Match Report: Blood Bowl - Dark Elves vs Humans

 

We have a few traditions in my house, and one of those traditions is to play a game of Blood Bowl around the time of the Super Bowl.  Today's exhibition match is a continuation of that proud tradition.  I am glad my Skumgrod was available for this one.  Despite having the video game version, for the Super Bowl I always insist on using the miniatures.  I broke out the Winter themed board, and we randomly determined that for the game we were going to use the Black Guards Dark Elf team vs. the Nottingham Nobles Human team.

Let's get to the Blood Bowl!  I did not document every single thing that happened in the game, but tried to keep it close enough for a narrative to form.  Let's turn it over to our hosts, Lord Summervale and his co-host Mad Johan.

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Lord Summervale:  Welcome all to Bludwieser Blood Bowl Championship weekend events!  In addition to the "Big Game" Bludweiser also sponsors many exhibition matches to get your mouth watering for more Blood Bowl!  There are skills competitions, exhibition games, and star player meet-and-greets from all levels of the game, intent on celebrating the Greatest Game in the Olde World!  It is an epic celebration of Nuffle and all things Blood Bowl! 

You can tune into the big game Bludweiser Blood Bowl on Cabalvision later this weekend.  However, today on Cabalvision IV we are bringing you the best action from these celebratory exhibition games.  Each Conference, Division and League at all levels of the game have sent some of their ....errrr..... best to represent themselves here.  Altdorf is flooded with players and fans alike! 

Right now, we will be featuring the Deep North- Southern Division exhibition action!  Today we will be featuring the Black Guards led by their team captain Mori-Thai the Velvet Crush versus their division rivals the Nottingham Nobles led by their throwing captain Rick Priestley!  

As always, I am joined in the booth by my .... err..... trusty companion and great Blood Bowl mind, Mad Johan.

Mad Johan: Thanks for getting me out of the stocks in time for the match, Summervale.  I really need to lay-off the Bugman's Brew before the show starts.  As we all know, the Notthingham Nobles are a founding member of the Deep North- Southern Division.  Some say, that the entire league is bankrolled by the Nobles just so they have some other teams to play Blood Bowl with.  I mean, Sigmar knows they aren't good enough to make it in a real division!  

Lord Summervale: You know our contract expressly forbids us from talking about that Johan.  So, let me gracefully pivot!  What can we expect to see today?  

Mad Johan: Probably a lot of mediocre Blood Bowl!  The Nobles only have two Blitzers on their team, a far cry from the rest of the skilled divisions where the orthodoxy of Nuffle seems to be 4 Blitzers.  That means, they are relying on their Lineman to do a lot of the work.  I guess that's what happens when you are using out-of-the-box team building in your league.  

Lord Summervale: Mori-Thai seems to think that her Black Guards are a competitive match-up for the Nobles.  What do you think?  

Mad Johan: I think Dark Elf teams led by a couple of Witch Elves gets more people in the stands than going up against a team of Orks.  To be honest, neither team is that good, and both seem to be hoping to level up their audience by being here.  We have seen them play, they do tend to be a rather violent team, and less finesse than one might expect from a Dark Elf team.  

Lord Summervale: Well, it looks like both teams are lining up and getting ready to play.  The ref sends the commemorative coin into the air..... and it looks like the Nobles have elected to kick-off the ball to the Dark Elves.  

Mad Johan: An interesting choice, as Dark Elves have a reputation for scoring early and often, not that the Black Guards can manage it.

Lord Summervale: The Nobles have their back-up Thrower, Andy Chambers in the dug-out.  He seems to be signaling plays into Rick.  Meanwhile, the Black Guard have a back-up runner, Urlieth Val-Drakken riding the bench.  

 Mad Johan:  Let's play BLOOD BOWL! 

The Nobles in their Purple and White vs. the Black Guard in their Blues and Lizard scales

Lord Summervale: Raz-al-slam is back to receive the kick and...... Boom!  The game is underway!  A terrible kick-off that goes out-of-bounds.  The Refs toss it in to Raz-al-slam and the game gets going.  

Mad Johan: Perhaps an omen for what we are about to see out there today? 

Lord Summervale: The Runner moves up and the Black Guards quickly form a cage around the ball carrier.  However, they shift from the right hash to the left with a display of elvish speed.  

Mad Johan: Those dirty Elves are trixie!  

Lord Summervale: There is a scrum near the line of scrimmage with a lot of pushing and shoving up close.  

Mad Johan: Bang!  The Black Guards are the first to lose a player there.  

