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Guild Ball, Industrial Era fantasy football
Draeven
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
http://steamforged.com/guildball
this game has gotten pretty big over the last 2 years. Everything you need to know is there, don' want to spend the money on models tell you have played it ? all the rules, cards and things you need to get started are all right there. Wanna play using Vassal ? they have an official mod for the game they update and support fully. what follows is stolen wholesale from their website :P cause i'm lazy.
What is Guild ball
GAMEPLAY
The game has been built from the ground up using modern design principles and philosophy resulting in a game that is supremely intuitive to learn and yet possess vast depths of complexity and tactical choices. Success comes with carefully constructed ‘plays’ and counter ‘plays’ with emphasis on anticipation, positioning and resource management.
THE HISTORY OF GUILD BALL
Mob football is a game generally played between neighbouring towns and villages on feast days (hence the popularity). Players on opposing teams clash to control a leather-wrapped inflated pig's bladder and attempt to kick it into the opponent’s goal. Over the years, rudimentary leagues and tournaments have sprung up; there have even been some national level games between some city states.
The powerful Guilds of the land have taken advantage of the huge popularity of the sport as another means to control the masses. They invested vast sums of money; creating professional Guild sponsored teams and structured leagues. The public went crazy as the game was elevated to new heights of spectacle. Guild Ball was born amidst a blaze of interest and publicity and with it, a whole new business and revenue stream for the Guilds. Games are now played out in front of vast crowds of fans, whilst behind the scenes the results can mean fortunes are won or lost on the kick of a ball.
this game has gotten pretty big over the last 2 years. Everything you need to know is there, don' want to spend the money on models tell you have played it ? all the rules, cards and things you need to get started are all right there. Wanna play using Vassal ? they have an official mod for the game they update and support fully. what follows is stolen wholesale from their website :P cause i'm lazy.
What is Guild ball
GUILD BALL IS A TABLETOP FANTASY MEDIEVAL FOOTBALL GAME
> MINUTES TO LEARN
Quick, intuitive game design based on modern design philosophy.
> INCREDIBLY DEEP GAMEPLAY
Designed from the ground up for deep and rich player interactions.
> MODERN-DESIGN GAME MECHANICS
Ground breaking new ways to access amazing in-game actions.
> FULLY REALISED WORLD
A deep and flavourful world of intrigue.
> AMAZING MINIATURES
Digitally designed and crafted by some of the leading talents within the industry.
> MINUTES TO LEARN
Quick, intuitive game design based on modern design philosophy.
> INCREDIBLY DEEP GAMEPLAY
Designed from the ground up for deep and rich player interactions.
> MODERN-DESIGN GAME MECHANICS
Ground breaking new ways to access amazing in-game actions.
> FULLY REALISED WORLD
A deep and flavourful world of intrigue.
> AMAZING MINIATURES
Digitally designed and crafted by some of the leading talents within the industry.
GAMEPLAY
The game has been built from the ground up using modern design principles and philosophy resulting in a game that is supremely intuitive to learn and yet possess vast depths of complexity and tactical choices. Success comes with carefully constructed ‘plays’ and counter ‘plays’ with emphasis on anticipation, positioning and resource management.
> FAST RESOLUTION HIT SYSTEM…
Guild Ball’s core dice engine is designed to be fast and easy to perform, makes the game silky smooth to play. Using classic D6’s with an intuitive dice pool system, hit resolution is lighting fast with minimal computations.
> PLAYBOOK…
Whilst the hit resolution system is fast and intuitive, the playbook allows for a huge variety of outcomes to each dice roll. You decide the in-game effect you need to deliver success…if you get enough hits of course!
> KICKING/PASSING…
We’ve designed Guild Ball to encourage kicking and passing the ball. The game actively rewards you for doing so, which results in a fast paced dynamic game flow. Like all our game mechanics, kicking the ball is fast and simple to do.
> INFLUENCE SYSTEM…
Guild uses a resource management called Influence to control actions and movement each turn. This leads to an intense bluffing and counter-bluffing meta-game as well as a need for deep risk management and turn planning.
> MOMENTUM SYSTEM…
Guild Ball features a unique system that reflects the ebb and flow of a football match. As players perform and achieve in-game actions they generate Momentum which can in turn be spent on triggering special ‘plays’, shooting at goal or out of turn reaction moves. Any momentum left over at the end of the turn translates into a massive advantage on determining initiative the following turn.
> COMBO PLAY…
Guild Ball models are carefully designed to play off and feed into each other. Clever players will discover a huge depth of strategy available to them, which will be reinvigorated each and every time a new model is added to the Guild’s roster of choices.
