Games workshop specialist games returning?

Warbie

Warbie

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So I went into Games Workshop today to buy Blood Bowl and Deathzone, with plans for two boxes of Rotters, another box of Orcs, and all the matching star players and big guys if/when they get released. And probably Norse and maybe an Underworld team later down the tracks. Super excited. I asked the manager if they had a box open. 'Nope'. 'Any minis I can see' - he couldn't find one. Fair enough. Getting a little curious I asked if they were going to be playing in the shop. 'oh no, this is more for people who play board games at home. We're not really planning on promoting it'. 'So no plans for league play then'? 'Nope'. Now this was a kick in the nuts. I grew up on Blood Bowl in my local Games Workshop back in the day. It was the gateway to Warhammer, Necromunda, Epic, Man of War, Mordheim (you know, when they had more than two games!), and Blood Bowl league play was, imho, by far the most fun thing GW have ever done. And then it hit me - there's no point buying Blood Bowl now. I might be able to get the odd game twice a year when meeting up with old friends, but that's pretty much it. So I walked out. My attitude now is you can bite me GW! If you do the same when/if Necroumnda gets rereleased, we're done for good as I literally have zero interest in 40k and the new Warhammer! :mad:
 

swillsy

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Yeah this will be typical for Games Workshop however don't give up! I guarantee if you get on facebook you'll find a local group, the main blood bowl group is very active.
 

Warbie

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swillsy said:
Yeah this will be typical for Games Workshop however don't give up! I guarantee if you get on facebook you'll find a local group, the main blood bowl group is very active.
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Brenn said:
Whereabouts are you based Warbie? You might find independents in your area doing blood bowl leagues
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Tunney said:
If you're in London, we've got a new league starting in February.
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You're right guys - I was having a bit of a strop. It's just the local GW is super convenient - can walk there in 5 minutes - and I was hoping this was going to be a big Blood Bowl revival rather than a few specialist clubs.

I'm in Croydon btw, Tunney. Where do you do your meets?
 

Tunney

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Warbie said:
You're right guys - I was having a bit of a strop. It's just the local GW is super convenient - can walk there in 5 minutes - and I was hoping this was going to be a big Blood Bowl revival rather than a few specialist clubs.
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Yeah, that's a bit sad. It seemed like every shop had a demo table for a while. I guess with limited shelf space, they've got to prioritise 40K/AoS though. :(

I'm in Croydon btw, Tunney. Where do you do your meets?
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Bethnal Green (zone 1, Central Line) on Wednesday nights mostly. There's a Facebook group for the league if you fancy joining next year.
 

Warbie

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Tunney said:
Bethnal Green (zone 1, Central Line) on Wednesday nights mostly. There's a Facebook group for the league if you fancy joining next year.
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Cheers man. I'll check it out - although it'll be tough making it on a school night.

I had another word with the manager btw and he was very decent about it. Reading between the lines - they've basically been given orders from up high to not promote the board games or playing them in-store. And it is a shame. The people I know who are into BB are old gits that grew up playing it in GW and there's a whole generation of potential new fans that are never going to get into the game now.

However, he did say I could rent a table with a few friends and play - might make it a personal mission to expose the game.
 

clartymarty

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Im just in the middle of painting up my orc team for blood bowl. I do have a question though about team rosters. I know a guy posted he bought 2 boxes of scaven but can you just get away with one. How would i expand my human and orc teams? Sorry really new to blood bowl
 

Tunney

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The boxed set contains 12 models out of a possible roster of 16. If you don't want to buy another 12 models, you could expand your team by buying a big guy (ogre for humans and troll for orcs). There's no official big guy models for Blood Bowl at the moment but you can use the Warhammer/Age of Sigmar equivalents.

I bought two boxes of Skaven because I wanted all four possible Gutter Runners. Gutter Runners both dangerous (MA9, AG4) and fragile (ST2, AV7) so you need as many as possible. Orcs don't need a lot of subs as they have high armour and don't get injured very often. Humans are somewhere in the middle.

You definitely won't need more than the 12 models you get in the boxed game if you're not playing in a league.
 

Droolinggimp

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I don't normally venture in this sub forum but as I am a bit bored I did and saw this thread about GW. I used to be a big gamer back in the late 80s and early 90s. I had Blood Bowl with polystyrene pitch, Talisman, Space Hulk, Warhammer Quest, Battle cars, chainsaw Warrior, Judge Dread, Rouge trooper, Chaos Marauders, Dungeon quest and many more.

Blood Bowl stood out to me as one of the best board games out there. I would love a chance to play it again but with vanilla rules. Iirc there were a few addon rules applied years ago. I have no idea where the game play stands nowadays.

I am very tempted to make my own pitch, buy some teams, paint them and get hold of the original rules and possibly make my own rulers and markers etc. Having a 2 year old son I am wanting to get him into this sort of gaming once he is old enough. It's more social than current console gaming, I know online you interact but board games are better for interaction, the feel of the figures, painting them himself, playing with others in a club or shop. It's the best way to game imo.

I may pick up the nw BB for me and the wife and for a game night as we don't really have any night like that currently.

Edit: Looking at the box set on the GW site the BB game has what look like cards to use. Iirc there where no cards in the original game. Am I right?
Edit: I had the second edition, poly pitch
 
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Tunney

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Droolinggimp said:
Edit: Looking at the box set on the GW site the BB game has what look like cards to use. Iirc there where no cards in the original game. Am I right?
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Cards were introduced in third edition, in 1994. I think you used to get D3 cards in third edition and you now get a flat three. If you opponent is significantly stronger than you, you can also buy additional cards.
 

DominicStar

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It may be a bit late for the OP now and depends on travel wishes, but there is a Herts and Essex Blood Bowl league (just about to start latest season). Most players are based around Harlow/Bishop Stortford. I'm sure Chelmsford Bunker run them too.
 
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