UPDATE

In this document you will find clarifications, corrections, and modifications to the DreadBall 2nd
Edition rules. If a question comes up in your games that isn’t answered here or in the rulebook,
get in touch. This is a living document, and it will be updated as new expansions and teams are
released, and as new questions arise.

Updated 2nd February 2019; text in red is changes to the rules.

FAQ – FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
This section deals with those situations in your games where a rule could be interpreted in
different ways, and may need some clarification. It won’t happen often, but when it does, this is
the place to look!

work out the eventual direction after the bounce,

Scoring in the Opponent’s Rush
If you manage to Catch a scattering ball, or use
Run Interference to Pick Up the ball, it is possible
to score a Strike in an opposing Coach’s Rush. If
this happens, note the following:
imagine it as if the ball had come from further
away, and had already hit the wall where the
Player is standing. For example:

A Coach’s Rush only ends if they lose a ball.

* If the ball you scored with had not come from

the opposing team, they have not lost the
ball (as they didn’t have it in the first place)
and their Rush will not end. As soon as your
Actions are resolved, a new ball will launch
immediately, and the active Coach’s Rush will
continue from where it left off.

* If the opposing Coach had already lost a ball

(the ball you Caught had been dropped by one
of their Players for example), their Rush will
end as normal after your Actions are resolved.

Scattering into the Wall
It can sometimes be difficult to work out what
happens if a Player standing at the side of the
pitch scatters the ball directly into the wall. To
If the Player in the diagram had failed a Catch, the
ball would scatter from the Player’s location. If the
Coach rolled a 3 for direction, the ball would hit
the wall. The dotted yellow arrow shows how to
treat this, with the solid yellow arrow showing the
final bounce direction following the normal rules
for ricochets.
Bouncing Balls
From a physics point of view, the rules for
scattering a ball imagine that the wall is flat.
However, the nature of the hexes means that the
wall on the printed board is jagged. When this
comes to balls bouncing around the corners of the
pitch, it may not be obvious how they bounce, as
above. If in doubt, use the following diagram.
Crystallan Team - Harmonics
Harmonics only applies when you ‘spend’ an Action
on a Player, i.e. by using an Action Token or an
Action Card.
It does not apply to Dodges or any other reaction
made to an opponent’s attack, or to Catches and
their subsequent Free Actions.
Harmonics does apply to Free Actions that
follow an Action made using a Token or Card.
For example, if a Crystallan Coach used a Token
to make a Run Action, and moved into a hex
containing the ball, their bonus Harmonics dice
could be used for the Pick Up. If they doubled
the Pick Up, any remaining Harmonics dice could
be used for the subsequent Run (for Dashes or
Evades) and/or Throw.
Ada Lorana Team – Phaser
Ada-Lorana Players that end an Action in the same
hex as an opposing Player treat this as a Slam.
Note the following:
* This follows the normal rules for a Slam, and
therefore cannot be done by Strikers.
* As the Slamming Player is in the same hex as
the target, ‘directly away’ for the purposes of
pushing back can be any direction, chosen by
the Slamming Coach.
Q: When the rules state, “within 5 hexes
of the Captain”, is the Captain eligible to
use the effect?
A:No.
Q: Does a team Captain’s abilities affect
transferred player and MVPs?
A: Yes. Transferred players and MVPs
are consider a normal part of the team.
Q: In a team of Honourable players with one
or more players without that ability (ex.,
transfer, MVP, Brain Damaged player, etc.),
can the player without Honourable Sneak onto
the pitch? Is the foul then still committed by
the whole team for the purpose of the spot
check? Would it still be the player closest to
the Subs Bench to be sent back, or just the
player without Honourable?
A: A player that does not have the Honourable
ability CAN Sneak onto the pitch. If a foul is
called all the players are included for Spot Test
purposes. If the ref successfully spots the foul,
the player closest to the Subs Bench is sent off
(Honourable or not).
Q: If you roll an "Agility or Speed bonus"
advancement and pick Agility, do you get to
then pick Speed if you roll the same number
later, or is the advancement "spent", as it
were?
A: If you roll an advancement with 2 options
and you have already selected one of them
previously, the player MUST take the other
option when it is rolled.
Q: Does a captain confer an additional action
to a player that begins the Rush within 5
hexes of them, or can they be granted the
additional action only if they would take it
while within 5 hexes at the time?
A: A player must be within 5 hexes of the
team Captain at the time they take their
extra Action Token based action.
Q: Regarding Meta-bot advancements, while
a player can choose/roll advancements from
any role, the book says that "on the pitch they
may still only use abilities available to the role
they are currently in" and using Extended
Interference as an example of an
advancements only useful for a Jack.
Backflip is present in the Striker advancement
table. Can only a Meta-bot Striker use that
ability, or will it be available to them
regardless of role?
A: A Meta-bot player can use any ability they
have unless it is impossible for their roll.
Strikers, Jacks, and Guards can use Backflip so
a Meta-bot player would be able to use
Backflip in all role configurations. There are
no abilities on the Meta-bot Striker
advancement table that could not be used by
any role.
Q: Can an Action Card with a movement
component be used for just the movement and
not the full Action?
A: No. An Action Card can only be used for the
full Action listed on the card.
Q: Is a Steal considered an “attack” for
purposes of Dodging a Steal in the rear arc of a
player?
A: Yes. Any test(X) done in a player’s rear arc
suffers a –1 modifier.
Q: When calculating earnings after a league
match what happens if both teams have the
same number of Cheers?
A: Both teams get the extra dice for having
the “highest number” of Cheers.
Q: If, on your Rush, your opponent gets the
ball, doubles and gets a Free Run action, can
you use Run Interference on your own Rush?
A: Yes, Run Interference is usable during an
opponent's ACTION not just an opponent's
RUSH.
Q: Does using an Action Token to buy a card
count as an Action for the purposes of a
continuous foul?
A: Yes.
Q: Is the transfer fee added to your team
value when hiring transfer players or MVPs?
A: Yes.
Q: Does an Event Card that does not remain in
play still remove an ongoing “Remains in Play”
Event?
A: No, only another “Remains in Play” Event
can replace/remove the current “Remains in
Play” Event card.
Q: When using the Event deck are Event
Triggers put in the discard pile?
A: Yes. Event Triggers go in the discard pile.
If the draw deck ever runs out and you need to
make a new draw deck the Event Triggers are
reshuffled along with the rest of the discard
pile
Q: Are Cyborg team “Back From The Dead”
players subject to the same limitations as
regular transfer players as far as quantity (4)
and team composition?
A: No. Cyborg players are not transfer
players. The “Back From The Dead” team
ability means the Cyborg team does not hire
transfers but instead recruits players from any
team. This does not change the Player’s cost.
You still cannot take more of any Player type
than they have in their own recommended
team.

