Deathzone to LRB change

[Zap]

Okay... I admit i haven't played BB in almost 4 years. However we are beginning a league and I am getting everything ready. I still have all my old stuff and one of the things I found NOTICABLY absent from the Living Rule Book is the Special Cards. Those Special Events, Sneaky Stuff, and Magic Items. Those made the game!

So what happened? Do we not use them anymore? Are my fond memories of them dashed for a more streamline tournament version of the rules? Should I put away the beer and pretzels to make way for some "serious gaming?"

Thanks for any help,
Zap "Living in Memory" Riecken

http://www.leadership10.com

[neoliminal]

The basic problem was that they (the cards) couldn't be printed anymore. The cost was going to be too high, so we had to find a way to remove them from the game. We are still thinking up new ways to add them back in.

John -

[Zap]

That makes sense, but why were they excluded from the rules. That doesn't make much sense to me. For everyone that still has them (a friend of mine bought both boxes from GW about a year ago and got the cards, so I know they weren't discontinued that long ago).

It seems kind of odd the way the rules were changed. The extra bonuses for MVPs was taken out in trade for extra re-rolls in addition to the cards (I only mention this because they were part of the same table - ie you got extra cards for being further apart). I wish they just included the card rules as they were and stated to skip this step in pre-match setup if you didn't have them.

Heck, if people want I'll recreate those two pages to include those rules and people can add them to their LRB. Might violate copyright laws, though.

So can we still use them? (note: our league seems to be working from the LRB as its base)

-Zap

[GalakStarscraper]

Zap:

The biggest problems with the special play cards were that while they added fun to the game they also unbalanced the game at the same time.

In addition, all the cash available from the Random Events really messes up the overall team balance effect that the LRB rules have.

If you want to add the cards back in here is my suggestion based on what what I've done with my league since they also wanted to keep the cards:

1) If you freeboot a wizard, you also get to draw one Magic Item card at the beginning of the match.

2) For every 2 cheerleaders, you have you may roll a D6. If at least one 6 is rolled, you may draw one Random Event card. So if you had 5 Cheerleaders, you could roll two dice. If you get one or two 6s, you get one Random Event card.

3) For every 2 assistant coaches, you have you may roll a D6. If at least one 6 is rolled, you may draw one Dirty Trick card. So if you had 5 Assistant Coaches, you could roll two dice. If you get one or two 6s, you get one Dirty Trick card.

Then still use the Handicap table. What does this do .... well actually several things:

1) It allows the cards back into the LRB rules ... just not a bunch of them. IE flavor kept in ... abuse minimized.
2) Brings a lot more value to the wizard, cheerleaders, and assistant coaches.
3) With the new rules, as your TR grows your cash sharply decreases. It creates an interesting coaching decision to decide if you want your TR locked up in cheerleaders and assistant coaches when TR 250 to 300 is all you'll reach.

So that's it with the boxed set. If you don't like this idea then my other
suggestion would be to use either: 1-5 = 1 card, 6=2 cards ... or 1-5=0 cards, 6=1 card type rolls. Don't use the cards as handicaps ... the Random Event cash will completely screw up the balance written into the LRB.

=============================================

Addenum to this: for those using On-Pitch spellcasters, instead of the above, I recommend a Conjure spell that on a 3+ gets a Magic Item card... failure means your opponent gets one.

If you play with Pre-Match Prep and Grab Bag cards... use the following:
Cheerleaders: one 6 = 1 Grab Bag ... two or more 6s = 1 Random Event
Assistant Coaches: one 6 = 1 Pre-Match Prep ... two or more 6s = 1 Dirty Trick
(Clarification ... you getting 2 6s for Cheerleaders does not get you a Grab Bag AND a Random Event ... you get the Random Event only ... same logic for Assistant Coaches)

Galak

[GalakStarscraper]

That makes sense, but why were they excluded from the rules. That doesn't make much sense to me.

Cash from the Random Events seriously screws with the balance. Also its not fair to have in the rules items about cards when the game is still being sold without them now. Jervis is very big about matching up rules with product.

It seems kind of odd the way the rules were changed. The extra bonuses for MVPs was taken out in trade for extra re-rolls in addition to the cards

Not sure what you meant by this ... there are no extra re-roll in the rules. Both the extra MVPs and cards where removed as handicap items. The handicap table is the only handicaping device now.

Heck, if people want I'll recreate those two pages to include those rules and people can add them to their LRB. Might violate copyright laws, though.

