Blood Bowl game Catch-All

I read the rules (PDF of the 5th edition Living Rulebook linked in this very thread) before I started playing. I got the gist of the game, as much as you can from just reading the rules, and I played a number of matches. Four minute turns are just excruciatingly boring for me. I realize that not every turn takes 4 minutes, and that anything much less would be too fast in some cases.

I can see there's a lot of strategic depth there, and there's also way too much depth for my taste in terms of player statistics and additional stuff you can get for your guys. That's why I thought sports fans would love it--there's stats all over the place. All those numbers don't excite me, though.

I'm not saying the game sucks, it's just not for me. Maybe it would be more fun with friends, I don't know. Maybe I'm just not in the mood for this kind of strategy game right now. It really didn't do anything for me. I can see it being a big huge deal for anyone who already enjoys the game, though, since the rules are very... thorough, and this game takes care of all the minutiae.

The production values are decent--the UI is sufficiently warhammerish, fairly easy to find stuff. The player models are all well done, and the arenas look good. The sound design was adequate--not outstanding, but I can't find fault with it. I didn't have any connection problems, and the people I played were nice enough.

Anyway, all this info probably violates the beta NDA, but at least I'm not releasing screenshots or movies.

One of the options in creating a league is having 2 minute turns. Also can choose between classic and blitz rules. No idea how to get the thing to show up though. Just checked and still hasn't shown up. Yet I see a new league so I don't know. I give up on it, the interface has beaten me.

BadKen wrote:

Four minute turns are just excruciatingly boring for me. I realize that not every turn takes 4 minutes, and that anything much less would be too fast in some cases.

That is part of what I enjoy about it but I spent many hours playing these types of games when I was younger. Not for everyone, no biggie.

why didn't I look into this sooner?! Beta signups are closed

This looks right up my alley.

Well, I'll friend you up tomorrow and try to work on it before friday briz. Its sounds fun, its just obtuse.

I updated the original post with a lot of rules and tips for new players.

YAY! It's official I just recorded my first victory! Apparently the trick was to stop playing with my squishy Human team and play with an Orc team. Once the opponents entire team was down he quit. YAY!

I'm a glutton for punishment. It's going to be goblins all the way for me.

Prozac wrote:

YAY! It's official I just recorded my first victory! Apparently the trick was to stop playing with my squishy Human team and play with an Orc team. Once the opponents entire team was down he quit. YAY!

Yep. Never underestimate the importance of Armor and Strength. Blood Bowl is a violent game and in my league, an Elf team only ever won once the finals

1st year : High Elves
2nd Year: Norse (me!)
3rd Year: Chaos
4th Year: Chaos Dwarves
5th Year: Undead
6th Year: Nurgle`s rotters

What you can notice from that list is that as time goes by, slower, well-armored teams began to win on a regular basis. Less armored teams eventually lose key players who have persistent injuries because they're always the first targets of adversaries.

With time the slower teams build up skills and get their better positions filled up. My Black Orcs in my orc team now each have Block, Mighty Blow, Guard and the better ones also have skills like tackle or break tackle. They maim elves and any agility team senseless.

Tip for slower teams: let a fast and agile team start with the ball and make them score quickly. Then beat them to a pulp!

Humans are a well balanced team but unfortunately, they neither have armor or strength like chaos or orcs teams so I feel they must rely on devious tactics. Fouling must be in every human team coach's playbook!

Strewth wrote:

I'm a glutton for punishment. It's going to be goblins all the way for me.

With the help of two trolls and special weapons like chainsaws and bombs, Goblin teams can be a blast to play. I don't know if TRUE Goblin teams will be available in the game when it's released though and I can hardly recommend lots of goblins in an orc team. You don't get a second troll or special weapons in an orc team.

I just got in. Name is Multra so friend me up =)

Multra wrote:

I just got in. Name is Multra so friend me up =)

I don't know how to friend someone who's not online

*sadness*

Im online atm. Are we GWJ or GWJ league?

Interstate, to friend people up clcik on the friends button, then type in their name and in hte drop down list to the right select add to friends.

Oh, I took down the 24 team GWJ league, since we were never going to get that up and running, look for the new league labelled Gamers With Jobs, password is Stan again. a lot less slots this time so hopefully we'll get a game going.

Took down the GWJ league I made since Interstate and Prozac both have one up.

interstate78 wrote:
Multra wrote:

I just got in. Name is Multra so friend me up =)

I don't know how to friend someone who's not online

*sadness*

You can go to the friend list and type their name in and then select add friend from the drop down menu. I added Multra, interstate, and a boogle.

I had issues with the applications for my league, so if you submitted an application can you please resubmit.

