Nurgle Skill Progression and Tactics

Lord Black · Post by **Lord Black** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 11:11 pm

Hello all!

I am new to the forums but have been a BB player for 5+ years now. Me and another guy are being co-commishes of the league. He is more the figured head and has final say on things but over-all its both or our's league. Not that any of that really matters.

My question is what skill progressions do I take for Nurgle. It is the first time I will be playing them. I didn't feel under the LBR4 rules they had any sort of shot at being good but now it seems that they have a chance. Below is skill progression I have done for the different positions. If you all would give me some feed back that would be great. The below list is based on the idea of not rolling doubles, 10's,11's, or 12's. If any of you have suggestions on the doubles, 10's,11's, or 12's rolls let me know. Oh and any tactics you want to post as well would be greatly appreciated.

Rotter-----------------------------------Block, Disturbing Presence/Claw

Pestigor---------------------------------Block, Foul Apperance/Big Hand, Tentacles

Nurgle Warrior-------------------------Block, Stand Firm, Grab

Beast of Nurgle-----------------------Juggernaut, Claw, Stand Firm

Thanks!

Craigtw · Post by **Craigtw** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 1:19 am

I see that you want to take Big Hand, but you need to keep in mind that extra arms is a WAY better skill than it was under LRB4 as it now allows you the +1 to catch, intercept AND pick up the ball! Definitely one of the first skills that you want to be picking up for the team (for a ball carrier).

I would not be so quick to give tentacles to a pestigor, as they are only S4, but have used it to great effect on a Nurgle Warrior with Tackle. My first choice, however, might be Warriors with Block and Claw - but this depends on the other teams in the league - in a team of elves and skaven you would defintely take the former.

For the Beast of Nurgle, I would reccomend Break Tackle as a skill worthy of consideration, as the Beast is often a player that you want to be putting the squeeze on any catcher-types that make it through your front line. On the defense, I always leave my Beast deep with a babysitter, and then wait for the push to come through and then the beast moves to put his tentacles on whomever he can. For this reason the Break Tackle would be good, as if the player puts a TZ on the Beast to try to prevent him from moving, dodging with an AG5 would be no problem!

On offense, leave the warriors back, not on the line, and use them to make a cage their S4, and foul appearance make a good cage, and once you start to skill, up then they can be a real problem to get through!

For the rotters on the line, you may want to consider Wrestle then, as this can bring your opponent down with you when he attacks. Against slower opponents, (dwarves khemri) this can give you the edge you need.

The other rotters can be flexible depending on how you want to use them - one with kick, a few with wrestle, blockers, claw boys, maybe one or two with the extra arms. This is where your individual style will be shown.

Hope this helps.

ClayInfinity · Post by **ClayInfinity** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 6:44 am

Hi,

I too am looking at the Nurgle roster and am painting a team up for both tournament & league play.

To start, is this a good starting roster:

1 x Beast
2 x Warriors
3 x Pestigors
6 x Rotters
2 x ReRolls
1 x Coach
1 x Cheerleader
0 FF

I agree with teh above post re tactics on defence and the concept of break tackle on the Beast.

Now given the decay on Rotters, what do people think about giving them Spikes? I know that they take a while to skill up, but do you think the extra longevity is worth it?

Re Pestigors, I would skill up one as a ball handler (Extra Arms, Sure Hands) and two as Blitzer types (Strip Ball, Tackle, Claw)

Warriors - I would go Block first always, but think Tentacles & Tackle is the way to go. On offence however, I would put the warriors on the line, in close proximity to each other and form the cage AFTER they have successfully (hopefully) done their blocks on the LoS.

Once you do get to 4 NW's, then you can be a bit more adventurous with two of the 4 in the wide zone.

Joemanji · Post by **Joemanji** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 8:41 am

Block then Guard or MB or SF on Warriors. Never Grab.

Develop one Pestigor as a "hit man" with Block, MB, Claw, Piling On, Tackle.

Stand Firm on the Beast first, without question. Tentacles + SF is a great combo on a ST5 player.

fen · Post by **fen** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 8:50 am

ClayInfinity wrote:Now given the decay on Rotters, what do people think about giving them Spikes? I know that they take a while to skill up, but do you think the extra longevity is worth it?

No Spikes Mutation in LRB5. Foul Appearance is just as good (if not slightly better) at keeping rotters alive longer.

Joemanji wrote:Block then Guard or MB or SF on Warriors. Never Grab.

I quite like Grab, but not until skill 4 or 5.

Develop one Pestigor as a "hit man" with Block, MB, Claw, Piling On, Tackle.

Yes! I even go as far as developing two of these.

