanks (dark elf) Season 16: Flo711 (chaos dwarf) Season 15: Symmetrical (skaven) S o u t h ern Wastes League (SWL - F U MBBL)

Season 3 1 : L a v i a k ( a m a z o n )

Season 14: Symmetrical (skaven)

Season 3 0 : e r i k e k e r s ( c h a o s ) S e a s o n 44: tribalsinner ( h u m an)

Season 13: Snorri (dark elf) Season 2 9 : Fa u l c o n (lizardm a n )

S e a s o n 43: Tomay (undead)

Season 12: Flo711 (chaos dwarf)

Season 2 8 : S n o r r i ( e l f ) S e a s o n 42: Faulcon ( l i z a r dman) S e a s o n 41: OldBugman ( c h a o s)

Season 11: Snorri (dark elf) Season 2 7 : e r i k e k e r s ( c h a o s ) Season 2 6 : Fa u l c o n (lizardm a n )

S e a s o n 1 0 : P L AT Y P U S ( w o o d elf) Season 9: Sandune (dwarf)

S e a s o n 40: not run

Season 2 5 : C l a y I n f i n i t y (Nurgle)

S e a s o n 39: Bobs (dark elf)

S e a s o n 8 : M i c h a e l _ Wa r b l a d e (lizardman)

Season 2 4 : Pa i n o D a n ( N u r g l e ) S e a s o n 38: erikekers ( v a m pire) S e a s o n 37: Olgrot (amazon) S e a s o n 36: OldBugman ( c h a o s) S e a s o n 35: erikekers ( v a m pire) S e a s o n 34: Tomay (amazon) S e a s o n 33: Faulcon ( l i z a r dman) S e a s o n 32: PianoDan ( u n d ead)

Season 7: Sandune (dwarf) Season 2 3 : P i a n o D a n ( N u r g l e ) Season 2 2 : e r i k e k e r s ( w o o d elf)

S e a s o n 6 : P L AT Y P U S (w o o d elf) Season 5: ClayInfinity (Norse)

Season 2 1 : S n o r r i ( u n d e a d ) Season 2 0 : A n s a l o n ( c h a o s dwarf) Season 1 9 : O l d B u g m a n (dwarf)

Season 4: Flo711 (chaos dwarf) Season 3: neverborn (dark elf) Season 2: twahn (human)

Season 1 8 : e r i k e k e r s ( w o o d elf)

S e a s o n 1 : v i g i l ( u n d ea d )

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G e elong and Regions Blood B o wl League (G ARBBL)

Syd n e y L e a g u e o f B l o o d Bo w l e r s ( S L O B B )

2 0 12 Season 3: Big Dave ( D avid Burns - VIC - human)

201 1 P L 6 : D _ A r q u e b u s ( D a n i e l Hu t c h i n s o n - N S W - u n d e a d )

2 0 11 Season 2: Big Dave ( D avid Burns - VIC - orc)

201 1 R L 1 : t r i b a l s i n n e r ( Pe t e Are n t s e n - N S W - h u m a n )

2 0 11 Season 1: Zac Bennett ( V I C - dark elf)

201 1 P L 5 : D _ A r q u e b u s ( D a n i e l Hu t c h i n s o n - N S W - u n d e a d ) 201 0 P L 4 : R a b i d _ B o g s c u m ( Ja m e s R u s s e l l - W i l l s - N S W dar k e l f ) 201 0 O L 2 : I a p h y r ( M a t t Wi l l i a m s - N S W - h i g h e l f ) 200 9 P L 3 : R a b i d _ B o g s c u m ( Ja m e s R u s s e l l - W i l l s - N S W dar k e l f ) 200 9 O L 1 : I a p h y r ( M a t t Wi l l i a m s - N S W - h i g h e l f ) 200 9 P L 2 : R a b i d _ B o g s c u m ( Ja m e s R u s s e l l - W i l l s - N S W dar k e l f ) 200 8 / 9 P L 1 : G e o ff Wa t s o n (Ge o ff Wa t s o n - N S W - w o o d elf )

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BL!TZ sub magazines

Ea ch i s s u e th e B L ! T Z s u b - m a g a z i n e s co m p i l e i n fo r m a t i o n s p e c i f i c to e a ch reg i o n i n A u s t ra l i a . T h e fol l ow i n g pa g e show s a l l s u b - ma g a z i n e s , s o m e o f w h i ch m ay n o t b e i n cl u d e d i n th i s i s s u e .

capital punishment

nuffle territory news

nuffle says what?!?!

Australian Capital Territory

Northern Territory

New South Wales

BeefyGoodness (Ben Vanzino)

morge (Matthew Semmens)

Rabid (James) & Virral (Richard)

cane toad chronicle

southern strike

victorian times

Queensland

South Australia

Victoria

Kin Sum

SinisterDexter (Brett) & Olaf (Adam)

ksharper (Kyle) & DazedMW (Matt)

western juggernaut Western Australia

the crystal ball Online (FUMBBL / Cyanide)

?

are you covered? RIf you would like a local sub-magazine for your area, contact the Chief Editor

Reaper (Drew) & Ratt (Nathan)

SinisterDexter (Brett Whittaker)

SinisterDexter (Brett)..

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ACT Leagues A C T Blood Bowl L eague (ACTBBL) - Canbe r r a Commissioner Carbrawn (Phill Eva n s ) : c a r b r a w n @ i n t e r n o d e . o n . n e t . www.southernvalley.bloodbowlleag u e . c o m

nt leagues D a r w in Tabletop Gaming Blood Bowl Leag u e ( D TG B B L ) - D a r w i n Commissioner morge (Matthew Se m m e n s ) : p m m o r g e o n A u s B o w l . www.dtg.o rg.au

nsw leagues S y d n ey League of Blood Bowlers (SLOBB) - S y d n e y Commissioner Rabid_Bogscum ( Jam e s R u s s e l l - W i l l s ) : p m o n A u s B o w l . slobb//talkfantasyfootball.org N e w c astle Open Blood Bowl League (NOB B L ) - N e w c a s t l e Commissioner danielcollins (Danie l C o l l i n s ) : p m o n A u s B o w l www.ausbowl.com (then find the N O B B L s u b - f o r u m ) Fo o t of the Mountain Blood Bowl League ( F OT M ) - B l u e M o u n t a i n s Commissioner Creature (Paul Morr i s ) : p m o n A u s B o w l

queensland leagues B r i s b ane Area Blood Bowl League (BABBL ) - B r i s b a n e Commissioner bouf: brisbane@bloo d b o w l l e a g u e . c o m brisbane.b loodbowlleague.com H o t g oblin Blood Bowl League (HOBBL) Commissiones Allan and Nic www.hotgoblin.bloodbowlleague.co m I r re s istible Force Blood Bowl League (IFB B L ) Commissioner Slardy (Gavin Clark) : g a v i n . c l a r k e @ i r re s t i s t i b l e f o rc e . c o m . a u www.iforce.bloodbowlleague.com Q u e e nsland Northern Knights Blood Bowl L e a g u e ( Q NK B B L ) Commissioner Jacob: www.qnkbbl.webs.com


sa leagues A d e laide Fantasy Open Under Lights (AF O U L ) - N o r t h e a s t e r n A d e l a i d e Commissioner anc001 (Alex Coom b e ) : A F O U L @ i n t e r n o d e . o n . n e t www.ausbowl.com C i t y of Churches King’s United Prize (CC K U P ) - A d e l a i d e C B D Commissi oner Darkhorse ( Jake K ro k e r ) : s a g b b l @ g m a i l . c o m cckup.bloodbowlleague.com S o u thern Adelaide Blood Bowl League (S A B B L ) - S o u t h e r n A d e l a i d e Commissioners Nayfan (Nathan) a n d O n e E y e ( E v a n ) : N a y f a n @ h o t m a i l . c o m www.ausbowl.com

victorian leagues M e l bourne Blood Bowl League (MBBL) - M e l b o u r n e C B D Commissioner ksharper ( Kyle Har p e r ) : p m o n A u s B o w l melbourne.bloodbowlleague.com G e e long and Regions Blood Bowl League ( G A R B B L ) - G e e l o n g Commissioner Van der Vaart (Liam ) : g a r b b l @ h o t m a i l . c o m geelong.bloodbowlleague.com

wa leagues A l b any Blood Bowl League (ABBL) - Albu r y Commissioner Slothman (Damien Wa t s o n ) : p m o n We s t g a m e r s . c o m www.westgamers.com B R AWL - Perth Commissioner Reaper (Drew Love l l ) : p m o n We s t g a m e r s . c o m www.brawlbb.com Ro c k n Rumble Commissioner Ratt (Nathan Staff) : n r g a l l @ o p t u s n e t . c o m . a u www.westgamers.com

online leagues S o u thern Wastes League (SWL) - FUMBBL Commissioner danielcollins (Dan i e l C o l l i n s ) : p m o n A u s B o w l fumbbl.com

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capital punishmenT Australian Capital Ter ritor y - I s s u e 5

ACT B lood Bow L league the table b u t t h e i r l a s t m a t c h is agains t f o u rt h p l a c e Food For Thawt w h o m a y b e a i m i n g to take f i rs t p l a c e w i t h t h e i r round six g a m e a g a i n s t Rusty Cage yet u n p l a y e d .

We a re starting to wind up a s h o rt season with the Ro o k i es finishing regular g a m e s, the Minor s in the f i n a l s and the Majors catch i n g u p to the schedule after a s l o w start. T h e much anticipated rematch b e t w een last seasons Majors G r a n d Finalists Hell’s Cout a n d t he infernal comedy was c l o s e fought with only one T D s c ored and the win going t o Hell’s Cout despite being d o w n 8-4 in the Cas count, t h e s e two teams haven’t perf o r m ed as well this time a ro u n d and are running fifth a n d s ixth, despite the comedy’s huge +23 on Cas F/A. T h e winner of last seasons M i n o r s, the necomantic Grim Reapers Guards a re heading

the fearsome chaos dwarf

Hammer of Hashut s a w t h e Mome Raths m o v e t o a S e m i F i n a l b e r t h a n d Hammer of Hashut m o v e t o a n e l i m i-

n a t i o n m a t c h w h e re t h e y h a d t o f a c e FUBAR Fellows While the M a j o r s t e a m s a re w h o h a d a l re a d y t a k e n o u t suffering m o re c a s p e r g a m e , Crimson Breweries . Paris Catacomb Runners d e f e a t e d the Mino r s a re f i l l i n g t h e t h e Hellarious Pranksters a n d graveyard w i t h 4 8 d e a t h s Didditon Oddrugs k n o c k e d o u t from only 3 7 m a t c h e s . T h e Chaos Madness m a k i n g t h e regular s e a s o n h a s f i n i s h e d ro u n d t w o m a t c h e s s k a v e n and there h a v e b e e n t h re e v un d e r w o r l d a n d d w a r f v Eliminati o n F i n a l s a n d o n e c h a o s dw a r f . FUBAR Fellows Semi Fina l m a t c h p l a y e d c r u s h e d Hammer of Hashut with FUBAR Fellows s t o r ming throu g h . A n u n e xa n d t h e n w e n t o n t o d e s t ro y Paris Catacomb Runners t o pected sk a v e n w i n o v e r


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t a b l e All French Company . MMM had a comment on the AFC team performance ”After a terrible first match (loss 0 - 1 ) a g a i n s t t h e Barak Varr Dreadnaughts , a d w a r f t e a m c u r re n t l y r a n k i n g f o u rt h , Pa s c a l P u n c h e r (l i n e m a n ) w a s . . . p u n c h e d a n d ki l l e d b y a d w a r f a n d t h e ca t ch e r L u c F i l o v e n t w a s s e r i o u s l y i n j u re d l o s i n g - 1 i n M V, I w as n o t re a l l y o p t i m i s t i c . B u t f i n a l l y, t h e t e a m o v e rc a m e th e o d d s and performed well in the o t h e r m a t c h e s , e v e n i f s o m et i m e s i t w a s re a l l y c l o s e .

