Best Front Line?

Funksultan · Post by **Funksultan** » Thu Aug 06, 2009 12:44 pm

Who has the best front line...

- At League Start (No skill ups)
- In a ways (whole line has 1 skill each)
- Endgame (say whole line had 2-3 skills each).

Don't rely on +str, +agil, and you can assume an occasional double if need be, but don't count on it on your big guy (Nuffle usually keeps that stuff form happening).

Let's also exclude Ogres since they aren't competitive for a real league (for the most part).

I gotta think Dwarves, Lizzies, Orc, Khemri, but can't quite figure out where/when each one peaks.

Pakulkan · Post by **Pakulkan** » Thu Aug 06, 2009 12:48 pm

I think it depends on your play. i.e. if you're in offense, defense, will play tha ball or just bashing.

But for me:

- Without skills: Probably Dwarves, very useful Block and also maybe Tackles, they are the most fiable and resistant. Block is the thing.

- One Skill: Khemri (3 mummies with Piling On)

- 2-3 Skills: Here enters Chaos with warriors with Block-Claws-Mighty Blow. Also Khemri with Gurad+PilingOn or even Chaos dwarfs if you were rolled some doubles and get claws in the Dwarves.

Catt · Post by **Catt** » Thu Aug 06, 2009 1:07 pm

If we're dealing with pure durability/thumping then its Dwarves and Orcs all the way until you get to multiple skill ups when Chaos/Nurgle probably come to the fore.

Although one shouldn't discount Chaos Pact with their three big guys.

In terms of disruption though a line up of block, dodging, sidestepping blitzers of various races would be effective - not that you're likely to want to use them like that though I guess.

Under LRB 6.0 I'd put Khemri at the bottom of the list until their Tomb Guardians get mighty blow and guard which will probably be when hell freezes over given the speed of their skill ups!

Funksultan · Post by **Funksultan** » Thu Aug 06, 2009 1:29 pm

Wow, I'm kinda surprised Lizzies didn't get an honorable mention, at least at the start. That's a lotta Str 4 with the Krox shoring up the middle. Before a lot of guard, that can usually spell trouble.

Maybe I need to re-read the blocking bible again.

Catt · Post by **Catt** » Thu Aug 06, 2009 4:48 pm

Funksultan wrote:Wow, I'm kinda surprised Lizzies didn't get an honorable mention, at least at the start. That's a lotta Str 4 with the Krox shoring up the middle. Before a lot of guard, that can usually spell trouble.

Maybe I need to re-read the blocking bible again.

I always forget about Lizardmen as no one plays them in our league, but yes lots of relatively cheap S4 AV9 is good for the front line.

My only concern with Lizardmen is that with AG1 its hard to skill them up through anything other than casualties and lucky MVPs. Compared to Chaos Warriors, certainly in a league, they don't quite cut it (that sounds harsh but I just mean for the front line - they probably make better backfield interceptor blitzers)

I should say that I've never with or against Lizards but I would guess you need at least two Sauruses to help escort/protect your sinks so committing all of them up front would strike me as risky.

mattgslater · Post by **mattgslater** » Thu Aug 06, 2009 6:37 pm

The best overall defense in BB at any level of development is always Orcs. Any perceived competition is merely an illusion: though there are lots of teams with comparative advantages vis-a-vis Orcs, the Orcs always make it up somewhere else.

Strictly on the d-line? Orcs, Ogres, Khemri and Nurgle have the big guns. Dwarfs and Chaos Dwarfs can hang, especially at high levels (where Dwarfs otherwise start to decline).

Rookie: Orcs, Ogres, Khemri, maybe Nurgle (maybe not... depends on how you build), Lizardmen close #3(edit: 5, sir! Explanation: they get less support and have more expensive non-Regen big guys with some other raison d'etre... at high levels the need to build non-line skills on Sauri takes them out of the pack). Some teams can cheat up to a great line but don't necessarily do so in all or most cases (Necromantic, Halfling).

Low Development: Orcs, Ogres, Khemri maybe Nurgle.

High Development: Orcs, Chaos, with Nurgle, Chaos Dwarfs near each other at #3, Ogres, Dwarfs and Khemri #5-7.

Jural · Post by **Jural** » Fri Aug 07, 2009 6:24 am

With 9 Strength Access players, all with AV 9, 3 with STR 4, 1 with STR 5, and 4 with block, it's orcs all the way, I think.

At low TV, I think high STR is the hardest thing to deal with, as it requires selling out. So Lizards, Undead, Khemri, Chaos, and Nurgle do quite well... however, orcs still win in my book- they can throw a a few block players out there in support.

Dwarves might end up the best at the end game, however. Why? WIth guard, tackle, and stand firm, not to mention block, a dwarf line is hard to deal with, and not just for other bash teams... elves can't get away either. The depth of skills really kicks in, and you have linemen for all seasons. In this case, I include Chaos Dwarves in the same category- as mentioned before, they have the extra firepower with the Bulls and Minotaur to push things over the top.

But orcs are still close at high TV, and may be better on the line, it depends upon how you stack it, really.

Smeborg · Post by **Smeborg** » Fri Aug 07, 2009 8:16 am

I doubt if you can beat 3 Orc linos on the line of scrimmage in value-conscious 5th and 6th Editions. And they can take Wrestle/Fend as they skill up. But I am also quite partial to Zombies.

Longbeards/Chaos Dwarfs rate an honourable mention, however, they are (relatively) expensive, and as the teams skill up, you are likely to be putting precious players on the LOS.

So my vote is for the good old Orcs.

Of course, if you are facing Claw, you are best off with AV7 players. Say Norse Linemen with Fend, or, even better, Amazon Linewomen with Wrestle/Fend. Skellies (especially 6th ED. with T-Skull), Hobgoblins and even Gobbos also rate an honourable mention in this situation.

So it's horses for courses to a degree.