Summoners Circle – Slann Blog – Part 3 (On Hold)
Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 5:15 am
“Deep in the darkest depths of the Pacific lies the hideous monolith-crowned citadel of R’lyeh, the sunken tomb city where Great Cthulhu lies dead and dreaming. Horrors of gargantuan proportion slumber there, and they whisper to the minds of those we would label as ‘insane’. Within this maddening swirl of incomprehensible terror the Old Ones master cults determined to bring about the awakening.
“That is not dead which can eternal lie, and with strange æons even death may die.”
~//~
The R’LYEH SUMMONERS
The Summoners are a Slann team devoted to Great Cthulhu!
As I mentioned in my First Blog I have dedicated the team to the Darkest of the Hillside Thickets and the writings of H.P. Lovecraft. Lovecraft was an influential horror writer around the early 1900s. Many of today’s ‘Masters of Horror’ credit him for creating the modern Horror Genre. If you’ve never read his stuff, do yourself a treat and pick up a book from your local. It takes a little getting used to the ol’ timey style of writing, but there is some great stuff in there. The Thickets are an awesome independent band from Chilliwack in B.C. Canada. They have also devoted themselves to the works of H.P. Lovecraft and if you haven’t heard of them before, the band’s My Space Page has a few free songs on it if you wish to have a listen. The unique thing about the Cthulhu Mythos is that most of the material isn’t conventionally copyrighted. Fan fiction and early works by collaborative writers have all had just as much valid input to the Mythos as Lovecraft. There is a huge world of Mysterious Terror and Twisted Cults lying behind the world we know… One Glimpse is enough to shatter a mans sanity and destroy truths you have always believed were incontrovertible!
GW has borrowed quite heavily from Lovecraft in their creation of a Back Story for the Slann and the Lizardmen. There are obvious references to the Cthulhu Mythos – bordering on copying directly – as great beings from our forgotten history came to earth and wage war on apocalyptic scales. Finally a great catastrophe sealed their fate, Dead but waiting. Prophesised to return, and dreaming… plotting … influencing!
Now these younger Slann, The Summoners, have taken matters into their own hands. Somehow, the BABBL championship plays a part. Soon the stars will be right. They will awaken Cthulhu and initiate the beginning of the end. The Continent of R’lyeh will rise and man will learn of new ways to frolic… to enjoy them selves. Out of the Ashes a new order will rise!
(See how much fun this is!)
This isn’t my first time out with Slann. In the BABBL pre-season (before we got the website) I played them for 12 games and finished with a 6-1-5 record. In BABBL season 2, I saw more success and achieved a 13-1-5 record. I didn’t manage an appearance in the Mid-Season Dungeon Match (missed by one game – lost to woodies) but finished 5th over all in the regular season and advanced to the ¼ finals where I lost to a Skaven team who would achieve a 2nd place finish. Really, it was my worst season thus far in BABBL… I finished 2nd in Season 1 with Amazons and 3rd in Season 3 with The Goon Squad (my most recent Orc Team) but I still feel as though the Slann had an awesome potential. If I was a little luckier or maybe a better coach, I could have taken them all the way!
Well, now’s my chance to prove it!
The Sums finished Season three as a 223 point team. I had a blitzer killed right before the finals (the only player killed on the team!) so I’m dragging around a rookie positional at the moment, but there are some real note worthy stars on the team.
Danny Glands
Unofficial Thrower; Sure Hands, Dodge, +AG. SPP=44
Danny is great as a thrower even though he doesn’t have any passing skills. The big fear is the dreaded fumble, but with the changes to Safe Throw, a doubles roll will fix the worries there. (even better that he can negate an intercept on a 2+) He can leap onto a ball under coverage and recover it with a 2+, then dodge out reliably to hand it off or throw it away. If he doesn’t roll doubles when he hits 51, I’ll take Kick Off Return, so he can comfortably covet the back field on his own.
Bubba Longshanks
Man Mountain; Block, Guard, Stand Firm. SPP=33
Who doesn’t love a Kroxigor with Block??? What an awesome reliable player. The Big Meat Shield had even niggled Glart Smashrip Jr. in one game (first dice thrown for the game) then killed a journeyman, then Badly Hurt a Skaven Lineman. A Casualty Hat-trick in just three rolls! Next skill for him would be Break Tackle. If I rolled doubles I’d take either Pro or Dodge. Pro to negate Loner, Dodge for it’s synergy with Break Tackle and to keep him on his feet in the fight!
