Black Orcs first skill: Block or Guard?

el sid · Post by **el sid** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 12:26 pm

As is mentioned in the title of this topic: What's the best first skill to get on your Black Orcs? Block or Guard?

I'm going with Guard. With 3 Re-Rolls, I can afford to screw up some blocks. But getting Guard on these ST4 chunks of meat seriously inhibates the opponent's blocking strategy.

Look at him think: "Ow, this is only a one-die block, maybe I can try this, no that's not working either..." In the end, he'll have to throw some disadvantageous blocks or face the brutal hitting power of "da greenskinz" in the next turn!

So what do you think?

El Sid

Xtreme · Post by **Xtreme** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 12:32 pm

I'm sure block first is the traditonal way, but I prefer guard first.

Gorbad · Post by **Gorbad** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 12:57 pm

I try to mix and match...

But if it's your first Black Ork to get a skill, I'd give him block, as you will most likely be giving your Troll Guard soon enough.

TuernRedvenom · Post by **TuernRedvenom** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 1:06 pm

Personally I'd take guard, it makes for a more solid line and cage. It works in both players turn. And it's great on STR 4 players. Personally I consider guard a better skill on str 4+ players then block, such players act as anchors in your line making it very hard for your opponent to get a good blocking streak going.
I only realised this when my khemri team was forced to take guard over block on mummies on first skill because mummies have no gen access in our league. Then I realised that high str + guard causes your opponent lotsa trouble in his turn and gives you a lot of options in your own.

Joemanji · Post by **Joemanji** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 2:00 pm

Ian "doubleskulls" Williams has the best NAF-ranked Orc team, and he builds up Guard-ing Black Orcs, so there must be some value to the theory. The fact that you can have four Blitzers with Block anyway kinda makes up for its absence on the Black Orcs.

gken1 · Post by **gken1** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 2:09 pm

another guard fan! tuern hit it dead on.....high st + guard in bulk forces more bad decisions for opponent.

el sid · Post by **el sid** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 2:25 pm

TuernRedvenom wrote: I only realised this when my khemri team was forced to take guard over block on mummies on first skill because mummies have no gen access in our league.

Bloody Hell! So we should have let you get Block on those Mummies! What fools we have been, trying to meddle with things beyond our comprehension... The ways of Blood Bowl are unclear from time to time, but lead to a well determined goal... Whatever that goal may be???

I prefer Guard too. If only those Black Orcs would rise a little faster in experience! After nine games, I still only have one Black Orc with one skill (Guard)!

Mind you this is my first league playing Orcs and I haven't been so lucky to get MVP's on them. Our league doesn't like the "chose which players gets the MVP award", and I fully agree on this! Makes team development much more random, exciting and fun!

El Sid

TuernRedvenom · Post by **TuernRedvenom** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 2:42 pm

el sid wrote:
TuernRedvenom wrote: I only realised this when my khemri team was forced to take guard over block on mummies on first skill because mummies have no gen access in our league.
Bloody Hell! So we should have let you get Block on those Mummies! What fools we have been, trying to meddle with things beyond our comprehension... The ways of Blood Bowl are unclear from time to time, but lead to a well determined goal... Whatever that goal may be???

My Khemri crushing all those sissy teams and winning the league?

Totti · Post by **Totti** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 2:52 pm

I'm not sure about guard being the first skill to be given to a black orc. Ok it gives your opponents a hard time when blocking your Orcs but it gives yourself a hard time knocking down opposing players because of the lack of Block. As you said yourself only one starplayer roll on 4 Blackies after 9 games, without block it's going to take a very long time indeed to tool them up. Block speeds up the development.

Why not give guard to your Blitzers (as they'll develop faster) and Troll instead and block to the Blackies.

See you on the pitch el sid

falconeyed · Post by **falconeyed** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 6:51 pm

Block, no questions asked. It's way too easy to get a single assist with a ST3 player to hit ST4 with 1 dice. If ST4 doesn't have block, he'll go down much easier, and with guard, he's the first target.

BOBs will survive long enough to get guard as their second skill (barring a stat or double).

Crewmember#17 · Post by **Crewmember#17** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 7:13 pm

I do 2 with block, 2 with gaurd

and i do blitzers 2 with gaurd, 2 with tackle

getting a one die block on my BOB with gaurd? fine, take it, one die blocks suck big nuts as a first action

(sidestep is a good doubles roll for a gaurding black orc too

)

juck101 · Post by **juck101** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 8:41 pm

I think block or MB will boost growth far more than other skills for BOBs in a season. But I am starting to find guard is more useful. Also guard for me is better in multiple - just one will be in the wrong place.

falconeyed · Post by **falconeyed** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 9:09 pm

Crewmember#17 wrote:I do 2 with block, 2 with gaurd

and i do blitzers 2 with gaurd, 2 with tackle

getting a one die block on my BOB with gaurd? fine, take it, one die blocks suck big nuts as a first action

(sidestep is a good doubles roll for a gaurding black orc too )

Yeah, but when my guy has block and yours doesn't, then my guy's only going to fail 1 out of 6 times. I wouldn't sweat a one dice block as a first action when I have block and you don't. Even a push is a win in this situation.

absent1 · Post by **absent1** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 9:11 pm

and if you use your RR right away? then the rest of your turn is guided by fear. and a lot of times even knocking the guy down in place isn't the same as a push due to how assists line up.

i'll let my opponent roll one die blocks all they want, i consider that a victory, since in 4 blocks they have a 50% chance of F'ing up their turn.

wesleytj · Post by **wesleytj** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 9:42 pm

you guys must all roll dice a lot better than me (i know that's prolly true anyway), there's no way i would trust 1db hits without block. 2db hits without block i'd only do after all the easier stuff was done, team rr or not. then the 1db ones only in desperation when there's no other way to accomplish what i'm trying to do.

plus, i don't tend to typically put all my black orcs on the line anyway. I prefer them on the wide zones. makes it a lot tougher to get around the edges, especially if they have blk.