Pro Elf Qs

[Wanchor]

Taking Diving Tackle and Tackle would quickly reduce any confrontation to an ugly scrum of blocks. Looking over your team, you'd have a pretty good run at that too, but is that what you intend Diving Tackle to do?

[mattgslater]

The major thing is that you have too much Tackle (for any team tall enough for the rollercoaster, anyway) until a very high level of development. You'd be much better served with Leap or Pro on one of your Wrodger Catchers if it's not too late. I can make the best argument for Leap: not that you'd use it a lot, but when you just can't dodge there, Leap can let you trade a bad-odds or limited outcome play for a fair gamble, assuming you have a TRR, or a mediocre one if you don't (which might be better than you'd otherwise get if your guys are getting hurt, and can be a game-saver if your problem is knockouts). Then get him Pro at 51 as a safer version of Frenzy with late-game Leap/Pass application (Leap/Pro = 7/9). With Wrodge/Leap/Pro/Catch/Nerves, he's a sack-machine and a better-than-average retriever to boot (2+/Pro > 3+/RR), with clear offensive application just-in-case.

[Jural]

I'd also throw Strip Ball into that list of toolbox skills.

[Master Wang]

Hmm, I guess for now more than 2 Tackle players is overkill as they can cover the pitch very well between themselves. I don't know if I can change a skill choice - they haven't played since skilling up, but it may not be possible. If I can, maybe I'll ask for it to be changed to Leap. I'm shying away from skills such as Leap and Frenzy simply because of my unfamiliarity with them, but it's probably time to bite the bullet and start taking them.

[Wanchor]

Frenzy might result in some unfavourable blocks or positioning, especially considering the nature of any elf team, but I'm quite confident that you'll find Leap a tantalizing proposition both avoiding Diving Tackles and for invading cages. It also has some limited use simply jumping over the line of scrimmage and screaming towards the endzone. Really, with Ag4, you won't be disappointed.

[Master Wang]

The team got another match last night against 1660 Lizards, I was worried before about their strength, plus them having the speed advantage, but 5-1 later, all was forgotten!

The game was interesting as it showed me a few problems I may experience against other fast teams with lots of Side Step and Diving Tackle. Luckily the Lizards' coach didn't have too much as several of his skinks were developed purely for offense.

I soon gave up on trying to score with linemen as his speed meant he could put a lot of pressure on my players, so instead I concentrated on skilling the Guard catcher and getting completions with the zero spp linemen. The Guard catcher got 4 TDs which took him to 32 spps, but then he deservedly/selfishly got the MVP. So I'm still carrying 3 skill-less players, I guess I'll have a better chance against slower teams or other speedsters.
1 Blitzer 7 3 4 8 Block, Side step, Dodge, Diving Tackle 19spps
2 Blitzer 7 3 4 8 Block, Side step, Dodge, Tackle 22spps
3 Catcher 8 3 4 7 Catch, Nerves of Steel, Wrestle, Dodge, Tackle 35spps
4 Catcher 8 3 4 7 Catch, Nerves of Steel, Dodge, Wrestle, Tackle 34spps
5 Catcher 8 3 4 7 Catch, NOS, Dodge, Guard, regular skill 37spps
6 Lineman 6 3 4 7 Kick 12spps
7 Thrower 6 3 4 7 Pass, Accurate, regular skill 16spps
8 Lineman 6 3 4 7 Dodge 7 spps
9 Lineman 6 3 4 7 Guard 9spps
10 Lineman 6 3 4 7 Dodge 7 spps
11 Lineman 6 3 4 7 2 spps
12 Lineman 6 3 4 7
13 Lineman 6 3 4 7 1 spp

TV 1700K (including undecidied skills)
Treasury 100k
Apothecary Yes
Rerolls 3
Fan Factor 9
Ass. Coaches 0
Cheerleaders 0

Block for the catcher and Safe Throw for the thrower as he is purely offensive and I found myself throwing over players when the coach was smart enough to man-mark and prevent the usual throw, hand-off offense. Anyone disagree?

With the money, I'm going to save it for now. I have half an eye on spiralling expenses and also not needing other skill-less players. On top of that, it would be nice to skill some linemen before getting another spp-hogging catcher. A fourth reroll is tempting too as I have burn through them trying to get the ball, but I'll sit on the cash for now. After all, the next game might see me get a beating (only 2 KOs versus the Lizards!).

Tips on scoring with Linemen would be nice, they get left behind so often, but scoring quickly helps preserve the team.

[Ullis]

I'd have a hard time deciding between Block and Side step for the Guard catcher, but I think Block might be better due to survivability (is that a word?) issues. Dodge and high speed helps with positioning anyway.

Safe Throw on the catcher is a solid choice, especially if you find yourself needing it in games. Dodge or Sure Hands would be good options too, but I think Safe Throw is the skill that will help you most in making the offence most reliable.

Oh, and congrats on the win!

