What common mistakes do new BB players make?

[besters]

The amount of things listed I still do is depressing. So much improvement I can still make.

[Iranian Spy]

Not accepting that sometimes it's not going to be your game. I think that forming the right attitude that winners have is key to improvement in everything, not just Blood Bowl.

[RogueThirteen]

Moving (or not moving their cage) such that one or more cage-corners are adjacent to an enemy at the end of the turn. Even if you're Chaos and have four Chaos Warriors with Guard as your cage corners and you're playing against all STR3 elves, leaving that one corner standing next to an opponent at the end of the turn means you're ball carrier will probably be taking a blitz, and you might be losing the ball.

Throwing too many blocks (be they two-die or one-die). Especially with a Loner big guy. Big Guys tend to make better roadblocks than they do punchers, but new players often Block profusely with them. New players also Blitz with them, which I would never do unless my back were really up against a wall.

Not taking Guard with every double on a STR3 team (Elves, Humans, Skaven, ...)

Being shocked that your LoS all keeps getting knocked over on defense -- if the opponent wants to commit to it he or she can knock down your line just about no matter how you set it all up.

Playing teams as though they were something else. (Common examples would be playing Ogres or Lizards like they're a strong bash team, when they're really all about positioning and roadblocking. See: throwing way too many Blocks above).

Overemphasizing brute killing over positioning and ball-handling. This is especially apparent in skill choice. Causing CAS ebb and flow with the luck of the dice and you shouldn't be neglecting skills like Guard, Wrestle, Break Tackle, Side Step, Stand Firm, and some ball-handling skills (on a few players) for mass Mighty Blow et al.

Over-committing players to a Blitz! result and then being trapped out of position when the opponent still secures possession of the ball.

For slower, bashy teams over-committing players near the LoS for maximal hits when receiving, only to find your ball retriever(s) gets threatened by some fast players in your backfield. Better to leave five players at your midfield and form up a cage back there -- you still have plenty of time to advance.

Relying on the cage corners at the start of your turn to be the cage corners at the end of your turn and losing progress or position because of it.

[Joemanji]

Only seeing the rewards of an action and not the risks of failure.

[Shteve0]

Rolling dice - for big guys (bone head, really stupid etc) in particular - before declaring an action. It makes me feel like a dick pointing out why it's not okay to do that. Plan ahead!

[inkpwn]

Only seeing the rewards of an action and not the risks of failure.

Simple but a useful to keep in mind as a sort of 'Rule one of wargaming'. Also, just film my games l'm pretty sure they could be used as a very good guide on what not to do.
Don't do what Johnny Don't does.

[Ullis]

Ruining team progress and good players with silly skill picks.

[commisar ken]

Making that risky action first.

[Hitonagashi]

Only seeing the rewards of an action and not the risks of failure.

Unless you are PeteW. Then you just don't fail.

[Digger Goreman]

Only seeing the rewards of an action and not the risks of failure.

Unless you are PeteW. Then you just don't fail.

Yep... we have our own version of PeteW.... We call his randomizers: Dennis Dice....

[Axtklinge]

Only seeing the rewards of an action and not the risks of failure.

That's a very good one.
I'm so gonna use that quote as the definition for BAD LUCK!



Starting the turn with plays that require rolling dice, prior to do the basic (safety) moves would be on the top of my list for newbie mistakes. However, the heat of the game often lure seasoned veterans into that trap too.

Unnecessary Go-For-Its "just because they can".

Mistakenly position catchers in the back of the defence while receiving, so they can "catch" the ball (instead of "pick up" with the throwers).
[Note: This may be result of language barrier, or total lack of knowledge of American Football terminology/positionals, but it tends to happen quite often.]

One last thing (not sure if it still fits in newbie mistakes), it is related to the use of Guard skill, which seems to be one of the most difficult to be apprehended, and takes quite a while to be properly understood.

[spubbbba]

Being shocked that your LoS all keeps getting knocked over on defense -- if the opponent wants to commit to it he or she can knock down your line just about no matter how you set it all up.

Using the “All Mens LOS “ on defence.

This is the sign of a newbie or a true zen master at BB.

[JT-Y]

Running the ball carrier towards your own end zone and into harms way, because:
A) after your first 3 games in more than 8 years (hideous thrashings all 3) you are momentarily utterly convinced that TD's are only scored in your own end zone, when in reality all he has to do is activate and move freely towards your opponents end zone to score.
Or:
B) I am that stupid

[lunchmoney]

On Turn 7 running your Ghoul past the LOS and the opponents team, protecting him nicely so he cant get Blitzed, then on turn 8 realising you left said Ghoul 10 squares from the EZ so cant score even with GFI's.

I only did that the once. Now I check

[armydave]

Fouling on turn 16 to get the last opponent of the pitch before scoring the TD to force extra time.

Only did that twice