Speaking as someone that has studied a ton of psychology and sociology, yeah just a bit. It's an aspect of our culture that is kind of unavoidable. Not everyone is of course, but still.

I resent that statement.
Signed, the winless American.

But, in all seriousness, yes, I have on numerous occasions contemplated leaving the league. And I would also be lying if I said I still wasn't, truth be told.

I've had so much going on in my real life that I don't have the focus I want while playing this league.

Let me tell you all a little story about why I started playing Blood Bowl.

Back in May, my pet cat was diagnosed with a tumor--orthotic carcinoma. It was degenerating the bone in his leg. So, my parents made the decision to have his leg amputated, as the chance for return was slim. The surgery wasn't cheap, but they could afford it--but that cat had earlier brought me out of a very rough place--he was the light that brought me from the darkness.

I felt compelled to do my part, and that's when the Groupees tournament--my first Blood Bowl experience--happened. $500 prize would pay a good portion of the surgery. So I entered in the hopes of being chosen and getting the grand prize--to help save my cat.

I failed.

But I decided at that point to see if it was just a fluke. If I really was able to play well. So I joined this league, and last season went well by most measures. Disappointing to fall just short at the end, but after doing it twice, I was convinced the talent was there. But then shortly before this season began, the cancer returned to the cat and three weeks later, he was put to sleep.

On top of the seemingly endless medical issues my family faced over the year, my cat passed in October. My family's gone through 3 surgeries since the beginning of this season, and tomorrow, a 4th is going in. Two more are slated for the beginning of next year.

Physically, mentally and emotionally, I'm just wiped out. I have no will left to compete. I'm trying to tough through the season, but honestly--don't be surprised if I call it quits at some point.

Sorry to hear that really.

Personally I do not know if i can keep on paying for the house we are living atm (for reasons not up to me or because of me) and if I had to sell it now, it would probably sell at deep discount => thus leave me in rather steep debt of tens of thousands of €'s.

And all things considered thats not even the biggest life obstacle i have, but who knows, maybe (hopefully) all that will somehow get solved next year.

...but to me, i need my BB shot of weekly escapism. Personally i dont really feel i am competing in the first place: rather I have totally valid reason to do -something else- and keep in touch with great bunch of people.

Sure Nuffle screws me over with double 1's and dead vampires...but its really meaningless in the grand scheme of things, as I dont play to bloat the TV nor get i paid for winning (*sob). To me personally whether i am the top or the bottom of the league is ultimately irrelevant.

Anyways, different people - different lives - different priorities >> naturally one has to weight time the time and effort spend to what they get for it.

Atm i am having such kicks of the league and people involved, that my actual matches are just one slice of the whole experience. ...but like i believe i said some time before, somewhere (...) - if BB feels too exhausting, its better to take a break of interminable length instead of getting total BB burnout and never-ever play again.

So while i hope everyone likes the league enough to stick around, there are totally zero hard feelings for dropping out - be it at the end of or middle of the season.

Its supposed to be for fun after...one way or the other ;)

If you look at Werecrow's post he already put Hawk as an Underworld player.

Hawk, if you choose an Underworld team it might not be in competition to me because I'm considering Nurgle or lizards for next season. :-D

Considering teams and expectations: I actually do feel more relaxed about playing because Underworld isn't a team that is expected to win it all. If I played a first tire team that would feel differently I think.
I can recommend trying a "fun" team and play without much pressure. If nobody expects you to win, losing doesn't feel that hard. And if you win it's DA BOMB!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Also: LEAGUE ANNOUNCEMENT!
This is so you can prepare mentally: There will be a poll near the end of the season asking whether we should do a league reset or not.

League reset means that everybody will have to start with a brand new TV 1000 team next season.
The old teams will be removed from the league but might return in later non-reset seasons if they haven't been played anywhere else in the meantime.

The poll will most likely look something like this:
Do you want a league reset?
Yes.
No.
I don't care.

So how about a longer holiday break than the one week which is sort of planned ?

Give people a chance to recharge their Blood Bowl batteries. I know mine are pretty drained, and looking at some posts here, it looks like I'm not alone.

I think i'll roll a new team anyways.

I for one just want a league-team with mutation-access I think. Orcs are pretty fun, yes. But ... i don't know... something is just missing. :/

I tried Chaos in Single Player ... the name was simply program. ;D

A two-headed Minotaur should be some fun. I definitely want to try that one out... ;D

But all in all I will wait to announce my decision after it is clear, whether it will be a bash-heavy league again or not...

Maybe there will be a return of my human team after all...

Let's wait for the pool. :)

---

Beside that and to the guys of you who feal burned out somehow:

As ippo said before - take your break! Playing BB, when you are out of energy, is just wasted time. Real Life always has to beat the virtual one, when it comes down to the essentials!

I would like the break to start now and last until the first weekend of January, so about three weeks. It sounds like a lot of us desperately need time to regroup/recharge, I know I need it.

I would be in favor of this also.

New year, new matchday? Seems 1.1.14 hits wednesday :)

That works for me

I'd be down for that.

That meaning no more games from now on until the new year?
Or do we play this match day (the one that started yesterday)?

The way I interpret it is that we're on matchday 8 with a turnover date of January 1st.

In either case, Moggrym and I are going at it in about 15 minutes.