Can you throw the ball to an empty square?

[Jonny Deth]

I always thought that you had to pass to another player but my opponent the other night stated that you could "pass" to an empty square...Was he right?

If he was right can you use the normal passing skills such as pass, safe throw and accurate?

I know, and use, the skill HMP and TTM to pass to empty squares...

Can you help please?

[mepmuff]

Yes, you can pass the ball to an empty square. Any skills apply as well as far as i know, but I havent checked the skill descriptions to double check. Note that passing the ball to an empty square ends your turn (unless one of your teammates catches it despite your best efforts )

[slup]

mepmuff is right, and all skills do apply.

[GalakStarscraper]

Yes, you can pass the ball to an empty square. Any skills apply as well as far as i know, but I havent checked the skill descriptions to double check. Note that passing the ball to an empty square ends your turn (unless one of your teammates catches it despite your best efforts )

Diving Catch works very well with delibrately throwing to an adjacent square to get a better range bonus to the throw.

Galak

[DesTroy]

Personally, I've never been comfortable with the concept of throwing to an empty square. I also don't like the idea of being able to intentionally throw the ball away in American or Canadian football (I think that should be a penalty as it was when I was a kid).

The way I see it is: unless there is a player with Diving Catch in the area where the ball is being thrown, a player should not be allowed to throw the ball to an empty square. I'd rather see a new rule allowing punting as a way of deliberately disposing of the ball (and as a new way of using the Kick skill). But that's just me.

[Jonny Deth]

DesTroy. I agree with you on this one. As a tactic it favours the faster teams that can get rid of the ball up field and then swarm it later.

I always thought that you needed a receiver and I don't know where this has come from?

[mlindsay2706]

as far i can remeber its been in the rules for a while. its a tactic our skaven coach uses sometimes. if he's got the ball near his TD end and is under pressure he'll throw the ball down to my end and use his GR's to swarm it and score

doesnt always work, but pretty damns neaky tactic. not sure if i like it or not, but i agree fluff wise its wrong.

[Tante Kaethe]

I don't think it's wrong fluff-wise, only if you look at it from an American Football-perspective (were "Intentional Grounding" is penalised). But in AF you're not even allowed to touch the receiver before he catches the ball or tackle the QB after he has thrown the ball, only the QB (and the RB) is allowed to pass the ball forward, the list goes on and on...

In BB it's a turnover, and that's fine with me

Cheers

Tante Käthe
P.S.

I also don't like the idea of being able to intentionally throw the ball away in American or Canadian football

It is penalised in American Football

[The Ref]

Fluff wize you can call it a PUNT. As getting rid of the ball when you're in big trouble - or see no other way to advance. That's pretty common in Am.Football

I have a kicker on my vamp team that I sometimes pretend punting the ball (well, actually I've had no need to do it yet, just thought of it as an option a couple times).

[sjmiller]

It (intentional grounding) is penalised in American Football

To be honest, it is very rare that Intentional Grounding is called in the NFL. This is because if the quarterback is in the "pocket" (between the offensive tackles) he cannotbe called for the penalty. Also, if an eligible received is even remotely close to where the ball is thrown, it won't be called. I think I have seen Intentional Grounding called 1 time in the past 2 seasons.

[Jural]

I also don't like the idea of being able to intentionally throw the ball away in American or Canadian football

The big difference is that the ball is still live in Blood Bowl at this point, whereas in American or Canadian football both sides get to line-up and try again!

Trust me, you would see a much different game in Canada and America if incomplete forward passes were live balls!

[stashman]

The Darkside Slide! A very good tactic. Keeps the Dwarf in check!

http://www.specialist-games.com/assets/ ... rkside.pdf

[falconeyed]

The Darkside Slide! A very good tactic. Keeps the Dwarf in check!

http://www.specialist-games.com/assets/ ... rkside.pdf

That takes some serous balls to try and some serious positioning and / or luck to pull off. I like how the author says basically that you need to be faster and stronger than your opponent. If that's the case, why even bother throwing the ball? Just keep it and pound the opponent into dust.

[Jural]

...I like how the author says basically that you need to be faster and stronger than your opponent.

I hear it also helps to have better armor, more skills, and a higher AG than the opponent.

I'm also pretty sure that once I get all those advantages on the pitch, with any team, that tactic would work!

[Brokje]

And dont forget that if you use the tactic to throw far (say long pass range) the risk for fummbles is bigger as well. But for faster and more agile teams it can be a very handy tactic indeed!

Cheers!
M