BE4ST 2024 & Nurgle

Another team event so soon after Kent Team Champs... This time, the BE4ST 2024 4-person 2-day team event in Yaxley, Peterborough.

Hakflem & Nurgle

Unfortunately, one of our Redshirts was struck down by a horrible alien virus, and so the away mission was off to a bad start! (best wishes to Howlinggriffon on a full recovery!). However, after we had broadcast an SOS on all frequencies, VultureSquadron answered the call, driving up from Southend to help us out! Thanks Jack!!

Clearly there is a nasty virus out there, as the organisers had 5 substitutes on the bench for teams to use for just such a calamity... and they were all used by game 1 on Saturday!

Redshirts at BE4ST 2024 - wotfudboy, scs.sam, vulturesquadron & Mr_Frodo

We each had to take a different tier, so I went with a tier 4 Nurgle build which allowed 6 Primary skills and a star player.

Nurgle roster - BE4ST 2024 - Wotfudboy

My thinking was that the Bloaters, assisted by the Rotters could handle all the bashy stuff whilst Hakflem took care of the ball. The Guard Pestigor would stick close to him until the cage neared striking range and the Wrestle Pestigor could make a clearer path for him. This tactic seemed to work quite well for the day... mostly... For pictures of my Nurgle squad, see here.

My team mates chose as follows: scs.sam = Vampires, Mr_Frodo = Humans, and VultureSquadron at the choice of a filthy Snotling list, but instead went for the much more honourable Undead.

Justin (the TO) had laid on prizes, awards, a charity raffle, hot food for lunches on both days... and dealt with a family crisis on Sunday too! He really did well to handle all of that. And at £25 per coach for 2 days, that was good value. We got a decent bit of swag too:

BE4ST 2024 gifts... and a lunch ticket! - very important!

There were 15 (or 16?) teams in the hall (yes, 60 coaches), so it was a good sized competition.

Day One 

Game One vs athanatos's Dark Elves - Table 3

athanatos - Greek for Immortal apparently...

David got to line up his Dark Elves having lost the kick off in perfect weather (I chose to receive)... but as the pointy-eared meanies kicked the ball, the clouds evaporated and the sun shone abnormally strongly! ... yes, it was very sunny. However, I don't think this was going to affect the Nurgle passing game by much! We also had the same number of fans.

not sure about the hair bands... they cover the models up too much!

I had opted to spread my Bloaters out in case of any defensive shenanigans, and kept Hakflem back for the important ball handling. Naturally we started with couple of LoS blocks. With a deep kick, Hakflem didn't sweat it too much with his long movement, and there was no sneaky Blitz! to worry about on this drive.

Team Redshirts, round 1 vs Team XXXXX  - 3 vs 3, so already one match lost!

The Dark Elves were a little rusty as they missed some Guard skills on my players, turning what David thought were 2-dice blocks/blitzes into 1 dice blocks, and 1 dice blocks into 2-dice uphill... but this didn't affect the game too much. However, the dreaded elf double 1 on a dodge on turn 4/4 resulted in an early turn over and the Nurgle managed to cement their position up the pitch. Despite some furious blocking, the drive ended with the Nurgle 1-0 up but zero casualties inflicted by either side (0-0).

With not much else happening, the 2nd half began with another Changing Weather, but this time back to Perfect Weather - just in time for the Dark Elf drive! 😞

The blocking wasn't getting much better, as I managed to hurt myself in turn 2/2 with a double both down. By turn 3/4 the Dark Elves had lost the ball, with Hakflem recovering it, but not able to get to safety. The DE's tried their luck with a blitz on Hakflem and promptly double skulled! By turn 6/6 the Nurgle managed to inflict their first casualty (1-1). We did manage to prevent the elves from scoring though, which was a feat in itself.

When the game ended I was too busy to note the final score down on my notes, as I was probably filling in the team score sheet, but I'll put that the game ended 1-0 (1-1) for now, and update this later when I find that's probably wrong!

Redshirts news: Despite being one player short, we earned a team win! 3-0-1. 

And it was lunch... Hot food was handed out in exchange for tokens, and everyone was happy. Even the Vegans! ...you had to be there to understand! (there was a hand raising and walk of shame!) 😆.

Game Two vs Lyracian's Humans (Team LBBL B) - Table 2

What Indiana Jones does in his spare time is up to him!

In perfect blood bowl weather I chose to receive against Michael's humans, playing in front of the same number of fans as each other again! 

a deeeeeep kick

Those pesky humans kicked deep into my half, but again, what the Nurgle lacked in speed was quickly made up for my Hakflem, so I wasn't too worried. However, on kick off there was an Officious Ref and I ended up with a stunned Bloater, followed up by double-skulling my first block. I was duty-bound to use a precious reroll... and the game had started pretty badly. Fortunately, after some other less interesting blocking, Hakflem kept a level head (or both level heads!) and picked up the ball.

