DO NOT BUY THIS GAME

[Kryptography]

If you are a fan of action based sports games.

This is an accurate recreation of a turn-based board game with very wonky, esoteric rules which frankly is not in any way well designed and doesn't play well even as a board game.

The theme is great, but it is not fun to play, even if you like turn-based games, and especially not if you're expecting anything like a "madden with Orks" or something. Really this game is best avoided.

[CyMonk]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_bowl

there are no "esoteric" rules but i agree the game has a steep learning curve.

and the community is still thriving. you can't say that about many games that are 25 years old.

[Chop]

Bit unfair to make such a general damning critique of this game when you don't even fully explain how its "not in any way well designed and doesn't play well even as a board game" nor why, in your view, its not fun to play.

Blood Bowl is certainly a niche game and will not appeal to everyone due to its very nature as a turn based strategy game, never mind fantasy meets American football with Rugby. But if you're going to share your views, at least explain why you hold them, rather than just make a statement.

Also to echo CyMonk: While Blood Bowl will never reach the phenonemal echelons of Blizzard entertainment or Riot, it has lasted the test of time due to, in my opinion, quality as a game and a very solid and surprisingly open fan base. There is after all, a very good reason it has lasted for 25 years. I like to see Blood Bowl as the humble niche franchise in the corner which won't necessarily reach international levels of popularity, but will continue on soundly due to its quality, fun, charm and diversity as a strategy game.

[TotesEichhorn]

BloodBowl is BloodBowl.
If you do not like the boardgame, why bother with playing the pc version of it?
And in addition, the java based fumbbl has also been around a while, and I am more than pleased seeing the game in a somewhat more appealing look, and with quite okay game mechanics in this way.
Yes, there is a reason why people like it even after 25 years.

[Typhoon]

I agree this game has a massive learning curve but it is a load of fun once you understand whats what but be prepared for your players to die its going to happen :)

[Mumbles]

if youre a fan of action bses sports games --> or a dumb sucker who enjoys handing $60 out to EA every year for the same game you could beat with you're eyes closed - of course you shouldn't be playing a game that requires brains and a sense of humour!

[Segovax]

This is like telling people not to eat pizza because cheese sucks.

[Damo]

if you dont like it dont play it other people like it i guess it just too hard for you.

[Kryptography]

Listen, I'm sorry if you get mad when people don't like something you like, but the ads are pretty deceptive, and while I'm very familiar with Bloodbowl from the world of table top games, other people who aren't could easily buy it thinking that it's an action-based game, like a Madden.

I understand that this game works for some people, but it is certainly not for everyone, and people are entitled to be told what the game actually is before they buy it, which is what I'm doing.

[Chop]

I would think this thread would be fine if your opinions were properly layed out and explained rather than simply saying "its not fun". I find it quirky how quite a few people on forums fail in some important English rules, particularly regarding full explanations or supporting of claims. You say "The theme is great, but it is not fun to play, even if you like turn-based games, and especially not if you're expecting anything like a "madden with Orks" or something. Really this game is best avoided."

Three statements. Zero expansion or support why you think this. It would be like me saying "Don't get Bioshock Infinite. Its alright but the mechanics are bland and the gameplay is dry and I would not recommend it". Not very helpful is it?

No person with an ounce of independence is going to read your post and say "He says this is a bad game, it MUST BE true!" as you have absolutely no expalantion why you think of it in that way. Anyone with a bit of a brain would have looked up a video to get a first glimpse of the game anyway and with such a summarized er..opinion, of the game, you aren't even telling them why they shouldn't get it or how it isn't fun, so the thread is rather null and fails in what it was trying to do which was to discourage others buying it.

[Ohbal]

I did never play the board game, but I took my time to read about what this game was about, watched a few videos, and decided to buy it. In my opinion, the game is great! Loads of fun! Can't imagine how you got yourself surprised... I can't see false marketing anywhere! :)

[Harbinger]

This is why Blood Bowl is called a 'specialist game' by Games Workshop. It is hard to learn and can be very frustrating at times but that comes with the fun. In a way the deaths and injuries are very similar to other sports mangment games. When writing a review on a game like this i think its very important to note. One key death can have drastic effects to your seson and really tests your ability to win matches.

[Harbinger]

Also dude your talking about action sports games. If you've gone in thinking that then of course your not gona like it. It is a 'sport' but far from anything else that is 'sporty'. Plus its turn based (or in my opinion should only be played turn based as was intended)

[Alexandria]

blood bowl is a great game its just really diffuicult and takes a while to learn but besides that it is a good game its just not for everybody

[ArgentumEmperio]

I'm kinda new as well to the Blood Bowl scene but I can tell you this much at once after having watched a few videos and listened to folks who explained the game like this:

Blood Bowl by Cyanide is a very buggy game with poor explaination of the rules and mechanics of the game. But the gameplay once you have figured out all of these mechanics and more to the point remember them when you take the dice roll is extremely fun and thanks to an individual character progression by each player - something that existed in the boardgame and very well have transfered over to the PC.
The rules are extremely well thought out and works well all together (considering that there's quite a few mechanics and upgrades you can have happen to the field and the players themself) however, due to some bugs in the game they can time to time seem kind of random instead of the risk manangement that the game (boardgame and PC) has to offer.

If you want something like "Football with Orks!" then you won't get as much "Football" than what you will get "Orks!" in the sense that "Orks Go SMAAASH!", but that doesn't mean that the sports aspect of the game is lesser than the fantasy world that is provided by GamesWorkshop in Cyanides game.

And considering that the Warhammer world itself is quite a violent one, one really can't assume anything less from any game in this universe.

Summery: the PC-port of the game itself is a buggy mess with weird design choices made by Cyanide, however the amount of sheer tactics and strategy that is provided thanks to the game being Blood Bowl the boardgame makes the game very fun to play but can time to time be off-putting to the player because of the PC-port.

(Personal note: I love the game with all my heart but hell the matches takes either 1-2 hours unless you play with 02:00-turn times makes it more stressful and alot more hilarious with mistakes and successful plays working the way you want to!)

[bondKI]

Blood Bowl is a fantastic game and just because you suck at it doesnt mean that its bad.