Stand Firm on the Beast first, without question. Tentacles + SF is a great combo on a ST5 player.

Stand Firm then Guard is what I normally do, then Grab. (And then retirement if the stupid thing fails to roll a doubles/stat increase by 31+ SPPs)

ClayInfinity · Post by **ClayInfinity** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 7:22 pm

fen wrote:
ClayInfinity wrote:Now given the decay on Rotters, what do people think about giving them Spikes? I know that they take a while to skill up, but do you think the extra longevity is worth it?
No Spikes Mutation in LRB5. Foul Appearance is just as good (if not slightly better) at keeping rotters alive longer.

Really? Bugger!! Didnt know that...

Craigtw · Post by **Craigtw** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 10:13 pm

ClayInfinity wrote: To start, is this a good starting roster:

1 x Beast
2 x Warriors
3 x Pestigors
6 x Rotters
2 x ReRolls
1 x Coach
1 x Cheerleader
0 FF

I would definitely not take the beast on the starting roster as it means having to compromise. As it is, you only have three strong players, and one of which that you cannot rely upon.

I start with this roster in league play:

4 x Warriors
1 x Pestigor
6 x Rotters
3 x RR
3 (FF, Coach, Cheer)

I save up for the beast, and then the other pestigors. Wtih any luck I manage to accrue a few more free rotters along the way. so far this has worked very well for me.

ClayInfinity · Post by **ClayInfinity** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 12:23 am

Craigtw wrote:
ClayInfinity wrote: To start, is this a good starting roster:

1 x Beast
2 x Warriors
3 x Pestigors
6 x Rotters
2 x ReRolls
1 x Coach
1 x Cheerleader
0 FF
I would definitely not take the beast on the starting roster as it means having to compromise. As it is, you only have three strong players, and one of which that you cannot rely upon.

I start with this roster in league play:

4 x Warriors
1 x Pestigor
6 x Rotters
3 x RR
3 (FF, Coach, Cheer)

I save up for the beast, and then the other pestigors. Wtih any luck I manage to accrue a few more free rotters along the way. so far this has worked very well for me.

Really? What do you mean "compromise"?

I believe the Beast on defence is the best big guy in the game... if you know not to use him as a basher but rather get him moving against the opponents catchers, he is very good.

And also, your roster forces the Rotters into ball handlers... not sure if thats a good idea either...

Lord Black · Post by **Lord Black** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 5:12 am

Ok after what you all have said and what I have learned today through play a one-off match. I have decided to try out the following. I have taken a bit from all of you and this is what I am thinking now for league play.

6 Rotters
2 Pestigors
2 Nurgle Warriors
1 Beast
3 RR
$30k in bank to buy another Pestigor ASAP

What I played with earlier today was 6 Rot, 3 Pest, 2 NW, and 4 RR. I have always thought teams with 70k RR's that buying as many as them early is ensential but after playing today I have realized they are not that important for Nurgle some how. I had no problem (though in the future I expect i will) picking up the ball. And once I picked it up I never lost it with a very effective cage (which could always break down in the future). Though since others think having only 3 are sufficient, I decided to drop down to 3 and pick up the Beast.

This allows me a good line against running teams on defense and the ability to lock down catchers with the Beast for agility teams, along with the best safeties in the game...Beastmen! On offense, I have two scorers (Beastmen) along with 6 other guys (Rotters) that in a worst case scenario can still score. With 3 very potent lineman (2 Warriors and 1 Beast) that will most certain move people out of the way and hold the cage as I move down the field.

I am going to play test it in the next couple of days with my friend before the league starts Saturday. Also it is only a mini 5 game league so if I like the play test at all I will probably go with it and see if it works out and then re-evaluate at the end of the mini league. If I feel it has what it takes to go the distance in a longer format I will then later.

So what do you all think?

datalorex · Post by **datalorex** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 5:39 am

Craigtw wrote: I start with this roster in league play:

4 x Warriors
1 x Pestigor
6 x Rotters
3 x RR
3 (FF, Coach, Cheer)

I save up for the beast, and then the other pestigors. Wtih any luck I manage to accrue a few more free rotters along the way. so far this has worked very well for me.

This is the best starting lineup (I'm 7-1-1 with it), but I would bank at least 20k to get that Beast as soon as possible. I got it in 3 games with this lineup. Then I got the Pests after that. That took me 4 more games, and I scored enough Rotters during that time to max out my roster. I actually had to turn down free rotters. My skill suggestions...

