Human Tactics on Defence

[Vanguard]

As a new player (well, recent returnee after 14 odd years) in a new league with a human team, can anyone offer some general advice for playing defence against a bashy team.

From what I can gather from various sources, the trick is to play humans as a bashy team against weaker opponents and as a finesse team against tougher opponents.
For some reason, I can get my head round the offence side of the game much better. Smashing my way down the field, slipping runners through gaps and threading passes down field are all easily understood concepts. Maybe not so easy to put into practice, but at least I know what I'm trying to do on offence.

However, on defence I'm less sure of my tactics. Obviously the aim is to prevent the opposing team from scoring and regain the ball. In my last game against an Orc team, I played with a long wide scrimmage line (about 6-8 players) with the remainder 2-3 squares behind. However, this seemed to result in a rather one-sided brawl and his runner eventually slipped through a gap to score.
I guess the alternative is to set-up my defence further back from the scrimmage line and let him come to me. Presumably I'd be looking to try and slip some blitzers around his front line and sack the ball carrier. It seems rather counter intuitive to give up yards like that and I'm not sure how I'd avoid a repeat of the LOS beating further into my own half.

Any advice for an amateur coach?

If it makes any difference my team is 5xlineman, 2xBlitzer, 2xCatcher & 2xThrower. I know that 4 Blitzers would be much more useful but I'm limited to the plastic figures from the 3rd edition box at the moment. Hunting down some additional figures is high on my list of priorities.

[wesleytj]

Yeah, loading up the line against orcs on defense is a recipe for disaster. The reason is that they all get to hit you first. By the time you can hit them back, you've been pummeled.

Use the fact that they only get one blitz to your advantage. Force them to move up to you, that way on your turn you get to hit THEM. Use your superior speed and mobility to set up advantages locally on the field.

In a straight one on one scrum against orcs, the advantage is theirs. So you don't want to play into their hands like that.

[Warpstone]

Defending against a bashy team requires you to change your mentality a bit. Your goal is to soak up the offence and slow them down enough to open a hole for a key blitz and change of possession. So set only three sacrifices on the LOS and keep your playmakers in 4 files of 2 players each across your backfield. Keep these files atleast two squares from the LOS (to avoid quick snap) and try to react to the orc drive rather than attempt to hammer him. Try to get your speedy players around his flanks and focus on preventing his cage from forming in the first place (i.e. it's better to risk a GFI on turn 1 to position your catcher in between his thrower and his cage makers, rather than be forced to try a 2d against on turn 6 just to open his cage).

This is a lot more passive and patient scheme than going toe to toe on defence, but try to think of it as an attempt to force your opponent to fail to execute his play rather than to force yourself to stop him dead in his tracks.

[Grendel]

Try to avoid giving your opponent free/cheap blocks. Do not forget that he can only blitz once. So take any opportunity you have to move guys away from his guys. (Even dodging with Linemen after everything else is done)

Only have three guys on the LOS (as mentioned before).

Make sure you can support your guys with assisted blocks.

If he has Goblins you might have to spread your guys out a bit to force him to make dodge rolls.

Not sure that answers your question.

[OdoGoodgrubb]

Also, human teams are generally faster than most bashy teams. Use this to your advantage by trying to pull their players out of position, or as said already to prevent the cage from forming. You might be surprised at how overzealous some bashy players are to smash a lone player on their half of the field, and in the process often pull their own players away from a more important position.

And don't forget that cages can be "steered" towards the sidelines, possibly ending with some of your opponents getting pushed off the pitch (this works easier against less experienced coaches)

[Drool_bucket]

to pile on the "only leave him a few blocks" concept...

since Humans generally have a large amount of both built in rerolls for skill positions, and team rerolls because of the reasonable cost of everyone, I apply the following...

after you've done what you've needed to, (i.e. stretched his team out if you out move him, or place your guys in position to go for a turnover next turn, as suggested) I dodge away lineman, but instead of staying away like Woodelfs and other AV 7 dodgy teams, move that lineman into position to assit another lineman, and throw the 2d block, and then don't follow up...

and as an aside to that, try to place assisting players so they *aren't* in the blocker's tackle zone, so the bashy player can just stand his guy up and tie 2 of your players up.

good luck, I think humans are hard to succeed regularly with because of their middling nature... not bashy, not dodgy...

[Ullis]

I think just getting those two missing blitzers will do wonders to your defence (and offense).

