Blood Bowl, American football with a fantasy twist

The world of fantasy sports has been on the rise in recent years, and among the many games that have captured the imagination of miniatures and sports fans, one stands out: Blood Bowl. A clever blend of fantasy and the ruthless rules of a violent sport inspired by American football, Games Workshop's Blood Bowl is a unique board game that combines strategy, competition and brutality. I had the pleasure of playing in a mini-tournament organised by a few friends over the weekend, and I'd like to share my experience with you. Get ready to immerse yourself in the thrilling world of Blood Bowl, where the rivalry between the fantasy races manifests itself in bloody touchdowns, brutal tackles and ruthless tactics!

What is Blood Bowl?

Created by Jervis Johnson and first published by Games Workshop in 1986, Blood Bowl quickly won over gamers the world over. Inspired by the fantasy universe of the famous game Warhammer Fantasy Battle, Blood Bowl transports players to a world where fantastic races, such as Orcs, Elves, Dwarves and Lizardmen, battle it out on a chaotic playing field and have their own characteristics, strengths and weaknesses.

But Blood Bowl isn't just a board game. It's a truecompetitive experience that appeals to avid gamers, tacticians and challenge seekers. Blood Bowl games are intense, full of twists and turns, where every strategic decision can mean the difference between stunning victory and... humiliating defeat.

Blood Bowl stands out for its brutal and violent aspect. Players can perform tackles, low blows and even assaults to eliminate their opponents from the game. However, these actions carry risks and can result in injury or expulsion. Each team will therefore be torn between playing the ball or trying to eliminate opposing players. But above all it's a very funny game, full of humour. As well as the board game, Blood Bowl has also inspired video game adaptations, online leagues and tournaments, boosting its popularity in the gaming community.

What do you need to play Blood Bowl?

To play Blood Bowl, you'll need the following:

• Blood Bowl basic box: The Blood Bowl basic box generally contains everything you need to start playing. It includes the game board, two-player miniatures (Black Orcs and Human nobles), special dice, team cards, tokens and game rules. Make sure you get a recent edition of the basic box, as previous versions may be slightly different. We are currently at 'Season 2' (second edition). It's not essential if you're a seasoned player, but it becomes essential if you want to get started.
• Two teams: Choose at least two teams from the different races available in the Blood Bowl universe. Each team is represented by race-specific miniatures, which are used on the game board. Teams are often sold separately and can be purchased according to your preferences. The basic box contains
• Special dice: Blood Bowl uses special dice to resolve player actions. You'll need six-sided dice (D6) for basic actions, as well as eight-sided dice (D8) for special actions such as ball bounces or injuries.
• Game rules: Make sure you have a copy of the Blood Bowl game rules, which detail all the mechanics, actions, skills and special rules of the game. The rules are usually included in the basic box, but you can also obtain them separately as a book or PDF file.
• Additional (optional) accessories: There are also various optional accessories that can enhance the game experience, such as additional terrain, special customised dice, markers to track player statistics, additional skill cards, etc. These accessories are not essential for playing the game. These accessories are not essential to play, but they can add an extra dimension to the game for greater immersion.

How to play Blood Bowl

Here are the main rules for playing Blood Bowl :

1. Preparation :
   • Choosing the teams: Select two teams from the different races available. Each team has its own specific characteristics and players.
   • Build the team: Use a given budget to buy the players, special skills and equipment you need.
   • Place the players on the pitch: Place the players' figurines on the board, respecting the starting positions.
2. Turn sequence:
   • Roll the weather: Roll the dice at the start of each half to determine the weather conditions that will affect the match.
   • Activate a player: Choose an active player and carry out their actions, such as moving, picking up the ball, passing, blocking an opponent, etc.
   • Roll the dice: For each action, roll the appropriate dice to determine the success or failure of the action. The dice can be influenced by player characteristics, special skills and other factors.
   • Reacting to events: Depending on the results of actions, events such as injuries, interceptions or touchdowns may occur, which can lead to changes in possession and other consequences.
   • Move on to the next player: Once all of a player's actions have been completed, pass to the next player in your team or to the opposing team, alternately.
3. Scoring points:
   1. Touchdowns: The main aim of the game is to score touchdowns by taking the ball into the opposition's end zone.
   2. Victory points: Accumulate victory points by scoring touchdowns, inflicting injuries or winning special actions.
4. End of match:
   1. The match ends after a predetermined number of turns or when one of the teams reaches a specific points target. A classic game is played in 2 halves of 8 rounds.
   2. Rewards and progression: Players can gain experience, improve their skills and manage their team between matches as part of a season.