t a k e their place in the Grand F i n al, now they wait to see w h ether they face skaven or un derworld after Hellarious Pranksters took the win i n overtime. Hellarious Pranksters are the current p i c k with more players, s k i lls, RR and the benefit of t w o Tackle players to take o n the Mome Raths gutter r u n ners. The Mome Raths are n o t inspired by the prospect o f a GF against the dwarves w h o stopped their non-los i n g streak of 14 games, e s p ecially as the d warves n o w have nine MB players i n c luding a Block/Tackle D e athroller. I n the Rookies the top four

are w e l l c l e a r o n p o i n t s , Ellyrion’s Eyra’s w a s t h e o n l y team w i t h a c h a n c e o f s n e a king in t o re p l a c e f o u r t h s p o t until t h e i r re c e n t l o s s t o P u l p Horror United. N o w Belconnen Bluetongues a n d Pulp Horror United p l a y o ff a n d h o p e for a n u p s e t w i n b y Odinn’s Champions a g a i n s t t o p o f t h e

W i n t e rc o n h a s b e e n r u n & w o n w i t h M M M ’s n e c ro m a n t i c t e a m t a k i n g t h e t ro p h y o v e r A z z a ’s d w a r f s a n d D r a k e u l a r ’s lizardmen in second and t h i r d re s p e c t i v e l y. Canberra Cup will be held on 2 8 / 2 9 J u l y a t t h e H a rm o n i e G e r m a n C l u b . We ’v e h a d just under 20 entrants at t h e l a s t t w o s o w e’re h o p i n g f o r a n i n c re a s e t h i s y e a r. C a r b r a w n ( P h i l l E v a ns )

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nuffle says what?!?! New S outh Wales - I s s u e 5 H i Fo lks, here is edition 5 o f N u ffle Says What?!?! My p a r t n er in crime Virral is hard a t w o rk preparing for Euc B o w l , so I have nobly stepped i n t o write his edition of our s u b -mag. The tou rnament w i l l have been run and won s i n c e writing this forward, so re a d all about it in the tourn a m e nt wrap up. I can ’t tell y o u h ow excited I am for this y e a r’s tournamen t, and if the g e n e r al buzz on AusBowl is a n y t h ing to go on, so are the re s t of you, or were as the c a s e may be. We h ave had a busy period o f t o urnaments, with mixed re s u l ts for NSW. Hutchie w o n Leviathan and the G o s f o rd Gauntlet was won b y S a ngraal… who thanks to t h e B ridesmaids ’ Wall has b e e n making every post a w i n n er lately. Unfortunately N S W gave up their hold on t h e p rized WA chalice known a s t h e Sandgroper Cup, t h o u g h we sent s ome fine t ro o p s, including last years c h a m pion it was not to be . W i n t ercon came and went…

to a Fren c h m a n o f a l l p e o p l e , Congrats M i c h e l . Tr i b a l s i n n e r ensured t h e re w a s a N S W champion t a k i n g h o m e t h e inaugura l C a n e To a d C u p i n QLD… Pan t s i n g t h e Q L D e r s with 42 C a s u a l t i e s i n s i x games (s o m e t h i n g I h o p e the Blues h a v e a l s o d o n e i n the State o f O r i g i n ) , w h i l e Hutchie w a s a f i n e r u n n e r u p with half l i n g s . B o t h s p o k e highly of t h e n e w t o u r n ament, an d i t c o u l d b e o n e t o put in th e c a l e n d a r i n f u t u re years. Tr i b a l a l s o w o n t h e second N S W s e l e c t i o n t o u rnament h e l d a t Ti n S o l d i e r i n Penrith, m o re o n t h a t i n Blue Bloods Battlecry . S a n g r a a l and his p a r t n e r s h a v e g o t a great set u p a t Ti n S o l d i e r. It’s a thr i v i n g s t o re w i t h plenty fo r a v i d g a m e r s o f many sys t e m s , a n d a h e a p of floor s p a c e t o h o l d t o u rnaments a n d g e t i n v o l v e d in the ho b b y o f w a r g a m i n g . Check it o u t i f y o u ’ re i n t h e area.

out our leagues section and s e e i f t h e re i s s o m e t h i n g nearby and sign up, you w o n t re g re t i t . O r c o m e t o a t o u r n a m e n t . We a re l u c k y to hold the vast majority of A u s t r a l i a n B l o o d B o w l t o u r n aments in our own state, and t h e o r g a n i s e r s a re a l l e x p e r ie n c e d c o a c h e s , a n d a l l ro u n d g re a t p e o p l e . C o m e o u t a n d g e t y o u r f e e t w e t a t a t o u r n am e n t t o d a y, I ’m s o u n d i n g l i k e a b ro k e n re c o r d h e re b ut , y o u w o n ’t re g re t i t .

I ’ l l t r y n o t t o m i s s a n yt h i n g , b u t m a k e n o p ro mises with new tournaments popping up all the time. Over the coming months we have; The Canberra Cup o n t h e 2 8 - 2 9 J u l y, w h i c h i s re a l l y j u s t a l e i s u re l y d r i v e away for most of us. A new tournament I plugged last issue called Dragon Bowl, h e l d i n M u d g e e i n re g i o n a l N S W o n 4 - 5 A u g u s t . T h e re is Southern Shrike Bowl in South Australia, which is a If you’re a N e w S o u t h bloody awesome tournament, Welshma n a n d y o u p l a y B l o o d re a l l y l a i d b a c k a n d f u n , a n d Bowl or w o u l d l i k e t o . C h e c k g re a t t o h a v e a d r i n k a t .


N S W has won it the last two y e a rs and it would be nice to r u b their noses in a threep e a t ahead of next years State C h ampionship over there. I ’ m n o t entirely sure what is hap p e ning with Bu shranger Bowl t h i s year (with the venue h a ving been so ld), but it’s a c a n t miss also, so stay tuned t o the forums for news on

.

this o n e [unfortunately not

happening this year - Ed] In clo s i n g , I h o p e y o u a l l enjoy e d E u c a l y p t u s B o w l , Im as s u m i n g y o u w e re a l l there… a n d i f y o u w e re n ’t … . why t h e h e l l n o t ? D o y o u r s e l f a favo u r a n d m a k e s u re y o u are th e re n e x t y e a r, a n d c o ntinue t o m a k e o u r l i t t l e d o w n

under tournament the biggest o u t s i d e o f E u ro p e . G o o d l u c k in all your games, be they t a b l e t o p i n l e a g u e s o r t o u rnaments or even online. Just d o n ’t p u l l o ff a n y b u l l s h i t against me, im kinda over i t t h a n k s [ I n s e r t m y re c e n t o p p o n e n t ’s n a m e s h e re ] . Rabid_Bogscum (James)

sydney league of blood bowlers two q u i c k re p l i e s , a n d

Meat the Beast f i n i s h e d

L e t me start by congratulat i n g Daniel Hutchinson A KA D _ Arquebus A K A Hutchie on g o i ng back to back in the S L O BB League. Your season 6 “ Tear of Redcard” winners a re the defending Champions Meat the Beast , who emerged v i c torious from a truly epic f i n al between two past S L O BB champs. Geoffwatsons Summer Faerie did thems e l ves proud, giving them s e l ves every chance of a win d e spite the undead team s e n ding waves and waves o f concussed elves to the d u gouts. At 2-2 at fulltime, t h e Faerie hit t he lead in O / T but fast running out of p l a yers, they couldn’t stop

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deser v e d 4 - 3 v i c t o r s . Can The Beast m a t c h the Visigoths t h re e p e a t with t h e d re a d e d Te a r of Red c a r d h a n g i n g f ro m their n e c k s ? ( H u t c h i e your t ro p h y i s b e i n g engra v e d , Meat the Beast c a n h a v e t h e i r photo w i t h i t i n t i m e f o r next i s s u e ) . They h a v e s t a r t e d strong l y e n o u g h i n Seaso n 7 , T h e K i l l y K u p . A sea s o n t h a t e c h o e s the Ro o k i e l e a g u e i n that t h e p r i z e f o r t h e winne r s i s a s t a r pl a y e r not no r m a l l y a ff o r d e d them. I n t h i s c a s e i t ’s the st a r o f B u s h r a n g e r Bowl “ N e d d K i l l y ” , t h e tough a s n a i l s h u m a n b lund e r b u s s t a r.

T h e re a re o n l y a f e w m o n t h s t o g o b e f o re f i n a l s b u t t h e re a re s o m e c l e a r f ro n t r u n n e r s i n e a c h o f t h e t h re e c o n f e re n c e s . M y o w n Disturbed l e a d i n t h e B o n e I d l e r s , Meat the Beast a re a h e a d i n t h e L a z y L u m p s , w h i l e t r i ba l s i n n e r s Bushrangers f re s h o ff t h e i r Ro o k i e L e a g u e t r i u m p h h a v e

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j u m ped out to an early lead i n t he Slack Jacks.

warrior w h o i n t e n g a m e s has wrac k e d u p 1 9 c a s u a lties and 7 0 SP Ps a l l u p , i f Atomic Winter t a k e a b re a k , Ro o kie League: Season 2 of this cha o s t e a m c o u l d m a k e t h e Rookie league is also some wa v e s i n S e a s o n 8 . A l s o h e a ting up. With only a few ro u nds to go before crowning faring q u i t e w e l l i n t h e i r f i r s t a w inner, it looks like a clear season a t S L O B B , G u m b i ’s Swedish Designers a re w e l l t h re e horse race like last s e a son. Redcard , courtesy of placed t o f i n i s h f o u rt h o r fif th in t h e l e a g u e , d e s p i t e h i s Bridesmaids ’ Wall induc t i o n, leads the pack with the a net ca s u a l t y c o u n t a g a i n s t them of - 3 . 5 p e r g a m e . T h e d w a rves of who wears short , their big game will shorts plethora o f o rc s f i l l o u t t h e b e a gainst the chaos dwarves middle o f t h e l a d d e r w i t h Blue Steel Mining Corp . A win Khemri, w h i l e t h e p a c t h a v e w i l l probably see them take struggle d , a n d t h e g o b b o s i t o ut, but a los s or a draw from A.R.G.H. p ro v e t h a t n o t even wit h a q u a l i t y c o a c h m i g ht see either the afore at the h e l m c a n t h e s t u n t y m e n tioned chaos d warves Maelstrom greenski n s m i x i t w i t h t h e b i g o r t he high elves Blue w h o are also yet to play boys. , leapfrog them for the Steel s e r v ices of Zara the Slayer. Seems th e c u r s e o f A d m i n h a s Friends Don’t Let Friends struck a g a i n . W h i l e h e h a s left their Stand Next To Trolls missed t h e l a s t s e a s o n , o n e r u n a bit too late, but have of our o r i g i n a l c o m m i s s i o nd e v eloped an absolute killer ers Virra l (R i c h a r d A n d re w) i s i n “Oscar Sparhawk”. A chaos moving t o C a n b e r r a a n d h a s

b e e n l o s t f ro m S L O B B . T h e re w a s a b l o o d b a t h i n t h e b e g i nn i n g a b o u t w h i c h o f us w o u l d take them helm, but good thing I did or we would be w i t h o u t a l e a d e r n o w. While he has struggled of late, and is a borderline Bridesmaid, I would expect him to get back to winning ways in the soft ACT leagues, plus I’ve now got a place to stay in Canberra, so high five!!! Seriously though, y o u ’ l l b e m i s s e d m a t e . Wo n’t be the same without you. With tribalsinner moving to G o u l b u r n a n d Re d c a r d a l re a d y back living in the gong, it seems admin’ing for the league is a bit of a poisoned chalice with Doubleskulls gone back to England as well. Re s t a s s u re d f o l k s … y o u ’ v e s t i l l g o t B o g g y … … . Fo re v e r … mwa ha ha ha ha. A h e m . S e e y o u n e x t i ss u e .


