Not so very long ago, I chalked up ten years as a FUMBBList. It seems to be that tradition dictates milestones like these are marked with blogs (I know that Wreckage loves them :P), and today is a slow day at work, so why not, eh? Plus, it’s nice to write about something that isn’t a blatant plug for a change. I can see you nodding at that at the back! ;)
3047 games played in a little over 10 years feels like a lot. It’s not as many as some (I’m pretty sure Bill puts up those numbers in a couple of months), but > 300 games a year feels pretty significant, especially these days when I’ll probably be lucky to hit 50 (when did this life and job thing happen, eh?). When you add in over 650 NAF games and 50 odd TT league matches, we’re sneaking into an average of game a day territory for ten years. Like Blood Bowl much?
I do. BB is enduringly brilliant; I still love the game as much as ever. When I joined the website in March 2006, I was as green as they come. Shiny and new, those of you with Ski’s client still installed will be able to see just how bad I was when I began throwing blocking dice in anger. I won’t link the game to hide my shame, do some of the work yourself! About 300 games into my FUMBBL life, I decided there was probably more to this BB thing than messing about trying to pass with Black Orcs, and I spent a wonderful autumn being obsessed with the FUMBBL Cup. As I devoured the runs of PeteW’s
Ultimate Superheroes and Torsoboy’s
Communist Party (among others, I think I watched just about every game), I tried to work out what they were doing that I wasn’t, and how to get better. An early goal of mine was to reach 200 wins before 200 losses, and I just about managed it. Since then, I’ve never stopped trying to improve; adapting my game to first the new rules and then to TT resurrection tournaments has been really enjoyable, and I’m still trying to tweak this and that. Trying to become more aggressive, trying to position as well as I can and always looking for more. I don’t believe anyone has played the perfect game yet, but chasing keeps me going. I love BB for all of the fluff reasons and the people you meet along the way, but it does also shine as an outlet for the competitive soul. :)
FUMBBL has changed a fair bit in ten years, but in many ways it’s the same as it was when I joined. [L] has been a long time passion of mine, and I still believe it contains much of the finest work of the community. And what a community we have. From day one, I’ve been impressed by the time, effort and talent we have around us and the great stuff achieved by the people that come here to play. Without wanting to overly gush; it is pretty inspiring (/sick bag), and almost since I joined I’ve tried to keep my hand in myself. I made a little list of things I’ve tried, leagues I’ve commissioned and jobs I’ve done and surprised myself with how many I could remember. That’s what the community is like though, people are willing to muck in and have fun helping out. The online NAF stuff has been a real highlight of my time here; bringing all that together has been pretty satisfying and it’s great to see so many playing in and enjoying the tournaments that are run.
None of this would be possible without Christer and the staff, of course. A bit of me wonders how the big man keeps going at times. The time, effort and money he pours into the site is quite phenomenal, considering he must always feel on call. Drop everything, the server has hiccupped! I’d suggest you donate, but you all do, right? ;) We should never take the boss and his staff for granted, and I hope we don’t.
I could bang on about classic games that I still remember fondly, cataclysmic double ones, the amazing games I’ve watched. phil78 vs Zerkalo and the botched Naama-ing is probably the most fun I’ve had with my trousers on. I remember
action seasons, Stables, the LoA. Keep it #whiteisle, [U ]nranked, how IRC chat used to be a thing. The two ball bug in Ski’s client and how to reload successfully (those of you that never experienced that don’t know how far the interface has come!). Actual live SMACKs. G access on Stunty Big Guys. Forum Werewolf, the first Lino getting DP, TS. Being impressed with the SWL, obsessed with WIL stats and shouting ‘Necrooooo’ for reasons I can’t quite remember. All thanks to FUMBBL.
Misty eyed nostalgia apart, FUMBBL is still an ace thing. So long as the boss keeps us going, I’ll be here. I doubt I’ll manage a game a day over the next ten years, but playing more this year than I managed in 2015 is on my things to do list, as is getting out another GLN, three more online NAF events and a few other little projects. I don’t know what I’d do without the familiar green of FUMBBL, and I’m not sure I want to find out!
Anyway. Stop reading this drivel, and see you on the pitch. :D