Amazons?

Cynthia Celeste Miller · Mon Jul 01, 2002 1:53 am

I'm primarily an Orc player (though I once had a Halfling team that was something like 35-2) and I'm trying out Amazons for the first time tonight. My team is:

x4 Blitzers
x2 Catchers
x2 Throwers
x4 Linewomen

x3 Re-Rolls
x4 Fan Factor

Anyway, where can I find tips on Amazon tactics? Or can someone here toss a few tactics my way?

Thanks in advance.

Ghost of Pariah · Post by **Ghost of Pariah** » Mon Jul 01, 2002 3:00 am

You need to talk to Acerak.

Welcome to the board.

Ghost of Pariah · Post by **Ghost of Pariah** » Mon Jul 01, 2002 3:02 am

Oh yeah...

Acerak's in Russia for a week or so. lol
Apparently there are no computers in Russia.

My Amazon advice:
Take that round spikey thing and move it into the endzone. repeat.

Zy-Nox · Post by **Zy-Nox** » Tue Jul 02, 2002 2:14 pm

I'd drop a thrower and take a Linewoman instead.
As for tips/tactics, I like to use running plays a lot with them.
The blitzers are awesome though for rookies

Let us know how you get on

btw was that 35 wins with Halflings?

Post by **GalakStarscraper** » Tue Jul 02, 2002 2:36 pm

I run a BB2k1 league with no house rules with some of the best coaches in the world since its electronic.

Currently there are 26 teams. The 1st and 3rd place teams are Amazon.
The starting rosters they used were:

Brian Hixon:
4 Blitzers
2 Throwers
2 Catchers
3 Linewomen
3 Rerolls
9 Fan Factor

Chet Zeshonski:
3 Blitzers
1 Thrower
2 Catchers
6 Linewomen
4 Rerolls
6 Fan Factor

Both teams are undefeated so far in the league.

Galak

Deathwing · Post by **Deathwing** » Tue Jul 02, 2002 2:59 pm

Since Chet's away right now, I took the liberty of digging up his post from a while back on Central:

"Well, I'm currently 26-1 all-time with Amazons, with two PBeM games going on right now. As I'll have at least 27 wins when this is finished (sorry, Ronald), I've had plenty of experience and success coaching them.

Here's the starting team I used in last year's test league:

1 Thrower
2 Catchers
2 Blitzers
7 Linewomen
Apothecary
3 Re-rolls
9 Fan Factor

This worked well, but Blitzers develop a little slowly in this lineup. On the plus side, you have stability from the get-go.

Here's what I've used since Resurrection:

1 Thrower
2 Catchers
3 Blitzers
6 Linewomen
4 Re-rolls
6 Fan Factor

This also works very well. The extra Blitzer and extra TRR really make the team go. You'll still need an Apothecary, and you're down a few Fan Factor, but you should have an easier time winning early games. This (and the Bandwagon Rule) should allow this team to close the FF gap.

Ok! I still owe an "Amazon Coaching Guide" on TalkBB, but here are some easy items:

1. Use Dodge, but don't overuse Dodge.

Every opponent you face will look at your roster, get sucked in by AV7 and Dodge, and assume you're going to play an Elf-style game all day long. Once he makes this mistake, you have my permission to bash his face in

Seriously - what stops you from picking your spots (most of 'em) and mixing it up? Nothing. You have two or three players with Block and Dodge who can hit and take care of themselves during the opponent's turn. You have liners who can move around for assists. You have ST3 across the board. It's nothing over the top, but the shock value alone will give you a big advantage.

Remember: Every so often, you're going to fail your AG3 dodge rolls, even with a re-roll. It happens. So use it, but take blocks when you can get them.

2. An Amazon Linewoman is like a better Zombie.

Don't worry about using a single Linewoman to pin down a Black Orc. Or an Ogre. Or a Minotaur. Or any ST3 player without Block or without Tackle.

3. Press, press, press!

Send your Catchers around the corner to provide backside pressure. If the ball comes lose, get it and flip it! Doesn't really matter whether your Thrower is around, because...

4. You have a lot of Team Re-rolls.

And they're cheap! Remember, you make most of your rolls at 3+. Even if it looks iffy, try it! A Linewoman with a TRR backing her up is just as good as a rookie Catcher.

And GFI whenever you think you need it.

5. Run the ball first, but always threaten the pass.

Me, I play my team something like Orcs. Cage, cage, cage, blitz, move, regroup, repeat, score! It's very effective. But make sure you send someone downfield to put the fear of the jungle into your opponent.

Here are some traps to avoid:

1. Getting caught out of position.

Lack of MA means you'll GFI a lot. This will chew up some re-rolls. Try not to get caught out of position, and you'll keep your re-rolls handy for things like re-rolling push-blitzes or tossing the ball with a non-Thrower.