.

blue bloods battlecry

A n d then there were t w o . Following a tense b u t fun day at Tin S o l d ier Penrith, the Blue B l o o ds have another t e a m member. Courtesy o f a four game one day s e l e ction tournament h o s t ed by Sangraal, w e s ee another return i n g member of the NSW A u s Bowl team, tribalsin n e r (Pete Arentsen ). Who f i n i s hed on thre e wins a n d one draw to take t h e title. He was pushed a l l t he way by a relative n e w comer in Drusus82 ( D re w Evans ) who fin i s h e d on the same record w i t h his surprise packet N o r s e.

Tri b a l s i n n e r i s a b l o o d b o w l i n g e n i g m a . A f re a k t h a t plays the game consistently faster than anyone e l s e i n t h e b u s i n e s s , w h i c h I a m s u re b e n e f i t s h i m immensely due to his ability to somehow speed up h i s o p p o n e n t s p l a y, a n d p o t e n t i a l l y f o rc e e r ro r s thro u g h r u s h i n g t h e i r o w n p l a y. Tr i b a l i s c u r re n t l y a valu e d m e m b e r o f S L O B B , a n d w a s i n t h e A u s B o w l TeamChamp i o n s h i p w i n n i n g B o n e I d l e r s . H e h a s i n f a c t c a l l e d many leagu e s h o m e , i n c l u d i n g F OT M ( w h i c h h e u s e d t o commish), t h e B l a c k t o w n l e a g u e , a n d t h e Ti n S o l d i e r Pe n r i t h league, whi l e h i s m o v e t o G o u l b u r n m a y e v e n s e e h i m t a k e up residenc e i n t h e A C T l e a g u e s . C u r re n t l y h i t t i n g a b i t o f a purple patc h ( h e i s a p a s t C a n c o n N a t i o n a l C h a m p i o n ) , h e has now wo n h i s l a s t t w o t o u r n a m e n t s . T h e i n a u g u r a l C a n e Toad Cup in Q L D a n d n o w t h e Ti n S o l d i e r O n e D a y e r. H e i s a l s o the current P re m i e r L e a g u e C h a m p i o n f ro m t h e F U M B B L b a s e d Southern Wa s t e s L e a g u e . S k i l l e d w i t h m a n y t e a m s , h i s o v e r a l l NAF record s t a n d s a t 9 2 / 3 0 / 3 9 ( w h i c h d o e s n ’t i n c l u d e h i s l a s t two tournam e n t s ) . I t i s w i t h t h e B a s h t h a t h e e x c e l s a t . W i t h an uncanny a b i l i t y t o b re a k a r m o u r a n d l a y t h e h u r t o n , i t is with the b r u i s i n g t e a m s h i s re c o r d i s e v e n m o re i m p re ssive. Pete h o l d s 1 8 0 + N a f R a n k i n g s w i t h c h a o s d w a r f s ( w i l l d o once this to u r n a m e n t i s e n t e re d ) , d w a r v e s , u n d e a d , o rc s , a n d some very b a s h y h u m a n s . I w o u l d e x p e c t h i m t o t u r n o u t i n SA with one o f t h e s e t e a m s . A t A u s B o w l O n e h e f i n i s h e d 4 - 1 - 1 with dwarfs a n d w a s o n e o f o n l y t w o c o a c h e s i n t h e N S W t e a m to get the j o b d o n e i n o u r a l l i m p o r t a n t m a t c h u p w i t h A C T. A valuable a d d i t i o n t o t h e t e a m , c o n g r a t u l a t i o n s o n re t a i n i n g your place.

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Wa l l of Averages: This is the a v e r age placings from selec t i o n tournament s and will b e u sed as part of team s e l e ction should any of the w i n ners be unavailable or s h o uld there be inadequate n u m bers of selection tourna m e n ts. The fir st figure is the a v e r aged placing , the second f i g u re is the number of tourn a m ents the average came f ro m. Initially to be eligi b l e for selection from the w a l l of averages you would n e e d three tournament plac i n g s . This may change to t w o depending on the total n u m ber of selection tourn a m ents held. The figure in b r a c kets is the number of R a ff le tickets allocated to t h a t coach for the wildcard s e l e ction. * a l ready qualified

1/1 Gru m p s h ( 0 ) * 2/1 Dru s u s 8 2 ( 0 ) 3/1 Virr a l ( 0 ) 3/1 Cre a t u re ( 1 ) 4/2 trib a l s i n n e r ( 1 ) * 4/1 san g r a a l ( 2 ) 4.5/2 G a r d e n G n o m e ( 1 ) 5/1 Grim ro d ( 0 ) 6/2 Rab i d _ B o g s c u m ( 1 ) 6/1 Tho m s y ( 1 ) 6/1 Rm i l s o m ( 0 ) 9/1 Geo ff Wa t s o n ( 0 ) 9/1 Ang r y m a n ( 0 ) 10/1 Am a ro o ( 0 ) 11/1 Vi m e s ( 0 ) 11/1 Ho g g l e 6 7 ( 0 ) 12/1 Pa y n e _ t r a i n ( 0 ) 12/1 Ni c h re n ( 0 ) 13/1 Fe s t e r ( 0 ) 14/1 Da d u c k i e 1 ( 0 ) 15/1 Jun i o r ( 0 ) 16/1 Ad s ( 0 ) n/a Red c a r d ( 1 ) n/a Mat h f u r i c ( 1 )

Yo u g o t t a b e i n i t t o w i n i t f o l k s . I t o n l y t a k e s o n e s e l e ct i o n t o u r n a m e n t w i n to m a k e the team, or attending two selection tournaments to get a wild card ticket. What have y o u g o t t o l o s e . We h a v e f u n d i n g f ro m G O M 2 0 1 1 , a n d t h e A u s B o w l D i c e B a g s s o f a r. A l w a y s l o o k i n g f o r m ore i d e a s to subsidise the trip as much as possible for the selected team. Thanks go to Mathfuric who has kindly donated a fully painted high elf team t o r a ff l e o ff f o r f u n d r a i s i n g . Ti c k e t s w i l l b e $ 2 f o r o n e, $ 5 f o r t h re e o r $ 1 0 f o r s e v e n. This includes an impact carry case, and any international winners will have the postage s u b s i d i s e d t o m a k e i t m o re attractive to get involved. C o n t a c t a n y o f t h e c o m m i tt e e o n A u s B o w l f o r m o re information.

Rabi d _ B o g s c u m ( J a m e s R u s s e l l - W i l l s ) o n b e h a l f o f t h e N S W Selec t i o n C o m m i t t e e : m y s e l f , Vi r r a l ( R i c h a r d A n d re w ) , t r i balsinner ( Pe t e A re n t s e n ) , D _ A r q u e b u s ( D a n i e l H u t c h i n s o n ) , a n d Re d c a r d ( B r a d M i l l n e r )


cane toad chronicle Q ueensland - I s s u e 3

qnkbbl

T h e f irst issue of Nuffle’s Northern Noos was recently re l e a sed. I’m your chief col u m n i st, Motty da Gobbo. E a c h issue I’ll be bringing y o u da most up to date info o n a l l the goings on in the Q u e e nsland Northern Knights B l o o d Bowl League (QN KBBL). T h i s season saw the intro d u c t i on of a new League C o m missioner, Millsy, while t h e t r ue Commish takes a h i a t u s. Anyway, t hat crazy, d ro o l ing psychopath introd u c e d a few new rules, a new t e a m , a new venue and a b u t t load of enthusiasm. E a c h week I’ll be calling on t h e c aptains of each team to s a y a few words and perhaps g e t s ome insights into the

minds of s o m e o f t h e w o r l d ’s w o r l d , o u t s i d e o f E u ro p e . best coac h e s , o r a t l e a s t t h e raving lu n a t i c s t h a t c a l l t h e L a s t y e a r t h e K n i g h t ’s c a m e QN KBBL h o m e . away with several awards i n c l u d i n g , t h i r d ( u n o ff i c i a l l y ) , So sit ba c k , re l a x a n d e n j o y best painted, best come some ligh t re a d i n g w h i l s t back, not to mention most you throw b a c k a c o l d inebriated. So how will the Bloodwei s e r. boys go this year? Only time will tell. Upcoming E v e n t s: I n t w o weeks tim e a n u m b e r o f t h e M i l l s y ( Pa u l M i l l s ) Northern K n i g h t s w i l l b e making t h e i r w a y d o w n t o Sydney A u s t r a l i a , f o r t h e i r annual ‘E u c b o w l ’ t r i p . T h e Eucalyptu s B o w l i s A u s t r a l i a ’s largest to u r n a m e n t . I n 2 0 1 1 there we re 7 6 c o a c h e s , making it t h e l a r g e s t B l o o d Bowl tou r n a m e n t i n t h e

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southern strike S outh Australia - I s s u e 10

city of churches kings united prize

T h e C CK UP League (City of C h u rches K ing’s United Prize L e a g ue) is into the pointy e n d of the season with only o n e game to play before f i n a l s. B e i n g that we have nine t e a m s competing, we are u s i n g the SANFL model of f i n a l s with five teams quali f y i n g seeding my top two of e a c h division plus highest p o i n t s team of those not in t h e t op four and with one ro u n d to play, the top five a re s ettled and raring to go! I k n o w when this season’s t e a m s were first announced, t h e re was much wailing and g n a s hing of teeth that there w o u l d be two dwarf teams t h i s season but my oh my h o w Nuffle has conspired to

make thi s s e a s o n i n t e re s t i n g ! of the Sacred Heart c o a c h e d b y t h e s t a l w a r t M i k e y, Dun e n d u re d a h o r r i f y i n g p reThe dwar f t e a m s , t h e a n d t h e Morogh Thunderballs season having nearly half his Barak Varr Sunshine Girls , t e a m d i e o r c r i p p l e d i n t h re e face off f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e games and continued with this seas o n i n ro u n d 1 3 – a n d t h e t e a m ( a g a i n s t a d v i c e ) then are s e t t o p l a y a k n o c k i n t o t h e re g u l a r s e a s o n a n d out final a g a i n s t e a c h o t h e r not only survived the season in round o n e o f t h e f i n a l s ! but claimed a few big scalps There can b e o n l y o n e d w a r f a l o n g t h e w a y. team to p ro g re s s t h ro u g h t h e finals it s e e m s ! D o n ’t t h i n k t h e Heroes h a v e it all their own way though. So with t h a t t o l o o k f o r w a r d A re a l c h a l l e n g e r h a s s t e p p e d to, I wan t e d t o t a k e a s e c t o u p i n t h e f o r m o f t h e Blue Green Bayou Blues , J o h y ’s look at th e s e a s o n s o f a r. lizardmen team that is the Two stan d o u t s o f t h e s e a s o n o n l y t e a m t o b e a t t h e Heroes so far for t h i s C o m m i s h h a v e t h i s s e a s o n . T h e s a v a g e been the p e r f o r m a n c e o f o u r T z e e n t c h i a n c h a o s p a c t t e a m T h e Makers of Plays two hum a n t e a m s . P re v i o u s c a n ’t b e c o u n t e d o u t e i t h e r, CCK UP Cu p w i n n e r, M a t h e w, Hartmann’s having spent the season has coach e d ex p e r t l y t a k i n g o u t Heroes h o n i n g t h e t e a m f ro m r a w, the top r a n k e d t e a m p o s in o s k i l l e d re c r u i t s i n t o a tion desp i t e n o t t h ro w i n g a well honed killing machine. The Sunshine Girls a n d t h e pass unti l ro u n d e i g h t ! T h e Thunderballs ( C o m m i s h ’s other hu m a n t e a m , Rebels


t o h a v e s i x g re a t g a m e s t o c ro w n a n e w c h a m p i o n ! We l l , a l l t h a t i s l e f t t o s a y f ro m t h e d e s k o f t h e C CKU P Commish then is: I will see you at the Grand Final and get your Block on!

t e a m) are two dwarf teams t u ned up for the big bash a n d the double header will s h ow if it is the Girls or the

.

