NAF Championships 2025 - learning Old World Alliance

Welcome to my 6th NAF Championships tournament report. For regular visitors to my blog I really do appreciate all Facebook likes & comments, as well as all the other likes, shares and feedback across other social media platforms. Just to note, there's nothing commercially in it for me as I'm not affiliated with any company, and the blog is way too small for any advertising (even if I wanted it!). It's all done purely for personal recording and sharing the love (and a bit of occasional loathing) of the game of Blood Bowl!

If you're interested, please see my reports from:

2024: https://wotfudboy.blogspot.com/2024/05/naf-champs24-failing-with-orcs.html
2023: https://wotfudboy.blogspot.com/2023/05/naf-champs-23-11th-with-dwarves-sevens.html
2022: https://wotfudboy.blogspot.com/2022/05/naf-champs-22-tournament-report.html
2019: https://wotfudboy.blogspot.com/2019/05/naf-championships-2019-there-and-back.html
2017: https://wotfudboy.blogspot.com/2017/05/naf-championships-2017-wotfudboys-take.html

What's good and what's new this year?

There are lots of great things about the NAF Championships. Firstly, it's held in Nottingham, which, geographically, is pretty central and easiest access to all areas of Great Britain. Not only that, but it's the home city of Games Workshop, which means a nerd-pilgrimage to Warhammer World for many.

Asides from that (as if you need more!), the East Midlands Conference Centre is very conveniently right next to the Orchard Hotel, which means a 40 yard walk to the venue after breakfast! And you even get a discount for the room via your ticket. 

One big difference this year was having the draw, result submissions and standings via: http://nafchampionship.co.uk/ This made the day far less complicated for attendees and (I would imagine) the organisers alike.

There's also so much community support, from Sann's awesome Tableau Public stats breakdown page.

Also, we all checked out Dr Hellboy's youtube breakdown of EVERY roster submitted.

There were also a whole back wall of sponsor/vendors too, including Hearth Forge Games, Black Orc Down, Charlie Victor and Exit23 Games.

Old World Alliance

I had painted up a human team in the Mandalorian style, but had neglected to paint the catchers. In order to field an Old World Alliance team, I needed several Dwarf players too. 

'Stormtrooper' themed Dwarf linemen - only need 2 for the OWA roster!

'Mandalorian' themed Human team - elements borrowed for the OWA team

Roster

My OWA roster is here. 

It turned out my roster was unique to the other 6 OWA rosters. I was thinking of going for a pass/catch play, trying to catch out opponents thinking it was all about a running play. You'll see more of this perhaps in the match reports, but in retrospect it was probably wiser to go for a running play. The Sneaky Git was useful, particularly given that I had little team-wide skills to take out players on the block/blitz hit. The blodging catcher had his moments (no spoilers) and his speed was a great threat throughout the weekend. Overall though, I was fortunate (in the main) to not have Loner fails on the Dwarves spoil my weekend, and the animosity didn't feature - it just didn't situationally come up. The Dwarf Blockers were there just to soak up hits and block up the centre ground. Would skilling them up have helped? Not sure. The combo of the Guard Ogre and Brawler on the Blockers worked quite nicely.

The top five races taken were: Amazons, Dark Elves, Lizardmen, Orcs and Shambling Undead with 290+ coaches in attendance!

Spot yourself in the video?

Sponsors / Vendors

Awesome sponsors pictured above.

Day One

Game One vs Benbowbaggins's Lizardmen - Table 27

Up against Lizardmen. I'm not sure what a "good" opponent for OWA actually is, but I do know it's NOT Lizardmen! I was kicking in Perfect Weather in front of more Lizard fans too.

Lizards getting ready to tuck in

As you can imagine, with a bunch of AV 10+ on the LoS, it was going to be a stodgy first few turns but the game soon got going. Both teams showed inability with the Krox rolling a both down followed by the Ogre doing the same. The ball was kicked deep left into the Lizardmen end, but as you can imagine it didn't take long for the skinks to get it back up the pitch. It took 6 turns for the OWA armour to break and succumb to injury, with a dwarf blocker being carried off the pitch. We just couldn't hold back the cold-blooded tide and they scored. 0-1 (0-1).

The second half started with Changing Weather. Despite this we collected the ball, but soon we double-skulled a block and put ourselves under pressure. The Krox soon took out a human lineman and a desperate play led to the Human Catcher being crowd surfed and Knocked Out. Eventually the Human Thrower ball carrier was exposed and blitzed , the ball spilt and was caught on the bounce... by the Ogre! It was a further frustrating 4 turns of getting nowhere, but we did hurt a skink... and the game ended with a loss. 0-1 (1-2).

And lunch.

I have to say, I've given Dan (as have others) grief about the lunch quality on previous visits, but the sandwiches were better quality, with fruit, water, crisps and a chocolate bar. We found out the next day that because the lunches weren't supervised, people had been helping themselves to more than one pack and others had been left without. Unbelievable!!

