Darkelves against other Elves in a small tournament

[Mootaz]

I'll be playing a very small tournament with Darkelves at TR110.
I already know all my opponents and they'll be Pro Elves, High Elves and Woodelves (it is an Elf-only tournament for 4 players with each race being present once). I'll play against each of these teams but I don't know the order yet.

Here are the rules for skills:
8 skills before the tournament
Linemen can take doubles and can also stack skills.

Knowing all this, what would you recommend as lineup?

With so much AV 7, the Assassin is pretty much a must-pick, right?

So I could go with

4 Blitzers
1 Witch
1 Assassin
5 Line
3 RR

Or I could go with the traditional
3 Blitzers
2 Witches
1 Runner
5 Line
3 RR

What would you take?

[Coach]

Might take the second, drop to two rerolls and upgrade a lineman to an Assassin, then take Leader on the Runner.

[Smeborg]

Given these opponents, who are 70% AV7, I would take 2 Assassins.

The Witch Elves are key players, especially in a tournament - I would also take 2 of them if you can fit them in. Wrestle is an excellent skill on With Elves (it will enable you to sack ball carriers with Block/Dodge).

You can drop a re-roll on the basis that you will give Leader to the Runner early in the tournament.

All the best and let us know how you get on.

[Mootaz]

Yeah, I could take my second lineup and convert 1 RR into two Assassins. The problem is that my witches really need skills so it might be that I have only 2 RR for the first 2 games.
But I think I'll play a test game to see how the 2 Assassins work.

[Grumbledook]

you weren't clear on the skill rules

if it is 2 skills before each match then no problem ;]

front loaded tournaments are more popular in the UK now getting all skills at the start of the tournament and having them for every game

[Mootaz]

I wasn't clear on the skill rules because I don't know them yet

[solarflare]

The problem is that my witches really need skills so it might be that I have only 2 RR for the first 2 games.

2RR is usually enough for Dark Elves.

[mamapepe]

2RR is usually enough for Dark Elves.

I agree. When I play DE's at TV110 I always use the following roster:

4x Blitzers
2x Witches
1x Runner
4x Line
2x RR

It's obviously down to how you play them and the skill set involved - knowing it was or wasn't front loaded skills would help. I like the ease in which they play a running-bash game; blodging blitzer on the ball; plenty of AV8 to tag key opponents if necessary; move the ball around a lot; loose cage and play a "smoke screen" attack (i.e. feint one flank and then move the whole team the other very quickly). There is scope in the roster above to go 2x runners (takes the pressure off the one as he is generally a target on his own) but I prefer the extra AV.

The one point I would say is crucial is that the blitzers are underestimated - when people think of DE's they think of Witch Elves; but the blitzers are definitely the work horses of the team and four of them with dodge is amazing. Max out on blitzers!!

[besters]

I would drop a lineman and squeeze in an assasin, I think you can just do it.

[Mootaz]

I now know the skill rules for that tournament and they have a pretty significant impact:

8 skills before the tournament
Linemen can take doubles and can also stack skills.

Knowing that, how would you now chose?
I'm tempted by taking 8 linemen with Guard

[mepmuff]

8 skills before the tournament
Linemen can take doubles and can also stack skills.

Knowing that, how would you now chose?
I'm tempted by taking 8 linemen with Guard

I can see how you'd be tempted, but I would still skill the witches and perhaps go:

2 * witch: block or wrestle
3 * lino: block + guard

I think 3 guards on a DE side is enough. Having eight would suck me into a blocking game which I wouldnt like without more block on the team.

[Mootaz]

I'm currently thinking about:
4 Blitzers
1 Witch
6 Lines
3 RR
20k left for whatever

And skills would be:
Block on the Witch
6 Guard on the Linemen
1 Skill (Dodge, Strip Ball, Leap or something similar)

Problem with only 3 Guard is that with so easy Guard access it might be that I'm behind in Guard and I don't want to face High Elves with 6 Guards or so.

[voyagers_uk]

I would upgrade a lineman to an Assassin, he is a free no consequence action per turn... especially if you have 3-4 Guard Lineelves making it 2 dice his choice when he gets blocked/blitzed....

The Witch Elf should take Block and Strip ball. make use of her Frenzy

2 of the Blitzers get Dodge or Side Step

4 Guard Lino's

best of luck

[Mootaz]

The Witch Elf should take Block and Strip ball. make use of her Frenzy

No stacking skills on positionals.

[voyagers_uk]

in which case I would advocate Wrestle on the Assassin. Stab on offense, take down on Defense.