“Lustrian Challenge IV qualifier IV final. What a game!

This struggle swung from side to side in a bloody game filled with daring plays. 8 casualties, 5 (!) penalties and 5 touchdowns made for a spectacular match.

This one was decided in OT after a nerve-wrenching second half for me when the vamps stole 2-1 after a Blitz! on the second half kick off. When I managed to score 2-2 in T16 I was shaking with the tension that came left the body.

The vamps got Illegal Drugs, and chose to go with a ST5 vampire, a choice that paid off at several times. They recieved first and promptly knocked two of my linemen out of the game for good, but the ref was there and sent a Thrall packing. I tried to max the amount of Mblow blocks I could land, but for the first drive the best I could do was to force the St5 vamp go for a early score, leaving me 5 turns to get back.

We smashed into the vamps, but didn't get any clear advantage. Twonky held the ball and survived a hit, scored without too much worries. This time. 1-1 half time and 11 players on both sides.

Blitz! We had to reload here which took a while and it the end we had to lose a turn to get back on track. Suffice to say that all I could hope for was to push the St5 vamp into scoring right away again, and he did. Once more, 5 turns to score the equaliser. During these first turns the vamps didn't eat anyone, but for the rest of the match they were failing blood lust like the monsters they really are.

I got a touchback and handed the ball to Hammer Bot. MA3 might sound bad, but I was down to 10 players and you can't screen vampires from the ball. I needed that strength to keep control. The Sf vamps severaly hampered my advance and I was getting nowhere. Turn 15 I ran and dodged with both Twonky and my goblin to into scoring range. On the vamp's turn one of them fell over on a dodge, leaving me with a need to hit his vamp down and make 2+3+. Twonky once more for 2-2.

OT. Orcs recieve with 10 players facing 9. Mighty blow erases a few thralls from the field and I felt fairly confident. Then the hypno gaze kicks in and from nowhere a vampire has knocked the ball loose. A little more fighting a shuffling, the ball bounces onto Mini Howitzer the goblin who catches it! He survives a hit (thank you guard for keeping it 2d)! he runs like hell! And when a thrall fails a dodge with a reroll the vamps are too far away to catch him. 3-2 but 3 turns for the vamps to get back.

The vampires push up one side, and have a chance of making the pass and score, though it looks tricky. Blood lust blood lust blood lust. The last one ran out of thralls to eat and left the pitch, and with him went any chance of a TD.

Victory! Great and tense game. This is my first victory in a major qualifier, after eight final games. I'm a bit silly :P

Roborally!”