Imperial Nobility Starting Rosters - Blood Bowl 2020 (Bonehead Podcast)

[@nikolafitzthum9562]

Thanks a lot for this great beginner guide. As a new player such clear starting guides are needed not to get lost.

[@BoneheadPodcast]

Hey Nikola! Thanks very much! :D It's important to try and make starting the game as eas as possible!!

[@EssexBoyz]

Just discovered your channel and am absolutely loving your content. Really helpful for a new coach, like myself. I have the new box set and a Snotling team. Can’t wait to get playing and learning 😃👍🏼

[@BoneheadPodcast]

Wooh! Thanks very much! I have to say - those are 3 of my favourite teams :D So I think you've got off to a great start haha!

[@deanthomas2561]

The box only having 4 Linemen makes this starting team a bit tougher to build

[@christopherclayton5500]

The thing that hurts this team the most, I think, is that it puts your pass completion at a premium, but wants you to focus on short passes. 20k for Catch on the Blitzers would make sense if the team was expected to be using long passes to score, but neither the Blitzers nor the Throwers are really up for that task. Instead, Fend and Stand Firm keep your opponent's players where you want them while one of your Blitzers runs up the field with the ball already in hand. The Blitzers really needed another skill to help them do that, my guess is Nerves of Steel or Sure Hands. For the record, I think that full line with 2 rerolls is the right starting roster, maybe dropping a Thrower down to a Retainer and pocketing the cash.

[@Joth4851]

I agree that they have very expensive, possibly overcosted positionals, but I think what people are missing is that this team is all about controlling your opponent's advance. Fend is a very frustrating skill to play against, as is Stand Firm. Both stop your opponents from following up. I agree that Wrestle and Guard are not the best combo but Wrestle, again, is a skill to stop your opponent. Once the opponent is on the ground then the Bodyguard can stand up and move. Same with the Linemen and Fend. I like them.

[@gabzgaming5991]

I'm going to take the last roster you suggested as it's got the minis in the boxed set and I wouldn't have to find extra ones till the team expands, and Ogres are cool 😁 14:24

[@Ornancopter]

I would probably give one of the 2 reroll builds a shot first. Looking forward to seeing this expensive looking team handle itself in low tv tournaments. Nice to see a review attempt to be positive about the state of the team.

[@danielbarratt4351]

Where can I get ahold of the leaked 2020 rulebook, I keep looking for it online and see everyone talking about it, but I’m keen to see some of the new changes

[@BoneheadPodcast]

Hey Daniel, sorry, I’ve been looking for a link that I can share with you! It seems to have been pulled down everywhere!

[@danielbarratt4351]

That’s ok thanks for trying, guess I’ll just have to keep watching your videos 😆

[@razzan532]

I think a lot of people aren't recognizing the buff to Wrestle in BB 2020. Those Bodyguards are going to be able to open a hole in the defense and you can jump over prone players now. This is a scoring team.

[@Invisigoth05]

Firstly, wrestling down was already a thing. Secondly, jump requires an agi roll, which means it's elves and similar AG2+ that gets the best use of this. Thirdly, Wrestle is being hit pretty hard for the removal of Piling On. Killer development is going to be more stream lined, which means Juggernaut is coming more prevalent and teams will pick it up sooner than before

[@davedragon8708]

Thanks for trying to be positive about the rosters Ben. I think the team could have been stronger with cheaper players.

[@BoneheadPodcast]

Definitely! It’s a real Tier 2 team, and I think you can absolutely win with it!

[@TStyx]

You'd think, being nobility, the bodyguards would be able to buy armour that actually fits...

[@christopherclayton5500]

Half of them did, the other half spent all that money on good food.

