Uncle Slam wants you! ST4/AV7/MB HE Blitzer, need advice

[mattgslater]

OK, Uncle Slam, my ST4 High Elf Blitzer, earned his third improvement and suffered -1 AV in the same game. To top it off, I rolled a 10 (6+4). What would you take?

If it's any help, the real threats are Undead with 4(!) +ST players (including both Mummies) and Dodge on both Wights, and the Skaven. I've got one game left before the tournament starts, so I'm not worried about Spiraling Expenses. I'm probably the odds-on favorite in the tournament, and the top two teams retain a special status that qualifies them for entry in an advanced tournament next year. My team roster looks like this:

New Albion Expatriates
TV 1.84M
Record 10-1
Linemen:
José Cañusi: Kick, Block
Manny Festestiny: Wrestle, Dodge
Grant Stume: Dodge, -1AV
Ellis Island: Dodge, Side Step, close to #3
Lando deFreeh: Dodge, Guard
Homer the Brave: Guard, Dodge, -1MA
Geddy Spurgue: Rookie
Blitzers:
Uncle Slam: +1 ST, Mighty Blow, -1AV, Miss, (6+4)
Rush Moore: Side Step, Frenzy, close to #3
Throwers:
Rhett Wydenblut: Dodge, Accurate, close to #3
Catchers:
Rocky Redglare: Dodge, Wrestle, -1AV
Lou Z. Anapurgis: Dodge, Block, +1ST
Cal Forney-Driemann: Dodge, Block, Leap
Other Assets:
1AC, 2CL
4x TRR
FF 10
30k Treasury

[DoubleSkulls]

Frenzy would be good on him, although since you've got it on the other Blitzer it might be overkill. Otherwise I'd just take +MA. Speed rocks.

[mattgslater]

The one thing holding me back on the +MA is that at any given moment he's one of just a couple players without Dodge on the pitch, so he draws a lot of fire. In fact, both of the Cas he's suffered have been off of "stumble" results. Also, the league is Dodge-intensive and I have no Tackle.

[Master Wang]

Given the dodging wights and gutter runners in the two teams you're most worried about, I voted Tackle. I think in the short term that'll help more, but long term this guy's days are numbered without Dodge and the -AV. If I were the other coaches, I'd be gunning for this guy a little. His head would make quite the trophy

[voyagers_uk]

take the MA, you will be the poshest speed freak on the field

[mattgslater]

take the MA, you will be the poshest speed freak on the field

Well, maybe after Lou Z. Anapurgis, my ST4 Blodge Catcher....

[voyagers_uk]

in which case the Blitzer should retire in shame.....maybe seek a life changing in experience on teh waterfront...

[mattgslater]

#2 question: Rhett just needs one point to get SH and Rush needs just 3 points for Tackle or Dodge, so I'm going to try to improve those guys and one other guy.

After I've got a TD to Rush, who's my dedicated scorer? I'm fairly confident I can improve one of these guys.

A: Ellis Island: 6/3/4/8 Dodge, Side Step, 26 SPP. Will get Block.
B: Homer the Brave: 5/3/4/8 Guard, Dodge, 22 SPP. Will get Side Step.
C: Geddy Spurgue: 6/3/4/8, 0SPP. Will get Dodge. If I don't pick him, he's a career benchwarmer. If I do and he develops, then he'll replace Grant Stume as the starter.

[voyagers_uk]

D'oh!

it has to be Homer.... the "Gudge Step" player would be immense and not be a problem even with the reduced MA

[mattgslater]

in which case the Blitzer should retire in shame.....maybe seek a life changing in experience on teh waterfront...

This is what's making me doubt the wisdom of +MA. Otherwise, it would be a no-brainer. This guy's my hardest hitter, but he's also not an amazingly great fireplug as ST4 players go; there are four ways in, and the other three are a Wrodger or Dodger flanked with Guard and a sideline, a Side Stepper (no Grab yet*), and a ST4 Blodger. Dodge or Side Step would solve the second problem, but AV7 wants Dodge, especially given how much ST4 there is in this league; every team but the hapless Orcs has a ST increase, and the top three rated teams, including two of the top-three ranked (the Necros are built to win but have failed to get the Ws, with a 1-10 record and one tie).

* One of the Undead teams has a ST6 Mummy with 11 SPP, and another ST6 Mummy with Multiple Block (he won't go up again). The Necromantic coach has a Flesh Golem with Block and 14 SPP; he told me that Frankie will get Grab unless he rolls doubles.

[mattgslater]

With 13 votes, it's near a 3-way tie between MA, Dodge and Tackle. Which is kind of funny, as that's where I am.

[Pagan]

My general thoughts.

The STR 4 Blitzer shouldn't be the one chasing someone down field. If my game plan was being used, the STR 4 guy is likely eating dirt if someone is running past him. So +1 MA is not high on my list. It's a nice option to have, but I'd rather make him better at hurting people he's already near.

Dodge is always a good choice. It allows him some extra mobility for the always fail dodge roll Elf, and will help krrp him safe to a point. Either a Big Guy or multiple others to 2 die block him, and I'm okay with my opponent using those resources on one player.

Tackle was my choice in the poll, but if you're only looking at those two teams mentioned, I may think Dodge is the better option provided. What is the status of Sure Hands on those ghouls? Strip Ball maybe, though I'd prefer to plan long term with a St4 elf and choose Dodge/Tackle and save the Strip Ball for a weaker player who doesn't care about throwing 2 die blocks looking for a Pushed at least.

[besters]

I'd have already given him dodge, so that get's my vote!

I think dodge should be the 1st skill on all High Elf positionals, survival wins the war!

[mattgslater]

@besters: I would have taken Dodge on him earlier, but this is his first normal skill. His first improvement was +ST, so c'est la vie. He wouldn't have gone up without Mighty Blow (MB got him 3 casualties in 5 games), so I don't regret that.

@Pagan: I'm kind of down on Strip Ball on general principle, but now that the Undead team has all that Blodge (a new development), it is sounding better. Notably, the Undead have no Sure Hands: like me, they've been the "victim" of great improvement rolls, with doubles on any and all players who would have otherwise taken Sure Hands. The Necromantics have a SH guy, but would still probably be subject to hosing via Strip Ball, as I can just kick away from SH boy. In a perfect world, I'd give Strip Ball to Cal Forney-Driemann (the guy with the Wardancer suite) on his next roll, but that will be awhile, as he's now at 34 SPP.

My toolbox has suffered for two basic reasons: 1) the league composition (even the bash teams have Dodge, no Dwarfs in sight) suggested I should spam Dodge, and 2) almost every time I resolved to grab a toolbox skill, I ended up with a double or +ST. I've actually bypassed +MA three times; this will make four.

I think it's down to Dodge or Tackle. I'm leaning Dodge; you can never go wrong with Dodge on a 200k player, and I'm going to get Tackle for Rush Moore once he gets a single TD. But having two Blocklers would be nice, especially since Rush plays winger and his Side Step tends to push the action to the other side.

[Coach]

You said the league is Dodge heavy, that points all signs to taking Tackle. Especially as you don't have a single instance of it yet. I wouldn't even consider anything else given the make up of the league you have described, especially the Undead team.