Things improved a bit more as I injured a Guard Blitzer in turn 3/2, only for my Guard Pestigor to be KO'd in turn 3/3. We did managed to Badly Hurt a Halfling in turn 4/3... but we were too open to blitz! to delay scoring, so ran in to score on turn 6/5, 1-0 (2-0).

But then, calamity... a Time Out! - and back the turns went, leaving a fast moving human team with a chance to equalise. This didn't start too well for them though, as the Nurgle frustration was taken out on the Ogre, hurting him in turn 6/5. The Nurgle defence held strong and the half ended 1-0 (3-0).

However, the humans began their drive with more violence, hurting my Guard & Wrestle Pestigors in subsequent turns of 1/2 and 2/3. However, it wasn't until later I realised I had Regeneration... and completely forgot about it!! D'Oh! Injuries were still (3-2) by this point.

Not that it made a difference. The Humans made it count and scored a late equaliser, and the game finished 1-1 (3-2).

Redshirts news: We didn't do so well this time, having 1 draw and 3 losses as a team... losing to the eventual *unlucky 2nd place team (*more on that later!). 0-1-3.

Game Three vs Dangerrats's Old World Alliance - Table 3

It was back to table 3 for the Redshirts where I faced Adam's Old World Alliance. For the 3rd game in a row I won the kick off roll (after rolling more fans and Perfect Weather).

"I think we have the ball covered lads!"

I perceived the Treeman to be a thorn in my side amongst the slow moving Bloaters, so we planned on putting his human team mates on the floor and then getting a 2-dice hit on him. This was risky, as if this didn't work, I could end up 4 players all engaged with the Treeman, leaving the rest of the field open.

The plan came through, and we ended up splatting the Treeman to the floor and then running in for a gang foul that did nothing. However, we shouldn't have worried, as the Treeman soon failed Take Root leaving him 1 square into my half very early in the drive. The Nurgle pressed forward around him and 'quickly' were out of range, leaving him alone in a field with nothing to do!

We pressed our advantage, managing to land a punch on a Guard Dwarf Blitzer in turn 5/4 (1-0) and then knocking over and fouling the Mighty Blow Troll Slayer sending him into the casualty box. Sadly, fouls didn't count for injuries! We managed to score at the end of our drive, 1-0 (1-0).

The OWA made use of the las turn to KO a couple of Nurgle players, and the 2nd half began with 10 vs 11... and the kick off result of Changing Weather landed the ball in the middle of the right hand wing on the OWA side. But then, more bad luck for the Treeman as Adam couldn't prevent it Taking Root once more in turn 0/1 which effectively meant it was 10 vs 10 now.

With little strength to defend the ball the Nurgle pressed in, and the ball eventually spilt, with the Nurgle cruising to a 2-0 (1-0) win. It couldn't have gone much better for the Nurgle really. Adam was very good natured in accepting "that's Blood Bowl", but it never feels nice to get beaten by both the dice and the opponent!

Redshirts news: We managed a team win this time, 1-3-0 leaving us on 2/0/1 for Day One - not a bad effort!

With a stop off to check in at the local Premier Inn, and a meal out at Bella Italia, we got some rest for Day Two...

Day Two

Game Four vs Knowmad's Chaos Chosen - Table 3

Chaos-off!

The day would start with a battle of the Chaos Gods... Nurgle vs Chaos Chosen. After a flawless day one of kick off rolling I rolled both less fans and lost the kick off roll in Perfect Weather. The various animal-themed Chaos Warriors lined up to take down my line of scrimmage Bloaters (Ellie the Elephant, Gary the Gorilla etc), and the Minotaur began on the left wing... and the ball ended up on the left hand side too... so good prediction there Nick!

The groundsman appreciated raking in the post-match fertiliser!

The half began with some hitting and repositioning for both teams, and by turn 2/2 we had used a reroll trying to rush a Guard Bloater into the lines. But the Chaos Chosen attack was strong... with the Minotaur picking off the Rotters, hurting one (with a RIP) in turn 2/3 (0-1). In response, we earnt retribution by hurting a Beastman in turn 3/3 (1-1).

By turn 5/5 things were getting stretched for both teams, and it took Hakflem to make a risky sacking on the Extra-Armed Beastman ball carrier, having to dodge reroll a 3+ dodge to make it. With a 2-dice Guard assisted blitz, the beastman splatted and proned, and the ball spilt backwards away from my end zone. However, Hakflem was floored before he could get to the ball and the Chaos Chosen recovered.

