[img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/38626626/d4f56277243fdd94952892a95aa9c889960e3805.jpg[/img] [b]As the 2024 World Championship is in full swing, we are excited to share what lies ahead for the competitive Blood Bowl 3 scene.[/b] Since the game’s launch in 2022, interest in Blood Bowl 3 has steadily grown, thanks to ongoing improvements, new content, and innovative tools. As we continue to deliver features that empower tournament organizers to create fantastic competitions, we are equally committed to enriching the competitive ecosystem through[b] Official Competitions[/b] that complement and integrate with community-organized events. Our first official competitive circuit, culminating in the 2024 World Championship, has been a tremendous success. This milestone was made possible thanks to the remarkable efforts of the many leagues and organizers who work tirelessly to create great tournaments. We’re excited to confirm that there will indeed be a [b]2025 World Championship[/b], capping off multiple thrilling seasons of competition throughout the year and promising an epic conclusion to the circuit. Our philosophy for the competitive scene remains straightforward: we aim to offer a diverse range of competitions year-round, accessible to as many coaches as possible. These efforts will culminate in the World Championship, where the most outstanding coaches, those who secure a coveted qualifying ticket, will face off for glory. Below, you’ll find an update on the different competitions planned for the 2025 circuit. [h2][b]OFFICIAL COMPETITIONS[/b][/h2] [h3][b]Official Seasonal Ladder[/b][/h3] The Official Ladder stands as the cornerstone of in-game competition, offering players the opportunity to find competitive matches at any time. With its matchmaking system balancing Skill Rating, number of matches played, and Team Value, it ensures a fair and challenging experience for all. Over the past seasons, the Official Ladder has been the stage for high-level confrontations at the top of its rankings. At the same time, it provides a space for everyone, from newcomers to seasoned veterans, to play, improve, develop their teams, and track their progress. Each season, we introduce various changes and improvements to the Official Ladder, aiming to encourage diverse playstyles and ensure fairness for all participants. One of the most challenging aspects to balance has been the ability to add random skills. We’ve experimented with banning and reinstating them, each decision sparking mixed reactions among the community. Upon closer analysis, we recognize that random skills add an element of fun, enabling faster team development and encouraging creative play with tools granted by Nuffle’s whimsy. However, this fun diminishes when random skills are used to optimize Team Value by fishing for core skills. In an environment with unlimited matches like the Official Ladder, we believe that building core skills should not hinge on such optimization, while still allowing coaches to randomize for new challenges or to add secondary skills. After extensive discussions with numerous Blood Bowl experts, whom we often consult on technical and complex topics like this, we’ve decided to conduct the following test for Season 7: [list] [*] The SPP cost for both random and chosen skills will remain unchanged. [*] The Team Value added by a Primary skill, whether random or chosen, will be 20k. [*] The Team Value added by a random Secondary skill will remain 20k. [*] The Team Value added by a chosen Secondary skill will remain 40k. [/list] We will monitor the impacts of these changes to determine the next steps for future seasons. The Official Ladder remains one of the most demanding paths to qualify for the Champions Cup or the World Championship, and we applaud the incredible coaches who consistently reach the top ranks. However, the ladder isn’t only about playing numerous matches; it’s also about making each game count. To give coaches who prefer this approach a chance to shine and secure their place in top-tier competitions, we’re introducing a new qualification method for the Champions Cup. The current [b]general ranking[/b] and [b]faction rankings[/b] will remain active as the primary paths to qualify for the Champions Cup. However, starting from Season 8, we will introduce a special ranking for teams that reach 20 matches. This ranking will represent a snapshot of the team’s performance at the end of their 20th match, meaning teams will only appear in this ranking after their 20th game. Matches played beyond this point will not affect their standing in this specific ranking. [b]This Sprint ranking[/b] will be visible in-game starting from Season 8, but we’ll begin testing it as a qualification method for the Champions Cup in Season 7. Details on where to access this ranking will be shared at a later date. [b]Seasons 6, 7, and 8[/b]: The coach ranked #1 in the general ranking of the Official Ladder will qualify directly for the Group Stage of the 2025 World Championship. [b]Season 9[/b]: The #1 rank will again qualify directly for the Group Stage. Additionally, the #2 and #3 ranks will secure tickets to the Play-In phase of the Championship. The general ranking, faction rankings, and the Sprint ranking will all provide pathways to qualify for the Champions Cup. Exact rules for these qualifications will be finalized and shared at the beginning of Season 7. [b][h3]OFFICIAL SEASONAL PLAYOFF – CHAMPIONS CUP[/h3][/b] [b]The Champions Cup will continue to take place each season as one of the primary gateways to the 2025 World Championship. However, the tournament format will undergo some changes compared to previous seasons.