Blitz Bowl Beast Mode

My daughter and I were getting set up for a game of Blitz Bowl, when my younger son said he wanted to play, specifically with the Ambull from Blackstone Fortress. So we whipped up some rules to add him as a third player.

Start of game: Deploy one Borewyrm, scattered from the trap door.

After each coach’s turn, the Ambull/Borewyrm gets an activation. As a Borewyrm, roll a D6. On a 6+, grow into the Ambull. On subsequent Borewyrm activations, grow as a 5+, 4+, and so on.

If still a Borewyrm, you can move 3 squares, regardless of other models, but must end the move in their own square. Similarly, other models can move ignoring the Borewyrm, but must not end in the same square.

If transforming into the Ambull, select a 2×2 square to expand into, pushing any models or balls in the area outward. Then, make up to two square move, including next to an opponent if desired. Finally, the Ambull can take a block action against an adjacent model. The Ambull always counts as assisted, and can reroll the block dice.

If the Ambull injures a model, it carries it off, and a new Borewyrm is spawned on the trap door. If not, the Ambull can move and block again on its next activation.

The Ambull can be attacked as usual, and has a 2+ armor save (though this never came up). The Borewyrm cannot be attacked.

This mode, while far from competitive, was quite effective at keeping both kids engaged. The Borewyrm would stalk a model until popping into the Ambull and eating somebody. The turns were short and simple enough it didn’t bog things down even though it happened after every player turn. Plus, I got focused on, giving me a handicap and making the game more fun for everybody.

The Ambull’s target rarely made its armor save (Wood Elves and Skaven), so the Ambull didn’t stay on the board for very long. It might need some tweaks to keep from blocking up the board for higher armored players.

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