About this document
Annually, the NAF release rules for tournaments that take place in the following calendar year.
These rules are published after a review of official Blood Bowl 2020 (BB2020) releases by Games Workshop and consideration of any further elements we wish to include.
This process is intended to reduce confusion and provide a stable, easy reference point for Tournament Organisers (TOs) and attendees. While TOs are welcome to include house rules at their tournaments, this document serves as the baseline from which tournaments should begin in order to attain NAF sanctioning (for more details on NAF sanctioning, refer to the NAF Tournament Approval Document).
The following rules are also available as a downloadable PDF:
NAF Rules for Tournaments 2024 Règles NAF pour les tournois 2024 (French version by Thot) Reglas NAF para Torneos 2024 (Spanish version by Kafre)
Documents that make up BB2020 are
★ The rules in the BB2020 starter box.
★ Any supplementary rules published by Games Workshop, such as Spike Journals and Almanacs, in addition to rules accompanying any product release, such as the packets inside Star Player packaging.
★ The Teams of Legend document, released and hosted by Games Workshop.
★ The Errata and Designer’s Commentary (known as FAQ) published by Games Workshop.
NAF-specific deviations
NAF tournaments are expected to follow the rules published in these BB2020 documents apart from the following, listed exceptions:
★ Inclusion of Slann. Slann are a historical team that does not appear in BB2020. The NAF recommends that you include this race at tournaments, but this is not mandatory. Please see the next page for the Slann roster.
★ Vampire roster. Only the new Vampire roster may be used from now in standard tournaments.
★ FAQ, errata and new rosters. Any rules clarification needs to be applied immediately. Should changes to existing rosters be published before release of the next annual NAF review, TOs may choose if they want to include either old or new roster. Which version is available should be clearly stated in the rulespack. Similarly, new teams will be optional.
★ Star players and inducements. As before, inclusions of some or all Star Players as well as other inducements is at the discretion of the TO. Custom Star Players continue to be available. For more details, refer to the NAF Tournament Approval Document.
★ Banning of skills and skill combos. Skills (e.g. Leader) and skill combos (e.g. Sneaky Git and Dirty Player) may not be banned. TOs should find other ways to balance rulesets, for example by regulating skill stacking or access to secondary skills.
Advice to TOs
The NAF makes the following recommendations to TOs running tournaments using BB2020 rules:
★ Customization. The NAF continues to allow minor changes to the kickoff table, weather table and house-ruled inducements at the discretion of the Tournament Director, providing adherence to the NAF Tournament Approval Document is maintained.
★ Specialist variant. Tournaments with rulesets that deviate too much from the default or that introduce changes to core rules will be approved only as the Specialist variant.
Recommended additional team
In addition to the teams available from Games Workshop, Slann are recommended for inclusion and can have their matches recorded in the NAF database.
The Slann are an ancient race of space travellers stranded on our planet many ages ago. After realising that rescue was never coming, they settled down in Lustria and enslaved their Lizardman neighbours. While most Slann prefer to become fat and lazy while reptilian thralls do their bidding, a few of the younger generation still enjoy a bit of Blood Bowl. The Slann have no passing game to speak of, but their ability to leap, dive and intercept are second to none.
| QTY | POSITION | COST | MA | ST | AG | PA | AV | SKILLS & TRAITS | PRIMARY | SECONDARY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-16 | Linemen | 60,000 | 6 | 3 | 3+ | 4+ | 9+ | Pogo Stick, Very Long Legs | G | AS |
| 0-4 | Catchers | 80,000 | 7 | 2 | 2+ | 4+ | 8+ | Diving Catch, Pogo Stick, Very Long Legs | GA | SP |
| 0-4 | Blitzers | 110,000 | 7 | 3 | 3+ | 4+ | 9+ | Diving Tackle, Jump Up, Pogo Stick, Very Long Legs | GAS | P |
| 0-1 | Kroxigor | 140,000 | 6 | 5 | 5+ | – | 10+ | Bonehead, Loner (4+), Mighty Blow (+1), Prehensile Tail, Thick Skull | S | GA |