"The Rookie" Adam Baum
Catching sensation; Dodge, +AG, Pass Block, +ST. SPP=65
The Rook was drafted after the season started and earned his nick name after getting him self badly Hurt on a GFI into the endzone. He also fumbled the Pass that led to the Sums loss to the Wood elves that denied our entry to the Season 2 Dungeon. But he has been on fire since then… He has made it his mission to prove that he isn’t some pointless screw up. With Pass Block and 3+ intercept chance, he is a great big pain for my opposition. Even better with his recent ST increase. Next skill will be Block, no mater what I roll!
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
Unassuming Terror; Wrestle. SPP=15
Alright… a simple lineman with wrestle doesn’t seem all that “Terrible” but he is a killer! Out of only six recorded casualties, he has 1 niggle and 4 kills to his name. Three of those were beyond the help of the Apothecary! Two of those were from blocks thrown by the opposition (Double Skull Sucka!) in the ¼ final game against the Eshin Stills.
Son of Tsathoggua
KILLING MACHINE! Block, Tackle, Mighty Blow, +ST, Pile On. SPP=89
The Son won the Season two ‘Most Casualty’ Medal (with 20) and tied for the 'Most Kills' medal (with 5) all without the help of Pile On! I rolled his final skill at the end of the final game of the season. I can’t wait to see what he can do in Season 4! He'll hunt down threatening opponents and smash them flat (dice willing) then hop to his feet and do it all again. He also killed the Season One ‘All star’ & ‘Most Touchdowns’ Medal winner in the final game of the season, he wasn’t saved by the apoth because The Son had just niggled his brother (the soon-to-be Season Two All Star) in the previous turn and the Apoth was a little Busy tending to him!
~//~
Alright, I’ve introduced the team and showcased the stars… Before the next blog I hope to have fine tuned the player profiles and added a little more personality to the team. I’m also looking to create a new team symbol and line up some “Fancy” minis! So keep yours peeled for the eye candy!
I'll also chat about my Team Strategy and Skill Paths
“That is not dead which can eternal lie, and with strange æons even death may die.”
~//~
The R’LYEH SUMMONERS
The Summoners are a Slann team devoted to Great Cthulhu!
As I mentioned in my First Blog I have dedicated the team to the Darkest of the Hillside Thickets and the writings of H.P. Lovecraft. Lovecraft was an influential horror writer around the early 1900s. Many of today’s ‘Masters of Horror’ credit him for creating the modern Horror Genre. If you’ve never read his stuff, do yourself a treat and pick up a book from your local. It takes a little getting used to the ol’ timey style of writing, but there is some great stuff in there. The Thickets are an awesome independent band from Chilliwack in B.C. Canada. They have also devoted themselves to the works of H.P. Lovecraft and if you haven’t heard of them before, the band’s My Space Page has a few free songs on it if you wish to have a listen. The unique thing about the Cthulhu Mythos is that most of the material isn’t conventionally copyrighted. Fan fiction and early works by collaborative writers have all had just as much valid input to the Mythos as Lovecraft. There is a huge world of Mysterious Terror and Twisted Cults lying behind the world we know… One Glimpse is enough to shatter a mans sanity and destroy truths you have always believed were incontrovertible!
GW has borrowed quite heavily from Lovecraft in their creation of a Back Story for the Slann and the Lizardmen. There are obvious references to the Cthulhu Mythos – bordering on copying directly – as great beings from our forgotten history came to earth and wage war on apocalyptic scales. Finally a great catastrophe sealed their fate, Dead but waiting. Prophesised to return, and dreaming… plotting … influencing!
Now these younger Slann, The Summoners, have taken matters into their own hands. Somehow, the BABBL championship plays a part. Soon the stars will be right. They will awaken Cthulhu and initiate the beginning of the end. The Continent of R’lyeh will rise and man will learn of new ways to frolic… to enjoy them selves. Out of the Ashes a new order will rise!