Guild Ball’s core dice engine is designed to be fast and easy to perform, makes the game silky smooth to play. Using classic D6’s with an intuitive dice pool system, hit resolution is lighting fast with minimal computations.
> PLAYBOOK…
Whilst the hit resolution system is fast and intuitive, the playbook allows for a huge variety of outcomes to each dice roll. You decide the in-game effect you need to deliver success…if you get enough hits of course!
> KICKING/PASSING…
We’ve designed Guild Ball to encourage kicking and passing the ball. The game actively rewards you for doing so, which results in a fast paced dynamic game flow. Like all our game mechanics, kicking the ball is fast and simple to do.
> INFLUENCE SYSTEM…
Guild uses a resource management called Influence to control actions and movement each turn. This leads to an intense bluffing and counter-bluffing meta-game as well as a need for deep risk management and turn planning.
> MOMENTUM SYSTEM…
Guild Ball features a unique system that reflects the ebb and flow of a football match. As players perform and achieve in-game actions they generate Momentum which can in turn be spent on triggering special ‘plays’, shooting at goal or out of turn reaction moves. Any momentum left over at the end of the turn translates into a massive advantage on determining initiative the following turn.
> COMBO PLAY…
Guild Ball models are carefully designed to play off and feed into each other. Clever players will discover a huge depth of strategy available to them, which will be reinvigorated each and every time a new model is added to the Guild’s roster of choices.
THE HISTORY OF GUILD BALL
Mob football is a game generally played between neighbouring towns and villages on feast days (hence the popularity). Players on opposing teams clash to control a leather-wrapped inflated pig's bladder and attempt to kick it into the opponent’s goal. Over the years, rudimentary leagues and tournaments have sprung up; there have even been some national level games between some city states.
The powerful Guilds of the land have taken advantage of the huge popularity of the sport as another means to control the masses. They invested vast sums of money; creating professional Guild sponsored teams and structured leagues. The public went crazy as the game was elevated to new heights of spectacle. Guild Ball was born amidst a blaze of interest and publicity and with it, a whole new business and revenue stream for the Guilds. Games are now played out in front of vast crowds of fans, whilst behind the scenes the results can mean fortunes are won or lost on the kick of a ball.
Morskitter wrote "Spikes, choppas, tentacles, magic? Can't hold a candle to Sergeant Pimp here."
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Posts
Alchemists
Alchemist's Guild
It is a new Guild. Not so unlike the others in its activities, but very much so in its ideology. Being able to have observed hundreds of years of development before beginning your own venture has a tendency to allow you to avoid certain growing pains I suspect. But being so wildly divergent in your practice will just as likely spawn different ones; mistrust for one thing. Unlike any of its rivals, the Alchemist’s Guild has yet to prove to the people that its industry is worthwhile. It has the burden of proof over simple necessity that we enjoy.
Death is inevitable, a cold and hard fact. Witchcraft is not.
Taking to the field against the Alchemist’s Guild can often be likened to an exercise in futility. The preposterous level of volatile chemicals, gaseous clouds and deadly pools of acids renders vast swathes of the pitch inhospitable to all but the most foolhardy. It with some amusement that I have watched some of the least useful members of my own guild attempt to demonstrate their worthiness by besting an Alchemist. I am sure that their guilds scientific minds would term such reckless failures as natural selection.
- Obulus, Mortician’s Guild Team Captain
Alchemist's
Playstyle
Alchemists’ play style is one of force projection. They utilise a lot of AOE to control space and deny their opponents manoeuvrability. Their combo play comes from layering AOEs and generating huge areas of danger across the pitch.
They are quick on their feet and capable with the ball, but not as resilient in combat as other teams. They excel in the early to mid-game due to their ability to cover a good amount of space.
Alchemists will reward players who can anticipate their opponent’s plans and block them through good placement and positioning of models and effects. On offense, Alchemists can use their AOEs almost as additional models in order to restrict the counter play options of their opponent. No one wants to charge the Alchemist with the ball if you have to go through an acid cloud!
Brewer's Guild
Real rough and tumble boys, these lads. You’re never going to meet yourself anyone more likely to knock you down into the dirt, mark my words. Tough, thick skulled bastards that love to brawl. But you know? For all of that, they’re all right by me. They’re just playing the game and they don’t take liberties with it none. I’ll go ten matches with the Drunks over one with the Meatheads or the Spooks, bruises and all. Play against ‘em one day, and you’ll see what I mean. They’re all aggressive and up in your face on the pitch and after will sit down to drink with you like you’re old comrades.
