Questing for the Grail

TheBretonnianteamhasbeenalongtimeinthemaking,alittleover10yearswasspent developingandtestinguntilwehadtheversionweallknowandlovetodaywellIloveit, henceitiswithenthusiasmthatIvewrittenaplaybookforthem. Thisismyfirstplaybook,sobearwithmeifIrepeatmyselforgooffonatangent. Aboutme:IhavebeenplayingBloodBowlsincetheboardwasmadeofgreyStyrofoamso whenIfirstlaidmyeyesontheproudknightsofBretonniaitwasrefreshingtoseeateam thatincludedtwoofthenewskillsinitsstartinglineup.Thismorethananythingiswhat motivatedmetotryouttheteamformyself,anditcanhavealastingimpactontheskill choicesofyouandyourleaguemates. Butwhyshouldyouplaythisteam?WhatdoesitofferthannootherBloodTeamcandeliver? Wellreadonandyoumightgetinspired,oryoumaynot,buteitherwayyoumightpickupa trickortwowhetheryouutilizethemplayingyourownBretonniateamorplayingagainst themdoesntreallymatter,aslongasyourehavingfunmaimingandscoringinthenameof Nuffle. ThisplaybookwillfocusonhowtoplayanddevelopaBretonnianteaminthestyleI personallyprefertoplayBloodBowl.Thereareproperlymanyotherwaystogetthemostof yourBretonnianteam;thisisjustmyviewofhowdothings,andsofaritsworkoutrather well. OneofthethingsthatkeepsonimpressingmeabouttheteamishowwelltheBretonnians canholdtheirown,beitfacingthemightyOrcs,thewildsoftheChaosorthespeedofthe Elfs,theteamhasvalidoptionstocounterthem.Eitherwithplaystyleorskillchoices,thatall dependsonthepreferenceofthecoachplayingtheteam. PersonallywhenIdevelopaBretonnianteamItendtotryandbuildittocounterthestronger slowerteams,butthatsjustmesinceIdislikegettingmyteambashedintopiecesonthe field,Iprefertotryandfightback.

Introductionsaside,letshavealookattheteamroster

BRETONNIA TEAMS
In the fair land of Bretonnia questing for the Blood Bowl trophy is as honourable as questing for the grail itself. Bretonnian nobles and their trusty yeomen hone their skills in the court-leagues, until they are finally ready to quest for the magnificent grail known as the Bloodweiser Trophy. Qty Title Cost MA ST AG AV Skills Talent Fend 0-16 Linemen 40,000 6 3 2 7 G Block, Catch, 0-4 Blitzers 120,000 8 3 3 8 GS
Dauntless Wrestle 0-4 Yeomen 70,000 6 3 3 8 GS Re-roll counter: 60,000 gold pieces each Star players available for inducement: Dolfar Longstride 150K, Willow Rosebark 150K, Mighty Zug 260K, Zara the Slayer 270K, Griff Oberwald 320K, Morg 430K

Asyoucanseethecoreoftheteamarethe4BlitzersorasIllcallthemfromnowonthe Knights.Noknightiscompletewithoutasquirehencetheteamincludes4Yeomentohandle theirknightsamour,tendhishorseandotherstuffbeneaththenoticeofaBretonnian nobleman. Ohyesletsnotforgetthepeasants(Linemen),leviedfromtheappallingallpeasantteams thattarnishBretonniasreputation.Persuaded(orforced)intoaBloodBowlkit,theyare mostlyusedforrunningaroundthefieldinapaniccreatingconfusing,thusmakingiteasier fortherealplayers,theknights,todotheirjob. ApartfromthecomicalrepresentationofthefeudalsocietyofBretonnia,thisteamsetuphas arealsynergythatmakesitperformwellonaBloodBowlfield.Understandingthissynergyis oneofthekeystosucceedingwithaBretonnianteam. Foryourstartingroster,Irecommendthislineup: Qty Type Cost 4 Blitzers(Knights) 480k 4 Yeomen(Squires) 280k 3 Linemen(Peasants) 120k 2 ReReroll 120k 0 FanFactor 0 Thiswillgiveyouaverystrong100TeamValueteam.Thedownsideisthezeroinfanfactor butthatseemstobethenormfornewteamsandmoreimportantlylackinganapothecary. DontloseaKnightuntilyouhavehiredonanapothecary!ThisisariskbutoneIwould personallyrun,unlessofcauseyoureplayinginaleaguewherestartingoverisntallowed,or perhapsasanewteaminanestablishedleague. Asmentionedthefirstthingyoushoulddoishireanapothecary.Usehimontheknightsyou willwanttokeeptheseguysupandrunning,sotosay.Thenpickupsomemorepeasantsto fillupyourranksandwhenyougetachance2ormaybe3Rererollsmore. Itendtofilluptherosterwith16players,sinceIdontcaremuchfortheStarplayerstheteam hasaccessto.Theyhavesomegoodonceforsure,likeZug,buttheydonthavethatcheap starnorachainsawandthatsadrawbackforsure,soItendtorelyonmyownplayers,andif IdoneedtospendinducementsaWizardorBabesareveryhandytoolsforthisteam.

