MaimingIsntEverything

AguidetocoachingChaosDwarfsinBloodBowl

ChaosDwarfsplaytheirownbrandofBloodBowl.TheydonthitashardasChaos,theycant runmethodicalgrindingplayswithasmucheffectivenessastheirDwarfcousins,andthey certainlywontbemistakenforElves.Whattheycandoiscombinesolidlinemen,apairof ungainlywreckingballspeedstersandahandfulofexpendableslavecreaturestocreatea surprisinglyeffectiveteam.Withthisguide,Ihopetoprovidethetoolswithwhichthechosen ofHashutwillcrushtheiropponentsintothepitch. TeamSelection Beforewestartworryingaboutstrategiesandplayeradvancement,weneedtofigureoutwhat yoursquadwilllooklike.AsmuchasIhatetoseecookiecutterteams,Ifeelthatthisisthe mosteffectivestartinglineup: 2BullCentaurs260,000GoldPieces 4ChaosDwarfBlockers280,000GP 5Hobgoblins200,000GP FanFactor550,000GP Rerolls3210,000GP

ApopularvariationinvolvesdroppingtheFanFactorto2andusingthatGoldtotradeoneof theHobbosinforanotherCDBlocker.Iunderstandtheidea,asthisslightlyincreasesthe durabilityandhittingpoweroftheteam.ThisreallyisntworththelossofFanFactor,though, aswinningtheFAMErollsnotonlyofferstheoccasionalonfieldboost,butalsoaddstoyour winnings.WithalittleluckyoucanhaveenoughGoldtobuyafifthBlockerfollowingyourfirst game.YourFanFactor,ontheotherhand,willtakeaminimumofthreegamestobuildupfrom 2to5. Nomatterwhatyouhear(fromsaboteurs,nodoubt)DONOTtakeaMinotaurinyourstarting lineup.Hemaybeabletoblowaholethroughyouropponentsline,butheisjustaslikelyto loseconcentrationandletanenemyballcarrierrunrightpasthimintotheendzone.Foras muchasaMinotaurcosts,youwouldhavetotradeallofyourBlockersinforHobbosorlosea BullCentaur,andtheresnowayaMinoisworththat. Anotherbadideaisstartingwithfewerthanthreererolls.Yourmostagileplayersarestillonly averageballhandlers,andtheydontstartwithanyrerollskills(Pass,Catch,SureHands).This meansyouwillalmostcertainlyneedthreererollseveryhalf.Italsotakesforevertosaveup

forareroll,astheycostdoubleoncetheseasonstarts.Havingtoomanyrerollsissimplynot possibleatthisstageofyourteamscareer.Ifyougambleongoingwithoutrerolls,youre guaranteedtospendwholematchesfumblingtheballaroundyourbackfield,justwaitingfor someWoodElftohopinandstealitfromyou. IveheardofsomecoachesstartingwithoutasingleBullCentaur.Ihavetoassumethisissome sortofjoke,orperhapsamasochisticritual.TheCentaursarewhatmakethisteaminteresting. Youwanttopickupbothofthemrightaway,astheydontgainStarPlayerPointsasquicklyas youmightimagine. BasicStrategies Withallofthevariablesinvolvedinthedifferentracesyoullfaceandtheskillsyouandyour opponentswilleventuallyacquire,itwouldbefoolishtosuggestthatacertainplaywillalways besuccessful.Therefore,Imgoingtoprovideyouwithtwoextremelybasicplays,onefor offenseandonefordefense.Asyourteamchangesandyourcoachingexperiencegrows,you shouldbeabletotailortheseplaystothesituationsandopponentsthatyouface. Defense ThisisthebasicSmashsnoutformation,whichwillserveyouwellinmostsituations: YourthreeBlockersonthelinewilllikelyend upontheground,buttheyshouldsurvive injury,andtheirBlockskillwillincreasethe oddsofyouropponentknockinghimselfover andgivingyouanearlyturnover.The secondarylineofdefenderswillkeepthe enemyfromdodgingthrough,andevenawell placedblitzwillonlyknockasmallhole throughyourdefenses.TheCentaursare theretoactassafeties,blitzinganypotential scorersthatmakeitintoyourhalfofthe pitch.Theyrealsocloseenoughtopounceon anyballthatisturnedoveraroundmidfield. Onsubsequentturns,standyourBlockersupandplacethemnexttoopposingplayersifatall possible.TheideaistoforceyouropponenttohitplayerswithBlockordodgeawayfrom playerswithTackle,andtheBlockersfitthebillforbothofthoserequirements.Keepyour Hobgoblinshandytolendassistsorsnatchupadroppedball.TheCentaurscanbeusedto augmenttheBlockerspress,butbecarefulwiththeirplacement.Highstrengthmeansnothing ifyoureallaloneamongapackofenemies.ItsbesttokeepatleastoneCentauroutofthe scrumandreadytohandleanybreakaways.However,youmustrememberthatCentaursdont startwithBlockorTackle,soitsbettertouseaBlockertoblitztheballcarrier.Nodefenseis impregnable.Theideaistosetupopportunitiesforyouropponenttofail.Iftheotherteam avoidsallofthese,itsnottheendoftheworld.Itjustmeansitsyourturntosetupandhit himback.

