Gnomes frankly have a tough time winning a game of Blood Bowl – but bringing along a Treeman is a great way to close the height gap. And the strength gap. And the skill gap. These mighty arboreal players give the Gnomes half a shot against most serious teams.
Gnomes are something of an enigma in the world of Blood Bowl, with many fans having dismissed their existence almost entirely. While their tactics, and woodland creatures, are somewhat unorthodox, Gnomes are quite fond of the game. While individual players are hardly paragons of athleticism, their mastery of magical illusions and the befriending of forest beasts gives them certain advantages not enjoyed by less gloriously bearded teams.
Gnome teams play Blood Bowl on pitches deep within their mysterious forests, in clearings between the trees. These aren't just your regular run-of-the-mill forests, though – magic hangs in the air, and all manner of creatures, both fey and mundane, come out of hiding to watch their Gnome friends play Blood Bowl!
Even with their magical illusions, Gnome teams will need all the luck they can get in games of Blood Bowl, which is where these themed dice come in.
Deep in the dank heart of the old forests, mischievous woodland creatures frolic, prance, and beat each other to a pulp playing the age-old game of Blood Bowl. This issue's guest editor, Davide Mirrorfoot, reveals just a few of the secrets of Gnome teams.
Drop pods are self-contained, recoverable orbital descent capsules, each designed to carry a squad of Space Marines or deliver lethal fire support. They are showered down from orbit like ordnance, allowing surprise attacks and precision combat drops to punch down right into the midst of active war zones.
Solar Auxilia squadrons of Basilisk and Medusa tanks can both lay down fearsome barrages ahead of the advancing ranks of infantry. The Medusa siege gun can crack open mighty fortifications, while the Basilisk's earthshaker cannon hurls explosive shells at great distances. Their hulls, derived from the Solar pattern Leman Russ, offer enhanced protection from all but the most potent enemy weapons.
Warhounds are the smallest class of ‘true’ Titan, classified within the De Bellis Titanicus as ‘Scout Titans’ in reference to their common operational role as vanguards to larger Titan battle groups, or support elements for lesser ground forces. A Warhound's sheer scale and power is enough to turn the tide of most battles – but when facing enemy Titans, they must rely on manoeuvrability and pack tactics to bring down their larger counterparts.
The Warbringer Nemesis Titan serves the Collegia Titanica in the role of heavy fire support. It mounts a single Warlord-scale weapon on its upper carapace and Reaver-scale weapons on its arms – sacrificing the speed, armour and manoeuvrability of a conventional Battle Titan in favour of firepower far in excess of its size. With a Mori quake cannon launching world-shaking shells of arcane power, the Warbringer Nemesis is a sight to inspire dread in all but the most battle-hardened enemy Princeps.
Warmaster Heavy Battle Titans are the embodiment of the Omnissiah's wrath. Once hidden away from prying eyes, these war machines have been unleashed in the cataclysmic days of the Horus Heresy. Though few in number, the thunderous tread of a Warmaster is an omen of impending doom, for little can stand against their fury.
Dire Wolf Heavy Scout Titans are sturdier and more heavily armoured than their Warhound cousins, and function as ambushers in Legio Titanicus battlegroups. Dire Wolves hunker down in forward positions to ambush and obliterate key targets with precise shots from their primary dorsal weapon, while their pintle-mounted arm weapons offer some defence against lesser targets, allowing the Heavy Scout Titans to focus on lining up a firing solution.
Warhounds are the smallest class of ‘true’ Titan, classed as Scout Titans in reference to their common operational role as vanguards to larger Titan battle groups, or support elements to lesser ground forces. When confronting enemy god-engines, Warhounds must rely on their speed, manoeuvrability, and pack tactics to bring down their larger counterparts.