Page 1 of 2
Slann Catchers - Block or Wrestle?
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 3:16 pm
by Joemanji
Here is the (maybe soon to be experimental) roster for those who haven't seen it:
0-16 Linemen 6338 Leap, VLL @60K
0-4 Catchers 7247 Diving Catch, Leap, VLL @80K
0-4 Blitzers 7338 Diving Tackle, Jump Up, Leap, VLL @ 110K
0-1 Kroxigor _ as normal _ @ 140K
So, I'm running a Slann team in the MBBL. Dodge seems like the best choice for a first skill, better at keeping you alive a low TVs than Block/Wrestle and the re-rolled dodge is very useful indeed. My dilemma is what to take after that, Block or Wrestle. I'm thinking Wrestle will be a more useful skill on Linemen, as the more space there is on the pitch, the more chance I'll have of gaining good position from a small number of leaps. I'm also thinking about Wrestle on the Blitzers, as it combines well with Jump Up. However, I am not sure which way to go for the Catchers, as they may need Block in order to stay on their feet when carrying the ball.
Any thoughts?
Joe
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 4:41 pm
by GalakStarscraper
I've a huge fan of Sure Hands on the Catchers first. The ability to swoop in and grab a loose ball and then leap out to run away with it ... has earned me many many a TD.
And I go with Wrestle on 2 of my Blitzers to better free up the ball for the Sure Handed Catchers.
Galak
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 5:13 pm
by Joemanji
Ooh, thanks Tom. I had somehow overlooked that one.

Might have to take that second. I have found ST2, AV7 waaay too fragile not to have some kind of protection on blocks first though.
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 7:39 pm
by datalorex
Could someone tell me exactly what a Slann is? I'm guessing some sort of hopping lizard type (like a frog?)
I'm very suprised that there's a catcher on a team with no thrower. What sill choices do the blitzers have? I'm guessing the lineman have General and the Catchers have General and Agility.
I know one thing is for sure. I'd take Hail Mary on a double for a lineman to take advantage of the Diving Catch.
Wrestle on Blitzers seem redundant to me. I'd go with Strip Ball or Tackle. You'd get more use out of those. Now if you want Wrestle on a couple of lineman, then that's okay.
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 8:05 pm
by Darkson
datalorex wrote:Could someone tell me exactly what a Slann is? I'm guessing some sort of hopping lizard type (like a frog?)
I can't find the WFB Slann page on solegends, but here's the 40K equivilient.
[edit - found others]
http://www.solegends.com/citc/c32slann1.htm
http://www.solegends.com/citc/c32slann.htm
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 8:54 pm
by datalorex
I meant "reptilian-type" not "lizard-type", but I guess I was right. They do look froggish.
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 10:04 pm
by tenwit
You may have noticed that I recommend wrestle, but (almost) never as a first skill. Block is better as a first skill. If you think that a player is going to get close enough to the action to have to worry about getting hit more than once every match or two, then he needs block imo. If you're getting a defensive skill, or designing an hit'n'run ball-stealer, or just looking to protect your expensive-but-fragile ball-handlers, then wrestle rules. My lizardman teams will never have more than one blocking skink (and unfortunately they'll rarely have even that many), but they'll always have a blocker before they have a wrestler.
Sure hands is an excellent choice. Unfortunately, wrestle doesn't have great synergy with sure hands. It's good to wrestle, jump up, and sure hands the dropped ball, but once you've got it, you really, really need block intead of wrestle.
I think designing the perfect team is more fun that playing it. Am I weird?
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 10:07 pm
by bouf
I'd take block...
Or if you take Wrestle, look to take Jump up soon.
Jump up on a AG4 guy who can leap on 2+ is just silly! You NEED to stun that guy to ever be safe again!
One thing that makes Slann catchers so Great is the 4+ intercept attempt. Staying on your feet is integral to that.
Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 8:23 am
by plasmoid
I'd go with dodge first.
Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 2:21 pm
by Cramy
tenwit wrote: It's good to wrestle, jump up, and sure hands the dropped ball, but once you've got it, you really, really need block intead of wrestle.
Errmm. If you were thinking of doing all this in one turn, you can't. Once you have wrestled to the ground, you can't get back up in the same turn.
I have to admit that wrestle and Jump-up do work well together anyways, even if jump-up is only used in your next turn.
I'd start with dodge or sure hands on the catchers. You can't leap into a cage and leap back out (one leap per player action). Leap-in, grab the ball (sure hands would be great), then dodge-out (usually easier than dodging-in).
Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 3:39 pm
by GalakStarscraper
Cramy wrote:I'd start with dodge or sure hands on the catchers. You can't leap into a cage and leap back out (one leap per player action). Leap-in, grab the ball (sure hands would be great), then dodge-out (usually easier than dodging-in).
And my Wrestle Blitzers (who come with Jump Up) are how I get that ball free from the cage in the first place so that this play can happen.
Just to be clear ... I think Wrestle on a catcher is a really bad idea. On a Blitzer ... its a solid skill as he comes pre-equipped with a skill to offset the worst part of Wrestle (being on the ground).
Galak
Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 3:56 pm
by Rituro
Darkson wrote:datalorex wrote:Could someone tell me exactly what a Slann is? I'm guessing some sort of hopping lizard type (like a frog?)
I can't find the WFB Slann page on solegends, but here's the 40K equivilient.
OMFG, Slann were in 40k?!

Bizarre.
Anyhoo, yeah, Slann are really, really, really old reptilian things who created/spawned the lizardmen. In the BB fluff, the first games of BB were played wayyyy back when between the Slann and (pre-undead) Khemri.
Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 4:09 pm
by Meradanis
I'm with Galak here, my first Slann Catcher reached 16 SSP's some minutes ago, and he took Block (after choosing Dodge for the first skill up).
They're my primary ballcarriers, can't be a bad thing to have a Blodger there. Wrestle if reserved for half of my Blitzers, I like the Wrestle/Jump Up combo.
Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 4:31 pm
by datalorex
Cramy wrote:I'd start with dodge or sure hands on the catchers. You can't leap into a cage and leap back out (one leap per player action). Leap-in, grab the ball (sure hands would be great), then dodge-out (usually easier than dodging-in).
I am definitely in the camp that gives Dodge to Catchers first over Block, so I'd take Dodge first on a catcher no matter what.
Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 4:34 pm
by GalakStarscraper
Rituro wrote:In the BB fluff, the first games of BB were played wayyyy back when between the Slann and (pre-undead) Khemri.
Yeah ... someone who ready the background stuff for LRB 5.0 ...
Galak