The mistakes listed below only appear in early print-runs of the game/book. If you have a copy
from a later print run you will find that these corrections have already been made.
Collector’s Edition Rulebook
* Page 37 – Dash – the 60° turn only applies
when Sprinting – you do not need to Dash to
turn when Running.
* Page 44 – Run Interference – this should
specify that it cannot be chosen in the normal
way, rather than ‘as part of a team’s Rush’. If
an opposing Player was to take an Action in
your Rush (by Catching a scattered ball for
example), their Action could be interrupted
with Run Interference.
* Page 52 – Fan Checks – the last paragraph
should specify ‘Coaching Dice or Cards’, rather
than just Coaching Dice, to match the previous
paragraph.
* Page 73 – Captains allow Players to take 1
more Action than normal, rather than to
always take 3 Actions. Therefore a Rebs
Captain will increase the Action limit per
Player to 2, not 3.
* Page 103 – Linked – the rule only applies in the
Coach’s own Rush – it cannot be used with Run
Interference.
Team Captains without Cards
If you want to use your Team Captain and you
don’t have their card deck, you can! You’ll just
need to use the following rule in place of having
the cards:
Before your first game, roll for an advancement as
if they had increased in rank, and apply the result.
Then continue using them as normal.
ERRATA
* Page 130 – Zee Team – Zee Players are all
Jacks, not Strikers. The team also starts with 2
DreadBall Cards, not 1.
* Page 133 – Nameless Team – the table labelled
Guard applies to the Feromite Guard, and the
table labelled Jack applies to the Undulan
Guard.
* Page 144 – Convict Team – the Guard’s race
should be Grogan. The team also starts with
1 Coaching Dice, not 1 Card (the cost is listed
correctly).
* Page 162 – Cyborg Team – the Nameless
Undulan Guard’s cost should be 135 to match
the regular Nameless Player. The team should
only contain 1 Kalyshi Striker, not 3.
* Page 178 – Kal Terza – should have Shell listed
in his Abilities section.
Cyborg Captain Card Deck
* Put The Boot In! – replace text with:
* Two of your Players may Run adjacent to the
same opposing prone Player. Then, they each
Stomp, combining the damage before making
the Armour Check
Cheerleaders
* Flaunt It!: The Cheerleader throws an
opposing Player off of their game. Use this
ability before the opposing Coach attempts
any dice test with a Player. For each 1 rolled
as part of the test, the Coach must discard one
successful dice from the roll.
Klutz on moving past the other Player. There must
be a space to push the opposing Player into.
The player is rather accident-prone. For each
A separate test must be made each time a
1 rolled as part of any test, the Coach must
player Brushes Aside during a move. There is
discard one successful dice from the roll.
no limit to the number of times this can be
attempted in one Action.