Ballers w h o w i l l c a r r y t h e dwarf b a n n e r t h ro u g h t h e finals. W h i c h e v e r w a y i t g o e s , the Lea g u e i s g u a r a n t e e d

Wa n t t o g e t m o re i n f o r m at i o n o n t h e C CK U P L e a g u e o r s i g n u p f o r C CK U P S e a s o n 8? Contact the Commish (DarkHorse on ausbowl) or e m a i l J a k e o n s a g q b bl @ g m a i l . com Check out our league s i t e a t h t t p : // c c k u p . bl o o dbowlleague.com Darkhorse (Jake)

southern adelaide blood bowl league

W i t h a very welcome break ( d e sperately needed one for s o me) behind us, the SABBL’s u n dead horde slithered, shuf f l e d and dragged themselves b a ck to our chaos blessed t e mple of sin for Season 5 o f the greatest game in the re a lm. It was time for some m o re SABBL-styled Blood B owl m a yhem to kick-off and to k i c k-in some heads! S o me notable absentees

from th e a n a rc h y t h i s s e a s o n include d S e a s o n 4 ’s C h a m p i o n James w h o h a d re p o r tedly ta k e n u p a c r u s a d e t o rid the w o r l d o f a l l k n o w n goblins a f t e r g e t t i n g a t a s t e for squ i s h i n g t h e l i t t l e g re e n blogs d u r i n g l a s t s e a s o n s epic gr a n d f i n a l . A l s o M I A i s the SA B B L h e a d q u a r t e r s’ v e r y own m i s t re s s o f p a i n S a m m i , who wa s t a k i n g t h e s e a s o n off for * S H U D D E R * s e c re t woman s b u s i n e s s ( a l t h o u g h rumou r s h a v e s u r f a c e d regard i n g a s e r i o u s c a s e o f Facebo o k - i t i s , a c o n d i t i o n

t h a t i s s a d l y i n c u r a b le ) . We d i d h o w e v e r w e l c o m e some new blood to the u n d e a d r a n k s ( w e l l t e c h n ic a l l y t h e re w o u l d b e n o b l o o d if he was undead but you k n o w, s i n c e w h e n h a v e I e v e r let facts get in the way of a g o o d s t o r y ) w i t h o u r y o u n gest member Jake joining after a SABBL demonstration day l e d b y N a t h a n a n d Rob e r t . S o m e o f t h e g o d b o t h e re r s m a y w e l l f ro w n u p o n t h e o ff e r i n g o f c a n d y a n d p ro mises of bloody murder to

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re c r u it younglings to our c a u s e but hey, thats how w e ro ll here in SABBL! Word i s o u t that this recruitment t e c h n ique has also claimed t h e s ouls of a couple more i n t e rested parties for next s e a s on which will swell the r a n k s of evil even more but a t t h e beginning of this s e a s on, ten hardy fellows s t o o d ready to battle out a n o t h er season of pain, s n a k e eyes and dummy spits! B e f o re the action began t h o u g h, SABBL ha d very excit e d l y put through an order w i t h FFields in the off season f o r s i x brand spanking new p i t c h es to replace our stock o f c r umbling ones and we h a d high hopes to have them i n o u r hot little hands for t h e s tart of our first round. D i s a p pointingly they failed to a r r i v e in time but our sacri f i c e s to the chaos gods had n o t g one unnoticed as just a n h our into the first night, O n e E ye received a call from h i s l i fe-orc den master who a n n o unced the arrival of a l a r g e cylindrical package b a c k at his cave (i mean we a re t alking 7.30pm... no com p l a i n ts about the mail service d o w n south!!!). Giddy excite m e n t ensued as we awaited t h e missus who ho p ped upon h e r t rusty warboar and raced t h e p ackage over and SABBL h a d t heir spanky new boards o n t h e table by the start o f t h e second half of play!!

with a team made up of their k i n f ro m a c ro s s t h e s e a s i n t h e Dangerfields (h i g h e l v e s ) , l u re d o v e r w i t h p ro mi s e s o f a n c i e n t a rc a n a b y o u r Commish Nayfan while their But enou g h c h a t t e r a b o u t t h e m o r t a l e n e m i e s t h e d a r k el v e s a l s o h a d re p re s e n t alost soul s o f o u r m e m b e r s , t i o n i n Abusement Part , f i g h tit’s the p i t c h w e a l l c a re i n g i n t h e n a m e o f p u re e v i l about an d i n t r u e S A B B L t h a t i s k n o w n o n l y a s Ti m ! fashion, t h e r a c e s l i n i n g u p The only other second season to attend t h i s s e a s o n h a d a t e a m t o m a k e a re t u r n t h i s drastical l y a l t e re d l o o k t o them fro m t h e m o re b a s h o r i- s e a s o n a l s o s a w t h e w e lc o m e d b u t s o m e w h a t e m a nentated l i n e u p o f s e a s o n 4 cipated form of the long lost to a muc h d o d g i e r, p o i n t y S c o t t a n d h i s s l i m y l i z a rd m a n earred lo o k i n g b u n c h t h i s time rou n d . O n e o f o n l y t w o t e a m t h e Dinostars , a m a n t h o u g h t l o s t t o t h e t e n de r second s e a s o n t e a m s a n d embrace of Cabalvisions returning a f t e r a s e a s o n o f latest tech, the Ethernet. celebrati o n a n d re l a x a t i o n S c a n d a l o u s r u m o u r s s o o n f o lat Club Wo o d i e , Se a s o n 3 W.E.A.P.O.N.S l o w e d re g a r d i n g h i s f a s c ichampion s t h e coached b y O n e E y e w e re t h e n a t i o n w i t h w e b s i t e s s u c h early titl e c o n t e n d e r s a l o n g as scalylizardsgonewild.com PRAISE B E TO T H E C H A O S GODS... e r m l e t s s a y N u r g l e takes the k u d o s t h i s t i m e , poor blig h t e r a l w a y s g e t s l e f t off the g u e s t l i s t . . .

SABBL Ladder - Round 8 1. Nathan Dangerfields

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2. Tim Abusement Part

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3. Evan W.E.A.P.O.N.S.

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4. Jake Oilers

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5. Scott Dinostars

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____________________________________ 6. Drew

Bayside Butchers

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7. Robert Nightwings

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8. Aubrey Rum Rebellion

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b u t then we at SABBL don’t j u d ge... so long as our own d i r ty secrets stay out of the p re ss! A l s o coming along for the r i d e we saw tw o orcish tribes t h e Oilers and Afrika Corps j o i n the fight led by Jake and o u r temple gua rdian Paul, a c h a os pact mob known as the Bayside Butchers under Head C h oppa Drew’manchu who w a s sent to redeem chaos’s n a me after the Commish com p l e tely bullocked them last s e ason as well as a couple o f truly rare sights indeed w i t hin any league, an ogre t e a m the Rum Rebellion l e d by the snotling fondler A u brey AND a halfling side t h e Nightwings led by the i n d omidable Robert the Fling K i n g and his merry band o f . .. hobbits... armed with K N I VES??? Hmmm someone t h o ught the mini’s looked ‘ a r der with a weapon in hand b u t it may be that they are s i m ply making the flings s e e m even more appeal i n g to the orc teams, i mean w h o could resist a meal that c o mes with a toothpick for p i c king those annoying fling b o nes from bet ween the t u s ks afterwards?? S o we find ourselves curre n tly eight rounds into a s h ortened 10 round season a n d the three elven teams h a ve succeeded in occu p y i ng all three of the top

spots ( i n c l u d i n g t h e u n d efeated Dangerfields o n t o p ) , very l i k e l y d u e t o t h e s e r i o u s lack o f p u n c h c o m i n g f ro m most t e a m s t h i s s e a s o n ( t h e Ogres t h e o n l y e x c e p t i o n . . . OUCHI E ! ) . G o i n g s t ro n g i n h i s first s e a s o n i s J a k e w h o i s holdin g f o u rt h p l a c e w h i l e the la s t o f t h e f i n a l s s p o t s sits S c o t t a n d h i s re s u r g e n t lizard m e n , b u t o n l y b y t h e skin o f t h e i r t e e t h . S t r u g g l i n g for co n s i s t e n t f o r m b u t o n l y just o u t s i d e t h e t o p f i v e o n perce n t a g e ( t d ’s ) s i t D re w and h i s e v i l c h a o s p a c t w h o have b e e n i n a n d o u t o f t h e top fi v e o v e r t h e p a s t f e w round s a n d s a d l y b u t p re d i c tably, t h e t w o s t u n t y - f i l l e d teams o f t h e f l i n g s a n d o g re s sit ou t o f f i n a l s c o n t e n t i o n this y e a r b u t h a v e r a c k e d u p some i m p re s s i v e S P P ’s t o b e an int e re s t i n g w i l d c a r d n e x t seaso n s h o u l d t h e y re t u r n . Some h i g h l i g h t s o f t h e seaso n a l re a d y h a v e b e e n the Rum Rebellion b a s h i n g their w a y t o t h e ‘ M o s t C a s ’ award s y e t s t u n n i n g l y o n l y able t o c a u s e a s i n g l e i n j u r y again s t t h e W.E.A.P.O.N.S wood e l v e s w h i l e t h e h a l fling t e a m Nightwings n e e d i n g a dru n k e n m e rc e n a r y c o a c h to rec o r d t h e i r f i r s t v i c t o r y while f i l l i n g i n f o r h e a d coach Ro b e r t a s h e e l o p e d with h i s s t a r t re e m a n f o r a weeke n d o f p a s s i o n a t e t re e huggi n g ( B A D O O M C H I N G ! ! I ’ m here a l l w e e k p e o p l e ) .

S o w e a re v e r y c l o s e t o t h e finals series once again and come next BL!TZ we will have c ro w n e d t h e S e a s o n 5 c h a mp i o n . W i l l o n e o f t h e t h re e elven persuasions triumph and rub their success right in the faces of their kin or can the brutality of the o rc i s h h o r d e s , t h e s l i m i n e s s of the lizardmen (and their f re a k i n ’ u n b e l i e v a b l e s u p e rs k i n k ) o r t h e p u re e v i l n e s s o f t h e c h a o s p a c t p ro v e e n o u g h to hold aloft the prized skull t ro p h y ? W h o c a re s s o l o n g as enough bodies litter the f i e l d a n d b l o o d r a i n s f ro m the heavens in honour of the g re a t g a m e B l o o d B o w l ! Be good to your mothers or r i s k h e r re a d i n g y o u r a r m y books, praying to Khorne and finally turning into that m u r d e ro u s p s y c h o t i c b * * * * you tell all your friends she a l re a d y i s ! ! Yo u h a v e b e e n warned... One Eye (Evan)

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western juggernaut Wester n Australia - I s s u e 3

albany blood bowl league We l l another season has c o m e and gone for the ABBL a n d what an exciting season i t w a s with a newly imple m e n t ed rivalry rule and a s e a s on record broken. The s e a s on started with a few l e s s players than the previ o u s s eason due to the closing o f E t hereal Realmz. B u t with the opening of t h e WAAGH (Wargaming and A l l G aming Hobbies) group t h e re was a venue that most p e o p l e could get to on every s e c o n d Saturday where games c o u l d be played. After the t e a m s were sorte d into their d i v i s i ons teams then nomi n a t e d another team in that d i v i s i on to be a rival. If one c o a c h nominated a rival but t h e o ther coach nominated a d i ff erent coach it was a r i v a l r y match, if both coaches n o m i nated each other then i t b e came a blood feud m a t c h. Both of these kinds

of match e s a d d e d a 5 0 k c a r d for each c o a c h a n d a n e x t r a 10k gold f o r t h e w i n n e r. A l s o the next t i m e t h e s e t e a m met on th e p i t c h t h e w i n n e r gained a + 2 t o FA N S f o r t h a t game. Wh e n t h e g a m e t u r n e d into a bl o o d f e u d t h e a d d itional ru l e s o f t h e p l a y e r with the m o s t S P P a f t e r M V P on the w i n n i n g t e a m g o t a 30k boun t y a n d t h e n e x t t i m e they play e d t h e w i n n i n g t e a m got a fre e re ro l l t o b e u s e d once dur i n g t h e m a t c h .

out the award for most team t o u c h d o w n s s c o re d w i t h 3 8 touchdowns in the 8 games in t h e s e a s o n b e a t i n g t h e p rev i o u s re c o r d h e l d b y Ghoul Runnings c o a c h e d b y J o s h u a Davies which was standing at 3 0 To u c h d o w n s .

