I hadn’t played Blood Bowl since the mid-90s in the West Midlands, and when I moved to the Vale of Glamorgan, I had no idea how to dive back into the game. So, in September 2023, I decided to give it a go. My first step was to buy and paint some miniatures, but I wasn’t sure where to take it from there.
That all changed after a random conversation with a member staff in my local gaming store (Loaded Dice, Barry). He introduced me to the local community, added me to the local WhatsApp group on the spot, and within days, I was immersed in the world of Blood Bowl once again.
Fast forward two weeks, and I found myself in the Firestorm League, having not played a single game in nearly 30 years. What better way to relearn the game than by jumping in headfirst?
If you’re looking to connect with the Blood Bowl community around Cardiff or start your own journey, here are a few tips to help you get started:
- Register with the NAF (Nuffle Amateur Football) – If you’re looking to register in a tournament, Most most of them require you to be registered with the NAF, the global database that tracks your wins, losses, and rankings. It’s a great way to get plugged into the competitive scene. NAF website
- Tournament Info – The Talk Fantasy Football forum is an excellent place to find out about upcoming tournaments across the UK. Talk Fantasy Football Forum
- Create Your Team Roster – Most players use Tourplay to create their team rosters for tournaments and leagues. Tourplay or you can use something like Blood Bowl Team Creator if you just want to try out a roster.
- Join Local WhatsApp and Discord Groups – Connecting with fellow players is key, and many local groups exist to help you arrange games, share tips, and stay up-to-date on events, Welsh Blood Bowl Discord Group.
- Find Your Local Gaming Hub – The Cardiff area has great places like Firestorm, Geek Retreat or further out Duke’s Gaming (Pontypool), Deeside Defenders (Flintshire, North Wales), where you can meet other players. Independent gaming shops like Loaded Dice in Barry are also great spots to meet people and get involved, there are lots of these places popping up all the time, so best keep an eye out.
Whether you’re just starting out or getting back into the game like I did, the Blood Bowl community in Wales is welcoming, vibrant, and always ready for a good match!