HUMBBL

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Weighing in… (Please read the whole thing)

With the recent re-interpretation of Nuffle’s holy texts, we all seem to be in a quandary. Should we turn a blind eye to these new revelations and hold fast in our current convictions? Or should we adopt this new gospel as our own?

Before I start sounding even more like the good Pastor, let me give my own opinion on the matter.

First and foremost, out current ruleset is broken. Aging, negative monies, and a handicap system that promotes uneven games just scratches the surface of the issues. LRB5 fixes the majority of these issues.

Second, we have all shown in different amounts an unwillingness to properly review our current rules and make sound decisions to fix/improve them. In fact, the one time we did legitimately try to deeply analyze our ruleset, we all agreed the interactions between the rules were too subtle for us all to fully grasp and that modifying rules individually could result in very negative side effects.

Third, by removing the burden of “fixing” the base rules one by one, we can all focus on our own teams, and the nifty “new” rules we like so much (ie: Secret Weapons, Cyberware, Spellcasters, Stadiums, Special Tournaments, etc…).

All of this of course led us to approving the “official adoption” proposal which Hobratsch now wishes to rescind.

Moving HUMBBL over to LRB5 is actually a very straightforward task. For the most part it involves very slight and very logical modifications to either our current HUMBBL ruleset or to LRB5. These changes I have already outlined in my two previous LRB5 proposals (which have technically passed).

The only direct conflict is with Secret Weapons. For Secret Weapons I see a number of possible solutions. Of those, the two best are: 1) Allow one new secret weapon position player per team (Sir Helpful believes this is too powerful) or 2) Allow secret weapons as inducements. Each has its own pros and cons, but we can discuss those at a different time.

I could begin arguing specific points, but I’d rather discuss with you my vision for HUMBBL in the future assuming we adopt LRB5.

One, I have almost completed a new spreadsheet for our league (based on LRB5). It’s an Excel based database and will not lose season to season data like our current spreadsheet does. All the Team Data is currently accurate up to week 5 of the current round, but I have yet to fix or enter the Player Data. An example can be seen here:

http://home.comcast.net/~humbbl/

Two, I would like to see a pdf based HUMBBL rulebook containing all of our rules. This would include the base game rules, plus all of our additions. An example 1st sixteen pages is here (Please note the HUMBBL specific “Did You Knows” and “Slow Motion Replays"):

http://home.comcast.net/~humbbl/humbbl_lrb_ex.pdf

For an even better example, here is the current Weather page. It’s much cleaner and easier to reference than our current rulebook:

http://home.comcast.net/~humbbl/weather.pdf

Three, I would like to revive the old HUMBBL Owner’s Association website. For a reminder, the old REBBL based website can be found here:

http://home.comcast.net/~humbbl/oa/

Four, along with the above, I would like to begin a HUMBBL specific forum for posting game results, rules proposals, and for general discussion. Our blog does a good job, but is not ideal.
Combined, these four items would become the basis of our new website.

The overall goal here is to make the league vibrant. By having the base rules fixed we can focus on what each of us finds fun vs. arguing over the basic rules. By finally having an opportunity to discuss and improve our “extra” stuff, the league will become even more enjoyable.

Wow, I have a lot more to say, but this is already long enough. Maybe we need another conference call…

- Arden Mors

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Week 7 Dwarves vs Ogres

74K fans come to Brass Knuckle day to watch the Moria Balrogs win a squeaker against the Oldheim Ogres 1-0. The dwarves also outhit the Ogres 3-1.

There was a controversery which could have cost the Ogres the game, as Mr nastyman scooped up the ball and pushed it twice to deliver an ineffectual foul on a downed troll slayer. The ref spotted it by rolling a six and ejected him from the game.

Graeme, who was subbing for Dave K, said that he thought based on our rules that since Dirty Player gave a -1 modifier to being spotted, he could not be throw out (which is why he threw the foul). I did not let him redo his actions and the ball scattered.

Upon later reflection I was in error, and I should have allowed Graeme to take his action back.

Hindsight being 20/20, I don't think that this would have changed the final outcome as the Dwarves could do no wrong, and the ogres were hitting their opponents with fluffy pillows.

Moria Balrogs:
FF +1
Earnings +10K

Handicaps:

Inspiration (receive 2 MVPs 1 before game)
Winds of Change

#2 Albrecht +Mvp (before game), advances, ages, takes Tackle, gains Niggle
#4 Bomber +2 cas
#6 Oin Deathroller confiscated
#7 Gloin +Mvp
#8 Fili +cas
#10 Stumpy Killed by Phineas Freak
#14 Gimlet +cp, +TD, Advances, no age, SKILL

Old TR 221, new TR 207

Ogres

+0k
FF -1

Before match spend 20K to buy snotling (he was factor in the last three turns actually and was injured on turn 16).

#1 Rufus +cp
#2 Phieneas Phreak +cas
#8 Jerimah Grimm, +MVP, advances DOUBLES (block?), no age
#9 Snotling, SI, MNG gains Niggle
#10 Keynote, SI, MNG, -ST
#13 Wonderboy, SI MNG, gains Niggle

Old TR 250, new TR 250

LRB5 is official.

Hi guys,

The new rules are finally official. As per the "Rule" vote below, these rules will automatically be adopted for HUMBBL use next round. I am extremely busy today, but I have a few simple proposals to mesh our current rules variations with these new rules. I will send those proposals out in the next couple of days.

I've included the note on www.specialist-games.com and our previous discussion/proposal that was passed for your easy reference.

