Electric Blood Bowl - prototyping (Patreon)

The story so far for those not up to speed.

One of the projects I have underway is titled Electric Blood Bowl. Take famously strange (but oddly, with a fun bunch of fans) tabletop football game and merge it with a famously dice heavy (but oddly, with a fun bunch of fans) tabletop fantasy football game. Combine this with a lot of pop culture references, high calibre commentary, the Dozerverse and the right duration of episode and you have yourself something marvellous.

Progress, as it stands had been going nowhere for over a year - although I was accumulating "stuff". In the last month or so however I've been employing more effort in getting it ready to roll.

The main areas of progress:

- magnetised some test players to work with the standard small-form square bases

- because Electric Football operates on a 20mm scale the standard movement bases only work with 20mm squares - it's the lack of surface friction that enables them to move as the table vibrates. Additional weight impedes progress, so the jury-rigged nature of basis is a must until I can fabricate something bespoke. In any event, this approach will work for a first season.

- the benefit in magnetisation is that I can adjust miniature positions to set weight balancing as well as possible. Imbalance leads to some splendid looping behaviour - cute, but as our elven friend demonstrates in today's video, ultimately pointless

- full stadium surround is constructed sufficient for season 1. I may leave it bare-wood, I might paint it in rudimentary fashion - ideally it'll be obfuscated through depth of field anyway. It will, however need background texturing - I'm thinking dark grey - although I may experiment with green screen (the intention is to green screen in some elements later anyway so this might be worth the test).

- I have 5 painted teams now, with a 6th in progress. These won't be limited to Blood Bowl over time, nor will racial loyalty be required... maybe. Not sure yet. For the first season in order to attract a starter audience it will be necessary to stay close to Games Workshop. After that, if it gets traction, I can take it further.

Today's video is one part documentary footage, one part proof of concept and testing. Maybe you find it entertaining, maybe you don't, either way I offer it up for your perusal.

Learnings as a result of this test are solid.

- The sideline tracking camera is good however it may be worth using a different camera to reduce focal issues. Adjusting focus during a play isn't going to work. Next test to include GoPro footage and camcorder. Also experiment with endzone camera for the classic "Madden" field of view.

- Only the most basic "strong" EF base is viable. The more advanced basis are too prone to falling over and/or swerving.

- 200% replay speed works well but can be increased to 300+ when covering breakaway players to show their turn of speed

- Camera slider works well, but aim to trail just behind the ball carrier rather than keeping them centered. This will avoid the need to backtrack if the player changes direction.

- Obviously, removed little bouncing bits of crud from the field.

- Light reflection is a problem. Experiment with diffused light from amove to eliminate reflection. Arrange material alternates from the vinyl company to check for lighting temperature, reflections and any chance in field friction.

- Check that table is perfectly flat. Tests felt like it may have a very slight lean away from the camera (tendency of players heading that way).

- Foley test was definitely additive, however you will need bespoke footsteps for different races and variants in crowd celebration. Excitement music for play by play will detract, but for highlights is rather good.

The next prototype will focus on a single play and the filming thereof. Experiment with in-play editing to get the best result. Test lighting solutions. Work on 90% "done" foley. Experiment with green screen backdrop.

As much as my direction of travel is set, I'm open to fresh ideas on this.

-CF