FUMBBL, the online Blood Bowl league

A few days ago there was a nice discussion on discord between some of us about what was the probability of rolling a double skull followed by another double skull (presumably therefore using a reroll) during a game in which let's say about seventy rolls of two six-faces dice.

Based on brute-force algorithm and/or an article found on the web the result should be a little over 5% (5.05562242% rounded to the eighth decimal place to be precise) but several methods have been proposed in the chat giving values some times only little bit different.

I did not find an easy way to bring the discussion with some figures back to this blog (the column on the side truncates some figures if you go in the comments mode)so I wrote a public note which link is given below, which seems quite readable to me. This note also proposes two programmes that perform the calculation (one in C# and another in MATLAB)

Perhaps if there is any mathematician in the community who would like to give us a slightly simpler explanation than the one proposed by Prof. Villarino's article (or a confirmation of the correctness of the result) he would be welcome!

Happy reading!

Probability of Double-Double-Skull

Mayemi Nereid-fins Open Bonehead Season 3 with 1-1 Tie vs. Four Farthings

The Mayemi Nereid-fins kicked off Bonehead League Season 3 with a 1-1 draw vs. the Four Farthings. The Four Farthings old world alliance squad got their TD from lineman Theoden King, dominating Mayemi on the ground with 39 yards rushing over just 18 yards for the Nereid-fins. Mayemi got the equalizer in the second half from catcher Falyn Woodyl and held Four Farthings scoreless in the half, despite managing only 10 successfully blocks for the game vs. Four Farthings’ 25.


Theoden King runs around Mayemi blitzer Jalyn Killyps to get the edge along the northern sideline for the opening score

“We definitely need to find a way to be more physical out there,” said Mayem Coach Mickon McDenial after the match. “It’s tough with elves though. These fellas seem to be more interested in running away from contact. And that treeman threw them off a bit. It’s sacrilegious for them to hit a tree.”

The Nereid-fins strategy of dodging away from any and all blocks nearly paid off in the first half, as their withdrawn defense came within inches from holding the Old World Alliance team out of the end zone. After Bard scooped up the opening kick-off, the Four Farthings quickly assembled a cage of blockers for their thrower and slowly made their way up field. Fangorn and human blitzer Aragorn son of Arathorn did their best to clear a path, blitzing Mayemi’s elves one by one. But each time, the Nereid-fin players merely picked themselves up off the ground, dusted off their Cathay silk uniforms, and reassembled into an impenetrable column defense.

“Sometimes the best defense is a matter of just getting in the way,” explained Mayemi captain blitzer Rahor Mossheart. “When the forces of chaos tried invade the elven kingdoms in the first age, for instance, they say it wasn’t the elves’ warcraft that stopped them but rather the dead bodies. The orcs and goblin hordes killed so many of our ancestors, they couldn’t get past all the corpses.”

In the closing seconds Mayemi had columned off the entire end-zone except for a small path along the northern sideline. Unable to break through, Bard handed the ball to Theoden, who scampered around the edge and sprinted across the goal line to put the Four Farthings up 1-0 just before the halftime whistle.

“That one’s on me,” said Coach McDenial. “I just didn’t think Theoden was fast enough. Last I saw him, he was old and withered and could barely move. Always had this creepy guy whispering in his ear. I don’t know what happened. Must be taking some new kind of multi-vitamin.”

Mayemi quickly evened the score in the second half after a touchback gave speedy catcher Odyl Bekym the ball near midfield. Streaking up the southern sideline, Beckym was deep in Four Farthings territory before troll slayer Dain Ironfoot got a hold of him. Just before the dwarf could take him down, however, Beckym handed the ball to Woodyl, who crossed the goal line untouched to tie the game at 1-1.


Woodyl scores to tie the game early in the second half.

After a pack of Four Farthings halfling fans who called themselves “The Sheriffs” stormed the field on the ensuing kickoff and knocked three Mayemi players to the pitch with legs of roast mutton, the Nereid-find were forced to get more aggressive with their defense in the second half. Mossheart challenged the Four Farthings blockers and pinned Bard in near the southern sideline, opening an opportunity for line-elf Aryn Brewyr to get a shot at the ball carrier.

As Bard attempted to stiff-arm Brewyr, the elf wrestled the thrower to the ground, knocking the ball loose, and giving the Nereid-fins a chance to steal the game. The ball bounced precariously near the southern sideline, landing momentarily in Woodyl’s hands, before Ironfoot sent the catcher to the pitch with a vicious blitzing right cross.

Line-elf Paderyk Pyl was able to scoop the ball off the ground and hand it too Mossheart, who looked up field to see Kadyr Kohoo deep in Four Farthings territory. After Brewyr wrestled Theoden to the ground along the sidelines, the only thing standing in Mossheart’s way was the old king’s prone body. However, as Mossheart attempted to leap over Theoden’s body and get up field to make the pass to Kohoo for the winning TD, he tripped Theoden, fell to the ground, and lost the ball.