Right now, you've got two ST2 players on the field. On offense that's not too bad, but on defence, I think that a ST2 player is usually much worse until he gets some defensive skills like Block or Strip ball. The problem is that a ST3 lineman is useful just standing around because the enemy usually needs an assist to get a two die block.

Second, you have two less Block skill on the field than you could.

Third, you're be missing out on Strength skills, most of which are worthwhile on defence (I'm thinking Guard and Mighty Blow).

Fourth, you're not as mobile as you could be. The human blitzers are MA7.

All in all, I'd get your opponents to agree on proxies until you get the right figures. Playing humans without 4 blitzers is a big handicap.

[Brokje]

Hi there!

Welcome back to BB!

I usually try to get my opponents either to make a mistake or force them to hurry up (stalling a turn on your own drive can do wonders there).

4 Blitzesr are quite essential for that. I almost always give them Guard first, because Humans need the assists to get blocks vs stronger and bashier opponents (like Orcs). IMO a Catcher with Block or Wrestle can be very handy in combination with a Guard Blitzer for sacking the ball carrier, especially with Strip ball or Dauntless as a second skill.

Best of luck!
M

[Joemanji]

Right now, you've got two ST2 players on the field. On offense that's not too bad, but on defence, I think that a ST2 player is usually much worse until he gets some defensive skills like Block or Strip ball. The problem is that a ST3 lineman is useful just standing around because the enemy usually needs an assist to get a two die block.

I have to disagree here. Catchers have always been the cornerstone of my defence with Humans. Don't engage your opponent, just stand off him with your players set up as close to this as possible:

Code: Select all

...............
.C..H..C..H..C.
.H..H..H..H..H.
...............
....OO.OO.....
......O.......
.....O.O.....

That way he can't blitz a hole to run players through. The benefit of Catchers is that they have Dodge AND MA 8, so they can move to wherever they are needed to plug a gap. If your opponent goes down the left, right or centre you can cover him.

[Vanguard]

Thanks for all the responses, plenty for me to think about.

I'll certainly add two more blitzers when I get the chance. However, as I'm playing in a league that'll have to wait until I have cash. Hopefully I'll have found some more figures by then.

That said, it should be possible to formulate a defensice strategy without relying on blitzers, or any particular figure. Obviously, have the right players makes things easier but it was the concept of playing defensive that was giving me more trouble.

So I'll try sitting back a bit, limiting the number of blocks he can throw and trying to pick off his offensive line as the opportunity arises.

Drool_bucket said

and as an aside to that, try to place assisting players so they *aren't* in the blocker's tackle zone, so the bashy player can just stand his guy up and tie 2 of your players up.

As I understand it, assisting players have to be in the opponent's tackle zone in order to assist. I presume you mean after they've been knocked back, or am I missing something?

I'll let you know how my next game goes, but knowing my luck I'll end up playing high elves!

[stormmaster1]

Don't get sucked into a brawl, but still bash back. You don't have the agility to dodge away all the time, so pick your fight well and look to threaten the ball carrier. Don't give cheap blocks away but bash away whenever the opportunity presents. If you can stop yourself from getting overrun in the bashing department then orcs and dwarfs will struggle against you. Limiting the number of blocks against you keeps more players on the field to hold the line and slow his offence. This in turn will make him rush and leave more chances to break the cage and sack the thrower.

And use the catchers as fast mobile assists to change your point of attack and get 2D blocks where you need them.

On offence stall. Score on turn 4 or later (though not at the risk of not scoring) to make his score before the half rushed and pressurised. Coupled with a deep kick (kick skill) and your high MA players, you'll be in with a chance of scoring again.

[whitetiger]

I just finished a 20 team (or so) league where my humans came in 2nd.

Get the other 2 blitzers as soon as you can. They are very important on defense.

But for now, put 3 linemen on the LOS. They are they just to fulfill the rules requirements. Don't get into a brawl with a bash team with them. Scoot them back a square whenever possible.

Put a blitzer and a catcher in the wide zones and attack into the offensive backfield. Go around the LOS. Attack his throwers. Don't allow him to form a cage, don't let him get the ball into the cage. If all else fails, you'll have players in position to attack his cage from the rear, usually where it is weakest.

Use the other linemen and throwers in your defensive backfield. Go for a defense in depth. Yes, you may have to give up some yardage, but the point is to take the ball. Don't worry about 2 or 3 squares on the LOS. Worry about where the ball is. If a Black Orc moves 2 squares into your side of the field and you steal the ball in his back field, what is hurt?