A recent reveal has shocked and delighted fans of Nuffle’s great game – the all-new Gnome team, who will be hitting the gridiron soon! But how exactly do these diminutive deceivers exercise their own unique brand of Blood Bowl? Well, we caught up with Blood Bowl rules writer Jay to get the low-down on these short fellows and their menagerie of woodland creatures.
Jay: A brand-new team for Blood Bowl, Gnome teams are in the Stunty category – teams where the majority of the players have the Stunty trait. Comprising a variety of different Gnome positionals, alongside Woodland Foxes and Altern Forest Treemen, Gnome teams provide a fresh experience for players with their unique mix of Skills and Traits.
While they may seem similar to Halflings at first glance (though I wouldn’t say that to their faces!), they actually play quite differently. Where Halflings are suited to dodging around the opposition, Gnomes are far more aggressive than their Moot-based counterparts, making them the more ‘fighty’ Stunty team.*
Instead of the Dodge skill, Gnomes all come with Jump Up and Wrestle as standard. This makes them great for sacking the ball carrier to take both players down without causing a Turnover. It also helps to protect them from being hit, and potentially even take down their attacker before hopping up on their turn and trotting off with glee!
Gnome Lineman
The bread and butter of any Gnome team, Gnome Linemen are cheap and cheerful. The combination of starting skills can throw a spanner in the works for many opposition players, and coaches will need to be careful when taking on these pint-sized pugilists! If that wasn’t enough, Gnome Linemen also come with Right Stuff, allowing their Treeman team-mates to launch them downfield with the ball, or use them as missiles to take out the opposition!
Altern Forest Treeman
Gnomes are very much at home within the woods and forests of the Old World, and many of their teams will employ the services of a couple of Altern Forest Treemen to add some much-needed power to their line of scrimmage. When not blocking, these bark-covered behemoths can be put to good use with their Throw Team-mate trait to launch Gnomes here, there and everywhere!
Gnome Beastmaster
Gnome Beastmasters are the glue that holds a Gnomish front-line together. As the only player in any team that starts with the exceptional Guard skill, Beastmasters can assist their allies with the help of their furred or feathered friends,** which also give them that extra point of Armour Value over the rest of their team-mates.
Gnome Illusionist
Gnome Illusionists are masters of tricks and illusionary magic, and use their unique skills to confound their opponents. Their brand new trait, Trickster, allows them to reposition when they are about to be hit by a Block Action, potentially removing opposition assists, or even forcing an opponent to follow-up into a disadvantageous position.
Woodland Fox
Perhaps the most surprising player to be part of the Gnome team is the swift and lithe Woodland Fox. With a MA of 7, an AG of 2+, and the Stunty trait, these canny canines can dart through opposition defensive lines with remarkable ease, and with Sidestep they can be incredibly hard to pin down! However, Woodland Foxes also come with the new My Ball trait, which prevents them from willingly giving up the ball, no matter how much they are told to drop it!
What’s Different About Gnomes?
Gnomes bring a lot of fun and whimsy to the gridiron, but they provide a challenge for existing coaches looking to broaden their Blood Bowl horizons. By being different to other Stunty teams, Gnomes fit a niche not yet explored within the game. Their unique combination of Skills and Traits gives the Gnome team their tricksy feel – utilising the Gnome Illusionist alongside the mass of Jump Up and Wrestle will allow players to get around opposition lines, and the Gnome Beastmasters will allow Gnome teams that better chance to go toe-to-toe with other, stronger teams.
When it comes to scoring, Woodland Foxes are your go-to piece. Although they cannot give up the ball, there is something very satisfying about watching a wily fox dart through opposition lines, pick up the ball, and then run into the End zone, no doubt wagging its tail with joy!
It’s also worth noting that although the Gnome team is part of the Halfling Thimble Cup, they are not intended to have access to a cheap Halfling Master Chef – Halflings save their best rates for their own, after all! This will be something that will be addressed in the May Designer’s Commentary, where it will be clarified that only Halfling teams get the discount for Halfling Master Chefs.
Cheers Jay! The Gnome team sounds like a real hoot to play, and we’re sure they’ll show… Gnome mercy… on the pitch. The Gnome team will be available to pre-order soon, so keep an eye on Warhammer Community for more information!
* If you can imagine such a thing!
** Depending on if you prefer Team Badger or Team Goose.