![\"dscf1659\"](\"http:\/\/fourstrandshobby.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/DSCF1659.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nI really like the art.\u00a0 You get that it’s a football game, but also much more violent than ordinary football.\u00a0 The goblin looks a bit goofy though.<\/p>\n
Let’s flip the box!<\/p>\n
A basic explanation of the game.\u00a0 One thing that I looked for in the store and found conspicuously missing was a listing of the models contained in the box set.\u00a0 I’ll list those when I look at the models themselves.<\/p>\n Now, to open this precious oyster to find the pearls of… something related to football… ok bad metaphor…<\/p>\n Jam packed full!\u00a0 Already I can see Human miniatures in blue, Ork in green, and templates in gray.\u00a0 There’s also some dice.\u00a0 First, let’s get those miniatures out and get up close and personal!<\/p>\n Here are the humans.\u00a0 Poses for these guys are a bit odd.\u00a0 The linemen on the left side sort of have their arms out.\u00a0 It’s half “COME AT ME, BRO!” and half “I believe I can flyyyyyyy…”\u00a0 I’m also not a fan of the dancing catcher, who is doing a saucy pirouette with the ball.\u00a0 The Blitzers are also oddly posed.\u00a0 I’m digging the thrower though.\u00a0 Good pose for making a long pass.\u00a0 What I’m a bit disappointed in is the lack of variety in the minis.\u00a0 The above sprues are identical so you get 2 of each pose.<\/p>\n Speaking of which, here’s the list of Human minis:<\/p>\n Now, for the Orcs!<\/p>\n The Orcs are in more pieces, so it’s harder to see their poses, but they are much more violently posed.\u00a0 Many are winding up for a good punch, while others are actively charging.\u00a0 The Thrower is a bit awkward and has a weird look on his face.\u00a0 One of the linemen has that silly pose that the Human linemen have, but he’s squatting a bit more so he looks WAY sturdier, as if preparing for a charge.\u00a0 All in all, these are the superior minis, with the same identical sprue problem.\u00a0 Another problem that arises from this: how do you differentiate your players BEFORE you paint them?\u00a0 If you go back and look at the back of the box, you’ll see that the game can be played unpainted.\u00a0 If both your throwers look identical, things could get confusing…<\/p>\n Here’s the model count:<\/p>\n Next: we replace the old clear acetate templates for some plastic ones that kick ass!<\/p>\n Better in every way than the old acetate ones.\u00a0 The pass template even breaks down into two parts for storage!\u00a0 Fantastic!<\/p>\n Woo.\u00a0 Bases.\u00a0 Glamorous.\u00a0 Moving on.<\/p>\n Here’s the box with the above items taken out.\u00a0 To protect the board and cards, a dividing paper was placed between them.<\/p>\n On the other side was an ad.\u00a0 I suppose we’d better get used to this.\u00a0 Instead of the last page of the rulebook or assembly instructions, full sheet ads like this are being placed in all new GW boxes.\u00a0 Oh well, at least you can toss it.<\/p>\n …wait, what’s that?<\/p>\n There’s an app?\u00a0 I have not gotten it (look for a future post) but hopefully it can level up your roster, even sharing it with a tournament coordinator so there’s no cheating!<\/p>\n Next, the item I have been waiting for: THE MAIN RULEBOOK!<\/p>\n Cover art isn’t the most awe-inspiring.\u00a0 Someone must have rolled a 12 on the weather table, and this shot was taken just before the Blizzard rolled in, as it’s very foggy.\u00a0 Also, the Orc looks surprised to see the Human running at him.\u00a0 “Hey, man, take it easy!”<\/p>\n Inside, we start with some classic art.<\/p>\n Bob and Jim!\u00a0 It wouldn’t be a Blood Bowl rulebook without these knuckleheads.\u00a0 To further the wackiness of the Blood Bowl setting, the book is festooned with comical asides, such as this one:<\/p>\n As for the rules themselves, once again, that’s a later post.\u00a0 As for now, I have a powerful need for some dice!<\/p>\n Both players get a full set of dice including three new block dice that look fantastic!\u00a0 You also get two D6s with the 6 replaced with the Blood Bowl logo, a D8 for scattering, and… could it be?\u00a0 YES!<\/p>\n A D16!<\/p>\n *one change of pants later*<\/p>\n Ah, much better.\u00a0 Good, now I don’t have to roll a D20 and re-roll all 17+ when rolling for MVP.<\/p>\n Enough of the small objects, let’s get onto the pitch!<\/p>\n The pitch is big!\u00a0 Bigger than the old Blood Bowl pitches!\u00a0 Now large based minis won’t have so much trouble fitting on those tiny squares.\u00a0 You’ll need a bit more table space though…<\/p>\n The pitch has a few details that make it more than just a field.\u00a0 Here’s a hatch to the dungeons below!<\/p>\n …and a poor Goblin who didn’t make his landing roll when thrown…<\/p>\n Even better, unlike the old pitch, the flip side is a completely different pitch!<\/p>\n Orcs tend to play on a rougher field, with bare bedrock in some places.<\/p>\n Next: some cards!\u00a0 They’re bigger than I’d expect.\u00a0 The bonus of such big cards is the text is easily readable.<\/p>\n Among these cards are reference cards for the Human and Orc teams, and the Star Players both teams can employ.<\/p>\n In addition there are two Special Play decks, much simplified from the optional Special Plays in the LRB.<\/p>\n Next there’s… another ad?\u00a0 Oh, well at least this one is super worth it if you want to play the Blood Bowl videogame on Steam.\u00a0 It includes a code for 50% off Blood Bowl II, and another code for unique DLC for that game.\u00a0 My codes are edited out (sorry!).<\/p>\n Next… OOOOOOOOOH!<\/p>\n BAGGIES!\u00a0 They perfectly fit the dice and oversized cards.\u00a0 Excellent addition!\u00a0 They are thicker and stronger than your bog-standard sandwich bags.\u00a0 Great idea!<\/p>\n There’s a double sided easy-reference guide.\u00a0 It’s great but… WHERE ARE HANDOFF AND FOUL?\u00a0 (check rules) OH, they’re there!\u00a0 This guide is only for beginners…<\/p>\n Up next, a sheet of the oft-unused waterslide transfers, but these are very high quality!\u00a0 Both Orcs and Humans get Black and White versions of the transfers, so it works with any color scheme you choose, except perhaps camouflage.<\/p>\n Next, another must-have, the dugouts!\u00a0 Each dugout has a Human side and an Orc side.\u00a0 I really like that the K.O.d box has an 8-9 and the Injury box has a 10-12, to remind you of where you go when injured!\u00a0 The art is also very fun.\u00a0 There’s a scoreboard up top, rooms, and then the familiar turn counters and re-roll markers.<\/p>\n …and that’s it for the box set!\u00a0 It looks like they had a lot of spectacular ideas, such as the baggies, reversible boards, dice for BOTH players, and fantastic templates.\u00a0 It’s a bit lacking in the variety of minis, and the quality of poses, as well as some of the art being bland.<\/p>\n …but wait, we’re not done!\u00a0 I also purchased Death Zone: Season 1!\u00a0 The main rulebook only has rules for making an Orc or Human team.\u00a0 DZ:S1 has Dwarfs, Skaven, Nurgle, Elf Unions, High Elves, Wood Elves, and Dark Elves, bringing the total of teams to 9!\u00a0 They’re missing my precious Lizardmen though…<\/p>\n There are also rules for leagues, conspicuously absent from the main rulebook!<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n
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