Upgradable Block Skill

Gonzo · Post by **Gonzo** » Tue Aug 10, 2004 10:46 pm

Been thinking about new ideas for general skills and simply looked at an option to use a skill roll to upgrade a players block skill.

Gameplay wise it means choosing block again for a player (let's call it Block level 2). If a player with a higher level block skill gets the block/skull result against a player with simply block then the lower skilled block player goes down.

IE stormvermin 7338 block (lvl2) vs Human blitzer 7338 (block) rolls a one die block , getting the skull block result. Human Blitzer down in own square as normal and armour roll is made.

I thought about the idea because of the lack of skill choices for normal players (unless they roll doubles) and another way to counter a blodger aside from the tackle skill.

Any ideas on the above
Comments positive/negative welcomed.

Joemanji · Post by **Joemanji** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 8:54 am

I suggested that myself in the Vault a few months back, and it was widely rejected. Seems people don't want to engage in a Block arms race...

Gonzo · Post by **Gonzo** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 11:14 am

Well thanks for the reply Nazgit, I can see what some people say about an arms race, but by upgrading block you're missing out on other skills so I can't really see a problem. Look what cruddy choices a Wight has these days or the average Human lineman - you would think all that blocking practise would show on the field of play

Post by **DoubleSkulls** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 11:21 am

2nd ed used to have the levels on skills, and I believe it was dropped in the sake of keeping game play simple.

Relborn · Post by **Relborn** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 11:24 am

IMO Gameplay would still be simple even if some skills would have levels ...

The question is, would it be an improvement to have levels and would it be worth an complete skill advance ?

MadLordAnarchy · Post by **MadLordAnarchy** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 11:27 am

I also considered that this was a good idea but I think it's worth waiting to see what comes of Grapple and Juggernaut.

In theory, there are plenty of other skills that could have levels such as Tackle, Dodge, Sure Hands, Strip Ball etc. The idea worked with the 2nd ed rules but I'd prefer an increase in the number of skills over additional levels where possible.

Relborn · Post by **Relborn** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 12:17 pm

Maybe there is no need in packing addition skill rolls in such skills. Just mak a 1d3 roll to determine which level your skill has (up to level 4)

Would that be to random for your tastes ?

narkotic · Post by **narkotic** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 2:00 pm

Sorry, that is something that got trashed after 2nd ed and it's good that way. I still have to vomit when recalling my Delf Blitzer wasted three skills to get Sure Hands lv. 3 whereas other guys got Block, Mighty Blow and Strip Ball lv 3 each for the same SPPs.............

Skill levels won't make the game more interesting, it will just make it dumber. Even now many coaches chose 80% of the time Block for their Linos, with Skills they also would chose Block for the players beginning with that skill.

Relborn · Post by **Relborn** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 2:57 pm

narkotic wrote:Sorry, that is something that got trashed after 2nd ed and it's good that way. I still have to vomit when recalling my Delf Blitzer wasted three skills to get Sure Hands lv. 3 whereas other guys got Block, Mighty Blow and Strip Ball lv 3 each for the same SPPs.............

Skill levels won't make the game more interesting, it will just make it dumber. Even now many coaches chose 80% of the time Block for their Linos, with Skills they also would chose Block for the players beginning with that skill.

Of course you want also point out, that this is only your opinion

narkotic · Post by **narkotic** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 3:09 pm

Of course, I always speak for myself only. Who isn't?

Gonzo · Post by **Gonzo** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 7:12 pm

I too was playing in the days of 2nd edition, so know what its like to face levelled up players like skaven stormvermin with mighty blow level 3! But stackable skills do present a coach with a bit of variety when it comes to skilled players.
Lets face it teams with a greater team rating than 250, pretty much everyone has the block skill, and if you dont roll doubles are often facing few useful options on the skill tables to take.

Considering the horrors that are occuring in the playtest vault these days, this upgrading is quite tame isn't it?

Anyway thanks for the replies, keep your thoughts coming....

Duke Jan · Post by **Duke Jan** » Thu Aug 12, 2004 12:46 pm

I play in a league where my TR 120 something dwarves are pitched against a TR 180-190 like CD team. I would dread the effect of stacked block skills in this league.

With suggestions like these its very important to consider the effect on all kinds of leagues. I think it would be OK in leagues that limit TR differences for matches, but where that's not the case... :shudder:

Relborn · Post by **Relborn** » Thu Aug 12, 2004 1:49 pm

Thats right Duke ... that is the reason, why an variable roll (like an d3 for example) for the skill level isn't an too bad idea.

I like the skill with level, because it would also give a different kind of quality to each blocker... You could have for example the Human Blitzer A with an AG+ and only meagre Block skill (level 1) and the other Human Blitzer B who is a great blocking talent with block Skill (level 3)

I would really like such options ...

Gonzo · Post by **Gonzo** » Thu Aug 12, 2004 1:56 pm

Good point Duke Jan, it probably wont be much fun to face much higher TR teams, although in our league, the regular matches are played with no restrictions at all!! Still handicap rolls can conpensate to a degree.

Kheldar · Post by **Kheldar** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 11:50 am

I think skill rolls are allready random enough. My chaos did only get 1 double in about 25 upgrades. Thats hard. But then some people shall get level3 block with one skill roll and others level 2 just because the damn d3 rolled this way?

I think too much randomness in Bloodbowl is not good for the game.

I'm against stackable skill in general too. There are many choices even for wights. Tackle Passblock Strip Ball Sure Hands. Thats quite a lot don't you think so?