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"This'll be the most bestest Cryptmass I've ever spent or is likely to spend: since about grub up yesterday I don't fink there 'as been a shot fired by us or them. After the sodding drizzle yesterday last night turned into a clear frosty moonlit nite, so soon after the sun went down we 'ad some decent fires going and even 'ad a few carols and songs. The Krautians started things up by putting lanterns all along the edge of their trenches and coming over to our side - wishing us a Happy Cryptmas and the like. They also bellowed out a few songs so we ended up 'avin quite a party. Several of the little buggers can speak Orcish very well so we even 'ad a few chats 'bout things. Some of our lads even went to over to their lines to do the same fing. I think they've all come back, bar one lad from Gutrot's section. Wouldn't be surprised if they kept him as a souvenir to be honest." Unknown Orc *** The rules below are an attempt at bringing the great game home to players of Flintloque. Even though Futbowel and it's history are well established in the history of Panzerfauste's setting - The Lande, the rules themselves are excellent and there's no reason why the races of Valon can't benefit from a few games, especially in the season of goodwill. You will need: 1) A copy of Futbowel - it can be purchased as a downloadable PDF online or as a complete game with 22 miniatures direct from Wessex Games, you can read more about it and order on Wessex Games' Futbowel page.The PDF version is now hidden behind a link to Wargames Vault at the top of the page. Go and buy it, it's less than a fiver for an instant PDF download ! (Under 8 bucks for those in the states).
2) A copy of Flintloque Reloaded or Frontear for stats of the races of Valon. 3) Miniatures to represent your team. The rules for the game are mostly exactly as found in the Futbowel rulebook but with the changes specified below. Each section heading in bold matches one from the Futbowel rulebook. The Pitch For this festive game the standard pitch is actually a section of No Ones' Land between the battle lines of the two sides. It should measure 60cm by 60cm and have a random series of trenches, mounds and craters to represent a World war I style battlefield. There are many good manufacturers of World War I battlefield terrain in the UK, just do an internet search for "WWI 28mm Trench". The Futbowel The futbowel is as per the normal rules unless a couch is attempting the "Footboom!" Dirty Trick detailed below. The Futbowelers / The Team Instead of a the standard number of players opposing sections should be created as per the Flintloque/Frontear rules ( Or as I did simply play your favourite section against your oppositons, the key thing here is fun, not points balance). For every player on thier team a player gets 7 points to add to the Ballz pool. These points are assigned a type and Ballz value as per the Futbowel rulebook. The movement values however are taken from Flintloque/Frontear, using the 'Falter' statistic as the basic move (so an Orc would have a move of 12). Substitution There are no subsititutions in this Futbowel variant. Set up, half time and restart No changes to the rules in the Futbowel rulebook. Futbowel Out of Play If the ball goes out of play someone must be sent after it. Sadly not all soldiers along the front know about the truce and not everyone wants to be on the frontlines. Roll 1D10 and consult the following table to see if the player comes back: 1 or under: Shot and killed by an enemy sniper.
2-3: They come under fire and suffer 1 Wound (suffering any applicable movement penalty) and 1D6 Ballz.
4-7: They return to the pitch with the Futbowel.
8-9: The player gets cheered on by their own side and return to the pitch envigorated gaining 1D6 Ballz.
10 or over: The player deserts and is never seen again (although they might be caught by provosts?) If the ball went out of play within 20cms of the opposing side take 4 from the dice roll, if it went out of play within 20cms of their own side add 4 to the dice roll. Experienced players ignore any modifiers. Veteran/Legendary players do no have to roll and come back okay. Once back on the pitch follow the rules in the Futbowel rulebook. Turns No changes to the rules in the Futbowel rulebook except for the following two results from the Fowl table (they are the same effects but the wording fits in better with the theme). Red Card - Player is sent back to join his compatriots and takes no further part in the game.
Contract Terminated - Player is executed by the referee with the full support of both sides. The Crowd No changes to the rules in the Futbowel rulebook. Dirty Tricks In addition to the dirty tricks found in the Futbowel rulebook the following is available to each couch. Futboom! - If the ball goes out of play the Couch of the player bringing the Futbowel back can have it replaced with a bomb. This is a risky tactic as there is no guarantee it will detontate when in possesion of an opposition player. Each turn there is a chance the bomb will go off. Every turn roll 1D100, if the roll is under the chance of explosion the bomb detonates. The base chance is 10%, it increases by 10% each turn. Every player within 20cm of an exploding bomb receives 1 wound and loses D6 Ballz. And that's it ! You can now play any of the races of Valon against each other in the classic game ! Webmaster's Notes The above first appeared here as part of the Orcs in the Webbe Countdown to Christmas Advent Calendar 2008. The opening blurb is paraphrased into Orcish from an actual letter from the real world from one unknown British soldier in response to the Christmas truce of 1914. A truce during which hostilities ceased. No offence is meant by the version of the letter presented here and the original unmodified paragraph is below. "This will be the most memorable Christmas I've ever spent or likely to spend: since about tea time yesterday I don't think there's been a shot fired on either side up to now. Last night turned a very clear frost moonlight night, so soon after dusk we had some decent fires going and had a few carols and songs. The Germans commenced by placing lights all along the edge of their trenches and coming over to us—wishing us a Happy Christmas etc. They also gave us a few songs etc. so we had quite a social party. Several of them can speak English very well so we had a few conversations. Some of our chaps went to over to their lines. I think they've all come back bar one from 'E' Co. They no doubt kept him as a souvenir." If you want to learn more about the truce any Internet Search engine shouldbring up some results for "Christmas Truce 1914". |
