Double on Catcher 1st skill

[besters]

Human Catchers are always a big target, regardless of skills!

Besters

[Joemanji]

Not in the same way. A Catcher without NoS can be marked with TZs, as he has to dodge away before being thrown the ball. This means finishing his move in the endzone, resulting in a longer pass. A catcher with NoS can't be marked out with TZs, and so must be blitzed. However, if you run some other potential receivers in, then your opponent doesn't have the same sense of urgency, since he can't eliminate all potential scorers with one blitz action.

[besters]

I agree, but given the opportunity, somehow its always the poor catcher that gets it.

Besters

[mattgslater]

That's why you protect him. Those MA7 blitzers are a serious two-turner threat, and the same is true of your linos, if you're not afraid to GFI. Run him out into the enemy backfield, run a couple of Blitzers/Linos out almost as far and around him so the enemy can't get to the Catcher without blitzing one of those guys. They'll likely get a zone on your Catcher, but if you have NoS, that doesn't make a big diff.

[datalorex]

That's why you protect him. Those MA7 blitzers are a serious two-turner threat, and the same is true of your linos, if you're not afraid to GFI. Run him out into the enemy backfield, run a couple of Blitzers/Linos out almost as far and around him so the enemy can't get to the Catcher without blitzing one of those guys. They'll likely get a zone on your Catcher, but if you have NoS, that doesn't make a big diff.

This is why NOS on one catcher doesn't work. You run 2 catchers deep and one has NOS. Your opponent blitzes that one and puts 2 Tackle zones on the other one. If neither have NOS, then he blitzes one and puts tackle zones on the other. See? It doesn't change anything. To me the upside of this 30,000 skill isn't there.

[Snew]

so then you lob it to the Blitzer and he violates someone on his way to the End Zone. WWOOOOT!

Catchers aren't the only ones who can catch!

[mattgslater]

Most shallow set-ups will allow you to make a hole somewhere with a first-turn Blitz. You can run guys up in a screen around your Catcher so he can't/won't be blitzed; with NOS, if they can blitz their way in and get a zone or two on him, you can break away with a QP/catch/dodge attempt at a flat 512/729 (about 19/27) chance of success, even if you can't peel the coverage off with a blitz. Without NOS, your odds are only 432/729 (75% of the chance of pulling it off with NOS) in one TZ, and in two you're looking at 256/729, or precisely half the chances with NOS.[/code]

[bigallium]

Do not fall into the mistake of comparing a Human catcher to a Pro-Elf catcher. Unless of course you play Humans as you play Pro-elves, streaming catchers downfield, making dodges on a 2+ and leap on a 3+.

I'd ignore it as it is his first skill, the only exception of temptation being guard

[TuernRedvenom]

Especially early on don't take skills that only improve offence (like NoS) but take skills that improve your defence (like Guard or Block). Defence wins games.
Only exception to this would be throwers, you can develop them to help your offence from their first skill IMO.

IMO NoS is never worth taking. It is a good skill for pro elf catchers but they get it at 10k from the start and they can have 4 players with it on the roster which also have the complementary skill catch (also at a reduced price of 10k), and they have AG 4.
At 10k it's a bargain but at 30k it's totally not worth it. Think about it, how many times would you actually need it in a game? Usually you can score without using NoS. Then think about how many times you could use skills like guard, block, side step,...
It has some use with dump off but still...

[stormmaster1]

So much better for AG 4 players. mainly because it's 2+ to catch, but also because when you've caught it you have to move away. I often find when i have a NOS catcher he is marked a player either side. To score he needs to dodge into 1 TZ then dodge out (or blitz one player out of the way. Human catchers can't escape so easy.

[JumpingElf]

IMO it's good to take "NoS", 'cause your opponent always has to take a look on this catcher and you have the choice doing TDs with other players . "Guard" is a good skill, but you have to put him into a bashy zone sometimes and never forget ... he only has AV 7. Let your Blitzers or your Ogre take "Guard" to help your Lineman. But helping other player is IMO not the job of a catcher. If you want to have a backfield defensive catcher use "Block" and "Dauntless" to smash down the opponents.

[mattgslater]

Winning with Humans means being good at managing the clock both ways. With an MA8/NOS/Catch/Dodge player, any time you break a cage or are on offense, you can get a two-turner. That's critical, especially near the end of the half.

It's not just offense. If you pop the ball free and you already have this guy downfield, you've got an excellent shot at a defensive TD.

Is NoS amazing on a ST3 player? No. Is it worth its weight in TV? Probably.

[datalorex]

Is NoS amazing on a ST3 player? No. Is it worth its weight in TV? Probably.

I hope that was a typo and your mean ST2 player. NOS is much better on ST3 because your opponent will find it harder to get 2D blocks on you, but just about every player can get a 2D block on a human catcher.

[mattgslater]

Is NoS amazing on a ST3 player? No. Is it worth its weight in TV? Probably.

I hope that was a typo and your mean ST2 player. NOS is much better on ST3 because your opponent will find it harder to get 2D blocks on you, but just about every player can get a 2D block on a human catcher.

I meant AG3. Sorry.

[Joemanji]

I've come round to guard. Because if you have a Catcher (C) marked on either side by opposing players (X) like this:

Code: Select all

.......
..XCX..
.......
.B.....

Then his Blitzer mate (B) can block a gap free on 2 dice without you needing a complementary assist. Neat!