Bloodbowl

[Papewaio]

Anyone playing the computer version of the boardgame?

Cyanide studios ran into some copyright problems with their version of bloodbowl up against Gamesworkshop IP lawyers. Good thing is that Cyanide made such a good game that GW gave them the rights to make a full blown version of it.

Been playing the turn based version since the start of last week... yet to crank out a realtime game of it. The AI isn't strong but it will punish you if you let your guard down. Of the first 4 games I lost 3... one of which because I forgot that the games halves are 8 turns (not 16) long, another I had a runner sitting one square from a touchdown but was too busy murdering err blocking the opponents.

I'm currently playing a dwarf team as they are more durable (which is good long term)... my first death occured in the eight game to a trollslayer (rather expensive player to replace). Figuring out that it is the tackle skill on my dwarf linemen that is the real showstopper as it literally stops the runners and catchers in their tracks. Then I can cleanup with my blitz and tag teaming their line without having to worry about all their catchers getting too far downfield. Mind you I keep a Dwarf Blitzer (with Kick) as a deep safety and my Dwarf Runner Leader as safety to deal with any runners who get behind my line.

I want to try the Elves or Skaven (Rat-men) as a different style (throwing and running respectively) while I'm drawn to the Lizardmen.

Nice fun and funny tactical game.

[Monk]

I was following BB up to release, but as more and more games began to pop up on my radar I was forced to reconcile my willingness to indulge in Bloodbowl. As it stands I have zero money to spend on games (without cutting into my food money!) so I will have to pass. Maybe once the new year has passed, or after I sell back my books, I will have more money.

I'll admit it looks really amusing and fun. Sure gives "Fantasy Football" a whole new meaning.

[pevergreen]

Good game, but only recently 'avaliable' to me.

No time to play though! L4D2, MW2, DDO, list just goes on.

I still havent played the swamp campaign in L4D2. The rain one scares me though. Like 80 witches. I was continually saying WTF for the entire map.

[Meneldil]

I honestly prefered the previous game. Though I like turn-based games, I enjoyed being able to play Chaos League in real time.

Bloodbowl real time is terrible, and the turn-per-turn mode has a lot of annoying rules that make the game tediouos.

[Kekvit Irae]

I'm tempted to buy this game, especially considering I loved the boardgame version.

It also begs the question... if Bloodbowl can be released on a computer, why cant Talisman?

[al Roumi]

I never played the board game but I loved Speedball on the Amiga (back in the day). I read a few reviews of Blood Bowl but they weren't positive enough to convince me to cough up. Aspects of the game sound really fun and interesting. Is it worth the investment?

[al Roumi]

In what could well turn out to be a spectacularily miss-timed purchase, I have aquired a copy of Bloodbowl in a fit of dissatisfaction with my current library of games and after reading RPS' old material. It's now over 6 months since the game came out (I think) and maybe the same again until an add-on/stand-alone patch including a bunch more teams is released.

Is anyone else here playing and would they be up for a game with the n00b I am? If, as unlikely it may turn out to be, there are a few Orgahs with a penchant for fantasy death sport, mayhap an Orgah league would be interesting?

[rvg]

Anyone still playing this? I absolutely love the Legendary Edition. Perhaps we can get a league or some tournament going.

[Kekvit Irae]

I haven't played the Legendary Edition in a long time. I doubt anyone else here would be interested in a league, as they are too busy taking an arrow to the knee.

[Slyspy]

I still play this game (a little too much I think). I'm currently playing in three private leagues: The Orca Cola Championship, The UK Blood Bowl League and The Ogham League.

I don't find playing without a purpose (aka match making) to be in anyway engaging, so I prefer these structured and adminned leagues. OCC is the largest of the three, but both the OCC and UKBBL have just started the current season. The season at good-humoured Ogham, however, is just coming to an end so no doubt a new recruit would be welcome.

[rvg]

Will the time difference be an issue?

[Kekvit Irae]

FYI, Bloodbowl: LE is now 80% off on steam for today only.

[Zim]

Since it was on sale I went ahead and gave the game a try. Despite playing the tutorial I have very little idea what I'm doing. Probably something to do with not reading the manual...

My Skaven have been having problems with their rat ogres falling to puny man-things. Doubtless some rival has had them drugged...

Edit: Just had an incredibly frutrating/amusing go at an Orc SP campaign. After losing the first game I was determined to win the second, which turned out to be against Ogres. Come up with a weather change (pouring rain) from the kickoff roll. The Ogres and I spent the following 16 turns taking turns fumbling the ball and/or having our guys fall in the rain when trying to push their movement too far. At halftime I was two squares from a touchdown, then again near the end of the second half (although at least this time I had lost the ball from a failed dodge right before scoring rather than still being in control of it and having to watch the game end just before my victory). I'd be upset but it was very funny watching both sides fumble the ball around.

On the plus side I took out quite a few of their snotlings and my boys held their own quite well in brawls with the ogre players. I think that qualifies as a win by Orc standards.

[Kekvit Irae]

Since it was on sale I went ahead and gave the game a try. Despite playing the tutorial I have very little idea what I'm doing. Probably something to do with not reading the manual...

My Skaven have been having problems with their rat ogres falling to puny man-things. Doubtless some rival has had them drugged...

Edit: Just had an incredibly frutrating/amusing go at an Orc SP campaign. After losing the first game I was determined to win the second, which turned out to be against Ogres. Come up with a weather change (pouring rain) from the kickoff roll. The Ogres and I spent the following 16 turns taking turns fumbling the ball and/or having our guys fall in the rain when trying to push their movement too far. At halftime I was two squares from a touchdown, then again near the end of the second half (although at least this time I had lost the ball from a failed dodge right before scoring rather than still being in control of it and having to watch the game end just before my victory). I'd be upset but it was very funny watching both sides fumble the ball around.

