A Blood Bowl: Team Manager tournament
Our dynamic duo at Neff Central is preparing to host the 5th annual April Anarchy! This annual tournament pits Ben vs Jen in a 2-player tournament of 6 initial matchups -- all of the Blood Bowl Team Manager teams -- against one another to determine which is supreme! NOTE: The 2022 tournament was postponed indefinitely due to unforeseen disruptions in the (crystal ball) Cabal Network.
The teams are divided into bracket-style, head-to-head matchups in a two-player, single-elimination format. After 6 teams win and advance, if a either player has two teams that are now matched up head-to-head, they will select which team they wish to control going forward.
Each round, the losers of a match will be eliminated as the winner advances. From 12 teams to 6 teams to 3; The two lower scores them play a "Semi-Final", and then there will be two, where finally one will be crowned the champion of April Anarchy! Check out last years results here: April Anarchy 2023 and here: April Anarchy 2023 (BGG Forums). In 2023 we considered implementing a "Loser Bracket", giving one team a chance at getting back into the Semi-Finals. Due to time constraints, the league elected not to offer that option in 2024.
The teams are ranked into seeds to determine their overall strength, based on personal opinion and last years results, although lower seeds may be well suited to cause an upset and defeat a higher ranked favorite, so as usual nothing is guaranteed. To preview the teams and learn about their strengths and weaknesses, go to:
Fantasy Flight Games.com - Bloodbowl Team Manager - Team Analyses
BGG thread "wich-team-best"
On March 30, 2024 we drafted our teams and set up a bracket.
Ben draftees: , Chaos All-Stars {Chaos}, Lowdown Rats {Goblin}, Zharr-Naggrund Ziggurats {Chaos Dwarf}, Skavenblight Scramblers {Skaven}, Nurgle's Rotters {Nurgle}, Naggaroth Nightmares {Dark Elf}
Jen draftees: Athelorn Avengers {Wood Elf}, Champions of Death {Undead}, The Grudgebearers {Dwarf}, Reikland Reavers {Human}, Black Fangs {Vampire}, Gouged Eye {Orc}
Matches started on 3/31/2024!
RESULTS:
Round 1
Game 1 -- March 31, 2024
The Wood Elves arrived, haughty and disdainful as usual, to the stinking swamps of Khul-tur. The Nurgle faithful were"blessed" with new mutations; prepared for the opening match of April Anarchy 2024. The Rotters had bribed the AA admins to open the season at their home stadium, a location loathed throughout the league.
There was so much pox around, the elven throwers and catchers could not focus on the ball as they tried to avoid getting a disease. The more blessed of the Rotters made off with several early balls, converting possession into scores.
One treant was fouled hard, with an ax. Another was tackled hard by Morg N Thorg, the infamous Ogre Mercenary. Nurgle had spared no expense this season.
In the end it was a rout as several elves literally refused to take the pitch for the final play.
Ben "Boil" Nurgleson takes the Rotters to the next round for the first time!
Nurgle's Rotters (Ben) 34 - Athelorn Avengers (Jen) 13
Game 2 -- April 1, 2024
The Undead took an early 9-17 lead on solid Ghoul play and some refs on their side. Mummy's and Zombies came back from the dead, in one case Ramtut III took down a star Minotaur , who then dragged the ex-pharoh down with him, but from the tangled pile of wrapped appendages the Mummy reformed and finished the gloating Minotaur off!
Later, a zombie magically recomposed and won a highlight by himself, and a cabal contact!
The chaos team wasn't going down without a fight - fielding three ogres and a minotaur in the final, winning the final many fans. The score was tied... but the Undead team had 12 upgrades to the Chaos All Stars 11. --- Coach Jen "The Djinn" Nefertiti has conjured the Shambling Undead team into the next round.
Chaos All-Stars (Ben) 33 - Champions of Death (Jen) 33
Game 3 -- April 3, 2024
The Skaven team came into this game confident. "We care noshing 'bout winnen this game on field, we spread Warp Stone, win no matter what!"
The plan was working, warping players and stealing life-force from fans and referees alike.
Three dwarves went down with warp stones bodily attached to them in one place or another.
But being the tough denizens of the earth that they are, the Grudgebearers started playing the run game they practiced, and the score was a low 19-16 after three quarters of the matchup.
The Warp Stone plan eventually backfired, and the Scramblers were unable secure any good star players for the final matchup in the series! No one wanted to play for the twisted Skaven. The dwarves tried to literally steam roll the ratmen, but their infernal machine broke down! It came down to a final cabal contract awarded to the more reliable Grudgebearers… would it be enough? It was, by a single fan.
Jenny "The Gem" Molehill brought her team forward in the tournament, a rare occurrence for the dwarves, who usually are content with celebrating in the pub after a first round loss.
Skavenblight Scramblers (Ben) 26 - Grudgebearers (Jen) 27
Game 4 -- April 4, 2024
The Blackfangs have had some recent success, and were slight favorites against the Dark Elves.
