Getting back to multiplayer: Can you play in 'career-based' online leagues? Can you play it in turn based mode?

In multiplayer mode, you can create your own league and set your own rules, like in the solo mode. If you create tournaments, you can play them online and face other players from the community. That’s a kind of career; your team will gain experience and new gear. You will be able to choose between a career in turn-based mode or in real-time mode. It’s up to you.

How much attention has been given to the AI? Will it put up a good fight – and will it use each race’s abilities to its fullest? Will we see the Dwarfs passing all over the place or will they just try to beat people into the ground?

The AI has been one of our top priorities in the development of Blood Bowl. The development hasn’t been just a matter of adapting rules and artworks. We also had to code all those rules and subtleties of the game, and make them work. Since the first day of development, we have a dedicated programmer who works on it and he himself is a strong Blood Bowl fan. The AI is a topic that Games Workshop follows particularly close. We did our best to make each race have a specific AI and level of reaction. At the moment, it is put to the test by the worldwide best Blood Bowl players who have been part of the beta program for over a year now.

The lightning quick Skaven make ideal Blood Bowl players

The screenshots and the trailers look outstanding. Was it a goal to make it look as authentic as possible?

As I mentioned before, GW looks carefully at everything that we do. The right transcription of artworks into “living” 3D characters both in game and for the teasers/trailers was a key point for them. Moreover, the whole Blood Bowl video game project has been approved by GW and we are expected to deliver a game as authentic and as close as possible to the board game.

Finally – your favorite race in the game? I'm an Orc player myself.

My board game favorites are the Dark Elves. Neat passing game and some really mean players. Unfortunately, they didn’t make the cut in this version (probably an add-on later on). So I’ll go with the Dwarfs, they can’t throw or catch but the stunties sure can block the hell out of any opponent.

We'd like to thank Patrick for taking the time to chat with us -- and you can expect a follow up Q&A on Blood Bowl soon. The game is slated for "Q2 2009" and is tentatively set for June.

Questions or comments? We'd love to hear from you .