On Stalling.

[spubbbba]

One of the great things about Bloodbowl is that you can play it in different ways. People get fun from different aspects of the game so it is often worth discussing beforehand the type of game they want. Often facing someone who doesn’t care about the result and just wants to mess about can be even less fun than taking on someone who really wants to win and will use every legal tactic they can to beat you.

The better player will win more often but with there being a significant random element this can be a great equaliser. You can also play competitively, enjoy the crazy side of things or even tell a story with player actions on the pitch influenced by how you imagine their character to be.

The trouble with complaining about a tactic is that coaches will always complain about something, especially if they happen to be losing to it. Be it Dwarfs being too hard to injure, elves having AG4 and agility access, undead regenerating or chaos teams having the best killstack.

So to all those who hate the tactic of stalling, if your opponent listens to your complaints and starts scoring when they can will you acquiesce to their complaints about “boring” or “unfair” tactics that ruin the game for them in return? Will your elves stop dodging away and stand and fight, dwarfs stop blocking so much and develop their passing game, will you stop fouling with zombies and instead make them ball carriers or receivers and your chaotic teams start taking passblock, strong arm and very long legs over block, claw, MB and PO?

[Darkson]

Often facing someone who doesn’t care about the result and just wants to mess about can be even less fun than taking on someone who really wants to win and will use every legal tactic they can to beat you.

Yep - those of an earlier tournament going generation will recall Ryan and his Halflings.

[Cracol]

Oh how I enjoyed playing against those Halflings, specially when he chanted "1,1,1,1,1,1,1" every time I rolled the dice. But at least he never stalled

[Merrick]

I don't stall.

If I'm not good enough to defend my lead for 4, 5, 6 turns, or whatever, then I didn't deserve to win the game in the first place.

If my opponent feels insecure enough to wait until I can't score, then so be it. I don't do it, and I'm not a fan of it. But I can't stop it. The least I can do is try (and usually fail) to catch up and get the ball off them.

[RandomOracle]

I don't stall.

If I'm not good enough to defend my lead for 4, 5, 6 turns, or whatever, then I didn't deserve to win the game in the first place.

If my opponent feels insecure enough to wait until I can't score, then so be it. I don't do it, and I'm not a fan of it. But I can't stop it. The least I can do is try (and usually fail) to catch up and get the ball off them.

If you're not good enough to break the opponent's stall, then you don't deserve to win.

[burgun824]

I actually congratulated an opponent last night who managed to stall me for a full 8 turns using Dark Elves. I had Undead and despite my best efforts I couldn't line up a good enough shot on him. It helped that he kept me outnumbered but it was still brilliant. The effectiveness of the stall is directly proportional to the opponents frustration level. I was highly frustrated. I admired it. He ended up winning 2-1 in a close match, so the stall earned him the victory and an extra point in the standings.

[Dr. Von Richten]

If you're not good enough to break the opponent's stall, then you don't deserve to win.

F*ck you!

[Heff]

My view on stalling has changed the more I play and dependent on the format I am playing in.

When I started I hated it as I felt the other guy was deliberately harshing my mellow. As I got better at the game I came to see it for the valid tactic it is. I also discovered the fun of PREVENTING a stall, which I was not good enough to do in the early days. I have even blitzed a ball carrier over the touchline before just to make him give me the ball.

In tournaments or leagues I will sit on your line for 15 turns cos as long as you aint got the ball you aint in the game. The only exception to that is if I have mullered your team. Once played a pick up game norse v norse and the other guy injured 7 and KO'd 4 for no injury to him. He was 1-0 up and rather than score 3 times in the second half he spent 6 turns sat on my line while I had no players on. Was a quick second half but a stupid move cos he could have skilled loads of players and I was only ever going to have a max of 4.

When learning a new format I don't like people to stall. My early FUMBBL experience was of trying to get my head round the layout in pickup games while min maxed douchbags sat on my touchline and hunted down my players. Once I got my head round the board being sideways things got better. In a pickup game with a guy who I clearly outclass I will not stall cos it reduces his chance to learn. I think THAT is the key. If the guy is new to the game, give him a game. If he is an old hand piss on his chips and ruin his day.

[el Superbeasto]

If you're not good enough to break the opponent's stall, then you don't deserve to win.

F*ck you!

Let's keep it friendly here, please.

[outcast]

If he is an old hand piss on his chips and ruin his day.

- my quote of the day!

[Pug]

If you're not good enough to break the opponent's stall, then you don't deserve to win.

F*ck you!

[burgun824]

In a pickup game with a guy who I clearly outclass I will not stall cos it reduces his chance to learn. I think THAT is the key. If the guy is new to the game, give him a game. If he is an old hand piss on his chips and ruin his day.

I completely agree with this.

[Digger Goreman]

In a pickup game with a guy who I clearly outclass I will not stall cos it reduces his chance to learn. I think THAT is the key. If the guy is new to the game, give him a game. If he is an old hand piss on his chips and ruin his day.

I completely agree with this.

+1

[Shteve0]

In a pickup game with a guy who I clearly outclass I will not stall cos it reduces his chance to learn. I think THAT is the key. If the guy is new to the game, give him a game. If he is an old hand piss on his chips and ruin his day.

I completely agree with this.

+1

+ 1 again

[Elyoukey]

In a pickup game with a guy who I clearly outclass I will not stall cos it reduces his chance to learn. I think THAT is the key. If the guy is new to the game, give him a game. If he is an old hand piss on his chips and ruin his day.

i know more than 1 rookie (or not rookie) coach that would feel insulted if i don't play my full level against them whatever the outcome.
And placing me in the rookie side i would not be happy to know that my opponent is subplaying a competitive game. Unless we state clearly at the beginning that it is a training game and he will show me some tricks. That's why i thnk the most important thing is to agree with your opponent on the type of game you want to play.
-competitive (no mercy, the aim is to have more TD than your opponent no matter what)
-fun/rpg (make some crazy actions or fit with the story line of your players, please make some online report afterwards with pictures and fluff)
-demo (you don't even need to go to the end of the game, the point is to hook your partners in fantasy football)
-learning/training (you basically play against yourself by helping your opponent seeing and exploit points he did not notice. Works on both side)