Yes it would ...and a lot of folks (myself included) were very happy to see the cards go as staple part of every BB game. I like our league's current system as a card really only shows up now about 1 game in 6 ... that I don't mind.

So can we still use them? (note: our league seems to be working from the LRB as its base)

The cards are definitely NOT part of the LRB rules ... that said the great thing about BB is that you can house rule it any way you want and I recommend you do so. Just remember that the Random Events can seriously mess with the LRB balance. If you and your commish are fine with that ... carry on.

Galak

[Zap]

Thanks!

I actually like what you came up with a lot better than the original rules. I have always had some misgivings about the usefullness of the asst. coaches and cheerleaders. This adds more value to them and gives incentive to purchase more than just one.

I'll put together a "replacement" page (or two if I can't get it all on one page) for those people who want to include your way of working cards.

I appreciate the help,
Zap Riecken

http://www.leadership10.com

[Ghost of Pariah]

Zap,
You'll find that most everyone here is a "serious" gamer. (Lotz of blah blah blah of a chance to do this and so and so percantage of these and yakety yak)

There aren't too many posters here (that I can see) who just play for the fun of it.

[GalakStarscraper]

Curiousity is killing me Pariah since you play in one of my leagues ..... which one am I?

Galak

[longfang]

It's a freekin game! We're not highly paid proffesional sportsmen/women. Of course we play for fun. But cards just ripped the shit out of anyone who had some real skill in playing the game. Especially in a league. If you won lots your team improved but you got a handicap awarded to teams not so succesfull. If they got touchdown stoppers, no matter how amusing they were, it could really piss you off. It' no wonder I always played with a beer and a spliff, it took the edge off of losing a game because you were done by a custard pie, bannana skin or a freekin love potion just because your opponant couldn't win piss without cards.


I apologise for being pissed, but hey i'm enjoying myself tonight, how about it DW?

[Deathwing]

Zap,
You'll find that most everyone here is a "serious" gamer. (Lotz of blah blah blah of a chance to do this and so and so percantage of these and yakety yak)

There aren't too many posters here (that I can see) who just play for the fun of it.

Hahaha!
Dude you are soooooo wrong on that one! Of course it's about the fun of it....
OK, provisio...testing your coaching skills against like minded individuals (serious coaches) is a challenge ( and of course everybody wants to win!).

Get your education finished, get your ass over to Europe (as my guest!) and learn a little.
A load of people from different countries, getting together, playing each other, drinking beer, trash talking.....the social side of BB is huge.....

[Deathwing]

I apologise for being pissed, but hey i'm enjoying myself tonight, how about it DW?

Haha. Missed this earlier! 1-0 to the Mighty Shots! Where's those NBBL boys then?
"Who the f*ck are Can-vey Is-land..?
Who the f*ck are Can-vey Is-land..?
Who the f*ck are Can-vey Is-land..
When the Shots go marching ON ON ON !!!"

[Ghost of Pariah]

I knew a bunch of you would get on here and say that stuff. lol

Galak: I don't know what kind you are. I've only played you once.

Deathwing: Sounds fun! Actually, I'm thinking of changing my major to fine arts. If I do it's very possible I may study painting in Germany for awhile.

Longfang: lol "If they got touchdown stoppers, no matter how amusing they were, it could really piss you off. It' no wonder I always played with a beer and a spliff, it took the edge off of losing a game because you were done by a custard pie, bannana skin or a freekin love potion just because your opponant couldn't win piss without cards." lol Exactly!


basically what I was telling Zap is that there isn't alot of "fun" talk here. It's all about "this rule is unbalanced", "that team is not fair", ""experimental this and experimental that".
A coach can be both serious and fun. My league has had several tournament nights where we all put in a 20 and played winner take all. I tel you what, I'm not drinkin beer on those nights!

[Deathwing]

basically what I was telling Zap is that there isn't alot of "fun" talk here. It's all about "this rule is unbalanced", "that team is not fair", ""experimental this and experimental that".
A coach can be both serious and fun. My league has had several tournament nights where we all put in a 20 and played winner take all. I tel you what, I'm not drinkin beer on those nights!

Well, guess you're kinda right on that one...this board was more fun and friendlier when it was just a little quieter....but hey, what'dya gonna do? Inject a little humour when you can, right? That Toby guy was worth a laugh..next thing you know that Morg dude'll show up....

[Piepgrass]

What happend to Toby?

I almost miss the little bugger

Then again maybe not.

[Ghost of Pariah]

I hope that big idiot Morg stays where ever he is! That guy made no sense at all!