This is my second blog concerning the tabletop adventures of the White Isle Interlopers, TV 114 High Elves.

Having secured two league wins from two, the Interlopers entered a mid-season bespoke cup yesterday, the Egg Cup. With 6 teams at the party, 3 games in a day would hopefully move the HE on a bit, and get that elusive Lion!

A recap on how we stood to start:

1. pac - Pheonix, Pass, Safe Throw, Block , 6 spp
2. PeteW - Dragon, Block
4. JockMcRowdy - Dragon, Block
5. Gritter - Lino, Block, 11 spp
6. SillySod - Lino
7. spubbbba - Lino
8. phil78 - Lino
9. Unstoffe - Lino, 5 spp
10. Wilf - Lino
11. Borgen - Lino, 5 spp
15. Russo - Lino, Guard, 6 spp

3RR, 2 Fans.

Game 1 - White Isle Interlopers 2 - 1 Nephews of Khorne

First out of the hat were TV170+ Chaos Pact, coached by a nice chap in Barney. Interesting draw, since I had rookieish CP last game, so it was nice to see some developed ones, and I got to test some inducements due to my still very new team. New Star Eldoril (Lion with Dodge, Gaze, NOS, PBlock, Loner), a Wizzie (now FBs are a 50/50 on whatever you hit, not an AG roll), a set of babes, a Merc Lion with Dodge and a wandering Apo bolstered my ranks. The pact had all kinds, a ST4 AG4 Rat, a Horns, Leap DE, Two Headed Gobbo, the big guys and some nicely developed Marauders. Tough!

The WILIs kicked off and survived the LOS. Dice were kindish, as nothing got too hurt and we were able to attempt to free the ball. Three times a combination of Gaze or chainpushes got the ball down to ground, and thrice we failed to get away to score. 0-0 at the half, a flat 11 remained, Wizzie intact. We even managed a couple of CAS, Gritter found a RIP that stuck even with Apo, and Unstoffe got off the mark with a BH.

Second half, and we went for the quickie, hoping a combination of Gaze and a Wizzie meant we could hang on. Borgen got off the mark with a comp to PeteW, who got in in turn 2, his first 3 spp. The Pact suddenly found their stomping boots! They got up to 6 CAS in the end, including 3 mngs (2 of which were failed on Apo rolls), and as they got into score, the HE all looked about at each other, a bit panicked. With 3 turns left, 7 HE took the field and bombed forward, Eldoril looking to earn his cash as a deep Thrower. Disaster! Rain! The Pact marked everything downfield easily. Out came the Wizzie! Odd use for it, but there you go. 2/3 players hit the deck, Star sprinted forwards. GFI... 1! RR, and 3+, 3+, 2+ was needed in the rain with no RR, but the combination of hired guns worked, and the Merc Lion got under the sticks for 2-1. A Riot ended the slim response chance. Phew - stole one!

Game / Rule Feeling

First half was a bit tough, springing the ball but not getting away, but the end was jammy, so it evened up a bit. High TV Pact are looking good, to be honest. It was a well skilled team, and that DE was a pain, always buzzing around. It later got +AG, ew...

Post game; Borgen skilled to Kick, Unstoffe rolled Block, 30k winnings, + one fan. 3mngs though, so down to 8 men. Jock (MVP), spubbb and Grit would all miss the second game.

Inducements; So, how did I choose? I actually think what I ended up with helped even the scales against a much better team, so that is good. Of course the Elf plan is forever simple, spring, scoop, leg-it, and these all helped a bit there. I like the new Star, although, how exactly is he gazing anything? I still like Pact late on, it starts getting personal. Ex. Arms were floating around, 3 BGs start to skill, yet they're still not uber good. I still think it's a lazy roster, but there you go.

Game 2 - White Isle Interlopers 2 - 1 Dreadrock Stranglers

Game two was a tough affair against ironick's Rats. Nick won the GT for those of you that follow TT, so obviously no mug of a coach, the very opposite, I was soon to find!

I Journeymen'd up to 11, so with one Pheonix, one Dragon and a bunch of Linemen, we set about containing a full Rat team minus a RO, 11 men as well. His TV was slightly higher than mine, so I had some Babes. Men to watch were a Wrestle / Strip / Horns (I think... It was maybe 2 of those 3?) Gutter who clearly would down anything he wanted and 3 further GRs, as well as a MB SV.

I kicked, and Nick set about offence. Boy, was containing his team tough with little speed to lean on! He scored in T5, I was able to exert some pressure. pac even managed an early CAS on a Lino, so he was moving on, and when we drove to score in T8, he threw to awaiting Sillysod for his first spps! Yey!