Although the Player may be moving out of a

Reach
The player has very long limbs or other
appendages with which they are able to make
plays at a greater distance than most.
If the player is a Jack or Guard, they can Slam
an opponent as normal. Alternatively, the
player can use its Reach ability to Slam an
opponent that is 2 hexes away. There must be
a clear path, ignoring the ball and fallen
players, to the target model in order for the
Slam to be made. The clear hex counted
between the models becomes the hex from
which the target is pushed back, if this
happens. This target of the Slam cannot make
a Slamback unless it also has the Reach ability.
If the player is a Jack or Striker, they can
attempt to Steal as normal. Alternatively, the
player can use its Reach ability to Steal from
an opponent that is 2 hexes away. There must
be a clear path, ignoring fallen players, to the
target model in order for the Steal to be made.
The target of the Steal cannot make a
Slamback unless it also has the Reach ability.
If the player is a Jack or Striker, they can also
attempt to pick up a ball that is on the pitch up
to 2 hexes away. Check that there is a clear
path from the player to the ball’s hex as if it
were a 2 hex Throw. Picking up the ball is
resolved as normal.
threat hex, they do not need to Evade as well
when making a Brush Aside move.
It is possible that a Player will need to Dash to
reach the currently occupied hex. Roll for the
Dash first. If the Dash test is failed, the Brush
Aside Action is still resolved but will fail
automatically.
Brush Aside: Strength test (123)
Modifiers
* -1 if the Player being Brushed Aside is a
Guard
* -1 per opposing Player threatening the hex
you are in, ignoring the Player you are
Brushing Aside (maximum modifier -2)
Pass: The target Player is pushed into one of
the 3 hexes directly away from the Player
Brushing Aside, chosen by the winning Coach,
and retains their facing. The winning Player
must move into the vacated hex, and may then
continue their move.
Pass Doubles: As above. In addition, the
target Player must take an Agility test (X),
where X is the number of successes achieved
by the Brush Aside roll, or be knocked prone.
Fail: Turn the target model to face the Player
using Brush Aside. The Action ends.

Note: unless either player has Threatening,

Brush Aside
This Player has access to a new Action called
Brush Aside. Players can make a Run or Sprint
Action as part of a Brush Aside Action. GIANT
players, however, may use Brush Aside as a
part of any Action that allows them to Run.
the players directly involved don’t modify each
other’s tests. For example, a Hulk brushing
aside a player that then needs to make their
agility test. Unless the Hulk has Threatening,
the Brush Aside player uses their full number
of dice, unless they are now being threatened
by another player.

A Player with this ability may Brush Aside

opposing Players during a Run or Sprint in a
similar way to Evading.

