Thoughts on new Blood Bowl?

[odinsgrandson]

Ok, GW have announced that there will be a new Specialist Division (sometime in the future) and that Blood Bowl was specifically brought up as one of the returning games.

Blood Bowl is a great game, and I was pretty happy about the news.

But then, Blood Bowl hasn't come back yet. Did GW start announcing thing they'll be doing way in advance or something? Then, they had a job listing for the director who is going to be in charge of re-imagining these old games- and that makes me think they made the announcement before they even had a plan.

Well. OK, that's fine.

What are we hoping to see in a new Blood Bowl? Personally, if they just use the CRP rules and combine it with shiny new minis, I'm all for it.

And I hope they finally let the Slann be a completely official team.

[energongoodie]

I love the rules as they are.

I just want new minis! cause I love having things!

I would quite enjoy official multiplayer rules ( more than 2 players )

Maybe the board could flip over? One side a green pitch the other side a dungeon?

Bigger pitches with terrain like guildball?

will it be set in aos or WH ?

[Wolfshade]

The rules I am comfortable with, new minis especially amazons....

[ErgonomicCat]

It's officially announced now!

[odinsgrandson]

It looks like they're going to take all the way to 2017 to release anything new. I'm a little sad that we don't even know what quarter Blood Bowl might be released in (and it is possible that GW/Specialist Games aren't sure yet either).

I remember from talking to people at Privateer Press about how far ahead they work- basically, they want all of the rules to be in a finished form a year before release of the new book. The rest of that time is spent getting the art, sculpting, casting, and painting finished for the release.

It could be that the Specialist folks are taking the time and want to have a whole bunch of teams available shortly after release.

Of course, there's still a possibility that they're going to take that time to completely re-hash the rules. I honestly think they could make small changes that I'd be on board with. I really hope they don't try to re-invent Blood Bowl.

Then again, if it is awful, I'll still have my Icepelt rulebook.

[grimmas]

Well I'd rather they did it properly rather than just a rehash. I'd like to see a bit more longevity built into it this time round.

Although I've spent many an enjoyable hour playing Bloodbowl it just doesn't feel right. Its just not that Bloody. It's supposed to be carnage but it just isn't. It's not even that much more dangerous than an actual rugby game, seriously other than the very occasional death in a game of Bloodbowl they have almost as many injuries at the club on a Saturday. It supposed to be the most deadly sport ever played, in fact so rough and deadly it's actually replaced war and it just isn't.

I'd like to see the game reflect the background a bit more, it doesn't have to be quite as mental as the novels (although i wouldn't mind). May be a distinction between Named players and more disposable linemen.

I'd certainly agree the miniatures need an overhaul. Even the most recent are probably 10+ years by now

[Mr Mystery]

Well, I'd dearly like not to suck so horribly at it. My tactics are bobbins, the dice hate me, and I have few plans beyond 'shove them into the crowd, and try to get one of those touchdown things'

I'd like to echo the board call, except sod (PUN!) the grass, Astrogranite or bust' complete with the end zone inserts.

Models wise? A far better visual difference between the various classes of player. I know it's not exactly dire, but it's a knack I never picked up.

Expansions! I've got the old Starplayers and Compendium books, and I love reading them. Take a leaf out their pages (PUN!), and perhaps have annual sets of star players. Package them up all nice like the Heresy Character Series, and bung their rules in the box. Available for a set time, then gone for good. Would generate repeat sales.

[odinsgrandson]

Well I'd rather they did it properly rather than just a rehash. I'd like to see a bit more longevity built into it this time round.

I'm not into that idea. I'm a huge Blood Bowl fan, but it isn't because I love the idea of fantasy sports games. In all honesty- I don't. I just love Blood Bowl. If they don't keep the core stuff that I love, I'd be afraid that it would just be another Dreadball/Guldball/Elfball etc (only with GW minis and a GW pricetag).

I love the way that Blood Bowl plays- and I'm not sure that I have confidence that their design team can create a game that works that well on a tactical level- because I don't feel like GW has ever achieved that standard before or since.

Blood Bowl- more than any other GW game- is about making tough decisions on the fly that dramatically alter the game's outcome. I often find that with most GW games, if I create a strong list with a good plan, I rarely have to deviate from that plan (this even goes for things like Space Hulk, where most of the missions are at least somewhat solvable).




As far as deaths and injuries go- probably you just haven't been playing with the right people. There's a world of difference between a league that knows how to gear players for casualties and a league that doesn't.

But if they make death and permanent injuries too common, then we end up with a situation where a lot of people lose their favorite characters (and sometimes quit the game). I don't think that's very good for the community.

[Mr Mystery]

And ramp up the insanity.

Maybe not Pogo-Loonies falling down Trampoline Traps shortly before achieving orbit, but give it out more secret weapons. I likes my silly, I do.

[grimmas]

I'm not into that idea. I'm a huge Blood Bowl fan, but it isn't because I love the idea of fantasy sports games. In all honesty- I don't. I just love Blood Bowl. If they don't keep the core stuff that I love, I'd be afraid that it would just be another Dreadball/Guldball/Elfball etc (only with GW minis and a GW pricetag).

I love the way that Blood Bowl plays- and I'm not sure that I have confidence that their design team can create a game that works that well on a tactical level- because I don't feel like GW has ever achieved that standard before or since.

Blood Bowl- more than any other GW game- is about making tough decisions on the fly that dramatically alter the game's outcome. I often find that with most GW games, if I create a strong list with a good plan, I rarely have to deviate from that plan (this even goes for things like Space Hulk, where most of the missions are at least somewhat solvable).



As far as deaths and injuries go- probably you just haven't been playing with the right people. There's a world of difference between a league that knows how to gear players for casualties and a league that doesn't.

But if they make death and permanent injuries too common, then we end up with a situation where a lot of people lose their favorite characters (and sometimes quit the game). I don't think that's very good for the community.

The problem I see with releasing as is, is that they'd be releasing a game that already exists, the rules are still there and there are plenty of companies who make Bloodbowl miniatures and I can't see a 20+ year game (CRP is just tweeked 3rd ed) sparking the interest like a decent rethink. I would agree they do need to keep the spirit of the game alive though. BB has always been Jervis' baby and he's the man in charge of games development so I think it'll be quite safe. He was also the man who ran specialist games when they existed and that's where GWs best rules work was done. His work outside GW is also still good. I know he cops a bit on the internet because he advocates narative over hard competition but he can still write.

I'm not sure more casualties will be too fracturing on the community though. I was thinking more of a system that would give you a team with a core of "hero" players who would be more survivable with the rest of the team made up of more disposable types. Much how it's portrayed in the novels and background.