Whatskillcombinationtouse? Beforewecantalkaboutwhatskillstopickfortheteam,letshavealookwhattheteam alreadyhas,oneofthestrengthsoftheteamisthatithas4blockplayersand4wrestle playersrightoutofthebox,thismeansyouwillhavetomakeveryfewunsafeblocksandyou arefreetofocusyourskillchoicesonotherthings.Theteamalsohas8positionswitha naturalaccesstostrengthskills,youshouldusethistogetasmuchguardaspossibleearlyon, allowingyoutodominatetheweakerteamsandincombinationwithfourdauntlessplayers keepupwiththestrongteams.Butletsgothrougheachposition,oneatatime.

TheKnights
MA 8 ST 3 AG 3 AV Skills 8 Block, Catch, Dauntless

Withhisstatsandskillsandaccesstothegeneralandstrengthskillcategory,theKnightisone ofthebestblitzersplayersintheentireBloodBowluniverse,andyouhavenotonlyonebut fourofthematyourdisposal.WhenbuildingyourteamyouwillwanttomaxyourSPPon thesefourplayers,forwhiletheycantcarrytheirteamallbythemselves,theycancomevery close.Acommonmistakeistothinkofthemascatchers,becauseoftheircatchskill.Theyare not!TheyareBlitzerswhocancatchtheballifneeded. ThisiswhatyourKnightsshouldaimfor: Youshouldconstructatleasttwoofyourknightsasbashers,givingthemalltheskillsthey needforthis,personallyIprefertobuildthemlookingsomethinglikethis: Onewith:MightyBlow,Pilingon,Frenzy,Tackle,Juggernaught Andonewith:MightyBlow,Pilingon,Tackle,Guard,Grab Asfortheothertwo,oneshouldhaveSureHandsbuthowtheyenduplookingdependson whatstatstheyget,andhowyourcurrentleaguelooks. ThisishowyoushouldbuildyourKnights: Ifthe1stskillisanormalskill,thenalwayspickMightyBlow. Ifthe1stskillisadoubleskill,pickdodgeandofcourseacceptanyStatIncrease(MA+over AV+). Forthe2ndskill,ifitsanormalskillandfirstskillwasalsonormalthenyouhaveyourfirst basherKnight!GoforPilingOn,followingwithalltheotherjoyfulbasherskillsasdescribed above.IfthefirstskillwasadoubleoraStat,thiswillproperlybeyouSureHandsKnight. Ifthe2ndskillisadoubleskillorStatIncreaseandthefirstskillwasanormalskill,thenthereis anoptiontoturnthisKnightintotheSureHandsKnightonthis3rdskillup. Ifthe2ndskillisadoubleskillorStatIncreaseandthefirstskillwasalsoadoubleorStat,then thisshouldinalllikelihoodbecomeyourSureHandsKnight. RememberyouonlyneedoneSureHandsKnight!! Tosumitup,ifyouendupwithtwoKnightswithbasherskillsandoneKnightwithSureHands thatalsohasaStatandordodge,thenyougotitright. ThefourthKnighttendstoendupasautilityKnight,givehimstufflikeGuardandTackle.

