LBBL - Season 8: Confectionery Conundrums

Season 8 - Confectionery Conundrums (Halflings)

The global pandemic resulted in an 18 month wait between Season seven and eight.  In fact by the time of started not only did we have a new commissioner but also a new rules set!  Having won last season I was forced to play a stunty team.  Halflings was my choice because they were newly painted.  It was a simple plan just take a low value team and hire Morg every game.

It turned into a very close season with both the Panthers and myself finishing with a WDL 6-1-1.  First tie breaker was nett touchdowns (we both had 6); the second was total casualties meaning we squeezed into first place by the narrowest of margins!

The Season

Given the delays the new Deathzone book was out with expanded Mercenaries who were allowed during the league.  This changed my plans from just taking Morg as I could get three Mercs for about the same price.  In the end the rules are quite broken and give a power boost to weak teams like Halfings.  I was able to create Mighty Doug, MiniMorg, Foulberry and Linemen with Block.  Playing every game with three or four Mighty Blow really helped to clear the pitch for the Conundrums.  At the end of the season Merc were banned and not allowed during the play off games.

Round 1: The Dead Cross (Duncan Holman / Undead) Win TD 1-0 Cas 2-2

The master chef stole all their re-rolls and a failed fist turn pick up was actually the end of the Undead drive.  Flings swarmed in and a couple of early casualties prevent the Undead from recovering.  The second half looked like it was going to be a draw but then a plucky fling ran forward and managed to score.

Round 3: Elfest (David Reyero / Elf Union) Win TD 2-1 Cas 5-0

First half we slow rolled the cage with Elves, including their thrower, melting away from quad mighty blow.  In the second half the new rules came into play as the Elves realised they needed 5+ to throw the ball!  Four Elves kept dodging around but eventually had to score after the ball changed hands a couple of times.  Final drive for the flings was made easier when all four of the remaining elves were stunned on turn 15 leaving just a catch and double rush for the score.  

Bilbo got a touchdown and MVP allowing him to learn a general skill.  Turned out to be shadowing and he got instantly fired!

Round 4: Moon Shard Shadows (Ollie Brown / DElf) Win TD 2-1 Cas 2-2

Elves received and we pushed and pushed them into a corner until they were forced to score to prevent us surfing players.  Once again me managed the two turn drive passing the ball to one hobbit and then handing off the ball to one of the three that had ran forward the previous turn.  Second half was the standard slow roll knocking down Elves as we went.  Higher armour allowed a better defence that the Elven Union resulting in a single rush being needed to score (which me made).

Round 5: Half Pint Hipsters (Ben Harris / Dwarf) Win 1-0 Cas 1-4

The Dwarves tried a loose cage to avoid my Treemen but left an opening.  Managing to not root Conium Maculatum rushed into the cage and sent the runner flying.  Flings did not stay on the pitch but thankfully Morg and Trees kept them tied up while Ragnar the lineman ran off and scored.  The second half Morg ran around in the backfield keeping away from slower Dwarfs.  As the final whistle sounded we went for a Throw team mate score.  Frodo travelled six squares. Sadly it was a wild pass and he went backwards!  All he could was run back to Morg.

Round 6: Dynamo Kislev (Tom Wright / Slann) Win 1-0 Cas 5-3

This was not a good game for the Slann.  We killed them on the line, they killed themselves leaping.  They did not have enough players in the second half to put up a defence.  We finished off with kicking the bear to death just to clear the pitch.

Round 7: Pink Panthers (Austin Barrett / Dwarf) Loss 1-0 Cas 0-4

At this point both trees had learnt block.  It did not help much as we could just not get Dwarfs off the pitch.  To make matters worse we misplayed and left a Blitz on the ball carrier which knocked them down.  We then failed the dodge to try and recover leading toa Panther victory.  Well done Austin.

Round 8: Witches Brew (Russell Ball / DElf) Draw 1-1 Cas 1-5

Like the other Elf games we slow rolled a score and could not stop the Elven drive.  Unlike other games we were loosing players left and right.  Then we failed the landing roll Turn 16 to get a second touchdown.

Round 9: Quorn Dogs (Geoffrey Ashley / Renegades) Win 2-0 Cas 5-2

Another game of seeing who is the mightiest.  Doug, Morg and Tree's proved it was them.  We pushed to get a third touchdown to try and get ahead of the Panthers and almost ended up going 2-1 as we only just stopped the counter score!

Playoff: Fin Lizzy (Ben Barczak / Lizards) Loss 1-2 Cas 6-4

Having won the division we got into the playoffs! In fact all three Halfing teams in the league made the playoffs.  This was a very close game.  Without mercenaries I only had Morg who took out a few Saurii.  The skinks were too fast.  I should have probably re-rolls the two dice hit on turn 20.  Taking a both down I failed to break armour and they were able to dodge away, pick up the ball and score.  I failed the 3+ to score on turn 8, for a win, and turn 24, to go to kicks.  Well done to Ben who moved on to the next round.

Stunty Cup: Shirefield Someday (Dylan Tillotson / Flings) Win 2-0 Cas 1-1

Dylan and myself had both won our divisions making us the highest ranking stunty teams this season.  He had more skills, including a couple of Block flings.  Fortunately I had enough cash to hire a masterchef and Sheepskin.  Winning the toss we received and removed four players, including leaving a tree with a niggling injury on the foul (thank you sneaky git).  This set the tone for the half as we rolled forward. Sheepskin and his tackle knocking out Flings as we advanced.  For the second half Shirefield tried a side line cage.  Not a great plan against other flings and we happily surfed the ball carrier and then ran off with the ball.

Closing Thoughts

I am not a fan of halfings in a league.  Having Trees root is devastating as there is just nothing they can do.  My tactics were just punch, foul, repeat.  There were some fun games but I fired most of my players that were skilling up just to keep the team value low and rely on inducements.  It kind of ignores the whole aspect of team building in a league; which I really enjoy.  Mercs may be banned but Rumbelow Sheepskin and Karla are fairly cheap and help shore up the teams weakness.  My punishment for winning a season is at least now over.

Final Roster 

Before the Stunty Cup Final I took random skills on everyone that could get a skill just in case something was useful.  Sneaky Git proved to the one that was! This is the position after the final.

Credits

Photos by me.  Halfling team painted by Daniel at Paint Service Den.