Lord Summervale: Looks like ... Jaq the Knife is unconscious.  The Nobles blitzers are moving in and... 

Mad Johan: Boom!  Kurounous the Dreaded a Black Guard blitzer lays out the Noble's blitzer Mat Ward cold!  

Lord Summervale: Mori-Thai is leading the onslaught and manages to punch an opening though the Nobles' lines.  Raz-Al-Slam makes his move and bursts past the Nobles with a fancy spin move and a burst of speed!  The Nobles' Gav Thorpe, a catcher' tries to catch-up to him but it is too little too late!  

Mad Johan: Touchdown for the Black Guard!  Plus, they did not leave much time left in the half for the Nobles to score back.  

Lord Summervale: Indeed Johan.  Plus, it looks like Mat Ward is going to stay off the pitch as the Nobles set-up for their chance with the ball.  Back-up Thrower Andy Chambers is out there with Rick Priestley.  

Mad Johan: Hoepfully for the Nobles, Ward will be back for the second half. 

Lord Summervale: The kick is up and it goes straight to Nobles' Catcher Alessio Cavatorre, who quickly hauls it in.   

Mad Johan: Pretty sure that wasn't the plan!  

Lord Summervale: The Nobles don't have much time left on the clock so they get to work!  Gav Thorpe tries to get into the Black Guard backfield, but is brought down by the Dark Elf Blitzer Darveck the Flayer.  However, Andy Chambers delivers a key block to Korounous the Dreaded, it gives Alessio Cavatorre enough space and he dances around the defenders and cuts back through the line.  He is sprinting deep into the Dark Elf backfield!  

Mad Johan: There is no one around to stop him! 

Lord Summervale: Just the clock, as the half comes to a close before he could score.  The crowd is very upset!  I guess there are plenty of Nobles fans in the audience.         

Mad Johan: A tough break, but the Nobles start the second half with the ball. Both sides have shown they can get to the end zone. 

Lord Summervale: With that, it is time for a break from our sponsors!  Gullotine Razors, a close shave everytime you use one.  Let's go back to the Cabalvision IV Studios for a quick update from around the league! 

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Lord Summervale: Welcome back to the second half of this Bludweiser Blood Bowl Weekend exhibition match between the Dark Elf Black Guards and the Human Nottingham Nobles.  The Nobles are trailing by 1 at the half, but will receive the ball this half.  

Mad Johan: If they want to get back into this game, it is now or never! 

Lord Summervale: The Nobles ended the first half just shy of the goal line due to time.  Can they get there again?  

Mad Johan: I am sure the Black Guard watched the crystal ball replay on that and learned a lot from it.  Don't expect it to be that easy this time for the Nobles.  

Lord Summervale: Let's go down to the field and get into the action.  The Nobles set-up with their Catchers out-wide, and their throwers set to receive.  The Black Guards use their Blitzers and Witch Elves to cover the wings, and their Runner Urlieth Val-Drakken as a roving safety in the back-field.  

Mad Johan: The Nobles will need to eat up as much of the clock as possible and then score to force an overtime.  

Lord Summervale: The kick is up, and the touchback goes to Rick Priestly, the Thrower in the back field for the Nobles.  Right away, the Nobles start to move, with Gav Thorpe stepping through the Dark Elf line and going deep into the backfield.  His counter-part is less successful as the lead block from a returned Mat Ward only pushes the Black Guard defender and fails to open a lane.  

Mad Johan: He is deep, but exposed.  Ker-runch! 

Lord Summervale:  Oof!  In a blow to the Nobles plans, Korounous the Dreaded lives up to his name and flattens Gav Thorpe with Val-Drakken's aid.  Thorpe is not going to be getting up from that hit until tomorrow!  

Mad Johan: Cavatoree is not doing much better, as Mori-Thai works around the edge and flattens him with a hit.  He's still in the game though!  

Lord Summervale:  Gav Thorpe's sacrifice though opened up space on the far side wing, and the Nobles took advantage of it.  The formed a cage and pushed in along the edge.  The Black Guard struggled to respond, as many of their players are tied up at the line.  

Mad Johan: Cavatorre managed to get up and sneak across the field and into the end zone.  He looks open, and he is waving to get Priestley's attention. 

Lord Summervale: I think the Nobles star thrower sees him now!  He goes back to throw, and Val-Drakken jumps to intercept.  Priestley manages to bomb it past the Black Guard defender and it is up, up, up..... this is a long throw! 

Mad Johan: TOUCHDOWN!!!!

Lord Summervale: Oh my, what a pass!  What a catch!   That puts the Nobles back in the game! 