Between this and Demigod my non TF2 time is already spoken for.

I like this game a lot because it is very faithful to the tabletop rules, so it's just as fun. I don't think I'll be getting it to play online leagues and multiplayer though, 2 hours for a game a good chunk of time, and its kind of dull waiting for the other player to take their turn.

However, I am completely stoked for the hot seat mode, I might purchase just for that.

Yeah, hot seat mode could be quite a bit of fun. I'm also assuming it'll have a single player mode which will hopefully be a decent substitute when I just want to play some matches. Also hoping the PSP version turns out good as it could be a great time waster on trips, etc.

Well, I'm sure Games Workshop would be glad to know that playing the video game has inspired me to buy the boardgame.

I've finally got windowed mode working satisfactorily. Playing Brizahd as I type this

EDIT: Well my star receiver levelled up (thanks to the 2 unanswered Touchdowns he scored against Briz) and got plus 1 Movement. fear the movement 9 catcher!

lostlobster wrote:

Well, I'm sure Games Workshop would be glad to know that playing the video game has inspired me to buy the boardgame.

I didn't even know the board game existed until now!

mrwynd wrote:

I didn't even know the board game existed until now!

Nor had my last opponent. Levelled up 2 blitzers and a blackorc =)

Still haven't figured out how to join a league. I'll try next time I'm on.

lostlobster wrote:

Well, I'm sure Games Workshop would be glad to know that playing the video game has inspired me to buy the boardgame.

My best friend and I pooled our money to buy the board game almost 20 years ago and played the hell out of it. I still have my dwarf and dark elf teams with my Warhammer 40k stuff. Where did you buy the board game new?

Q wrote:
lostlobster wrote:

Well, I'm sure Games Workshop would be glad to know that playing the video game has inspired me to buy the boardgame.

My best friend and I pooled our money to buy the board game almost 20 years ago and played the hell out of it. I still have my dwarf and dark elf teams with my Warhammer 40k stuff. Where did you buy the board game new?

I ended up buying it here in NYC at The Compleat Strategist. I could have gotten it for $10 cheaper from Games Workshop's website but 1) I like to support my friendly local game store when I can, and 2) I have poor impulse control and it was my birthday yesterday and I deserved to buy myself a present, dammit!

Maq wrote:
mrwynd wrote:

I didn't even know the board game existed until now!

Nor had my last opponent. Levelled up 2 blitzers and a blackorc =)

Still haven't figured out how to join a league. I'll try next time I'm on.

I think by default your team is registered in the PUBLIC LEAGUE which you need to leave to play in any other

So it sounds as though there's an NDA in this beta. Without breaking it then, are you guys at least having fun?

Prozac wrote:

I've finally got windowed mode working satisfactorily. Playing Brizahd as I type this

EDIT: Well my star receiver levelled up (thanks to the 2 unanswered Touchdowns he scored against Briz) and got plus 1 Movement. fear the movement 9 catcher!

It was a sound thrashing... Even with 4 rerolls I couldn't complete a drive down a the field. I was close but ah well them the breaks.

Coldstream wrote:

So it sounds as though there's an NDA in this beta. Without breaking it then, are you guys at least having fun?

Even losing I'm having a blast.

Coldstream wrote:

So it sounds as though there's an NDA in this beta. Without breaking it then, are you guys at least having fun?

It's everything I ever wanted from a videogame version of Blood Bowl. The UI could use some intuitiveness. It's a bit tricky. Once you know what you're doing though, it's fine

My only problem with it (same goes for the boardgame) is that playing a game takes a good hour or two. Since the game doesn't have voice chat, waiting for my turn can be a bit boring... but I don't know if I really want it... listening to some dude complain that I'm being harsh fouling his star player could get tiresome. I played a game against some guy and I don't know if he didn't know how to use the text chat but he didn't say a SINGLE WORD. Might as well play against the computer then.

About the league~ Could we have more than 4 players?

interstate78 wrote:

Since the game doesn't have voice chat, waiting for my turn can be a bit boring...

Sounds like it would be a laugh playing against a Goodjer whilst using Vent. I can only imagine the heights to which the smack-talking will rise.

Interstate, I originally put up the 24 team league, but we'd never start the season, if you want you can put yp a larger league.

In other news the 4 (all Orcs) team Gamers with Jobs League's season has officially kicked off, first round matches:

Harkonis' Hell Razors vs Interstate's Headchoppaz and
Brizahd's Gobstompas vs. Prozac's Orcs With Jobs

Let's get it on!

The real-time option isn't in the beta is it? I'm personally interested in the turn-based but I also would like to know how viable and fun the game is when just playing football with a friend beside you.