Between the Bolter and Me: 2020, a year in review

A selection of models painted in 2020.

Although 2020 was a chaotic and traumatic year, it marked the 8th year of Between the Bolter and Me as a blog. Like with many others, the pandemic changed how we all interact with the hobby. It allowed us to focus more on our podcast Dragged into Turbolasers and develop a consistent, albeit small, streaming schedule! With this post, we wanted to recap the year as a whole, starting by examining the 3 most popular posts on each of our various platforms (blogger, podcast, instagram, etc.).

Blitz Bowl: Halfling Linemen

The Bodimore Byakhees are getting ready to take the field!

Earlier this year we started playing Blitz Bowl, and I created a Halfling team called the Bodimore Byakhees. I finalized a paint scheme for the team by painting the team’s strongest player, the Hefty. Having worked out the scheme, I set about painting a few more of the team members, something that proved to be relatively quick (for me, at least), due to their small size. Having finished two of the team’s linemen, half the team is finished, so I thought it would be a good time to show off the models!

Dragged into Turbolasers Episode 79: Blitz Bowl!

Season 2 is here!

In this episode we are joined by our friend Brad Smith and talk about Games Workshop’s new season of Blitz Bowl. We discuss how it differs from the classic Blood Bowl, of which it shares the same setting, and how it offers different tactical challenges. We spend a lot of time talking about the addition of Challenge cards, and how they define the game, giving teams multiple ways to approach victory. We also talk about how Season 2 added League rules and Ball cards, all adding more of the randomized charm inherent in Games Workshop’s games. We end the episode considering what is yet to come for the game, in light of the new addition of Blood Bowl that is soon to be released.

Blitz Bowl: Chaos Blocker

Violence made manifest.

We continue to be excited about Blood Bowl’s streamlined counterpart, Blitz Bowl. After Eric finishing painting a Halfling model, I decided to try my hand at painting a model from the Chaos team. I wanted a simple paint scheme, based around the Cleveland Browns. Fortunately, the process was rather quick!

Blitz Bowl: Halfling Hefty

Halfling Hefty next to a Human Lineman.

We recently started to play Blitz Bowl, the streamlined cousin of Blood Bowl. Although the Blitz Bowl box contained a Human and Dwarf team, I wanted to play a Halfling team, having had the team since their release. Although diminutive in stature, the Halfling models abound with character, with really expressive faces. With a team of only 6 models, the Halfling team also presented a great opportunity to assemble and fully paint a Blitz Bowl team!

Blitz Bowl: Unboxing

Blitz Bowl!

Multiple times In the past, we have tried to play Blood Bowl, both in the form of single games and in a league, but always struggled to continue after a few games. Despite this, every year we get the desire to get some tiny athlete models and roll some dice with friends. With the COVID pandemic keeping us home, coupled with the long playtime for a single game, we had resolved to put off Blood Bowl for another year. This changed when we saw that Games Workshop just released the second season of their Barnes and Noble exclusive game Blitz Bowl, set in the Blood Bowl universe. Designed by James M. Hewitt, known for writing the rules for the new version of Adeptus Titanicus and the Hellboy board game, Blitz Bowl streamlines and simplifies the mechanics of Blood Bowl, creating a game with a similar feeling that can be played in 30-45 minutes rather than two hours. Using half the number of models of Blood Bowl (6 rather than 12), Blitz Bowl seemed like an obvious place to get into the Blood Bowl universe. With a Dark Elf team largely assembled, we decided to get the second season of Blitz Bowl and give the game a try!