T h e f i n a l s w e re p l a y e d w i t h two divisions this year called the plate and the shield. The shield consisted of the four t e a m s t h a t c a m e f ro m t h e t o p of their division during the s e a s o n a n d t h e p l a t e c o nIf you wa t c h e d a n y t e a m t h i s s i s t e d o f t h e f o u r t e a m s t h a t had the highest win loss season th e t e a m t o w a t c h 3RAR c o a c h e d b y J a c k s c o re e x c l u d i n g t h e t e a m s i n was Taylor. Th i s t e a m w a s a b r a n d t h e s h i e l d f i n a l s . T h e P l a t e new pro e l f t e a m t h a t c o u l d f i n a l s f i n i s h e d w i t h t h e Red Hot Beast Infection c o a c h e d not be st o p p e d , w i n n i n g a l l by Justin Martin winning after but a few g a m e s b y f o u r a d i ff i c u l t g a m e a g a i n s t Da or more t o u c h d o w n s . T h i s Green Machine c o a c h e d b y team too k o u t t h e s e a s o n awards f o r m o s t t e a m t o u c h- S a m H o r l e r. T h e S h i e l d f i n a l s c a m e d o w n t o 3RAR c o a c h e d downs, m o s t c a s u a l t i e s a n d b y J a c k Ta y l o r a g a i n s t t h e the least a m o u n t o f t o u c hPerciville’s Pussy’s c o a c h e d downs ag a i n s t . H e a l s o t o o k


b y Damien Watson.

3RAR ended up winning after a wizard wearing 3RAR team c o l ours knocked down three o f the Perciville’s Pussy’s p l a yers knocking the ball l o o se before the team had a

chanc e t o t i e t h e g a m e a n d force i t t o g o i n t o o v e r t i m e . If you w o u l d l i k e t o j o i n t h e league o r a re i n A l b a n y a n d would l i k e t o h a v e a g a m e head t o h t t p : // w w w. w a a g h . org si g n u p a n d i n t ro d u c e

yourself or if you would like to follow the games and teams of our leagues then c o m e c h e c k u s o u t a t h t t p : // w w w. a l b a n y. b l o o d b o w l l e a g u e . com J a c k Ta y l o r

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misery in an ale tankard part 2 by cody tiffen S unshi n e l a n c e d d ow n o n to th e small ca rava n a s i t wo u n d i t s way along th e E m p e ro r ’s roa d . T h e y were in th e e a s te r n p o r t i o n o f th e Empire h e a d i n g fo r th e s m a l l c i ty of Gle n rowa n ; th e we a th e r wa s pleasan tl y wa r m n ow th a t th e y ’d l e f t th e m o u n ta i n s .

T h re e w a g o n s m a d e u p t h e b u l k o f t h e i r p ro c e s s i o n , f o llowed by a contingent of D w a r v e s i n m a rc h i n g o r d e r, f i v e - a b re a s t i n f i v e c o l u m n s . The only non-dwarf in the c o l u m n ro d e a l o n g s u l l e n l y on a newly bought horse a t t h e v e r y b a c k . H e ro d e hunched over glaring daggers at his saddle pommel as the hangover was finally starting to abate somewhat. T h e l e a d d w a r f f ro m t h e head of the column gave a

g re a t sigh, his broad shoul d e r s rising and falling with t h e one breath and rattling t h e small stone ornaments a n d trinkets tha t filled his e n o rmous beard. He finally f e l l back to speak with the h u m an. With another deep b re a th he spoke, “Coach, m i g ht I have a word?” the g r a v elly voiced old dwarf b e g an, the human gave a s u r l y non-committal grunt, t a k i ng this as permission the d w a rf continued, “When are w e going to actually start

training , w e ’ l l b e t h e re i n less tha n a w e e k . ” T h e c o a c h looked a t t h e d w a r f w i t h a n evil glare .

b a t t l e c o m m a n d e r ’s v o i c e c a rr y i n g o v e r t h e e n t i re b re a d t h o f t h e p ro c e s s i o n . ************************

“You wa n t t o t r a i n ? ” h e asked, t o w h i c h t h e d w a r f only no d d e d , “ F i n e , p u l l t h e caravan t o a s t o p a n d h a v e your me n d o n t h e i r h e a v i e s t armour, n o t t h e i r B l o o d B o w l equipme n t , t h e i r b a t t l e g e a r. ” Tungdil n o d d e d o n c e m o re and jog g e d t o t h e h e a d o f t h e caravan s h o u t i n g o r d e r s t o all and s u n d r y, t h e h a r d e n e d

B e f o re l o n g t h e e n t i re g ro u p o f d w a r v e s s t o o d b e f ore their mounted coach in full a r m o u r, e x c e p t t h e n o t a b l e exceptions of Boindil and Glaimbar whose oaths s t o p p e d t h e m f ro m w e a r i n g a n y a r m o u r. T h e c o a c h l o o k e d a t e a c h o f t h e m , “ Yo u a re now going to run until we

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s t o p f or lunch, no jogging, I w a n t a full battle sprint, if y o u c an handle this you’ll p l a y B lood Bowl if not then I ’ m w asting my time.” The m a n l ooked aroun d a bit l o n g e r, “Well? MOVE!!!” he ro a re d and the dwarves took o ff a t a cracking pace, fol l o w e d closely by the coach o n h i s trotting mount, the w a g o n drivers slapped the re i n s and were soon in hot p u r s u it. I t w a s almost three hours b e f o re they stopped for l u n c h , sweat-soak ed dwarves f e l l t o the ground to ease t h e i r aching muscles, they w e re veterans of dozens of b a t t l e s and yet nothing had e v e r pushed them so hard as t h i s , of the twenty dwarves o n l y a handful remained s t a n d i ng, glaring defiantly at t h e i r sneering coach. Tungdil, B o e n d al, Boindil, Glaimbar, B a l e n dilin and Gandogar s t o o d on trembling legs n o n e wishing to fall before t h e i r coach. The man simply n o d d e d in approval before a l l o w i ng them to eat from the s u p p l y wagons that had just c a u g h t up. T h e d warfs, now relieved o f t h e ir heavy armour sat i n a s emi-circle before t h e i r coach, now wearing t h e i r Blood Bowl equip m e n t , holding their spiked h e l m e ts under an arm. They s h o n e in the brand new

gear that h a d b e e n re q u i s itioned by t h e T h a n e , c o l o u r s of blue a n d w h i t e s t o o d o u t proudly w i t h t h e i r s y m b o l of the sh i e l d w i t h a m o u ntain emb l a z o n e d o n t h e i r chest. “A l r i g h t , ” t h e c o a c h began as h e h e l d u p a s h e a f of papers , “ T h e To u r n a m e n t ’s entry fee i s o n l y a l l o w i n g u s to take t w e l v e p l a y e r s , t h i s isn’t one o f t h e b i g m a j o r s s o you can f o r g e t s i x t e e n p l a y e r rosters.” H e i n f o r m e d h i s players, “ H e re I h a v e t h e l i s t of player s w h o w i l l c o m p e t e , and the re s t o f y o u w i l l c o ntinue to t r a i n w i t h u s i n c a s e we need re p l a c e m e n t s d u r i n g the Tourn a m e n t a s i s b o u n d to happe n . ” H e f l i c k e d o v e r a sheet, “ N o w i f I c a l l y o u r name, st a n d u p a n d s t e p o v e r here.” He p o i n t e d t o a p a t c h of turf to h i s r i g h t , “ N o w our start i n g l i n e - u p , Tu n g d i l , Boendal, B o i n d i l , G l a i m b a r, Balendili n , G a n d o g a r, G o i m d i l , Salfalur, B i s l i p u r, B e n e g r i m , Thorgeild a n d K a g r i m . ” H e nodded t o e a c h i n t u r n a s they pass e d , “ To m o r ro w w e ’ l l sort you i n t o p o s i t i o n s , f o r now I’ll c h o o s e a C a p t a i n - “ h e was cut o ff a l m o s t i m m e d iately by Tu n g d i l .

argument finished, and the t e a m g o t re a d y t o m o v e o n o n c e m o re . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * A s i t t u r n e d o u t i t d i d n ’t t a k e l o n g f o r t h e c o ac h t o assign positions, most of the t e a m h a d b a t t l e f i e l d ro l e s that let them fall easily into t h e i r n e w l i f e . Tu n g d i l w a s a born leader as well as being s t ro n g a n d a g i l e , a t l e a s t b y dwarf standards; he became a b l i t z e r i n s t a n t l y, f o l l o w e d quickly by his Lieutenant Boendal. Balendilin and G a n d o g a r w h o h a d b e e n b a ttlefield message runners w e re b y f a r t h e f a s t e s t o f t h e d w a r f s a n d w e re n a m e d r u n n e r s a l m o s t a s q u i c k l y. Glaimbar and Boindil being s l a y e r s h a d n o o ff i c i a l p o s ition but slayers had been common place on the pitch f o r m a n y y e a r s . T h e re m a i ning dwarves became blockers, donning the heaviest Blood Bowl padding.

“I sign yo u r p a y c h e q u e s ”

T h e c o a c h a p p ro a c h e d t h e team-captain just outside G l e n ro w a n , a f t e r h e ’ d s p e n t the day in the city scoping t h e a re a , “ A l r i g h t I ’ v e a r r a n g e d a p a i r o f p ra ct i s e g a m e s f o r t h e l a d s , a re y o u re a d y t o p l a y ? ” Tu n g d i l n o d d e d a n d w e n t t o ro u n d u p t h e t e a m a n d g e t t h e m re a d y.

