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That is an excellent looking box, not super keen on the secure the ball action though.

 Thargrim wrote:
That is an excellent looking box, not super keen on the secure the ball action though.

Why? Seems like it’s strongly limited. I mean you have to clear the area and give an automatic turnover for one of those notorious “anything but a one” rolls that Nuffle likes to troll coaches with. Plus it doesn’t work for, probably, anyone with Str 5+ so it’s something you need to plan a turn around, not something you slip in because nothing else worked so far.

 Mr_Rose wrote:

 Thargrim wrote:
That is an excellent looking box, not super keen on the secure the ball action though.

Why? Seems like it’s strongly limited. I mean you have to clear the area and give an automatic turnover for one of those notorious “anything but a one” rolls that Nuffle likes to troll coaches with. Plus it doesn’t work for, probably, anyone with Str 5+

It seems to remove some of the frustration from the game, which is part of what kinda brings me joy sometimes...when it comes to Blood Bowl in particular. But yeah it's not likely to impact the game all that much.

Yeah but frustration kills enthusiasm. Teams that straight up can’t participate in part of the game are terrible for engagement.
So instead of going “oh you picked ogres/snotlings/blorcs, you can’t actually score until everyone else is dead and maybe not even then” you can say “yeah they suck at grabbing the ball in flight but you can work towards {this} and get going from there.”

As for the Tomb Kings, does anyone think they will get coach type of special rules based around Nehekharan magic? Like a one-time boost to movement?

 Mr_Rose wrote:
Yeah but frustration kills enthusiasm. Teams that straight up can’t participate in part of the game are terrible for engagement.
So instead of going “oh you picked ogres/snotlings/blorcs, you can’t actually score until everyone else is dead and maybe not even then” you can say “yeah they suck at grabbing the ball in flight but you can work towards {this} and get going from there.”

As for the Tomb Kings, does anyone think they will get coach type of special rules based around Nehekharan magic? Like a one-time boost to movement?

Presumably they'll have to have something to make up for a lack of apothecaries.

The best thing about the release is the tokens lmao

Laying models down on their sides is such a repulsive medieval tech.

 Altruizine wrote:
The best thing about the release is the tokens lmao

Laying models down on their sides is such a repulsive medieval tech.

Laying them down makes the board state so much easier at a glance while playing, however.

 squall018 wrote:

 Altruizine wrote:
The best thing about the release is the tokens lmao

Laying models down on their sides is such a repulsive medieval tech.

Laying them down makes the board state so much easier at a glance while playing, however.

I'd have to disagree for games that have multiple states of laying down.

Few models can lay "face down" and "face up" in an immediately-legible way. Some can, if they are relatively 2D sculpts, and a square base can help, but overall a lot of figures are not going to cleanly occupy one of those positions. If a game only has two states -- standing and down -- then you are absolutely right (but all the GW games I can remember use multiple positions).

Also, even a perfectly 2D model on a square based would be outmatched by the legibility of a COLOUR-CODED token, which the article describes as an option. Nothing is quicker to process than a colour rating, once you've learned and internalized them.

 squall018 wrote:

 Altruizine wrote:
The best thing about the release is the tokens lmao

Laying models down on their sides is such a repulsive medieval tech.

Laying them down makes the board state so much easier at a glance while playing, however.

Try laying down a deeproot on the line of scrimmage when there's players everywhere - always end up using a marker as he's colossal

 Shakalooloo wrote:

 Mr_Rose wrote:
Yeah but frustration kills enthusiasm. Teams that straight up can’t participate in part of the game are terrible for engagement.
So instead of going “oh you picked ogres/snotlings/blorcs, you can’t actually score until everyone else is dead and maybe not even then” you can say “yeah they suck at grabbing the ball in flight but you can work towards {this} and get going from there.”

As for the Tomb Kings, does anyone think they will get coach type of special rules based around Nehekharan magic? Like a one-time boost to movement?

Presumably they'll have to have something to make up for a lack of apothecaries.

They already have; Regeneration. That isn't to say that they won't get some additional bit of kit to assist in patching up players.

Secure the Ball does seem like a bit of a risky thing to introduce, depending on the (presumed) Strength limitation. For Tomb Kings it's a great boost and arguably, quite deserved and does indeed take away one of the areas of 'not-fun' frustration. If all ST4 players are just able to do it though, then Lizardmen and Chaos Dwarfs, already strong teams, are going to get even better. Orcs and Chaos too. I'm just a bit wary that all it's going to do is drive the game even further towards 'bash' teams than the previous edition already did.

We'll see, might not be a huge shift and the limitations do mean that's going to be more of a Turn 1 play to just get the ball safely in hand (which is very much the intent) than something that an attack can be built around.

Surprising news - but welcome.

I always had a soft spot for Blood Bowl, and this sounds like a worthy new edition that could bring me out of retirement.

The two new teams look fun.

And I always hated laying my paint jobs down (especially on some custom pitches) so the status markers are welcome in my book.

 Altruizine wrote:
Nothing is quicker to process than a colour rating, once you've learned and internalized them.

Evidence, with a source, for that claim? Colour-blindness, variation in the precise tone used, the exact number of states, the colour of the pitch, adjacent colours and so on would all seem likely to have an impact. I'm sure colour-coded tokens will be pretty convenient, but unless you're an expert on how the brain processes information (in which case, a source for the claim would be enlightening reading for the rest of us), that sounds like a bit of sweeping assumption.