On the plus side I took out quite a few of their snotlings and my boys held their own quite well in brawls with the ogre players. I think that qualifies as a win by Orc standards.

Bloodbowl is a very easy game if you take the time to research it a bit. The game's a perfect translation of the Warhammer BB board game, and Games Workshop has graciously given us access to the entire rulebook online.

Important things to remember:

1. Players with high STR are not to be used for running touchdowns or passing, unless you somehow manage to keep a Blitzer or Thrower alive long enough to pump up their strength. High STR players are used to put the hurt on the opponent. My Orc team won a game against an Elf team because there was nobody left conscious on the pitch.

2. Similarly, players with a high AGI are not used for blocking. Use these players for throwing (either for getting touchdowns or for farming experience).

3. Dodge, while primarily used to slip past an enemy tackle zone, can be used defensively when the enemy blocks (you will only be Pushed Back on a Defender Stumbles roll). A player with both Dodge and Block (referred to online as the Blodge skill) is nigh invincible, as they can only be knocked down on a Defender Knocked Down roll (unless the enemy has Tackle, which negates Dodge). This is why the Amazon team are pretty overpowered for their cost; they have the stats of a human team, but every single one of their players have the Dodge skill.

4. If you're going for a bruiser, Block, Mighty Blow, and Tackle are all fine choices. Using Mighty Blow against a Skink or a Snotling will definitely increase the chance of an injury or death.

5. If you see an enemy right on the edge of the pitch, go for a Blitz move and push them out of the field. The raving fans will ensure that the enemy player will be automatically knocked out (if not injured or killed). That's one less player you need to worry about.

6. If you're team's value is less than the opponent's team, you will get an inducement bonus to buy goodies before the match. The best ones to buy are the Wizard + 4 Cheering Fans (so you can cast Lightning Bolt on a ball carrier), Potions, or a Star Player.

[rvg]

Since it was on sale I went ahead and gave the game a try. Despite playing the tutorial I have very little idea what I'm doing. Probably something to do with not reading the manual...

Yes, the game can be very frustrating until you have familiarized yourself with the rules. Being dice-based game, it actually has surprisingly little to do with chance once you understand the rules. I would recommend starting out with Dwarves, as they are pretty much a faceroll team: throw every single 2-d block you can, depitch most of the opposition and score. Skaven imho require alot more finesse.

Oh, one more thing: it will seem at times that the dice hate you and are stacked against you. They're not :)

[Slyspy]

Will the time difference be an issue?

Time differences are not usually an issue since you schedule the games directly with your opponent.

As a general note the AI is not really a challenge once you understand the rules and basic tactics. I'd recommend playing against actual people.

[Zim]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Bloodbowl is a very easy game if you take the time to research it a bit. The game's a perfect translation of the Warhammer BB board game, and Games Workshop has graciously given us access to the entire rulebook online.

Important things to remember:

1. Players with high STR are not to be used for running touchdowns or passing, unless you somehow manage to keep a Blitzer or Thrower alive long enough to pump up their strength. High STR players are used to put the hurt on the opponent. My Orc team won a game against an Elf team because there was nobody left conscious on the pitch.

2. Similarly, players with a high AGI are not used for blocking. Use these players for throwing (either for getting touchdowns or for farming experience).

3. Dodge, while primarily used to slip past an enemy tackle zone, can be used defensively when the enemy blocks (you will only be Pushed Back on a Defender Stumbles roll). A player with both Dodge and Block (referred to online as the Blodge skill) is nigh invincible, as they can only be knocked down on a Defender Knocked Down roll (unless the enemy has Tackle, which negates Dodge). This is why the Amazon team are pretty overpowered for their cost; they have the stats of a human team, but every single one of their players have the Dodge skill.

4. If you're going for a bruiser, Block, Mighty Blow, and Tackle are all fine choices. Using Mighty Blow against a Skink or a Snotling will definitely increase the chance of an injury or death.

5. If you see an enemy right on the edge of the pitch, go for a Blitz move and push them out of the field. The raving fans will ensure that the enemy player will be automatically knocked out (if not injured or killed). That's one less player you need to worry about.

6. If you're team's value is less than the opponent's team, you will get an inducement bonus to buy goodies before the match. The best ones to buy are the Wizard + 4 Cheering Fans (so you can cast Lightning Bolt on a ball carrier), Potions, or a Star Player.

Thanks, I'll check out that pdf. The info on skills is especially useful. Just coming into the game it can be tough to tell which ones are worth it.

Started a campaign as Orcs since they were my preferred of the two easier teams. Did pretty badly my first season but by the second one the matches were almost becoming too easy (mind you, the difficulty was set to easy). Started a second campaign on normal as Skaven. After a false start I began a new campaign with them and finally seemed to start getting how differently they played from the orcs. Pulled a win in every game of the first season except the last where wood elves with 700 or so tv on me absolutely slaughtered me (and ruined one of my linerats with a smashed ankle, although that was better than losing my best gutter runner the previous match). Should have rechecked the thread since I'd forgotten to try cheering fans. Skaven fragility is making it a lot tougher to use my winnings on improving the team.

Also, so tough to resist buying a rat ogre. I know they're not very useful and I have better things to spend money on, but so tempting.

So far I've really enjoyed the game. As soon as I work out some more of the quirks in it I may be ready to give a real opponent a try.

Edit: My first mutation as Skaven. Chose claw for a Stormvermin.