Early on both teams sought out team upgrades and Star Players, and the series was low scoring. After a couple tournaments, the Nightmares had several great star players, the Fangs had developed their bloodlust to new levels ,while the score was only 10-14.
The third tournament was the Far Albion Cup, and was shrouded in fog. The island series was nearly swept by the Fangs, with three Vampires holding sway. But this only netted them 3 fans. Noone was paying attention in the nasty weather. Naggaroth had hopes on sneaking into the next round with star power. However, the game planning finally paid off in the final round for Fangs, as the Vampires were able to truly feast, swelling up to 6 star power - dominating the Blood Bowl and one highlight.
“Bloody” Ben the Thrall helped the Fangs take this close matchup and will be moving on to the next round in April Anarchy 2024.
Black Fangs (Ben) 39 - Naggaroth Nightmares (Jen) 34
Game 5 -- April 7, 2024
The Reikland Reavers had fared well last year and came into this matchup confident.
The Lowdown Rats were not, cheating frequently with some success. The two trolls on the team were remarkably smart, never missing a tackle, nor an opportunity to throw a teammate to another matchup. Still, Reikland out recruited the stunty Rats and the team from the Empire was on track to pull ahead until it was revealed the Ogre on the team was mutinous.
He and that disgusting Nurgle free agent Pusbubble had worked out a deal, the Rats would give the two Star Players all the "consumable" booty from winning. In return, Pusbubble and the ogre would help get the Goblins into the next round. So the Ogre laid down in two straight rounds, giving up the Blood Bowl and allowing Sticky Fingaz Ben to coach the Gobbos into the second round.
Lowdown Rats (Ben) 34 - Reikland Reavers (Jen) 33
Game 6 -- April 10, 2024
In a Rematch of the April Anarchy Finals 2023, the Ziggurats returned to the desolate corner of Old World called home by the Gouged Eye tribe.
The orcs were lazy and over confident, still enjoying spoils from their championship victory last year. Then a Hobgoblin fouled an Orc Lineman, waking up the Eye. Several Black Orcs rushed the field injuring a Bull Centaur.
The orcs pulled ahead 19-10. Then Pusbubble arrived. Ugh... that disgusting thing sure is getting around. An orc contracted Scourge from the opposing Star Player while picking up the ball, thus he inspired his team to victory in the DungeonBowl.
Both teams cheated up a storm in the finals. The Orcs were cerebral rather than physical and beat out their Hobgoblin brethren in the Blood Bowl.
In the end however, the Minotaur coach of the Ziggurats, Djinn Hobstomper, was revealed to have secretly orchestrated a flop in the series, having made a deal with the Gouged Eye for a hefty sum. She was last seen sailing Amblack Gulf in a large Frigate, fleeing the Badlands.
Neff Big Toof carried the banner for the team out of the stadium and on to meet the Blood Fangs.
The Gouged Eye (Ben) 43 - Zharr-Naggrund Ziggurats (Jen) 25
Ternary-Finals Round:
(3 games, the winner with most points gets a bye to Finals)
Game 7 -- April 15, 2024
The air was thick with anticipation, and putrid vapors, as the tricine round of April Anarchy began.
The vile Nurgle team oozed with confidence after their first round victory over the Wood Elves, while the Champions of Death looked forward to busting some pestiballs.
The match opened with pestilence being spread everywhere, while the Nurgle faithful watched their team build an early lead.
Mummies were weakened and in cases bested by Rotters. The Beast of Nurgle held Court preventing ghouls from sprinting away with the ball.
By the final Blood Bowl matchup, despite necromantic magic reanimating nearing everything in the area, the Death were too far behind, and eventually their Necromancer abandoned the pitch. The bloated Nurgle team led by Ben "Boil" Nurgleson, shuffled forward to the Semi finals for the first time ever.
Nurgle's Rotters (Ben) 43 - Champions of Death (Jen) 25
Game 8 -- April 17, 2024
Cheaters never prosper, unless you are talking about Blood Bowl! And goblins are the most notorious cheaters in the league. Weapons, too many players on the pitch, bribes, fouls, did I mention weapons?
The Lowdown Rats brought all of these along with Hthark the Bull Centaur to this tricine round's matchup against the Grudgebearers. The Gobbos won the Far Albion Tournament and Chaos Cup, building an early 17-12 lead with cheerleaders helping build a fanbase and no referees to be seen.
The refs came back with a vengeance in the third tourney! The Grudgebearers finally had some rule of law - winning the Goblin Tribal League much to the embarrassment of the Rats, while their star Troll - Ripper - was given a red card.
The goblins still held a small lead going into the Blood Bowl, however both Trolls failed to make a tackle, while the Dwarves formed up. Then Morg N Thorg took the field with them, proving the dwarves really must be desperate to shell out the their precious gold to the dastardly star Mercenary Ogre!
