Blood Bowl!

[BanzaiCat]

Hahahaha, that Elvis figure is hilarious!

[GJK]

<Elvis voice> Thank you baby, thank you very much... </Elvis voice>

I'll have to scan and upload an image of the player card for Zombie Elvis.  As I recall, he has "Hypnotic Gaze" and "Rejuvenation" as two of his primary (extraordinary) skills.  Yes, very hilarious.  Apparently it's a fairly rare model that I picked up off of ebay for cheap:  http://www.wcquake.com/12goodies.htm

[TacticalWargames]

I own the Legendary PC version. Really wish I knew what I was doing. My lack of American football knowledge I feel is a massive impediment to playing the game. Shame as I know if I did know my Aamerican football I'd love it.

[GJK]

Actually, there's very little resemblance to American football with Blood Bowl.  Some terms are shared "blocking, passing, hand-offs" but that's about it.

I could see where trying to play the PC/xbox version without knowing the game would be very confusing.  I'd suggest grabbing the last rulebook made for the boardgame: NAF Competition Rulebook for Blood Bowl and just browse the first few sections that cover game play and review the skills.  You don't need to worry about the league play or building a team or inducements (you can skim those).  Just learn how blocking works and about "turnovers" and how a turn works and then it will click with the PC version.

[TacticalWargames]

Well like American Football it has set play. One that comes to mind is Blitz..no idea when you'd use it though. So to a novice it does look like American football to any other sport and I'm sure knowing American footballs general game elements would help even if it isn't that obvious.

WIll have a read of the rule book again. Everytime I've tried to play my players have difficulty picking up the ball or catching it let alone doing anything else:)

[BanzaiCat]

Definitely read the rule book. BB is, as GJK said, nothing like 'normal' American football and is pretty easy to grasp once you've played it a few times.

I think there are variants played out there that more resemble normal football with downs, but BB is more a free-for-all (reminds me of Rugby actually, but with spiked armor).

However, I'd HIGHLY recommend you try the board game version of it first. Try to find someone to play it with, or better yet, find a local league and get involved. BB in person is much more fun than computer BB. I have the Legendary Edition as well, but I hate that game - the computer is a highly aggravating cheater when it comes to die rolls.

IIRC the PC BB game has a tutorial, but I don't recall if it was very effective or not. I think it pretty much mirrors the Rulebook that GJK shared above. It's important to get the hang of the basics of BB before getting into player skills and Star Players and such.

[GJK]

The Blood Bowl for Beginners Podcast might be worth a listen.  I've listened to it and it's well done and starts with the very basics.  It's not a complete "how to" however.

[TacticalWargames]

Thanks lads...will give that a listen and then reinstall.

I know no one who'd be willing to play any boardgame..infact I have no mates at all really in Liverpool. Being a single Dad also makes it hard to get out etc etc.

[GJK]

Another option is to join an online league once you're comfortable enough with the game.  I'm looking at perhaps joining one.   FUMBBL has been around for quite some time and has it's own java based interface for playing the game live with others as a part of league play.  There are some "newbie" leagues as well.  See FUMBBL website for details.

There appears to be a number of Liverpudlians that play in the FUMBBL leagues as well.  See FUMBBL Coaches Listing.

[BanzaiCat]

So I decided to try to give BB another chance. One thing I haven't been able to grasp (ever, in the case of this game) is how brutally unfair it is.

I read that online somewhere a few months back, and it resonated with me. The game IS a frigging harsh mistress; one minute she loves you, then she kicks you in the groin, breaks your nose, and shits on your chest while you're down. The way to deal with it is just to have a good time.

I've watched a ton of BB videos over the last several months, including a guy running a Halfling team...with quite a bit of success, I may add (he plays against people, not the shoddy AI). I watched him whup a Vampire team last night. Although, whupping Vampires that fail their Blood Lust rolls a lot isn't all that difficult...

I started an Orc team and won my first match. Against a Goblin team. I know...that's like winning against ants. I killed one of the Gobbos and put three more into the hospital, but they have a couple of vicious player types (can't recall the one that swings the mace around at the end of a chain, but holy hell that guy has a 7 strength and can kick your butt good). Fortunately they were part of their casualty list. Once they were off the pitch it was pretty easy to put the game away, 2-0.

Why Orcs? No idea. I went from Humans (even tried starting a Human team, but got my butt handed to me by a Khemri team - those Tomb Guardians are nasty sods). I thought the Orcs might be more fun to play and that first game was fun, even when I had more than a few Orcs dropped on their furry behinds. The fact that they had two Trolls that failed half their 'Stupid' rolls helped a lot too.

In any case, a whole new attitude towards Blood Bowl now will hopefully mean I get more enjoyment out of it. I'm even thinking of going to my local Games Workshop store to see if they sell minis. Might be further therapy in the works.  8)

[GJK]

It's an addicting little game and quite intricate for being a "child's game".  It's chess on steroids where you definitely have to think a turn or two ahead and move your pieces in the right order.  It's chess pieces that have special "skills" and it's a chess game with chance involved (dice).

My brother is an avid wargamer and has never been one for fantasy gaming but I introduced him to BB and he picked up the Chaos Edition for the PC (BB2 is due out any time now by the way).  He sent me a skype message the other morning:

Man, been having fun with BB.  Playing a World Cup tourney.  Love the role playing, stats aspect of it in guiding your team.  Just blew a game though that should've won.  Jumped out to early 2-0 lead on picking off some interceptions and scoring.  They came back and were up 3-2.  I had one turn left, streaked my catcher into the endzone, was wide open.  My thrower had an open lane to toss it to him to tie it up and the dummy fumbles the pass.  Blew the damn game.

I'm working on a vassal module for it (I have one that someone made that is quite detailed but it's very fussy).  I think that pbem BB would work wonderfully and it would fit my time schedule nicely.  My brother is also looking at making his own pitch and getting some mini's.

[undercovergeek]

if you get vassal rules up and running im heading straight to the shops to buy the game and joining you and your bro!

[GJK]

I'm working on it as time permits.  We've been slammed at work lately (my *real* job) and so I haven't even had time to update the Twilight Struggle game as of yet.  I should get a bit done this weekend however.

[BanzaiCat]

Let me know about BB as well. I have the original set from '88 or so but haven't broken it out in a long long time. Don't know if that's all I need to play through VASSAL, though. (Admittedly I know little of VASSAL.)

[undercovergeek]

i feel a league coming on - i know bob would be in it