Strict Rule Enforcement

[Beaux1980]

Here is a question for you all. I am commish of the Kalamazoo, MI league. We are a pretty strict league when it comes to rules enforcement. Here is an example and I'd like to know if this is how your leagues run, and if not, what you might expect.

Before any action is made by a player, the coach must declare that action, including Blitz, pass, hand-off, block, move, etc. We do allow a person to "go back" and declare the action if they forgot as long as he hadn't rolled any dice. For example, if a coach moves his player away from my tackle zone and rolls a dodge roll and succeeds, and then so "oh crap, I meant to blitz" we don't allow the blitz because it was not called. Same thing with a pass. If the ball is sitting on the ground, and a coach moves his passer to the ball and picks up the ball, but hadn't declared pass PRIOR to rolling on the pickup, he cannot pass the ball at that point, because he didn't declare pass at the beginning of that players actions. We also make them distinguish between a pass or hand-off, in advance of doing so, because a fail dodge roll may make the difference between whether or not that player continues his attempt to make it next to the player he was going to hand off to.

I'd like your feedback, as I am playing in the Orctoberfest in Detroit in a couple of weeks and want to know how other leagues play, as I don't want to be a poor sport, but I don't want to be tread on either.

[Ulthuan_Express]

Mostly my group would let a "Oh, this is a blitz, btw" slide unless you've started rolling dice for the movement already (Bonehead, dodges, GFI, Block dice if you're moving afterwards, etc), so I'd say that's about right.

If a coach has just started playing, for instance, then I'd be willing to let a couple slide, with appropriate reminders, but if he's supposed to know what he's doing then he doesn't get any freebies (unless he seems like a cool guy who's there for a good time and has genuinely got ahead of himself, of course).

Declaring passes before you've picked up the ball is a more difficult one to call, though. The pass, of course, depends on the ball pick-up (and a Team Re-Roll used at that point may stop him passing at all, of course), clouding the issue yet further.

[Warpstone]

Beaux1980, we would let the first couple instances slide in the case of a new player. However, I think most people will play it exactly like you outlined it. A takeback is fine if no dice have been rolled. Once you've started rolling though, you can't convert a move into a pass or blitz as it's just not the way the risk-management in the game was meant to be played.

[inkpwn]

Agreed, in the witchbowl everyone let's the ocassional 'oh its a blitz btw' pass. As long as no dice have been rolled its cool. Pass actions are a different matter and definatly have to be declared.

[Grumbledook]

I think most people play the way described in the original post

I wouldn't call that strict, I'd call it playing by the rules, places that do otherwise are more "lax"

[Beaux1980]

Awesome, I think we are all on the same page then. I just don't want to show up to a tourney and call somebody out and look like a total tool or unsportsmanlike. Nor do i want it to happen to me that I didn't say blitz and two seconds later take it back and say "I mean blitz" and the remove, but the other coach gets cranky about it.

[Stout Youngblood]

We play the same way you described it in your first post. Also, when playing in a tourney, state at the outset how you expect things to go, i.e. Must declare action before any dice are rolled, not after. Cocked dice/ dice off the table are ALWAYS rerolled, etc...

[Grumbledook]

I don't think anyone could get upset by suggesting they follow the rules

illegal procedure aside, though most tournaments state that unless both say they want to play it then it is ignored

and nearly everyone allows actions to be taken back, or then declared after moving as long as no dice are rolled

I wouldn't begrudge anyone that wouldn't let me though, rules are rules after all, though most people play it as a game for fun and as such let the no dice roll flexibility go

[Ulthuan_Express]

I don't think anyone could get upset by suggesting they follow the rules

Oh, you'd be surprised, friendly games or otherwise

[daloonieshaman]

Declared Actions:
Technically most of the Actions you described were Move Actions. (Picking up the ball is not an action)
In the spirit of the game: If no dice are rolled we (FABBL) allow a player to call an Action after starting movement. There are many times when an Action is quite clear. (QB's turn, range ruler, counting squares ect. duh pass Action). (Minotaur chasing a guy 1 space from the side; duh Blitz) (2 guys on the line and the guy picks up Blocking dice 99.9% Block)

Off Topic Players should not whine about IP it's in the rules. I will call you on it every time, then foul the crap out of you just to annoy you to no end.

[Greyhound]

In my recent game I pointed at my mini and declared "blitz"... then looking at my mini better decided against it:
"Nah not good with this guy", so I pointed to another mini and said "this guy instead" then there was eye rolling, long face, and so much disgruntled attitude I had to go back and blitz with my original guy.

I had roll no dice, nor moved, nor stood up, just pointed and talked. I felt it was a bit harsh, I am going to be more careful in the future from now on, but that moment kind of spoiled the fun in my view. Maybe my opponent was clenching at straws. Still won the game.

[daloonieshaman]

In my recent game I pointed at my mini and declared "blitz"... then looking at my mini better decided against it:
"Nah not good with this guy", so I pointed to another mini and said "this guy instead" then there was eye rolling, long face, and so much disgruntled attitude I had to go back and blitz with my original guy.

I had roll no dice, nor moved, nor stood up, just pointed and talked. I felt it was a bit harsh, I am going to be more careful in the future from now on, but that moment kind of spoiled the fun in my view. Maybe my opponent was clenching at straws. Still won the game.

He does have a point, the rules clearly state DECLARED under the Blitz section. (It's crap I know but if they want to be a stickler ...)

[Greyhound]

I don't have a problem with the reading of the rule, but more with the enforcement of it.

All it does is forcing me to be quiet, and make triple checks before opening my mouth and declaring who I'll move. It spoils the fun, and doesn't really change the strategy. It's not like i moved the mini before.

[Grumbledook]

just slows the game down as well

[Beaux1980]

If somebody did that to me, I would either a. punch him in the face. b. Pull a Dane Cook (Monopoly Skit) c. Or shove every rule I could possibly think of down his throat the rest of the game.

As long as dice aren't rolled, then you are fine.

In our league, you must declare Blitz, Pass, Handoff, Foul Action. If it wasn't declared and you already rolled something like a dodge or reroll then it reverts to a Move action. But we allow the player to "go back" one action, so long as no nice were rolled. Picking up the ball does not need to be declared, but if you intend to throw the ball with the person who was picking up the ball, then you must call it before you begin moving to the square with the ball in it.