TheYeomen
MA 6 ST 3 AG 3 AV Skills 8 Wrestle

EverygoodKnightneedsayeoman,soitgoeswithoutsayingthattheBretonnianteam includesfourYeomentofetchtheball,clearapathfortheirliege,polishhisarmourandspit shinehisboots.Thisishardwork,sobesideaccesstogeneralskillstheYeomenalsohas accesstothestrengthskillcategory,andthisiswhatmakesthemapowerfulasset. TherearemanywaystobuildyourYeomen,somecoachesfavourtheideaofturningthem intothrowers,witheasyaccesstoStrongArmyoureonlyadoubleawayfromhavingaSure Hands,StrongArm,Passplayerforjust3skills.Coacheswhofavourthisidea,areproperlythe consideringtheKnightsasmoreofacatcherthanIdo!Ormaybetheywantall4knightsin thethickofthefightingriskingputtingtheballonalesserplayer. PersonallyIwouldonlygettemptedtomakeaYeomanthrowerifthefirstskillwasAG+and thesecondskillwasadoublesoIcouldpickpass,thenandonlythenwouldIbetempted.... maybe. TheprimaryskillforanyYeomanisGuard.IamtemptedtosaythatyourYeomenonlyneed thisoneskill.AYeomanwithGuardonlyadds90Ktotheteamvalue,andthatisaverygood deal.IfyouhavetoskillthemupbeyondthefirstskillyoucangoforstufflikeMightBlowto buffuptheslayingpowerofyourteam,IknowmanypreferStandFirmandthatisforsurean option,IjustpersonallypreferMightyBlow. AlsoitsanideatohaveabackupSureHandYeoman,incaseyourSureHandsKnightgoes downearlyoninthegame,andyouwouldbesurprisedhowoftenitcomesinhandytohave aSureHandsplayeraroundindefence.Tackleisalsogoodifyoureplayinginadodgeheavy league,andondoubles,Dodgeisprettyhandy.Afterall,losingafewYeomenwillmakethe workthatmuchharderontheKnights. Justkeepinmind,Guardfirst,andthentherestisjustfluff. Andthisbringsusto....

ThePeasants AccesstothegeneralskillsandwiththefollowingStats,
MA 6 ST 3 AG 2 AV Skills 7 Fend

YesIknowwhatyourethinking;thelinemenoftheBretonnianteamarecrapinlackofa betterword,andwhohaseverheardofthisFendskill,sigh...Theylooklikesheepforthe slaughter.Whilethismaywellbetrue,yourPeasantsareavitalpartofyourteam,andwhen usedintherightway,theycanbequitehandy. Atfirstglancetheysuredontlooklikemuch,dothey?Butdontunderestimatethem,fora priceof40.000theyareneitherslownorweak.Theyarehoweversquishyanddontgo gettingideasofanykindofballhandling. Sowhatgoodarethey?Wellfirstoff,ifyoumanagetoskilloneup,thenyouhaveacheap dirtyplayer,thatcanaddthatlittleextrakicktotheheadwhenaKnightfailstosendthat importantWardancerintotheCASbox. PersonallyIprefertopickBlockasthefirstskill.YoucanthenpickDirtyPlayerorKickasthe secondskill.DoublesshouldgotowardsaddingmoreGuardtoyourroster. PeasantsarealsooneofthefewplayersintheBloodBowluniversewhereitsworth consideringgoingfortheAV+onarollof10,ifitsnotadoubleandhealreadyhasblock. SohowdoyouuseyourPeasantsonthefield? ThepowerofyourPeasantsisintheirFendskill!Isntfendjustforholdingbackthosenasty killingmachineswithFrenzyandPilingOn?!Wellyesbutitisalotmorethanthat. WhatyouneedtoknowaboutFendisthatyouropponentscantfollowuponyourPeasants. Well,duh,thatswhattheskilldescriptionsays,butwhatitreallymeansisthatifyour opponentblocksyourPeasanthewontleavethesquareheiscurrentlyin.Thisgivesyoua powerfultoolincontrollingpitchposition.APeasantcanpinaplayerinhisplace,andyou knowthatifhedecidestoblockyourPeasant,hewillstillbestandinginthesamespotaslast turn,andifthePeasantamourdoesnotbreakafterheisblocked,hewillprobablybefreeto moveandpinanotherplayer.WithFend,youcanreallyjamupyouropponentsrunninglanes withhisownplayers!Inshort:Dontbescaredtomovethemuptoyouropponentsplayers, worstcaseyouneedtogooutinthefieldandpersuadesomeotherPeasanttotakeonthe bloodyuniform.

