So, as far as I can tell, there are about four types of skills in Blood Bowl:

1. The Reroll: This kind of skill minimizes risk by allowing a player to reroll something they have missed. Dodge, Catch, Pass, Frenzy (kind of), Piling On, and Pro would all be examples.

2. The Modifier: This makes you better at something. Accurate, Mighty Blow, Dirty Player, and the like all give you a bonus to a roll.

3. The Exception: This kind of rule allows you to ignore something. Everyone must abide by the rule, except for you! For example, skills like Block, Nerves of Steel, Guard, Stunty, Big Hand, Jump-Up, Dodge (again!) and even Sprint would qualify.

4. The Weirdo: Allows you to act somehow outside of the normal rules. Kick, Leap, Dump-off, Pass Block, Strip Ball, Shadowing, and Dauntless would be the examples.

In my opinion, 1 & 2 are the types of skills that minimize your risk of a play, especially in combination. Clearly, this is the bread-and-butter of a good blood bowl team where you want to be as consistent as possible. Category 3 includes Block and have several other powerful skills. Weirdo skills don't seem so popular, which kind of surprises me. You would think that allowing a player to do something that no one is normally be allowed to do would be a very sought-after option.

So why aren't they!? Bad design? Too risky?

If I were to design some different "weirdo" skills that were not so niche-y, here's where I would start:

Drag: (strength) Pull a prone player one square. Move in a manner similar to a push result, but in reverse. Each square you pull the player costs you three movement. "Never leave a man behind!"

Dive: (General) If the armour roll from a block is a doubles, the ref calls a penalty against the blocking player. If armour is broken, then roll twice on the injury table and take the worse result. The penalty results in a turnover. "But Ref, didn't you see him shiv me!?!"

Goad: (General) If an opponent chooses a block action while in this player's tackle zone, they must be the target. Does not apply to blitz. If there is more than one player with goad, the attacker may choose which to target. "That's not what your mother said last night!"

Blind: (Passing) Choose an opposing player within range of a quick pass. On a successful agility role, you manage to throw sand in their eyes. The player cannot make a successful catch attempt until they are activated. Once activated, they may receive a pass normally. You must forgo your movement this turn while you gather sand from the pitch. "Catch THIS!"

Escape: (agility) Roll the scatter template and apply it to a player. This is the only action the player may make this turn. Roll a d6 afterwards. On a 2+ you stay on your feet, on a 1, you are prone. This doesn't result in a turnover. "This is a dangerous square to be in! Get me outta here!"

Mangle: (general) Use your assist in a block to lower the AV of the recipient of the block by one instead. Only one player may use this skill per block. "Here! I'll hold him down!"


Would YOU use any of these? Have any of your own weirdo skills that you would like to see used?