So on my third day I decided I'd head out from the academy - I can only develop the team so far and there just aren't that many teams to play with in there.

While my success with the elves has been questionable at best I still decided to bite the bullet again and go for it. Big reason here is that I actually want to throw the ball at times. Another big decider was that while my skinks have performed marvelously, I think it's been more due my opponents tendency to go for the saurus than anything else.

So, I picked elves again, this time naming them "Gloryseekers". I'm kinda sure it's going to be a tough ride, but hopefully it will be fun too!

The team:

1 Misha Milen, Thrower
2 Terra Carmine, Blitzer
3 Landor Carmine, Blitzer
4 Diann Shuan, Lineman
5 Daish Bendabl, Lineman
6 Mashoran Ghist, Lineman
12 Reline Quihs, Lineman
13 Phaed Phun, Lineman
14 Paerish Shuan, Lineman
15 Ekhs Bendabl, Lineman
16 Shaedoran Ghist, Lineman


To start off, I set my goals low:

1. Survive past two games.
2. Get the basics right.
3. Stop handing over interceptions.



So, what happened on my first day in the ranked? I managed to reach the first and the third goal, while making some progress on the second one. Think I only did one move with 1/6 chance to work.

The games themselves?

1 Gloryseekers - Monstruis CF 2
0 Gloryseekers - Last Sunset 3
0 Gloryseekers - What Year Is It 2

First game was againts Dark Elves. This was the first game where I expected to have some say in the physical side of the game... I was wrong. In case of poor Ekhs Bendabl, dead wrong. His brother Daish will miss him. Mashoran Ghist got a niggling injury and was forced to witness next match from the side.


As my second opponent I had Orcs. The four blorcs were my biggest worry here, as I knew they could make kebab from my elves. I only had 10 players to start with, but to my luck the audience thought it was quite unfair and proceeded to rock one of the orcs off the pitch! Sadly the game was pretty much one of "block-a-cage" with S3 elves againts S4 blorcs. While I managed to hold the first cage almost for the whole first half, there wasn't much I could do besides prolonging the inevitable. On turn 7 he finally scored.

Now it got interesting: My opponent left his 2 blorcs and one lineorc in the front, and rest just to guard his goal line. To both our surprise, this was a bad move: Two lucky blocks later he had two less blorcs on the field, both equally gutted by the blows they received as well as the fact that they were delivered by elves! Sadly those two were the only two bright moments in the rest of the game - I think I rolled 8 1's on agility test when all I needed was a 2.


As for the third game... This must've been the funniest game for me so far. My luck was so horrible I couldn't do anything but sit back and laugh!

The first half started well. My opponent was Khemri, with only one player who understood the concept of a ball. One lucky block later I had removed all the opposing ball-carrying capabily from the field. As Khemri proceeded my elves started what they called "Skeleton-punting", trying to get the ball out of the cage.

I should have known better. Rest of my game was cursed. I failed a lot of dodges, many of them requiring only 2+. I failed most of my blocks and blitzes. Most importantly of all, however, my elves failed to stay awake. By the half-time, I had 6 elves on the pitch. By the first touchdown I had 3. The game ended with two prone elves on the pitch.

All I can say is that I'm thankful to my opponent for mercy: He refused to foul my elves even after his blood-crazed fans "Got" the referee after first touchdown. I tip my hat to a true gentleman, JMPayneJ.


Three losses later I'm surprised to see that I still have a team together, especially with all the roughing Khemri delivered. Even though my team was literally obliterated from the field, the worst result from that game was a niggling injury on my newly-recruited lineman! I even have the gold to replace both linemen with niggling injuries if I so wish!


Team developement:
Terra Carmine (blitzer): Double, learned Dodge.
Landor Carmine (blitzer): Dodge.
Daish Bendabl (lineman): +Ma, learned Block.

I did think long and hard about the first double, but couldn't find anything I wanted more than Dodge. After the two Amazon games I really learned to value that skill.

I did ponder a bit before passing the +Ma on Daish, but I *really* need those blocks & dodges, ASAP.


Edit: Cheers for the advice, hope you'll continue to enjoy the blog :)