Game Two vs Steve's Lizardmen - Table 102

Lizards again! We'd had a practise game with them, so we knew what to expect and could maybe switch up our tactics a bit for this one. Again, we were playing in perfect weather in front of more lizardmen fans, but this time we won the kick and decided to receive.

More Lizardmen - The ball is a bit closer this time!

The game got underway with some ineffective blocking and a Bone Heading Ogre (a theme for the weekend actually!), which then left an unlikely route through for the Lizardmen to get through to the Catcher who had only just received a pass from the Thrower. The Chameleon made a couple of dodges and single-dice splatted the blodger catcher... and the ball spilled onto the floor. In the words of Scooby-Doo - Ruh Roh!! Fortunately he was unable to grab the ball. We had to blitz the Chameleon, collected the ball and Sneaky Git fouled him to death.

We had to use a reroll on a single dice block after the Troll Slayer failed Dauntless against the Krox. The resultant both down floored the big guy, and we managed to hurt a Skink too. The Lizards got some revenge my knocking out a Dwarf Blocker, but the game turned significantly when we were in a position to Crowd Surf the Krox. The crowd killed it with some overcooked hotdog bludgeoning, and we ran in to score in turn 8. 1-0 (3-0).

The second half began in the weird position of being 11 vs 7 on the pitch. A touchback ended with a Saurus on the LoS being handed the ball. We had overcommitted around the sides, and a few blocks later we were in trouble. The Lizards then hurt a human lineman, and we hurt a Skink, but after marking the ball carrier, we snaked a blitz GFI and the Lizards scored in turn 2/3. 1-1 (4-1).

However, we also received a touch back off the kick, and the Catcher went up the field with support from his team mates, and the game ended 2-1 (4-1).

Game Three vs Battlepuppy's Goblins - Table 59

We were playing in front of my Goblin fans (including a massive Puppy) in Perfect Weather and receiving the kick off. I did think to myself "Goblins have to be better than Lizardmen!"... how wrong I was...

That's a big puppy!

The Goblins were fielding 2x Ball and Chains (ie including a Star) and a Chainsaw, and a few Bribes. The game started with Changing Weather which ended in Sweltering Heat (which, significantly, we forgot later!)...

Another typically awful first turn with the Troll Slayer failing Dauntless and failing the 3+ Loner roll (reroll used). We then failed a pick up with Sure Hands in turn 2, spilling the ball into the crowd... and the ball went just 4 squares across the row in front of the end zone.

The Chainsaw then set about hurting the first of MANY of my players, but then a TTM attempt to get the loose ball and score ended in a failed landing and a Goblin death. We finally managed to pick up the ball with Sure Hands but failed a handoff to the Catcher and we were already a few turns in with the ball in our back field.

We managed to hurt a Goblin in turn 4 as we go the ball up the field, and then the Leader Goblin which was then successfully Apoth'd. We rolled in for a Touch Down in turn 8/7. 1-0 (3-1) and things were looking okay...

... and then a turn 8/8 TTM attempt started with a deep kick which the Pogo player successfully picked up and handed off. After passing Really Hungry and Really Stupid rolls, the pass was made, and the Goblin sailed forward twice and sideways once and landed (6) over the defending row of OWA players... all without access to a ReRoll! 1-1 (3-1). 

As we started the second half I remembered Sweltering Heat which could have had a dramatic effect on the TTM... ah well, too late. That was the beginning of the end...

By turn 2/2 of the second half my Guard Dwarf Blitzer failed a reroll dodge, rolled 66 on armour and 65 on injury and was off. The Troll then hurt a lineman, and we hurt a Goblin (4-3)... and then the Chainsaw took out 3 players in a row and the Goblins scored in turn 6/7. 1-2 (4-6). 

Ouch! - Chainsaw mania!!

With both KO's staying KO'd, we finished the last turns with a consolation Goblin casualty but the ball was kicked onto the back left endzone well out of reach and with only 5 players on the pitch we had no one to get the ball to the Halfling for a TTM of our own. The game finished 1-2 (5-6), with Andrew simply just apologising all the way through as my dice crumbled everywhere alongside the Goblin beating that was dished out.

End of Day One

Space Marine judging me!

After finishing the day 1/0/2, I consoled myself with a quick trip to Warhammer World for an essential Old World - High Elf purchase. Warhammer World was on the way back to my hotel (no, I was too late to get a room in the Orchard, so ended up at the St James hotel, right by Nottingham Castle.

Nottingham Castle

I managed a quick change (after missing the turning to find the hotel and then their car park!)... and then headed off to join friends (pictured below) at a Pub Grill place which served everything we wanted to fill a grumbling tummy. A good evening!

Me with the CBBBL crew

Day Two
Game Four vs Mr_Battenburg's Elven Union - Table 117

Some of the OWA fans decided to stay home in the Pouring Rain. We lost the kick off but the elves opted for us to Receive.

