Chess clock in Blood Bowl 3

[zeeb]

Would be better to have choices between 15(1 min), 30(2 min), 45(3 min), 60(4 min) minutes in total for each of the players. This corresponds to the timer we have now (turn * time), but instead of wasting time, each player can use as much of their time as they want during each of their turns. Personal time should only progress during each player's turn. As you may have noted, I haven't taken both rounds into consideration, this is because the old system has static time instead of dynamic. [30 minutes as the new standard]

In case you run out of personal time, you should be given 10 seconds to act during each of your remaining turns.

Last turn should have a 5 minute max timer to prevent the last turn for being griefable.
(Saving all your time to just let the game sit at the last turn)

This also lets players take personal time outs but loses time as a result for upcoming turns.
Another plus is that total game time will be "static", so you can plan accordingly if you have other things to do IRL etc.

I didn't check it up, but I vaguely remember reading somewhere that the Tabletop uses the 'chess clock' system.

If this were to be implemented, it is crucial that animations does not reduce the personal time a coach has

[avaririot]

I've used chess clocks in table top BB. 2-3 minute turns is much more beginner friendly.

[zeeb]

Might be, but hardly many players that play BB are considered beginners.
Since it's a niche game, the influx of new players are rather limited.

Willing to bet that a maximum of 1/10 players in BB3 will be new players.
Not really an audience you want to cater to from a business perspective.

[turnopia]

Originally posted by zeeb:

Might be, but hardly many players that play BB are considered beginners.
Since it's a niche game, the influx of new players are rather limited.

The problem is that the intentions of the designers probably are to avoid the game from being considered a niche game

Originally posted by zeeb:

Willing to bet that a maximum of 1/10 players in BB3 will be new players.
Not really an audience you want to cater to from a business perspective.

I bet that most players that have purchased the game do not even play multiplayer.

[zeeb]

Originally posted by turnopia:

The problem is that the intentions of the designers probably are to avoid the game from being considered a niche game

Indeed. If they want to walk that path they have a tough road ahead of them.

Originally posted by turnopia:

I bet that most players that have purchased the game do not even play multiplayer.

All-time peak of the game on Steamcharts is 6,503 players.
Not a lot of people own the game, but I personally would actually bet that the majority of the player base do play multiplayer. I would go with 2-3/10 that plays SP only.
33% still sounds like a lot.

I'm also judging this based on the current MP leagues in the game with registered players which is well above the current average playerbase of 596 players. Needs to be taken with a bit of salt though since I believe you can register multiple teams in the same league, but still I don't believe most people would register 5 teams at the same one, not counting the official ones of course.

But we're going a bit off-topic here, in any case do you have any input on using a 'chess clock' in Blood Bowl 3 instead of the turn timer we have in Blood Bowl 2?

[turnopia]

I think it is a good idea indeed. It becomes quite distressing if you drain the time pool too early, but even this could be fun.

I remember that the first Space Hulk videogame (back in 1993) have a time pool bar like this.

Maybe a mixed system could be lmore forgiving, having 1 min of static time every turn and a 15 min pool to use when needed.

[zeeb]

I just thought about that, 10 seconds ago and was going to edit my post.
As in, if you're out of personal time, you get at least 10 seconds during each remaining turn so you can at least move your pieces somewhat.

I believe adding the 'chess clock' system to Blood Bowl 3 would provide with deeper gameplay in the form of resource management. It does take skill to make quick and smart decisions, it also improves the coaches outside the game. Like a sort of brain gymnastics.

Personally I feel that 1 minute is too much, unless you use your personal time.
1 minute is an awful long time to make ones decisions, imo the game should be played with using the opponents turn to strategize and a little bit of your own. It makes the game much more mentally demanding as a turn-based multiplayer strategy game should be.

The alternatives I provided with the "30 minute" standard more or less gives the player 1~ minute turns throughout the game. [1 * 16 * 2 = 32]
With the 60 minute option resulting in the now standard 2 minutes.
But since it's dynamic you will have more time, since not all turns in the game needs 1 minute. In some turns you might only need 10-30 seconds, just to move pieces slightly.

[turnopia]

Originally posted by zeeb:

Originally posted by turnopia:

I bet that most players that have purchased the game do not even play multiplayer.

All-time peak of the game on Steamcharts is 6,503 players.
Not a lot of people own the game, but I personally would actually bet that the majority of the player base do play multiplayer. I would go with 2-3/10 that plays SP only.
33% still sounds like a lot.

Returning to this question, the official twitter has asked about this and it seems that the option to solo play is above multiplayer -and it is assumed that the official twitter channel is followed by BB fans.
https://mobile.twitter.com/BloodBowl_Game/status/1310556598562107395

being an online gamer myself, gives food for thought about what really sells this kind of games...

[zeeb]

Wow, I was willing to bet a nut on my statement, glad I didn't. (Now I get to keep both)
Never would've thought to be honest.

Good find, I yield.

[Moffin Bovin]

i think that's a great idea. sometimes you really do want to take 3- 4 minutes to think and plan out something complicated, but you don't want to die of old age before the game is over by giving both players 4 minutes every turn.

plus, it would encourage people to take fast turns and not run out the turn timer every turn.

[burning.phoneix]

Originally posted by zeeb:

Wow, I was willing to bet a nut on my statement, glad I didn't. (Now I get to keep both)
Never would've thought to be honest.

Good find, I yield.

The majority of the people who bought the game are single player gamers who I will bet are new to the game. I know I was introduced to Blood Bowl via Blood Bowl 2. (I had Blood Bowl Chaos Edition but never played it) and I know friends who have the same background.

In fact, go to the Steam achievements for the game. The achievement for beating the first mission of the campaign is completed at 73.5% rate by owners. The achievement for playing ONE multiplayer match is 27.2%. (Incidentally, the achievement for completing the campaign is only achieved by 10% of all players) Most people play against AI because they don't have the time for multiplayer leagues or are too intimadated by competitive play.