“Tungdil i s c a p t a i n . ” T h e

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * *

“That’d b e m e . ” “I’ll deci d e w h o ’s c a p t a i n . ”


T h e y arrived at the desig n a t e d pitch, really just a f a r m paddock that had been q u i c kly renovated into a p i t c h, with a few hastily d r a wn white lines marking o u t the field. The dugouts w e re just a pair of roped off a re a s on either side of the p i t c h, each team huddled a ro und their coach. “Well this i s i t , here you’ll finally prove t o m e whether or not you’re w o r t h training, Captain, time t o l ead your tea m.” And with t h a t Cody left the dug-out a n d walked off to the grand s t a n d to get a roll filled with b a c on. The youngest of the d w a rves, Thorge ild crossed h i s arms with a grin. “ H e really grows on you d o e sn’t he.” Which brought a c h uckle from the older d w a rves, Tungdil pulled him i n t o the huddle once more. “O k ay lads, this is make or b re a k, he doesn’t expect us t o w in but we don’t have t o , we just have to make s u re that if we lose it’s not b y much and we make sure t h o s e bastards remember who w e are, so, who are we?” the C a p tain looked each in the e y e as they wrapped an arm a ro und each other’s shoul d e r s and in a solemn mono t o n e they began what almost s o u nded like a prayer. “ We are they who guard the

mount a i n , As soli d a s t h e s t o n e w e defend , Hardy a s t h e y w h o d i d s o before u s , In reve re n c e , In resp e c t , Foreve r, We are t h e y, w h o g u a r d , THE MO U N TA I N G U A R D ! ” they ro a re d a s o n e b e f o re taking t o t h e f i e l d , j o g g i n g to thei r p l a c e s , l e a v i n g only Ka g r i m o n t h e s i d eline, th e i r o n l y re s e r v e . Tungdi l a p p ro a c h e d t h e referee t o m e e t w i t h t h e opposi n g t e a m c a p t a i n , h e was a t a l l s o m e w h a t l a n k y man w i t h s c a r s a c ro s s h i s face, h i s t e e t h h a d b e e n sharpe n e d t o p o i n t s a n d he leere d a t t h e d w a r f , Tungdi l j u s t s m i l e d a t h i m unfaze d s h o w i n g o ff a s e t of redd e n e d t e e t h . T h e dwarf c a p t a i n h a d c h e w e d a bunc h o f s p e c i a l b e r r i e s earlier w h i c h s t a i n e d t h e teeth re d b u t w a s h e d a w a y

e a s i l y w i t h w a t e r. T h e e ff e c t w a s o b v i o u s , c a u s i n g t h e h u m a n t o d o u bl e t a k e . T h e re f c a l l e d t o Tu n g d i l , “ Yo u m a y c a l l , o rc s o r eagles.” He then flipped a g o l d c o i n h i g h i n t h e a i r. “Never trust an Urk, eagles!” the dwarf cried, a n d s u re e n o u g h i t c a m e u p e a g l e s , “ We ’ l l re c e i v e . ” H e a n s w e re d t h e u n s p o k e n q u e s t i o n b e f o re h e a d i n g back to his team and giving them orders as to w h e re t o s e t u p . T h e s t a r ting line of blockers took their position on the line of scrimmage, Thorgeild i n t h e c e n t re , Tu n g d i l a n d B o e n d a l e a c h t o o k u p p o s it i o n i n t h e w i d e - z on e s guarding a runner each. The two wild cards Boindil and Glaimbar hung just b e h i n d t h e m a i n l i n e p rep a re d t o u n l e a s h t h e i r f u r y on any humans who got p a s t t h e l i n e . A s t h e re f blew on his whistle the c ro w d g ro a n e d i n a m o u n ti n g a n t i c i p a t i o n f i na l l y e v o l v i n g i n t o a ro a r i n g c rescendo of a cheer as a foot met the ball and the i n f l a t e d p i g s k i n a rc e d s k ywards and down towards B a l e n d i l i n ’s w a i t i n g a r m s .

How will it go? Time will tell. In reverence, in respecr, forever, we are they who guard: the MOUNTAINGUARD

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so you want to be a t.o. . .

92

T h i n k yo u’ ve g o t w h a t i t ta kes to r u n a to u r n a m e n t ? V i r ra l ( R i chard A n d re w ) , w i th s o m e h e l p from O l a f th e S to u t ( A d a m M a ra fioti) ta ke yo u th ro u g h th e d e ta i ls. In pa r t o n e o f th i s two - pa r t fe a ture: o rg a n i s i n g th e to u r n a ment. T. Introduc t i o n : Running a t o u r n a m e n t c a n be an ex t re m e l y f u l f i l l i n g and rew a r d i n g e x p e r i e n c e , however i t c a n a l s o b e t i r i n g , frustrat i n g a n d a h e l l o f a l o t of work ! It also c o s t s m o n e y, e s p ecially at t h e s t a r t , a s y o u need to b o o k v e n u e s , b u y prizes a n d o t h e r w i s e p ro m o t e the eve n t . Yo u n e e d t o s t a r t small an d b u i l d u p a l o y a l followin g , i f n o t h i n g e l s e because i t ’s a p o t e n t i a l money s i n k i f y o u d o n ’t k n o w how ma n y p l a y e r s t o e x p e c t on the d a y.

connected to a larger event or convention and you’ve been asked to help out? W h a t e v e r t h e re a s o n , t h i s event will live or die on your e n e r g y, e n t h u s i a s m a n d w i l lingness to put in the hard y a r d s . I t ’s a h u g e t a s k a n d i n your first year you might not g e t m u c h i n t h e w a y o f a t t e nd a n c e … y o u n e e d t o b e c o mmitted to building the event a n d i t s re p u t a t i o n o v e r a number of years into a MustA t t e n d e v e n t o n t h e c a l e nd a r. I f t h a t ’s p u t t i n g y o u o ff , better to stop now believe me! G e n e r a l To u r n a m e n t S t u ff :

It’s imp o r t a n t I t h i n k t o w o r k out why i t i s y o u w a n t t o run an e v e n t . I s i t i n t e n d e d as a fun d r a i s e r f o r a l o c a l league? D i d y o u j u s t w a n t t o give bac k t o t h e c o m m u n i t y or impro v e t h e l o c a l t o u rnament s c e n e ? Pe r h a p s i t i s

R i g h t o ff t h e b a t t h e re a re a few things you need to decide: 1 .

W h a t i s t h e t o u r n a m e n t g o i n g t o b e called?


2 .

How are you going to set yourself apart from the existing events?

3 .

When do you want to hold the event, will it clash with other events?

4 .

What sort of format and rule set do you plan on u sing?

M o s t tournamen ts these d a y s have some kind of t h e me or thing that sets t h e m apart from the rest. It m i g ht be just a unique name o r mascot, or it could be a n e w ruleset we’ve never t r i e d before… getting players e x c i ted about the event is a b i g part of the battle when it c o m es to attendance.

When a n d W h e re : Once all t h a t i s d e c i d e d , y o u need a s p o t i n t h e t o u r n ament ca l e n d a r. T h e re i s n o point se t t i n g u p a n e v e n t i f it turns o u t t h a t i t c l a s h e s with so m e t h i n g a l re a d y o u t there, a l l y o u ’ re g o i n g t o d o is divid e t h e p l a y e r b a s e . Check o u t y o u r l o c a l B l o o d Bowl fo r u m s , a n d t h e N A F tournam e n t l i s t i n g s . Fo r Australi a , a v o i d i n g m a j o r events i n o t h e r s t a t e s i s also im p o r t a n t , i f y o u p u t them to o c l o s e t o g e t h e r you’re f o rc i n g p o t e n t i a l intersta t e p l a y e r s t o c h o o s e and cha n c e s a re t h e y ’ l l choose t h e m o re e s t a b l i s h e d tournam e n t . Once yo u k n o w w h e n , i t ’s

t i m e t o w o r k o u t w h e re . Since this is your first event, ideally you want to get as m u c h f o r f re e a s p o s s i b l e . A p p ro a c h g a m i n g s h o p s l i k e G o o d G a m e s , s e e i f t he y a re willing to host an event on t h e i r p re m i s e s . N o r m a l l y t h i s m i g h t j u s t re q u i re y o u t o spend a certain amount of t h e t i c k e t p r i c e a t t h e s t o re o n p r i z e s , w h i c h i s a g re a t deal if you can get it. I f y o u c a n ’t f i n d a f re e venue, look at community halls, RSL clubs, pubs… you want something with space t o p l a y, t a b l e s a n d c h a i r s a n d i f p o s s i b l e s o m e w h e re t o e a t a n d d r i n k c l o s e b y. R S L c l u b s a re p o p u l a r b e c a u s e t h e y o f t e n c o m e w i t h f re e parking and always have bars

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a n d c afé’s inside, but might c o s t y ou a bit more than a c o m m unity hall would. T h e l o cation is also import a n t , you need to work out h o w p layers will get to your e v e n t . Accessibility for public t r a n s p ort and free nearby p a r k i ng is often a deal b re a k er for players. B e f o re agreeing to anything, m a k e sure you go and visit t h e v enue and see the space. Yo u w ant to make sure the t a b l e s are going to be big e n o u g h for boards, and that t h e re will be enough space f o r p l ayers. Normally places w i l l w ant a deposit and you’ll p a y t h e balance on the day.

Tourname n t Fo r m a t a n d R u l e Sets: There are t h re e m a i n f o r m a t decisions t o b e m a d e . F i r s t l y, are you g o i n g t o b e p l ay i n g Blood Bo w l o r o n e o f t h e variants l i k e S t re e t B o w l o r Beach Bo w l ? I f y o u d e c i d e o n a variant , y o u c a n ’t a s s u m e everyone w i l l h a v e a s u i t a b l e pitch so y o u n e e d t o f a c t o r that into y o u r p l a n s . Next is th e l e n g t h o f t h e tourname n t … s i x g a m e s o v e r two days i s s t a n d a r d b u t dependin g o n t h e v e n u e a n d rule set i t ’s a l s o p o s s i b l e t o fit four g a m e s o n d a y o n e . Make cer t a i n y o u h a v e a c c e s s to the ve n u e f o r l o n g e n o u g h

if you want to attempt this. One day events (playing four g a m e s ) a re a l s o g ro w i n g i n p o p u l a r i t y, a n d h a v e a p p e a l to players with families, however an event of this type i s v e r y u n l i k e l y t o a tt r a c t many interstate players. Expectations will also be on significantly lower ticket cost, so you’ll have to dial back your plans for prizes a n d t ro p h i e s a c c o r d i n g l y. Finally you need to decide w h e t h e r y o u ’ re g o i n g f o r a P ro g re s s i o n o r a Re s u r re c t i o n e v e n t . S i n c e Re s u r re c t i o n e v e n t s w e re i n t ro d u c e d i n A u s t r a l i a t h e n u m b e r o f p rog re s s i o n t o u r n a m e n t s h a s


d w i n d l ed. There is more p a p e r work for progression ev e n t s and games typically go l o n ger as players have to ke e p t rack of more records d u r i n g the event, but there is a c e r t a in amount of nostalgia f o r t h a t kind of tournament. T h e o t her good thing about a P ro g ression tournament is t h a t y ou just need to decide ho w m uch money teams start with. I f y o u go for Resur rection, t h e re are more decisions to b e m a de… 1.

How much starting money do players receive?

2.

Can players buy skills and inducements with that money?

3.

Are there limits on allocating skills? (maximum of one per player, no doubles, no stat increases etc)

4.

Alternatively, are you giving players free skills or some kind of skill packs that they can choose from?

5 .

Do teams progress during the event, e.g. perhaps you start with Rookie teams and you get to add one normal skill after each round.

6.

This only scratches the sur f a c e o f o p t i o n s o u t the re , t h e b e s t t h i n g to d o i s c h e c k o u t oth e r t o u r n a m e n t r u l e set s b o t h l o c a l l y a n d inte r n a t i o n a l l y f o r ide a s .

