Are Amazons the right choice?

[Scally09]

After listening to all the good stuff TackleZoneRadio ep.4 said about Amazons, I'm considering picking some up. On paper they look really cool, all 6 3 3 7 dodgers and really cheap. 4 blitzers, catcher and thrower for 500k, 7 linewomen, 4RR and an apoth brings me to the 1Million.

How would be best to skill them up? I'm thinking Fend for +1 annoyance, maybe Wrestle on the linewomen,

Are they a fighty team, the little I've found online suggests they should be played quite bashy, I can kind of see it with the 4 blodging blitzers, but with no big guy [i'm very used to a big guy in my game style, Krox and Mino], I think they might be out-bashed.

Any advice you guys can give would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Scally

[Joemanji]

Guard the blitzers, Block the lions, bore your opponent to death.

[Porkus_Maximus]

If you enjoy sucking the fun out of other people's gaming experiences and being the most disliked coach in your gaming group, then by all means play Amazons.

[Smeborg]

Scully - the Amazons are a sporting choice. They can do well at the beginning of a league because of all that Dodge before opponents get much Tackle. But they have weaknesses, principally their lack of fast players (all MA6) and their low AV. They also suffer from the Amazon's curse - failing AG3 dodges despite Dodge. As other teams develop slayer skills, the Amazons will likely see increased player turnover from casualties.

I suggest you give the Linos Wrestle first, followed by Fend, then Tackle (Sidestep on doubles). If they get to their 3rd skill, they will actually become your best blitrzers (for sacking the ball carrier or receivers).

The Throwers and Catchers will take Block at some point (they are ball handlers, so Block helps them to stay standing). This is another reason to give Wrestle to the Linos.

Sidestep is good on the Catchers at some point, as is Stand Firm on the Blitzers. Combined with Block/Dodge, these skills increase their annoyance value to the opponent.

Hope this helps.

[plasmoid]

Hi Scally,
don't listen to the pissing and moaning. Amazons are neither boring nor über powerful.
Yes, they can go blodge heavy. But other than that, they have a ton of weaknesses.
And if you go with block early (which is tempting), then a lot of needed support skills are very far off.

It won't be as easy as it sounds.
Good luck
Martin

[DoubleSkulls]

If you enjoy sucking the fun out of other people's gaming experiences and being the most disliked coach in your gaming group, then by all means play Amazons.

Or dwarves, Khemri, wood elves, or what ever happens to be winning your league?

[Scally09]

Thanks for the positive advice so far. I agree that taking block first on too many players will leave me with less ball handling skills, though it is tempting as the league I intend to play them in is going to be pretty bashy.

I'm still not sure why they're considered a fighty team, at AV7, is it a case of take the 4 blitzers and hit or be hit?

I ordered the team this morning, getting the GW team and 2 extra blitzers, then after some practice, trial and error style, I might take them to the GT.

Scally

[TuernRedvenom]

Personally, I don't like amazons much. They're certainly not overpowered, in fact I think it's very hard to top the league with them. But they are extremely forgiving at the lower levels: give the worst player in the league amazons and he'll perform a whole lot better.
I just don't like the rock-paper-scissors design and the static shoving matches degenerate into.

[Porkus_Maximus]

If you enjoy sucking the fun out of other people's gaming experiences and being the most disliked coach in your gaming group, then by all means play Amazons.

Or dwarves, Khemri, wood elves, or what ever happens to be winning your league?

It's not so much about winning as it is about enjoying the game. There are a handful of teams that I (and many others) find to be extremely boring to play against, win or lose. The only time I reliably get any enjoyment from playing those teams is when I am smashing them to pieces. :p

I'm still not sure why they're considered a fighty team, at AV7, is it a case of take the 4 blitzers and hit or be hit?

Blodge on every player. AV7 is a relatively moot point if your opponent can't knock you down in the first place. Just watch out for dwarves, obviously.

[Craigtw]

I am surprised by some of the comments as to Amazons being so unpopular.

I am also surprised hwo high they are in the world NAF rankings.

I have never played them myself, but can someone tell me what shows up on the BB pitch that does not show on paper? From what I can see they look okay.....

[plasmoid]

You'll oalso need a DP soon enough.

Once your opponents develop a guy with might blow and either tackle or frenzy, he'll be blitzing for 16 turns - or until you foul him out of commission.

[PubBowler]

I am also surprised hwo high they are in the world NAF rankings.

I'm not.

They have a clear advantage (Dodge against limited Tackle/Block)against the majority of tournie sides.
Their worst match ups (Chaos Dwarf, Dward & Norse) all have weaknesses which Amazons can take advantage of (mobility and low AV pieces).
They're cheap and have a surplus of skills, both of which are better in tournie play.

[Craigtw]

They have a clear advantage (Dodge against limited Tackle/Block)against the majority of tournie sides.
Their worst match ups (Chaos Dwarf, Dward & Norse) all have weaknesses which Amazons can take advantage of (mobility and low AV pieces).
They're cheap and have a surplus of skills, both of which are better in tournie play.

But couldn't the same be said for Norse? I would think that Block would be a better option than Dodge, as it cannot be negated in the same way (sure, Wrestle will take you down, but not with an armour roll like Tackle does to Dodge).

Norse players are cheap, and do not have the "worst match ups" in the same way as Amazons do.

In Canada, I have seen some of our better coaches use Amazons, but never to great effect. But Norse..... they're killer.

[Oxynot]

I would think that Block would be a better option than Dodge, as it cannot be negated in the same way (sure, Wrestle will take you down, but not with an armour roll like Tackle does to Dodge).

I don't have tourney experience, but one advantage comes to mind. If skills are limited, it is better to have Dodge than Block. When an opponent hits a dodge player without Block, than only pow will result in knockdown. If you hit a Block player with or without Block yourself defender stumbles will do nicely as well.

So I'd imagine amazons are good marks for non-Block players. If they get knocked out every once in a while they've probably served their purpose already and there is no long term penalties in (resurrection) tournaments.

And amazons have four Blockers (and Norse have no Dodgers) on the roster.

[Craigtw]

I would think that Block would be a better option than Dodge, as it cannot be negated in the same way (sure, Wrestle will take you down, but not with an armour roll like Tackle does to Dodge).

I don't have tourney experience, but one advantage comes to mind. If skills are limited, it is better to have Dodge than Block. When an opponent hits a dodge player without Block, than only pow will result in knockdown. If you hit a Block player with or without Block yourself defender stumbles will do nicely as well.

If skills are limited I would rather have Block than Dodge, for all the reasons I mentioned above. It also works for offensive and defensive blocks.

And if skills are limited, there are still the dwarves and chaos dwarf teams that will destroy a dodgy team with their Tackle skills.