[@RyanKnowsYoureHere]

The roster of 2 Blitzers, 4 Bodyguards, 2 Throwers, 3 Linemen. I've been considering doing this, but -1 Thrower, -1 Bodyguard, +2 Linemen and use the excess cash for a Third Re-roll to come in at 990 or you can take a super risky play and not take the third RR, drop 50k in to Dedicated Fans (and saving the 30k in your treasury). Because of how the winnings and DF work in BB2020 after your first game you are guaranteed a minimum of 45k (assuming your opp only takes the base 1 DF they get for free), if you score 2 Touchdowns in your first game you can buy your 4th Bodyguard there and then and then coast the league with a lot of money coming in. Alternatively you can do this and buy an Apo and 3DF and get similar results a bit later. These are obviously high risk high reward team building choices, but I think this is the kinda team that can just about get away with something like that in the hands of a competent coach.

[@RyanKnowsYoureHere]

Also if you don't get Bodyguard #4 straight up you can buy Thrower #2 instead as a guaranteed after game one.

[@sakurazuka38]

New to BB (my last game was in the 95's). What do i lack for playing them as regular humans ? Is a 2nd box mandatory (even for playing them as Imperial) or a bit of conversion from only one box would be enough ?

[@BoneheadPodcast]

Hey Sakurazuka! Welcome back to Blood Bowl :D You get 2 Throwers, 2 Blitzers, 4 Bodyguards, 4 Linemen. Throwers = Throwers Blitzers / Bodyguards = any 4 of these 6 would work as Blitzers Catchers = the female lineman is slight enough that she'd make a reasonable catcher! So actually, if you're running Humans - you'd be fine! For Nobility, you might have to proxy a couple of Bodyguards as Linemen depending on your starting list!

[@BoneheadPodcast]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mGLKmZpmodCCiMk Have a gander at this if you're thinking about running Nobility!

[@filmparrico1754]

So, four years on... which was the best build?

[@neilrock7386]

As a newbie, this might be a silly question... but why didn't they give bodyguards guard? Seems like the obvious choice for their name! XD

[@konatelassina5301]

The IN thrower doesn't have "the exact same stats as the human thrower for 5K less", he doesn't have PA 2+. The 3rd team you mention for 1,000k is the starter set (2 linemen unused), no wonder it's 1,000k. The 13 man team in the starter looks like 1 ogre, 2 throwers, 2 blitzers, 2 bodyguards (which are 0-4; typical GW "require a 2nd box"), and 6 linemen. But, 2 linemen are unique enough to be identified as blitzers, the "double eagle wing chest-crest". That leaves 4 "single wing shoulder-crests" that can be used as bodyguards for a complete positional set in the starter set, if that isn't already the case. Also, these models could be used as a human team, where the 4 aforementioned bodyguards can be used as blitzers, and the 2 "braid-haired", more "slight" linemen can be used as human catchers (requiring another box for more). I'm interested in the team, but they will certainly be 2nd tier. I'm more of a "running" coach than you, so the passing attribute won't play as much on my lists, but it's pretty unique (ok, lets not talk about Bretonnia), that I think it'll be interesting on the table-top. The slow, Dwarven, "box-crawl" will be foiled by this team.

[@SoulCrusherEx]

But He has armor 8 The human thrower Armor got nerfed from 8 down to 7

[@BoneheadPodcast]

Gahhhh tricked by the PA! 5k for a loss of SH and 1PA 😬😬😬 They’re lucky the linemen are bad 😅

[@BoneheadPodcast]

Alas, the Human Thrower is also AV9+! Tough day for the Nobles!

[@SoulCrusherEx]

@@BoneheadPodcast is that true with the av9 ? Iam sure ive Seen AV8+ in the leaks.

[@BoneheadPodcast]

I’m afraid so!!

[@Yabbamann]

The best Bretonnian starting roster was 4 Blockers, 4 Blitzers, 3 Peasants, and 2 rerolls. I'm pretty sure that's the best bet here too, since they positions are so needed. Full Line, 2 rerolls, is the best build for sure. Get Leader on 1 Thrower, Sure Hands on another, then build both with block and use as extra assits. Get Apothecary first, then probably an extra lineman, and then the ogre. You have all your Agility 3+ pieces straight from the go, and can develop them ASAP.

[@chrisdelaney4025]

I think this is what I'd run, but probably only 1 thrower to bank some cash for the apo and ogre asap. The other option with this is to drop a blitzer for the ogre. Maximising the blocking skills and strength on the team. I am not sure the knights will be as fun as brets.

