Help for preventing a thrashing from another Orc team

Gaz Taylor · Post by **Gaz Taylor** » Sat Oct 12, 2002 1:36 pm

Wot ho folks! Recently I've been playing some warm up games for a 'world cup' type of league we are planning to hold sometime in November and most of my warm up games have been against a Orc team. And I just can't seem to beat them or either score a touchdown!!!

My current team for these one offs is:

2 Black Orc Blockers
4 Blitzers
5 LineOrcs
4 Re-rolls
Fan Factor 3

Now before anybody whinges about the re-rolls, I roll bad dice from time to time and this is a nice back up for this.

Now the major thorn in my side is the fact that I can't roll higher than 9 for any AV rolls whilst my opponent sees to do this with ease! He also fields a troll which gives him a helping hand with the smashy shashy stuff! So I have to result to cunning running plays which work to an extent, but I can't see to finish it off before my ball carrier gets smacked!

So any suggestions or should I try a big guy on my team or try another team!!!

Cheers

Gaz Taylor · Post by **Gaz Taylor** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 8:36 pm

Any ideas anybody?

Balrog · Post by **Balrog** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 8:54 pm

It's hard to say, in Orc vs Orc games it's often up to the dice. I'd say try to take down his thrower and goblins first, then go for the blitzers. ignore the Troll, it'll just regenerate and annoy you some more.

-Balrog

Thor · Post by **Thor** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 9:31 pm

I agree, try to take out your opponent's thrower and don't worry about the troll too much. I'd pick up a thrower on your side (sure hands come in handy) if I were you. I also would go with 3 or 4 blitzers because they have the block skill and good MA & AV for Orcs.

Gaz Taylor · Post by **Gaz Taylor** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 10:18 pm

Cheers for the replies guys!

Balrog: As for taking down his thrower that would be impossible as he doesn't use one! (unless you count the troll, when it chucks a gobbo!

). I think he has a simular team to mine except he has a troll and one goblin, and I think you're right about it being up to the dice, especially as our teams are so simular!

Thor: I've used a thrower in the past and I've found that a lineorc does the job just as well and is cheaper and less squishy in a punch up!

One suggestion I've had is to go for four Black Orc Blockers, but I'm a bit reluctant to go for this as it'll slow my team down. My two BOB's at the moment are usually found on the line of scrimage in a effort to slow the troll down and take out his minders that usually follow him. Tactics wise I've tried the classic orc tactic of 'da cage' which usually gets flattened as the troll somehow manages to steamroller into it. I've also tried a cage, wait for it to get stopped and then had my ballcarrier scrurry across the field and hand off the ball to a unmarked player, who usually makes it fairly close to making a touchdown but gets tackled!

lawquoter · Post by **lawquoter** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 1:31 am

I've played quite a few games as an Orc coach, and here's what has worked for me, though I can't promise results. As far as your lineup, I would suggest going with a thrower. That sure hands is a real nice insurance, and it will save one of your re-rolls for more important disasters. If you want to be able to make the opposition at least think you can pass, go with a gobbo or two. They are cheap, and if you get to keep one or two around long enough, can develop nicely into scoring threats. One way to do this is to run a cage type offense, keeping a gobbo out wide with protection and when he closes in to break up the cage, hit him with a pass to the gobbo. I usually wait for this "play action" pass scenario until the team is pretty developed and is able to hit passes with some regularity (keeping in mind they are orcs and agility is not a strong point). As the team develops and you get some money to play with (again depending on how many games the league runs), I like to invest in two more BoBs. They will get you some casualties, and if you can get one to eventually get ST5, he can become a monster. Get the big beef up on the LoS. Agile teams will likely just put fodder up front and be wary of getting into a tussle.

As far as playing the other Orc team that you've mentioned, I agree with what they've said with respect to the troll. More or less ignore him. Figure, unless his luck is on, that he will miss the really stupid roll a few times. Sometimes I'll try to lure his troll away from the pack to try to get him to lose his modifier that he gets by being into contact. Of course, if you get him down, you might foul him, but remember regen is a killer. Ignoring him as best you can might be a good idea. Or sacrifice a line orc to keep him occupied. Also, if he has a gobbo, kill the bugger. You get the casualty, and he loses a stunty guy that can dodge for the score. Plus, you eliminate the whole TTM possibility. Other than that, bash, knowing that AV9 won't be easy to break. Calculate whether or not fouling is a good for you. Hope that helps!

Longshot · Post by **Longshot** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 6:38 am

Why dont you take a thrower to take the ball? he has sure hands...

Joshua Dyal · Post by **Joshua Dyal** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 7:43 pm

Really Stupid shouldn't be too much of an issue -- chances are he's putting his troll on the LoS with someone next to him at all times. I know I do!

I'm also a pretty big fan of orc throwers -- discounting them is probably not a wise move -- especially long term. Orcs can actually develop a reasonably good passing game with a thrower that's picked up a few skills (and a blitzer or gobbo that's picked up on or two to complement him only makes it easier.)