[Master Wang]

I had to choose both quick as the team got a randomly selected game against a not so developed Goblin team. Thankfully the coach didn't spend the inducements on bribes or chainsaws! I faced Morg for the first time ever on a Blood Bowl pitch (even managed to knock him over). Injuries and sendings off told on the Gobs and I ended up the 4-1 winner. Have since removed the team from the random games thing on the website as I think their TV is too high for most teams to handle.

The Guard lineman and a rookie both skilled. I guess it's continue the theme with Dodge as both rolled normal skills.

I think this team will be taking a break while others develop, although there are 4 other over TV1650 that I might challenge. One is a horrible Skaven team with +Str GR and a 1-turner, another is a human team, and the other two are chaos dwarfs and regular ones. The last two would be the biggest challenge as a lot of my Dodge would be negated. The chaos dwarfs in particular are a couple of hundred TV above me.

Thanks for all the adivce so far, will be update after next game.

[Master Wang]

It's been a long time, but this team played two matches the last couple of weeks. The first was a bit of a disaster against some skaven that not only out scored me but also beat my elves up. I've commented on it in another Pro-Elf thread but the end result was a 3-2 loss and a death (luckily an unskilled lineman), -MA on my kicker, and two other MNGs The second was against goblins...why do goblins like playing elves? My elves ran out 3-0 winners as the goblins' weapons and multiple stat increases all contrived to fail at the wrong moments. Worst injury was -AG to a journeyman. All this leaves me with more questions as the higher my TV gets, the less I know what I'm doing:

1 Blitzer Block, Side Step, Dodge, Diving Tackle 19 spps
2 Blitzer Block, Side Step, Dodge, Tackle 27 spps
3 Catcher Catch, Nerves of Steel, Wrestle, Dodge, Leap 43 spps
4 Catcher Catch, Nerves of Steel, Dodge, Wrestle, Tackle 42 spps
5 Catcher Catch, Nerves of Steel, Dodge, Block, Guard 44 spps
6 Lineman Kick -1 Ma 3 13 spps
7 Thrower Pass, Accurate, Safe Throw 18 spps
8 Lineman Dodge 9 spps
9 Lineman Dodge Guard 16 spps
10 Lineman Dodge 9 spps
11 Lineman Block, +1 St 16 spps
13 Lineman Dodge 7 spps

Rerolls 3
Apoth
FF 9
230K
TV 1750

My questions are the cash - I have lots as I was saving for a catcher, then was hit by all the MNGs and thought journeymen would be better. Now I'm sure as I'd like 14 players, but a 4th reroll is tempting as I ran out without realising in the gobbo game So I'm thinking a reroll and a catcher. Any thoughts?

Also, how should I be playing to protect my useful players, e.g. Dodge, Guard lineman, +St guy, etc? Who should I bench on D? Who should the Apoth be reserved for? Thoughts appreciated. I'll try and write more later about my ideas, but this is it for now as I'm wiped

[mattgslater]

I think it depends a lot on who you're facing. I'd work hard to get an improvement on one of those three Dodge linos, just so I could put a Side Step player on the nose in an Inverted Ziggurat: it potentially reduces the number of blocks your line takes, and also makes it nigh-impossible to split your D-line up the middle.

Don't sweat MNGs unless you're heading into a game that counts. Just run the Journeyman and smile at having that many fewer d-line conundrums.

[Master Wang]

As it's online I am potentially facing anyone. At the moment I know that there are a couple of Chaos, Chaos Dwarf, and Skaven teams either at my level or beyond it. Also there are Amazons, Lizards, Dwarf, and High Elves, too. There maybe others too but it's hard to find out as the site removed (or moved and I don't know where to) the ability to look at the teams in order of TV.

The two linemen on 9 are only two TDs from skilling and if I buy a new lineman, I'd be able to spare one of the LOS work and try to skill him.

[Master Wang]

I bought the 4th catcher and a lineman. Faced some Chaos Dwarfs last night and came out with an unconventional 2-1 win (I chose to receive first).

I have enough for a fourth reroll - but that would leave me with not a lot in the bank and my TV would be over 2000K so spiralling expenses will make it harder to replace players. Also my Diving Tackle Blitzer got a skill. Tackle seems obvious, anything else people would consider?

[solarflare]

Tackle seems obvious, anything else people would consider?

Frenzy. You need a frenzy player...

[Master Wang]

I know Frenzy is something I'm missing. I was planning to get it on the other Blitzer with Tackle or (Nuffle willing) on the ST 4 lineman with Block. But on the DT Blitzer, I'm not so sure.

Edit: HOLD THE PRESS! I'm a moron It is the Tackle Blitzer that skilled. So Frenzy is now the leading skill choice, especially as at present I have the Guard players to support it.

[mattgslater]

I like putting Frenzy and Tackle on separate guys, actually. I know, Frackle is pretty cool, but I've found that opponents with Dodge almost always use it reflexively, even when staying up on the first block is undesirable, so not having Tackle on your Frenzy guy actually makes it a little easier to chain-push on an Agility team. 'Course, with all the Tackle you have, it's unlikely you'll see much Dodge on the line anyway, so it's kind of moot.