The current Drunks are nearly all from over Raedland way, around Maldriven and beyond. Considering how hard some of their predecessors have been, they’re a fun bunch. Decent in their own way. You wouldn’t remember, but before them was the lot from Erskirad. Far too serious for their own good, like their ale had grown stale long since. No one was sad to see the back of them. Let’s just hope that the Maldriven Whiskey houses keep their hold over the Brewer’s Guild for a long time to come, eh?
- Flint, Mason’s Guild Team Vice Captain
Brewer's
Playstyle
Brewers are tanky. Plain and simple, they are incredible at soaking damage up.
But their play style is more than just being hit. They excel in late game as they generally have superior numbers left at this point, but their mid-game is also strong due to their knockdowns and board control.
Not the most synergistic in terms of combo play, they do enjoy some degree of team buffing. Brewers generate the most momentum when pushing opponents in to and out of position with buffeting blows and plays.
Relatively slow up and down the field, the Brewers rely on long reach weapons and easy access to pushes and knockdowns, thereby giving them huge board presence and control.
History of the
Engineer's Guild
We are strange bedfellows. Untrusting of each other, dismissive and always looking to gain political capital to use against our opposite numbers. Yet for all that, our alliance is a necessary one that I imagine neither party could really function without. Until the time when the farce of union is played out, we shall have to keep our secrets close, as they do jealously guard their own from us.
In the years following the unification, they have concerned themselves with public developments, creating marvels of the new age in the cities across the Empire, uneasily nestled in with the cathedrals and castles. Whilst the elder members of their guild rest on their laurels at these magnificent accomplishments, the revolutionaries only see this as the beginning.
Further to this, the keenest amongst them have lent their hand to construction of clockwork instruments and devices of far more interest to our enlightened minds. I am especially fascinated with the automaton that they call Velocity. In that I see the path to immortality, carefully laid before us.
Just think of the power that we should wield if we were able to wrest the ability to construct towering behemoths like the mechanical walker from them, or craft our own firefly constructs!
None could stand before us.
- Midas, Alchemist’s Guild Team Captain
Engineer's
Playstyle
The Engineers play style is one of accuracy and controlling space. They utilise all manner of gadgets, devices and traps to influence the flow and direction of the game. From a distance, the Engineers players move as one giant machine, perfectly in sync with each other...
Resilient in combat, accurate with the ball, the Engineers have a solid play style. Whilst not as mobile as some teams, they are able to move the ball great distances and accurately too. They excel in the mid-game, once all the pieces are in place they can control the pitch while pinging the ball around their opponent.
History of the
Fisherman's Guild
The Fisherman’s Guild is not a new guild and their team has been around for years in the lower divisions. They just never seemed to have a great game, you know? You ask anyone in the know about Guild Ball whether they ever heard of them back in the day and I can already tell you they’re going to say no. Then one day, the Fisherman’s Guild has a real revival in fortunes. Something to do with the nobles suddenly developing a taste for sea food and some shady deal with another guild. All I know is that that suddenly they have guild houses springing up in every city that doesn’t already have one and that everyone is going on about them.
And then the team got better. A lot better. Like crazy better. Beating the Butchers, the Morticians, the Alchemists and the Messengers; all of the big boys. Had to get better, once the guild got bigger, or it wouldn’t sit right, you know? Whole bunch of new players, new sponsorship, new gear, new playbook. Suddenly, they’re a name on the street, with a big following. People screaming at the top of their voices when they play, flocking to the grounds. Yeah, they became the team to beat overnight. Everyone knows who they are now. Pictures of them all over, they’re a real big item.
But damn, they can play. If you’re good enough to be on the team, then you’re doing well. No dead weight there. They’re the best right now for a reason. They’ve never had a better line up in their entire history than they have at the moment. Yeah, I know that they’re new considering how long some of the other guilds teams have been in the limelight, but that don’t stop it being the truth none, does it? Ain’t no other team that can catch ‘em and until someone seriously gets their game on, the Fisherman’s Guild are going to keep winning.
- Flint, Mason’s Guild Team Vice Captain
Fisherman's
Playstyle
Fisherman play style is all about movement and raw goal-scoring potential. They are dominant in the early game and can easily draw one or two goals ahead very quickly. However, mid to late game they need to be wary, especially if they lose a player or two.
They excel at movement and kicking the ball - they are practically all about offense. Their combo play revolves around (re)positioning and exploitation of space.
Whilst not entirely equipped with raw damage soaking defence, they instead have far subtler defensive options that focus much more on space control.
