Talk Fantasy Football

Salutations Readers,

My Black Orc scored and got his first skill up which was a Double Five! I am tempted by the +MV, but thought I would ask if others would take Block or an Agility skill?

The Team is
4x Blizers (1 with Frenzy)
4x BoB's (2 with Block)
2x Thrower (1 with Block)
1x Troll (Guard, Stand Firm)
2x Goblins

the choice is between the MA and Block.... I would ignore the double and go Block

Yep, go Block.

If it was a Blitzer I might go for the +MA, but not with the BO.

If not Block, Side Step. That's the only good doubles skill on a rookie BOB (at linebacker, rather than on the LOS; it's way better than Stand Firm, especially if the opponent has to blitz). MA is good if he already has Block, but even then it's not great. With a BOB, you have to compare all doubles skills to Block, Guard and Stand Firm, and given his low AG and MA, the only one that comes up favorably is Side Step (even then, Block is better... but a Block/SS BOB is the ultimate tar baby, and hence the ultimate inside linebacker).

As Axtklinge said, if it was a Blitzer (or a Gob or Thrower) I'd be all over +MA.

Guard guard guard. Oh, did I mention guard?

Damn. I was thinking of editing my post: "But Ian will tell you to take Guard."

Actuall I'd normally say the rule of thumb for BOBs was

If any BOB has block take block. Otherwise take guard. If you've already taken one then get the other.

Normally that means the first 2 or 3 go guard block, the remainder block, guard.

Since he's already got 2 block he's probably better off giving the others block first too.

The reason for that is once a BOB has block that's the one that does all the hitting - meaning the others get less opportunity for cas SPPs.

My first Choice is Block

My 2nd choice would be Mighty Blow.

Ian has his view in regards to a BO gaining too many skills, yet I see it as getting rid of the opposition to win games - that is what is important in the end. Hence Block and Mighty Blow.

Edit: Seeing that you have 2 with Block already, I would be tempted to go the Mighty Blow rather than have the certainty of a block.

How many rerolls do you have. This also effects the decision.

I took might blow on one of my BO first once... And I'll never do it again. Take block I speak from experience.

Block is a good choice

Side step is a tricky choice

+MA is a fun choice

+AV can be cool...

Dissenting voice: Dodge.

Why Dodge I hear you scream?
Even with AG2 a normal Dodge becomes a 75% rather than 25% proposition.
Not bad. He can become a middle linebacker type behind the three on your line of scrimmage.

The big thing for me though is the potential for a Blodge Black Orc. If you somehow get him up to 3 skills on normals you're suddenly looking at a Blodge standfirm or Blodge Guard guy with ST4. That will irritate opponents no end.

Not saying other people are wrong, just an opinion.

I'd love to have blodge stand firm guarding BOBs - but I'd only take doubles for a 3rd or later skill. Block & Guard are much higher value adds. Block, Guard, Stand Firm, Mighty Blow BOBs are pretty damn good too Nearly as good as Blodge, Guard, Stand Firm ones

The reason is that BOBs skill up very slowly. Without any SPP generating skills you'll average about 1/2 SPP per game - from the odd cas & MVP. Dodge does nothing to improve SPP generation and doesn't really help the team. So you end up wiht a player really being developed for the very long term.

Also, even if you get a double on 3rd or 4th skill up there are tempting choices in Diving Tackle and Sidestep too (depending on league composition of course!).

I like to develop two different types of BOB: the lineman and the linebacker.

The line-BOBs flank the Troll, and their job is to keep the Troll on his feet and not get injured. Guard and Block are the two highest priorities, so I take Block first as has accelerant and preservative effects on the player, while Guard does neither. Doubles on these guys are no good: they don't skill fast enough to take advantage of Dodge over Block, and Stand Firm is better than Side Step for an AV9/ST4 player on the line.

The Backers are a different story. After they have Block, you can get cute with Frenzy, Stand Firm or Mighty Blow: they don't need Guard, as they're seldom in position to assist but not in position to block their way into the clear. Stand Firm/Block on a linebacker BOB basically means opposing offenses need to use a high-ST Juggernaut or Leap, or face whatever nastiness your (probably very good) Blitzers can dish out in the wide zones. Side Step is even better in this case than it usually is, as he'll be set up to get blitzed, making Stand Firm subject to Juggernaut.

I despise the Blodge BoBs and Blitzers on my friend's Orc team. His team is spammed with Blodge thanks to some Doubles rolls. Very annoying. I can accept Blodge on ST3 AV7 or AV8 guys/gals. But on ST4 AV9 guys it is a bugger.

Add Stand Firm or Side Step to it? May as well not even bother trying to block those guys.

dr. evil wrote:I took might blow on one of my BO first once... And I'll never do it again. Take block I speak from experience.

I don't think taking it 'once' should be classified as 'experience'.

Just because you have a bad roll now and again is not the excuse to never do it again. Hence my question on the rerolls.