The name doesn't make much sense any more since the proportion of bloggers isn't as high. I think it might put people off despite me trying to make it clear it's open to anyone. It's also getting harder to field a special character since GW keep deleting them. Ultimately though, I feel the format is becoming stale and I don't want to get to the point where I don't want to run a tournament because I'm sick of the format. The good news is that I'll still be running two events next year but they'll be very different in some ways and similar in others. Still with the same ethos of friendly gaming over no holds barred competition but I want to try some new ideas out. Fluffageddon will probably still take the November slot (it's up to Matt) but there'll be an event there either way and something new (and hopefully exciting) in June. The guys at BWX already know what's coming but I'd appreciate it if they avoid blogging about it so they don't steal my thunder!
Anyway, I'll be writing a series of posts recapping Blog Wars over the last few years (with pie charts!) but for today let's find out what happened at BWX. Whilst I just said I'm growing tired of the format, I still tried some new things out. Most notably a scoring system I stole from Matt's postponed event, Fluffageddon and a change to the way the painting competition works. I'm sure you all came here to find out your results though so let's get that out of the way:
We managed to have a top three made up of people who've either never played at Blog Wars or never placed. Congratulations to Matthew Grimes on winning with his Chaos Space Marines and Chaos Daemons on just his second visit to BW. I believe he played Ravenwing in the final and was helped massively by his AP3 flamers! Former champion, Dan Lane, finished just out of the podium positions in 4th. Luke Fogg was probably instrumental in denying him the top positions with the near draw in game two!
I'd originally decided that I wouldn't be playing in the event since I'd again sold the full 50 tickets. However, when I had a drop-out, and was unable to sell the final ticket, I cobbled a list together designed to have very few units to make my games as quick as possible. I will, of course, be posting that list and full battle reports but you can see from the results table above that I was nowhere near repeating my mistake of winning it again! It was quite a mission to keep the event running smoothly and concentrate on my games but as far as I know there was no controversy surrounding the results (which is a nice change - let's hope nothing comes up). We did run a little bit behind schedule mind you.
I didn't hear any particular complaints about filthy lists (barring a couple about the Tyranids flyers and people cursing bikes) which is a promising sign. I know of at least a couple of players who told me they'd toned things down a bit this time which I appreciate.
The real winner of the day was Ian Plumpton though, he walked away with a Tau Stormsurge kit (RRP £90), despite finishing 33rd. I think that sums up pretty nicely what BW is supposed to be all about! In fact everyone won something for the first time in BW history as I gave away a set of custom BW objective markers to everyone who showed up!
I was also the recipient of some prizes as Gareth Williams took it upon himself to co-ordinate a whip round netting me my own Stormsurge, a Tau codex and a tenner to "use as a bookmark". I can't thank you guys enough for it. I appreciate that you didn't have to put in and for you all to be so generous is really touching. That hopefully means you all enjoyed yourselves!
A massive thank you to everyone who came to this final outing of Blog Wars, particularly Hendrik and Tobias who managed to make it from Germany despite a Lufthansa strike! It was therefore a little funny that Hendrik won the F.A.T. mat meaning I'll need to ship it out to him rather than him trying to squeeze it into his luggage!
As I've said, stay tuned for a rundown of my battles plus, of course, full details of the painting competition (with a different format this time). I have to say I didn't get chance to look at any of the armies so I'm just hoping Liam managed to get some good pictures for me when I passed him my camera!
Let me finish by saying thank you to the 136 different people who've been to at least one Blog Wars event. I never, in my wildest dreams, expected to be sitting here five years on, retiring the event with back to back 50 player attendances! I appreciate all the support and I hope you'll stick with me whilst I try to do something different.
Hi Alex,
ReplyDeleteI just want to say a massive thank you for organising ten brilliant tournaments, which have always been the highlight of my wargaming year, for the last half-decade. I have enjoyed every single event, and made some really great gaming friends over the years there, who I sincerely hope will carry on supporting your events in the future.
Good luck with your new ideas mate - I'll be there next year (all being well) for whatever you come up with!
Graham S.
Seconded Graham.
DeleteCan't wait to see what comes next!
Indeed Alex, I think it was the best yet. every single game I played was really easy going, the people I played with were fantastic. And I know that sounds like an innuendo but its far more appropriate phrase than opponent because it was never like that. Even getting slaughtered 31-2 in my second game wasn't too bad because the battle was a great experience.
ReplyDeleteI was also lucky enough to have my last game with Tobias, one of your German players and got to brush off my very limited GCSE German which made the whole thing so much more fun. I really wish the time hadn't gone so fast but the experience was an absolute pleasure.
