Bunker Bowl 2010 - SPECIAL REPORT! (Part 2)

After a distinctly average performance yesterday, the Hackers hoped to pull out all the stops on the final day of the tournament. After two defeats already, the coveted Bunker Bowl trophy was almost certainly out of reach, but three wins today would doubtless place them in the upper half of the table. This would mean the Hackers’ best tournament ranking since the team was formed.


Only three obstacles stood in their way – the first of which were the Redback Shitbeaks.

GAME FOUR

Green Glade Hackers Vs. The Redback Shitbeaks

Skaven. Let’s face it, who really enjoys playing against the Skaven? They’re sneaky, they’re fast, they smell and the play dirty.

In fact, they play so dirty that almost immediately after kick-off, poor Athelan the Wild was being carried off the pitch!

After that, the first half was a galling and dreadful run of Skaven touchdowns, thanks to their fiendishly annoying Gutter Runners. Try as we might, we simply couldn’t stop them scoring (or get them off the pitch!!).

As consolation, we managed to scrape back two touchdowns in the second half, thanks to Stark-Elm the Reckless, but not before losing our catcher, Twister Pine-Cone to yet more nefarious Skaven antics.

FINAL SCORE

Green Glade Hackers 4-2 The Redback Shitbeaks

GAME FIVE

Green Glade Hackers Vs. The Grinning Moons

This game was a real crowd-pleaser, especially for the Hackers fans!

We knew from the start that this was going to be a dirty game, even as we heard the Goblin team’s chainsaw spluttering to life.

The danger was short-lived though as Stormwind, The Golden Tornado brilliantly assessed the impending gore-fest and cut it short by swiftly dispatching the chainsaw-wielding greenskin.

The Moons were left reeling by this and ‘Zipper’ Hare-Foot took full advantage by scoring his first touchdown of the tournament during their disarray.

That is not to say our casualty toll wasn’t tremendously high though, losing ‘Bloody Luckless’ Luthien, Athelan the Wild, ‘Thoroughly Dubious’ Duran and (most embarrassingly) Stark-Elm the Reckless to Goblin assaults.

In total, we only managed to inflict three casualties in return, but then we weren’t fielding the ‘special equipment’ that the cheating Goblins had managed to sneak onto the pitch.

In the end, they managed two touchdowns thanks to a couple of their players being launched down the pitch, but they couldn’t match our tally.

FINAL SCORE

Green Glade Hackers 4-2 The Grinning Moons

GAME SIX

Green Glade Hackers Vs. Middenheim Mustangs

The final game of this tournament was somewhat marred by disaster, almost from the start. Perhaps we were misled by our underestimation of the Human team. After all, they were relatively tough, but not as quick or agile as us. They certainly weren’t as hardy as a Norse team and our Treeman was more than a match for their Ogre. However, our Elvish arrogance proved to be our undoing.

The match started off well enough when Twister Pine-Cone danced through the Mustang line to score an effortless touchdown, but that’s where our good fortune ended.

In a cruel twist of fate, Stark-Elm the Reckless suffered a game-ending injury when he tripped and fell while breaking away from one of the Mustangs.

‘Zipper’ Hare-Foot followed him off the pitch soon after, smashed down by the sheer force of a vicious tackle.

Suffering a two-player deficit, we conceded a touchdown just before half-time, forced by the sheer strength, and the relentlessness of, the Mustangs’ pressing attack.

The second half brought more misery after Twister Pine-Cone was launched mercilessly off the pitch into the arms of the Mustangs’ fans. His game was immediately over, and it is at this moment uncertain whether he will be able to play Blood Bowl again. Or walk, for that matter.

Treeman, ‘The Outrageous’ Girth, missed most of the half after an extremely large rock was launched at kick-off – hitting him across the head and knocking him senseless.

Without his protection, most of the Hackers were knocked face-down into the dirt as the Mustangs simply walked down the length of the pitch to score their winning touchdown right on the full-time whistle.

FINAL SCORE

Green Glade Hackers 1-2 Middenheim Mustangs

Bunker Bowl 2010 - SPECIAL REPORT! (Part 1)

The day has finally arrived as Blood Bowl fans from across the Old World gather for the excitement and brutality of this year's Bunker Bowl tournament.
Twenty-four teams. Six games. Two days. One prize:

The Bunker Bowl trophy.