2. Spread your SPPs.

Don't go overboard - I mean, score when and where you can - but don't feel compelled to score with your Catchers on offense, for example. Blitzers, Liners - either of these, with a TRR backing 'er up, is as good as a Thrower or a Catcher.

And I'm too tired this morning, so that's all I have for you! Really, Amazons play very basic ball. Look at their skills: Block, Dodge, Pass, Catch. It's basic Blood Bowl. If you can play that, you can succeed with Amazons.

Good luck!

-Chet "

That should help!

Acerak · Post by **Acerak** » Fri Jul 12, 2002 2:51 pm

Yeah. What I said

-C.

Pantera · Post by **Pantera** » Mon Jul 15, 2002 9:54 am

So with Amazon team 1:st and 3:rd in Galags league we can assume they are a pretty good team. There hasn't been a Amazon player in out leagues, it woud be interesting to play against them (or maybe even play them).

christer · Post by **christer** » Mon Jul 15, 2002 4:22 pm

we can assume they are a pretty good team

Or maybe it's just a side effect of the coaches are good players? Also, I wouldn't make any serious conclusions after just 4 games played. It _could_ be a random fluke..

-- Christer

Lucien Swift · Post by **Lucien Swift** » Mon Jul 15, 2002 4:43 pm

whenever i play them, i get beat....

whenever i play orcs, i get beat...

whenever i play elves, i get beat...

undead, dwarves, lizards, norse, goblins, even chaos, i get beat...

especially chaos...

especially especially chaos...

point being, i think the apparent success of amazons has been greatly due to good coaching from a handful of people in this small circle of people, i've seen them get beaten down hard when mediocre or poor coaches run them...

Acerak · Post by **Acerak** » Tue Jul 16, 2002 2:25 am

Understand that I've won league championships with High Elves, Undead, Lizardmen (back in the days of ST3 Saurus), and Amazons. I've also taken Orcs and Chaos Dwarves to the top of the ladder (*mutter* damn cheesy 2+ Regeneration *mutter*). Amazons are good, but an Amazon Linewoman gets hurt just as frequently as a Human Lineman on a block. (Just run the numbers and you'll see that this is true.) The difference lies in the number of pushbacks and the movement potential during your own turn.

But when somone volunteers that it might be the coach, it just might be the coach!

-Chet

Pantera · Post by **Pantera** » Tue Jul 16, 2002 8:08 am

Acerak wrote:Understand that I've won league championships with High Elves, Undead, Lizardmen (back in the days of ST3 Saurus), and Amazons. I've also taken Orcs and Chaos Dwarves to the top of the ladder.....

But when somone volunteers that it might be the coach, it just might be the coach!
-Chet

Cool, I would be glad if I even had been in as many tournaments as you have won. I didn't see there were only 4 games played. Could be many changes ahead for that league.

Anyway, as almost the whole Amazon team starts with a double-roll skill, they have a good development ground. I think they are better than the Norse team, in the long run.

Furelli · Post by **Furelli** » Tue Jul 16, 2002 8:15 am

Need more speed. Must move further, can't reach end zone, dwarf gaining on me!!!!
Actually I like the look of the amazons I just dont think I could cope with move 6 on all my players.

Furelli.

Dangerous Dave · Post by **Dangerous Dave** » Tue Jul 16, 2002 9:28 am

Amazons definitely have more staying power than Norse. OK Amazons will intitially struggle against teams like Dwarves... but playing against teams with 7 or 8 blodge players makes a big difference (yes Elves can have a lot of Blodge players too..... but they need 2 skill rolls on most players). Norse on the other hand start with Block but except for their catchers, need doubles to get blodge players. Having played quite a lot of games with Norse, that av 7 really hurts especially when you are up against a hitty team with Mighty Blow, Claw, RSC etc. Amazons will live longer because of dodge.

Having said that, Norse have a cool blitzer - Block, Frenzy and Jump Up are great starting skills. This makes Norse fun to play... Give your blitzers Piling On and you can create lots of havoc for the opposition. The problem is that your blitzers will also get hit and hit hard. Frenzy may put them where you don't want them and if you do Pile On.... make sure a Dirty Player isn't nearby or at least its difficult for him to get assists.

So which team is better?... In the short run, its marginally Amazon (Norse will suffer against Dwarves too... albeit that Block will help)... in the long run its definitely Amazon. However, which is more fun? Personally I say Norse. But yes, those 6337 stats can get a bit monotonous!

Dave

Dragoonkin · Post by **Dragoonkin** » Tue Jul 16, 2002 11:59 pm

I've found Amazons tend to get pasted (well, not pasted, but not exactly running away with victories, either) in the beginning, but once those Blodge players start appearing...well...there's a lot of cursing going on.

Amazons are definitely a "league" team, where you can give them time to develop.