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A No Blocking match

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2017 9:28 am
by lunchmoney
I've agreed to play a friendly, training, match this evening against one of my new coaches and we've agreed to play without blocking to learn about positioning, throwing and basically everything else.

On reflection this may not have been a good idea. Orcs vs Orcs.

I'm not the world's greatest teacher; I would appreciate any advice on how to run this.

Re: A No Blocking match

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2017 10:27 am
by Sandwich
If someone fails a dodge, or a GFI, is fouling allowed?

Without blocks, how is someone going to get past a line of orcs?
Maybe should should say that all blocks come up with pushes instead?

As an aside, when I taught my son to play, we started with 6-a-side, just linemen from the (3rd edition) box, and played one half, with very basic rules (everything was 1 dice, no turnovers, no tackle zones)... then I brought in new players and new rules for each subsequent game. That works pretty well...

Re: A No Blocking match

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2017 11:54 am
by dode74
we've agreed to play without blocking to learn about positioning
This seems counterproductive.

Re: A No Blocking match

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2017 12:01 pm
by frogboy
Everything works on a 2+

Blocks can only KO but everything returns for the second half

Re: A No Blocking match

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2017 12:23 pm
by lunchmoney
dode74 wrote:This seems counterproductive.
I know, I'm regretting agreeing to it.
Sandwich wrote:If someone fails a dodge, or a GFI, is fouling allowed?
Yes, everything else as normal.
Sandwich wrote:Without blocks, how is someone going to get past a line of orcs?
Maybe should should say that all blocks come up with pushes instead?
Might suggest that after a few turns when it becomes apparent no one is going to be able to advance without dodging and Orcs don't do that so well.

Re: A No Blocking match

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2017 12:51 pm
by harvestmouse
Sandwich wrote: Maybe should should say that all blocks come up with pushes instead?
+1.

Personally I think the best route would be to play a normal game, but every player is a vanilla lino. Learning stats and skills is what would bog the game down.

Re: A No Blocking match

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2017 2:24 pm
by nazgob
It will be impossible to turn your opponent over..

Re: A No Blocking match

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2017 2:42 pm
by faust_33
Madsherman recently asked about introducing new player(s) to BB. I thought Wulfyn had some really good suggestions. You might want to poke through this thread, if you hadn't seen it before.

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=44007

At some point I'm going to be re-teaching my son how to play. We played a couple games a long time ago, but he was totally new to boardgames, and BB can have a steep learning curve. He's definitely forgot just about everything now, as it's been a couple years. I'm thinking since he's a teen and been exposed to a lot of boardgames, he should get it better now. But I'm trying to think of ways to introduce stuff slowly, as our first go around I tried teaching him the way I was taught. Take premade Orcs and Humans, explain all the rules (except league stuff), and dive in. This time around, I think a slower approach, use fewer players, learn to block, assist, how to pick up the ball, pass, etc.

Re: A No Blocking match

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2017 5:34 pm
by lunchmoney
We've discussed it and we're going to play normally.

Re: A No Blocking match

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2017 5:55 pm
by faust_33
Cool, would like to hear how it turns out in the end. Always useful to know what did or didn't work for some people.

Re: A No Blocking match

Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2017 7:05 am
by lunchmoney
It went ok. My opponent took lots of notes and learned a few things about not rushing forward too early and not passing the ball recklessly.

Re: A No Blocking match

Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2017 4:07 pm
by faust_33
Interesting, never heard of anyone taking notes before. As long as they picked it up though, that's awesome. For me it took at least a couple games.

Totally off-topic, but what is a "2 die uphill block"? I keep hearing it on the double skulls podcast I've been listening to.

Re: A No Blocking match

Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2017 4:25 pm
by BillyDee
A "two die uphill block" is a two die block when your opponent chooses the result, ie when you block and your opponent's strength (after assists) is greater than yours, but not more than double.

Re: A No Blocking match

Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2017 4:52 pm
by lunchmoney
Also called half dice block.

Re: A No Blocking match

Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2017 6:20 pm
by JT-Y
lunchmoney wrote:Also called half dice block.
It's only called a half dice block. Other terminologies are just jibber jabber.