Finesse team in bashy league - worth it?

Solarhaphaeriom · Post by **Solarhaphaeriom** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:43 pm

So, our Blood Bowl group are now starting up a new league, to get a fresh start after running a league for about a year. So far the teams are:

Chaos Dwarves
Norse
Chaos
Unknown

For my team, It'll be either dwarves or an elf team, since that's what I have models for. I played Dark elves last campaign, so this time would be high or plain elf, of which the latter seems more interesting. Now my conundrum is, since our leagues are basically indefinite series of matches, with no trophies to gain, is playing the only finesse team just an exercise in masochism?
The last league my Dark Elves won 90% of their games, and tied the rest (versus skaven, norse, WE, CD, chaos), but in the last part of the league I was typically 'losing' each match by losing players worth more than my gains., and I was basically playing to minimize damage to my team.
I foresee something similar happening here, only worse with AV7 and pure bashy teams, so I'm wondering if anyone has experience being the only squishy in a bashy league, and whether you think it's worth it? Or otherwise if anyone can offer thoughts.

mattgslater · Post by **mattgslater** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:47 pm

If you get off to a good start, it's absolutely worth it. I'd start with an Apothecary in a league like that.

IMO, it's kosher to let your opponents' team races dictate your team design, your gameplay and your development, but never let what anyone else is playing push you out of the team you really want to play.

lauth81 · Post by **lauth81** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:01 pm

don´t forget the journeymen rule. You´ll have 11 players each match, that helps in a bashy enviroment, even if they have the loner negtrait

ClayInfinity · Post by **ClayInfinity** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 3:35 am

I play Pro Elves in a bashy-ish league of 12 teams with the only other finesse team being Dark Elves (and they're nasty!)

I came first in the league and lost the Grand Final against the above mentioned Darkies.

The other teams incl Khemri, Norse, Dwarf, Orc, Necro and even the humans went with no catchers and an Ogre.

All in all, I think LRB5 is great for Elves.... Journeymen, Wrestle etc all make the elves much more competitive in a league style set up.

You can also look at it - Pro Elves are highly powered on offence... its always hard for a basher to come back from 1-0 down no matter the casualty count.

mattgslater · Post by **mattgslater** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 4:01 am

Defense is where Pro Elves really rock. There is no better cornerback in the whole game than the Pro Elf Blitzer, and Pro Elf Catchers with NOS can always get the ball away if they can pick it up. They get hurt on the line, but their line-elves are cheap(ish) and dodge away very well by comparison to, say, Skaven.

sturmjarl · Post by **sturmjarl** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 7:05 am

well, you know what you're facing so that will help. Best thing about the pro-elves is their prices and NO STR. 2!! That will be HUGE. Journeymen will HAVE to be your best friends but speed is where it's at fo the elves!! Norse might give you some trouble, but play them later afetr THEIR AV7 has taken some hits agianst the other bashy teams. 1st choice of matches should be Chaos before they start skilling up.

mattgslater · Post by **mattgslater** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 8:06 am

Get two TDs with each Catcher and give 'em Dodge. That'll keep them alive a lot longer. With Pro Elves, it's about keeping the Catchers and Blitzers on the field. Journeymen are fine, but unlike other elf teams you can't sub linos for positionals so well (in part because the linos are mediocre, and in part because the Catchers and Blitzers are so awesome). Throwers are worth it, even if you treat them like linemen, because they get the extra usable skill and a doubles roll for Leader when they improve for a mere 10k. After two games I have 7 completions, and only one of them is on my Thrower -- but that was the Short Pass I needed to score after a turn 8 takeaway with no RRs.

Buggrit · Post by **Buggrit** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 2:37 pm

We've got a Delf player in what's a mainly bashy coaching style league.... Just use their superior AG to leave your opponent with only a blitz action to hurt you every turn and you should be fine....

Solarhaphaeriom · Post by **Solarhaphaeriom** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 8:21 pm

I gather the general opinion is a yes then.

@ClayInfinity: The problem is, there will likely be no such thing as a grand final, just matches and endless team development. But where Norse and Chaos develop awesomely, I fear elves in a bashy league is an exercise in learning to use the Loner skill...

In any case, I'll hang on to the elves for now. I played a single match against the Norse, outnumbered from turn 5 and a 1 every time I was doing anything involving the ball (or my winnings) meant a 2-0 loss. Worst injury was MNG for my blitzer though, so next one looks alright.

Besides, elves with sidestep are more entertaining than unbeatable dwarves.

ClayInfinity · Post by **ClayInfinity** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 11:08 pm

Solarhaphaeriom wrote:@ClayInfinity: The problem is, there will likely be no such thing as a grand final, just matches and endless team development. But where Norse and Chaos develop awesomely, I fear elves in a bashy league is an exercise in learning to use the Loner skill...

Well our second season has started and my team had a TV of $2.04M going into round one against a TV1.38 Chaos Team...

Guess what, I lost! He hired Ripper, a CW Tentacled Mercenary and a wizard as inducements... excellent choices as Ripper kept grabbing elves and placing them next to the Tentacles (which worked a treat for him despite their toning down in LRB5).

So, my comment is... you'll out develop teams very quickly because of your high offence but you will pay on inducements and it has a very sobering effect.

I only lost a rookie line elf MNG and my FF went down and the -#20K for spiralling expenses hurt a bit too...

Next game, I am giving away $970K vs a rookie Dwarf team... be interesting but as you said, coaching side stepping elves is alot of fun!

stormmaster1 · Post by **stormmaster1** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 7:59 am

but who won the match?

My problem with rookie elves is that eventually i fail the first dodge roll of a turn, leave everyone still in TZs and then get smashed. So if starting a rookie elf team don't stint on re-rolls.

Omalley69 · Post by **Omalley69** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 12:51 pm

GO FOR IT!

or restart your goblin team

or...uhh i got it!

**Start an "all snotling team (0 ogres), and play against your chaos opponent!** you can borrow my snotlings for the team

(im his chaos opponent

)

ClayInfinity · Post by **ClayInfinity** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:39 am

stormmaster1 wrote:but who won the match?

My problem with rookie elves is that eventually i fail the first dodge roll of a turn, leave everyone still in TZs and then get smashed. So if starting a rookie elf team don't stint on re-rolls.

If you read above, you'll see I lost... the score was 2-1 to the Chaos...

And yes, my elf team started with 4 RR's... everyone said I was crazy, but the Dark Elf team that started with none and lots of positionals retired after season 1.

My roster was: 2 Blitzers, 1 Catcher, 1 Thrower, 6 line elves, 4 RR, 0FF (thats off the top of my head, but I think thats how it was).

mattgslater · Post by **mattgslater** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 2:26 pm

Wow. There's more than one way to skin a cat.

All I can say is: buy Catchers as soon as you can! Don't replace lost linos with linos if you still have 3 or fewer Catchers, even if it means you're running on Journeymen. Throwers are a good buy as they do whatever a lino does for a comparable price, but they're totally optional.

Solarhaphaeriom · Post by **Solarhaphaeriom** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 10:51 pm

Been playing a while now, mostly against norse and CD, one against Chaos. In the beginning I had a blitzer and 11 linos, apo and 3 RR. It was pretty tough without positionals, but it let me skill up the linos some, which I like. By now I have the second blitzer and 2 catchers, and it really makes a difference. Overall it's ok as far as the original topic goes, sure I break sometimes, but it's not pointless. Of course the teams aren't that experienced, and thus specialized, yet, so might change.