If a Player with this ability wants to move into

a hex that is occupied by a standing, opposing
Player they may try to Brush Aside rather than
Slamming them. This will allow them to carry
Strong Tail
The Player with this ability can use their tail to
fend off attacks from behind.
A Slam or Steal attempt on this Player made
from their rear arc suffers a -1 modifier. In
addition, if a Player with this rule triples on an
Evade roll, choose one opponent they were
Evading away from. They are hit by the tail
and knocked prone. Steady Players remain
standing as normal.
Note: The “Rat Run” Action card, which
confers the Strong Tail ability will still
knock prone an opponent if the Evade
doubles.
Feint
Sometimes, getting out of a tight corner is
more a matter of balance and poise than
bluster and noise. Some Players have
developed the skill of wrong-footing their
opponents just long enough to slip past
unmolested.
This Player has access to a new Action called
Feint.
Important: Players can make a Run Action as
part of a Feint, before rolling the test. This
follows all the normal rules for a Run.
The target of a Feint must be a single standing
opponent in one of the Feinting Player’s 3
Threat hexes.
* If the target Player is a Jack or Guard, and
has the Feinting Player in one of their Threat
Hexes, they have two options – either to Dodge
or to Slam. The target Player’s Coach must
choose before any dice are rolled.
* If the target Player is a Striker, or has the
Feinting Player in their rear arc, they may only
Dodge, representing them trying to block the
Feinting Player.
As an (X) test, the successes for the Feint will
be compared to the successes rolled by the
opposing Player’s Dodge or Slam.
Feint: Speed test (X)
Modifiers
* +1 if the Player is a Judwan
* +1 if the Feinting Player started the Action
adjacent to the target
* -1 per opposing Player threatening the hex
you are in, ignoring the Player you are
misdirecting (maximum modifier -2)
Feint Wins: The winning Coach turns their
Player to face any direction. They may then
move the losing Player 1 hex in any direction,
and with any facing, without making any
Evade rolls. The Action ends.
Feint Doubles: As above. In addition, the
losing Player is knocked prone. If the winning
Player did not already Run as part of the Feint,
they may make an immediate Run Free
Action.
Draw: The Players both turn to face each
other.
Feint Loses: The Feinting Player turns to face
the other Player. Then, see the results for
Slamming/Dodging.
Illegal
The Player is completely unscrupulous and will
do anything to win, including smuggling
weapons onto the pitch!
If this Player makes a Slam Action, they may
choose to either resolve it as normal or with a
weapon. This must be declared before rolling
any dice. If they resolve it with a weapon then
they get a +1 modifier to their Slam, but the
Action is a Foul. In all other respects the Slam
is resolved as normal. If the Slam roll doubles,
the Fouling Coach may make a Fan Check.
Alternatively, a Striker or Jack Player may
Shoot at an opposing Player with a concealed
ranged weapon. This is resolved in exactly the
same way as a DodgeBall foul with a +1
modifier, except that the Fouling Player does
not need to have or use the ball to do it.
However, to be careful not to draw too much
attention to this nefarious tactic, a team may
only use one Action token per Rush to Shoot in
this manner.
As usual, multiple Spot Foul tests must be
made if any other Foul is being committed at
the same time as the weapon is used.
Dirty Tricks
This player’s Coach can spend an Action on
them to draw two Event Cards. Pick one to put
it into play, and discard the other without
resolving it.
If Event Cards are not being used, once per
Rush this player may commit a foul without
the ref being able to make a Spot Test.
Supporting Staff
At the start of each game, when placing
the team’s Players, all support staff
(Coaching Assistants, Cheerleaders, etc)
for both Home and Visiting coaches are
placed in their respective spaces on the
sidelines.

Building a Team: Limitations

Keeper * A Team may not have more than double the
number of Players of a given type than the
A Keeper is a specialized type of Guard – given
recommended team (e.g. a Kalimarin Ancients
a DreadBall Glove and charged with defending
team may not have more than 4 Feromite
the team’s Strike Zones. Unless a rule
Guards. Even though the default roster for the
specifically differentiates between the two, or
team has 4 total Guards,2 Feromite Guards,
is overridden here, the Player should still be
and 2 Undulan Guards, the limit is based on the
treated as a Guard.
specific Player type).
The Player cannot Throw, Catch, or Pick Up
the ball. However, they can use a special action
called Punt to fling the ball down the pitch. A
Keeper may choose to Punt anytime they Fan Checks
move into a hex containing the ball, or anytime
Whenever a Player achieves one of the dramatic
the ball scatters onto them. If a Keeper
chooses not to Punt, scatter the ball as normal acts listed below the crowd goes wild, and you
without ending the Rush. must immediately make a Fan Check.

The Keeper’s facing when Punting will depend
on whether they were Running or Sprinting,
just like a Pick Up Action.
Keepers are also trained to interfere with
Strike attempts. If an opposing Player is
making a Strike attempt, and you have a
* Scores a bonus point.
* Doubles when making any Strike.
* Inflicts 3 or more damage on an opponent in
one go.
* Catches a scattering ball.

Keeper within the same Strike Zone and with * Catches a 9-hex pass. Once per Rush.
the Throwing Player in their front arc, then
the Keeper confers a flat -1 modifier for * Dashes 3 or more times in the same
threatening the Throwing Player even if they Action without falling.
are not adjacent. A Keeper with the Gotcha
ability would not confer a –2 threat to non-
* Evades 3 or more times in the same
Action without falling.
adjacent opponents.
* Triples their opponent in any (X) roll as long as
Finally, in order to better protect the added at least 3 successes are rolled.
investment of a Keeper, teams outfit Keepers
with heavy protection. A Player with this * Committing a particularly successful Foul (see
pages 50-51 for details).
ability has their Move stat reduced by 1, but
improves their Armour stat by 1 (e.g. 4+
becomes 3+).