Will buy, but, star players, big guys, referees?

And might we see the return of Hack Enslash?

Greenfield wrote:

 Altruizine wrote:
Nothing is quicker to process than a colour rating, once you've learned and internalized them.

Evidence, with a source, for that claim? Colour-blindness, variation in the precise tone used, the exact number of states, the colour of the pitch, adjacent colours and so on would all seem likely to have an impact. I'm sure colour-coded tokens will be pretty convenient, but unless you're an expert on how the brain processes information (in which case, a source for the claim would be enlightening reading for the rest of us), that sounds like a bit of sweeping assumption.

I was waiting for the colour-blind Um Ackshually lol. "Nothing" was a figure of speech. I presume a lightspeed smack in the face might actually be quicker to process. Or an animated hologram of your model moaning and sprawled flattened on the pitch. A cerebral implant that triggers realizations. But I'm really just talking about our actual practical options, the choice between colour-coding vs. model laying.

Colour-blindess: irrelevant for this comparison.
People whose vision is compromised in any way deserve special attention to parse gamestates, if they desire it. A good opponent will work this out with them at the table. This includes people with acuity problems (who might have trouble deciphering whether or not a model is face-up or face-down).

Precise tone: irrelevant for this comparison.
If someone chooses to paint the tokens in washed-out, pastel colours they're obviously not going to function as desired. If your grandmother had wheels she'd be a bike.

Exact number of states: irrelevant for this comparison.
There are two states. We are talking about tokens used to replace face-up and face-down models. The stunned and prone markers are red and yellow (as recommended). The red token competes with no other token of a similar colour. The yellow token might, since the blitz token looks like a beige, but it's hard to tell in the small picture they uploaded.

Colour of the pitch: irrelevant for this comparison.
The colour of the pitch can affect legibility, but that applies to face-up and face-down models too. A green token on a green pitch may be difficult to see. A green model on a green pitch may be difficult to see. The stunned and prone markers are red and yellow, so fairly uncommon colours for a pitch.

Adjacent colours: not sure what you mean, it seems like you were trying to get two list items out of "colour of the pitch" by also gesturing towards "colour of nearby models". If so, see above.

Will be picking this one up for sure. I wonder how the changes will affect sevens. So far I see nothing except the kick off table that would require some thought.

Man both of those teams are nice...Do I wait for this box? Or go to my FLGS and get the original set they have....

Decisions....

 Mr_Rose wrote:

I do kinda wish the TK got an Ushabti Big Guy tho.

That would have been awesome but it also sounds like a great idea for a star player.

JimmyWolf87 wrote:

 Shakalooloo wrote:

 Mr_Rose wrote:
Yeah but frustration kills enthusiasm. Teams that straight up can’t participate in part of the game are terrible for engagement.
So instead of going “oh you picked ogres/snotlings/blorcs, you can’t actually score until everyone else is dead and maybe not even then” you can say “yeah they suck at grabbing the ball in flight but you can work towards {this} and get going from there.”

As for the Tomb Kings, does anyone think they will get coach type of special rules based around Nehekharan magic? Like a one-time boost to movement?

Presumably they'll have to have something to make up for a lack of apothecaries.

They already have; Regeneration. That isn't to say that they won't get some additional bit of kit to assist in patching up players.

I meant they'll need something to spend their cash on, rather than specifically for healing. I want to see Khemri cheerleaders doing the 'Walk Like An Egyptian' on the sidelines.

Shakalooloo wrote:

 Jadenim wrote:
I like the picking up the ball mechanic; it seems like a nice quality of life improvement with some sensible limitations.

I wonder if its presence will lead to Throwers losing the Sure Hands skill, which they mostly only had to facilitate grabbing the ball easily when receiving. In most cases, a 3+ with a built-in re-roll and no turnover on success is better than that Secure The Ball 2+.

I think ending your turn should be a big enough limitation that Throwers don't need to lose any other skills. Sure Hands also protects you from Strip Ball.

I predict that the limitations on Secure the Ball will be No Loners, and a Str limit. The question is whether that is going to be 4 or 5.

Always viewed teams failing pick up rolls on kickoffs as just sort of an annoying flaw in the game. Never added anything for me, on either side of it. So I'm quite welcoming to the idea of giving low Ag teams a better way to do things. I'd rather play a game where teams receiving actually get a chance to run their offense, whether it fails or succeeds, than be denied the opportunity because apparently their players just can't lean over and pick up a prone football.

This is great news. I can paint up a French team like I've always wanted.

With previous new seasons, how have they handled legacy teams with the revised rules?

They had PDF rules. High elves are getting the same this time, as the only legacy team left.

Can't find any official link anymore, but the ones from last season are here: https://www.scribd.com/document/789974434/Blood-Bowl-Teams-of-Legend-2024

With High Elves all but confirmed as coming?

Wonder if we’ll see updated teams, and/or left field stuff like the Gnomes Gnobody Gnexpected.

The time of the fishman is come, surely.

Come on, Squig team!

Night goblins time to shine! Er, shade?

(Seriously: more fanatics, less “amusing” weapons, more stabbin. Also squig riders and giant squigs, maybe a wild squig as a treat.)

Do we think the Old World, Underworld and Chaos Renegade Teams will be officially returning?

Not up on my Bloodbowl, but perhaps they’re also candidates for Whole New Teams, rather than “a bit from here, a bit from there”?

Fimir team maybe? Or maybe dæmon teams? Cathay Teams? Araby Teams? Kislev?