Next up in our mini-series of coach interviews covering all our lovely new coaches who joined for Season IV… we sit down with Simon!
1) What’s your name and where do you come from?
My name is Simon. I am originally from Plymouth, but have lived in Cardiff, Portsmouth and London before finally settling in Chippenham.
2) Tell us a little about how you came to play Blood Bowl and your experience with the game and wider hobby.
I started in 1989 I think, playing Heroquest with school friends. My Dad bought me a copy of White Dwarf (WD134 – the one with Heroquest and Space Crusade on the cover) and we used to sit and paint the lead miniatures together. I was very taken with the miniatures, and also with the article in that very copy of WD by Andy Chambers featuring the first appearance of Ghazghkull. That was the beginning of my life-long love of all thing green.
I kept hobbying through secondary school, collecting more than playing. Rogue Trader, Space Marine (Epic 40K), WFB, Necromunda, Blood Bowl, Warhammer Quest, and Gorkamorka. Then came later teenage years and the need for wheels, so most of my pile of lead got put on a brand new thing called eBay and the proceeds spent on a K-reg Ford Orion. I went to Uni and then joined the navy and so began the hobby hiatus.
Fast forward several years and I started playing X-wing with a group of colleagues. Some of us went to the UK Games Expo, where centre stage 8th Ed 40k was being demonstrated, and that was the dawn of the second age! I played 40k Orks through 8th and a bit of 9th, and I dabbled in Necromunda (Delaque) and Horus Heresy (Iron Warriors). I also played a few historical games like Black Powder. Most recently I have played a couple of games of Adeptus Titanicus (Legio Gryphonicus) and The Old World (Orc & Goblin Tribes).
I’m mostly a narrative gamer and I am looking to get involved with Inq 28, kit bashing an Inquisitorial Warband. I am pretty inexperienced with Blood Bowl, but I am looking forward to learning and meeting everyone.
3) What Blood Bowl achievement are you most proud of?
Joining a league. With a little one and a career shift I haven’t had much headspace over the last couple of years, so really pleased to have the opportunity to get involved.
4) What’s your favourite team and why?
Orcs, I just love greenskins. If it wasn’t Orcs it would probably be Goblins or Snotlings. I almost always choose factions I like over what would be optimal.
5) Tell us about the team you’ve brought into Season IV. Did you select it for purely competitive reasons, or were there other factors involved?
I brought Orcs! There were no competitive reasons, just because I like them and they seemed to be straightforward to learn with.
6) What was your thought process behind your roster selections, skills taken, and how would you describe your playstyle with this team?
I brought what I thought was reasonable for Orcs after doing some YouTube research. I am genuinely interested to see how it goes.
7) What are your expectations for this season? Do you have any particular goals you’d like to achieve? Who are you backing to win each division this season?
My goal is to gain some experience playing the game, to be a bit more social with my hobbying, and to meet lots of lovely people!
8) What’s one thing you’d change about Blood Bowl?
Ask me again after I’ve played a few more games.
9) What Pitch is your favourite (rules, artwork, whatever)?
I like the basic pitches – I’ve got the Season 2 box set pitch and a Deep Cut Studios pitch – I get easily distracted by some of the more ‘visually noisy’ pitches.
10) Outside of Blood Bowl tell us a little about your life and main passions?
I spent 17 years in the Royal Navy where I was a weapons engineer. I now work in explosives safety. When not working or hobbying, I enjoy running, reading, drinking copious amounts of coffee, and spending time trying to be a super-awesome husband-father.
11) Pirates or Ninjas?
Orky pirates – Freebooterz!
Thanks for sharing, Simon😊
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