I mention e d b e f o re t h a t y o u need to s e t y o u r s e l f a p a r t from othe r e v e n t s , a n d t h e rule set is a k e y w a y o f d o i n g this. Try t o c o m e u p w i t h something f u n a n d d i ff e re n t that will a p p e a l t o c o a c h e s , get them t h i n k i n g a b o u t how the r u l e s e t w o u l d w o r k with their f a v o u r i t e t e a m s . Internatio n a l e v e n t s a re g o o d for this, f i n d i d e a s t h a t h a v e never bee n u s e d l o c a l l y a n d introduce t h e m i n t o t h e l o c a l tourname n t s c e n e . Scoring Sy s t e m a n d S w i s s Matches: I’m not go i n g t o g i v e a d v i c e on what m a k e s a g o o d scoring sy s t e m ( i . e . t h e scores for a W i n , L o s s o r Draw), wh a t b o n u s p o i n t s to give an d h o w t o d o t i e breaks. Fo r o n e t h i n g , I ’ m notorious l y u n a w a re o f t h e s e things, an d f o r a n o t h e r t h e re are so ma n y d i ff e re n t a n d yet perfec t l y v a l i d o p i n i o n s out there t h a t I ’ d h e s i t a t e to put for w a r d o n e s y s t e m over anot h e r. M y s u g g e s t i o n is to rese a rc h p l a y e r p a c k s for other e v e n t s , g e t a f e e l for what YO U t h i n k i s a g o o d

system and then steal it ☺ On the topic of matchups t h o u g h , I d o n ’t t h i n k y o u c a n go past the Swiss System. Basically you match people r a n d o m l y i n t h e f i r s t ro u n d , a n d a f t e r t h a t i t ’s b a s e d o n p o s i t i o n . 1 s t p l a y s 2 nd , 3 r d plays 4th and so on. This is the default system, although some tournaments include an a c t u a l “ F i n a l ” g a m e w h e re the top two players at that stage battle it out, winner t a k e s a l l a n d l o s e r c om e s 2nd. While I’m personally n o t a f a n o f t h a t ( i t d o e s n ’t take into consideration that some other player might have a b e t t e r t o u r n a m e n t s c o re a f t e r t h e f i n a l ro u n d t h a n the player who eventually w i n s t h e t o u r n a m e n t ), s o m e people love it. A l l o f t h i s s t u ff i s v e r y m u c h a judgement call for the o r g a n i s e r, I ’ v e y e t t o c o m e a c ro s s s o m e o n e w h o h a s b e e n p u t o ff a n e v e n t b y t h e scoring system! Prize Categories and Tro p h i e s : W h a t p r i z e s a re y o u go i n g to hand out on the event? H e re a re s o m e s u g g e st i o n s t o consider… •

1 s t , 2 n d a n d 3 rd (these are pretty much mandatory)

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96


•

Best Stunty Coach

•

Best Painted Team (and Best Single Mini)

•

S p o r t s m a n s h i p Aw a r d

•

M o s t T D ’s a n d M o s t Casualties

•

Most Kills (i.e. when y o u ro l l D e a d ! o n t h e injury table)

•

Wo o d e n S p o o n o r E n c o u r a g e m e n t Aw a r d

•

F u r t h e s t Tr a v e l l e d

•

To u g h e s t Te a m ( t e a m t h a t s u ff e re d t h e l e a s t casualties)

•

Best Defence (team t h a t l e t t h ro u g h t h e l e a s t T D ’s )

•

Comeback King (player w i t h m o s t i m p ro v e m e n t f ro m D a y 1 to Day 2)

•

Best Custom Board

They d o n ’t a l l n e e d a t ro p h y or med a l o f c o u r s e , y o u c a n just na m e c a t e g o r i e s a n d g i v e the pla y e r a p r i z e . T h a t s a i d , if you g o t o a t ro p h y / e n g r a ving sto re y o u ’ l l b e s u r p r i s e d by the n u m b e r o f re a d y m a d e trophie s t h a t y o u c a n p i c k u p quite c h e a p l y, g e t e n g r a v e d and aw a r d o n t h e d a y. M e d a l s are als o a g o o d c h o i c e a n d


w i l l o f ten come cheaper than t ro p h i e s.

looking fo r e a s y h a n d o u t s , you’ll get a b e t t e r re s p o n s e .

S p o n s orship and Prizes:

Chances a re y o u w o n ’t g e t enough sp o n s o r s t o c o v e r your entire p r i z e t a b l e , s o you’ll als o n e e d a p r i z e budget. Wa i t u n t i l y o u ’ v e g o t a reasona b l e i d e a o f n u m b e r s before yo u s t a r t b u y i n g things an d t r y t o p l a n a n d have a fe w l a r g e r a n d m o re smaller pr i z e s … b u t d o n ’t g o crazy, this i s a n e a s y s p o t f o r new organ i s e r s t o b l o w t h e i r budgets.

O n c e y ou have prize catego r i e s , y ou also need prizes t o g o with them. One way t o s o u rce a few prizes is t o a p p roach companies for s p o n s o rship. Don’t be afraid o f re j e ction, my advice is t o c o n tact as many compa ni e s a s you can… plenty of t h e m will never respond, but s o m e will and this can lead t o e x t r a prizes on your table. I n s o m e cases companies get a l o t o f sponsorship requests an d m i ght, for example, offer y o u a large discount rather t h a n f ree product. Gro u p orders are a lso a valid w a y o f raising funds, pio ne e re d a few years back by I m p a c t Miniatures, players at t h e tournament can order ge a r a t a discount with some o f t h e funds raised being f u n n e l led back into the tourna m e n t as prize support. W h e n e ver you contact a s p o n s o r, lay out for them ex a c t l y what you intend to d o i n e xchange for their s u p p o r t. Including them in p r i n t a dvertising, includ i n g t h em in the player pack, m e n t i o ning their support at t h e event… if sponsors b e l i e v e you’re organised and m o t i v a ted to give back for t h e i r s upport rather than just

Feedback I ’ v e a l w a y s re c e i v e d is that pl a y e r s l i k e a m i x o f Blood Bow l a n d n o n - B l o o d Bowl relat e d p r i z e s . A c o u p l e of small B o a r d G a m e s y o u enjoy can b e a g o o d p i c k , vouchers f o r s t o re s , p a i n t i n g and hobby s u p p l i e s , t h e re a re loads of o p t i o n s o u t t h e re beyond u n p a i n t e d m e t a l miniature s . Advertisi n g : Getting th e w o r d o u t t h e re as early a s p o s s i b l e i s o f course im p o r t a n t . Ta r g e t local gam i n g s t o re s a n d a n y leagues y o u ’ re a w a re o f i n the area. Ta k e h a n d o u t s t o other tou r n a m e n t s , p o s t o n forums an d re g i s t e r y o u r event on t h e N A F w e b s i t e . You can a l s o c o n t a c t G a m e s Workshop a n d t h e y ’ l l a d d your tour n a m e n t l i s t i n g t o their Whit e D w a r f m a g a z i n e free of ch a r g e .

Tr y t o a v o i d a l o t o f t e x t i n this kind of advertising, you want something eyecatching and with the most important information (what, when, w h e re ) c l e a r l y d i s p l a y e d . I f you’ve got a logo or design of some kind, make it nice a n d p ro m i n e n t ! I t ’s g o o d t o w a i t u n t i l y o u ’ v e got your sponsors locked in b e f o re y o u re a l l y k i c k t h i s o ff , s i n c e y o u ’ l l w a n t t o include their logos in your advertising material. The earlier you contact sponsors the better basically! Player Gifts: Separate to the prizes and t ro p h i e s , w i l l p l a y e r s re c e i v e anything for signing up to p l a y ? I t ’s a n i c e l i t t l e b o n u s t o c o n s i d e r a n d w i l l p ro b a b l y m o t i v a t e s o m e e x t r a a t t e nd a n c e . H o w e v e r, p l e a s e s t a r t slow! Along with spending too much on prizes this is the other big potential money s i n k f o r n e w o r g a n i s er s , y o u have no absolute guarantee y o u ’ re g o i n g t o e v e r re c o u p money spent on this if you d o n ’t b u d g e t w e l l . C u s t o m D i c e – D i c e f ro m C h e s s e x a re a n e x c e l l e n t g i v e a w a y, t h e y a re n ’t e x p e ns i v e a n d t h e re i s s o me s c o p e to sell extras after an event. Pe o p l e l o v e d i c e b a s i c a l l y ☺ C u s t o m M i n i – Pe o p l e l o v e

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l i m i t e d edition mi niatures, b u t y o u need to be careful. F i r s t you need a lot of lead t i m e and you’ve g ot to p u t u p the money upfront. S e c o n d you need to make s u re i t’s a design that’s going t o a p p eal to non-tournament g o e r s because you’re going t o n e ed to sell some outside o f t h e event to co ver costs. L o a d s of companies out there w i l l d o custom miniatures f o r t o urnaments, best thing t o d o is contact a few com p a n i e s with a design sugges t i o n a nd see what they come b a c k with. Costs will vary w i l d l y from one company to t h e n e xt, so it’s worth shop p i n g a round if you’re serious a b o u t this. O t h e r stuff – There are loads o f o p t ions out there for p l a y e r gifts… stubbie holders, t o u r n ament coins, custom re ro l l counters, dugouts or t h ro w i ng templates… The list i s h u g e, and there are loads o f h o bby companies out there w h o c an help you bring your c o n c e pt to reality. Ti c k e t Prices and Re g i s t ration: Tr y a n d set a ticket price t h a t reflects the event. If y o u ’ re going to set the price h i g h t hen players are going t o e x pect more prizes, tro p h i e s and giveaways for their m o n e y. As you grow your e v e n t and you introduce more

for the p l a y e r s , y o u c a n r a i s e the entry f e e i n l i n e w i t h your grow t h . To encou r a g e e a r l y re g i s t r ation, you c a n a l s o l o o k a t a n early bir d re g i s t r a t i o n d i scount of s o m e k i n d , k n o c k i n g $10 off if y o u re g i s t e r b e f o re a certain d a t e . T h i s a l l o w s players t o g e t a d i s c o u n t a n d gives you s o m e m u c h n e e d e d funding b e f o re t h e d a y, i t helps you p l a n m o re e ff e ctively an d m i n i m i z e s o m e need for y o u t o f u n d e v e r ything upf ro n t . Other opt i o n s t o u r n a m e n t s are starti n g t o i n t ro d u c e a re things lik e L o y a l t y p ro g r a m s for playe r s w h o ’ v e a t t e n d e d for sever a l y e a r s i n a ro w, o r Bring a F r i e n d b o n u s e s f o r old playe r s w h o b r i n g a l o n g newbies. T h e s e a re s o m e t h i n g to be con s i d e re d d o w n t h e track tho u g h , n o t f o r a s t a r ting even t . You need t o d e c i d e h o w y o u are going t o h a n d l e re g i s t r ation and p a y m e n t s . I f y o u ’ re handy wi t h w e b d e s i g n y o u can set u p a w e b s i t e f o r players t o re g i s t e r o n , o r you can h a n d l e e v e r y t h i n g via email a n d p a y p a l . I f y o u handle e v e r y t h i n g v i a e m a i l , make sure y o u k e e p a n a c t i v e forum th re a d u p d a t e d w i t h registere d p l a y e r s , b o t h s o that othe r s c a n s e e w h o i s going to b e t h e re a n d f o r your own b e n e f i t t o o !

C o a c h Pa c k s : So now you’ve decided when a n d w h e re i t ’s g o i n g t o b e , what the format is, how t h e y ’ re g o i n g t o b e sc o re d a n d w h a t t h e y ’ re p l a y i n g f o r, i t ’s t i m e t o p u t t o g e t h e r a coach pack. This is basically a simple document that includes all t h e re l e v a n t i n f o r m a t i o n about the event, times and dates, the rule set and any other information you think w o u l d b e re l e v a n t . Po s t t h i s up on forums and if you’ve g o t a w e b s i t e p u t i t t h e re too. Players should be able t o re a d t h i s o n e d o c u m e n t and know everything they n e e d a b o u t t h e e v e n t i n c l u di n g h o w t o re g i s t e r a n d p a y. Pa i n t e d Te a m s : Another thing to include i n t h e C o a c h Pa c k i s y o u r p o l i c y o n p a i n t e d a n d c o nverted teams. Playing against unpainted teams c a n h a v e a re a l l y n e g a t i v e i m p a c t o n s o m e o n e s e x p er i e n c e , s o s t a n d a r d p r a ct i c e i s t o re q u e s t t h a t a l l t e a m s a re p a i n t e d t o a b a s i c standard (base coat plus t h re e c o l o u r s ) , a n d n u mb e re d c l e a r l y. P l a y e r s s h o u l d b e re c o g n i s a b l e a s t h e r a c e i n q u e s t i o n , a n d p o s i t i o nals should also be easy to distinguish.


I f y o u feel this is too limit i n g a n d you want to allow un p a i n ted teams, perhaps c o n s i d er incentives to en c o u r age as many people t o b r i n g a painted team as p o s s i b le. This coul d include s o m e t hing like a lucky draw f o r p e ople with painted t e a m s , or even a negative i m p a c t on tournament score f o r t e a ms that are completely un p a i n ted.

