[Modelling] New to all of it - need some tips please!

[Pockets2020]

Hi

I'm just planning running BB at my local club as another game for people to play

I'm not at all sure what the best demo teams are and/or the size of pitches.

I've just grabbed the rules from the GW site and I'm working through them

Any help would be appreciated!

[Gallows Bait]

I'm not totally sure on the dimensions, but the board is described well in the rules and the squares are sized to fit a standard round GW 25mm base in them. In effect the size doesn't matter so long as there are the right number of squares.

With one exception - the throwing range ruler must be sized to match the board.

Its worth noting as the old 2nd edition polystyrene board vs the newer fold out card board are different sizes and I believe the range rulers for throwing are also as a result, but I haven't checked specifically.

Ebay would likely turn up a few. Or maybe someone will have dimensions better than me.

For teams, it depends what you want to acheive in the demonstration and who is using them. Playing well with teams such as Humans is difficult, but they have a wider range of options than simpler teams - showing off thrower, catcher and blitzer rolls.

But for simpler play, teams such as Orcs are good as they by and large ignore the throwing game and concentrate on bashing and running (slowly).

[Nikolai II]

Originally Posted by Gallows Bait

Its worth noting as the old 2nd edition polystyrene board vs the newer fold out card board are different sizes and I believe the range rulers for throwing are also as a result, but I haven't checked specifically.

The rulers remain the same, but as pitch squares grew, passing distances shrunk.

[Gallows Bait]

Originally Posted by Nikolai II

The rulers remain the same, but as pitch squares grew, passing distances shrunk.

A case of GW letting cost saving affect game design there perhaps - probably had a lot of the plastic rulers still in stock.

[Coach]

The "squares" on the pitch aren't proper squares and they also aren't a uniform size. I don't quite know how they managed to achieve that in the design process.

Iirc if you do a grid of 29mm squares that should be close enough.

The scatter and throw-in templates aren't needed at all and I never use them when I play. You can just draw the scatter template at the side of the pitch and just announce the throw in directions before you roll.

For the range ruler use this table http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4673009/LRB5...g_GreenRef.pdf which will show you the passing range (just count the squares up and over between the players and cross reference the chart). For interceptions if a player is obviously between the passer and the target, then that is easy. Without measuring one I think they are roughly 2" wide, so if you draw an imaginary line from the middle of the passer and target squares, then any opposing players square that partially falls within about 1" either side of said line, they can roll for interception.

Take a look at this custom made pitch (for the recent NAF World Cup). You can see they have the passing chart printed at the side of the pitch along with all the turn / reroll / scoring tracks and dug outs. The scatter directions are written in the middle of the actual pitch, marked around the central square of each half (this is a handy reference to save time finding it when going to place the ball for kick off as well, most players will always kick to the middle square to avoid a touchback).



As others have said, you could try checking ebay, pitches and throwing templates will show up every so often. A lot of leagues and tournaments get custom pitches (like the one above) made up and sell them too. You may be able to track one of those down.

[Pockets2020]

Thanks guys - I'm thinking orcs versus...something else for my demo - I was working on human teams, but if they're a bit tricky to play, I might try that later

So far, all I've managed to achieve is to paint 2 balls and get some prospective coaches on bases.

[Pottsy]

You probably want another bashy team to go against them. Dwarves or Undead maybe.
A dodging team might be good for showing different play styles but the player might get disheartened after a few casualties.

[Netsmurf]

I use this one instead of the strange ruler Interception tool

[Nikolai II]

That passing applet isn't 100% correct for interceptions, since it includes squares where the would-be interceptor isn't closer to both parties than they are to each others.

It's generally using old rules (lightning bolt from sidelines) and the distances are also wrong (it allows 13 squares straight and 3 to the side, while the matrix breaks at 13 straight and 1 to the side. Quick passes are also wrong, so the entire tool is definitely not to be used for ranges).

Personally I use a shorthand list instead of the matrix.

It goes:

Q: 3-1 or 2 diag
S: 6-3 or 4 diag + 1 straight
L: 10-2, 9-4, or 7 diag
B: 13-1, 12-4, 11-6 or 9 diag

Interceptions can usually be managed by common agreement - but having a ruler does help.

[Netsmurf]

Perhaps it uses the old Fumble ranges, dont know about that. But it is very usefull to see if an interception is possible and naturally one must take into account if the would be interceptor is closer or not. Its so second nature to me that I did not think of it