Thursday, February 14, 2013

NZTC Approaches - Rapidly

So it looks like we have entered the phoney war before the event.....which is now less that 48 hours away.

Certainly a lot of our northern visitors have gone very quiet....their mouths have been writing cheques that their talent can't cash.

I'm looking at the various teams and I think that there is a clear division between what I perceive to be the top seven teams (including the von Trapps) and the other three. This is based on list construction and race selection.

Between those top seven I think the playing field is quite level. I certainly can see any of them on the podium. With that in mind I'm going to pick my top three in no particular order:

Grumpy Old Men - Wealth of experience and good mix of armies (and the only one of my top seven with a Dwarf to throw under the bus). I think Reid's GUO will scare the bejesus out of a lot of expensive lords. Mike's ability to pass miscasts and force miscast re-rolls will also scare those reliant on magic. Raymond is a wily old dog whose army will shred others if he gets the right matchups.

NZHammered - Another team with solid players in all slots. They have a good set of armies and are certainly not lacking in confidence. Apart from Antony, and to a lesser extent Glen, these guys have little experience with their armies. You can't help feeling they have been directed in their selection by listening to UK podcasts. The armies may be good but they need to marry that with solid gameplay. Questions have been raised by other teams as to their mental strength. Feel they will make the podium by jumping some on top tables in last round.

Nerdymen - Solid team with good army choices. Rory has been running his VC bus for the past six months and had some success. Thomas is an excellent player representing NZ at the ETC in 2012. I played Graeme's High Elves last year and though the list was different I remember a very hard fought game. Paul is driving Daemons and no-one will be lining up them by choice. I do feel they may be hostage to whether Rory and Thomas can get big wins but fully expect them to be there or thereabouts.

My unlucky team is Shaken Not Stirred representing the South Island's hopes. I rate Tim as one of the best players in the country and Chaos Dwarfs are a real top tier list (surprised the Omanis didn't take them). Damon has a very good Lizard list that will test anybody's ability to score big points. The reason I have listed them as unlucky is largely due to the missing Doom Divers in Mike's list. There are a lot of players with armour breathing easier.

In the end both Team Oman and the Kapiti Krushers will be there or thereabouts. I'd also not write the other three team off outright. However I think they may struggle to score consistent points.

So much is going to depend on matchups.

29 comments:

  1. I'm interested to here your opinion on the other three teams. "Struggling to score consistent points" is a pretty big call I must say and might need some expansion on that view.

    Just curious is all :D!

    See yea tomorrow!

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    1. Simon - it would be foolish for Pete to give his impressions of the bottom ranked three teams. Our three teams are going to be surrounded in blood and misery as the top seven teams gouge us for every point they can get.

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    2. Well that's it settled then, if the top 7 want the points I guess there's not much I can do.

      Just wander over the table and come get them, take your time, no rush :)

      Whilst myself & Simon may be lacking in experience both having only played for a year our team have the experience from James and the leadership of Peter.

      We have a couple of armies that can get big wins and at the same time if we find ourselfs having to conserve points hell we have a Dwarf and if needs be I can even play my Skaven list defensively (which is not something I usually do when solo in a tournament).

      All mind games & sledging aside I think it's a good strong field and podium place is up for grabs for pretty much any team. I am really looking forward to it and I think the team aspect definately adds something to the tactics & enjoyment for me.

      Dave A

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  2. Its all right, I will be catching it all on video.

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  3. See this is why you can't have nice things.....people get upset

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  4. I whole heartedly agree with your conclusion on my team Pete. The lack of Doom Divers puts us right off the podium and squarely playing catch up to the others. There are several teams we will struggle against simply because of the lack of DDs..

    If everyone that has one could bring a doom diver along for the weekend to sit besides Mike as he plays his games, that would be great. =p

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    1. Ant cried tears of joy when he saw you had no doom divers ha ha

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    2. I've considered buying 2 of them and leaving them sitting on his computer table each night until he gets the message

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    3. I would have changed his list before submitting it and not told him…

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  5. cheers Pete, I actually just wrote on my blog about mental toughness and mistake free warhammer being the differential at the top end http://nzhammered.blogspot.co.nz/2013/02/mental-toughness-nztc.html

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  6. I don't think 'Von Trapp family' works that well; sunny and caring and happy to all other people doesn't fit their army selection or lists.

    So I think we should re-name the Dunn team as the 'Addams Family', it's a much better fit. Wikipedia backs this up;

    Pete aka Uncle Fester: "Fester is a bald, barrel-shaped man with dark, sunken eyes and a devilish grin. "

    Jack aka Pugsley: "Pugsley was depicted as a diabolical, malevolent boy-next-door. In the television series, he was a devoted older brother and an inventive and mechanical genius."

    Tom aka Wednesday: "Wednesday is originally a pale, dark-haired, grim-looking little girl who is fascinated with death and the macabre. She seldom smiles."

    Joe Dixon aka Lurch: "...a tall, ghoulish manservant named Lurch."

    Apart from the bit about Tom being a girl (we're certain he's not) it's bang on; it's like they could see the future Dunn family at the the NZTC and wrote the characters around them.

    So, the Addams family it is.

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  7. Inspired by the great Tony D’Amato this is the inspirational speech I gave to my team pre NZTC

    “You find out life's this game of inches, so is football. Because in either game - life or football - the margin for error is so small. I mean, one half a step too late or too early and you don't quite make it. One half second too slow, too fast and you don't quite catch it. The inches we need are everywhere around us. They're in every break of the game, every minute, every second. On this team we fight for that inch. On this team we tear ourselves and everyone else around us to pieces for that inch. We claw with our fingernails for that inch. Because we know when add up all those inches, that's gonna make the f*cking difference between winning and losing! Between living and dying! I'll tell you this, in any fight it's the guy whose willing to die whose gonna win that inch. And I know, if I'm gonna have any life anymore it's because I'm still willing to fight and die for that inch, because that's what living is, the six inches in front of your face. Now I can't make you do it. You've got to look at the guy next to you, look into his eyes. Now I think ya going to see a guy who will go that inch with you. Your gonna see a guy who will sacrifice himself for this team, because he knows when it comes down to it your gonna do the same for him. That's a team, gentlemen, and either, we heal, now, as a team, or we will die as individuals. That's football guys, that's all it is. Now, what are you gonna do?”

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    1. TL:DR. Looks dull

      Hope you're more exciting for your wife this Valentines Day

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    2. Probably not! I’ve got some mini’s to base.. ha ha I’m taking her out for a 3 course meal at a nice vineyard up here.. key to having good will going away for the weekend where John will probably drag me to mermaids… ha ha

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    3. Oh good....remember Sam is recording video ALL weekend

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    4. No phones, no cameras and no bloody video.. what goes on tour stays on tour!!

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    5. i hope he's there when i gateway your Gutstar,Pete!
      Garteh Bale Style.
      GT

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    6. He's pretty special, that Gareth Bale....

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  8. Sorry if I've been quiet. Not a lack of confidence its too much work.

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    1. I am sure no one took it as a lack of confidence......

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  9. Right I finally have a gap to read this thread but am now confused a few days ago you thought NZ hammered lists were poor and now you say our lists are solid but we don't know how to use them.

    What is it Pete, am I rubbish or my toys?

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  10. Good luck to everyone this weekend!

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