HowtoplayoffenceanddefencewithaBretonnianteam IconsidertheBretonnianteamarunningteam,andagoodoneatthat.Havingfourplayers withMA8andcatchwillallowyousomeveryfastlanechangesandscoringthattwoturn touchdownisntallthatdifficult. Offenceissimple,gettheballonyourSureHandsKnight,takeeightturnstogrinddownyour opponentsteamandthenrunitinfortheTouchdown.Thisifofcausenotalwaysanoption, especialnotifyoureplayingagainstastrongteamwithlotsofguardandbasherskills,then thistacticmightsuddenlyresultyoubeingdown23players,andifthishappensthingscan starttoturnuglyfast. Whenplayingthestrongteam,tryandusethefactthatyourteamwillprobablybefaster, spreadyouropponentsplayersout,usefendtokeephislanesblocked,movearoundand makehimchaseyou.Thiswillgeteasierwithtimewhenyoulearntoutilizetheteaminyour ownway.Alwaystryandplayitsafe,withalotofAV7andAV8onthefieldthedrivecanturn onyouveryfast,soalwaystryandbeinapositionwhereyoucangoforthetouchdownifyou needtobringonsomereserves. IfthisplaystyleistoboringforyouoryourlookingtomakealotofSPP,thenjustposition yourknightswithinreachoftheendzone(nothardwithMA8)andthengoforahandoffto whateverknightisntinfullcoverage. Defencecanbeabittrickier,youdonthaveplayersthatcanmakespectacularleapsandsack theballhandlerorotherfancystuffandifyoureupagainstabashyteam,youmightvery wellbeheadedintoastallgrindyourself.SowhatIliketodoistryandspreadmyopponent thin.Dontbescaredtogivehimarunattheendzone,justapplypressurethateitherforces himtomakeamistakeorgoforatouchdown,thatwilleithergiveyouachancetoplay offenceorcausehimtomakeafumbleandyoucanthenrecover.Avoidsituationswherehe canjustwalkitslowlyintotheendzoneineightturn,soapplypressurearoundtheball,try andforcethatcriticalturnoverorthetouchdownthatwillgivetheballbackintothecapable handsofyourknights. Remember!Thebiggeststrengthoftheteamisalsoitsweakness,theKnights.Ifyoure unluckyenoughtoloseoneortwoofthemearlyoninthegame,itsgoingtobeverytoughto holdyourown.Soalwaystrytoprotectthemearlyoninthegame,anddonotgoaround givingawayfreeblocksonthem.AV8isfartoosquishyandyourKnightsarefartooimportant foryoutoriskarandomCASonthem. Asthegamegoesonyouwillbeabletojudgewhenitstimetocommitthemintothefraybut inthestartofthegameitsbettertohaveyouropponentspendingtimechasingthemdown ratherthanhandingoutfreeblock. OverallIthinktheBretonnianteamisamediumstrongteamifIwasforcedtorankitagainst theotherteamsoutthere,Iwouldputitintothelowerpartofthetop10teams.Iguessit dependsonyourleaguesformat,ifyouhavealeaguewithonlystronghardhittingteamsI doubttheKnightswillperformverywell,itdoesnottakemorethanaMISSortwoonsome Knightsbeforeyoureinaspiralofbadgames.Ontheotherhand,ifyourleagueisdominated byfastpassingteams,yourKnightswillshine,sinceitsoneofthebestelfhunterteamsthere is,withMA8ontheirbasherplayers,thereisnowheretohide! TheTeamplaysalotdifferentthananyotherteamIhavetried,andIstronglyrecommend everyonetotryitoutforthemselves.

ThisisallIcouldthinkoffornow,Ihopeyouhaveafuntimeplayingwithoragainstthe proudKnightsofBretonnia,itsagreatadditiontotheteamlist,andIhopeonedaytoseeit asanofficialteam,becauseittrulydeservestobejustthat. KindRegards Niebling