Goblin Teams - Stars vs Secret Weapons on the Rota

Marlow · Post by **Marlow** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:25 pm

Salutations Readers,

I have just got back in to Blood Bowl and am starting up a Goblin team (just for the fun of it). I wanted to ask what people though of the Secret Weapons on the Rota vs the Star Players? I am joining in the league halfway through so expect to get Inducements for most of my games.

Dribblesnot Vs Bombardier
Cost + 20 kgp
Pros: Accurate, Right Stuff
Cons: Loner
Throwing him could be quite amusing (if not very effective) and Accuracy means he going to be able to throw further. The Bomber also seems the most situational player (not so good against Elves) So I think Dribblesnot.

Fungus Vs Fanatic
Cost + 10 kgp
Pros: Mighty Blow, +1 MA
Cons: Loner
Fungus is great for his cost, but as the Fanatic is the only Secret Weapon likely to gain SPP's so I would probably take him.

Nobbla Vs Looney
Cost: + 60 kgp!
Pros: Block, Dodge
Cons: Loner
Nobbla has great skills, but his cost probably means I would stick the Looney on the team!

EDIT: After Discussion added into the Pogoer.
Scrappa Vs Pogo
Cost + 10 kgp
Pros: Right Stuff, Sprint, Sure Feet
Cons: Loner
Verdict: 10K extra for all those skills is well worth it to have a mobile ball grabbing fouler.

tenwit · Post by **tenwit** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:41 pm

Too many SWs means more chance to have them line out for one-turn drives (especially at the end of the first half...). Where feasible, save your cash for inducements. Definitely get fanatic, front him up on the LoS in your first offensive drive (so that he can move before the opposition gets out of the way).

Bombardier depends on the sort of opposition you're likely to be playing. If its you and 7 Khemri teams.. get the bombardier

Otherwise, induce him when you need to.

Chainsaw is hard to call. I'd say save him for the big teams where you get inducements. So.. Nobbla!

You didn't consider Scrappa vs. Pogoer. Pogoer is also likely to get SPPs (best TDer you've got), so I recommend getting him, but with sprint/sure feet, Scrappa is even better. I'd consider inducing him when you're up against a very bashy side. If only he had AG4, he'd be a shoo-in. Leap is just too scarey with AG3.

Marlow · Post by **Marlow** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:57 pm

I was looking at the Secret Weapons from the point of view of Taking out Opposing Players to try and even up the score a little, which is why I did not compare the Pogo Sticks.

I had actually dismissed Pogo as I did not think it was worth having him out for only one drive, and with the Secret Weapon disadvantage he can not dodge ignoring TZ's.

Starting team is 2xTrolls, 10xGoblins (possilbe one being Looney) & 3x Reroll for 800kgp Value. So I will should 200+ kgp Inducements for my first couple of games.

tenwit · Post by **tenwit** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 8:24 pm

Marlow wrote:I had actually dismissed Pogo as I did not think it was worth having him out for only one drive, and with the Secret Weapon disadvantage he can not dodge ignoring TZ's.

The no-stunty-dodge thing isn't too bad on fast players, you can just run around. Induce Scrappa at least once, against the right team, just so you can see how useful he is.

And just in case you need to make a desperation play.. leap isn't affected by SW

Also, with pogoers/Scrappa having dirty player and SW, you're that much more likely to foul when you've decided you just can't stop that TD. It's a pain to lose a gobbo to the sin bin when you're already down to 9, but if you're going to lose him anyway.. who is it who puts it so well? "Always kick ahead.. ANY HEAD!"

landrover · Post by **landrover** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 8:36 pm

I'm sorry, but I just can't go past the chainsaw on the gobbo team.
My ideal line-up contains the looney, the pogoer and the chainsaw. The bombadier is just too prone to misfires. I played gobs in a res tourney recently and it failed every time.

I know, I should have sacrificed two goats to Nuffle, but I was running late and chicken Kiev was all I had available.

Marlow · Post by **Marlow** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 8:42 pm

The Pogoer is the only Goblin model I do not have. I am not keen on Stars that score as they leach the teams SPP's. With Leap, Sprint, Sure Feet and Right Stuff he certainly can go far. I will try him out in a friendly.

fen · Post by **fen** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 8:46 pm

It's dirty player that's the reason you take either pogoer. Even as +1or+1 it's still the best way a goblin can eliminate a player after chainsaws and troll blocks. You don't use scrappa to score TDs unless you have to. Additionally a player with a pogo stick and right stuff can do some amazing ball retrieval tricks.

tenwit · Post by **tenwit** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 9:32 pm

Getting SPPs is useful. Getting TDs is vital. If it's safe to score with Scrappa, and the alternatives are risky, then don't hesitate to score with him. Too many people (including me, until recently) value SPPs over victories. Your 48 SPP pogoer can die, your 6 TDs that Scrappa scored in the league can never be taken away.

However, he is better for fouling

Joemanji · Post by **Joemanji** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 11:02 am

In league I found 2 SW players to work best. Any more and you start losing them on dead drives too often. For me those are the chainsaw for obvious reasons - build you drive around him. Loner chainsaws are a big risk since you want to use them early in the turn and then cage around to prevent retaliation. I also use the Fanatic, and since it's vastly cheaper to keep him on roster I only use Fungus in addition to him.

Marlow · Post by **Marlow** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:41 pm

Joemanji wrote: I also use the Fanatic, and since it's vastly cheaper to keep him on roster I only use Fungus in addition to him.

You use Fungus and the Fanatic?
I had wondered about that.

My final rosta plan is 2 trolls, 10 goblins, Loony & Fanatic with two slots open for Stars or Mercs. Ripper is the first choice if I am outclassed and then a SW depending on the opponent.

Joemanji · Post by **Joemanji** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:58 pm

Marlow wrote:You use Fungus and the Fanatic?
I had wondered about that.

I have done. Not on the same drive though by choice. The key is keeping the quota of ST players on the pitch up. With enough of them, your opponent won't have the chance to pick on the gobbos.

fen · Post by **fen** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 5:35 pm

Similar final roster to mine, except I keep one slot open (there's almost always an injured goblin for the other slot) and have 2 trolls, 10 goblins, pogoer, chainsaw and looney. It gives me three solid secret weapons for player elimination duty.

stormmaster1 · Post by **stormmaster1** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 9:11 am

tenwit wrote:Getting SPPs is useful. Getting TDs is vital. If it's safe to score with Scrappa, and the alternatives are risky, then don't hesitate to score with him. Too many people (including me, until recently) value SPPs over victories. Your 48 SPP pogoer can die, your 6 TDs that Scrappa scored in the league can never be taken away.

However, he is better for fouling

So true. People often concentrate on team-building more than winning each game.