I want to cast a spell...

Since I have so much downtime from my Blood Bowl tournaments (thanks a lot for that one work..), I've recently started exploring my interest in various other gaming venues. There has always been the computer gaming / console gaming.. but can only do that for so long - and I've already blogged about how I'm starting a new Ork army in Warhammer 40k.. so where else can I go from there?

Dungeons and Dragons. I know what you're thinking.. seriously? why that shit?

I've always been interested in an RPG type game.. when it came to picking games for computer/console - I've always been drawn to the ones where I get to build up a character however I'd like and kill stuff for XP. I like that a player can essentially sit down with a bunch of friends and conquer a dungeon, or multiple dungeons, as a team and work together to complete missions!

However.. what I don't like.. roleplaying. THIS is how I see roleplaying.. I understand that it's part of the game and how players are supposed to interact in game - but it's really silly to me! I don't want to sit at a table and have to speak for my character.. "Greetings, my name is ____. I hail for the forests of ____. It has taken me years of training with my master to become a truly amazing warrior.. let us fight together in battle!" - stupid.

Why can't I just roll dice and hack/slash?

My other problem is finding people to play with.. since the game has such a negative connotation with the general public.. I think a lot of nerds go to the underground as to not get made fun of. This makes it increasingly difficult for me to find normal people to play D&D with. I joined a group a few years back to try and start a 3.5e campaign.. but it was random people. We met at the DMs house, he was very nice (as was the rest of the group) but you could tell they were all really into the game. They were talking in character and looking to me to join in the RP.. when I was silent they would sort of coax the dialog out of me.

I didn't show up for a second session.It felt like going on a first date with a girl who you obviously aren't in to.. and then just never calling her again.

So where do I go from here? I've joined some forums and talked to a couple buddies to see if there is any interest in playing.. we'll see how that pans out. Why does a game that looks so great on paper, have to be so difficult to get a group for? Just let me be a nerd with other NORMAL nerds!

New Army Blog

As all gamers know.. armies come and go as quickly as our interest in different gaming systems. A little while back I started working on a Warhammer fantasy army - and just like before in the past.. they have made their way into the closet for another rainy day of hobbies.

Recently a friend invited me to participate in a gaming session with some of his friends. They expressed some interest in starting some 40k games in the near future so I've decided to start building / collecting Space Orks again!

To celebrate my birthday: I picked up a Battleforce, a box of Nobz, and some Gretchin! Over a few days I've gotten my Trukk together, as well as the Nobz and gretchin. But the Boyz are taking a bit of time - hard to decide what route to go. I'm figuring I'll build them up with Choppas and Sluggas - although greenskins love their dakka!!

Figured I would post a little blog since its been a little while.. Once more of this horde is together - more pictures will follow!

Thanks everyone

Why Nuffle... WHY!?

Blood Bowl is not a game for the faint of heart.. but if you're reading this you probably know that already. And what is more frustrating than getting attached to your players.. just to lose them to the pitch?

The Teenager From Mars, my Necromantic team, are no exception to the rule. The Teenagers are currently in their second season with the OWFuL league, one of the local table top leagues from the Chicago Battle Bunker. The league is made up of a bunch of great coaches - both in skill and personality.

Let's back up a little bit. 

Last year, the Teenagers had a wonderful season. Stat increases a plenty.. +AG Ghoul (AG4), +MA Werewolf (MA9), +ST Wight (ST4).. it was wonderful! The team was lucky enough to make it all the way to the league championship game. They weren't as lucky DURING the championship match as they were up to the match though. A hard fought game still left them short against Valdric and his Chaos Pact team. All in all - 2nd place overall for the season was wonderful.

Which brings us to this year...

I understand the Blood Bowl is a dice game, if you don't know that - talk to DarkOrk20 and he will remind you. This season has been very frustrating for the Teenagers through just about all 5 weeks of this current season. Seems like my team just can't get their play together.. both because they can't do anything right and because their opponents CAN.

SEASON 2 Recap
W1 - played Chaos, couldn't seem to pick up the ball for most of the match. Had a Ghoul RIP, that was fun.

W2 - BYE week, luckily I had enough winnings from week 1 and my bye week to replace the missing Ghoul and buy an extra Zombie.. prepared for week 3.

W3 - played Wood Elves, lucky for me the coach isn't very proficient for his team. I certainly didn't play well, but was lucky to pull off a 2-0 win although I was out CAS'd (thank Nuffle for regenerate)

W4 - played a very tough Orc team. Don't have much good to say about this match. Drove 1.5hours round trip, spent 2 hours playing the match.. outcome: just an MVP.

W5 - BLOOD everywhere. Week 5 took place last night and is still very fresh in mind. I played against a Chaos Dwarf coach and nuffle smite me again.

The match started off with a rock being hurled in from the crowd.. luckily I had just as many pissed off fans as the other team. The rock from the Teenagers fans struck at Bull Centaur in the face - injuring it for the game! Not even the Apothecary could help bring it back to the back.. as she rolled a 1! The fans from the Little Green Men stunned a Wight.

