Waterbowl Weekender

 

THE WATERBOWL WEEKENDER 2026

Once again, we’ll be hosted by the Element Games North West Gaming Centre, Hallam Mill, Hallam Street, Stockport, SK2 6PT

The event takes place on February 14/15 2026. This year we will be using the new 2025 3rd Season rules.

Payment and Contact Details

Entry to the tournament remains £20 for NAF members and £25 for non-NAF (this price includes NAF membership). 

Payment is by paypal (Go to www.paypal.com and pay your entry fee into the account: waterbowl@hotmail.co.uk  (please use the Friends and Family option) or cash (If you wish to pay by cash/transfer, then email waterbowlbb@gmail.com and let me know)

Refunds: After January 1st 2026 refunds are subject to resale of your ticket.

New NAF sign-ups: We will have a NAF Representative at the tournament. You will need to provide your email address and to come up with a NAF/Username. You will receive a membership gift (usually a token + dice) 

If you need to contact me (Alex) regarding the tournament you can reach me on 07921197206.

I may not be present on the weekend, so if you have any issues on the day, please contact Barney on 07866425559.

What do I Need To Bring?

  • Painted team – All models must be fully painted but can be from any manufacturer. Please note, this is a family friendly event. Any models deemed inappropriate will not be allowed to be used. If you have any questions, please contact us.
  • Blood Bowl pitch, Block Dice, D6, D8, D16
  • Rulebook (2025 3rd Season)
  • Device able to run Tourplay
  • NAF details (nickname and NAF ID number)

Schedule

Saturday

Sunday

9.30am – 10.00am – Register

9.30 – 11.45pm – Game 4

10.00am – 12.15pm – Game 1

11.45pm – 12.15pm – Lunch

12.30pm – 1.15pm – Lunch

12.15pm – 2.30pm – Game 5

1.15pm – 3.30pm – Game 2

2.45pm – 5pm – Game 6

3.30pm – 5.45pm – Game 3

5.15pm – Results & Prizes

Tournament Rules

The tournament will use Blood Bowl 3rd Season rules. The NAF have allowed the inclusion of Slann in this season and, as long as they are updated on Tourplay, they will be eligible for this tournament. 

Roster Submission

  • The tournament will now be hosted on Tourplay. Please register your team there by the end of February 6th 2026

Stunty Cup

  • The following teams are eligible for the Stunty Cup: Gnomes, Goblins, Halflings, Ogres, Snotlings

Tournament Format

  • The tournament uses the Swiss format.
  • It is a resurrection tournament.
  • 6 games over two days. 

There will be clocks on the screens so that you can see how much time you have left in the round. There will also be regular time announcements. Please download a chess timer onto your phone in case you need it, there may be some chess clocks at the event.

Team Building

All teams must be rookie teams with a starting value of 1.15 million gold pieces. 

You may use any of the races officially sanctioned by the NAF at the time of the tournament. 

Before the start of the tournament you should select one of the following Upgrade sets:

Upgrade Set 1

5 x Primary Skills

1 x Secondary Skill

  

Upgrade Set 2

4 x Primary Skills

1 x Secondary Skill

One of 

MV+1, AV-1, PA+1*

Upgrade Set 3

3 x Primary Skills

1 x Secondary Skill

1 x AG+1*

Upgrade Set 4

3 x Primary Skills

1 x ST+1

  

Upgrade Set 5 (Stunty Teams Only)

4 x Primary Skills

1 x Star Player

  

*NOTE* – If choosing AG+1 or PA+1 this cannot be used to increase a Characteristic to AG1+ or PA1+

  • 0-1 Star Players may be taken by coaches of Stunty Cup eligible teams
    • If taking a Star, coaches must take Upgrade Set 5 (see above) Other teams may not hire Star Players for this event. 
    • Star Players with the following keywords cannot be taken
      • Big Guy, Dwarf, Elf, Human, Skaven, Orc
  • Players cannot receive more than one upgrade 
  • Star Players cannot receive an upgrade 
  • Instead of a secondary skill you may select a primary skill 
  • Each Elite skill may only be taken up to 4 times
  • Any Characteristic increase included in the Upgrade set MUST be taken 
  • Characteristic increases may not be applied if they take a player over the maximum stated in the rules e.g. no MA10 gutter runners. 
  • If choosing  AG+1 or PA+1 this cannot be used to increase a Characteristic to AG1+ or PA1+
  • You cannot change skill set or skills during the tournament 
  • You must clearly mark which players have skills by using e.g. coloured skill rings 

Inducements

Coaches may hire:

  • Team Mascot 0-1
  • Blitzers’s Best Kegs 0-2
  • Bribes 0-3 (Reduced from the Rulebook)
  • Wandering Apothecaries 0-2
  • Mortuary Assistant 0-1
  • Plague Doctor 0-1
  • Riotous Rookies 0-1
  • Biased Referee: Dodgy League Rep 0-1
  • Halfling Master Chef 0-1 (Stunty Teams only)
  • Weather Mage 0-1
  • Bretonnian Pastry 0-1

Wizards, Mages, Mercenaries, &  Prayers to Nuffle are not allowed.

Masters of Undeath can resurrect a single killed opponent to use as a Lineman player who will play for the team for that game only. After the game, the team loses any bonus player gained during the game. The same applies to Plague Ridden on Nurgle teams.

Tournament Scoring

Points are awarded for:

  • Win: 6pts
  • Draw: 3pts
  • Loss: 0pts

Tie-breakers – The tie-breakers will be:

  • Strength of Schedule 
  • TDs+Cas (total)
  • TDs+Cas (net) 
  • If required: a dice off

Note: Only Casualties generated by blocking count i.e. those that would normally generate SPPs (no fouls, crowd surfs etc).

Attendees

A list of the coaches coming to Waterbowl 2026 can be found here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-ym6q7Z0m34qVgQfhR4qdx_q_TCHwwTS27u-27LxVCE/edit?usp=sharing

Painting 

No unpainted teams please. Models must also be clearly recognisable as the positions that they represent, and appropriate for people of all ages.

Dice

At the start of each round clarify with your opponent what you will count as a cocked dice (& whether in the case of a cocked dice you will just reroll the dice that is cocked or reroll all of the dice that were rolled in that action)

All players must allow their opponents to share their dice if requested to do so.

Photos

There will be photos taken over the weekend to share on the WB socials to share the buzz of the event. If you do not wish to be included in these photos/have your photo shared on social media please contact Alex/Leipziger or Robert/Barney prior to, or at the start of the weekend.