Welcome, Blood Bowl fans!
In an exclusive interview with NuffleZone.com, the president of the NAF, Shirokov, sat down with us to discuss his vision and goals to strengthen the global Blood Bowl community. From his impressive performance in the 2023 World Cup in Alicante to his plans to improve inclusion and participation in the game, the president shared his thoughts on a wide range of key issues affecting Blood Bowl players and fans worldwide.
Let’s begin!
This interview has been translated from spanish, you can see the original here.
Background and Personal Experience
To start, could you tell us a little more about yourself and your background in the world of Blood Bowl?
I started playing in the mid-90s. Initially, we only played leagues among friends, and some small tournaments, before the NAF was created. I joined the NAF in 2008, and for about ten years, I’ve been regularly attending many tournaments.
What initially attracted you to Blood Bowl, and how did you get involved in the game?
I think I got into Blood Bowl following the same path as many players of my generation. I really liked choose-your-own-adventure books, especially the gamebooks from Altea Junior (like the Lone Wolf series, Cretan Chronicles, Sorcery!…). Then I became fascinated with HeroQuest and Star Quest, and soon after, I was playing ICE’s Lord of the Rings role-playing game and buying Citadel miniatures. We had a role-playing and strategy games association in Getafe, and there we played Warhammer Fantasy and all of Games Workshop’s games: Warhammer 40K, Necromunda, Mordheim… and that’s how I discovered Blood Bowl and entered this “world.”
How do you think your previous experience with Blood Bowl has prepared you to take on the role of NAF president?
Having been involved for so long, I think I know the different aspects of the game pretty well. I’ve read a lot about its lore and the history of the Warhammer Fantasy world. I’ve also played many leagues and with very different groups, where we often created our own league content, such as team and player backstories, interviews with coaches, magazines about league progress, and so on.
I also really enjoy painting, converting miniatures, and modeling. I always try to make my teams unique, with each player having a name, backstory, and a fitting miniature. For the past few years, I’ve been participating in tournaments and the more competitive side of the game. I’ve participated in the last three World Cups, two Eurobowls, and one EurOpen.
Alicante World Cup
Your Khorne team had a stellar performance in the 2023 Alicante World Cup, finishing in second place. What do you think was the key to your success?
The real key was that my teammates allowed me to play all the rounds. I played on a team of seven players, and we had agreed to rotate so that everyone rested in some round. But since I was ranked very high, they insisted I play all nine rounds and aim for the individual standings. So, many thanks to Pablo, Mayans, Chema, César, Julepo, and Javi.
Individually, I think the key was staying calm and focused in moments when luck wasn’t on my side… and trying to seize opportunities. It’s something you always try to do, but it doesn’t always work out.
Can you share any specific strategy or tactic you consider fundamental to your team’s good performance?
Certainly, with a team like Khorne, you go into matches with the idea of taking players off the field via crowd pushes and causing injuries with the Beast and Warriors. Except for one Khorngor, the rest of my team had frenzy, which can be a double-edged sword, and ensuring it always works in your favor is crucial. On the other hand, the Khorngor’s two heads skill provides great mobility for the ball carrier, and in defense, it allows you to blitz the opposing player when no one else can reach. Ultimately, the most important thing is not to get too fixated on your initial plan and instead read each match, adapting your strategy to the team and the opposing coach.
How did you prepare for the World Cup? Did you have any special training routine for your Khorne team?
Nothing special. I regularly play tournaments and leagues, and I tried to choose similar rosters in tournaments with similar formats to train and test options. Then, with the team, we played some friendlies and prepared a few starting setups.
What lessons did you learn during the World Cup that you think are essential for any Blood Bowl coach aspiring to compete at that level?
As I mentioned before, I think the key is not to get frustrated when Nuffle isn’t on your side. It’s a game where dice and luck play a determining role. Many times, nothing goes your way, and it’s not due to your own mistakes. The key is to stay calm and not lose focus, so you don’t start making errors. But it’s not always easy.
Vision and Strategy
As the NAF president, what are your main priorities and goals to strengthen the Blood Bowl community?
I believe establishing synergies between the tabletop community and online communities is one of the most important points for making it easier for new players to join. I also think it’s crucial to regulate the competitive scene, just like sports federations do.