This is the new season 2 team that was just released like 6 months ago, they have their full lot of models out but dont have a 2nd captiain or 2nd mascot yet. I personally play this team and would say they are a combo of engineers and butchers. They are meant to hit and run while slowing / dropoing the defense of your other team. Can be very very squishy due to this fact. the man pictured Jaecar is the master of this hit and run technique. They also just got a new model called Seenuh who is a giant fucking grizzly bear who smashes the shit out of things but can also get smoked due to his low defense.
History of the
Mason's Guild
The Mason’s Guild has always existed in a position of enviable prestige throughout the Empire of the Free Cities. Admired even before the Century Wars; they were propelled to the heights of power that all guilds inherited at the end of that bloody conflict. After all, what king can rule without a palace? What city is secure from invasion without walls to protect it? In the early days, many of the other guilds survived in the pockets of the Mason’s Guild who constructed the most magnificent and architecturally astonishing of the greater guild houses.
Power came with a cost however and the Century Wars had a sting in the tail for the Masons. After an initial investiture of capital in battlements, forts and barracks across the Sovereign States, expenditure was diverted and spending prioritised on the upkeep and training of the immense armies that marched forth from each city. As the initial hope that the conflict would expire in timely fashion dwindled, so too did the fortunes of the guild.
The slow restoration of the guild would mean a timid start once Guild Ball was established and for many years, the Mason’s Guild was a relative unknown on the field of play. It remained so until inter-guild politics conspired to create a new Master Artificer at the head of a new ruling house. Rankled by the lack of esteem and prominence amongst the guilds, new drive was put into creating a formidable Guild Ball team that would stand against their rivals and propel the Mason’s Guild back to their rightful place as one of the most powerful throughout the Empire of the Free Cities. Significant investiture from the newly emboldened financiers and a fresh influx of talent followed and in 14c the Mason’s Guild surprised the world, beating the Butcher’s Guild with a one sided clean sheet in the season’s grand final.
Mason's
Playstyle
Masons’ play style is all about balance and subtle flexibility. They have strong but not outstanding offensive and defensive options available to them. With a good mix of buffs and debuffs forming the foundation of their combo play, they need each other to excel.
They are equipped to play well during all phases of the game without a definitive focus on any key area, which is why they are the most flexible of teams to play. They have the tools and the play style to adapt to every situation, as long as you can piece them together properly.
Mason rewards players who can see and build play to effect combos, and then take advantage of any situation.
History of the
Mortician's Guild
Real old guild, the Mortician’s. Been around in pretty much most parts longer than anyone else. Guess if there’s one certainty in this life, its death, eh? Not that you’re going to catch one of them with my body when my time is up, young blood. Nope, plain and simple burial at sea for old Greyscales, just like the gods always wanted. This business of interfering with the dead and not letting the elements take them how they choose is all wrong, if you ask me. The Lords of the Deep washed me ashore and can take me back again when I’m done.
Everyone hates playing them. There, I said it. Not one team out there that can’t find something to not like about ‘em. Whether it’s the blasted birds pecking at you, the creepy bitch with the eyes, or that big freak o’ theirs. Plenty not to like. That’s just the current team; I’ve been playing a long time and they haven’t never been any different. Players come and go, but whoever they are they’re always there to trip you up, to second guess you, block your plays and then gang up on you. Most of the time you play them, it’s not about you doing what you want to do out there, it’s about forcing them to let you do it. Sounds easy? It’s not.
Goes without saying of course that you don’t want to let yourself get wasted by one of them if you can avoid it. Some of ‘em don’t seem too much like they’ve got any morals or control. Odds are even a Butcher Meathead is going to leave you alone if he takes you out, but the Spooks? Well, best not let yourself find out whether you’re going to get lucky, or be their next customer, if you catch my drift?
- Greyscales, Fisherman’s Guild Vice Captain
Mortician's
Playstyle
Morticians’ play style is about planning and execution. They control play with a huge amount of influence at their disposal, along with the ability to steal more from their opponent. Their play feels very much like setting traps, triggering the snare and then punishing their opponent. Mid-game is where they really shine - once well laid plans have turned to mush, Morticians can begin to dictate the play.
Morticians provide an interesting take on ‘force projection’ by making their opponents consider how and where they’re going to position models.
Morticians will reward players who like to dominate and control the game by playing mind tricks on their opponents.
History of the
The Union
Who are the Union? A mismatched bunch o’ mercenaries, scum and criminals for the most part. You wouldn’t want to meet any of them in a dark alley late at night.
