About the game

What is blood bowl?

Brutal, crazy, tactical…

Blood Bowl is an explosive cocktail of American football, turn-based tactics, and the heroic fantasy world of Warhammer. After discovering the sport over 100 years ago, the races of the Old World have fallen in love with the sacred sport of the god Nuffle and have completely stopped warring with each other. The idea behind these competitions is simple: two teams of 11 players face each other in ruthless matches in which murder, mutilation, cheating, corruption, sorcery and divine intervention are all fair game and cheered by the spectators.

Blood Bowl Basic

1. CREATE A TEAM

“This match will see a team rise like a naked goddess from the sea and a team drown in the depths of oblivion.” As a coach, you create your own team from the 12 factions available, each with its own unique strengths and weaknesses, then recruit and customise your players, crest, armour and even cheerleaders.

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2. OBJECTIVE

“That grass won’t be staying green for long, Bob, and that’s a fact.” To win, you need to score more touchdowns than your opponent. But be warned: injuries are common in Blood Bowl, and there’s a strong possibility that some of your players will leave the pitch feet first, putting a permanent end to their career…s.

3. DOMINATE YOUR OPPONENT

“Ouch, that must have hurt…” Use your team’s strengths and exploit your opponent’s weaknesses to reach the end zone and score. Dodge your opponents, frustrate them with expert passing, set up lightning-fast counter-attacks, mercilessly decimate opposing players to remove them from the field and free up space for the ball carrier… choose the tactics that suit your playstyle from the wide range of possible strategies.

4. DICE

“Life is like the roll of a dice: you never know what you’re going to throw” As Blood Bowl was originally a board game, dice play a key role in the game, and certain actions can fail or succeed depending on how the dice roll. The stats and skills of your team members determine your chances of success: some will be particularly adept at throwing or catching the ball, tackling an opponent hard, dodging an enemy with agility, and so on. So make sure you choose the right players for the right actions!

5. WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT FAIR PLAY?

“When even the gods encourage cheating…” Winning by any means necessary is considered fair game. And while there are rules, the referee is always happy to look the other way at the right moment… for a price. In Blood Bowl, the ref’s word is final: if he claims he never noticed the dagger in your elf’s hand or the steamroller in the middle of the field, rest assured that no one will dare to contradict him.

6. UPGRADE YOUR TEAM

“This is a match the fans will enjoy discussing tonight over a glass of mead” As you win, your players will gain experience, which you can use to unlock new skills and improve their stats. At the same time, monetary rewards can be used to recruit new players, cheerleaders and assistant coaches, or to hire an apothecary to treat your injured players. Winning games will also make you more popular, which increases sales of tickets and merchandise and boosts your bank balance!

Factions

MANAGE YOUR TEAMS

NOT EVERYTHING IS PLAYED ON THE PITCH Off the pitch, coaches must navigate a variety of challenges, including team finances, player injuries, and skill development. After matches, you’ll need to handle the aftermath, dealing with injuries and casualties, which may require hiring new players to maintain a competitive roster. Team finances become crucial as you balance the cost of player salaries, facilities, and team re-rolls, often making tough decisions to stay within budget. Skill development is another critical aspect, as players gain experience points that can be used to acquire new skills or improve existing ones, allowing for a more tailored and effective team strategy. Effective management between games is essential for sustained success in the brutal and unpredictable world of Blood Bowl.

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