The second half was a tight, tense, positional affair, really very good stuff. 10 Rats kicked for blitz!, and instantly with the speed issue we were under the kosh. A risky 2+ 3+ 2+ pass from pac without RR got it caged, and we ground up the pitch. Really good thinking stuff, tough, just the way we like it! Eventually Pete was handed the ball in T15, as the cage broke down, and he got in to score. 2 turns left for the Rats, and I left a 4+ 3+ 2+ with Dodge RR for reply, which was failed. We won, but it was a cracking game, and I was a bit sad he failed his score.

Game / Rule Feeling

Best half of BB I've had in a while, that second half, great stuff, delighted to have survived! Borgen took the MVP, and the skill was PeteW, 6+4. Not easy as a choice, +MA, +AV or a skill, but I thought since pace was an issue he could have +MA. Winnings were 20k (still 10k short of that elusive Lion), +FF.

Rats is Rats in the new rules, but I think they do get a leg-up on D. With 3 skill rolls, you can give a GR Horns, Wrestle and Strip, or Leap, and the ball is going down 5/6 times on a 1d. I think that's pretty big; did they need help? Either way, I think on FUMBBL, we're going to see some monster ball winners.

Game 3 - White Isle Interlopers 1 - 2 Skyre Shockers

So, to the final, and TV 170 Rats coached by Jimany. This time, we were up against an offensive Gutter (MA 10, AG 5, Two Heads, Block) and a ball winner (Wrestle, Strip, Horns, Leap, MA 10), a Block, BT RO, Wrestle everywhere... It was a pimped team. I induced Eldoril again, Babes, and this time a Lion with Tackle, for whacking those pesky GRs. The plan was gaze 'n' bam, wasn't going to be easy, Jim is quality.

So, kicked again, and proceeded to get not so much as a foothold in the game first half. The Star RIP'ped on a failed Dodge away from P.Tail, pac and spubb both got mng'd, and I don't think I ever lay a finger on the ball carrier. Nice and easy, as the better team flat out steam rollered me. I did find myself thinking, Wiz? At the cage that edged forward, but I'd made my Tackle bed. Plus, where was I going even if I sprang it? The MA 10 ball winner was forever in range. T8 TD, comp for Wilf for his first spp as the OTS failed, and to the second half.

I needed a win, as I was behind Jim on TD and CAS diff, so with no control (that GR meant the cage was pretty pointless) I sought out a 2-3 turn score. Sadly, a 1 fail meant Jim could recover (despite Unst doing his best, CAS!), and a Gutter got caged up. Handily, a corner of the cage was left in contact, and I managed to chain myself 2D with the Tackler Merc. He needed a Loner RR, but the ball went down. Numerous turns of pinball, scrummaging and chainpushes followed, but in T5 I got away to score! Yar, game on! Wilf under the sticks for 3 more spps. Still, I had to stop the MA 10 AG 5 Two Heads GR....

And I couldn't. Despite a 1 on handoff, he made dodges and a RR-less GFI to ice the game. OTS failed, but Jock Comp'd to skill, and the Interlopers crashed to their first defeat.

Game / Rule Feeling

Fair play! Jim coached really well, my team was no real match for his, so there was really one outcome possible. Did I muff up on inducements, I wonder? Even with a Wizzie, I'm unsure if I could have broken well enough. That Gutter is a OTS delight, so even if I'd jammed a score on his possession, I'm not sure I could have done anything but tie even with luck and magical assistance. I lost to a worthy winner!

50k won, MVP to Russo, no -FF. Jock got Tackle. Catcher purchased! Hogshine the Lion was born. Still, 10 men for our next game back in the league, so he'll have to be any good!

I feel inducements help Elves out a lot more vs. bash than agility, but these were extreme games of 50-60 TV difference I suppose. I'm still getting used to the system, anything I missed? That new Eldoril is handy...

The Interlopers ended the day looking like this;

1. pac - Pheonix, Pass, Safe Throw, Block , 10 spp mng
2. PeteW - Dragon, Block, +MA, 6 spp
3. Hogshine - Lion, Catch
4. JockMcRowdy - Dragon, Block, Tackle, 6 spp
5. Gritter - Lino, Block, 13 spp
6. SillySod - Lino, 3 spp
7. spubbbba - Lino mng
8. phil78 - Lino
9. Unstoffe - Lino, Block, 9 spp
10. Wilf - Lino, 4 spp
11. Borgen - Lino, Kick, 11 spp
15. Russo - Lino, Guard, 11 spp

3RR, 4 Fans, 40k.

A good day's BB, and I was happy with the results, considering! Gogo WILIs! I should also note Geoff / Lucifer was an awesome host for the day; fed and watered us all and everything. Great stuff!