CharmingCavalier 1723 Share Posted January 11, 2023 The Origins, Rules, and League of Heartland Folkball By Peter Norton Folkball at Play c. 1899 By Reginald C. Logreene Origins Recreational physical activities, especially communal ones, have always been a necessity. The Heartlanders are no exception, and the rural folk have played the game of Folkball for hundreds of years. Johannian city-dwellers are rumored to have played a game similar to the sport, focusing on two teams simultaneously keeping their team’s colored ball in the air while the others attempted to knock it to the ground. Little is known about the exact rules. However, the small ball that was used was traditionally made of leather and stuffed with feathers. John III was rumored to have a specialty ball created for the sport, which he much enjoyed, and had it stuffed with dove and swan feathers. Although some authors have tried to connect the origin of ball sports amongst the common folk to the Kha handball sport of Tlachtli, there is little evidence to support the contemporaneousness of this factoid. Likewise, a passing fad of bucketball in the mid-1800s stained and overshadowed traditional Heartland sports like Folkball. The specific start of Folkball is hard to conceptualize or investigate, as most know the sport fondly. It may trace its origins to Auvergne Bal de Guerre, a mob sport brought by Savoyard immigrants to Petrus in Athera. It lacked rules, was played between villages, had no player limit, and was incredibly violent. Since the Chivays, bucolic communities have played Folkball amongst their fields. With recent lulls in warfare, the sport’s popularity has climbed. Yet, it has always remained popular during the interlude between planting and harvesting seasons when most commoners are left with little to do. Seeing this, this treatise will lay out the rules of the sport, as they are commonly understood, in hopes of encouraging its play amongst all people. Rules A Folkball pitch is 21 meters squared and made of sand. On all sides, a wall is erected, usually a fence or barricade. In the middle of the field is a leather ball filled with straw. Especially fancy games may have a ball made of boiled pig's bladder, painted, and stuffed with various feathers. A game lasts 60 minutes and is traditionally monitored by two line officials, two net officials, and one master referee. At the two ends of the field, the wall is waist-height. Above the wall is a net. The ball must be thrown, kicked, or headered into this net for a point to count. Any attempt by the opposing team that goes over the net results in a half-point given to the defending team. A standard Folkball team is made of five players. There are no substitutions or replacements allowed. Their start positions are shown on the grid below. Each tile of the grid represents a one-meter squared section of the field. Those shown in blue below are the Shielders. Shielders are given a shield to block, push, or bludgeon their opponents. However, they must mind not hitting an opponent's head, or they will be ejected. The Netkeepers are shown in green, more commonly known as the Netters. They must prevent the folkball from entering the net. Likewise, they must ensure that any attempt is caught or goes over the net; the latter is preferable since it delivers a half point to their team. The Halfbacks, also known as the Halfs, are shown in magenta because they are halfway between the Shielders and the Netkeepers. Their job is two-fold: First, offensively, they are to charge forth and secure the folkball for their team. A common tactic is to let the Shielders push others away while the Halfs dive in and run the ball down the field. They are the most skilled in running and catching the folkball. Second, defensively they must tackle, block, and beat the opposing Halfs if they attempt to score in the net. N N H H S S H H N N The physicality of Folkball is defined by only two rules. First, no weapons are allowed except a shield for the Shielders. Second, any blow is legal if it comes from the foot, leg, body, arm, or hand. There is no biting or spitting allowed. Likewise, no hit can go above the neck, and heads are strictly forbidden from being used as a weapon or hit by another player. Players who violate these rules are ejected by a referee. ((OOC Rules:)) Spoiler SETUP: Create a flat field in a 21x21 block format. Place colored blocks in each of the designated starting locations. Place white blocks denoting the goal lines, half line, center (as depicted above). Place a brown or colored head in the middle of the center (3x3) circle. GAME: Each player gets on action and one movement per turn. There are 30 turns in a game of Folkball, though this can be raised or lowered depending