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2009-03-06 20:56:13
31 votes, rating 3.5
31 votes, rating 3.5
Just a little rant
A comment directed at me in chat the other day has me once again up on my soap box. Before I say anything, let me qualify for all the knee jerkers out there, these are my opinions, nothing more. I deny no one the right to play the game as they see fit.
Someone mentioned that with two initial losses, I'd be changing my mind about giving my players DP, (yes, it's another DP rant, bear with me guys).
It brought me back to the first days we in our league decided to switch to lrb4. We knew from having looked it over that there were some great improvemenst to the game, with some work still needing to be done. The most glaring hole we found was the obvious ability to DP everything in sight and turn the league into the killing fields. So in my limited wisdom as Commish, I approached each coach in turn, and asked them if they would agree to limit the number of players on their teams with DP to x, and what did they think x should be. It worked a like a charm, no one felt gipped that they couldn't have more than 3 dp's on their team at any one time, and the league had a great season.
When I attended a tournament in Toronto that year, I was astounded by how many of the coaches out there, who were otherwise pretty bright guys, had, in their home leagues, seen runaway fouling and dp, to the point where four of the guys I chatted with were seriously considering ebaying their BB stuff and giving it up. One young guy I knew from a previous tournament was there playing 40k, and I asked him why he wasn't there for BB. He told me that as soon as figured out how to beat the game, it just wasn't fun anymore. I almost sat there and cried.
This game of ours is about cool minis, laughs over the table or internet with people we like, and enjoy being around. It's about the razzle dazzle plays, and the hopeless double ones. The rent money is not riding on the result of this game. The only thing you are likely to win is some bragging rights among a group of game geeks. So why are so many of what are supposed to be intelligent intellectual people, so willing to suck every bit of fun from this hobby.
We are commonly accepted as the bright lights of society. Hobby gamers tend to work in the sciences and in computers, and tend to be the more intelligent members of society. (Elitist Bastard, aren't I?). The point is that we are the ones who are supposed to know better, the ones who are supposed to solve the problems. And yet, like every other dirty unwashed ape on this planet, we fall to our lowest common denominator. Da Roolz ses I can.
I'm getting down off my soap box, I've had my say, right or wrong. It's what I believe. I wont dodge matches, or complain when I get fouled, and I'll still hunt wardancers like the pansy little wussies they are. No one is taking my fun from me, no matter how well or poorly they play.
Thanks for listening
Someone mentioned that with two initial losses, I'd be changing my mind about giving my players DP, (yes, it's another DP rant, bear with me guys).
It brought me back to the first days we in our league decided to switch to lrb4. We knew from having looked it over that there were some great improvemenst to the game, with some work still needing to be done. The most glaring hole we found was the obvious ability to DP everything in sight and turn the league into the killing fields. So in my limited wisdom as Commish, I approached each coach in turn, and asked them if they would agree to limit the number of players on their teams with DP to x, and what did they think x should be. It worked a like a charm, no one felt gipped that they couldn't have more than 3 dp's on their team at any one time, and the league had a great season.
When I attended a tournament in Toronto that year, I was astounded by how many of the coaches out there, who were otherwise pretty bright guys, had, in their home leagues, seen runaway fouling and dp, to the point where four of the guys I chatted with were seriously considering ebaying their BB stuff and giving it up. One young guy I knew from a previous tournament was there playing 40k, and I asked him why he wasn't there for BB. He told me that as soon as figured out how to beat the game, it just wasn't fun anymore. I almost sat there and cried.
This game of ours is about cool minis, laughs over the table or internet with people we like, and enjoy being around. It's about the razzle dazzle plays, and the hopeless double ones. The rent money is not riding on the result of this game. The only thing you are likely to win is some bragging rights among a group of game geeks. So why are so many of what are supposed to be intelligent intellectual people, so willing to suck every bit of fun from this hobby.
We are commonly accepted as the bright lights of society. Hobby gamers tend to work in the sciences and in computers, and tend to be the more intelligent members of society. (Elitist Bastard, aren't I?). The point is that we are the ones who are supposed to know better, the ones who are supposed to solve the problems. And yet, like every other dirty unwashed ape on this planet, we fall to our lowest common denominator. Da Roolz ses I can.
