Final SOW match FFS vs WAO: They just kept coming

It has been a crazy ride for FFS in Siege of Winterfell. Our first match was against BaN a painful loss and not a great start to the season. The only saving grace is it is BaN and a loss is not surprising.

The next three matches were easy wins…

Followed by a much closer BaN loss

The last match could make or break us and we were to face WAO. A strong event-oriented alliance.

I am proud that FFS did not dodge any matches, not all alliances can say that. We fought every match win or lose. This was our final test. A loss in this match could put the playoffs out of reach. Before these last matches of the season, the last-minute recruiting comes into play. Did they improve enough to knock us out? Would they test us to see if we learned the lessons from the last match?

The participation levels of WAO shocked me, I did not recall them coming in with nearly full participation in previous matchups. Both alliances came in with 98 players each and were darn near tied in the initial points.

The initial hot springs battle, reminded me of what I love of this event. Scores of players from both side descending on their targets. Red and blue lines showing the arrival of both friend and foe. WAO was fearless in those early moments making me question did they know something we didn’t? Was there some sort of plot twist incoming?

As the hot springs fell under our control,

I began my push into enemy territory.

There was no shortage of enemies to fight. As soon as we killed them, more would come back. Some of those players destroyed lil ole me…

Some of the fights I did the destoying

And everything in between…

WAO never stopped coming. I hadn’t bothered to check the score, but the way they were fighting it felt like the match had to be close. What else could explain all the healing they had to be doing to keep coming out to fight. It didn’t seem like they would be able to catch us so why have they not given up. We kept pushing up to WAO’s base. Even at the base they still kept coming. Over and over like lambs to the slaughter. Even the ones who tried to play smart and snipe from within the base would be dragged out and swarmed when the targeted player moved away from the base. I had a proud moment realizing we had learned from the previous match. The folks at the gate were not afk this time.

I couldn’t begin to comprehend the speed ups they must be using. Don’t get me wrong, I healed a whole lot too lol. I think even I would have given up at this point.  I tried not to complain. It can be hard to get so many kills as a wee fish in the whale pool. WAO, I decided they were sacrificing themselves for science. Letting me play with different formations. Giving me treasure troves of battle reports to pour over.

Before I knew it I was forced from the battlefield back to the server in Westeros. Despite what the score may lead you to believe, this was a very fun match. WAO was here for a good time, not a long time, and I learned a lot from the battles.

Seeing all the big boy commanders in action had me updating my OMG I WANT IT list. Once I can figure out how to get a whale account on a minnow budget of course lol.

I had to look at the healing and was not prepared for what I saw. I think only two FFS players made the top 50 in Total Healing lol. I wondered why WAO would waste all those speed ups on a match that at the end of the day was unwinnable for them. It didn’t make sense and honestly it still does not. We have Glorius Battle coming with Alliance Conquest not far behind. Surely, that would be a better use of the speed ups. If I am missing something let me know lol.

The win had us finish in a respectable 6^th place position. Not too bad after being unlucky enough to get BaN twice this season.

This locked us into a playoff spot. Thank the Old and New Gods (mama needs those spearwives).

I liked our odds of making it to the second round of the playoffs, where we would then face two of my favoritist people in Westeros (Heeeeeeeyyyyy Vegeta and Mirela lol). This is a match I am looking forward to so much. I think NBe and FFS are very equally yoked alliances. We are similar in size, power, participation, whales and levels of try hardedness. This has the potential to be the rare match we all hope for. A match that can literally go either way. Soooooo if we make it that far, and IF I am one of the lucky 70 players in that match, just know I am coming for you Vegeta muah hahaha lol. How did your Sow season go? Any amazing matches?