on the enthusiasm of the players. The goal is to score as many nets as possible within the turn limit. STARTING POSITIONS: Each team consists of two Netters, two Halfs, and one Shielder. They start the game in their designated positions (as depicted above). WHO STARTS?: A coin is flipped (/roll 1d2) at the start of the match. The away team, or newest team to the game, must declare either Faces (1) or Eagles (2). If they chose correctly their team’s Halfs will go first. TURN ORDER: All Halfs go first, then all Shielders go second, and all Netters go last. MOVEMENT: Each player gets to move three blocks per turn. ACTIONS: Each player can take one of these actions on their turn. Grapple - Grappling is holding a player in spot by any means. They may only target one player at a time. Both players make a Grapple roll. Should the initiator roll higher than the target, the target loses their movements and action for all turns until the target makes a successful opposing Grapple check or the initiator releases them as a free action during the initiator's turn. Pass - Passing is throwing or transferring the ball to another player. To pass a player declares their intended target and rolls their Pass stat. A roll of 10 or above means the pass is sent in the air. A roll of 9-2 means the ball is placed one block before the intended target.* A roll of 1 means the ball is placed two blocks in front of the passer.* *If any of these squares are filled with another player they become the ball-carrier. Handle - Handle is receiving the ball from another player. This check is made by the intended receiver of a pass if the pass is successful (see above). A roll of 10 or above means the pass is caught. You are the new ball-carrier. A roll of 9-2 means the ball is placed one block before the intended target.* A roll of 1 means the ball is placed two blocks in front of the receiver.* *If any of these squares are filled with another player they become the ball-carrier. Shoot - A player can choose to shoot at the net to score a goal. They must roll their Shoot stat. They must then subtract the number of blocks between them and the goal. This is then checked against the Block roll of the Netter. EXAMPLE: Joe rolls a 18 on his Shoot check. He is 7 blocks away from the net. This means his NET shoot stat is 11. Block - Block is guarding a shot on the net by any means. A Netter or other player on the goal line must roll their Block stat and compare it to the NET Shoot stat of the person attempting to score. See the chart below for outcomes: If the shooter’s roll is higher by 4 the goal is scored: One point to the shooter’s team. If the shooter’s roll is equal or lower by 1, 2, or 3 to the block roll: the blocker becomes the new ball-carrier. If the shooter’s roll is lower by 4 or more to the block roll the ball flies over the net (by itself or by the touch of the blocker): A half point to the blocker’s team. STATS: Shielders (S) Grapple +5 Pass +0 Handle -2 Shoot -1 Block +0 Halfbacks (H) Grapple +0 Pass +2 Handle +2 Shoot +2 Block -3 Netkeppers (N) Grapple +1 Pass +2 Handle +0 Shoot -4 Block +4 The Heartland Folkball League The Heartland Folkball League (HFL) was founded in 1882 by the four oldest surviving Folkball teams in the Heartlands. Throughout the wars that plagued the 8th Empire and its subsequent successor states, Folkball became a luxury in which few could partake. However, in the aftermath and succeeding years of peace, many veterans and farm folk took to the sport to join their communities and hone their physical abilities during these times of peace. They agreed in 1899 that for one week a year, in the hot days between the planting and harvesting seasons, they would assemble to play for the title of best Folkball team. The four founding teams of the HFL, currently the only teams still operating, are the Grenz Hurlers, Florentine Bulls, New Vienne Upstreeters, and Petran Suns. Each team’s roster and history are detailed below: The Florentine Bulls The newest of the teams, the Florentine Bulls, were founded by Servo Falcone in 1878. Although named after the Hyspian bulls that were freed in the region following the Brother’s War by rogue imperial forces, the Florentine bulls dominated Folkball during the early 1900s, winning three consecutive titles from 1901-1903. Their streak was only broken in 1904 when they were disqualified for an illegal headbutt by Roberto il Toro to the Hurler’s Netter, Pate Mors. With the recent decline in Florentine’s prosperity, the team is struggling to find new talent. ROSTER: Shielder - Giuseppe il Muro Halfback - Francesco Falcone Halfback - Antonio la Bianca Netkeeper - Stefano Valentina Netkeeper - Carmin Stello Bench - Roberto il Toro Bench - Carlo Bordin Bench - Robert il Niro Coach - Filippo Jacoson The Grenz Hurlers The Grenz Hurlers predate Folkball and trace their roots to the ancient Hanseti sport of Stonneball, or stoneball in common. The game was similar to Folkball in its scoring but differed with its intense violence and heavy ball made of hewn stone. Although recruiting from the country folk of the Kingdom of Haeseni-Ruska, the team mostly plays in the northern Heartlands. Its founding members or date are unknown, but the team is known for its brutality and holds the record for most ejections in a single game, with three. They were initially called the Grenz Highlanders but changed their name in 1882. ROSTER: Shielder - Viktor Berenson Halfback - Heinrik Rarehird Halfback - Willem Steav Netkeeper - Baldemar Baltsoeng Netkeeper - Pate Mors Bench - Everard Franz Feodorson Bench - Seth Hairytooth Bench - Eckehard Kranz Coach - Friedrich Meier The New Vienne Upstreeters The New Vienne Upstreeters have seen the rise and fall of many cities but have stayed steadfast in their dedication to the sport of Folkball. Hailing from the small villages surrounding the most formidable Heartland city, they originally formed the Helena Upstreeters in 1784. Since they have moved from the original field to ones in Providence, New Providence, Vienne, and finally, New Vienne. They are most well known for their storied rivalry with the Downstreeters. In the chaos following the St. Ari’s Day Massacre, the Upstreeters ended the feud by playing a game of Folkball with no rules, which allowed for all weapons. Although only three Upstreeters survived, the Downstreeters were never reformed from that defeat. ROSTER: Shielder - Jaremy Smith Halfback - Simon Bishop Halfback - Charles Fisherman Netkeeper - Merrett the Brown Knight Netkeeper - Walter Roberts Bench - Clarence Wilson Bench - Morgan Robins Bench - Bryar Harris Coach - Greg Miller The Petran Suns Founded in 1620 as the Mardon Mudeaters, the Petran Suns are the oldest Folkball team in the HFL. Throughout their centuries, they have waned in continuity and, at times, have disbanded. However, they have returned from every slump. Some of the names this team has used over the years include the Courland Cats, Marna Hogs, Helena Hogs, and Providence Pipers. They are considered the quintessential Heartland team. Although disputed, the Suns claim the most titles. This is only possible due to their claim to have won archaic championships, which are not recognized in the HFL. ROSTER: Shielder - Obidiah Longfoot Halfback - Roger Norton Halfback - Ferris Newman Netkeeper - Joseph Green Netkeeper - Glenn Clarke Bench - Craig Gregerson Bench - Byron Hammond Bench - Simon Cowl Coach - Peter Norton Spoiler Hello there! I know some remember me from the ABA, for all the good and bad it brought. However, I have a deep passion for incorporating sports into role-play situations. Not only because it adds a thing for your characters to talk about, but it further fleshes out the world in which our characters live. I took a lot of recommendations, critiques, and comments in from my previous ventures in this area of role-play. With Folkball, I want to show that sports and recreational games are typical for our characters and can be enjoyable in-game. I've ditched the modern graphics style for more traditional ones and will continue to update them. For now, I have only made four teams because this is a project I want to grow with your suggestions, your teams, your players, and your help! Although I will continue to post weekly (yearly IRP) results for these four teams, I hope this will grow on people and have a chance to see Folkball fields pop up all around the map. Likewise, expansion teams will continue to be an option. I've included the OOC rules for the sport, but please bear in mind this has only been subject to minimal playtesting, and your comments and critiques are highly welcomed! There is uncertainly something I have missed in my summary, and I hope that can be modified for future OOC rule releases. Please enjoy this game and the coming weekly championship. Hopefully, you will be rooting for your favorite team soon! To Joel, I hope this makes up for my sins. 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
VoidandNull 356 Share Posted January 11, 2023 I LOVE THE ABA LETS ******* GOOOOO Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrunkPapaBear 1975 Share Posted January 11, 2023 Magnificient Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greener 659 Share Posted January 11, 2023 Cardinal Teodosio chuckles after receiving news of such sport, "It's going to be a real bloodbowl," he says to himself. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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