Mad Johan: They managed a quick touchdown, but I think they may have left too much time on the clock! 

Lord Summervale: The two teams reset for a kick-off.  The Nobles try a corer blitz on the Near side, but it doesn't make much progress or open a lane.  Urlieth Van-Drakken picks up the ball easily.  The two sides clash at the line, and The Widow Ariethial uses her Frenzy ability to open a gap on the far side of the field.  

Mad Johan: The speed of a Dark Elf was needed to get through that gap!  

Lord Summervale: Indeed!  The Black Guards are hitting hard and stunning several of the Nobles' players.  That is hampering their ability to respond to the Dark Elf break through! 

Mad Johan: Mori-Thai proves why they call her the Velvet Crush after absolutely dismantling the Noble's Blitzer Jervis Johnson!  

Lord Summervale: With only a few minutes left on the clock, the Black Guard Runner Urlieth Can-Drakken walks untouched into the End Zone.  Touchdown Black Guards! 

Mad Johan: It would take a miracle for the Nobles to win now. 

Lord Summervale: Indeed!  The two teams get back for the kick-off.  It is a high kick, but goes out of the back of the end zone.  This touch back means that Rick Priestley is given the ball and the game begins again!

Mad Johan: A missed block at the line costs the Nobles dearly.  You can't make a basic mistake like that.  This is crunch time! 

Lord Summervale: Priestley dumps the ball to Cavatorre, but there is no path forward and he is held at the line.  The clock winds down, and this game ends in a rather dull finish.  

Lord Summervale: Johan, who do you think were the Bloodwieser MVPs of the game?  

 Mad Johan: Well, going back to the game notes it looks like for the Nobles it is a no-brainer. Rick is the star-thrower for a reason.  He was the one who kept them in the game.  No Rick, and the Nobles are in rough shape this game.  

On the winning side of the ball, Kurounous the Dreaded was all-over the field and making his presence known, especially in the first half.  Mora-Thai was similar.  However, Urlieth Van-Drakken scored the go ahead point, so you have to consider that long running play.  I am going with Van-Drakken for the MVP this time. 

Lord Summervale: Well, that looks like the ball game for us here.  I will turn you back to the Cabalvision IV tower for an update of all the exciting events going on this Blood Bowl Cup weekend!  Remember, if you need to cut it close, Guillotine Razors are a cut above!  

Mad Johan: I have seen worse exhibition games.....

Lord Summervale: This is Lord Summervale and Johan signing off!  

  

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On The Painting Desk: Blood Bowl II- Electric Boogaloo!

I had 7 new Blood Bowl teams to paint and all year to do it, so naturally I painted them all in a matter of days!  I started with the Chaos Goat Herders, Skaven Cheez-Ballers, and the Ork Skulsmash Reeverz.  With the momentum built up, I just kept going, night after night.  I didn't expect to nearly get this far.... but there you go.  This is more painting than I got done all of last year and it is still January!

Today, we are going to look at the rest of my teams.  They will be the Human team from the Box Set, the Dwarf team, the Dark Elf team, and the Elf Union team.  I also have an Ogre to add.  So, let's get into this....

Dwarf Rock-N-Rollers
This was the next team I started painting.  I started with the Troll Slayers as I wanted to make sure my flesh color would last through the team.  I though it was running low.  Thankfully, it lasted long enough to get the job done.  I knew traditionally Troll Slayers all had orange-Hair, but I wanted to be able to distinguish them on the field.  Therefore, the second one I went with a grey look.

I am not exactly sure where the green and grey color scheme came from.... but there it is.  I think it turned out okay.  My Blitzers were actually the last models I painted for this team.  I tended to paint them 2 positionals at a time, and three lineman at a time.
   

The Slayers and Blockers had enough alternate heads that I could tell them apart easily.  However,t he Runners and Blockers all had doppleganger sculpts.  To help tell them apart on the field I went with alternating Helmet colors.  One set of guys all had Grey Helmets while their twin had green helmets.  A simple and easy solution to tell them apart on the field but still fit in with the team color scheme.   

There is the full Dwarf Rock-N-Roller team in all their glory.  Deciding the beard colors was one of the most fun parts of the team.  I used a soft tone wash to give them a less "gribbly" look than the Skaven and Ork teams.

Human Nottingham Nobles
The next team I *ahem* tackled was the Nottingham Nobles.  The astute reader will notice that they are all named after the G.W. Designer staff back when the Dev Team were mini-gaming celebrities and Games Workshop used a more "Cult-esque" marketing strategy like the one used by Apple.