Significantly to the match, we hurt the Extra Arms beastman in turn 7/7 (2-1) but couldn't prevent a play that ended with a 2x Rush (GFI) to score... I was reliably informed the scorer was "Swifty Gonzales". 0-1 (2-1).

However, the half was not over, and perhaps unwisely Nick lined up two Chaos Warriors and the Minotaur on the LoS. The Nurgle promptly knocked them all over and gang fouled the Minotaur, who was carried off into the injury dug out. Result!

The second half began with me feeling much better about things. However, it began with a Time Out! leaving me less time to equalise or even win! Neither of our KO's came back and the fun began again with 10 vs 8. However, neither side inflicted any more hurt on each other, and after checking with my team mates as to whether I need to secure a draw or push for a win, I was told in no uncertain terms to push for the win... so I ran in on turn 5/4 to equalise 1-1 (2-1).

We set up, still with 10 vs 8, and the kick (fortunately for me) sailed off into the left hand corner. And of course the butter fingers Beastman couldn't pick up even with a reroll! Despite some attempts to defend, the Nurgle punched through with the Wrestle/Horns Pestigor combo and tied up as many Chaos Chosen players as possible in the centre field, leaving Hakflem with the assistance of a Guard Pestigor to get put the Beastman down and get the ball... inflicting an injury on the Tackle Beastman along the way (targeted to keep Hakflem safe!) (3-1) and scoring in turn 8/7. The game fizzled out and we had earnt a vital win for the team, 2-1 (3-1).

Redshirts news: We managed a team win!. 2-1-1 (need to check!) 

Game Five vs PeteW's Snotlings with Morg'n'Thorg and Hakflem -  (Team W) - Table 2

We were up against Team W...

... and I was facing PeteW!

"Pete, Blue Steel!" 😄

Weirdly, despite seeing Pete at so many tournaments over the years, we had never played each other on table-top... sure, we have played 19 times on Fumbbl (and yes he is currently owning me at 6/3/10!). [Health Warning! - What follows may contain large amounts of salt!]... but our first game had to be against this filthy list of Morg'n'Thorg, Hakflem (to cancel out my Halkflem), 2x Trolls, Riotus Rookies, an Accurate & Pass Bomber and a Sneaky Git Snotling (and 2x Diving Tackle Snotlings)... and of course, Pete rolled the full compliment of Rookies too... but just one reroll, which, as it turned out, he didn't really need anyway!

I won the kick off and decided to receive... but I was facing a squad of 21 players, with swarming allowing Pete to field 14 players. This was going to be tough!

The Snotling bench...

The first half began cautiously, as I needed to make my Disturbing Presence count. Hakflem of course failed to pick up the ball deep centre of my half. This left the threat of TTM, but Pete despite mentioning it, he decided to also play more cautiously.

As turn 2/2 came to a conclusion, Pete realised he had left his stilty-runner in a tackle zone, so asked if he could dodge it... which I of course allowed... and he promptly fell over and hurt himself! However, in turn 3/3 my Wrestle Pestigor was targeted, knocked over, gang fouled and failed to regenerate.

We did manage to inflict a couple of Snotling casualties, (2-0), including one Diving Tackle snotling, but we were forced to score in turn 5/4. 1-0 (2-0).

We rolled a Blitz! on kick off, but ironically this is where it all started to go wrong. Despite marking Morg, we tried with blocking a Snotling to begin clearing a path for a risky one-dice blitz of Hakflem on Hakflem... and 12x blocking dice later and not a single splat, the Diving Tackle Snotling was defiantly covering my Hakflem... But I made the 3+ dodge away, and rolled a series of 2+ and 3+ dodges to land a hit on Pete's Hakflem. This resulted in a push... but with a way to go I decided not to try the 50/50 loner reroll.

The Snotling dodged through and round my team up the right wing, making Hakflem safe from all but Hakflem... and then drum roll.... Morg made his dodge, 3 dice splatted my Haklem, beat armour without the +2 Mighty Blow, and put it on the injury... and injured him!

The Snotlings equalised in turn 8/8... 1-1 (2-1)... but the game was effectively over... Pete just had to receive, with Hakflem doing the ball handling and Morg removing a player every other turn, and if not, a gang foul would do the trick.

The second half began with a Troll vomitting and hurting the Guard Pestigor, and his Hakflem 1'd the pick up near the LoS... but there was plenty of cover. We managed to hurt one more Snotling, but the game was over.

