Question: Announcing actions

[Rustycan]

Thanks a bunch! Must be kinda slow today as we got an inch and a half of snow here today in Edmonton. With a windchill of -1 ºC !!! So need to get the snow shovel out of the ole garage!!

[DoubleSkulls]

I have played 2 official games in our league and missed out on 4 "sure thing" touchdowns due to failing to declare that I was going to pass, prior to moving the player. No dodges, no GFI, just forgot because I forgot, IMHO because it's not a "natural" part of the game.

You are not playing against very sporting opponents. I'd only call this if you'd previously rolled dice.

Ian

[GalakStarscraper]

I have played 2 official games in our league and missed out on 4 "sure thing" touchdowns due to failing to declare that I was going to pass, prior to moving the player. No dodges, no GFI, just forgot because I forgot, IMHO because it's not a "natural" part of the game.

You are not playing against very sporting opponents. I'd only call this if you'd previously rolled dice.

Ian

Agreed wholeheartedly ... I'd only nail you if you had dodged or already rolled Bonehead or some other such roll. ... you are playing against rules lawyers ... throw laxitives in their beverages of choice next time you play against them.

Galak

[Malthor]

Remember that even if you declare a pass action you don't have to pass the ball, you just can't pass with anyone else.

So in practice it doesn't make too much difference but occassionally means that you decide not to complete an action and waste it.

Ian

The LRB says you HAVE to pass the ball if you declare the action. But you could avoid this by taking so long to decide where you are going to pass the ball that your 4 minutes runs out LOL.

M

[Malthor]

I was one of those 'rules lawyers' bradw71 was playing against, so I'll avoid any drinks offered to me by him

However, in the match in question, I allowed my opponent to make 3 passes earlier in the game without him declaring 'Pass' and on each occasion I said immdiately, "You actually have to declare Pass before you move, but I'll let you off this time."

I thought 2 additional let offs was quite generous considering I also reminded my opponent each time, but others can disagree.

I think the game is much more tactical with the announcing of actions, and is particulary important with players with Stand Firm and Big Guys. As my opponent had neither I certainly appreciate his frustration at the rule.

Anyway, our mini-league is almost over so I imagine we will shortly change this rule to one suggested by another TBB'er where you only lose your Blitz/Pass/Hand Off opportunity if you have rolled any dice.

M

[christer]

I'm a fan of declared actions as well. I do have quite alot of experience with a "no-declaration-for-pass" system (javabbowl doesn't require you to "declare" the pass or handoff action). To be honest, this doesn't affect the gameplay much.. With over 100 games played, I can only think of two occasions where this has changed the events of the game, both being on a goblin team coupled with throw team mate (speaking of which, do you need to declare a pass action to throw a team mate?).

For blitzing it's more important though (ie lots of bone headed big guys).

-- Christer

[GalakStarscraper]

Yes you have to declare a Pass action to throw a TeamMate.

Galak

[DoubleSkulls]

The LRB says you HAVE to pass the ball if you declare the action.

You are right - I'd never played it this way and it does make a difference.

LRB 1.3 pp8

Pass: The player may move a number of squares equal to his MA. At the end of the move the player must pass the ball.

Ian

[GalakStarscraper]

[quote="Malthor]The LRB says you HAVE to pass the ball if you declare the action.

You are right - I'd never played it this way and it does make a difference.

LRB 1.3 pp8

Pass: The player may move a number of squares equal to his MA. At the end of the move the player must pass the ball.

Ian[/quote]

Hmmmm ... of course that kinda difficult to follow the rule if he doesn't HAVE the ball though ... right?

Galak

[Snew]

Well... I guess, if you declare a pass action with that player, you better be confident he'll get posession of the ball sometime before the end of his turn so he can pass the ball or you'll suffer a turnover. Usually this will be a pick-up action and if that fails, it's a turnover anyway. I don't really see what you're trying to point out, Galak.

[martynq]

I think what Galak is hinting at is that failing to complete a Pass action due to not actually ever picking up the ball is not listed as one of the methods of a turn ending. Accordingly, declaring a Pass action but never pickng up the ball can't be a turnover. At least that's my interpretation.

Cheers,
Martyn

[DoubleSkulls]

Hmmmm ... of course that kinda difficult to follow the rule if he doesn't HAVE the ball though ... right?

Galak

True, but is does make a difference if you've burned your TRR on a pickup, dodge or GFI to get into position to pass, so don't have it available to catch the ball.

IMO this is going to make people a bit more cautious about declaring pass actions which isn't really a good thing.

What I also don't understand is why its different to blitz - blitz actions don't require that you make a block.

Also is hand off compulsory action like pass?

Ian

[GalakStarscraper]

Well... I guess, if you declare a pass action with that player, you better be confident he'll get posession of the ball sometime before the end of his turn so he can pass the ball or you'll suffer a turnover. Usually this will be a pick-up action and if that fails, it's a turnover anyway. I don't really see what you're trying to point out, Galak.

Sorry Snots.

What I meant here is that the "failure to complete an action is a turnover" rule left BB with 4th edition. IE this rule is no longer in the LRB.

So failure to throw a ball you don't have is not a turnover.

If I was counting on having a reroll to pass a ball and I burnt the reroll to dodge, I'd just not have the player pick up the ball. IE the rule makes a statement that I MUST pass ... but its very easy to avoid the MUST part of the rule. Just have someone else pick it up and run it to a safer place to try again next turn.

Galak

[Grumbledook]

Ive just a look at the living rulebook and i see that on page 8 that it says the player must pass the ball, however on page 13 with the passing rules it says the player may throw the ball, so which is it

[Rustycan]

Ok Galak wrote:

If I was counting on having a reroll to pass a ball and I burnt the reroll to dodge, I'd just not have the player pick up the ball. IE the rule makes a statement that I MUST pass ... but its very easy to avoid the MUST part of the rule. Just have someone else pick it up and run it to a safer place to try again next turn.

<BR>
Well if you have to declare actions then would you not have to declare to pick the ball along with the pass action?? So then you couldnt have your player who used up the re-roll on his dodge not pick up the ball. Or am I totally wrong here???