Talk Fantasy Football

the roster I will likely take:
4 blitzers
2 throwers
2 catchers
1 ogre
3 linemen
3 RR
1 AC
1 CL

Pretty standard.

The tourney is 5 games and after each game 2 random players on the team get a skill (after the 3rd game, one of the 2 randomly selected players can choose a double instead of a normal skill). With only 12 players, hopefully these skills will hit where it matters (blitzers).
Seeing the 2 previous editions and the switch to lrb 5 I think the following races will have a lot of teams there:
1) dwarves: tourney was won last year by a dwarf team and the skill system is really favourable for them (imagine 8 guarders by game 5!). Doesn't matter where the skill hits, it's always usefull.
2) orcs: last year about 50% of the teams there were orcs, also because the skill system favours them and allows them to take lots of guard.
3) undead: also always a very popular team in this tourney, but now with the weakening of dirty player the random skills that will hit zombies aren't nearly as usefull anymore.
4) chaos dwarves: same as dwarves, but to a lesser extent. If the skills all hit hobgobs they're in trouble, if they are so lucky to get 2 skills on a centaur their opponents are in trouble
5) amazons: normally you'd think the skill system really favours them (lotsa blodge and guard) but with so many dwarf teams about that kinda backfires

Seeing that I will have to adjust my skill picks to those races primarily I was thinking about this:

Blitzers: first one guard, second one frenzy, then more guard. If second skill on a guarder then I'll have to choose between stand firm or mighty blow. Doubles would go to dodge.

Ogre: Guard, doubles Block

Catcher: Block, doubles ???, if second skill I'll take side step

Thrower: first one Block, second one Leader, doubles Dodge

Linemen: Block, doubles Guard, second skill Frenzy (if I don't have it yet)

Hopefully these skills will allow me to put up a focused blocking game and reduce attrition vs those bashy teams.

Thoughts and comments?

A second skill on a catcher could be Strip ball? I have been using that with quite good results on Gutter Runners, and was hoping Humans would be just as good with that. Also it usually means your opponent will set up differently, so you can steer him/her a bit.

No Agility teams? Otherwise I would at least get one Tackler. Ans I sill usualy get one Dirty Player.

Good luck!
M

Brokje wrote:A second skill on a catcher could be Strip ball? I have been using that with quite good results on Gutter Runners, and was hoping Humans would be just as good with that. Also it usually means your opponent will set up differently, so you can steer him/her a bit.

Hmm, good point. Skaven do get a lot more mileage out of strip ball on GR's though because of higher AG, iigher MA and better players to pounce on a loose ball but it can still be very good.

No Agility teams? Otherwise I would at least get one Tackler. Ans I sill usualy get one Dirty Player.

If there are they are usually on the bottom tables. Besides, frenzy is also good for taking down blodgers and it also helps dominate sidelines and push players out. Dirty Player is kinda worthless in LRB 5 though.

I am thinking of developing my Catchers in our League that way. Then the Blitzers can go Guard and Stand Firm all the way (doubles and stat increases barred).

I'd like to know how you fared!
Good luck!
M

Will do, never played humans before though so I don't exactly have high hopes.

here is the report, as promised.

First game vs Dark Elves

First 2 turns he injures 2 players and on the third he knocks out one. My players do diddly squat for the first few turns (my first knockdown was in turn 4 I think). Playing men down vs dark elves is very, very tough. Still I had some chances to win or even draw the game but the skulls and ones popped up at all the decisive moments. Also it was very clear I don't have enough experience with humans yet as I made some mistakes. 2-1 loss

skills:
thrower -> leader (I was burning rerolls like kinder in that game)
catcher -> block (trying to minimise attrition)

Second game vs Wood Elves:
My opponent clearly wasn't used to playing Wood Elves and I simply outbashed him. Both skills I chose came in real handy. 4-1 win for me.

skills:
thrower -> block
lineman -> block
Cursing my luck of not getting any guard on a blitzer so far.

3rd game vs Norse:
this was a dice blowout. My team was simply rolled off the pitch, all ball handling failed miserably. Every reroll I used was wasted as I just rolled another failure. Kick off results (Blitz!) hurt me a lot. No way i could have won that game with any other team. Shrugged it off and moved on.

skills:
Ogre -> block
Catcher -> side step: this was a bad decision, should have gone for block or strip ball but I was counting on encountering bashy teams and pinning important players with it

4th game vs Chaos Dwarves:
The Chaos dwarves luckily had no guard which meant I could keep an even pace with blocking. I got out a few of his guys early while he cannot break my armour. His bulls keep falling down as well. 2-0 win. What I learned from this game is that humans with 4 rerolls can pull off some nifty plays! Especially when taking maximum advantage of the built-in skill rerolls like pass, catch and sure hands.

skills:
Ogre with Block -> Guard
Lineman with Block -> Frenzy (not knowing if I would draw an agility team or bashy team I sisn't take tackle but went for the middle road and frenzy)

5 th game vs Skaven
I tried the 2-1 play and it worked, if just barely. I rolled at least 5 double skulls in this game and failed a lot of pickups and catches but I was lucky I dodged like wood elves and my opponent had some bad luck so he couldn't capitalise on those failures (although he did try his best). Skaven are a tough opponent for humans though. All those 3+ rolls with reroll have 1 in 9 chance of failing meaning that there is a distinct possibilty something will go wrong somewhere and the gutters will sweep in for the score.

All in all I was quite happy with my skill picks besides the side step. I do think humans should take frenzy over tackle as it adds a lot of tactical options, also helps vs blodgers and isn't totally useless vs bashy teams. Leader for the thrower was a great choice as with 4 rerolls you can afford to play a bit riskier. Humans really need as many rerolls as they can get their hands on. Block on the second thrower instead of accurate was also a good choice I think as you really don't pass all that much and it gives you a very solid ball carrier.
I was hurt a lot by not being able to take guard on any blitzers though.

conclusion:
Humans are an average team for tourneys, I'm sure you can do quite well with them at tourneys but I'm also sure if you really want to win you should go for Dwarves, Skaven, Undead,... instead.

Well done I deem!
One thing I found usefull, also in tourneys, was Kick. With MV 7 Blitzers and MV 8 Catchers you can easily capitalize on failed pick ups and possible Blitz! kick offs. Did not think off Frenzy as yet, but indeed (after block) it can be useful I think.
You were unlucky to get no skills on the Blitzers, that would really have helped your team. I think you are right in thinking that for winning a tournament you should not go for Humans, but I think they are always fun being the most allround team, and with luck (i.e. skills on Blitzers) can be annoying at the very least.

Cheers!
M