Actual footage of Pete talking to me in-game... 😢

The game ended 1-2 (3-2) as we whizzed through the second half with me devoid of hope. If there hadn't been such a large Snotling bench, and I hadn't put Hakflem at risk... then perhaps it could have been different... but it didn't feel like it. And there was always the threat of a 4+ bomb landing on my defensive lines anyway. Ah well...

Redshirts news: Unfortunately a team loss!. 0-2-2 (Thanks to PeteW for the info!).

Game Six vs DrHellboy's Snotlings with Morg'n'Thorg & Skitter - Table 2

"...the greater good!" 😄

A slightly different Snotling build from Steven for the last game of the weekend... including Morg'n'Thorg (represented by a Bertha model) and Skitter with his stabbing assassin-tendencies - which was a real threat to Hakflem's weak armour! 

I brought less fans to this one, and lost the kick off in Perfect Weather. 

The Snotling brought 3 comrades on from Swarming... and I rolled a Blitz! on kick off, allowing me to move 5 free players. This didn't really affect much as I wasn't going to run Hakflem into the range of a free stab, blitz or foul. 

However, turn 0/1 saw the Accurate bomber fumble it (snaked), and it landed on him, hurting himself. Not a good start! The Snotlings pushed up the pitch. We KO'd one in turn 2/2 but no injuries were inflicted on either side until turn 5/5 when a Rotter got hurt (0-1). Revenge of sorts was inflicted when we hurt a Snotling in turn 6/6 (1-1)... But then Hakflem had a chance of blitzing Skitter (who was the ball carrier at the time) but all that over confidence undid him, and he rolled a double-skull. This left him with a number of Snotlings with the opportunity to gang foul him, or for Skitter to just walk in for an easy turn 7 score... but instead, Steven tried to free up a stilty-runner to assist in the foul... but he, of course failed his 3+ rerolled dodge. This left Skitter vulnerable to a one dice block, but instead, Hakflem with the assistance of a Guard Pestigor and a Rotter marked Skitter... who needed a 4+ dodge with dodge into the end zone to score... and fell over! The half ended 0-0 (2-1).

The second half was Changing Weather (wow!, again?!) which changed to Very Sunny. The ball was on the left hand wing. After hurting a Snotling (3-1), the other Snotling bomber didn't have much better luck and a wayward bomb went off and proned 2x Snotlings in turn 1/1.

We followed up by hurting a stilty-runner (4-1) in turn 2/1 and a Rotter got hurt in turn 2/2 (4-2).

What occurred in between was a little blurry, but we whittled down the Snotling team who didn't have a large bench at all... and ended stalling for a lot of the 2nd half. That didn't stop a successful 6+ TTM and 5 Snotling landing to plonk down near Hakflem and his Guard Pestigor bodyguard. We couldn't stop the Snotling ourselves and was more worried about the range and power of the prone Morg'n'Thorg who we fouled a couple of times before finally sending him to the injury box.

The brave Snotling tried a blitz, needing rushes and a 3-dice up hill... but promptly rolled snake eyes on the final dodge... and my heart recovered!

The game ended 1-0 (4-2).

Redshirts news: A hard fought draw for the team, with 2-0-2. Team Redshirts ended the weekend on 3/1/2 which wasn't a bad effort!

Results

I will have to provide the final team standings later when I see them, but the winners were as follows:

Winners - Purplegoo (individual)

Team winners - TEAM W (Purple goo / Joemanji / PeteW / ThomasW)

Team Runners up - LBBL B (Danny / Dazzamac / Lyracian / The_champ)

Most Touchdowns - Bogey_105

Most Casualties - Charliebanks

Stunty Cup - Chicken23 (Snots)

Best Painted - Bloodtithe (high elves)

Comeback King - Stumblefumblepro

Spoon - NCC White

There was some talk of Swiss something-or-other for the 1st and 2nd place... I didn't really understand it... 🤷

...but there was a whiff of hard luck with the way the Team winner was decided, with the two contenders having to play each other again... but hey... I don't think anyone else but those two teams cared that much as everyone had had a good time. But congratulations to Team W and to LBBL B who I feel we helped get to where they were! 😀

Individual Standings

BE4ST 2024 Individual Standings

And yes, I finished 4th!

Congratulations to all the winners. Thanks to all our lovely opponents and to Justin and the other helpers/organisers who laid on such a good event, and also to my team mates, especially VultureSquadron for joining us so that nearly all our opposing teams got to play 4 games each.

I will try and get the various yellow bits updated... Forgive me 😐

As soon as Justin has found time to provide the Team Standings I will update here.

Thanks all for reading, and also a special thank you to a number of coaches that expressed kind words about reading my blog. Made me all warm and fuzzy!