Talk Fantasy Football

One of the mantras on this board is that it's always worth taking the stat increase. I strongly disagree with this rigidity. Sure, it's usually worth the stat increase. But sometimes it just isn't. Take my dark elf lineman, who just rolled +1 MA for his first skill. I know movement is very useful. However, the team is early on, and having someone with block is more useful. The way I see it, the dark elves have a lot of players with +1 move, but right now I don't have a lot of players with block. If I were playing my usual Norse team, I would kill to get a +1 move, but I'll eventually have six players on this team with 7 move. Furthermore, this elf is likely to get two skills in this league...probably no more. I'd rather have blodge and move 6 than move 7 and one of the skills. Go away folks--criticize away.

Whatever works for you.

One day that player will have to move 7 squares. He will fail his GFI, fall down and die.

But ... this will happen 10 times less frequently then falling down on a "both down" result on the block roll.

geez, can't I even get an argument when I'm bored on a Thursday night?

Coach Alex wrote:But ... this will happen 10 times less frequently then falling down on a "both down" result on the block roll.

Only because the fatality happens once.

In this case I'd agree with you, but it depends what your team looks like really.

One of the mantras on this board is that it's always worth taking the stat increase.

I'm not sure that has been the mantra. There has been a lot of talk of "Always take a ST increase" But I haven't seen many people say flat out take all stat increases. Black orcs hardly need that AG increase, there are several increases that should probably be turned down but never a ST.

That said I think in the case of Dark elves the one thing they need to keep up with the other elf teams is as much speed as they can get. I probably would have taken the MA on this one. But if you have more use for Block more power to you.

maxlongstreet wrote:geez, can't I even get an argument when I'm bored on a Thursday night?

There's nothing to argue about, +MA is great on positionals but not on linemen because they won't skill up so fast. If I play DE I always pass up on +MA on a lineman (unless it's his third skill or something).

I'm a great fan of increased speed. This is probably because I have a history of coaching Skaven. Fast as they are, increasing their MA allowed me to take advantage of their team strength even more! Also Linemen always got extra MA when the opportunity arose. This allowed them to follow the speedy Gutter Runners.

Right now I'm coaching a Pro Elf team. The positionals on this team are awesome. 6 players have a standard MA of 7+. However, my Linemen have a MA of "only" 6.

I notice the difference with playing a Skaven team with MA 7 all around. The Elfs have to rely more on individual actions by Blitzers or Catchers, because the Linemen are lacking speed to give support. With my Skaven my Linemen could be at the right spot, next to my Gutter Runners. I felt my Skaven performed better as a team, because of the high MA on all players.

So in short: On a (Dark) Elf team, I'd also always take a MA increase. Just to increase team performance and coherence.

El Sid

I took +MA on a lineman. Made it easier for him to score, meanig I relied less on positionals (=SPP hogs). He got Guard as his 2nd skill (yay to doubles!) and so now he doesn't score as much, but he makes an invaluable contribution to the whole team.
His mate who also got +MA as his first skill looked like he might be a Star in the making, as he took Blodge for his next 2 skills. Alas, he double 1'd his first Dodge arter his first skill, and died there and then (Apo already used - Screw you NUFFLE! ).

But if you think Block is better for the way you play, go for it - there is no "right" or "wrong" way in this one.

I concur with some posters about the 'whatever works for you', but I have to add: Another MA upgrade will come along a lot less often than a regular skill.

All this guy will need is 10 more SPP and he's MA7 _and_ Block.

Dark Elf Linemen I always take the +MA on them. Having 7MA means they can keep pace with my positionals and score. Which allows me to develop them further.

And honestly I can't ever be upset with a 7348 Block, Dodge lineman. It reminds me of the positional I love in the D. Elves.

I only say "never turn down a +ST". For MA and AG, there are plenty of cases where I'd turn those down.

For example, I'd much rather have a block orc with block than AG3. He's only MA4 anyway, where's he going? Same with AG2 mummies or saurus.

I'd usually take a 6-4 MA upgrade on a lot of players, with a few exceptions, but you can DEFINITELY make the case frequently that double 5's would be better spent on something else besides MA.

You know how you play your team, if you think block is more vital to that line elf than MA7, then you're probably right, and don't let these jabronis tell ya otherwise.

wesleytj wrote:I'd usually take a 6-4 MA upgrade on a lot of players, with a few exceptions, but you can DEFINITELY make the case frequently that double 5's would be better spent on something else besides MA.

Think I agree here.
Rolled a "double 5" for a first skill on an Amazon Thrower last game.
Figured Strong Arm would help her more - with Accurate easily available as well - than a +MA.