Today was my day off so I was hanging out online a bit and trying to get some matches in. My dwarves in faction have been falling farther and farther behind, I think I got maybe four matches last round. Not enough to keep me in F2. It seems dodging has become part of faction play to stay, though to be fair, my availability has been bad due to recent job schedule changes. The latter will work itself out soon.

My dwarves seem to be like an anvil, always getting hammered. In the first match I played in this round I lost a St4, guard, mighty blow longbeard. That casualty and MNG on another longbeard brought my roster down to eleven for the next match with the possibility that only ten would show due to a niggling injury on a troll slayer. Still, I was deeply shocked when coach spiggle actually challenged my Squat Rangers with his Gobbo Launch Pad. Granted, he had a full roster and a dp and a deep bench and with only 11 possibly 10 dwarves for the match, I could have found myself easily out numbered... but It didn't really seem fair. Of course, that didn't prevent me from accepting almost immediately.

I was sick of getting demoted because I couldn't get my games in and he genuinely wanted to play so... Well it was a slaughter. A Terrible Slaughter I can't even take any pride in this match. It was the equivalent of teeing up toddlers at the golfing range. Not a pretty sight.

Why bring this up? Throughout the match, I was taking it to the gobbos and their trolls and I don't recall spiggle bitching about it, not even once. People that know me or know OF me might recall that I hate it when people dodge in faction and I'm not above blacklisting such opponents But rather than just highlight the weak and the pitiful I thought I might point out a coach that exhibited the opposite behavior. Well, I think it's fair to say that spiggle is a sporting coach, not afraid of a challenge is putting it mildly. I'd be surprised if he ever refused a match but if he does, you can be sure you were offering a very uneven match.
Again, kudos to spiggle for challenging me and having the skill to survive relatively intact and being ready to take on his next opponent.

Another recent match took place in ranked against Mercutioh's Marauders, coached of course by Mercutioh. Now Mercutioh was looking for a recovery match for his dark elves and I was happy to oblige with my skaven. One storm vermin was already missing the match and one of my gutter runners ended up niggling out. But my star Dynomite managed to make the game. I know people hate one turners. I do too when I play against them. But there is actually pretty sound tactics on how to defeat them so forgive me if I don't discuss them here and now. The Darkelves were sending my Rats off the pitch in droves but the one turning combined with the blitzes I received and the defensive touchdowns that would result in the final 8-4 blowout that was this game. Mercutioh tried just about everything to stop my one-turning ways and even tried going after Dynomite while he was on defense. All to no effect. He was just way to fast and ugly to be touched. In any case coach Mercutioh took it well enough and I continue my quest to get my first Legend.

I want to thank both coaches that I highlighted here and I will gladly rematch with either of them should they request it.