Takebacks when choosing block dice

[Magic Dave]

At tourneys i make a note of who has what skills on the oppos team, if my oppos has no why of marking theses guys then I will. Use a re-roll counter under the guys that will cause you the most stress, this way you can see who has what at a glance.

But to answer your question I'm from the school of having fun, if the guy wants to change his mind I have no prob with that, I will always help him out by telling him what skills my players have.

[Warpstone]

Guys, I know that most players would let this go. My problem really is, what can be done to answer players who reveal they want to play it tight after a game is started? Is this possible to arbitrate at all so that an opponent with a normal expectation of a friendly match isn't exploited? Or is there no resolution besides too-bad so sad for the coach who made a slip?

I get the points you're making. But sadly, not much of this provides a resolution mechanic for commishes beside "sorry, but suck it up." I guess I can accept that, but I hate to have no solution to a coach getting cherry-picked by a rules lawyer. I also hate that a rules lawyer has carte blanche to exploit sporting coaches.

Sure, it only takes getting burned once for you to play tight yourself, but sometimes one misunderstanding is all that's needed to decide a game/tournament/championship.

[daloonieshaman]

You have to look at this from 2 sides
Rules Lawyer: Dude you picked BD so BD it is, by the way I have wrestle.
You have the freedom to ask, look, print out, write down your opponents stuff at any point of the game. We have a running joke (30 or games) with a Dwarf coach: so does he have Dodge several times a game.
He is not intentionally being a dick. Now his delivery may need some polishing but he is just pointing out the facts.
Example: I pick push, (go to push the figure)(Hold up I have Side Step) should you be allowed at the point to reroll the dice or select the other result> maaayyybbbeee in a real friendly game

The switcharoo guy: aw man I forgot you had that skill let me pick push or I thought you said that guy had wrestle. It is just plain wrong for you to dog me like this, dude you are not being cool.

The problem is there are soooo many examples as to why you can't do take backs. There are exceptions (frenzy, wild animal/stupid/boner) dealing with stuff you HAVE to do.

The game is all about having fun and challenging yourself to beat the crap out of your opponent. If you forgot something or added something wrong you should eat it. Take backs does nobody any good as your are gonna expect to be able to do it again and again.

My humble opinion is suck it up and try to play within the rules set by your commissioner and the rulebook. If you commish is cool with take backs then you caught a break. Opens a huge can of worms but that is another line.

[Greyhound]

Guys, I know that most players would let this go. My problem really is, what can be done to answer players who reveal they want to play it tight after a game is started? Is this possible to arbitrate at all so that an opponent with a normal expectation of a friendly match isn't exploited? Or is there no resolution besides too-bad so sad for the coach who made a slip?

I get the points you're making. But sadly, not much of this provides a resolution mechanic for commishes beside "sorry, but suck it up." I guess I can accept that, but I hate to have no solution to a coach getting cherry-picked by a rules lawyer. I also hate that a rules lawyer has carte blanche to exploit sporting coaches.

Sure, it only takes getting burned once for you to play tight yourself, but sometimes one misunderstanding is all that's needed to decide a game/tournament/championship.

I personally always tell my opponent before the block or before he choses which skill I have and how this will affect his play:
"Watch out before you roll this dodge, I have DT, are you sure you want to dodge"
"Please pick the push die, I have sidestep!"
etc... I don't mind the silent type who reveal after I play either but I don't like playing like that with my opponent.
I am more than happy however to be challenged in learning another roster by heart.

[plasmoid]

As a fellow commish, I think my reply to the players would be: Oh don't be anal!

The defender full well knows that the attacker would not in a million years voluntarily want to be wrestled down and suffer a turnover. He only picks that die because he doesn't have intimate knowledge of the skills of the opposing players.

I'd call them profoundly poor sportsmanship.

That's my 2 cents anyway.
Cheers
Martin

[JPS]

As a fellow commish, I think my reply to the players would be: Oh don't be anal!

As a commissioner, I have to disagree.

Coaches can view the opposing roster at any time, can ask the opposing coach about the skills of any of his players, if any player has a particular skill, where are the players with a particular skill, etc, etc. If a coach fails to take advantage of these opportunities, then it's his own damn fault for not asking first. It only takes being surprised once or twice for coaches to get in the habit of asking.

That being said, most coaches will warn their opponent before the opponent makes the roll that his player has wrestle (or stand firm, sidestep, guard on an assisting player, etc.). Only when it's a crucial moment in the game, such as the blitzing player also carrying the ball, will a coach keep quiet until asked.

- JPS

[otherdave]

I would always inform a coach that my player had wrestle before he chooses which dice. However, I would not tell him whether I was going to use it until after. I have no problem with someone changing their mind based on what skill they are told a player has, but would never accept them changing their mind after I decide whether or not to use it. Same goes with sidestep and stand firm.

Round here, it seems to have become common practice for the blocker to declare the block, roll the dice, and then for the blockee to state which skills are relevant to the dice throw. If the blocker asks prior to the throw then of course skills are spelled out at that time. I prefer an open game based on tactics and strategy to a devious one that depends on 'gotchas', personally.

Wrestle isn't common in our league (yet) but I wouldn't declare whether I was using a skill until the blocker chooses the result of their block first.

[Wanchor]

We generally go through introductions before the game and leave roster sheets available during the game. If I learn that a lineman who looked similar to others had Block, Wrestle or any other skill that might be a pain to deal with, I ask without question whether it is him with whom I'm dealing at the moment. I think it's the attacker's responsibility to figure this out, and it only takes a simple question - "Does this guy have block, wrestle, anything?"

[alternat]

...and the answer is usually "anything"!

[plasmoid]

JPS said:

As a commissioner, I have to disagree.
Coaches can view the opposing roster at any time, can ask the opposing coach about the skills of any of his players, if any player has a particular skill, where are the players with a particular skill, etc, etc. If a coach fails to take advantage of these opportunities, then it's his own damn fault for not asking first.

Different strokes then.
It's a long time since I had the time (or could be bothered) to memorize 20+ skills on my opponents roster.
Same goes for my league mates.
So we don't try to win on technicalities.

Cheers
Martin