“Ulthuan Invitational IV, qualifier semifinal, Bronze Lantern: http://fumbbl.com/FUMBBL.php?page=group&op=view&at=0&group=1928&show=20892

This was easily one of the best matches I've played. A tightly contested game with lots of blood, overtime, 140+ spectators, game-changing fireballs and an unlikely hero.

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The Cult received and started off well by KOing the ST 5 BoB Innocence and killing the blitzer Surprise (so much for that double episode). The Episodes answered by badly hurting a chaos warrior on a foul, but the Cult couldn't be stopped, netting another 2 KOs and a niggle in the next few turns. Soon another orc bit the dust when Bargaining was killed by a block, and by the end of the half the Cult outnumbered the Episodes 9-5, scoring with little difficulty.

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The second half started with 11 players against 11 and the Episodes receiving. One beastman was first niggled and then KOed from a foul giving the Episodes a temporary advantage. That was soon lived, however, as the badly placed Innocence was fouled and once again KOed.

At the start of their turn 3 the Cult used their wizard to good effect bringing down the ball carrier and clearing the way for them to steal the ball. The Episodes got the ball loose next turn but the Cult recovered possession right away, and after KOing another player looked very likely to get the victory. However, the orc wizard did a fantastic job bringing down the ball-carrying AG 4 chaos warrior as well as two beastmen. This left a very slight chance for the Episodes, who managed a one-die pow (+stun) and send the goblin The Zeppo to pick up the ball and run downfield as fast as he could. The Cult were able to put a tackler on the gobbo, but The Zeppo ran like the wind and managed to make the required dodge twice to score the equalizing touchdown at turn 7.

This left two turns for the Cult to equalize, but they didn't manage to get through the Episodes' line and had to prepare for overtime. The orcs, or rather the numerous crowd, got revenge for the previous deaths by ripping apart the beastman Destroyer, who was pushed out of bounds.

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The overtime started with the Cult receiving and the full 11 players on the pitch for both teams. The start was tentative, although the Episodes did manage to remove a ST 4 beastman with a well-placed foul and the Cult had to unexpectedly use their chaos warrior on the LOS as a ball carrier after he caught the ball from the kick off. When an ejection equalized the numbers to 10-10, the Cult tried a breakthrough at the top of the pitch, sending their ball carrier to the side line with a few supporting players.

The Episodes blitzed the forward beastman and placed two stand firm players next to the sideline to block any further breakthrough attempts at that side. This caused the Cult to reverse flanks and after a hand off and a pass a lonely beastman had the ball on the other side of the pitch 6 squares from the end zone. The Episodes managed to recover after A New Man made his 3+ dodge and took down the ball carrier.

After that it looked likely that the Cult wouldn't manage to score, but the question was whether the Episodes could get the ball from 5 squares in front of their end zone to the opposite end of the pitch in just three turns. The thrower Becoming, Part 1picked up the ball and got some support from A New Man and the goblin The Zeppo. The Cult failed their difficult attempt at blitzing the ball carrier and Becoming, Part 1 managed to sprint to within 7 squares of the end zone with one turn to go. The chaos still managed to place a ST 4 beastman next to the ball carrier, but a hand off to the waiting goblin succeeded and The Zeppo became the hero of the game by running in his second touchdown of the game.

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All in all, this was a very exciting match, which I thought to be over after Nachtogen had stolen the ball in the second half. I only managed to score with very risky moves and a lot of luck, and the overtime was very close as well. Nevertheless, I'd say the luck was quite even overall, Nachtogen had great dice in the first half but I succeeded in my critical plays. In any case, a very well coached game from Nachtogen who was a great opponent! Good luck in a rematch, sometime.”