NZ Fantasy Masters - Meet the Contenders - Part One

Okay so the invitations for the 4th NZ Masters for Warhammer Fantasy have been released. Time to indulge in some smack talk.


So without further ado here’s my take on the field:

Mal Patel – ranked #1 and holder of the Lizardmen icon.

The man who bills himself as Team Andy Joyce’s token ethnic, Mal has had a great year……winning pretty much all the major events in New Zealand and representing at the ETC. Mal finished 4th at last year’s Masters and there’s only one of that year’s Top Three turning up at this event.

Let’s say it would be a major surprise if mal uses anything other than Lizards but given his new found love of the ETC he is shifting from his comfy carnosaur couch to a one trick pony where he pushes 1200 points of characters in with a big block of saurus and shouts “All aboard the Funbus”. Buffed up by Beast magic he pushes it forward and smacks it into the nearest target with all the finesse of a rutting rhinoceros.

Prediction: There or thereabouts. Biggest weakness is if there is a bar onsite.



Daniel Butler – ranked #3 but sadly holds no icon (that looks a scab to pick)
The poster boy for Tronhammer and being honest, what else is there to do in Hamilton? This year’s “Next Big Thing” has come from nowhere to sit at #3. However, I bet he has those little doubts that nag at him in the wee small hours of the night – “Am I only here because I play Daemons?”

Prediction: He’d have to be very disappointed if he didn’t make the Top 5 and really how hard can it be to Point ‘n Click?


Basil Moskovis – ranked #5 and unlike Daniel he has an icon – for Vampire Counts

Rumour has it that the hardest thing for both basil and his opponents will be staying awake during the games. Unless he springs a surprise Basil will be bringing a Ghoul horde with massive Grave Guard bunker. If you like champagne Warhammer you won’t be watching Basil’s games! Let’s just say if any games vary outside 12-8 I’ll be very surprised. The question Basil needs to ask himself is whether 65-72 points out of 120 is enough to win the event.

Prediction: I’d bet my house he finishes between 4th and 6th


Thomas van Roekel – ranked #6

So what can I say about Thomas? Well the big question is whether he will bring Dwarfs or High Elves. Or will he panic and fall back on his Lizards. I’m guessing that he will err on safety first and pick the Lizards. But is that the right decision? Well anything is better than ruining 6 people’s weekends by playing Dwarfs. The brave decision is to take High Elves and to be honest if he did that should scare a lot of people.

Prediction: Lizards top third. High Elves, pretty much the same. Dwarfs? Who cares!


James Page – ranked #9
The man with the famous name. I think the most obvious line here is “Well Toto, we’re not in Kansas” and James will find this mudpuddle a little bit deeper than the one in Tauranga. Speaking of which I have real misgiving about people from Tauranga given that they elected Winston Peters as their MP at multiple elections. Suggests something not right with the place…..so up to James to prove they don’t all have six fingers.

Prediction: Never liked Led Zep so James will need to be on top of his game to impress the audience.