Bomber Dribblesnot tossed a bomb at the big guy, downing him and the dwarven ball carrier! What a turn of events!! However the dwarf formation heaved Morg back up onto his feet and their Legendary Toughness won the day, smashing into the endzone!
Jenny "The Gem" Molehill leads the dwarf team into the semifinals for the first time ever!!
Lowdown Rats (Ben) 33 - Grudgebearers (Jen) 43
Game 9 -- April 20, 2024
Both teams were on edge as the last of the three "Ternary-finals"; the Gouged Eye being embarrassed to have beaten the Chaos Dwarves 'by default' after their Minotaur coach was exiled, while the Black Fangs were wary of "the bloat" having feasted at the end of their last matchup vs the Dark Elves.
The Goblin Tribal League was won by the Eye, who bribed the refs, yet the fans favored the ball handling of the Fangs.
Spike Magazine voted for the Gouged Eye to win, though the Star Troll Snotlobba was called for a penalty after the Eye were deemed boring -- Snotlobba threw the Two-headed skaven mutant Bonecrusher who busted a Super Juke for a sneaky win. While celebrating, he was Yellow Flagged -and the teams were tied 12-12.
Heavy rains made Mud of the Chaos Cup pitch. The Fangs hired a werewolf who was hit by illegal chop block from da Troll. The fans went wild! But Wilhelm bit the Troll and won the highlight with a Heroic Leap into the slippery endzone for a score.
In the final matchup of the series, Varag Ghoul Chewer bludgeoned a Thrall - using the ball! Varag threw an Illegal choppa block to another, and had the fans on his side.
At this point he Fangs lost their minds; one thrall starting manually flipping the score markers on the scoreboard; one vampire zig-zagged around the field with the ball, one exploded into a full on blood feast.
Rabid fans spilled onto the waterlogged pitch, wrestling the final trophy from Varag's hands and handing it to Count Yennifer of Neffburg!
The final three are set!
The Black Fangs will face off in the Semifinals against the Dwarven Grudgebearers to find out who will have the 'pleasure' to meet the surging Nurgle faithful in the finals
The Gouged Eye (Ben) 33 - Black Fangs (Jen) 36
Semi-Finals Round:
Game 10 -- April 24, 2024
Storms disrupted the start of the semifinals.
Dwarves fortitude saw the way to victory in round one, as a Thrall was thrown out for cheating.
The Black Fangs hired a weather mage/necromancer who raised Mumma Hotep - then was immediately fired for failing to turn the bad weather against the dwarven run game.
The vampires did go on to use Mumma Hotep to clear the pitch anyway and won the Chaos Cup.
A dwarven running wedge was set up in the next matchup, but the vampire Star Player Yusef Strigori ran away with the ball, through the end zone and off the pitch!! There he goes, taking his merc payment with him and leaving the Fangs in the lurch. At the same time, a Troll Slayer was thrown out of the Far Albion matchup and despite Mumma Hotep coming completely unraveled, the Fangs held that victory with two vampires flanking the remaining dwarves.
Coming to the final matchup in the series, the Fangs were worn down… in an anti climatic finish they could only field a single vampire, and the Dwarves took the blood bowl with help from an Elven Star Player - so Jenny “Gem” Molehill takes the team on to the 2024 April Anarchy Finals!
Black Fangs (Ben) 33 - Grudgebearers (Jen) 40
April Anarchy Finals Round:
Game 11 -- April 26, 2024
April Anarchy 2024 FINALS!
The Rotter team was high on its last two victories, convinced of the inevitability of the spreading love of Nurgle.
The Grudgebearers arrived at the Altdorf Stadium itching for a fight, preferably with something big and uglier than them.
The dwarves bribed the head of the referee guild to hold a strike.
The dwarves set up with the running game, as had become their gameplan this season. Let’s face it , that’s every season. Regardless, the Rotters decided to put the Beast and Morg N Thorg in the tournament despite it having no one to hit yet, then the Dwarves sent out the Troll Slayers who were not intimidated by the huge ogre and the Sludgy Beast, knocking them both down.
With the referees on strike the Slayers then cheated up a storm, injuring and fouling - earning fans in droves.
The dwarves coach - Jenny “Gem” Molehill organized the team to a tee, keeping the blockers and lineman to the front and always having her Blitzers and Runners when she needed them.
In the end… the score was close - the teams were were within 7 points of each other and the Rotters threw everything they had at the Blood Bowl final. Down 5 fans - it came down to the final Cabal contract… Ben "Boil" Nurgleson drew from the bag, a contract that netted four fans.
The Grudgebearers lifted Jenny the Gem over the heads, albeit not that high up, and carried her off the field, Champions in 2024!
Nurgle's Rotters (Ben) 37 - Grudgebearers (Jen) 38
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| The final play of the April Anarchy Championship! |
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| 2024 MVP of the League |
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| Accomplished the least in 2024 |
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| 2024 Fan Favorite |
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