--

The all-new Blood Bowl Living Rulebook version 5 is now ready for eager coaches to download and consume.These are the new official rules for Blood Bowl. Upon reading the files you will find a leaner, meaner game system and a brand new league system. All changes to the game are highlighted in red for ease of reference. A big thanks to Tom Anders who has given up countless hours organising this project. Equally, we must thank to all the playtesters who have honed this version of Blood Bowl over the last two years of vault activity. This will be version of the game we will use when Blood Bowl is republished and so marks a step change in the frequency in which we will tweak and update the rules. This is a good thing as over the last few years the Blood Bowl rules have often be seen as in a state of flux now we can give the game time to stabilise. Once again thanks to Tom Anders for all his hard work.You can find the new PDFs on the Blood Bowl Rulebook page.For now,Andy @ Fanatic

--

On 1/16/06, Silas McDermott <silas.mcdermott@gmail.com> wrote:

The motivation of this proposal is two fold:

1) Get the current round moving.
2) Avoid similar long rule discussions in the future.

When asked what any of us really like about REBBL, we all say the "extra" rules or the cap systems as I like to call them (#1 for me is our group camaraderie, but that is besides the point). What I mean by this is the extra rules, like the end of round table etc.... We never say the core rules are our favorite. Further, we are all to different degrees aware of the core rules and their effect on the game. There are also interactions that none of us are aware of that only become clear after a lot of games. In other words, none of us are experts on the core rules. Yet we argue about them for days.

The idea of this proposal is to put the core rules into the Blood Bowl Review Committees hands so that we can focus on the cap systems and our actual teams. Certainly, there will be specific rules we dislike, and we can still change them, but our base rules will evolve healthily without us having to discuss every little change in detail. Further, since the changes do not happen until the end of a round, we will always have plenty of time to plan ahead based upon the changes we know are upcoming.

I'm not sure this is entirely cogent, but I don't have time to proof read it at the moment. Expect a couple more proposals later today.

--

On 1/16/06, Silas McDermott <mailto:silas.mcdermott@gmail.com> wrote:

After discussion with our beloved league commissioner, I propose the following:

For the current round, we will table further discussion on the REBBL ruleset. If any owner wishes to propose changes, they may as per the regular REBBL rules. Proposals already voted on that passed will stay in effect unless a new proposal is made to cancel them.

Moving forward, at the end of each round, REBBL will automatically adopt the current "official" blood bowl rules. We may also adopt the currently official rules at the half way point of a round if a majority of owners agree to it. Once the new official rules are adopted, changes to those rules can be proposed as per normal REBBL rules.

For everyones information, the next Blood Bowl rules review is expected in May. The PBBL rules are expected to become official sometime next year.

Finally, to remind everyone, the rules we already voted on are as follows:

New Extraordinary Skills: Decay, Fan Favorite, Loner, No Hands, Titchy, Wings
All Free Agents gain Loner as long as they are a Free Agent
Amazon re-roll 50k
Norse can have a Snow Troll as their Big Guy: 5/5/1/8; Big Guy, Claws, Disturbing Presence, Frenzy, Wild Animal; 120k
New Nurgle Team approved
Loans: 25% Interest no compounding
end of round order: off season week (clear 1 miss, sell/release, end of round rolls resolved in order, sell/release), pre-season week (clear another miss & play!)
all teams follow same timeline/every week accrues debt
Kickoff table roll of 7, extra ball scatter
No +1 Armour break for fouler; Assist fouls as blocks; dirty player +1 Armor or Injury or kick out; dirty player works as guard for fouls
Stats can only go up or down 2. No higher than 12.
Ogre team: 0-11 Ogres; 0-2 Snotlings; 0-6 Goblins
7 FF Rule does not exist (buying up to 7 rule does)
Illegal Procedure? Yes as per current LRB.
Ball throw in? Gentlemans way. Yes.
Standing Up? Only at the start of the turn.
Rolling Etiquette: Say what a roll is for. Otherwise it is assumed it was for the correct thing (GFI, Dodge, Whatever...). If you roll for the wrong thing, the roll stands, but you have to re-roll for the missed one. On new information a player may opt to end the turn right before the "missed" roll. For block dice: For rolling too many, defender picks if re-roll or not.

I vote yay on this 16th day of the 2006th season of Blood Bowl. All hail Nuffle!

- Arden Mors

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

End of Round rolls for Shadow Council and Chaos Theory

After finishing their week 9 game and realizing that they would not be in the finals, nor could they be in last place, both teams elected to roll their end of round rolls.

Shadow Council:

1 roll

1. Drug incident, the team is fined 50K

Chaos Theory

5 rolls at a +1 per roll

1. Lose an Assitant coach

Render is sent out on the long walk, after his Piling on technique did not lead to more TD per game.

2. Lose a cheerleader.

The mummified remains of Warsaw the Insane were finally laid to rest in a mausolium built to honor his glory.

3. Lose a FF

Fickle fans! Its like they want the team to win or something.

4. Lose a cheerleader

Having not had any cheerleaders on the team for some time, this was a welcome result.

5. Drug Incident : 30K fine.

Well, so much for hiring another beastman, but at least I still have 30k in the tresury afterwards.

Both teams announced plans to rest for the next season.

Week 9 game Chaos Theory vs Shadow Council

Chaos Theory wins in OT 4-3, out hits the rats 7-1!!!

56K fans
Special event Player strike, three Skavens demand 5K before they agree to play (both stormvermin and the spellcaster)

2 handicaps Smelling salts and news feature.

Chaos

FF +1
Earnings +10K

#1 Monarch +Mvp
#4 Entropy +3 cas (kills Slickfoot skit)
#6 Asunder +cas
#9 Symmetry +td
#10 Possibilities +td
#11 tear +2 cas
#12 tinder +3cp, +1cas, +2 TD, advances, DOUBLES!! ages, -mv

Skaven:

SILAS NEEDS TO COMPLETE THIS