The game seemed to go on like this though.. The CDwarves hurt one Werewolf who couldn't regen his injury, and KILLED the other Wolf on the team (another failed regen)! In addition to those two important injuries.. the Green Men also kept possession of the ball for the majority of the match!

Wilhelm Chaney did manage to kill the other Centaur on the pitch, and since the team apothecary was too busy trying to revive the first from the opening kick off - this one was raised by the Teenagers Necromancer and has now become part of the team! (Welcome to the squad, Bull Centaur #15.. too bad you didn't have a name haha ) This heroic act was a bit too late in the match to really help out.

The current season has been rough so far. The likelihood that the TFM will make it into the playoffs this season is fairly slim. They will need Coach Kaline to find a new way to motivate this undead horde if they stand a chance! But like I said before.. Blood Bowl isn't for the faint of heart - and I'm not ready to quit on them yet.

Preparing for 2012

2012 is already promising to be a BUSY year for me.. applying for Nursing school by March 15th, getting married in June, leaving to hopefully relax on Honeymoon, starting Nursing school in the fall if everything goes as planned, working full time, and trying to keep some semblance of a social life! Oh yea, and trying to avoid the end of the world!

With all of that to get done and what am I concerned with? ... Blood Bowl of course! The way my work schedule lines up, I work every other weekend - what does that mean for Blood Bowl? I have a 50/50 shot of having the time off to attend tournaments. 2012 is NOT looking very promising for me as far as local tournaments go.

Let's take a look at the tournament calendar for the next year..
- Underworld (Dec 2011) - Working
- Heroes Challenge (Feb 11st) - Working
- Royal Rumble (March 10th) - Working
- Headbangers (March 24th) - Working
- Stupor Bowl (April 21st) - Working
- Chromatic Cup (May 5th) - Working
- Put A Ring On It (June 23rd) - Not working, RUNNING, ATTENDING
- Bunker Brawl (June 24th) - Not working, ATTENDING
- Zlurpee Bowl (July 14th) - Working
- Gencon (August 17th/18th) - Not working, but not going
- Chaos Cup (September 15th) - Not working, RUNNING, ATTENDING
- Ghouls Night Out 3 (Oct 27th) - Not working, RUNNING, ATTENDING

With so much time until my next tournament, I'm devoting my time my painting. I've started to read the Cool Mini or Not Painting Guide to learn some new techniques. I purchased a new team, the 2007 NAF World Cup Human team, to practice what I learn. I like the team because it's not seen very often, which is all the more reason that it deserves a quality paint job. I still need to write up a bit of fluff for the team and decide on a name.. but so far - I've just about finished one of the models, the Ogre.

Here is what I have so far:




The rest of the team is primed, base coats have started to make their way from paint pot to models. I'm ready to hone my craft and work toward a much better overall painting technique. So, am I prepared for 2012? Hell No. I know that life is going to change in a big way for me over the next year.. waiting to start nursing school.. becoming a husband.. and although I wish my hobbies had a larger presence - I think I'll survive.

First Entry.. Here Goes Nothing!

What the heck is a blog and what purpose does it serve?

Apparently a blog is a type of website, or part of a website, supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. It serves as an outlet for creative writing (..boring..), BUT it will give me a chance to write about things that keep my interest. Considering the majority of my thoughts are related to my hobbies - this blog will naturally reflect that.

So let's get started with that...

My obsession with gaming started at a very young age. I remember playing Warcraft for hours and hours. My younger sister would sit right next to me.. I still remember her obsession with the Water Elementals! Video games were always a great way to waste time and could always keep my focus. This trend continued through grade school and high school too! (as I'm sure it did with most of you too) When I turned 18, I got a job at Gamestop - because hey.. why not!

One of the guys I worked with at Gamestop tried to explain this other game to me but it didn't make sense without seeing it in person. "You build models, similar to army men, and then paint them any way you'd like.. once you build up an army - then you basically try to kill each other!" I mean come on, that sounds AWESOME!

He took me to Games Workshop and helped me through a demo game of the Lord of the Rings game - had the easiest rules to start with and the models were easy to paint. I was hooked as soon as I started getting the dice rolling! I bought a paint kit and started working on that small force... my small LOTR army turned into a larger army... which turned into me purchasing the Warhammer 40k starter set.. and then Warhammer fantasy.. and Blood Bowl.. See a trend here?

This was almost 7 years ago and I've been collecting / painting / playing games on and off through that entire time. Gaming systems have come and gone from my interest... but Blood Bowl has ALWAYS remained and will for a long time to come. At this points - Blood Bowl is my "main game," although I do own a small Warhammer Fantasy army.

I'm starting to trail off. Hopefully this experience will allow me to log my progression in ability and maybe gain some better insight along the way. Thanks for reading. #whutupsun