Well it has been a very crazy holiday break but we have all managed to get back into the swing of things, well almost. Now it has come to my attention that the HDWSBBL Press office has been rather relaxed as of late, but fear not, a highly trained motivator is whipping them into shape (and he uses a cat-o-nine tails…)

So coming up in the next few hours, days and weeks, expect a full 30 match review of the Tutsbone Jackals and the Wee Tree Fellows, re-cap of the last two weeks of matches (the janitor has been working nights and double shifts, his wife needs treating) and a kick up the bum to all our bloggers to bring you new and exciting news.

But it has not all been bad. Fans of the previous year may remember head coach Kai of the Teotigua Predators, well after Gerhard has gone MIA of late, Kai has sprung into action and not a moment too soon! He has already placed his predictions to the final rankings and let me tell you they are certainly very interesting indeed. So why are you still reading me rambling on? Head over to his blog now at: http://network.hdwsbbl.co.uk/kaiskorner/

Hopefully the slight spanner in the press office is almost unstuck and the office will be pumping out news reels faster than you can say “What ogre?” But what do you think of the league so far? Do you have anything you would like to say? Then leave a comment and good old Bob Fortune will get back  to you. But until the next time folks, keep watching those stars! The players in the KO box sure will!

- Bob Fortune (HDWSBBL Press Office Editor)

We are now in the last stages of the league and enter the cross conference matches, something which a few of the coaches have been looking forward to. As well as this we are one schedule still with only one game outstanding! This means we will be finishing in April as planned.

I thank you for all the support and hope we have many more years of enjoyment to come.

Alex

(P.S: Results will be up tonight )

Fumbles have been an area of confusion with some of you so here is the run down of the rule as stated in the rulebook.

A fumble occurs when a one is achevied before or after modifications. This means if you roll a one outright you fumble the ball outright. This is the before part. If you make a roll and the resulting total with modifications result in a one you will also fumble.

For example, I make a short pass and require a roll of 4+. A 4+ makes an accurate pass, 2-3 is an inaccurate pass and one is a fumble. If I make the same move but have a -2 modifier beacuse of two tacklezones I require a 6+ to be accurate, 5-4 to be inaccurate and 1-3 to be a fumble.

All you need to remember is ones always fails while sixs are always passes.

I hope this clears a few confused coachs up.

- Alex

1. Side-Step and Push Backs: This has already been clarified in an e-mail I send out but encase you are unsure please check the following link: http://www.fabbl.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=370
2. Drawing a match: If you drew a match and to determine if you go up or down with your Fan Factor you need to roll 2D6. If the roll is greater or equal you go up by one, if it is lower you go down by one. Each team also receives an extra 10,000 on top of their winnings for a draw also. You also cannot re-roll any winnings roll if you drew, only if you win the match may you do so.
3. If you cannot field a full squad of eleven players then you will receive free journeymen to brings your roster up to eleven. You must always enter a match with eleven players before inducements are worked out. If you know you are missing a player(s) please let me know and I will add a journeyman to your team in time for your next match.

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.

Over the seasons we have acclaimed to great things, from the small beginnings of the first seasons, to the wide range of teams who have joined us over the years, to amazing matches which captured the true meaning of Blood Bowl and to legendary players who stepped up to the challenge and remain in our memories and hearts, the HDWSBBL has had it all over the six year history. But now the league goes that one step further to bring you even more action and glory in the 2011/12 season, it is of course the HDWSBBL World Series.

This season begins the new format in what will reboot the entire league in a new era of beauty. Sixteen teams will compete in two Conferences in four divisions all gunning to reach the world’s first ever World Championship Super Bowl in which will truly crown the champion of champions. One team will walk away with not only a conference title but a world title to boot. Every team will play a series of matches against each other within their own divisions and conferences but also the entire league resulting in more exciting and varied matches testing each teams limits to the maximum.

The grand draw will take place next week on the 8th with the first official week of matches commencing the following week on the 15th. Matches will be played every other week and at the end of all matches being played teams will then move on to the play-offs. More details about the teams who will be making history this season will follow in the next couple of days and you can gaurentee they will all be boasting on the Team News Network about their prospects for the upcoming season.