But is this glittering prize within the reach of the embattled Green Glade Hackers? Their recent slew of mixed (but mainly poor) results has certainly not filled their fans with confidence.
Surely their hearts sank when their first match was drawn against one of the most notorious Lizardman teams in the tournament.

Head Coach ‘Unlucky’ Lysenko reports in his own words:

GAME ONE:

Green Glade Hackers Vs. Bloxy Music

The Hackers always knew this would be a difficult match, and in a way, we were glad to have gotten it over with first thing.

Panic and triumph intertwined early on in the game when we lost ‘Thoroughly Dubious’ Duran to a violent Saurus tackle – but then scored our first touchdown of the tournament almost immediately afterwards.

Our hearts sank when we lost ‘Bloody Luckless’ Luthien almost immediately after the subsequent kick-off.

Two players down and only a quarter of the way through the game.

It was a nervy remainder to the half, but we managed to hold off the lizards until just before half-time when they unfortunately scored.

Our hopes rose once more when we scored half-way through the second half – only to once more have our hopes dashed, this time by the serious injury on The Auburn Assassin – a blatant act of vengeance which came immediately after our touchdown.

Sadly, just when a draw was in sight, we lost the game when our Treeman, ‘The Outrageous’ Girth, managed to fall over his own roots as he tried to take down a Saurus. This left a gaping hole in the middle of our line for one of their Skinks to run through, grab the ball from beneath our noses, and score.

FINAL SCORE:

Green Glade Hackers 2 – 3 Bloxy Music

GAME 2:

Green Glade Hackers Vs. Jagermonsters

If the first game was about being out-played, then this was definitely going to be about being out-crunched.

These Norse had a fearsome reputation for violence, even amongst some of the more hardened Blood Bowl coaches.

We knew that there was going to be a high casualty tally, but although four Serious Injuries was bad, it was nowhere near what we were expecting.

We were hammered hard in the first half, losing two players – Thrower ‘Go Long’ Glorfindel and fan-favourite, Clooney the Bear – one almost at the outset and the other towards the middle of the half. This blow was softened by the Norse losing one of their two werewolves, when one of our line-elves (who will naturally remain nameless) stuck out a foot and tripped the creature as he tried to dodge away from him.

Needless to say our fans were cheered up no end by this.

Unfortunately, as with the last game, we let through a touchdown in the dying seconds of the first half and went through to the second half needing to catch up.

Once more, touchdowns and injuries came hand-in-hand as ‘Bloody Luckless’ Luthien scored early in the half only seconds before ‘Thoroughly Dubious’ Duran took yet another injury.

The fans had to wait until the last minutes of the game to see Stormwind, the Golden Tornado – one of our fine Wardancers – score the winner, but in a fit of bitterness, the Norse fouled The Auburn Assassin out of the game, only for their player to be sent off for it.

FINAL SCORE:

Green Glade Hackers 2 – 1 Jagermonsters

GAME THREE:

Green Glade Hackers Vs. Far Sea Falcons

I don’t mind admitting that we were completely out-elf’d by this Pro Elf team.

A blow-by-blow account of this game would be almost impossible as the two teams danced skilfully across the pitch amassing numerous touchdowns and collecting many, many injuries for their trouble.

No matter how cunningly we passed and dodged though, for every touchdown we scored, the Falcons notched up almost two, though we came off a lot better on casualties.

Our star scorer of the match, with his hat-trick of touchdowns (which were our only touchdowns in the end) was Stark-Elm the Reckless, who had been rather quiet so far in the tournament but now seemed to have warmed up to the event.

‘Bloody Luckless’ Luthien, living up to his name, fell over his own laces and had to be stretchered off, while the Falcons’ Thrower managed the same feat later in the game.

Rather uncharacteristically violently, the Hackers managed to injure four of the enemy players, thanks to frustrated blocks by Stormwind, Girth, Twister Pine-Cone and Clooney the Bear.

The numbers advantage gained from these injuries could not however rescue the game.