[@labmansd]

You should redo many of the team rosters after playing with the new rules and getting used to the teams more

[@razzan532]

The Blitzers are probably the two behind Griff in the middle. With the full wings on their right shoulders.

[@BoneheadPodcast]

Hey Razzan! Yeah, with *all* the feathers!!

[@davidankers2697]

They are actually the ones with the imperial wings on the chest and the guy with a skull second from the left at the front. The two behind Griff are bodyguards too.

[@vaguelycertain8968]

Love the giant floppy feather hats; the rules, not so much. Think they'll be more likely to get use as counts as standard humans!

[@BoneheadPodcast]

Alas, I agree! Or players after than “Sub-Par Challenge”!!

[@francescofiorenzofacco7887]

First of all, 45k cheap for retainer?!? They have 1 less armor and agility compared to a human lineman, for a 5k discount and fend? 35 would have been fair, considered you have 70k re rolls.

[@BoneheadPodcast]

Ohhh I agree Francesco! They got the short end of the stick here; shall we assume “new team”-tax? Very unlike GW 😅

[@francescofiorenzofacco7887]

Yes, it's strange, specially when they declared to have tested the new edition...

[@BoneheadPodcast]

Worst case scenario - we have alternate sculpts for the human team 😂

[@tommasomugnai2304]

I really like this team, the only thing i dislike is the fact that i must buy a second box because comes with only 4 lineman :(

[@BoneheadPodcast]

At some point you’ll need a second box, you’re quite right! I think to start (depending on your list) you could easily use the spare 2 Bodyguards or Blitzers as Linemen - even if you painted the base / shoulder pad a different colour or used a base ring! The skinnier of the bodyguards would make a lineman no probs!

[@GaryKeenan]

Pretty standard double box. But at least here you’re grabbing the extra linemen and BodyGuards so only Blitzers and throwers are wasted in second box. It will be interesting to see if FW throw out a Booster pack fast like they did for both human and orcs in 2016. Could be worth waiting?

[@tommasomugnai2304]

@@GaryKeenan from what i have seen in the starting set box with the black orc we are gonna find 2 thrower 2 blitzer 4 bodyguard and 4 linemen if I'm not wrong. The difference between the positionals is the number of plumes on the head. So it's even more frustrating having to buy 2 boxes not for positional but for linemen

[@GaryKeenan]

Tommaso Mugnai Yup buddy :) But I think it’ll be 2 thrower 2 Blitzer 2bodyguard 6linemen... So the second box will also be useful for 2 more bodyguards and the extra Linemen. :)

[@GaryKeenan]

@@tommasomugnai2304 Hey looks like you’re right! 2 throwers 2 Blitzer 4 bodyguard 4 linemen I kind like it all positionals filled. But buying a second box for linemen is weird! However should be easy enough to sell the extra Nobles to 40k converters - I’ve heard a few say they would make nice rogue trader crew.

[@JayWorldman]

Also* (see my other comments !) : looks like more than 2 RR would be a waste anyway. You're not gonna dodge (only with your blitzer but he will get the dodge skill soon enough) because your linos and bodyguard will free themselves (passive wrestle or fend); you're not gonna pass or catch (or if you do, well, throwers and blitzers have alerady the skills). You're not gonna fail many blocks (you'll have six positionnals with blocking skills and from that point you can develop some more)... So, what would you need those rerolls for ? Pick up the ball, yes. And unlucky double skull. But that's it. A standard human team would need 3 or 4 because they'd need them to dodge. No dodging ? No Rroll.

[@bradp6452]

Guard and wrestle really pair poorly as I found with brets last season. 2 rerolls picking up the ball on 3+ seems pretty risky even if you have 6 models with both down turn over avoidance. Elves seem to get away with that with 2+ pick ups and dodges but these are not elves even if they want to cost them like they are.

