2013 NAF Dice Announcement on thenaf.net

[Pitch Invader]

not sure what its like in the states but in the uk you tend to get a cheaper entry into tourniments for being a NAF member. so its not like all you got for joining was the dice

I haven't been to any tournaments in the US except the West Coast, so other regions may have different pricing tendencies, but I can't recall non NAF members being charged higher rates to ones I've been to- it's rare if so.

Out here where we aren't flushed thick with players and events like Europe enjoys it might be shooting oneself in the foot to tell a new or rarely-playing person they have to pay $5 more to play than people in the club- could strike them as elitist or as trying to soak them for money... anything that discourages new players would be a bad thing. On the other hand, being able to get a set of colored block dice for $10 (a nice deal itself) is pretty good encouragement to stay on and play more.

[txapo]

I don't know what to think on thew subjet. But my guess is number #3 otherwise it doesn't makes sense at all...

nevertheless a game belongs to those who play it! So we are the actual owners of BB!! Congratulations!! Hadn't you realized!

[Darkson]

For the record, if the D6 use the NAF shield, I'm happy with the change (though I agree with virral and gaxio that D6s don't have the draw of Block dice).

Yes, a set of NAF (logo) dice may be nice, but hopefully only this once.
I'd rather have NAF alter the design (slightly), and keep issuing Block dice then have a bunch of new D6, D8 and D16.
Plenty of those already.

What a turn-off...

To be honest, I think the NAF should now look at doing NAF-only figures as the giveaway - I don't know the exact costs, but given approx. 2000 members (from the 2011 accounts [last I have]), surely one of the independents could do one for an affordable cost.
Start with the Star Players that don't have figures (for example, Lotabotl) - they don't have to be named, they can be "generic" Fantasy Football figures.

[shaniepoo]

For the record, if the D6 use the NAF shield, I'm happy with the change (though I agree with virral and gaxio that D6s don't have the draw of Block dice).

Yes, a set of NAF (logo) dice may be nice, but hopefully only this once.
I'd rather have NAF alter the design (slightly), and keep issuing Block dice then have a bunch of new D6, D8 and D16.
Plenty of those already.

What a turn-off...

NAF shield as POW side? I will be happy with D6/8/16 this year but not every year. Im finding this years NSFC to be full if let downs - No longer at Warhammer World and no block dice. Its now just another large tournie

[spubbbba]

I have to question what the NAF actually benefits from being associated with GW now?

As far as I can see with the GT no longer being held at Warhammer World and GW getting rid of specialist game this looks to be the last link to them being broken.

It looks like GW has already removed everything “official”, such as the trophy so why not come up with a set of custom block dice and release a new colour every year? Whilst you couldn’t copy their designs having a skull, 2 arrows, explosion and explosion with other symbol on it is very generic.

Couldn't GW effectively shut the NAF site down, as it relies so heavily on the use of trademarked materials? I would have to think that's a concern. Unlike miniature manufacturers, the NAF can't bill itself as a "Fantasy Football" site, but must refer to Blood Bowl, the various races, etc.

I agree with Virral that the NAF has just lost a huge enticement for potential members. Most tournaments give out custom d6s, often two sets. I know of several that also include matching d8s and d16s. If a player has just been handed a half dozen complimentary dice, another handful at $10 might be a tough sell.

I also think the announcement was handled rather poorly. In a discussion on 2013's dice color, we were told that there would be a "break with tradition" in the form of an early announcement this year. Obviously, the implication was that we would get to see the new block dice. Instead, we get this announcement, and are not even shown the dice. It just seems an odd thing to prime people for what is obviously bad news.

Looking at the NAF site there is very little that GW could claim was copyrighted material and I don't think it would be much of an effort to remove everything they could object to. The site is basically a huge database of tournament results, advertisements for these tournaments and a forum. So nothing breaking GW's IP, though of course their lawyers have bullied other sites for much less in the past.

You can certainly talk about Bloodbowl and saying something like "Gaixo's skaven beat spubbbba's slann in the 25th TFF annual tabletop tournament" whilst talking about their IP would fall well within fair use since that was just stating the result of a game.

If the NAF did just cover itself by keeping to results of Fantasy Football then it could be used for Dreadball, Elfball and other similar games, cutting GW out altogether.

[Xtreme]

I'm sure they would attempt to claim the name NAF. Unless your proposal has them changing what the acronym stands for.

[spubbbba]

I'm sure they would attempt to claim the name NAF. Unless your proposal has them changing what the acronym stands for.

That is the 1 thing that they may be able to claim, though it would be a bit rich considering it's a rip off of the NFL. But would it be so terrible to change it to something like say the FFA (Fantasy Football Association)?

[Darkson]

From NAF to FAFF (Federated Association of Fantasy Football)?

[Jonny_P]

Let's just roll off for it.

[SunDevil]

Let's just roll off for it.

Better yet, let's pick an All-Star team of BB coaches and pit them against GW's game designers in a winner-take-all throwdown for the rights to BB itself!

I'll miss the block dice but a nice set of NAF d6s will be cool. I'll collect them either way. Now how has an extra purple set?!

I still hope to hit the NAF Championships next year but I'll need to plan a separate trip to Warhammer World since I at least want to SEE it...

[mattwhile]

Im finding this years NSFC to be full if let downs - No longer at Warhammer World and no block dice.

With recent actions it's clear that the Naf probably weren't allowed to run it at Warhammer World. So we can't really blame them for moving it, if that was the case. Let's hope that there's an awesome gift given out to make up for it.

[Winged_Human]

not sure what its like in the states but in the uk you tend to get a cheaper entry into tourniments for being a NAF member. so its not like all you got for joining was the dice

That's a great idea, I'll have to be sure to use it with the next tourney/league I run.

[Borthcollective]

Maybe they are finally selling off the rights to Blood Bowl and aren't allowed at this time to let the dice get made.

[Joemanji]

Im finding this years NSFC to be full if let downs - No longer at Warhammer World and no block dice.

With recent actions it's clear that the Naf probably weren't allowed to run it at Warhammer World. So we can't really blame them for moving it, if that was the case. Let's hope that there's an awesome gift given out to make up for it.

Both the move from Warhammer World and the lack of new block dice were 100% out of our hands. GW said no. That was that, despite months of finding different ways to ask nicely if they would change their minds. We did try, and try, and try again.

[Kikurasis]

Both the move from Warhammer World and the lack of new block dice were 100% out of our hands. GW said no. That was that, despite months of finding different ways to ask nicely if they would change their minds. We did try, and try, and try again.

Actually, I've not heard one person complain about the NAF about this. We know you guys tried. And likely tried VERY hard. And thanks, from everyone for that.

We blame GW for it, don't you worry.