[/b] Up until the [b]Season 6 Champions Cup[/b] included, players will compete using the same teams they developed on the Official Ladder, as has been the tradition. However, as we introduce new ways to qualify for the tournament, starting with the Sprint ranking, we are preparing for the Champions Cup to feature not only the top players from the Official Ladder but also the best competitors from other seasonal official tournaments that may launch in the future. To ensure fairness and equal opportunities for all qualified coaches, each season will include a defined ruleset that participants must follow when creating a custom team specifically for the Champions Cup. While building a team from rookies to veterans is an enjoyable and integral part of the Official Ladder, we also want the Champions Cup, as a pinnacle tournament, to challenge coaches in new ways. Participants must demonstrate adaptability by interpreting the ruleset, tailoring their teams to fit their playstyles, and competing with carefully chosen strategies designed for the tournament format. [b]Seasons 6, 7, and 8[/b]: Both [b]finalists[/b] of the Champions Cup will qualify directly for the Group Stage of the 2025 World Championship. Additionally, the two semifinalists will secure tickets to the Play-In phase. Season 9: Both finalists will again qualify directly for the Group Stage, but the semifinalists will no longer qualify. The Champions Cup is evolving to reflect the growing diversity of competition in Blood Bowl 3. We aim to balance the thrill of team progression with the challenge of strategic preparation, ensuring the tournament remains an exciting and prestigious event for all participants. [h2][b]OFFICIAL SUPER LEAGUE[/b][/h2] [b]Ensuring World Championship tickets are accessible to all talented coaches through open tournaments is a core value for us. However, we also see the value in hosting a prestigious Super League invitational series throughout the year, designed to unite elite coaches who have proven their skill at the highest level in Blood Bowl 3.[/b] To achieve this, we’ve decided to elevate the Super League, originally supported last year, into an Official Competition held three times annually. These events will be monitored closely to ensure fairness and uphold the competitive integrity of the scene. The Winter, Spring, and Summer Super Leagues will feature strictly regulated participation criteria. Only the finest coaches, World Champions, Official Ladder champions, Champions Cup winners, Super League winners, and other top performers, will have the opportunity to compete. These titans of Blood Bowl will clash in an arena designed to test their mettle and deliver spectacular matches for the community. The winners of the Winter, Spring, and Summer Super Leagues will each earn a Direct ticket to the Group Stage of the 2025 World Championship. [h3][b]2025 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP[/b][/h3] As the highlight and grand celebration of the 2025 competitive circuit, next year’s World Championship will once again take place during the fall season, running from mid-September to the first full weekend of December. We believe the current format has been a resounding success. It’s simple and easy to follow while delivering thrilling confrontations during the knockout stage, with its two matches plus a potential tiebreaker third match when necessary. This structure will remain for 2025, but we’re excited to introduce an additional phase: the Play-In. [b]32 tickets[/b] will provide direct access to the Group Stage. [b]64 additional tickets[/b] will grant entry to the Play-In phase. In this phase, coaches will compete in a Swiss format over a maximum of three rounds. The 32 coaches who secure two wins in the Play-In phase will advance to join the Group Stage. This expanded structure aims to provide even more coaches with a chance to compete at the highest level, ensuring the World Championship remains both inclusive and fiercely competitive. [h3][b]Main dates of the 2025 World Championship:[/b][/h3] [b]Check-in period:[/b] September 12 to 16 [b]Play-In Phase:[/b] September 23 to October 14 [b]Groupe Phase:[/b] October 16 to November 9 [b]Knockout Phase:[/b] November 10 to December 7 [b]Including the Final-8 week-end:[/b] December 5 to 7 [h3][b]SUM UP OF THE 2025 WORLD ChAMPIONSHIP TICKETS TO GET THROUGH OFFICIAL COMPETITIONS:[/b][/h3] [b]2024 World Champion:[/b] 1 Direct ticket [b]S6 Official Ladder:[/b] 1 Direct ticket [b]S6 Champions Cup: [/b]2 Direct tickets and 2 Play-In tickets [b]Winter Super League Invitational:[/b] 1 Direct ticket [b]S7 Official Ladder:[/b] 1 Direct ticket [b]S7 Champions Cup:[/b] 2 Direct tickets and 2 Play-In tickets [b]Spring Super League Invitational:[/b] 1 Direct ticket [b]S8 Official Ladder:[/b] 1 Direct ticket [b]S8 Champions Cup:[/b] 2 Direct tickets and 2 Play-In tickets [b]Summer Super League Invitational:[/b] 1 Direct ticket [b]S9 Official Ladder:[/b] 1 Direct ticket and 2 Play-In tickets [b]S9 Champions Cup:[/b] 2 Direct tickets [h2][b]SUPPORTED COMPETITIONS[/b][/h2] This year, we received significantly more applications for the official circuit than we did last year. While we regret being unable to support every project, we’re excited to increase Supported Competitions from 38 to 48. This expansion provides even more opportunities for coaches to participate in fantastic tournaments and compete for a coveted ticket to the World Championship. The full list of Supported Competitions will be published shortly after the final weekend of the 2024 World Championship. [h3][b]SUM UP OF THE 2025 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TICKETS TO GET THROUGH SUPPORTED COMPETITIONS:[/b][/h3] [b]Direct tickets:[/b] 15 [b]Play-In tickets:[/b] 56 An additional Direct ticket will be awarded to the league that qualified the 2024 World Champion. If the World Champion qualified through an Official Competition, the allocation of this ticket will be determined and announced later this year.