FINAL SCORE:

Green Glade Hackers 3-5 Far Sea Falcons

So, the first day under our belts and a very mixed bag, really.  We expected defeat at the hands of Bloxy Music, were surprised to beat the Jagermonsters, but then really should have managed to defeat the Far Sea Falcons.  After seeing the injury tally we inflicted on them at the end of the game, perhaps we should have tried hitting them sooner.  Still, tomorrow is another day...

Coming Next:

The second instalment of our exciting and EXCLUSIVE Bunker Bowl 2010 report!!!

'We're Ready,' Vows Lysenko After 3-2 Victory.

Green Glade Hackers coach, 'Unlucky' Lysenko stood defiant this evening, vowing to cast away his unfortunate monicker when his team take to the field this weekend for the 2010 Bunker Bowl tournament.

His confidence was no doubt boosted by tonight's comfortable 3-2 win against the Lizardman team, Sobek's Raiders.

Treeman, 'the Outrageous' Girth, seems to have stoked fire in the bellies of these once-gentle Elves as they proved themselves the more violent of the two teams.  In fact, rather miraculously, the team ended the first half with all eleven players on the pitch!

'Thoroughly Dubious' Duran was their only casualty, his game ended by the armoured fist of one of the Raiders' Saurus players.

Evening the score, and more besides, the Elves and Girth managed to kill a Saurus and Skink - not to mention rendering a slew of players unconscious.

'It's very easy,' Lysenko warns, 'to pin all of our recent improvement upon the arrival of 'the Outrageous' Girth.  But the truth is, magnificent figurehead though he may make, it's the fact that the team has now gelled into a coherent and formidable group of players that makes them Old World-beaters.'

But fans now know that the time for talk is over.

Only Saturday and Sunday will tell whether the Green Glade Hackers are good enough to add silverware to their (rather empty) wooden cabinet.

Buy our weekend supplement for our special two-part report.

The Daily Wood:  Your OFFICIAL Bunker Bowl paper*.




*The Daily Wood is in no way affiliated with or linked to Bloodweiser, the Bunker Bowl Conglomerate or any of her sister companies.  All Bunker Bowl images are copyright 2010 Bloodweiser / B-Bowl-C.  Bunker Bowl is sponsored by Pip-Seed - The Taste Of The Yew Generation (TM).

Losing Streak Broken, Thrones Curse Remains.

Green Glade Hackers fans were elated tonight after their team's dire losing streak was broken by a 2-1 victory - relieving the growing pressure on head coach 'Unlucky' Lysenko.

Nerves were jangling as the Khorne-worshipping Norse team they were facing stomped, jeering, onto the pitch.

The hush of the Wood Elf fans predicted that their team weren't going to get out of this one unscathed.

And scathed they certainly were, to the tally of four Elves sacrificed to the glory of the Blood God during the course of the game.

Still, in an uncharacteristic feat of bravery and resolve, the Hackers managed to lead for much of the game, thankfully holding off a last-minute equaliser from their opponents, sealing a victory that managed to silence even the blood-thirsty calls of the Norse fans.

Despite this elation, a re-re-match against their old enemies, the Zharr-Naggrund Thrones ended in a 2-1 defeat, despite the Hackers taking an early lead.

Once more, coach Lysenko put the Chaos Dwarf victory down to a string of dirty fouls from the Thrones, leading to no less than two of their players being sent off.

'Wait until Bunker Bowl,' seethed Lysenko.  'I hope we draw those stunty, beardy thugs so that we can have our revenge!  We're just warming up!  With a nice mug of cocoa.'

Fans will not have to wait long to see if they will face the Thrones again as Bunker Bowl kicks off in less than a fortnight...

Girth! Girth! Girth!

Well, three days for one miniature, that has to be a record for me!  I wish I could paint my Space Wolves as fast!!

'The Outrageous' Girth is finished  and I have to say, I'm very pleased with the result:

It’s amazing how all of the little mistakes made during modelling – due to a distinct lack of experience with Green Stuff – are readily masked by a fair paint job.




Of course, as I said before, ‘Eavy Metal it ain’t – but then it does the job.

