Please Note: This is a community-generated Frequently Asked Questions List, please do not think that these are "official" and set in stone. We've attempted to collate information from the various statements that have been published from Focus/Cyanide, and various press previews.
General
1. What is the (current) release date?
A:Currently, the release date for the PC version is June 26th, the release date for Nintendo DS and PSP versions is June 2009, however, the Xbox 360 version has been announced to be held back till September.
1a. Will the game be released in the US?
A: The June 26threlease date is in Europe, but Focus has said that a world-wide, multi-lingual digital purchase will be available at roughly the same time, and at some point there will be a US Boxed release.
2. What systems will Blood Bowl be released for?
A: The PC, the Xbox 360, the Nintendo DS, and the Playstation Portable
2a. Wait, No PS3 version? No Wii version?
A: Correct on both counts..
3. Is multiplayer supported?
A: Yes. The PC and 360 versions will both support hotseat and internet games. The PSP version will have both hotseat (pass the PSP) and wireless play. It is unknown whether the DS will support multiplayer.
4. Will cross-platform play (360 vs PC) be supported?
A: No.
5. Will there be a beta test?
A: There has been a closed beta test open to selected folks for some time. There was a general open multiplayer beta test that had folks try out the human and orc teams. That multiplayer beta test has since closed, as the release date is closing in.
6. What DRM will be used on the PC Version?
A: Not known as of yet, although a Focus representative said on May 12th that StarForce would NOT be used on the game, and that Focus was looking for a DRM solution that would balance the customer's freedom against their need to protect the game.
General Gameplay
1. What versions of play-style will be available?
A:Depending on the system, there is two different ways to play Blood Bowl. Either turn-based (standard Blood Bowl), or real-time. The Xbox 360 and PC versions will slightly differ in how they will present the real time mode. The PC Version will feature general RTS-style play, working with the whole team. The Xbox 360 version will instead allow you to control one player at a time, from their viewpoint. The DS and PSP versions will be turn-based only.
2. What game rules will be available?
A: Again, there are two sets of game rules: Standard rules (which are LRB5.0 compliant), and Blitz (which adds extra rules).
3. What teams are confirmed in the first release?
A: At this time, the following eight races are in the initial release:
- Chaos
- Dwarves
- Goblins
- Humans
- Lizardmen
- Orcs
- Skaven
- Wood Elves
The game will ship with seven pre-made teams of each race to be your opponents in single player mode.
4: Will there be additional teams?
A: The current plans (subject to change) will be to add Undead and Dark Elves after the game's release.
5: Will the game support Special Play cards (either base 3rd edition or LRB5 cards?)
A: No. the 3rd edition cards (Dirty Play, Random Events, Magic Item) cards are not supported in LRB5, and the LRB5 cards are optional.
6. Will the game include a replay function?
A: Yes. The game saves a small replay file - which is around 150Kb. You can watch these replays by using your Blood Bowl client.
Graphics/Sound
1. Will the game support graphical modifications?
A: There will be a number of graphical options in the game to modify your players, and PC owners with the requisite programs can modify the palettes (for example, a beta participant was able to mod the uniforms to look like the national team of Croatia).
2. How Customizable are players?
A: There will be a number of graphical options to customize your player, different colors, as well as additional faces, etcetera. There will also be a number of different armor and gear options, in Blitz mode the armor is purchasable and provides a bonus to the stats of the player, while in standard mode, it does not provide bonuses, but as your players rise to stardom, they will look more impressive with armor and the like.
3. Will the game feature announcers?
A: Yes. The premier Blood Bowl announcing team of the Vampire Jim Johnson and the Ogre Bob Bifford will commentate your matches
4. Will the game offer a number of different stadiums?
A: Yes, There are a number of stadiums, some linked to various races, other to tournaments.
Tournaments
1. Are Tournaments Supported in single player Blood Bowl?
A: Yes. There are two types of Solo Tournaments: Campaign Mode, where through a cycle of seasons, you try to build your team up through a variety of tournaments, and as you progress, getting invited to more prestigious tournaments, and eventually to the Blood Bowl tournament itself. There is also single-player Tournament Mode, where you set up your league options, and play in that Tournament through a variety of seasons.
2. What kind of Multi-player Tournaments are supported?
A: There's the public ladder league, where you can play teams from all over the world, trying to be the best team in the Blood Bowl world. You can also create a private league, where you invite your friends to play.
3.How does your team change over the course of a league or a tournament?
A: Well, first the good news. In both regular rules mode and Blood Bowl Blitz, your players will earn Star Player Points, pick up new skills, and become better. In Blitz mode, they can also buy new and powerful armor to upgrade their stats as well as their looks! In regular mode, as they get closer to being a Star Player, their graphics will update as well. Of course, this is Blood Bowl, and players age, get injured, and even die, so your team's success is never assured... In blitz mode, as players become stars, don't be surprised if they demand bigger contracts as well!
