Back in the Game

Digging around I noticed that the last time I posted anything in this blog was almost 2 years ago.  2 whole years!  I couldn't believe it at first but then I remembered that I'm an inherently lazy person and keeping something like a blog updated is beyond my capacity.  I was defeated by my own ennui.  Well, that has to change and it changes now.  I might not post every day, even every week, hell, it might not be every month but I will post and it's starting today.

I recently put together a collection of old Games Workshop 3rd edition Orc models for Blood Bowl.  I found a painter willing to take on the commission and before the end of the year it will be my great pleasure to couch the famous Orc team, the Gouged Eye, in future tournaments.  I have to say, from what I've seen of the work in progress on the models they are going to look great, I mean really good.  I can't wait to get them all back but I've made life difficult for the  poor guy painting them by asking for the bases to be changed......after he had based them.  I originally asked for grass on the bases but now I need them done as Astrogranite.  The Gouged eye home stadium is the Doom Dome and the playing surface there is Astrogranite so it made sense.  Hopefully it'll work out but I should know for sure in a day or so.  I've even ordered a custom pitch from FF Fields for the team to play on.  Again, I've been difficult and changed my mind a few times on what I want but I've firmed things up now and I'm confident that it will all look good.

When I get the team back I shall do a bio for each player on the team including a photo for each individual.  TO get things started I've looked at the teams Thrower.  His photo will be added once he's back from pre season training but in the meantime here's a little bit about him.

Osgar grew up supporting the Gouged Eye and his father would often take him to the Doom Dome to see the team play.  He was enthralled with the game and from an early age had set his sights on one day running out in the famous red & white onto the hallowed Astrogranite.  As he grew it became apparent that, unlike his contemporaries, he was never going to be a big and burly Orc.  His slender frame was more suited to speed than power and he quickly realised that he would never be a blitzer like his hero Varag Ghoul-Chewer.  He reasoned that life up front on the line of scrimmage would be a very short life indeed and so a career as a thrower was the only thing left. 

During his time at The Academy, the training grounds for the Gouged Eye, his speed and agility made him stand out even amongst the other trainee throwers.  He would regularly leave opposition players stranded as he jinked and dived his way across the pitch, sheltering behind the hulking Black Orcs when in danger before popping out of cover to launch a pass down-field to a waiting blitzer.  Unfortunately, this was the point at which Osgar revealed the one short-coming of his game – he couldn't throw a ball for toffee.  There’s an unwritten rule amongst the Orc teams of the Blood Bowl circuit and that is “If youze throwin' da ball, youze already in bovver”.  The reason Orc teams don’t throw the ball much is that they’re not very good at it.  Osgar was no exception and fumbled passes became as much of a trademark as his flashing sprints.  Despite this, the team coaches reasoned that he wasn't really any worse than the others when it came to making a pass and he was so swift that he deserved a place on the team.

After several seasons at the heart of the Gouged Eye offence, Osgar has developed a reputation for scintillating runs that get the crowds on their feet and has ensured that attendances at the Doom Dome have risen each year that he’s played.  Deep down though, Osgar yearns to throw the ball; to see it spiral through the air as the crowd hold their breath and wait for the catch that will surely lead to a score.  This has meant that on many, many occasions, the ball has been lost to the opposition who, although surprised to suddenly find themselves with a scoring opportunity, have gratefully received the gift and usually gone on to the win the game.  This has led to the fans of the Gouged Eye (semi) affectionately nicknaming Osgar “Uh-Oh” in recognition of the collective groan that rises from the stands whenever they see him take the familiar throwing stance.  With a typically Orcish sense of humour, primarily designed to help boost shirt sales – they might be Orcs but they’re not totally stupid – the team management have awarded Osgar the squad number 00.

Well, that's enough for tonight, I shall break myself back in gently, but rest assured that there will be more to follow.