It should be noted that these rules are a general simplification of the game process. The full Blood Bowl rules are more detailed and contain additional mechanics, such as players' special skills, injuries, match bonuses and so on. It is therefore important to familiarise yourself with the rules specific to your edition of the game.

My Blood Bowl experience

For our mini-tournament with friends, we had decided to go for a 2-game win with a draw to determine the team breakdown. And that's exactly what we came up with:

• The Skaven: The Ratmen are known for their exceptional speed and agility. Their players are quick and able to slip through opposing defences with ease. Their style of play is based on speed, mobility and cunning.
• The Ogres: The Ogres team is made up of powerful and massive ogres, whose brute strength and imposing size make them formidable opponents, but with a certain propensity for clumsiness. So don't let them catch you!
• The Orcs: The Orc team is made up of fearsome green brutes, combining brutal strength, impressive stamina and boundless aggression on the pitch. It's a highly versatile team, ideal for starting out.
• The Necromantic Horrors (my team): The Necromantic Horrors team is made up of frightening creatures assembled from different undead races, combining the strength of ghouls, the resilience of zombies and the brutality of werewolves to create a versatile and fearsome team.

The first 2 matches pitted the Skaven against the Ogres, then the Black Orcs against the Necromantic Horrors. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to play the final.... That'll be for another time!

The first match ended in a brilliant victory for the Skavens, who were able to largely outpace the Ogres, with a score of 4-1. As for my team, we won in extremis against the Black Orcs thanks to an incredible turnaround at the very end of the first half, which allowed me to put in a (single) touchdown. The rest of the game then consisted mainly of bloody scrums. I'm particularly proud of the fact that one of my werewolves recovered the ball when the opposition was one square away from a touchdown! My character managed to recover the ball and run back across the field at full speed (not without encountering a few obstacles along the way).

My opinion? I loved this game, which I'd never played before! While it's true that the games are quite long (allow 2 hours for a first game, 90 minutes for a game between experienced players), especially if you don't know the rules very well, the game is still pretty easy to get into if you've already played miniatures. Overall, I think the game is well thought out, with a number of elements that add a touch of fun to the game: the weather, the crowd, tackles and unintentional falls. Of course, you're still dependent on chance, and when you roll the dice, your turn can end immediately if your character gets his feet tangled up, but I never had the impression of being stuck or unable to find a solution to react to your opponents' strategy. Nevertheless, I think a fast team has a big advantage over a stronger but slower team.

To summarise:

Qualities:

1. Unique blend of strategy and sport:Blood Bowl manages to skilfully combine the tactical aspect of strategy games with the excitement and intensity of a competitive sport, offering an original gaming experience.
2. Rich fantasy universe:Blood Bowl's Warhammer Fantasy Battle-inspired universe features a wide variety of fantasy races with their own distinctive characteristics, adding diversity and tactical depth to the game. Some of the teams are really great to watch on the pitch!
3. Tactical depth: The game's mechanics, such as player skills, strategic actions and team management choices, offer a wealth of tactical possibilities, allowing players to develop unique strategies to achieve victory.
4. Cinematic appeal: The rules allow for really enjoyable immersion in the game and really create in-game action... You can almost hear the crowd screaming (and throwing things onto the pitch) as the players fight over the ball, whose bounce is as chaotic as it is unpredictable. And the boos are handed out in spades.
5. Competitive and immersive atmosphere: Blood Bowl matches can be intense, unpredictable and full of twists and turns, creating a captivating competitive atmosphere that encourages players to excel.
6. Low budget: compared to other miniature games, Blood Bowl allows you to play quickly with just the investment of the basic box and paints.

Defects:

1. Complexity of the rules:
2. The rules of Blood Bowl can be complex and require a bit of a learning curve, which may put off some players who are less inclined to invest in learning the detailed mechanics of the game.
3. Extended playing time:
4. Games of Blood Bowl can be quite long, particularly for less experienced players or for those who wish to make in-depth strategic decisions each turn, which may limit their accessibility for some players with time constraints.
5. Influence of chance: Although chance brings excitement and uncertainty, some players may find it frustrating that the outcomes of actions are sometimes heavily dependent on dice rolls, which can lead to a bit of irritation.
6. A basic box that is nevertheless limited: To get the most out of Blood Bowl, you will need to purchase additional miniatures, expansions and other accessories, which can represent a financial investment for players. This 'is of course only optional, but it's not to be overlooked.

You can find all our Blood Bowl products on our online shop: teams, maps, pitches, base box and much more!