“I guess that whole thing about bodies getting in the way can work both ways,” said Mossheart on the failed attempt.


Mossheart trips over Theoden’s prone body and loses the ball, derailing Mayemi’s last-second scoring threat

The Four Farthings then had their own chance for a last-second game-winning score. However, as Bard attempted to pitch the ball forward to a wide-open Eowyn Eomund's Daughter, the catcher inexplicably dropped the pass, and the final whistle sounded, ending the game in a 1-1 tie.

“Eowyn had been giving that Aragorn guy these longing looks all game, and he was standing a few yards behind her at the end there,” said McDenial on the blown play that gave his team the tie. “So, luckily for us, she was a bit distracted on that last play.”

The Chaos Draft League is looking for 1-2 coaches to fill franchise vacancies. As soon as we have our full allotment of coaches we will start the Draft for Season 2. Now is the best time to jump in so that you can put your fingerprints on your own franchise.

If you are looking for a place with a fun group of people and an interesting experience come give it a go.

In this Chaos Draft League, you will manage a team of mortal players mostly taken from standard rosters and secret league rosters. We have 16 teams and a 14 game season. Rounds are 10 days each and coaches are expected to be available to play in European time zones.

Here is a link to our league page.
https://fumbbl.com/p/group&group=16483&op=view

You can find us on discord here.
https://discord.gg/BrXU5HGc

or contact me directly if you have questions.

Come on! It is exactly what you are looking for!

Anyone ever have a run of games where the same thing keeps happening over and over? I'm in one at the moment with my new trophy squad. I had a brief run of 2d skulling a block early in the turn and having to rr it or lose all position, only to then fail to pick the ball up anyway. That probably lasted five matches ish. The ball thing then happily ended, however the needing to rr a skulls on my first turn receiving hasn't. Without leaping to exaggeration (it happened in every damn game, every turn, for example) I would say it must have happened maybe seven times in fourteen matches. I don't think it's actually ever rr into another skulls - the effect is more subtle as I end up wondering where all my rr went by turn four. These aren't leavable skulls as the last couple of actions either - they are generally first or second block (and action bar movement). So what are your trends and why is nuffle such an absolute *&(*^*&^*&^?

As a side note, I have a trend where if I fail a gfi, I then rr it into another one about 50% of the time, which has currently lasted 7999 games. Working this out made me realise game 8000 is next up. Happy bloodbowling.

BBT12 - Gobes Performance

Dark Elves - 15 (now 10) Games of BBT

This blog was meant to show my thoughts after each game and compile them in one spot afterwards (may include whining/complaining but I don't care, its my raw direct thoughts after a game). I was excited to play this season but match 10 really just ruined everything and made it super un-fun. I might comeback and finish the rest of it after I'm finished with the new BB3 season or something but for the meantime I plan on just playing 145 games and RRR matches as they are the most fun for me. I know my reasoning may seem odd to you more experienced players but I think my opinion counts too. If I could recommended ONE thing to the admins on here, is that I would love a feature that lets me ONLY que vs other BBT squads (no C teams) I would rather wait longer to find more fair (to me at least) matchups who are playing in the same environment as I am. I imagine this sounds silly to you guys who've been here far longer than I have haha.

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Match 1 - https://fumbbl.com/p/match?id=4569128

My first win in BBT versus a non-stunty team. I am happy but my opponent got diced with the injury rolls he sustained! Very lucky match. I attempted 2 fouls and was able to remove the Rogre who was the biggest threat and avoided any permanent injurys to myself.

Match 2 - https://fumbbl.com/FUMBBL.php?page=match&id=4569239

Terrible game for me as I had failed 3 blocks and had to reroll 2 more. Khrone had good dice and didn't have much trouble! Got unlucky with the injury table this time around and lost my witch to the classic pow when you have blodge. Could've tied if I had more players I feel. Only positive was +4 spp from hurting 2 of his players.

Match 3 - https://fumbbl.com/FUMBBL.php?page=match&id=4569344

A thrilling match as I managed to win 2-1 while down players. AV9 is a damn lie! Constant knock-outs and two linemen SI's. I've so far avoided cas on my important players however which is good. My opponent and I both wasted our rerolls quick each half which led to a more exciting matchup. I stole the ball first half after spotting an opening and managed to get a score on my witch. Second half I felt I was doomed to draw but was able to get a few plays that allowed me to rush in and score, he did manage to get one back. With 1 turn left each, I feared the "timeout" event which luckily didn't happen! I also managed to push a player into a trapdoor which rolled a 1, but didn't injury him!

