The new edition of Blood Bowl is available for pre-order this weekend, and it’s fair to say that Blood Bowl fever has very much gripped the Specialist Design Studio. Teams are being dusted off, tales of past glories are being told, and the smack talk has already begun in preparation for the next iteration of the studio league – the Forge Bowl!
The excitement in the office is palpable and almost impossible not to get swept up in. We had a chat with a few members of the Specialist Design Studio to find out what they are playing, and what they’re most excited about in the new edition. There may even be some juicy insights into the tweaks that have been made to certain rosters…
Tom – Games Developer
While all sensible Blood Bowl coaches must praise Nuffle, the new edition sees me ramp up my devotion to Nurgle. With a few minor tweaks to the roster – the standout for me being slightly cheaper Bloaters with Stand Firm – it feels even more exciting to field the team on the gridiron. Overall, the Nurgle team feels more well rounded than ever before, and I’m excited to get some games in!
Fil – Miniatures Designer
Squeeee! (or should that be “squeak”?) I've been playing Blood Bowl since the very first edition, and the thought of a new edition and the promise of more games with my Skaven is something I can't wait for! It might even be time to repaint my main team, the Doofas of Doom. They have a laughably patchy history and have been punching and kicking their way up and down the pitch since the 90s. I’ve always run a team that includes just two Gutter Runners (spending the savings on a Rat Ogre), so the addition of Stab for them and giving Strip Ball and an increased movement to the Blitzers will only add to the insane amount of Touchdowns the Doofas are famous for – hopefully…
Callum – Graphic Designer
Snotlings are my go-to team in Blood Bowl (someone has to play the cheeky little blighters!), and I’m extremely eager for the new edition! Snotlings get a huge buff in my humble opinion, as the (in)famous Pump Wagons no longer carry the Secret Weapon Trait onto the pitch! This is huge, and means Bribes can be used to keep Snotlings on the pitch when you foul to your heart's content – all in the name of good, “clean” fun! This also means that you can have a reliable roster with four Big Guys on the pitch.
Stu – Operations Manager
As someone who usually plays in several leagues at the same time – each with a different team – the launch of the new edition has got me particularly excited! I’m like a kid in a sweet shop with the new rosters, and I’m looking forward to dusting off some of my older teams to take on a new challenge. I think that my Dark Elves will be one of the first teams I’ll be putting to the test on the gridiron. The introduction of Punt on the Runners will give me plenty of new opportunities to move the ball around, while my Assassins can focus on stabbing the opposition, as they have gained Hit and Run – which now works with Stab.
Jon – Product Developer
As a Norse team enjoyer, I don't usually risk interacting with the ball until I've finished duffing up the opposing team – moving the ball is a last resort! However, with the new Secure the Ball Action allowing my Valkyries or Berserkers to pick it up on a 2+ now, there's much less chance of a Turnover upsetting my brawling plans. Of course, it's unavoidable that my team will suffer the odd casualty in return. There's a silver lining when this happens, though – I'm really looking forward to rolling to see whether any of my players gain the Hatred (X) Trait against my regular opponents' teams in a League!
Danny – Games Developer
Having spent the majority of the previous season playing Imperial Nobility, I’m looking forward to questing for the end zone with the newest humans to hit the pitch – the Bretonnians! With Squires having Wrestle and all of the Knights being Dauntless, this team has the chance to punch far above its weight class on the gridiron, while still being reasonably mobile.
The thing that excites me the most about the Bretonnian team is progressing through a league with a pair of Grail Knights, as they have some exceptional starting skills in Block and Steady Footing, ensuring that they keep their feet more easily than most and send their opponents sprawling to the dirt. Combine that with the likes of Dodge and Sidestep once some SPP have been acquired and you have the makings of some truly Star Players!
Thanks, guys; it certainly seems like the studio is pumped and raring to get going! We imagine it won’t be too long before their studio league kicks off and tales of glory and woe are spread around the office – and for Stu to take his place as perennial runner-up!
Blood Bowl: Third Season Edition! isn’t far away, so keep your eyes peeled on warhammer-community.com for more information.