Post-Officious Ref stunning

The match got underway with an Officious Ref, and my Ogre got stunned (could have been worse!). However, our first block of the game ended with the Troll Slayer killing a linelf on the LoS. However, after picking up the ball, I made a rookie mistake of not counting the distance from the elves properly and they came swarming in and sacked the ball carrier... and the ball bounced back on to the SideStepping Blitzer and was caught! I couldn't sack him next turn (all pushes) and 2x ReRolls spent already. Turn 2-2 and 0-1 (1-0).Not a good start!!

And then the next drive started with a Time Out, so even less time to score an equaliser!... and so the drive started and of course the Ogre boneheaded. Things went from bad to worse when a one dice block killed by Human Tackle Blitzer. And the half ended 0-1 (2-1).

The second half began with the elves going up to 5 rerolls following Brilliant Coaching. The elves were moving around, and the elf Thrower tried shifting from side to side and snaked a GFI, without any support. Weirdly, the elves went through a spate of bad rolls and used up all their rerolls by their turn 5.

We managed to equalise and the game ended 1-1 (3-1). Dave's dice had been pretty woeful, and both of us rued our mistakes that led  to the other team scoring.

Game Five vs Dr_Cross's Vampires - Table 100

This 5th game was against this wonderful Spanish chap. What a gent! He presented me with some of his home-league dice too - VillaVerde Bowl. The game began in Perfect Weather, with more OWA fans finally! We won the kick and decided to receive.

Close up shot of nicely painted Vampires

That's where the ball landed! Also pictured, green dice only with 1's on them

We managed to start off in the usual way - failing a Sure Hands pick up. But from there on in, our luck changed, or rather, the Vampire's luck fell through the floor.

We recovered the ball, and one thrall was bitten and another blocked in to the KO box. A vampire runner with dodge then made four consecutive 1 rolls. Blood Lust, rerolled, Bloodlust, Dodge -1, reroll dodge -1. All this using the green tournament dice. We then hurt a Thrall, and Dr_Cross rolled another 1 and a double skull on the Vargheist. The Ogre then hurt the Dodge Runner who then failed to Regenerate. Soon after the Troll Slayer hurt one of the Vampire Throwers, who did at least regenerate. (3-0). The turn 8/7 ended with a Touch Down. 1-0.

A Time Out was rolled, but fortunately I had set up to try and prevent a one-turn attempt. Fortunately for me, this didn't come to much. The half ended 1-0 (3-0).

The Vargheist and 2x Thralls stayed KO'd. And of course, the Vampire curse continued and I rolled a Blitz! on kick off. This cemented a stronger defence. The Vampires got desperate, skulling a 1 dice blitz with a runner. They were powerless to stop a second touch down and the game quickly ended 2-0 (3-0)

Game Six vs Mournival's Shambling Undead

I was going into this final game on a 2/1/2, and I stated to Ryan that my aim was not to lose (I know that sounds stupidly obvious) so I would break even for the weekend. We had played in 2024 at the Games Expo, and Ryan was looking for vengeance. 

That crowds swelled to equal numbers in Perfect Weather. I lost the kick off and was kicking to the Undead. And the game began with a Pitch Invasion... which I lost the roll off for leaving three players stunned.

Post pitch invasion...even more stunning

By the end of the Undead first turn I had 4x players stunned, 1x prone and a zombie hurt a Dwarf Blocker. Ouch!

By turn 3/3 my Sneaky Git fouled and KO'd the Mighty Blow Undead Blitzer.

After rolling a number of both downs and double skulls, the Undead drive turned from a Funeral March to a wake... sealed off by killing a block Ghoul. The half ended 0-0 (1-1).

The second half began in a Blizzard (yes, I'd experienced most of the weather across the weekend!). My first turn was uneventful, but Ryan started his with a zombie block resulting in Quad Skulls!

It was getting silly when a Wight failed a GFI, and 2x Undead Rerolls were used by turn 2/2.

From here I stopped taking notes as time was running low and frankly the game was too close. The Undead pressed up the field towards me. I managed to get the ball in the hands of my Catcher up the right wing and did my best to stop him being stomped by free moving Ghouls and Blitzers. It got to the point where I think I was safe from conceding but there was a slim chance of scoring. As we reached the final turns of the game, the Undead threw (I think) 7 blocks, but the lack of a splat meant my blodger survived, and even better had been pushed to a place where he only needed to make a 3+ dodge. And with a brief drum roll, he did, and scored. The game ended 1-0 (1-1). Ryan took it well, but having been on the other end of those dice, I think a draw would have been fairer.

Results

I finished on 3/1/2 for the weekend, and I'm delighted that I rode my luck to finish above average, placing 117 out of 294 coaches. I was the second highest place OWA coach, but awesome result for Eldritchfox who showed us all how it should be done finishing 15th! If I was to have my time again, his roster was a much better choice!

and Congratulations! to Paul (Geggster)

As always, thanks to everyone for a fun event. Especially well done to the organisers... smoothly done.

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