I'm getting down off my soap box, I've had my say, right or wrong. It's what I believe. I wont dodge matches, or complain when I get fouled, and I'll still hunt wardancers like the pansy little wussies they are. No one is taking my fun from me, no matter how well or poorly they play.
Thanks for listening
Comments
Posted by pythrr on 2009-03-06 22:28:40
Pixel hugger.
Seriously though, the game is a bit of fun and a laugh - if people can't handle their imaginary players getting hurt, then I think they are taking the whole thing a little too seriously... Does one get annoyed in Axis&Allies when someone kills their Battleship? Oh noes, woes is me...
Seriously though, the game is a bit of fun and a laugh - if people can't handle their imaginary players getting hurt, then I think they are taking the whole thing a little too seriously... Does one get annoyed in Axis&Allies when someone kills their Battleship? Oh noes, woes is me...
Posted by Plorg on 2009-03-06 23:06:24
If you make broad declarative statements on "what the game is about" or "what is fun", then you will find that not everyone agrees with your personal subjective conclusions.
Posted by Zombie69 on 2009-03-06 23:27:35
Your main mistake is thinking that dirty player is overpowered. Actually it's not, and unless you're playing something like undead or khemri, having more than 3 dirty players on your team actually makes it weaker than if you had selected other skills instead. When you realize that, is when you'll change your tune.
Posted by SillySod on 2009-03-06 23:42:28
"He told me that as soon as figured out how to beat the game, it just wasn't fun anymore."
This is pretty much the thing that I disagree with, DP does not make BB easy and far from dominates the game. Actually you could probably argue the opposite - it makes the game harder because its another important factor that you have to think about, especially when positioning. I find it pretty funny that the guy that said that had moved on to 40k... obviously not the sharpest of spoons ;)
I'm not entirely sure that we do represent some kind of elite group of thinkers either. I've met plenty of BBers including Pigstar-69 (aka Tardly McTard) who put this kind of stereotype into serious doubt :D
This is pretty much the thing that I disagree with, DP does not make BB easy and far from dominates the game. Actually you could probably argue the opposite - it makes the game harder because its another important factor that you have to think about, especially when positioning. I find it pretty funny that the guy that said that had moved on to 40k... obviously not the sharpest of spoons ;)
I'm not entirely sure that we do represent some kind of elite group of thinkers either. I've met plenty of BBers including Pigstar-69 (aka Tardly McTard) who put this kind of stereotype into serious doubt :D
Posted by Shimin on 2009-03-07 01:21:06
First - "He told me that as soon as figured out how to beat the game, it just wasn't fun anymore." <--- I totally agree, therfor i still play (only way to "beat the system" in a random dice game is not playing it, and that simply is no fun at all ;o) )
As to DP:
Some play only to beat up, and some play to win.
category 1 (beat up): For those it is only a matter of hearing that addicting RIP sound. They will use as much DP as possible. They tend to make games a bit more boring for category 2 players, but with a little commen sence they can be mostly avoided.
Category 2 ("winners"): They will have around 2-3 DPs for a team, more would be folly and less would make it too risky when meeting other with DPs. DP is an important part of the game, but i remember a time where the ref physically stood on the field. In those days we tended to bash up the ref first (unless we were unlucky engough to get a pair of ogres) and then resume to play the game.
"Winners" refer to people trying their best to win no matter what. Not better players or people!!
There is a cetegory more:
Category 3: Geekplaying as in playing the team. A dwarf WILL do anything to hit a greenskin if he gets a chance, they HATE greenskins! Those players make theme teams and will have very different teams trying a lot of stuff.
Most players consist more or less of all cetegories. I think my dominant style is cetegory 3, but i have teams that (well at least try to) go for mayhem or winning.
Ofcouse Cetegory 3 also tries to win (as does cetegory 1), but thats not what thriwes them.
As to DP:
Some play only to beat up, and some play to win.
category 1 (beat up): For those it is only a matter of hearing that addicting RIP sound. They will use as much DP as possible. They tend to make games a bit more boring for category 2 players, but with a little commen sence they can be mostly avoided.