I can't thank you enough for organising the event and all the other ones past and I'm so glad all my mates got to experience it at least once, I won't mention their prodigious painting skills ;) All the best for NOT Blog Wars 2016 I look forward to your plans and expect me there with bells on!
I had a great time in June and would have loved to be there this time - can't wait to see (read?) what you've got planned for next time - I'll be there again all other things being equal!
ReplyDeleteHi Alex,
ReplyDeleteHad a great day, for my second blogwars and can't wait to see what comes along in the new year to replace Blogwars. I think the highlight should be the happiness everyone has had from this event, and all the mad effort you've put in to give us all an amazing event to attend. You definitely deserve your new toys and hope you have fun with them - we may even see them at the next event! Looking forward to seeing everyone again in the new year, it's great I've made lots if new friends at the event - and Test we need to get together to fight it out once more as we didn't meet on the board this time round :) Cheers Alex *high-five!*
*Tess - not test* autocorrect betrays me yet again lol
DeleteThanks for the mention Alex :) hope my second place objectives get a mention too :). I can only echo what's already been said, I had a really good time - particularly after I extended my unbeaten streak to 17 games at blog wars. Gutted that BWX was the last blog wars, but really excited for what 2016 will bring.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all you've done in organising such a great event :) see you next year!
Thanks Alex for an awesome tournament once again. I can't believe I had an actual shot at winning the whole thing!
ReplyDeleteI played Matthew in the final game with my all Ravenwing force, so was dreading the AP3 flamers! It ended a lot closer than I thought it would.
I would like to echo everyone who has commented already. Having only joined the Blogwar fun in BW9 I can say my only disappointment is that I didn't get to it earlier! BW9 was a complete slaughter for me, losing all three games and coming 46th of 48, but I enjoyed it all the same. I got to play against nice guys and armies I had never faced before and so ultimately it was immense fun for that reason.
ReplyDeleteThis time around I brought the exact same army and did surprisingly better. The Orks for round one was a really fun game and, while the score line doesn't necessarily reflect it, I was anxious throughout the whole game. So many greenskins!
Game two was literally just about my worst game of 40K ever. Mr Mascarenhas' nids just totally outmatched and outmanouvered me and even if I had have brought some skyfire I think the result would have been the same. A hard army to beat. I was kicking myself right through that one for ignoring the skies withy list writing. All credit to him for playing his army perfectly though.
Third game against James' Salamanders/Cult Mech list was, by contrast, one of the more enjoyable games I have ever played. I managed to hold my own, killing off plenty of models and giving James a challenge at least (the unfortunate late arrival of his Stormtalons definitely helped!) but in the end his mastery of his objectives and his clever positioning of Knight-killing forces meant that the best player definitely won. (Also thank you for pointing out a mistake I had been making for a while - which may have cost me a few lost combats! Glad we sorted that one out.)
Overall, a highly enjoyable day of gaming with ups and downs and a lunch thrown in. And then I go and win the Stormsurge in the raffle, which a) is an incredibly generous raffle prize especially with all the other prizes considered and b) spells out the exact spirit of Blogwars to me. Everyone turns up to play, the best players get their rewards but ultimately, anyone who turns up to throw dice could walk away with an amazing prize. I am extremely grateful for it and even though I do not currently have a Tau army, I will enjoy building and painting it immensely. Can't wait to see what's coming next year but you can count me in!
P.S. I love those objective markers!
Alas, my lowest ever BW ranking! Still had a blast playing despite the fact that my mostly bike army, relying on its manoeuvrability to deliver deathwing goodness faced two all bike armies in the first two games and really felt the outnumbering! Fun times though and the secret replacement for BW sound utterly brilliant!!!!
ReplyDeleteSuch a shame to hear about the end of blog wars, I'd always hoped to be able to come to one but it never worked out, but you can be damn sure I'll try to make it to whatwever you come up with next!
ReplyDeleteSnap. Hopefully be able to get to the new events.
DeleteThree great games, three superb opponents, one amazing organiser.
ReplyDeleteI had a blast at BWX, Stephen's beautiful Ork army looked so good on the table I was almost too embarrassed to shoot them up with my Tau gunline. Almost.
Already looking forward to whatever comes next - the teaser for the doubles event sounds really intriguing!
As a newcomer to the 40K blogosphere, I have to say I'm kind of sad that I'll never make it to a Blog Wars now. That said, I look forward to seeing what you come up with next. It's looking likely that I will have the time and money to make it across the pond next June, so hopefully I'll see y'all there!
ReplyDeleteSad to hear but it was a bloody good run! I only made it to BW 1, and it's still one of the best tourneys I've been to!
ReplyDeleteHi Alex
ReplyDeletethank again for great tourny really enjoyed all my game with great opponents , cant wait till can see what you come up with next.