And besides, even with a liberal coat of varnish, as a Blood Bowl miniature, it’s going to get chipped to buggery during play, so Golden Demon was definitely not what I was aiming for with him.

Here’s how he came together:

• Undercoated with Chaos Black spray and then spray-gunned with a basecoat of Charadon Granite.

• Drybrushed with Khemri Brown, then Dheneb Stone.

• A very light drybrush of Gretchen Green was added.

• The whole miniature was then washed with Devlan Mud.

• After the wash was dry, I re-drybrushed the Dheneb Stone extremely lightly before wet-painting on the same colour as an edge highlight. This was done rather haphazardly in order to keep the treeman looking like a thing of nature.

• Then, the moss and fungus was basecoated Knarloc Green and then drybrushed Gretchen Green and then Dheneb Stone.

• Finally, the exposed trunks were painted Calthan Brown, then Iyanden Darksun before a liberal Leviathan Purple wash was added.

• Then the trunks were worked back up from Iyanden Darksun to pure Bleached Bone.

• Finally, the shoulder pad was painted Space Wolves Grey, washed twice with Ogryn Flesh, painted back up with a 2:1 mix of Ogryn Flesh and Space Wolves Grey and then highlighted with this mix plus a little Skull White. Pure Skull White was then used as an extreme highlight. Then, two washes of Gryphonne Sepia were applied before the edges were re-highlighted with Skull White. The grain effect was given simply by running extremely thin lines of Skull White down the pad.

• The nails were done with Boltgun Metal, two Badab Black washes, a Devlan Mud wash, a Chainmail highlight, two more Devlan Mud washes, and finally an extreme highlight of Chainmail.

• The dirtied-rust effect was just Ogryn Flesh with increasing amounts of Blazing Orange added before being dirtied back down with Devlan Mud.

• The base was painted Bestial Brown and drybrushed Bleached Bone before modelling flock was added.

• The edge of the base was, of course, Goblin Green.

Job done!

In other news, I just wanted to share my excitement at spending half of the UK Games Day this year hovering around the ‘Eavy Metal department and soaking up as many tips as I could.

I had the distinct pleasure of chatting with Kornel Kozak (who won the Bronze Statue in the Open Competition with his beautiful yet stunningly simple Island of Blood Clanrat) and one of my all-time favourite painters, Anja Wettergren.

Hopefully some of their collective genius have rubbed off on me, but we’ll find out at next year’s Golden Demon, which I’m determined to enter – FOR THE FIRST TIME!!! More on that in the coming weeks, I hope...

Until then, one final bit of excitement:

I now own a copy of Island of Blood! I can’t wait to get my Skaven army started. Even now, I can hear grumbles of discontent coming from the direction of the Fang. But my Space Wolves need not panic. They are still my absolute priority.

For now.

That's Ent-ertainment!

Well, there's a nice surprise, and no mistake!

I was a bit worried that two weeks wouldn't be enough time to get my Treeman painted before the Bunker Bowl tournament, and, after only two nights' painting, he's almost done!

Don't get me wrong, he wouldn't stand up to 'Eavy Metal scrutiny by any means, but for a very basic paint job with lots of drybrushing, he's not too shabby.

Without further delay, let me introduce you to the Green Glade Hackers' latest addition...

'The Outrageous' Girth!

All that's left for me to do is to finish the base and paint his white shoulder pad, which should be done fairly quickly tomorrow... Ready for my next practice game on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, as I'm once more in danger of writing far too late into the night, I'm going to discuss the actual paints used (hopefully) tomorrow...

Until then, may your bark never rot!

What I Did On My Holidays...

Well, it feels like forever ago since I last updated this blog, and given my usual blogging enthusiasm, two weeks almost is.

Still, I'm finally back from my adventures in Wales and I have a freshly-modelled Treeman to show for it:

The clock is now ticking rather quickly now as there are less than two weeks until the Bunker Bowl tournament, so the paint job on this one might be a little bit rougher than I'd like.

So far, I've managed to work it up with a series of drybrush stages and hopefully there'll be some more pictures up tomorrow that'll give a better impression of what the finished player will look like...

Until then I'm waiting for the first of what will probably be many washes to dry...

The wash?  Devlan Mud, obviously.