The game is the attempt of an English publishing company to merge American Football with the Warhammer Fantasy world. The old first edition was basically the Warhammer Fantasy rules grafted onto this topic. And so the third edition has been slimmed down and polished, to keep the game fast-paced and short. Each team can consist of up to 16 players, though only 11 can be on the field at one time. Once a Coach has chosen the race for his team, he can select from the 4 types of players which that race has.
Linemen are the cheapest to recruit, while blitzers are the most expensive.
These special players are experienced players who act as free agents, available for hire to a set number of eligible races. There are four Star Players in Blood Bowl , each with a card describing his abilities. The playing field is gridded off into squares. Only one figure is allowed per square. In the center is the Line of Scrimmage.