Category 2 ("winners"): They will have around 2-3 DPs for a team, more would be folly and less would make it too risky when meeting other with DPs. DP is an important part of the game, but i remember a time where the ref physically stood on the field. In those days we tended to bash up the ref first (unless we were unlucky engough to get a pair of ogres) and then resume to play the game.
"Winners" refer to people trying their best to win no matter what. Not better players or people!!
There is a cetegory more:
Category 3: Geekplaying as in playing the team. A dwarf WILL do anything to hit a greenskin if he gets a chance, they HATE greenskins! Those players make theme teams and will have very different teams trying a lot of stuff.
Most players consist more or less of all cetegories. I think my dominant style is cetegory 3, but i have teams that (well at least try to) go for mayhem or winning.
Ofcouse Cetegory 3 also tries to win (as does cetegory 1), but thats not what thriwes them.
Posted by pythrr on 2009-03-07 01:27:05
"Geekplaying"?!! You offensive sdfsdfgjshdn. It's called "roleplaying", and not all roleplayers are geeks. Two different, if at times overlapping, groups.
Posted by Ace-Bronson on 2009-03-07 07:04:21
I totally agree, Jon. There is not much you or I can do to change the minds of those people who enjoy the game for other reasons (i.e. Hell-bent destruction of other people teams and winning at the cost of anyone else's enjoyment). But that shouldn't mean that we should be afraid to stand up for what makes the game enjoyable for us.
Posted by Calcium on 2009-03-07 10:42:40
There's another 'lowest common denominator'
'These are my opinions, nothing more'
The above sentence allows you to slate a playstyle that you dont like. Seriously, get over yourself. Yet another judgemental blog from a guy who's been here 2 minutes and doesn't know his Blood bowl arse from his elbow.
I bet you thought you were quite good at this game before you came to FUMBBL as well, didn't ya? We all did.....
'These are my opinions, nothing more'
The above sentence allows you to slate a playstyle that you dont like. Seriously, get over yourself. Yet another judgemental blog from a guy who's been here 2 minutes and doesn't know his Blood bowl arse from his elbow.
I bet you thought you were quite good at this game before you came to FUMBBL as well, didn't ya? We all did.....
Posted by Ace-Bronson on 2009-03-07 20:35:35
@ Calcium: There is more to enjoying Blood Bowl than experience or technical proficiency. That's the whole point of this blog. Just because you have been playing on this website longer than us doesn't mean that you are better able to enjoy the game than we are. You might be able to trounce us, but who cares? Maybe you care, and that's ok, but we are saying that, for US, there is more to the enjoyment of this game than trashing our opponents at any cost. And when someone qualifies their statement with the following: "I wont dodge matches, or complain when I get fouled, and I'll still hunt wardancers like the pansy little wussies they are. No one is taking my fun from me, no matter how well or poorly they play." Then what do you really have to get defensive about?
Posted by Calcium on 2009-03-07 22:04:45
You slate others playstyle? That in my opinion is anal.
Simple.
Simple.
Posted by Catalyst32 on 2009-03-07 22:22:24
Join NWL leagues and play in the NWL Battleground.
The teams must be [L] League Division teams.
But they have DP rules you would prefer AND since you are in Canada you are a perfect candidate to join.
I just joined this season... but I think you would like it.
Also check out 145 Club... Fumbbl Noobs like us need a league where we don't play against people with 1,000+ games experience on us to learn a bit.
The teams must be [L] League Division teams.
But they have DP rules you would prefer AND since you are in Canada you are a perfect candidate to join.
I just joined this season... but I think you would like it.
Also check out 145 Club... Fumbbl Noobs like us need a league where we don't play against people with 1,000+ games experience on us to learn a bit.
Posted by westerner on 2009-03-08 02:27:47
Hang in there... fouling isn't as powerful as it may appear. The FUMBBL culture is very pro-fouling, but don't let it worry you too much. Focus on trying to win the game and seek out coaches who think likewise, and you'll find DP will take care of itself.