A No Blocking match

[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.

[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...

[dode74]

we've agreed to play without blocking to learn about positioning

This seems counterproductive.

[frogboy]

Everything works on a 2+

Blocks can only KO but everything returns for the second half

[lunchmoney]

This seems counterproductive.

I know, I'm regretting agreeing to it.

If someone fails a dodge, or a GFI, is fouling allowed?

Yes, everything else as normal.

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.

[harvestmouse]

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.

[nazgob]

It will be impossible to turn your opponent over..

[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.

[lunchmoney]

We've discussed it and we're going to play normally.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[lunchmoney]

Also called half dice block.

[JT-Y]

Also called half dice block.

It's only called a half dice block. Other terminologies are just jibber jabber.