2023 was a vintage season for everyone's favourite sport, so we thought it would be nice to cap off the year by taking a look at all of the Blood Bowl action from the last 12 months.
January
2023 started strong for Blood Bowl fans with the arrival of the Matched Play Guide, a companion for anyone attending a Blood Bowl tournament or gaming weekend. This handy guide outlines everything you need to know about how to run an event for yourself, complete with advice on how to organise a rules pack, scoring, tiebreakers and more – it even has a few ideas for alternative event ideas, like the Stunty Tournament, and new inducements! As well as how to run an event, it also covers important details for event attendees, such as how to spend Skill Points and how to draft a roster for tournament play.
Alongside the Matched Play Guide came the first Star Players of the year – undead cutman Bryce ‘the Slice’ Cambuel, and a diminutive duo of rules-breakers – infuriating prankster Scrappa Sorehead and infamous chainsaw-wielding loony Nobbla Blackwart.
February
This month saw two pairs of stars hit the gridiron. Fresh from the Moot, pastry pitcher Cindy Piewistle joined Puggy Baconbreath to represent the half-pint sized stars of the sport. Then, emerging from Lustria’s secretive spawning pools, twins Dribl and Drull raced onto the field to stab and stomp their way into the spotlight.
March
Spring had well and truly sprung when Withergrasp Doubledrool hit the field, much to the delight of Chaos coaches in search of a hard-to-ignore safety. Withergrasp’s story is one of rags to riches, finding Blood Bowl stardom as one of the best safeties in the sport after being rescued from the woods as a mutated infant. Heartwarming.
May
Ripper Bolgrot has long challenged the idea that all Trolls are as dense as fence posts. This thinking man’s Troll has earned fame on the gridiron for his tremendous right hook and ability to execute complex plays, but he is also renowned for his diligent study of legal texts and historical treaties – an unusual hobby indeed, especially for a Troll!
June
With a plethora of Star Players already unveiled, June brought the Nurgle stalwart Bilerot Vomitflesh from the dugout to take his place on the line of scrimmage. This oversized brawler takes no greater pleasure than smacking his foes into the dirt before regurgitating yesterday’s lunch all over them – yuck!
On a cheerier note, June also heralded the arrival of Blood Bowl's latest alternative game mode – Gutter Bowl! Teams of tavern-dwelling amateurs race through the streets and sewers of the Old World in an effort to recreate the glory of professional Blood Bowl – only without a referee or any real skill…
July
Ivan ‘The Animal’ Deathshroud burst onto the scene this month with a barbaric battlecry and a wild look in his ethereal eyes. The ancient warlord has risen from his tomb to continue his eternal war against his most hated foe – the Dwarfs. Only, this time, he has traded the battlefields of the Old World for the gridiron!
August
Blood Bowl players and coaches alike are all guilty of telling tall tales, but Dark Elf superstar Kiroth Krakeneye is renowned for being the teller of the tallest tales from the deepest oceans! What we know for certain is that, ever since his release earlier this year, Krakeneye has been a favourite amongst Elf coaches needing a boost of speed and a fearsome visage.
September
With spooky season speeding into view, September brought the Vampire team back from the dead – reanimated in plastic for the very first time. As well as dressing to impress, the Vampires came to play, with the reintroduction of the Bloodlust (X+) Trait alongside new Runner, Blitzer, and Thrower positionals – and a new Big Guy, in the form of a terrifying new Vargheist.
Issue 16 of Spike! Journal hit the shelves, filled with delectable new content all to do with Vampires, including new Weather and Kick-off tables, the story of the Drakfang Thirsters and a Pro Playbook, as well as all the usual fixtures like Chat with the Rat and Dirt from the Dugout. The nighttime terrors weren’t finished there however, as we also saw a pair of Vampire stars materialise through the mists and onto the gridiron. A scourge of the high seas, ‘Captain’ Karina von Riesz has played alongside teams from Sartosa to Sylvania throughout her career, making a name for herself as a ruthless cutthroat willing to take a bite out of anyone. As infamous for setting fashion trends as he is for his flawless play on the gridiron, Count Luthor von Drakenborg also received an updated miniature alongside the new Vampire squad. If you need a player with bone-snapping strength, otherworldly agility, and an effortless sense of style, Luthor is a player you can ‘count’ on.
November
As the year drew to a close, we saw the return of some much-beloved cheerleading squads as Made to Order. The Human, Orc, Chaos and Dark Elf cheerleaders will be available to order from 10am GMT on Saturday the 23rd of December until 8am GMT on Tuesday the 2nd of January on a Made to Order basis, so there’s still a chance to put some pep in your team’s step!
What does the 2024 season hold? Only Nuffle (and the Warhammer Studio… ) know for sure, but keep your eyes peeled for some wild new Blood Bowl news in the coming months!
