How would you release Blood Bowl?

[Eruletho]

With Darkson on this one as well. I also don't want fantasy flight anywhere near it. It'd look great with beautiful cards for the star player stats but

1:it'd cost £100.00,
2:only be cards,
3:Have some really messed around rules

No ta to that.

I like the 4 box sets but undead released so late in the day!!! unthinkable!! though I do like the necro nice and early.

I'd have to disagree with you about one of the fantasy flight points (specifically #2), and it's actually the main reason I WANT them to pick up the liscence and do the tabletop game (I mean, they already do a bunch of warhammer games (blood bowl team manager, the WH40k and WHF RPGs) so it couldn't be too hard to extend that to a new bloodbowl box): Fantasy Flight produces some awesome single-mold plastic miniatures. They are stupidly detailed for their size and mass production traits, and you get them comparatively cheap (at the afore mentioned £100.00 price point most likely, but that'll be two teams and the rest of the game box). Look at Descent, or Arkham Horror, the old Starcract board game, or even the new Star Wars X-Wing game (and those come painted!) They might throw some new rules in there, but nobody said you have to USE the new rules, just keep using LRB6 or the CRP, whichever you want. You could go back to LRB4 if you really wanted to in your private leagues.

Living rulesbooks are great, but they do not garner the attention that a wrapped, sealed, colorful box fulls of minis and a gameboard with dice and markers and templates brings to the game. Fantasy Flight could provide such a display (and they aren't the only ones, but they already have part of the liscence and I think they'd do it best).

[DixonCider]

similar to now, but with a roll up pitch, two teams of plastic minis, instructions to get the rules online, and dice. Maybe make two different box sets one with Chaos and Norse and another with Skaven and Pro Elves. All models made by the community to send in. Also would ask the community for ideas on what the design on the block dice should be. Anyone who makes a model and has it selected get a box of each. Would be a WAY cheaper way to get the models and keeps the community involved

BTW GW people who read this can so take this idea, I would happily pay for these products

[TheDoc]

If you like the way FFG do games then that is great. I am not as keen.

We shall see what happens but I think that unless GW have a change of heart we won't see marketing of BB for a long time in an official capacity.

I like the idea of ambassadors promoting BB at a stand for a games day etc.

Good ideas.

[Spiky]

I also don't like the idea of GW touching our game anymore. The longer we're left alone the better!

I just don't trust them not to release anything that will screw the ruleset up. The reason we have such a good current ruleset imo is that JJ let the BBRC rather that GW Marketing control how changes were made. GW don't make changes to rulesets with the aim of improving them.

[Darkson]

It baffles me why anyone would be worried about being able to buy a new box set with new minis, a new board, new ruler, templates, turn tracks etc. etc. Just because it exists doesn't mean you have to play it the new way.

Because they can do it one of two ways:

Way 1: "Space Hulk" - they leave the pitch layout the same, the scale the same, the templates the same, and just pretty them up. That's a good thing, and many BB players will rush out and buy it.

Or

Way 2: "Dreadfleet" - they take a wild pass at a beloved game, change all the mechanics, change the pitch dimensions, hell, even change the scale of players (plastics in 20mm) making it unusable, and then using that as proof that no-one wants the game.


And that goes for both a limited edition release or a new "basic" boxset.

[Darkson]

Slighty off-topic but from http://www.cyanide-studio.com/news/2013/03/06/

Blood Bowl continues to be one of our most loved games, with a fanatically loyal global fan base

So even GW are admitting it's popular, so why kill it?

[Darkson]

I'd have to disagree with you about one of the fantasy flight points (specifically #2), and it's actually the main reason I WANT them to pick up the liscence and do the tabletop game (I mean, they already do a bunch of warhammer games (blood bowl team manager, the WH40k and WHF RPGs) so it couldn't be too hard to extend that to a new bloodbowl box): Fantasy Flight produces some awesome single-mold plastic miniatures. They are stupidly detailed for their size and mass production traits, and you get them comparatively cheap

I don't know if it still stands but originally FFG weren't allowed to produce models that impinged on GWs IP.
But seeing the miniatures for Talisman and that 40K game, they may have changed those rules now.

[Sandwich]

I don't know if it still stands but originally FFG weren't allowed to produce models that impinged on GWs IP.
But seeing the miniatures for Talisman and that 40K game, they may have changed those rules now.

