Blood Bowl Companion (1990) Board Game

The Blood Bowl Companion is an expansion for the popular fantasy sports board game Blood Bowl. Released in 1990, it was designed by Chris Baker, Carl Critchlow, and Pete Knifton, and published by Games Workshop Ltd. The game is set in a fantasy world where different races compete in a brutal and bloody version of American football.

Game Components of Blood Bowl Companion

Rulebook: Introduces new or changed rules, including kickers, referees, cheerleaders, rerolls, fans, weather, magic, magic items, new balls, secret weapons, and traps.

Additional Teams and Players: Expands on the existing teams and introduces new star players and team backgrounds.

Game Accessories: Includes various tokens, counters, and possibly new dice or templates to enhance gameplay.

How To Setup Blood Bowl Companion

Setting up Blood Bowl Companion involves integrating its new rules and components into the existing Blood Bowl game. This includes reading through the new rules, adding the new miniatures and accessories to your collection, and incorporating the new elements such as kickers, referees, and magic items into your gameplay. The setup time can vary, but it generally adds to the initial setup time of 4-10 minutes for the base game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Objective: Score more touchdowns than your opponent by entering the opponent’s end zone with a player who possesses the ball.

Gameplay Mechanics:

Dice Rolling: Uses standard d6s, d8s, and a special blocking dice for determining the outcomes of player actions.

Violent Actions: Players can attempt to injure or maim the opposition to reduce their numbers and ease scoring.

Team Management: Includes managing star players, creating custom teams, and using various skills and abilities.

Additional Elements: Incorporates elements like weather, magic, and secret weapons to add variety to the game.

Player Experience

Playing Blood Bowl with the Companion rules adds a new layer of complexity and excitement. The game becomes more dynamic with the introduction of new rules, characters, and gameplay elements. Players need to balance strategy and probability, making each game unique and challenging. The game’s blend of American football and rugby, combined with the fantasy setting and violent actions, creates a unique and engaging experience.

Pros

Enhanced Gameplay: Introduces new rules and elements that add depth and variety to the game.

Increased Replayability: With new teams, players, and game mechanics, the game becomes more replayable.

Richer Theme: Expands the background and lore of the Blood Bowl universe.

Community Engagement: Encourages community participation with new star players and team customization.

Cons

Complexity: Adds more complexity to an already rule-heavy game, which can be daunting for new players.

Cost: Requires additional investment for the companion book and possibly new miniatures and accessories.

Learning Curve: Requires players to learn new rules and mechanics, which can be time-consuming.

Personal Thoughts on Blood Bowl Companion

The Blood Bowl Companion is ideal for seasoned Blood Bowl players looking to add more depth and variety to their gameplay experience. It is not recommended for new players due to its added complexity and the need to first understand the base game. For fans of strategy, probability, and fantasy sports, this expansion can significantly enhance the enjoyment of Blood Bowl. However, it may not be the best choice for those seeking a simple, introductory game.

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