NAF Regis t r a t i o n s : Get in tou c h w i t h y o u r l o c a l NAF rep t o a r r a n g e re g i s t r ations at y o u r e v e n t . I f t h e y can’t be t h e re t h e m s e l v e s , they can p ro b a b l y a r r a n g e f o r you to tak e re g i s t r a t i o n s o n their beha l f . I n A u s t r a l i a a t least NAF t o u r n a m e n t f u n d i n g is tied to d i c e re g i s t r a t i o n s , so the mo re p l a y e r s w h o re gister at yo u r e v e n t , t h e m o re

N A F f u n d s y o u re c e i v e i n support. Check out next issue of B L ! T Z , w h e n w e d i s c u s s a c t ually running the tournament. Vi r r a l ( R i c h a r d A n d re w ) Olaf the Stout (Adam Marafioti)

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showcase

paul o’grady FF Fields recently ran the Team Too Cool contest, aiming to collect pictures of the ‘ hidden gems’ out there in the community. Alberto’s Three Chile Bur rito Bandits .were featured earlier, but Paul O’G rady ’s Ter racotta Ter rors also placed in the competition.

In ancient times civilised nations would seek out one another for trade,commerce and friendship. Long was the associa tion between the City of Khemri and the Empire of Q in, far to the East. They traded spices, silks and precious valuables, lear ned one another ’s languages, and played each others games. And thus did Nuffle’s game make it to the ends of the Earth.

E m p eror Qin was fascinated w i t h the game a nd devel o p e d his own te ams to play f o r him on a pitch within his Fo r b idden City.

Tomb Guardians

W h e n his favourite players d i e d they were immortal i s e d with Terracotta effigies a n d sorcerers bound their s p i r i ts to the statues so they c o u l d continue to play in the a f t e rlife. W h e n Emperor Q in died he w a s entombed with many p o s sessions and his fabu l o u s collection of players. N o w unearthed and awak e n e d from their aeons long s l u mber, the undead of the O r i e nt take the pitch once a g a i n! M a k ing the Team. I’ve wanted t o b uild a Khemri team for a w h ile but while some of the

“Skeletons”

figs are g re a t , t h e b u l k o f the scul p t s a re r a t h e r s o - s o in my o p i n i o n . S o I ’ m u s i n g the sam e t e a m l i s t , b u t w e n t with a d i ff e re n t s l a n t a n d theme.

And what is cooler than C h i n e s e M u m m i e s ? T h a t ’s r i g h t - Te r r a c o t t a Z o m b i e s ! A w e a p o n s n i p h e re , a d d a b a l l t h e re a n d w e w e re o n t h e way!

Who els e h a d M u m m i e s ?

T h e f i g u re s a re b y J o h n Jenkins Designs and because t h e y m o s t l y c o m e w i t h s e pa r a t e w e a p o n s , t h e y w e re

Well the C h i n e s e f o r o n e .

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re l a t i v e l y s i m p l e c o n v e r s i o n s . I a d d e d a p l a s t i c b a l l ( f ro m the boxed set) to two of the f i g u re s t o m a k e e a s i l y i d e nt i f i a b l e T h ro w - R a s . O n l y t h e o ff i c e r f i g u re , w h i c h I u s e d as a Blitz-Ra, needed a sword s n i p p e d o ff a n d I u s e d t h e o t h e r t w o c o m m a n d f i g u re s a s Tu r n a n d s c o re m a r k e r s .

“Ra’s” Extras

I went with a entombed warrior look and used a lot of washes and drybrushing to o v e rc o m e t h e l a c k o f c o l o u r s . I ’ m re a l l y h a p p y w i t h h o w t h e y h a v e c o m e o u t . I a g onised over whether to try glowing eyes but in the end I’m glad I did and the orange g l o w s e t s t h e m o ff w e l l . T h e b a s e s a re s u i t a b l y d e s e r t themed and I applied Chinese s t y l e n u m b e r s w h i c h a re c o l o u re d f o r t h e d i ff e re n t p o s i t i o n s ( re d n u m b e r s f o r B l i t z - R a , w h i t e f o r T h ro w - R a , black for Skeletons).

“Hopping” Rerolls

I e n t e re d t h e t e a m i n F F - F i e l d s ’ re c e n t “ Te a m To o Cool” competition, and was delighted to be awarded second place in the “Best O r i g i n a l C o n c e p t ” c a t e g o r y. They will have their debut at EucBowl 2012 and I’m looking forward to trying them out of the pitch! M a n c a v e r ( Pa u l O’G r a d y )


fanta s y footba ll resourc e s . talk fantasy footb all .

AusBow l .

www.talk fantasyfootball. org

ausbowl.com

Inte r n a t i o n a l fan ta s y fo o tba l l dis c u s s i o n boa rd .

zlu r p cas t.

Entertainmentbased podcast, full of d&b jokes and lots of fun. Also see ZTZ for tactical advice. www.

zlur pcast.com

B ot h down. A p o d c ast fo c u s s ing on th e f l u ff and ba ckg round o f fa n tasy fo o tba ll.

bothdown.com

P re m i e r fa n ta s y fo o tba l l discussion b oa rd fo r A u s t ra l i a a n d Ne w Z e a l a n d .

three die block . P odcast ful l o f tactics, lea g u e discussion and aweso m e game repor t s .

threedieblock. libsyn.com

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the last word

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After a year of BL!TZ, Car nivean (Erin McKee) explains just how popular BL!TZ has been, and how blown away we have been by your support.

Who can believe it h a s b e e n a year? It can be har d t o t h i n k of things to write so m e t i m e s and usually it is so m e t h i n g t h a t strikes me in the ri g h t m o o d . This time it was loo k i n g a t t h e download stats for B L I T Z t o s e e what had changed, i f a n y t h i n g . From a “Hey Brett, I t h i n k y o u should take what yo u a re d o i n g national” to what y o u re a d t o d a y . . . it’s working. Now without soundi n g c l i c h e at all, this issue’s Last Word i s going to be a massi v e t h a n k y o u to everyone who is e v e n re a d i n g this far into the ma g . W i t h o u t you broadcasting ou t t h ro u g h your own channels a n d t h e n

f l o w i n g o n f ro m t h e re , i t wo u l d not have happened. Yo u w h o h a v e re a d p re v i o u s i s s u e s m o re t h a n l i k e l y k n o w a b o u t h o w a l l t h i s s t a r t e d . B re t t re a l l y i s t h e d r i v i n g f o rc e b e h i n d t h i s a n d h e tries hopelessly to whip me into s h a p e ( f i g u r a t i v e l y ! ) [only because you live in a different state! - Ed] , b u t t h e re i s a l w a y s t h e q u e s t i o n o f v i a b i l i t y. A re w e d o i n g t h i s a n d p e o p l e a re a c t u a l l y g e t t i n g s o m et h i n g o u t o f i t ? I s i t a c t u a l l y c o ntributing to the community? What h a s t h e re a c t i o n b e e n l i k e ? I t i s tough to determine what is exactly h a p p e n i n g o u t t h e re . Fe e d b a c k i s o n e m e a s u re . We


h a v e had a fair amount of f e e d back and nothing really n e g ative which is a plus. A n d we are not blind enough t o n ot know that for every b i t of praise we do see there a re a probably just as many a m b ivalent people out there w h o can’t be bothered being c r i t i cal, constructive or oth e r w i se. What has been really e x c i ting is the number of p e o ple who have contacted u s a nd wanted t o be interv i e wed or have an idea for an a r t i cle. It isn’t earth shat t e r i ng numbers, with arti c l e s queued for the next f o u r issues or anything, but p e o ple are obviously seeing t h i n gs that resonate with t h e m and others. A n o ther way we can see this i s w ith the downloads of the i s s u e, especially in that first m o n th. We should see the b u l k of the downloads right o ff t he bat surely? But what a b o ut going forward? One y e a r on how does issue one s t a c k up? Are people still re a d ing it? Are we just spit t i n g out garbage that will o n l y see the light of day for a m onth before shriveling up? O r a re we cultivating mush ro o ms? Are these things f l o u rishing in the dark and p ro p agating through word o f m outh, forums and other w e b sites? I t i s actually quite interest i n g to see, especially in the c o n t ext of what was being

done pre v i o u s l y. I a m n o t sure ho w m a n y d o w n l o a d s Brett ha d b e f o re t h e c h a n g e in focus b u t t h e m a i l i n g l i s t was 31 p e o p l e . I t i s n o w j u s t above 1 0 0 p e o p l e , i t m a y n o t seem lik e a l o t b u t w h e n y o u think of a l l t h e p l a c e s w e post an d t h e n o t h e r s re - p o s ting it a g a i n , I a m s u r p r i s e d we have t h a t m a n y. E m a i l these d a y s i s t h e s l o w w a y t o get info ! Then th e re i s t h e d o w n l o a d s themsel v e s . T h e f i r s t i s s u e was an u n k n o w n . W h e n it got to a f e w h u n d re d right aw a y, w e w e re p re t t y impress e d , w h e n i t b ro k e 5 0 0 that wa s g re a t . A f t e r l o o k i n g at the “ M o n t h O n e ” re s u l t s , 950 dow n l o a d s w a s m o re than we c o u l d h a v e h o p e d for and re a l l y m e a n t w e h a d to follo w t h ro u g h o n I s s u e 2 . In the n e x t t w o m o n t h s I s s u e 1 dropp e d m a r k e d l y w i t h about 6 0 d o w n l o a d s a m o n t h , it just m e a n t t h a t o u r a u d ience go t i t r i g h t a w a y . . . o n with Iss u e 2 . It didn’t t a k e l o n g f o r i t t o go past t h e f i r s t I s s u e , w h i c h was hug e - 1 3 5 0 d o w n l o a d s . Issue 3 p i p p e d I s s u e 2 a t 1460 do w n l o a d s i n t h e f i r s t month; g ro w t h w a s s t i l l h a ppening. W h a t a b o u t I s s u e 4 ? Well tha t w a s t h e f i r s t s u rprise wh e n I c h e c k e d t h e figures re c e n t l y. A l m o s t 2 0 0 0

downloads in May for Issue 4 , t h a t ’s f a n t a s t i c . I k n o w I am possibly putting words i n t o B re t t ’s m o u t h h e re [nope - Ed] b u t I d a re s a y n e i t h e r of us expected anything like that. E v e n m o re e x c i t i n g i s t h e l o n g e v i t y w e a re s e e i n g i n the older issues. I s s u e 1 h a d a ro u n d 1 3 0 0 d o w n l o a d s a c ro s s t h e f i r s t 6 months (Jul-Dec 2011). In the following 6 months (JanJun 2012) it had over 2100 d o w n l o a d s . T h a t i s p ro b ably the most surprising thing I h a v e s e e n i n t h e s t at i s t i c s . G ro w t h i s c o n t i n u i n g . W h e re I w a s e x p e c t i n g 5 0 0 6 0 0 , w e s e e t r i p l e t h at i n t h e f i r s t m o n t h . W h e re I t h o u g h t that it would be downloaded a n d t h e n t a p e r o ff , t he d o w n l o a d s re m a i n s t ro n g . We w e n t i n b l i n d o n t h i s thing, not knowing what would come about, not k n o w i n g i f w h a t w e w e re about to do would even be re a d . T h e s u p p o r t h a s re m a i n e d g re a t a n d t h a t h a s p re t t y much all been because the community has embraced it. H o p e f u l l y y o u a re a l l g e t t i n g s o m e t h i n g o u t o f i t a n d c o nt i n u e t o d o s o g o i n g fo r w a r d . . . bring on Issue 6! C a r n i v e a n ( E r i n M cKe e )

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ausbowl .com d i scussion wi th l ike-minded coaches from around aus t r al ia and new zeal and r ules c l arificat ion and s tr ategic assistance pain t ing, conversion and pi tch creation assistance forum games s econd hand produc t market pl ace detail s and discussion on tournamen ts and leagues across austr a lia and new z eal and

Blitz Issue05

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