Block Action

[dode74]

Do you have to block if you declare a Block Action?

[BillyDee]

I have nothing to back this up, but seeing as you don't have to Blitz, Move or Pass once declared I would say you don't have to Block?

[Steam Ball]

Old question, take Nth.

I have nothing to back this up, but seeing as you don't have to do things allowed by Blitz, Foul, Hand off, Move or Pass once declared I would say you don't have to block?

Fixed for you.

[BillyDee]

Gah! I meant to not capitalise block! (It's been a long night...)
Thanks for the clarification.

[dode74]

Well the reason I ask is here: http://www.thenaf.net/blood-bowl/rules/ ... cations/#8

You may only declare a Block if there is an adjacent standing player. This one has not been fully clarified but if you want a ruling go with this one. Once you have declared a Block and rolled any associated dice (Jump Up, Wild Animal, Dauntless) you must go through with the Block. Block is in fact the only Action where this is the case, as for example you do not have to Pass after declaring a Pass Action.

This clarification from the NAF appears to require that once a Block is declared you have to make the block. I don't think that is correct: the Block Action on page 7 of CRP states may, not must.

One might argue that this refers to blocks after skill use of Jump Up, Wild Animal and Dauntless, but I don't think that is the case except for Dauntless. The relevant parts of each skill description:
Jump Up: "The player may also declare a Block Action while Prone which requires an Agility roll with a +2 modifier to see if he can complete the Action. A successful roll means the player can stand up for free and block an adjacent opponent" - can implies a choice.
Wild Animal: "To represent this, immediately after declaring an Action with a Wild Animal, roll a D6, adding 2 to the roll if taking a Block or Blitz Action." - only mentions a Block Action or Blitz Action. We know you don't have to block on a Blitz Action so why on a Block Action? Nothing different here to any other Block Action.
Dauntless: "The skill only works when the player attempts to block an opponent who is stronger than himself. When the skill is used, the coach of the player with the Dauntless skill rolls a D6 and adds it to his strength. If the total is equal to or lower than the opponent’s Strength, the player must block using his normal Strength." - the only situation where a roll result stipulates the block must take place. Added to that is the fact that skill activation requires a block rather than a Block Action.

So I am curious: why does the NAF specify that the declaration of a Block Action requires that a block must take place?

[GalakStarscraper]

I think it is simply because a Block action without a block is a Move action and you are really jamming a square peg into a round hole otherwise. IE ... there is no benefit that I can think of to declare a do nothing Block action vs a do nothing Move action.

[dode74]

But there are skills which are affected by this. Wild Animal, for example, can be activated with +2 if you choose not to block on a Block Action but not if you choose not to move on a Move Action.

[GalakStarscraper]

But there are skills which are affected by this. Wild Animal, for example, can be activated with +2 if you choose not to block on a Block Action but not if you choose not to move on a Move Action.

But there is nothing gained from a no block Block action even with a Wild Animal vs a no move Move action. So again ... its meaningless to do so.

[dode74]

If it is meaningless then why stipulate at all? I guess I am more confused by the apparent necessity for the NAF to clarify contrary to the wording of LRB6 rather than anything else.

[Moraiwe]

But there are skills which are affected by this. Wild Animal, for example, can be activated with +2 if you choose not to block on a Block Action but not if you choose not to move on a Move Action.

But there is nothing gained from a no block Block action even with a Wild Animal vs a no move Move action. So again ... its meaningless to do so.

Tried hard to find a reason to do so, only thing I could think of was to overcome Hypnotic Gaze, which made me wonder: Does a 'gazed' player regain their tackle zones if they fail a Wild Animal roll?

[GalakStarscraper]

But there are skills which are affected by this. Wild Animal, for example, can be activated with +2 if you choose not to block on a Block Action but not if you choose not to move on a Move Action.

But there is nothing gained from a no block Block action even with a Wild Animal vs a no move Move action. So again ... its meaningless to do so.

Tried hard to find a reason to do so, only thing I could think of was to overcome Hypnotic Gaze, which made me wonder: Does a 'gazed' player regain their tackle zones if they fail a Wild Animal roll?

Yes he would ... so again no difference of Block action vs Move action

[Moraiwe]

Sorry, one last straw-clutching: How about using Jump up to stand a Wild animal up? I don't think the Jump Up skill says you have to make the block.

[CyberedElf]

It's a very short list of rolls that are made between declaration and block dice. But items on that list could use the reroll and now the coach doesn't want to roll block dice.
Jump Up uses reroll, now I don't want to risk skulls.

[Pedda]

I think it is simply because a Block action without a block is a Move action and you are really jamming a square peg into a round hole otherwise. IE ... there is no benefit that I can think of to declare a do nothing Block action vs a do nothing Move action.

Declaring a block with a treeman, failing the take root, which means that if you go through with the block you're freeing the opposing player.
If you don't go through with the block you're still marking that player.

I see a benefit of declaring a block action but not carrying it out in that case

[Darkson]

I've never played, nor had anyone play on me, that a Block, unlike any other action, has to be done after it has been announced.
There are fewer reasons why you might not want to make a Block after declaration than say a Blitz or a Pass, but as shown above, there are some, and I don't see any reason why Block should be different.