TV125 Orc team

[DoubleSkulls]

Maybe its a consequence of playing in Australia too, I think generally there are a higher proportion of flair teams at tournaments here than in Europe. So surviving attrition is less of an issue for bash teams.

I'd still feel that 13 is a little excessive and an additional 50k of value on the pitch (than in the reserves) would give more benefit. Sure you'll do worse in that game where your opponent gets two early cas, but you might do better in the game against the team who don't get any or only get them late.

[mattgslater]

Best of Both Worlds
Orcs, 12 men, 11 skills, 1.25m
4x BOB w/Skill
4x Blitzer w/Skill
Thrower w/Leader
Troll w/Skill
Gobbo
Lineman
Skill for Gobbo or Lineman
2TRR

[DoubleSkulls]

I think you'd be better off with

4 Blitzers
4 BOBs
1 Thrower
3 Line Orcs
3 RR
That's 1040, meaning 10 skills and 10k left over.

I'd take skills on all the BOBs & Blitzers, something on the thrower (Block or Leader) and one skill for a line orc (Wrestle?)

If you take guard on all the BOBs then I don't think the lack of the troll will hurt much and its probably only lizzies who would be able to compete on the LOS.

[Smeborg]

I agree with Doubleskulls that 12 seems to be the right number for Orcs in a tournament. The AV9 teams (Orcs, Dwarfs) do not need 13.

I think you have another interesting roster option, which is:

4 BOBs
4 Blitzers
2 Throwers
2 Linemen
2 Re-rolls
12 Skills
1 point left over

The attraction of this roster is that it is skill-rich (20 skills in total), while still keeping 12 players.

(I have not played this roster in a tournament, so please feel free to ignore!)

[mattgslater]

That's kind of cool. So you can pick between having your Leader and a toolbox lino. I like it, yeah.

I see what Ian says about not needing a Troll. Heck, truth be told you don't even need Guard on all four BOBs: just two is enough.

[Welshy]

WOW! I was AFK for a day and this thread has 'exploded'! Mnay thanks for all you thoughts.

I really like Double skull's 12man side. 3TRR's are probably enough for me so I'm thinking BLOCK on the Thrower. Current plans are therefore:

4x BOrcs (4x GUARD)
4x Blitzers (2x Mighty Blow, 2x Tackle)
1x Thrower (with Block)
3x Linemen (1x Wrestle)

3x TRR
1x FF

I like it

[DoubleSkulls]

Actually a Leader thrower is cheaper than a Line Orc & RR (90 vs 110) so you can get another skill by taking the 2nd thrower and giving them leader.

[mattgslater]

Yeah, but you gotta field an otherwise-rookie Thrower.

IMO, it depends on your opinion of the Troll. If you see the Troll as a necessary component to the front-five and the pressure game, or if you like TTM gimmicks, then you should take 2 TRRs and a Leader Thrower. If you see the Troll as a souped-up-but-unreliable Zombie, then don't bother with him, take 3 TRRs and get Block, and if you field two, get the other some toolbox skill (Acc, KOR, Leader, Kick, whatever). I'm in the former camp, though: Trolls are game-breakers, and good turn management does a lot to mitigate Really Stupid.

Do you know what to expect? If you think you're going to see lots of heavy, never mind, but if the top teams are all elfy and ratty, then...
Troll w/Guard
4x BOB w/MB (or up to 2x Block)
4x Blitzer w/MB (or 3x MB, 1x Tackle)
Thrower with Leader
Lineman with DP
Goblin
2RR
You won't make any friends.... Heck, even against heavy teams it'd probably work well. You'd have to game well around Guard, but Orcs with just one Guarder can get 2d on anything except a line of 3 TGs or 2 Trees with little trouble, and there's nothing on the roster for the TGs or Trees in question to give you any trouble in the backfield.

[DoubleSkulls]

Generally I love playing against teams loaded with MB and not other skills. You don't get to use more than about 3 MB that much and are often much better served with a blend - Guard etc. In particular I'd be loathe to take MB ahead of Block (or Wrestle) because you are an unreliable hitter.

[mattgslater]

Good points all. Never done an all-MB thing, though doing it on Blitzers is good in a league, as it helps smooth out player progression.

Yeah. Guard on 2 Blitzers, Stand Firm or Tackle on the other two, a mix of Guard, SF and Block on the +ST guys, is probably the way to go.

[Smeborg]

Another option you have with Orcs in a tourney is to go with all AV9 and no Troll:

4 BoBs
4 Blitzers
4 Linos
3 Re-rolls
11 Skills
1 point left over

Obviously you will need to give Sure Hands to a Blitzer. He then makes a better Runner than a Thrower with Block.

I have seen a similar roster win a tournament (coached by my son!).

[Welshy]

Thanks smeborg. It's been a while replying as I was pretty much set with Ian's set-up but I must admit I'm very tempted by this one. An all AV9, 11skills side looks good.

I'd be tempted to skill as follows:
Borcs, 4x Guard
Blitz, 2x Tackle, 1x Frenzy, 1x Surehands
Linemen 4x Block (but tempted by 2x Block, 2x Wrestle)

Any comments on the above?

[Smeborg]

I haven't played Orcs in a tourney.

I think you took 12 skills instead of 11. 11 skills is quite neat, as you have no skills in the dugout.

I would be inclined to take 3xWrestle on the Linos, for an outstanding defensive LoS. Also excellent for marking ST players with Block, and as a poor man's Tackle against Blodgers.

Another option would be Kick instead of Wrestle on one of them (although that destroys the purity of the LoS). I don't rate Kick very highly on a bash team in a tourney, having tried it once with Nurgle. Not a single kick was improved by it in the whole tournament. This may just have been extreme bad luck, but it also reflects that deep kicks are not of much use to a slow team (all my opponents were MA8 teams...). I kicked short every time, but in the whole tournament, only one kick scattered in a favourable direction, and the ball was caught by a Saurus on the LoS...

I recommend that you play some practice games using BOBs with Guard. It is no doubt very powerful, but is also requires more skill, I suspect.

[PubBowler]

That;s a lot of Tackle.

Unless you know the torunie si going to be Dodge heavy you're wasting points for the majority of games.

Take more Guard or MB.

[Welshy]

Thanks all,

Smeborg: Thanks for noting my over-skilling.. I must have got carried away. I also really like your 3xWrestle LOS.

Pub-bowler: My experience with Orcs (in a league) is that they sorely need Tackle to not only limit movement, but punish Blodgers and catcher-types. I can understand the preference for MB to some extent so it really does boil down to: How many Blodgers are out there?

The example I'm thinking of is a catcher/GR/skink broken through the line waiting for the ball. The single blitz that I get to 'shut down' this (or mutliple) chappies needs to put him down, if not out. If he's not down then at least he's marked with-out his dodge re-roll.

Please explain if I've not got this quite right.

Merry Christmas