(See how much fun this is!)
This isn’t my first time out with Slann. In the BABBL pre-season (before we got the website) I played them for 12 games and finished with a 6-1-5 record. In BABBL season 2, I saw more success and achieved a 13-1-5 record. I didn’t manage an appearance in the Mid-Season Dungeon Match (missed by one game – lost to woodies) but finished 5th over all in the regular season and advanced to the ¼ finals where I lost to a Skaven team who would achieve a 2nd place finish. Really, it was my worst season thus far in BABBL… I finished 2nd in Season 1 with Amazons and 3rd in Season 3 with The Goon Squad (my most recent Orc Team) but I still feel as though the Slann had an awesome potential. If I was a little luckier or maybe a better coach, I could have taken them all the way!
Well, now’s my chance to prove it!
The Sums finished Season three as a 223 point team. I had a blitzer killed right before the finals (the only player killed on the team!) so I’m dragging around a rookie positional at the moment, but there are some real note worthy stars on the team.
Danny Glands
Unofficial Thrower; Sure Hands, Dodge, +AG. SPP=44
Danny is great as a thrower even though he doesn’t have any passing skills. The big fear is the dreaded fumble, but with the changes to Safe Throw, a doubles roll will fix the worries there. (even better that he can negate an intercept on a 2+) He can leap onto a ball under coverage and recover it with a 2+, then dodge out reliably to hand it off or throw it away. If he doesn’t roll doubles when he hits 51, I’ll take Kick Off Return, so he can comfortably covet the back field on his own.
Bubba Longshanks
Man Mountain; Block, Guard, Stand Firm. SPP=33
Who doesn’t love a Kroxigor with Block??? What an awesome reliable player. The Big Meat Shield had even niggled Glart Smashrip Jr. in one game (first dice thrown for the game) then killed a journeyman, then Badly Hurt a Skaven Lineman. A Casualty Hat-trick in just three rolls! Next skill for him would be Break Tackle. If I rolled doubles I’d take either Pro or Dodge. Pro to negate Loner, Dodge for it’s synergy with Break Tackle and to keep him on his feet in the fight!
"The Rookie" Adam Baum
Catching sensation; Dodge, +AG, Pass Block, +ST. SPP=65
The Rook was drafted after the season started and earned his nick name after getting him self badly Hurt on a GFI into the endzone. He also fumbled the Pass that led to the Sums loss to the Wood elves that denied our entry to the Season 2 Dungeon. But he has been on fire since then… He has made it his mission to prove that he isn’t some pointless screw up. With Pass Block and 3+ intercept chance, he is a great big pain for my opposition. Even better with his recent ST increase. Next skill will be Block, no mater what I roll!
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
Unassuming Terror; Wrestle. SPP=15
Alright… a simple lineman with wrestle doesn’t seem all that “Terrible” but he is a killer! Out of only six recorded casualties, he has 1 niggle and 4 kills to his name. Three of those were beyond the help of the Apothecary! Two of those were from blocks thrown by the opposition (Double Skull Sucka!) in the ¼ final game against the Eshin Stills.
Son of Tsathoggua
KILLING MACHINE! Block, Tackle, Mighty Blow, +ST, Pile On. SPP=89
The Son won the Season two ‘Most Casualty’ Medal (with 20) and tied for the 'Most Kills' medal (with 5) all without the help of Pile On! I rolled his final skill at the end of the final game of the season. I can’t wait to see what he can do in Season 4! He'll hunt down threatening opponents and smash them flat (dice willing) then hop to his feet and do it all again. He also killed the Season One ‘All star’ & ‘Most Touchdowns’ Medal winner in the final game of the season, he wasn’t saved by the apoth because The Son had just niggled his brother (the soon-to-be Season Two All Star) in the previous turn and the Apoth was a little Busy tending to him!
~//~
Alright, I’ve introduced the team and showcased the stars… Before the next blog I hope to have fine tuned the player profiles and added a little more personality to the team. I’m also looking to create a new team symbol and line up some “Fancy” minis! So keep yours peeled for the eye candy!
I'll also chat about my Team Strategy and Skill Paths
Hell, I wish I could have the same upgrades you have...
especially with this team!!!