BON- can't get claws except on doubles. Guard, BT, Juggernaught, Standfirm are my choices
NW- For me, I go claw, mb, PO
Pest- Extra Arms on 3 of them. One gets Strong Arm and Sure hands to become the thrower. The other 2 get Foul Appearance and Two heads and become the receivers. The 4th one becomes the blitzer with Tackle, MB, and Piling On.
Rotters get Foul Appearance first. Then they get a mixure of claws, kick, tackle, Disturbing Presence, and Big Hand.

Okay, I'm sure you noticed I didn't add any block in there. That's my choice, but you can insert them before my choices and it'll still work.

datalorex · Post by **datalorex** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 5:58 am

Craigtw wrote: On offense, leave the warriors back, not on the line, and use them to make a cage their S4, and foul appearance make a good cage, and once you start to skill, up then they can be a real problem to get through!

I totally disagree with this. I keep all the NW on the line along with the BON. If you line them up correctly, you can get -3 to any passing and catching rolls the first 3 squares on their sides!

-NW-NW-RBONR--NW-NW-

NW-nurgle warrior
R-rotter
BON-Beast of Nurgle

This set up on the line will seriously keep your opponent from handing off or passing close to the line

ClayInfinity · Post by **ClayInfinity** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:00 am

Datalorex,

How can you get 3 more Pestigors PLUS the Beast??

Arent you copping alot of beat up Rotters along the way?

I can see how 4 ST4 Nurgle Warriors is an asset, but I cant see how you can get the cash to make all those purchases so quick, considering decay must be an issue as well...

fen · Post by **fen** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:19 am

Starting with or without the beast is very much a personal decision. But I can say that starting with the beast is a serious consideration if there are a lot of Elf teams in your league. Being able to pin players in place for your Nurgle Warriors to beat up on is huge, especially if you get the Beast next to catcher/wardancer types.

With regards to Pestigors. Starting with one is most definately a mistake, two is the minimum you should start with, having just the one is putting all your eggs into one basket. Pestigors are your best ball handlers and blitzers rolled into one. Without them it becomes difficult to do anything, also on average it takes about two matches to replace one of them due to their expense.

As such there are two starting rosters I consider for a Nurgle team.

With Beast:
Beast of Nurgle - 140
3 Nurgle Warriors - 330
2 Pestigors - 160
5 Rotters - 200
2 Rerolls - 140 (The one issue with this roster)
30K for Bank/3FF

You need to earn 350K for that reroll and Nurgle Warrior before sinking cash into 2 more Pestigors. That's why I'd consider just banking the 30K so you just need 320K more.

Without:
3 Nurgle Warriors - 330
3 Pestigors - 240
5 Rotters - 200
3 Rerolls - 210
20K/2FF

This one requires 280K (BoN + Warrior) before you pick up Pestigor #4, it's about a match faster in getting to a full roster + 3 rerolls than the first one. Plus that third reroll makes the team far more reliable, but you will struggle more against Elf teams.

(Essentially the purchasing difference between the two teams is Beast of Nurgle + 30K vs. Pestigor + Reroll + 20K.)

Never directly pay money for Rotters after you start, pick them up through either dead opposing players or through loners that gain SPPs. You don't ever want to be wasting money on Rotters as your positionals and rerolls are too expensive.

Craigtw · Post by **Craigtw** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 10:20 pm

ClayInfinity wrote:
Really? What do you mean "compromise"?

I believe the Beast on defence is the best big guy in the game... if you know not to use him as a basher but rather get him moving against the opponents catchers, he is very good.

And also, your roster forces the Rotters into ball handlers... not sure if thats a good idea either...

By compromise I would mean that you are compromising only having two S4 players and one S5 (only 3 strong players) as oppose to having four S4 players. I agree that the beast is awesome as a defensive, but he is also prone to going stupid. The warriors don't do that.

My roster does not force the rotters into being ball handlers. they have the option to go that route if you want, but generally it is my pestigors who take on that role. The pestigor's better movement and survivability makes them the better choice IMO.

Craigtw · Post by **Craigtw** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 10:23 pm

datalorex wrote:
Craigtw wrote: On offense, leave the warriors back, not on the line, and use them to make a cage their S4, and foul appearance make a good cage, and once you start to skill, up then they can be a real problem to get through!
I totally disagree with this. I keep all the NW on the line along with the BON. If you line them up correctly, you can get -3 to any passing and catching rolls the first 3 squares on their sides!

-NW-NW-RBONR--NW-NW-

NW-nurgle warrior
R-rotter
BON-Beast of Nurgle

This set up on the line will seriously keep your opponent from handing off or passing close to the line

But why would your opponent be doing the passing abnd handing off when you are on the offense?

I would agree, having the warriors on the line when you are on defense is a good idea, but even then I prefer to leave the Beast off the line to deal with the catchers who get through.