“Crown Of Sand VI Round 1

Epic match. One of the best I've ever played.

(more to follow after my UI game)
Starting weather - Sweltering Heat. This pretty much influenced me to hire Barik Farblast, since I didn't want to be without Sure Hands in the 2nd half.

First Half: 2 deaths Ranger and Pile-Driver. The Tools' apothecary worked, the Vault Tec Squad not so much. This would have been a different game if Ranger had come back in the 2nd half, or if Pile-Driver had not. As it was, I played a very stout defense for 6 turns, only to get pulled too far to one side of the field. The catcher was able to get into the clear and all I could do was mark him. It was a failed gfi that saved the TD, although I'd like to think my defense made coach OL use all his rerolls :) Still, this could have been 1-0 at the half. My hitting had netted 2 KOs plus the RIP, and had not suffered anything beyond the apo'd RIP on Pile-Driver.

Second Half: One of the Vault Tec KOs came back (Stranger, Assassin decided to sit out), but Gunslinger was taken out by heat exhaustion. For the Tools, both Shovel Earthdig and Mattock Mithrilfist were out from heat exhaustion, and my hire of Barik was looking pretty shrewd. But we would come to miss Shovel's blistering speed. The weather changed immeadiately and the kick sailed deep. This spread my offense out and it took a while to start bringing it back together. I didn't get any good blitzes with Pile-Driver early in the drive, which probably hurt me. Juggler was Badly Hurt but the humans were able to threaten the ballcarrier in T3. Then it happened - Pile-Driver got a shot on Stranger and we had our 2nd RIP of the game. The humans answered with a pair of KOs in back-to-back turns and several uphill blocks and clever chain pushes that started pushing my offense backwards with time running out. Then Leader got an opening for a 1 die blitz and got the ball loose. A poor 1 die blitz by me (missed an assist but was committed) pushed onto the ball and Pile-Driver caught it. Then he nimbly dodged away but was forced to run between two long beards rather than into a proper cage. VTS skulled out their next attempt on the ball, but the dwarves could only answer with pushes when they needed POWs and Pile-Driver didn't get to advance up the field. Humans put the Catcher in scoring position, but suffered another injury (Doctor got a Smashed Hip). All the Tools could do was hit things and try to prevent a turnover score, playing for OT. Cheater lived up to his name and nailed a -2die blitz to double Pow Pile-Driver, but the ball bounced into the middle of 3 Tool TZs. VTS burned the reroll dodging a lineman out of the way so Leader could try for the ball. The thrower made the 4+ dodge and the 4+ pickup, but failed the GFI and the Tools barely prevent the counter score.

Overtime: Both human KOs come back, only one dwarf KO does. A babe would not have mattered. VTS wins the toss and elect to receive but can only field 10 to our 12. Kickoff result is Perfect D and the Tools crowd the LOS. The kick is caught by a lineman before it lands though, so there is still a chance for VTS. After 1 turn, we're already getting short-manned on one side and I can see where VTS is heading. I gamble and commit my remaining 2 free players to that side of the field to plug the hole. But now I have nothing in the back. VTS makes a small hole by pushing Shovel back, then Electrician runs up and hands off to Leader who makes a break for it. Naturally his speed and agility get him deep into my backfield. My only shot is to mark him then have Shovel take him down. With a reroll, Shovel does it and scores a stun! This is crucial because the bounce is too far away for Shovel to be able to pick it up. Otherwise, Leader could have easily recovered the ball and scored with 2 dodges and a gfi, and he had a reroll left. I try to tie up the rest of his team but Pile-Driver double skulls a block and his Pro fails him. So it's still up for grabs. But it was not in the stars for the humans, as VTS had to burn his last reroll on a gfi to set up an assist only to fail the next gfi on the actual Blitz. Shovel recovers the ball and manages to rejoin some of his teammates near the LOS. Leader is the only one who can easily reach but he fails the GFI. Now begins the slow grind up the field; slow because Shovel has to keep pace with his escort. Sprinter also met his gruesome demise at this point. Gunslinger made one last desperate attempt to blitz the ball loose but skulled out. The next two turns ended with back-to-back failed dodges and Shovel walked it in.

Reviewing this a few days later, I see just how close this game was. I could have done a few things better and OenarLod probably feels the same way. I definitely got some crucial rolls when I needed them, including a few that VTS failed at critical times. But in the end I think we both played our respective game plan well and let the dice fall where they did.

Thanks, OenarLod, for a great game that was also incredibly fun. I wish your VTS team success in the future. Strength and Honor.”