So sport fans around the world, please brace yourself for what will be the greatest sporting season that you will ever witness in your lifetime, prepare for memoriable matches and the great players who will rub shoulders amongst the greatest players of old. For the same wise man once said;

Some of the world’s greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible.

• The new league format was agreed by all who attended and also anticipation for the upcomining season. The new format means we will only accept sixteen teams, unless another four coachscome forward with willing to play. This would mean we play an extra two matches but will not interupt the flow of the season.
• The league will be split into two conferances (The Old World Conferance (OWC) and the New World Conferance (NWC) ) with two divisions in each (North & South in the OWC and East & West in the NWC).
• Each team will play everyone in their division once (Three matches)
• Each team will play everyone in the mirrored division in the same conferance (Eg: If you are in North you will play all teams in South. Four Games).
• Each team will play four teams from the other conferance ( Two from each division).
• If you finish 1st, 2nd or 3rd you will enter the play-offs. If you finish 4th you will head to the shield knockout tournament. 
• In the play-offs both divisions combine and playe one another. 2nd in North v 3rd in South and 2nd in South v 3rd in Northwill play in the Wild Card Round(Opening round) The two winners of that match will then face the 1st place teams in the Semi-Finals round. The two finalists will then face off in the Conferance final with the resulting winner being declared the Conferance Champion.
• The two Conferance Champions will then play in the Championship Super Bowl to see who wins the Championship VI and the overall king of the league.
• All team registration forms must be in by the 8th of September, with the draw taking place on the same day. The season will then commence on the 15th of September. We will be playing every other week and hopefully this time we will give you your fixtures list on the 15th when we start. Lets get all sixteen coaches playing at once!

The following section are changes to the League rules.

• All models MUST be painted, based and correctly numbered. The side of the base is prefured or you could paint it on the player. No writing on the bottom of bases or any unpainted lead or plastic.
• Star Players are now eligible to use in the league for inducements. If you are using a star player please use a good representaion of the model as well as being fully painted and based. You may use the Star Players that are in Living Rulebook 6 (Compition Rules) only. No online or made up Star Players may be used.
• You must give either Myself, Andy, Nick or Paul notice before Thursday if you cannot make the evening. If no notice is given then you forfit the match. No replays or reschedules. We must, must get the season flowing more to keep people interested. We have an spare week between matches in which to rearrange matches.
• Registration forms require your e-mail address. I plan to set up an e-mail group and e-mail everyone every week small updates, weekly fixtures as well as results and anything else that seems fit to mention.
• Match report sheets must be handed in after every match to allow us to update the webstite and your roster. You have until your next match to hand this in. Also any mercs, journeymen or star players must be noted down in which postion they played as well as skills they had and a name. This is all required.
• All rosters must be from the website. If you cannot print out the lastest roster please let either Myself or Andy know before your match and we will print one off for you. Any handwritten rosters must not be used, if you wish to tally your stats then use a paper roster but you must have a website roster with you as well.

Other announcement are as followed.

• The Team News Network is up and running awaiting all coaches to sign up and blog about their teams. If you would like to set up a blog then let Andy know and he will set it up for you. It is easy to use and will soon show the top headlines on the main website.
• If you haven’t got a roster then there will be spares in the terrian room upstairs in a box which John has kindly said he would sort out.
• It has been suggested that we run a NAF event at Huntingdon. This is an excellent idea and welcomed by most coaches. If you would like to be on the planning team then e-mail me andI will get back to you with details, jobs, etc…
• I am also currently in the planning stages of building the HDWSBBL World Stadium for finals and hopefully the NAF Tournament. So any spare bits of wood, materials, paint, plastic, models and anything else you think would be require please let me know.

Thank you again for all that attended and hopefully see you all next season for the best one yet!

- Alex

(P.S – Yes the Rangers are NOT returning “Insert cheers here”)

Planned date for this meeting will be the 9th of June starting at around 7:30 – 7:45. Hopefully it will not take to long but we will discuss the following topics;

• The New League Format – This will be taking on the style of the NFL league format.
• Changes to the HDWSBBL Handbook – Some will be changing some will be added.
• Any suggestions for improvements – By you the coaches.
• Dates for Registration and Pre-Season Friendly’s.
• The league draft and the start of the new season.

We hope you will be able to make it.

