Best way to get character growth, etc. with two players?

SlyFrog · Post by **SlyFrog** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 2:41 am

Some kind people at Boardgamegeek suggested I ask this question here:

I have asked a related question in the past, and did not receive a great answer (I know that it may be because one is not out there).

A good chunk of the real fun of Blood Bowl is in the ongoing development of players, teams, funding, etc.

Is there any way to tap in to this component of the game when you only have two players? Think a husband and wife who like Blood Bowl well enough, but would really like to have a more epic, campaign type of experience that a league brings.

DanielLaw · Post by **DanielLaw** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 6:10 am

You could coach 2-3 teams each in your league to prevent you always having the same match up.

Pil · Post by **Pil** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 8:13 am

That sounds like the best option indeed. A league with only two teams is a lot more boring than just simple one-off games, so more teams per person is the way to go I guess.

TuernRedvenom · Post by **TuernRedvenom** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 8:18 am

Either make a league where both of you have multiple teams, or make one big league and before any game roll who coaches which team. Some find the last option a lot of fun, as you are developing teams that you might be facing later. I find "owning" your own teams preferable though.
Or you could make an account on fumbbl...

Quadrasonic · Post by **Quadrasonic** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 3:04 pm

In a league of two, coaching several teams each is the way to go. I did this with my brothers years ago and we had a good time. Once you have 3 teams each, choose one as your primary team, and occasionally allow your opponent to coach your other teams against you, them with one of your secondary teams, you with your primary. It helps keep things interesting.

Until you each get several teams put together though, you could try messing about with the inducements (perhaps giving both players 200K to spend). Those special play cards add a lot of random wackyness and can be a lot of fun. You might also try creating one-off teams with a certain number of players on each team starting with skills as is done in non-league, resurection tournaments.

But the very best situation would be you two either joining or starting a league of your own with all kinds of other players, teams, stratagies, and play styles. You can use this very website to check for local clubs/leagues or post in the forums your location and desire to meet other players.

Post by **voyagers_uk** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 3:21 pm

Deathwing used to run his league on similar terms (he may still do so)

have a pool of teams and draw the one you will play randomly, have your opponent do the same, and as long as they can play (league set-up rules, no. of times they have faced off etc) then you are good to go.

it also allows you to develop some teams you might not normally play as well as familiarising you with the tactics of all teams you run with.

you could have favourite teams that if they come up in a match up you will play them, but for the most part the randomness and surprise draw will keep things from being stale

Post by **voyagers_uk** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 3:24 pm

doing things that way will also allow you to run 2 different league tables

1 for the teams in question

another for the coaches (assuming you get the occasional visitor)

Roadkill · Post by **Roadkill** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 7:48 pm

I've been doing a two player pbbl (perpetual league) with my wife on fumbbl (play bloodbowl on the computers, eliminates paperwork).

the way we have been doing it is. (because fumbbl doesn't let you use someone else team!)

-both players start with 2 teams,

-teams can only play against eachother if their team rating is with +/- 40 of their oppositon

-they face off vs each other and skill-up (every team playing every other available team in turn) until no more legal games can be played.

-then one player makes a new team (its obvious which player this needs to be by looking at the team ratings).

and the cycle starts again.

I find this system works well with 2 differently skilled players. (I always win against my wife).

The better player will usually get more teams to manage & therefore less games per-team, this helps stop the better players teams running too far ahead in power & games becoming uneven & gives the weaker player some weaker teams to play against & beat on, when a new team has to be made.

we found this better than the control each others non-primary teams and play them against each-other on the board way, because although it was interesting to play a game where one player was preserving both and the other was destroying both teams. It escalated a greater difference in team strength even faster (I can kill lots, she can't).

this is the way we do it & it allows us both to play to win/kill without it ever becoming un-fun. (yes I'm saying this allows you to kill a noobs-teams all day long and they can still have fun!).
But they soon learn when they are having no-punches pulled against them if you give even a little bit of advice!

And the built-in handicap system (in fumbbls lrb4 format for those who know), doesn't really even-up the odds that much & isn't really fun if one player gets them all the time!

stashman · Post by **stashman** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 8:03 pm

If your are going to play on Fumbbl you can play more than just your wife!

Fummbl does'nt come close to real blood bowl with a cold pint of beer in your hand and a good friend on the other side of the table.

Thats blood bowl for me!

On fumbbl it's just timecrash or training!

Magictobe · Post by **Magictobe** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 8:46 pm

I often play boodbowl with the same player.

We have all different races and keep the teams to develop the players. We call it fun league. One brings in a team with a certain Team Value and the other one looks for a team with team value close to the other.

In that way you can develop your teams and have different match ups all the time.

So, it is not a league where you have a ranking but every time you have a different match.

Roadkill · Post by **Roadkill** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:47 am

stashman wrote:If your are going to play on Fumbbl you can play more than just your wife!

Yeh I occasionally do (when I fancy a game & she is not home)(very occasionally).

Fummbl doesn't come close to real blood bowl with a cold pint of beer in your hand and a good friend on the other side of the table.

Yes the other games don't even come close to the enjoyment I get from playing with my wife.