[@BoneheadPodcast]

Dark Elf coaches are out there feeling pretty good about their rosters right now 😂

[@massimorolli4414]

My favourite roster is: Ogre, 4 bodyguards, 1 Blitzer, 1thrower 2RR at 1 mil exactly. Ogre and the Bodyguards are the only players on the team who are not badly overcosted. Also without them you will be mauled by strenght teams. So they are the ones to start. When they get guard you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. You need at least a thrower because you need leader ASAP. All you need to buy is the second catcher. I would go for 2nd thrower as well just because retainers are too bad. This team in general is Bad with a capitol B. Retainers, Blitzers and Throwers are pricewise among the worst players in Blood Bowl. Compared with humans they look bad and humans are not exactly gods either. IMO this is a tier 2 team and not one of the best tier 2. But the minis are super cool, so I will play them for sure.

[@BoneheadPodcast]

Unfortunately you are very, very right! I’m still hoping they prove to be fun, and a new challenge! (Or at least fun alternative models!)

[@bunbunkitten]

Everything about this is so true. BB2 Bretonnians were the right power level, this BB2020 version just nerfed them into the ground. You're playing a worse/overcosted Human team in order to start with Wrestle/Standfirm on a few.

[@sammulholland9412]

This is the build i chose as well!

[@JayWorldman]

Humans would be a tight match up indeed. BUT humans have only 4 reliable blockers, and they can't dodge reliably either. Imperials can line up to 6 reliable blockers, and they're more mobiles (as a team, though less fast). So basically : the Imperials can decide who they're letting run around, so they're ruling the game. And they can destroy a cage easily. Humans can hop to bash the Imperial linos, but they'll have to use their own unreliable lino to do so. Humans will end up getting more hits, and an imperial cage is way more solid. Humans wil be able to perfom fast play (pass, ma8) and bash (ogre) but Imperial, on average, can decide what game is played and push humans to try to get lucky, which as we know, almost always, often : fails. Yes or No ?

[@Invisigoth05]

For models it's pretty simple, if not a bit weird way to distinguish positions. Thrower is obvious. Linemen have 2 feathers, body guards 3 and blitzers 4 on their helmet. As stated earlier thrower has worse passing stat and doesn't come with the best ball carrying skill, that is Sure Hands. The linemen are a shame, peasants of old Bretonnians were one if not the worst non-stunty lineman in the game as it was. Now you have the same with increased price, would have loved to see an extra point of AV for the 5K or something. Blitzers dropping in quantity to 0-2 hurts a lot, that was the key part of Bretonnian team and now they are both worse and have less of them. Basically this just elevates Bodyguards to be your standing out position and Blitzers being slight utility/ball carrying role for their added movement. For now I don't see a good enough reason to include a single thrower. No sure hands and low passing stat makes them really undesirable for me, and only two positives being P access for On the Ball and Leader, and increased AV compared to linemen. Other than that they don't seem like a good value for your buck. Here's the roster am planning to kick-off in some league play once get to start some 2020 action: 3RR, 4xBodyguard, 1xBlitzer, 6xRetainer. Then aim to hire apo, second blitzer and finally an Ogre

[@BoneheadPodcast]

I like it! Maxing out the combat skills early on! My best thought for the Throwers is that they get you an extra A/P3+ player with AV9+ - allowing your fighters to fight, and these guys to be a fragile ball carrier! But as we all know (thanks to Zombies and Ogres)... 4+ to get the ball isn’t bad 😅 so the linemen can do ok!

[@Invisigoth05]

@@BoneheadPodcast Did make that roster so long ago did forget I also inched in an apo for 995tv total. Will be using my Greebo Brets for this, while complementing them with a few extras to double them as Humans and potentially Brets in the future.