Alex

Most of the teams have faced some new foes while others have finally settled some old scores in what could be their final season in the HDWSBBL.
With only one set of matches to go, there are only a handful of teams who can take the Challenge Cup home. The two teams with the best chance are the Leapers and the Rangers. Both teams are at the top of the table and a win by either team will see them claim victory. It is worth noting that even if one of them wins then the Slammers could leapfrog over both of them on the condition they defeat the Flayers by 5 Touchdowns and then score more then the winner of the Rangers / Leapers match (ie, if the Leapers win 2 – 0, the Tail Slammers will need to win 7-0).

While an outright win for either the Rangers or the Leapers is a safe bet, it is not guaranteed. The last time these teams encountered each other the match ended in a two all draw! If that occurs again, where does that leave us? Well if the Rangers / leapers draw then the following teams can win:

• The Leapers – as long as they suffer less then 5 casualties against the Rangers and the Slammers / Flayers and Predators / Cleavers matches also result in draws!
• The Rangers – as long as they cause more then 5 casualties against the Rangers and the Slammers / Flayers and Predators / Cleavers matches also result in draws!
• The Tail Slammers, – if they defeat the Flayers
• The Flayers – if they defeat the Slammers and keep within two touchdowns of the Predators / Cleavers match (eg, if the Predators win 3-0 then the Flayers have to win at least 1-0 to win the competition
• The Predators – If the Flayers defeat / Draw with the Slammers and they score at least two more then the Flayers
• The Cleavers – If the Flayers defeat / draw with the Slammers and they score at least three more then the Flayers

All official betting has been suspended with the favourite to win being the Loren Rangers. If they won they would complete the double this season and be the first team to win the HDWSBBL League and Challenge cups in a single season since the Karak Smashers accomplished it way back in the 2507/08 Season (Season 2). Don’t rule the Leapers out though. They have made great “leaps” in progress all season and are on the verge of making it big. People with long memory spans will also remind us not to rule out the Slammers. More then once they have cheated their way to victory at the last moment, whether the Championship V finalists the Flayers will stand for it is another matter!

At the other end of the spectrum the loser of the Spite Challenge 2510/11 can only be one of two teams, the Brewers and the Tutsbone Jackles! Of course the loser of this match (or the Jackles in the event of a draw) will have the honour of having the HDWSBBL Shield competition named after them next season.

One thing for sure is that for most teams, this will be their last match of the season so it means there is no reason for holding back, no reason for compassion and no reason for remorse. We are expecting some violent, aggressive and wonderful games of Bloodbowl out there to end the competition with a bang!

Good luck to the teams.

Tonight will see the long awaited final of the Open Scramble 2510/11 between the North Division winners the Innsmouth Shadows and the South Division champions the Loren Rangers.

Knowing that this is their last season in the HDWSBBL, the Shadows have given it their all. After finishing near the bottom of their division for the past few seasons something finally clicked with the team (or snapped in JoJo’s head) and they began to rack up the wins. During the league stages it looked as though they where going to have another run of the mill season but a few high profile wins (and some well timed losses by the other contenders) ensured that the Shadows picked up their first ever divisional championship and booked their place in the league final for the first time. If they won tonight it would be fitting that they would win their first HDWSBBL Championship against those Elves.

The Rangers will be keen to see a win in this match. After holding out hopes for winning all three major HDWSBBL championships in a season they suffered their first loss of the season in the Championship V first round during their last outing. The Rangers are very used to this type of pressure having won the inaugural Open Scramble back in 2506/07 and having won the HDWSBBL Challenge cup and now three Divisional championships. The Rangers certanyl have the star power and the skill to win the cup but can they put their nerves and pride to the side for one  night and win the HDWSBBL League cup for the second time?

The Rangers are the odds on favourite to win the match but nobody should rule out the Shadows, especially when they are the underdog. Tune in tonight to see the exciting climax to the Open Scramble 2510/11 and see if the Rangers can become two time champions or if the Shadows can come up with some new diabolical trick which will allow them to claim their first HDWSBBL Championship.

While I am here, there are two other bits of information

1. The software used to run this site has been updated and there are one or two glitches (mainly with the Warzone summaries being displayed on the news section of the website. This is being addressed as soon as possible
2. The Tail Slammers did complete their 30th game recently, we will be taking a look at their career to date shortly along with the Wee Tree Fellows who will play their 30th match this week!