Unlike the Dwarf team, I sat down and panted half the team all at once.  I decided to go with a Purple and White scheme.  Purple is the color of royalty, and with a name like the Nobles you were saying you were a cut above.  However, I also used this color scheme as if masked my own local NFL team.

  To differentiate the players in the same pose, I again went with an alternating color scheme using white shoulder and knee pads instead of the purple ones.  Of note, this team is almost complete painted using cheap acrylic paint from a big box retailer using brushes from said retailer.  I then washed them all with Army Painter soft tone.

I really enjoyed choosing the colors for the Blood Bowl balls on this team.  I have no idea why but it was a chance to throw in some off-the-wall colors from the rest of the team.

Dark Elf Black Guards
I picked up this team while traveling and was really excited to put it together and try it out.  However, they were not assembled in time for the Princess Owayonna Tournament.  I had a vision of what I wanted to do with this team's paint scheme early on.  I wanted Dark Blue pads, very pale skin, and a purple wash.

I actually painted the Blockers first.  I can't call them lineman, because there are two ladies in their midst.  I decided to differentiate the players with different color Cold One hides and a small shoulder ribbon of different colors.

Then I tackled the positional players.  I am not a fan of the Runner sculpts, but they turned out pretty neat once painted.  I think the purple skins turned out better than the green, but there you go.  Again, i mostly painted these with the cheap big box acrylic paints.  I was growing more confident in what they could do and didn't even bother to water them down at all.  They take a tad longer to dry, but I think the results turned out just fine.  Plus, the price was right and I had easy access to a large selection. 

I really enjoyed painting the Lilac hair on the Witch Elf.  It is not as striking as the red, but I really like how it turned out.

Ogre Blocker
I remember it was getting late, but I was on a roll!  I had just painted the Black Guards and wanted to keep going.  It was the perfect time to start on the Ogre.  I decided I wanted him to look different enough from each team that he looked like a hired thug just added to the roster so I could move him about as needed.  I wanted to give him a mix of metal armors.  I settled on jumpsuit Orange as his main uniform color to add to the thug look.

    
I actually painted his teeth brown instead of a whiter color so they would look gnarled and rotted.  A simple but effective paint job mostly using block colors and a quick Dark Tone wash to pull out the details.

Elf Union Superiors
The final team was the Elf Union team.  I have never really played any elf teams in the past and was interested in getting this guys painted and on the field.  I also bought these guys while traveling.  However, they were the last team I bought.

I started out with the Blockers and I knew I wanted Green and white somehow.  For some unknown reason, I started by painting their leggings a Lime green, the brightest green I had.  From there I went to an evergreen for the pads.  I did not know how it was going to come out and I was a bit nervous.  I was again using the cheap craft paints and these colors required a few coats to get the right coverage.  They were a bit thin.

The new sculptors did a great job on the athletic shoes most of the Blood Bowl models are wearing.  I just wish my painting skills could have made better use of the detail on the shoes.  I could imagine the players hawking contracts for their shoes on Cabal Vision, they were that detailed.  For the Elf team I went with white shoes, white ribbons, and white loin clothes.  The loin clothes were not fun to paint.  You will notice this team also uses a mix of male and female blockers.

The positional players were next.  Again, their hair and the Blood Bowl balls were fun to paint since they gave me a chance to break the scheme up.  For one of the throwers, I decided to go with pink tips on his white hair.  I really wanted him to stand out as a bit of a showboat.  I also tried to use more Blonde hair on this team than any of the other teams, but I really like the way the red-hair on the blocker turned out.  A soft Tone wash from army painter was again used after blocking the main colors with cheap craft paint.

My last Blood Bowl team was painted up.  I will probably add two more teams to my league, but I am going to wait for the Lizardmen and Chaos Dwarf teams.  Nurgle's Rotters and the Undead team just don't do that much for me.  However, my family may feel differently when they go the FLGS so we will see.

With all my Blood Bowl models done I painted more int eh first month of 2019 than all year for 2018.  A good start.  I went down to my stash and started digging around for what else I had to paint, but didn't find much. I checked my Hobby Cash stash, it it was looking a little low, so I will have to wait before I can get new Plastic, Metal, or Resin dudes to paint.  Try to self-fund my hobby from Wargame sales is hard!

*Shameless Plug* If you want to help me out, go to the Wargame Vault Blood and Spectacles page, and pick-up some games.  You can even pay what you want for them!* 

Thanks for looking.  I can;t wait to get these guys on the pitch in 2019.  I am very curious to see how these Elf teams play.