Nobody really knows when orders from above won’t turn up and you’ll have one of them playing for you. How it is that they manage to worm their way into everyone’s teams is beyond my ken. Something to do with the lads high up in the guilds is all anyone can tell you, and even that’s probably guesswork more than truth.
All I know is that you never trust them. Watch them carefully, even when they’re on your side; they might not be next time around.
- Flint, Mason’s Guild Vice Captain
The Union
Playstyle
The Union play style is one of role specialism and individual play. They have an array of strong options across attack. Their defensive game isn’t as strong due to their focus on assassin or surgical removal style play. You need a game plan; set them up to deliver it and you will win. Think of these like a team of precision scalpels - just don’t try chopping down trees with them!
Their strength and flexibility comes from matching the right players to do the job you need before proceeding. Each model is simply strong at what it does, and doesn’t require assistance to do it. This is a team with little to no buffing. Want a big tanky guy taken down, send in Decimate … Want their backfield defensive midfielder to stop playing out buffs everywhere, Snakeskin will deliver … Just want someone messed up, Gutter’s the girl.
Maybe that's not an issue in larger games.
COME FORTH, AMATERASU! - Switch Friend Code SW-5465-2458-5696 - Twitch
I live in the Mo area in the mid west, i have seen pictures on one of my facebook groups of her put together. let me see if i can link it.
How long does a regular game take?
I watched a youtube video, and from descriptions of early/mid/late game advantages for teams, are they just talking about per turn? The demo game I watched was very strange. Basically 2 sides smashed and never moved the ball, a defensiveman got killed, then he just bum rushed the ball, got the turnover and easy kicked it in. In a limited minis game it seems dumb to kill a model that will give them free movement. Or do most guilds stay spread out on the field?
video in question:
It's like 30 minutes or more in that he actually scores, but there is like 10 minutes of setup so I dont know where to point you to.
Dainnao, from what I've played and read it seems as though there are certain goal strategies that work for certain teams. Some teams should be focusing on scoring goals, some should focus on killing mans, and some should do both. Being spread out on the field depends on what your goal is, I would imagine, and it's definitely not a good idea to bunch up when playing against guilds like the Alchemists, who have a lot of AOE attacks.
The one mechanic that threw me a bit was momentum. I was going into the game completely blind and when I went to score a goal them guy I was playing with started to explain momentum. It's a cool mechanic, and probably helps to keep the game less one-sided. Hopefully I enjoy Guild Ball more than Warmehordes or 40K; I think the fact that it seems a bit less competitive is a plus for me.
Momentum is the key in this game. first turn you dont have the ball and aren't in range to charge or hit anything building it can be a pain, but once you start getting into combat building momentum is the easy part. the hard part is deciding when to use it and when to save it. Cause any left over momentum after everyone has activated is added to your Initiative roll for the next turn.
Also another key is counter attacking which takes momentum and going defensive. Counter attacking can happen on every attack against your character if you have momentum, though if the player attacking you can knock you down you might not want to use it cause most likely you wont ever get the chance to attack back. Though if you didn't use it they might not of nocked you down first. Its all dependant on the situation. Going defensive can only happen when you get charged.
Also i can run you through vassal no problem, we can do a full team game or just the 3 player demo game so you can get a feel for the flow of the game. Though the demo game from what i understand the stats for the characters are different just to make it more of an even playing field.
http://store.guildball.com/kick-off
Also i noticed it says season 3 rules which is an awesome indicator that this will be the center piece of season 3 etc, sooo nice.
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I really enjoy this game. I like that it's more fun than competitive, or at least it is with the group who plays in town.
Hopefully one of the characters to be nerfed is Obelus. Jesus fuck.
March release...
One of my biggest gripes about the Engineers were how I *really* disliked the look of the mechanical players. This thirsty fellow... yeah, that works for me. Probably helps that he's a 40mm base.
COME FORTH, AMATERASU! - Switch Friend Code SW-5465-2458-5696 - Twitch
Nintendo ID: Pastalonius
Smite\LoL:Gremlidin \ WoW & Overwatch & Hots: Gremlidin#1734
3ds: 3282-2248-0453
On a side note, if you have a iOS device, GBKeeper is freaking amazing for a free app.
COME FORTH, AMATERASU! - Switch Friend Code SW-5465-2458-5696 - Twitch
What do you mean by golem? SF has all the character cards on their site (link), and it looks like Alchemists have Katalyst, a hulking bane-like chemical monster, and Compound, a sort of part robot/part chemical goalkeeper dude that they share with Engineers.
Those are sort of golem like?