Not sure what the Talisman figures are like - I seem to remember them as smaller scale figures that would not really be usable in any WFB games? - but the Relic figures are very much meeples, rather than anything that could be used to represent space smurfs. I think they probably had to go through the GW licencing team and convince them of that before they could launch it.

[SinisterDexter]

I tend to agree that GW shouldn't touch it. The problem with people saying "you can just use the current rules" is that the community splits and schisms into a range of different rule sets, effectively limiting things like national or international tournaments, continued rule development and the very notion of the continued life of global community organisations like the NAF.

I really like the idea of divorcing the game mechanics from the fluff, to circumvent GW IP issues, and then releasing a new set, or at least just a new rulebook, that can be championed by the NAF and brought under the wing of a new BBRC.

So, my model for a "re-release" is below (and is highly utopian):

1) The NAF appropriates the game, either by licensing the IP from GW or by creating a rulebook under a different name and with a new set of fluff that avoids IP issues altogether. They then negotiate with one or more indie FF suppliers to create a partnership or working group to move forward.

2) They run a kickstarter for a new FF box (in fact, I think they should appropriate the Fantasy Football label and call the game Fantasy Football). This box includes the following:

• the new book, in both physical and electronic format.
• a custom pitch (FF Fields partnership?) with the NAF logo on it either rollup or puzzle.
• a set of appropriate counters and cards
• one or two teams (two options) chosen by the purchaser and packed prior to shipping from a range of available options (partner suppliers to offer a range of options within a certain price point and receive a portion of the sale income).
• a custom made case that allows all elements above to be packed up and sent (KR Multicase partnership?)
• one year NAF membership

3) Milestone goals on the Kickstarter could include new stars or teams, rulebooks and pitches for Dungeonbowl or Streetbowl, trophies, etc.

4) Once complete, the NAF uses gained and future revenue from this new boxed set (they should continue to offer it online) to reinstate a BBRC and upgrade its online facilities in the following ways:

• continue to offer tournament rankings and listings
• create an ongoing BB magazine or newsletter with semi-professional staff
• have a presence at as many conventions as possible to help spread the game
• market the basic sets to LGSs and gaming clubs
• reinstate a "FFRC" (Fantasy Football Rules Committee) that has a mandate to reevaluate the current rule system based on evidential play testing and decide, at a set milestone of maybe every 3 years, whether to tweak or not to tweak. If they tweak, a new electronic version of the rulebook should be available for a nominal fee and the set should be updated. Physical rulebook should also be available for sale.
• provide a members area on the NAF website/forums that coordinates beta testing for BBRC ideas (I don't like the idea of inextricably linking FUMBBL with the NAF, but there is no reason why some beta testing couldn't occur on FUMBBL).
• continue to offer NAF memberships with custom block dice
• continue to offer global tournament support

[Shteve0]

http://talkfantasyfootball.org/viewtopi ... 6&start=17

"I agree" would have been faster to type

[SinisterDexter]

Sorry Shtev0, but after reading and assimilating every post, I had forgotten who originally proposed it (and, TBH, it is something I have been thinking about for a loooooong time, obviously not alone). Great minds...

[Fassbinder75]

Shteve0 and SinDex, I think some legal advice should be taken first, get a good idea of what GW can and can't defend before embarking down that road. If GW is not going to either re-release the game or licence the IP, I think NAF taking over the ruleset sans IP is the way to go. How can a community promote a game when the creator/manafacturer constantly slaps it in the face?

[Olaf the Stout]

Surely producing a 'How to play BB' video isn't breaking any laws?

Olaf the Stout

[SinisterDexter]

Shteve0 and SinDex, I think some legal advice should be taken first, get a good idea of what GW can and can't defend before embarking down that road. If GW is not going to either re-release the game or licence the IP, I think NAF taking over the ruleset sans IP is the way to go. How can a community promote a game when the creator/manafacturer constantly slaps it in the face?

Oh, for sure, legal advice is a must.

[DixonCider]

What if GW did all the teams with new sculpts in plastic/resin/finecast, but packaged a pitch themed to the race with each team? That would drum up sales from people who have the current teams and have a possibility of getting new players involved. My fear would be making substantial changes to the rules to enforce buying more minis