[@JayWorldman]

@@Invisigoth05 I approve. I actually think that this starting roster is a solid one ! Of course you get weak linos, but let's put this into context : 1- if you face a bash team you want to fix them and run. Those Bash teams generally don't spam skills so you will survive most hits and run = mission accomplished 2- if you face fast team, well your linos hit just as hard as an elf, and the elf will probably be the one running So basically, each time your opponent hits your lino, he takes the huge risk to free it (so he can bring support elsewhere you can hit back). What would do a human team lineman instead ? Dodge on 4+, from time to time and waste rerolls; or stand there taking hits. Imperial lino does better, if he survives. So the real problem here is... Mighty Blow, as you need to survive the punch you receive. Nevertheless, as the team is growing, you'll buy an Ogre or 3xLinemen and you'll feel safe enough. And the last blitzer as well... I'm actually enthusiastic. Because the amount of tricks you can play to your opponent seems crazy to me, specially if you give side-step to your runner, guard to the bodyguard, you seriously mess up a cage (thx also to wrestle). And if you can mess up a cage, you win over the bashy teams. I wanted to play a standard human team, but the more I was thinking about my roster, the more I realised the skills I missed, Nobility had them... Yes, I will miss a MA8 catcher as ball carrier, but MA7 isn't bad and sure feet or +MA can complete it. That's where I am now. I've one week left to decide... What do you all think ?

[@JayWorldman]

Also : I read a lot that wrestle doesn't go with guard. Indeed, it would be a waste to develop a player and get one after the other... Becaue so far, no players had wrestle from the start !!! Now those bodyguard have wrestle AND stand firm. So what will their job be ? They will tight up bigger guys, or worst : smaller guys (dwarves). Because they've guard they will get hit, and they will take those players down. and if they don't they will not move, and they'll stand up again. Then they'll be free to move, and to support the fouling of the lineman... am I the only one seeing all this mess up potential ?! By the time the opponents get mighy blow ill be fully of guards; by the time they'll be full of guard my blitzers will get defensive... c'mon boys !!!!! Please tell me if im crazy to think this team rocks !!

[@ForceM1782]

Not sure why they needed to nerf Bretonnians like that. The reason why i don’t like these here is because they got rid of brets for them.

[@BoneheadPodcast]

Yeah, the Bret list was pretty solid! It’s probably an identity/ownership thing mixed in with not wanting to make a new list too powerful! It’s a shame!!

[@juderowe6408]

I Totally agree! I managed to convert a counts-as noble team that's knight themed

[@HazelVandice]

I think that the fat guys are the actual blitzers and the guys with the iron knuckles are the bodyguards. But that could be just me as I image that the nobles being the fat glory hogs. (I think they mention that in the reveal page).

[@BoneheadPodcast]

I like the logic there HazelVandice, but the big dudes are pictured as Bodyguards in the rule book!

[@HazelVandice]

@@BoneheadPodcast okay then

[@tuckersluck1991]

Would make sense as there are only two blobbys in the box yet 4 of the iron knuckles yet you can roster 4 bodyguards

[@thomascarter7447]

Why don't you compare them to the old britonians

[@BoneheadPodcast]

There’s a lot of similarities there, but the cost increase vs Brets is so heavy!!

[@romain2725]

Is it me or those bodyguards kinda look like better-groomed Nurgle bloaters? Even the arms are in the same position.

[@BoneheadPodcast]

Haha, I see it! I probably won’t be able to un-see it now either 😂

[@bartekrdzanek6725]

nobody seem to take into account tht this team only has 4 linemen minis

[@BoneheadPodcast]

Hey Bartek! It's a bit of a pain, but I'll be using my extra bodyguards as linemen until I can afford to fill out the roster!

[@psmiddy5742]

Running pass could be useful

[@BoneheadPodcast]

I think so! And then with Block they’ll become dual threat!

[@psmiddy5742]

@@BoneheadPodcast Block, guard. tackle and we're there

[@JayWorldman]

@@BoneheadPodcast can you explain how running pass would be "useful" ? The way I see it : - you have to be making a pass (rare) 1: it has to be a quick pass (rarer) 3: if it's a pass, rather than a hand off, it means you (in most cases) can't reach your target player, so you will use your ma to get close to him... but for RP to be useful you'd have to have MA left (rareR) 4: you'd have to have someone to mark, and it'd have to be useful (RARE) 5: that marked player should not be able to dodge away easily (frequent). Does this justify +10 K (15 K ?!) on TWO players ? I think no no no So i'd love to hear your point of view

[@lastationproductions]

Is this the human team that can have a hafling on the team? I may the human teams mixed up

[@BoneheadPodcast]

Haha, they can take up to 2 Halflings! But Human (regular) teams can also take them now - they get 0-3!!