You’ve mentioned several challenges the NAF faces, such as modernization and growth. How do you plan to tackle these challenges?
We’ve already started working on several aspects. Our organization, in many ways, continues to operate almost the same as it did when it was founded over two decades ago. I believe that to adapt to the modern world, we need a lot of work and input from professionals in each of the areas.
Inclusion and Community
You’ve talked about promoting participation from non-English speakers. Do you have specific strategies to make the Blood Bowl community more inclusive?
I think it’s important for the NAF to make an effort to ensure that any publication about the game reaches as many people as possible. I believe the best way to do this is to provide players with all publications in their native languages.
How do you plan to attract and retain young players in the world of Blood Bowl?
Blood Bowl 3 is an opportunity to bring our game closer to young people. But if we want more young people playing leagues and in-person tournaments, we have to listen to them and hear their proposals. They’ll probably attend a tournament with very different expectations than those of previous generations. I work as a teacher and am in contact with young people and teenagers every day… I know many are put off by the idea of dedicating an entire day to a single game.
What are your plans to better integrate the board game with online platforms like Fumbbl and BB3?
In the end, it’s the same game, and the goal is for players who are more active in one format to easily transition to the other. We need to improve communication between communities and help ensure that successful methods in one format can be extended to the other.
What strategies do you have in mind to ensure all voices in the community are heard and considered in important decisions, especially regarding game rules and future events?
I think it’s essential to listen to the different communities and allow them to contribute opinions and ideas. I believe the NAF should conduct many more consultations on various issues through its platform so that the community itself makes the most important decisions.
Do you have any specific initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion within the Blood Bowl community?
It’s not an easy topic, but it’s one of our goals: to make the game an inclusive environment for everyone. The Ethics Committee is already doing commendable work to ensure that all tournaments uphold our values, but this is a key issue that concerns the entire community.
Technical, Regulatory, and Games Workshop (GW)
What is your opinion on the current relationship between the NAF and Games Workshop, and how do you think this relationship could evolve to meet the needs of the Blood Bowl community in the future?
I believe that over the years, there has been little relationship between the two organizations. Games Workshop involved some veteran players in the development of the new edition of Blood Bowl, and some of them are NAF members. However, this collaboration was done on a personal level. There hasn’t been any real collaboration between the organizations.
One of the issues you’ve mentioned is stability and independence from Games Workshop. How do you plan to address this during your tenure, and what specific measures do you have in mind to ensure the NAF’s autonomy in relation to Games Workshop?
I think it’s very positive that our game has such a large player association that can serve as a regulatory body, similar to a federation in other games and sports. This means a regulatory body that has no economic interests and only pursues the best for the game and the players. In the end, the goal is for the game to have as balanced and stable a set of rules as possible, and that any changes to the game’s rules aim solely at improving the game and the player experience.
The Blood Bowl community often expresses concerns about possible divisions within the community, particularly regarding important decisions about the game. How do you plan to address these concerns and foster unity within the NAF community?
I think these concerns are unfounded. We all have an interest in keeping the community united and ensuring the game remains the same. We propose more dialogue and collaboration between organizations, and a competitive game environment that is stable and balanced, which is what the vast majority of our community wants.
Do you believe the NAF should actively seek alternatives to Games Workshop to ensure its independence, or do you think maintaining a relationship with the company is important for the future of Blood Bowl?
I think it’s positive to maintain a good relationship between the company and the NAF. In the end, we share many objectives, and it’s in everyone’s interest for the game to thrive.
What will be your approach in the relationship with Games Workshop, particularly regarding rule and team updates?
I believe that Games Workshop introducing new elements from time to time is positive for the game. The review of teams, with new positional players and rules, completely new teams, or the new star players they’ve introduced, brings more diversity to the game and allows it to evolve. In general, I think they are doing a good job with this edition. The only risk is that a new rule, a modification of an existing rule, or a team, star player, or inducement could unbalance the game, leading to situations we’ve experienced before with very unbalanced teams or star players that negatively affected the player experience. This isn’t good for the players, the game, or even Games Workshop itself.
As a company, they may not be able to dedicate the resources needed to thoroughly test every change they propose. Fortunately, they have access to an organization made up of a large community of experienced coaches who can help correct any imbalances.