Offense ThisisaplayIcallLeftHoofBlack;itsjusta verysimplewedge.Ifyouropponentrunsan asymmetricaldefense,theresnoreasonnot toswitchtheplaytotheright(youjustwont feelassinister).Youshouldstartsetupasso: ThethreemiddleBlockersthrowblocks,with theinsidemanwaitingforanassistandgoing last.TheweaksideHobgoblinrunsbackto covertheball,theremainingBlockermoves diagonallytocoveropponent#4,andthenthe leftmostBullCentaurblitzes#5andthen dropsbackonesquaresothatashortlinecan formaroundhim.Everyoneshiftsleft,except foryourHobgoblininthebackfield,who attemptstopickuptheball.Ifhemanagesto doso,heshouldthenrunasfartothefront andleftaspossiblewithoutcominginrange ofpotentialblitzersfromtheopenside.

Ifallgoesaccordingtoplan,theendofthe turnshouldlooksomethinglikethis: Fromhere,youropponentwillhavetowork hardtoknockdownmorethanoneofyour men(eventhatwontbeasurething),and youllbesettocontinuethepushuptheleft, orshifttothemiddle,dependingonhowthe defensiveplayershavebeenplaced.Youcan leavetheballwiththeoriginalcarrier,orhand itofftoanotherHobgoblin.HaveaCentaur covereachofhisflanks,withsomeBlockers fillingouttherestofthecage.Youshouldbe abletoscoreinthreeturns,providingyou dontseemanySkullsordroppedballs.

BuildingYourTeam Asthewinsstartrollingin,sowillthemoney.Therearethreemainwaystospendit:players, staff,andrerolls.Youmaybeinahurrytoprotectyourplayersthroughthepurchaseofan Apothecary,butthatcanprobablywaituntilyoustartgettingdoublesonskillrollsorareupto afullcomplementofBlockers,whichevercomesfirst.OnceyouhaveallsixBlockersandan Apothecary(thisshouldtakeyou35matches),youshouldconsiderwhatyourteamhasbeen missing.AreyourHobgoblinsgettingknockedoutearly?Buyanextraone.AreOrcsandChaos outbashingyou?PickuptheMinotaur.Doyoufindyourselfblamingyourdiceforeveryloss? Timeforanotherreroll.Itsreallythatsimple. Onceyouhavefourteenplayersandhalfadozenrerolls,youshouldjuststartbankingyour winnings.YouwanttoleaveemptyslotsontherostertotakeStarPlayersandMercenariesas inducementswhenfacinglargerteamsandyoulleventuallyneedsomeofthatgoldtoreplace deadorcrippledplayers. PlayerAdvancements Aswellasaddingplayers,yourteamwillalsobegrowinginexperience.Beingmoredexterous thantherestoftheteam,youwillfindthattheHobgoblinshaveamucheasiertimegaining SPPs.Thisisfine,astheyarethemostimportantplayerstogiveskillstointheearlygame.As timegoeson,however,youshouldconcentrateonearningSPPsforyourotherplayers.Ifyou holdacomfortableleadorareabouttoscoreawinningtouchdown,whynothanditofftoa DwarforCentaurandlethimrunitin?Thechancetogain3SPPsforoneofthoseplayersistoo goodtopassupinasafesituationlikethat.Anothergoodopportunityariseswhenyour opponentmakesthemistakeofsendingtheballoutofboundswithhiskickoff.Youshould absolutelygivetheresultingtouchbacktoaCentaurandlethimrumbleallthewayinfora score. Herearesomeideasastowhichskillssuiteachposition: Hobgoblins WhenyourfirstHobgoblinreceiveshisfirstskill,SureHandsisthebestoption.Ifyoucantpick uptheballinthebackfield,nothingelsereallymatters.Yournexttwoplayerstoskillupshould takeKickandDirtyPlayer.Kickwillallowyoutopinyouropponentdeepinhishalf,andDirty Playerwillgiveyouameansofdealingwithteamsthatwanttododgeawayfromyouevery turn.WithDP,youllatleastbeabletoBlitzoneofthecowardsandthenstomponhisthroat oncehesdown.Hobgoblinsarenotatallresilient,soitsagoodideatohavebackupsforyour importantroleplayers.Therefore,youlleventuallywanttoaddanotherplayerwithSure Hands,aswellasasecondDirtyPlayer.Youcandeveloponeortwointoblitzersbygivingthem BlockandStripBall,andeventuallyWrestle.