[@trashfire9641]

@@BoneheadPodcast wait, Imperial Nobility can take 0-2 halflings?!

[@project_swift]

I would be looking to go a brawler build (without doing the proper math), something like 4 Bodyguards 1 Blitzer/Ogre 1 Thrower 6 Linemen 3 Rerolls It's based off my favourite Human opener with the Ogre, 4 Blitzers and a Thrower.

[@BoneheadPodcast]

That’s a hefty line up! Comes in a little over cost, but you can drop a bit to make it fit!

[@project_swift]

@@BoneheadPodcast Figured it would come over cost. Didn't have the numbers in front of me 👍

[@GordonTaylorThomas]

bguards cost the same as a blorc, wtf were they thinking

[@Stormeris]

Man, this team does not look like it's going to be very good at all.

[@Stormeris]

I mean, their linemen are only 5k cheaper than human linemen, while having lower AG and AV and only getting fend for it. And Noble Throwers are actually way worse than normal human throwers, because human throwers pass on 2+ and have sure hands. They're kinda like a worse Brett team + Ogre. And you can differentiate the different players by the number of feathers on their helmets, Linemen have 2 feathers, bodyguards 3 feathers, blitzers have 4 feathers and throwers don't have helmets

[@BoneheadPodcast]

I prefer my feather count to matter for pillows, not Blood Bowl 😁😅 Very good spot though! Ohh the throwers *are* worse than the human team, but for 30k they are so so much better than the linemen!

[@BoneheadPodcast]

If you end up with the 2 Block, 4 Wrestle, 1 ogre line up - it’ll be pretty fighty!

[@konatelassina5301]

I think that they can do decent at preventing the 1 half "box-crawl" team, possibly, from scoring. But, yeah, 2nd tier for sure.

[@BoneheadPodcast]

Unless the Khemri/Vamp PDF drops at launch we’re going to need a few extra T2 teams 😅

[@JorisVDC]

I'm a little sad that they didn't boost the peasants to 35k a pop. That's what this team needs with its expensive positionals and TRR. If I ever try this team I would opt for the full Line. Buy a pair of peasants to hold your numbers up. Peasants aren't great but they will keep your more important players behind a screen. So maybe I could see dropping a Bodyguard to have an extra peasant from the start. That way you can make those juicy fouls. Fouling is to compensate for the lack of MB. So I wouldn't mind developing a peasant or two into a Dirty Player. 😎 The fact that Body Guards start with Stand Firm is Huge. Now they only need 6SPP to become a very annoying Blocker. If only they had block instead of Wrestle. I am really considering Block as their second skill. But it's that good paired with Guard Stand Firm. I would go two like that and also a ball sacker with Tackle and MB. Or the other way around. One Thrower would be a Leader caddy, the other ball retriever On the Ball and Sure Hands or the other way around without Leader.

[@ShogiDojoLyon]

😃

[@lucaspenades]

Yeaaaaaa

[@dambrooks7578]

FEND!!

[@BoneheadPodcast]

😂😂

[@dambrooks7578]

@@BoneheadPodcast it is surely the correct way to respond when someone Blocks the player down? When they do remind them with a forceful FEND! in case they were thinking to creep into the recently vacated space? 😂😂😇😂😂

[@blackraven3720]

these only good for 1 off games not league, really need fans for the leagues

[@mrianburke]

How annoyed would most leagues be if you played these guys re-labelled as traditional humans (maybe using the clean-shaven linemen as catchers, and putting the bodyguards in as the 3rd and 4th blitzers?)

[@BoneheadPodcast]

Honestly I don’t think that would be a problem at all! Maybe with some identifying colours (feathers) or base rings? Apart from the throwers they all look pretty similar

[@DeathEatsCurry]

Just find some classic knight helmet heads, glue on the feathers and bam: Instant Bretonnian team.