Match 4 - https://fumbbl.com/p/match?id=4569383

Terrible first half offense from me, I got stuck and made bad plays and wasted all my rerolls. I got lucky as my opponent for whatever reason, used his turn 8 to block with the ogre, resulting in 2 failed blocks. Rain appeared in the 2nd half, however my opponent was able to pick up the ball in one attempt. Played a terrible defense too. Had more numbers but did stupid plays and lost.

Match 5 - https://fumbbl.com/p/match?id=4569578

Terrible game, tons of removals on my side. Soft conceded first half, couldn't be asked.

Match 6 - https://fumbbl.com/FUMBBL.php?page=match&id=4569785

A scary, tense, and slightly annoying game as I face beanbelly once more from match 3. This time it is his dwarf team with SIX Guard pieces. Very intidimaditing as I've never faced such thing before. I had some issues at for the first few turns but managed to use elven speed to give me the touchdown first half. I did get a bit tilted after rolling snake eyes on a rush but my opponent was kind enough to help me out after I asked for help on not getting demotivated after the fact. Defense was okay for me. I think I made it tough and he scored halfway into the 2nd half. Both of us out of rerolls I knew I had to play it safe and go for the draw if possible. I tried to make a run for it on the sidelines with 3 turns remaining but got sacked and allowed him to attempt to pass the ball to a Blitzer (which rolled a 6!) but failed to catch by 1 dice point.

Match 7 - https://www.fumbbl.com/FUMBBL.php?page=match&id=4569850

A close match between Spookeh and I. Spookeh had removed 5-8 of his OWN players. I didn't do ANY damage until Turn 16 when he had scored the winning touchdown. A greedy foul cost me a player. Getting rid of the runner would've been worth it but it didn't happen! Not the worse of games but I'm hoping to get some more removal luck my way in the upcoming matches.

Match 8 - https://fumbbl.com/p/match?id=4570034

Taking a days break after this one. 5 Removals within 3 turns, (one apo'd) I don't understand it. AV9 is not that weak. I could understand it if i was also dealing back the same damage to my opponent but I haven't. It really feels like my team is bugged or something cause the amount of removals I receive is too damn high. Its way too common I feel with this ruleset and just kills the hell out of me. So far every game I've played I'm at a HUGE disadvantage in terms of players on the field, I get its elves but AV9 shouldn't be dropping players like flies, and if it does, where's my luck in all of this? Halfway into the 15 games played and I don't think I've had a game where my dice dominated the opponent since Game 1 and even that one I lost players too! I know a lot of people will see this as "whining" or whatever but it tends to get annoying when this becomes an every game thing. Every few games I can understand but Jesus Christ nuffle, let me be able to play a game.

Match 9 - https://fumbbl.com/FUMBBL.php?page=match&id=4570534

Comeback and its another garbage fucking game. Failed pickups, failed dodges, failed rushes, failed every fucking thing. I'm no longer playing vs people, I'm playing vs awful dice that only seems to effect me no matter what I try. Once again, I go for a score to salvage whatever spp I can and I trip. Then as my opponent has the ball directly on the sidelines ready for a surf, I 1d blitz and boom. Skulls. I had Double Skulls twice 2nd half too, its beyond stupid now. I'm just numb at this point. I know I'm not a bad player, I'm just getting bad dice. My opponent had stated he also had been having a bad streak of games but alas only one of us got the shit-end of the stick this time. I'm firing my apo. He hasn't saved anyone and its just bloating my TV for no reason. I don't think I will win a single game at all anymore. Its just not gonna happen with this type of luck these past 3 days.

Match 10 - https://fumbbl.com/FUMBBL.php?page=match&id=4570872

straight up concede and I am giving up on BBT. Not fun playing versus teams that were made in 2022 and farmed SPP in a different environment than me. I'm not sure why BBT isn't just BBT teams only. Makes no sense and ruins the competitiveness for me.

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Thanks for reading. Would love any feedback from experienced players on how you felt about this blog. I planned on making blogs for all 4 of the teams I wanted to play this season (and might will just at a later time) But if its too whiny or whatever then I won't make any more. The idea was to garner my thoughts right when a match ended so I can see how I felt after a good/bad game then share it with the community as someone who only started bloodbowl 6 months ago (still basically an infant compared to the rest of yall!)

- Gobes

Green Dukes Again End Season With Program-Threatening Controversy
5-Game Winless Streak, Missing Spirit Tree, Questionable Decisions Prompt Coach’s Firing, Team’s Disbanding

The Duqueswood University Green Dukes ended their promising 4th NCBB season with a 5-game winless streak and a slew of controversies that have shaken the program to its roots, resulting in the termination of the program. Since tying the UBC Chunderbeards and falling to the T-Roy Trojans, the Green Dukes were bested by 2-1 by the Air Force Falconorcs and the Marshall Thundering Herd, and struggled to a 1-1 tie with the Navy Midskeletonmen in a violent death-filled match.