Inthecaseofdoubles,yourchoiceofskills willdependonwhattheplayerhasalready gotten(ifanything).IfaplayerhasSure Hands,addAccuratetomakehimintoa reliablepasser.YourDirtyPlayerswillwantto addSneakyGit,tolessentheirchanceof beingejectedfromthegame.Dodgealways helpstokeepHobgoblinsalive.Consider givingoneofthemLeader(Iknow,Iknow,a HobgoblinleadingChaosDwarfsis blasphemy),thiswillallowyoutobuyonelessrerollandkeepyourTeamValuelow. AnystatincreaseiswelcomeforHobgoblins,butinthecaseofdouble5s,Iwouldtakeaskill overincreasedMAorAV. ChaosDwarfBlockers IdividemyBlockersintotwocategories,HoldersandHitters.FourHoldersmanagetheline ofscrimmagewhiletwoHittersgrindthroughtheopposingteam.HolderswilltakeGuardas theirfirstskill,followedbyStandFirm.Fouroftheseguyswillserveasthefoundationforavery strongcageoramenacingdefensiveline.TheHitterswanttotakeMightyBlowrightaway. Followingthis,theycantakeFrenzyorProifyouwanttoincreasethechanceofknocking someonedown,orPilingOnifyourefeelingadventurousandbloodthirsty(andwhywouldnt yoube?).MightyBlow/Claw/PilingOnisaparticularlynastycombo,butyourpreciousmutant (seebelow)wontlastlongifhesspendingmuchtimeontheground. Blockerscanchoosemutationsiftheyrolldoubles,andthatoptionwillbeenticing.YourHitters shouldabsolutelytakeClawondoubles,andTentaclesoraPrehensileTailaredecentchoices forHolders.Agilityskillscanbeatleastasuseful,though,sodontfeellikeyouhavetotakea mutationateveryopportunity.DivingTackleisexcellentforeithertypeofBlocker,andDodge isusefulforanyplayerthatgetshit(meaning:everyplayerinthegame).Oneskillthatis oftenoverlookedisJumpUp.AsslowasBlockersare,askillthatallowsthemtostandupand stilltaketheircompletemovementcanbeincrediblyuseful. *Manyexpertswilltellyoutoalwayspasson anincreaseinMAorAG,optingtotakeaskill instead.Therearesomeinteresting possibilitiesindevelopingsemiagileornot soslowDwarfs,however.Blockersstarttheir careersasfairlywelldevelopedplayers,so thelossofoneskillslotisnttheendofthe world,andanextrasquareofmovementor theabilitytopickuptheballinaclutch situationcancomeinhandyonoccasion.It maynotbethemostsensibledecisiontoacceptthesestatincreases,butdoingsomightleadto somesurprisinglyeffectiveplayers.

BullCentaurs ThemostimportantskillsforBullCentaursareBlockandBreakTackle.Blockallowsthemto actuallyusetheirhighSTtoitsfullpotential,andBreakTacklekeepsyouropponentfromtying themupandkeepingthemawayfromwheretheyneedtobe.Theorderinwhichyoutake theseskillsdoesntmatterthatmuch(Iwouldstartwithoneofeach),buttheyareabsolutely thebaseskillsforyourCentaurs.Oncethoseareoutoftheway,Ibegintospecialize,making oneCentaurintoanoffenseorientedFullback,andtheotherintoadefensiveSafety.Bothare goingtobeonthefieldforoffenseanddefensealike,ofcourse,buteachwillbebuilttoexcel inoneaspectofthegame.TheFullbacksnextskillsshouldbebasedaroundgettingtheballin hishands,andSureHandsandKickOffReturnbothfitthebill.TheSafetyhasmoreoptions,as Tackle,StripBall,Frenzy,andJuggernautareallexcellentskillsforhim. *IfaBullCentaurrollsdoublesearlyinhiscareer(withinthefirstthreerollsonthe advancementchart),hehasessentiallybecomeyourFullbackbydefault.Catch,Dodge,Jump UpandSideStepareallexcellentskillsforanoffensivemindedplayer.FortheSafety,JumpUp, DodgeandDivingTacklecanalsobeuseful,thoughtheskillsmentionedinthepreceding paragraphmaybepreferable.Centaurscannotgetmutations,unfortunately. AnysortofcharacteristicincreaseisahugeboontoaBullCentaur,andallpraisesbetoHashut ifyoumanagetorollone.ACentaurwithaMAincreaseisveryfast,aCentaurwithaST increaseisverystrong,andaCentaurwithanAGincreasecanactuallypickuptheballmore thanhalfofthetime.

MinisbyArashi

Ihopethatsomeoftheideasinthisarticlewillproveusefulforcoachesplanningtotake stewardshipofaChaosDwarfteam.Ihaverecentlyenteredanewleague,andamthusrunning asquadofthemmyself.Joinmenextissue,andIllletyouknowifmyconceptstranslatedinto success.

TheplaybookgraphicsaboveweregeneratedusingMikkelPahlkeFausingsBloodBowlPlayCreatorfoundat: http://www.bloodbowl.net/Resources/PlayCreator/PlayCreator.html)