OK - I've been in touch with
Andy Hoare. He personally asked me to pass on his thanks for developing the questions to the new rules and for all your comments - he has been 'lurking' (in a skim read kind of way).
He has said that James is going to be collating the questions we've asked and will be answering them officially. Mike Davies separately told me that there will be another Q&A coming out in about a week (see page 4 of this thread) so perhaps these questions will be in that?
However, here's some of what we've discussed. He's okayed me sharing this. Quotations are from me.
a) I do think there's some rule bloat you need to be mindful of. For example, Guffle Pusmaw could have easily been given Sure Hands and Catch - and perhaps one line about his prehensile tongue helps him pick up the ball, and his enormous mouth helps him keep it! (Net gain is less rules and effectively the same skill set). Weeping Dagger - well, you know what the old timers like me think, so I don't need to repeat it.
AH> Yup, we’re keeping eye on it. We feel the rules canon can take a little expansion but where that crosses the line and becomes ‘bloat’ is a matter of taste!
c) Release schedule. I know this is something to which you're bound by practicalities, but be aware that the initial enthusiasm for the game will need to transfer to people playing leagues quickly. Humans, Orcs and Skaven make a pretty thin set of options for a league right now. I think the key point is getting some key teams and stars (such as the 'big guys') out soon, to support league play getting up and running in stores.
AH>We’re doing what we can as fast as we can! J
d) Artwork. I understand a number of things you've done - such as avoided writing in English anywhere on the board / dugout / pass ruler etc. to avoid having to make different versions in different languages. This is intelligent design. I also get budget restrictions, but I do think the new rulebooks are less entertaining with less images. Compare your final version with LRB 5 (easily downloaded on the internet) and you'll see what I mean. I was encouraged to see Pete Knifton's Deathroller image in Deathzone Season 1, for example. I also don't think any old timers will mind old artwork being recycled, as it is so very cool! I also like how you're recycling some Did You Know's into the White Dwarf Spike Magazine articles.
AH> Agreed, and the style is developing more with each supplement we produce.
Wood Elf Roster:
Is the cost of Wood Elf Linemen meant to be 70,000?
AH> Yup, as per the errata.
Skaven Roster:
Was the Rat Ogre meant to be left off in the team list included with the Skavenblight Scramblers? If so, which is correct - that in the boxed set, or that in Deathzone Season One?
AH> As explained in the box, the roster is a pre-built 1m gp team so the contents can be used even if the player doesn’t own Death Zone Season 1. The box doesn’t include a Rat Ogre so neither does the roster!
Rulebook:
* Do you plan to collate all the rules into one document, rather than the current five places to look? (Blood Bowl rulebook, Deathzone Season one, Errata, Teams of Legend, Q&A)
AH> Yup, this is being done right now!