I think the role of the NAF is precisely to regulate competitive play and ensure that rule and team changes don’t cause imbalances. The NAF demonstrated for years that it could maintain that balance, which helped ensure that interest in the game not only didn’t decrease but even continued to grow.
The best outcome for the game is for both sides to do their jobs well, recognize the role the other plays, engage in dialogue, and collaborate.
Are there any initiatives underway to collaborate more closely with Games Workshop in the development of new rules or Blood Bowl products?
Yes, we’re working on some ideas that could help make collaboration closer.
Do you think the NAF should actively seek alternatives to Games Workshop to ensure its independence, or do you believe a continuous relationship with the company is crucial for the success of the Blood Bowl community?
I think it’s important for the relationship to be good, and as I mentioned earlier, I believe collaboration between both organizations can be very positive for both parties.
Since your election, the NAF has already implemented some initiatives. Could you tell us about them?
The beginning is always challenging. But in a short time, we’ve managed to carry out several proposals, such as registering matches against non-NAF players in the database, awarding NAF cups to all members of the winning team in team tournaments, and introducing new digital patches showing the number of races played. I can also tell you that there will be more coming soon. This is a team effort, but I’d like to especially thank the vice president, Dreamscreator, because without his persistence and determination, we wouldn’t have been able to push through so many initiatives in such a short time.
Eurobowl and the Spanish Blood Bowl National Team
You’ve qualified to be part of the Spanish Blood Bowl National Team for the Eurobowl. What are your expectations for the tournament?
Yes, I’ve managed to qualify directly for the second time in a row. I like the system proposed by the current captain, Bletos, because it gives you the feeling that you’ve truly earned your spot on the playing fields. The Eurobowl is a very special tournament, with many of the best players in the world participating, and there are no easy matches. It will certainly be very exciting, and we hope to do our best.
What’s your opinion on the tournament format?
I really like team tournaments. Competing alongside other players offers a different experience, and doing so while representing your country’s community is very special. As for the tournament rules, I like them; I think they’ll serve as a foundation for many tournaments.
What are Spain’s chances in the Eurobowl?
We’re one of the five major communities in Europe (along with England, France, Italy, and Germany), so we’re one of the favorites. However, the level of competition has become very balanced, and there are another eight to ten countries with excellent players who could also finish at the top if they have a good tournament.
Open Questions
What challenges do you anticipate facing as president of the NAF, and how do you plan to address them?
I believe the biggest challenge is to provide the game with a stable competitive environment while continuing to promote other enjoyable aspects of the hobby. On the other hand, I think there’s a part of the international community that is very conservative and hesitant towards any changes. I believe that, little by little, we will be able to convince them that some changes can be very positive for the game.
What is your long-term vision for the growth and continuous development of the NAF and the Blood Bowl community in general?
I think Blood Bowl is a great game with many distinct facets. The more people get to know it, the more our community will grow.
To conclude, is there anything else you would like to share or highlight that we haven’t covered in this interview?
I would like to thank all the people who dedicate their time and effort to making this game better, reaching more people, and growing our community—whether through communication (podcasts, websites, streaming channels, etc.), organizing leagues and tournaments, or the alternative brands that helped keep the game alive when it was most needed. This game is special thanks to its community.
Closing and Personal Message
How can members of the Blood Bowl community get more involved and contribute to the growth of the game under your leadership?
We want to establish different communication channels to bring the NAF closer to the community so that coaches can make proposals. I believe that important decisions should be made by the community through consultations on the organization’s website.
What message would you like to send to Blood Bowl players and fans around the world?
Whether you prefer the “sports simulation” aspect of the game or the Warhammer world background, whether you’re a player in casual leagues with friends or competitive tournaments, whether you enjoy the miniatures and the board or online play, whether you’re more into the hobby and painting or the strategic part of the game, see Blood Bowl as chess with dice, or enjoy the more comedic and mischievous side of the game… we all contribute to our community, where so many different visions of our game can coexist.
We would like to thank the NAF President for sharing his time and vision for the future of Blood Bowl. His words not only give us a unique perspective on the growth of the game and the community, but also inspire veteran and new players alike to continue to enjoy this exciting hobby.
We wish him all the best in his tenure and look forward to seeing how the world of Blood Bowl continues to evolve under his leadership!
We look forward to doing more interviews in the future, let us know who we could interview for the next one.
See you at NuffleZone.com!