The Green Dukes’ homefield, Uther J. Rune-Elf Athletic Field, which has grown each year with the team’s popularity on campus, now sits empty, closed until further notice

In addition to the late-season collapse, two developing controversies have prompted the university to fire Head Coach Gerric Smithson and disband the program following the Marshall loss. Months-long investigations into the disappearance of former wardancer Mirlin Spinleaf’s spirit tree and Coach Smithson’s decision to force his players to imbibe beer during halftime of the UBC game concluded with the finding of “gross wrongdoing” on Smithson’s part.

“With the assistance of esteemed parent donors Mirvis and Scyntia Spinleaf and VP of Student Safety Baerys Pondripple, Duqueswood University has found Gerric Smithson guilty of gross wrongdoing and negligence and dismissed him as head coach,” the university said in a recent statement. “All evidence indicates that Smithson desecrated the resting place of a former player and coerced members of his team into consuming beer. Though the university has been willing to look past the rampant maiming and deaths of over a dozen elven players in the past, these horrid crimes of uprooting a tree and making elves drink filthy dwarven beer have placed a stain on this program and cannot be overlooked.”


The Green Dukes treedia relations office sits vacant and vandalized, following the disbanding of the university’s blood bowl program

In light of this decision, the university destroyed all coverage of the final three games by the Duqueswood treedia relations department. Additionally, communications intern and Green Duke senior treeman Oakward Weatherborn was dismissed from his internship and suspended from the university when he reacted to these decisions by vandalizing the office in a very slow rampage and fracturing the skull of Baerys Pondripple when he tossed eh VP of Student Safety from the tree-office.
“See, sport is safe,” Weatherborn was heard to shout at Pondripple’s unconscious body. “You fall 20 feet, and you is not dead.”

Despite the purging of the game coverage, Duqueswoodian reporters were able to recover following mage-cast images and scraps of reporting from each game:


Orc blitzer Dust Devil Jr. stomps over the goal line for the winning score in the final seconds, after a key block from big ’un blocker Green Hornet opens a path by sending freshman Green Duke thrower Phaedry Featherwind to the pitch in an explosion of blood following a brutal head-butt


Navy anointed blitzer Skulland Crossbonies extends the Midskeletonmen’s 4-season murder streak vs. Duqueswood, killing senior co-captain Greeny Bullwind with a shoulder spike to the midsection


Shifty junior beastman Andre Sam dodges through a pair of Green Duke defenders before sprinting across the goal line for the 2-1 win just before final whistle

Thus, the end of the Green Dukes fourth season marks the end of an era at Duqueswood, as the blood bowl program, which seemed to always be teetering on the edge of collapse, is officially no more. Despite crowds of students gathering outside the university president’s treehouse and singing “For the Wood,” the team’s fight song in unison, the administration remains unmoved.


Duqueswood student protesters occupy the president’s treehouse, singing the Green Dukes’ fight song to demand the reinstatement of the school’s blood bowl program

Not only has the team been disbanded, but Gerric Smithson is being held by the Duqueswood Forest elven sentries to await potential execution following a trial later this week. The university will also hold its disciplinary hearing for Weatherborn at that time to determine whether the treeman will be permitted to graduate, and officially make the traditional walk through the university’s tree gate during Commencement.

The Duqueswoodian will provide extended coverage of the upcoming hearings, but for now, we leave you with this cryptic statement from Smithson, the only words we were able to get him to offer on the controversy and his upcoming trial.

“Look, they’ve tried to run me out of these woods from day one, and I’m still hanging on like the last leaf backlit by a glorious autumnal sunset. Sheesh, look at that, I’ve been here so long, you even got me talking like an elf. But anyway, I’m not out of options here. Let’s just say, I’ll be bringing a surprise witness to my hearing who can shed more than a little light on all this Tree-S, I mean, B.S. I just hope he can make it there on time. He’s not as fast as he used to be.”

Blood Bowl involves knocking your opponent down and hurting them when you can.

Stomp'em, Cut'em, Barf'on'em, and Blow'em'up.

But it's even better when you can make a little gold in the meantime.

"The Underground" is a Discord Server dedicated the this underground economy where you can earn some coins playing Blood Bowl, and lose them all betting on games played by other coaches.

Wait, I'm being told not everyone loses all their coins betting, and that you can earn coins betting on games. I'll have to take their word on that. I do know that bot in charge will extend loans and while I've not yet tried to borrow any money... I can't imagine there's a shortage of muscle to collect kneecaps.

Anyway, if this might be your jam, stop by The Underground to get started. You can tell'em Raz sent ya.