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)