Monday, April 8, 2013

The Debunking of a Myth - The Skaven Bell List


Look at this list:

Grey Seer on Bell
Chieftain – BSB
Warlock Engineer – Lvl 1
Warlock Engineer
Warlock Engineer
Assassin
30 Stormvermin – Storm Banner
30 Clanrats with Poisoned Wind Mortar
30 Clanrats with Poisoned Wind Mortar
35 Slaves
34 Slaves
5 Gutter Runners
5 Gutter Runners
WLC
HPA

Ben Johnson's list? No. It's the Polish ETC list from 2011. In action eight months before Ben was credited with "inventing" it. To my knowledge Ben has never said he created it but others have and it becomes accepted wisdom. This myth is then propagated by blogs, forum posts, Twitter and podcasts.

A lot of people looked at that list and realised it or variants of it would work.

Ben is a very good player but credit where credits due,

This list:

Grey Seer on Bell
Chieftain – BSB
Warlock Engineer – Lvl 1
Assassin
Assassin
20 Stormvermin – Storm Banner
40 Clanrats
30 Clanrats
20 Clanrats
38 Slaves
20 Slaves
5 Giant Rats
5 Giant Rats
5 Gutter Runners
5 Gutter Runners
2 Rat Ogres
WLC
HPA

Ben's? No, the Latvian 2011 ETC list. Again in use eight months before it's supposed "invention.

For some it is easier to ascribe it to some "celebrity". Ben Johnson's list sounds a lot better than "That Guy From Latvia" list, doesn't it?

Those who did their homework - including Ben - post 2011 ETC saw how effective the list was and built their own version.

4 comments:

  1. Bah, next thing you're gonna do is claim I didn't invent the Dual Slann Skink Cloud.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Well, I'm calling dibs © on the 'Double Hammerer list".

    That is, if anyone gives a crap about mine or any Dwarf list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry beat you to that in 7th Ed mate ;) and Sshhhh you'll all the sad non-Dwarf players grumbling again...

      Delete
  3. Like you say Pete, I think BJ gave credit to the Polish list when he was on the show - I think BC and the rest primarily assume a UK focus.

    Good points though!

    ReplyDelete