deployment Chaos Dwarves (partly developed)

[Punk_in_Drublic]

Hey - I've got a partially developed CD team, about to partake in a fixed leage. I have the lowest teamrating there.

Here's the link for the team: http://bloodbowl.krokodille.com/team.php?id=201&tid=

here's the league: http://bloodbowl.krokodille.com/index.php?tournament=34

I need some input on deployment, as I'm struggling a bit on how to deploy the best. I like the ziggurat, but I'm unsure about which players to position where (who goes on the line etc). I'll tend to put three hobgolbins on the line, and ziggurating the dwarves with the BC's in the back-middle.

Thanks for any input!

[Grumbledook]

dwarfs on the line, you want to protect your hobgoblins, not give your weakest easiest to hurt players to the other team to hit

Guard then Mighty Blow on the dwarfs
block/break tackle on the bulls
juggernaut on the mino
block/surehands/fend for the hobbos

[Carnis]

Spam wrestle on the three remaining players, who haven't got block yet!

[mattgslater]

If I were to run a Zigurrat with this team, I'd run the Bulls at winger, with a Guard Dwarf flanking the Block BC and the other one either on the nose (against ST3 teams) or flanking the ST5 BC (against bash). Of course, the midfielders would be Dwarfs or a Dwarf and a Hob, and the safeties would be Hobs.

Me, I'd run out and buy a Mino, so I had two ST5 midfielders. The Undead coach in my league runs a "Crossbow" (an Arrowhead with inverted flanks) using Mummies in the midfield to hug the WZ lines, and just beats the snot out of agility teams with it. You couldn't pull off the "inverted" part, but you can get Guard flankers and lots of cheap MA6 Block, which sort of makes up for it.

[Smeborg]

The only time I might put Hobgoblins on the LoS is when my opponent has lots of Claw. Generally speaking, you need to put Hobgoblins in the second/third line in the wide zones or in a safety/full back position (where their mobility is handy). On the LoS, the Hobgoblins are exposed to attack, and liable to end up in the dugout. Chaos Dwarfs are a slow team who like to try and get an advantage in numbers, so it helps to have a defensive deployment which maximises your chances of keeping players on the pitch.

Against a non-Claw slayer team, you have the possibility of protecting all 3 Hobgoblins from attack on the first turn of your opponent's offense (because you have 8 AV9/Thick Skull players that the Hobgoblins can hide behind). However, against a Frenzy team you will need either 2 Chaos Dwarfs with Stand Firm (after Guard of course) to enable you to do this (otherwise 2 Hobgoblins with Block/Fend could do the trick). Of course, if your opponent has Juggernaut/Frenzy you will not be able to protect the Hobgoblins easily.

Normally I put 3 Chaos Dwarfs on the LoS.

Looking at team development, you need to give your Bull Centaurs Break Tackle as an early skill. It greatly increases their mobility (dodging on 2+, cage-breaking possibilities). They can move 9 squares, after all. Without Break Tackle, the Bulls behave like glorified (and over-priced) Black Orcs! And with Break Tackle, they become surprisingly good at carrying the ball when you need them to.

Lastly, your team does not appear to have any Blitzers at the moment (by which I mean players who are specialised in attacking the ball). This can be either the Bull Centaurs or the Hobgoblins (I suggest the Bulls are better at it), but I suggest you need to develop at least 2 players for this important role. Wrestle is very handy for this job.

Hope that helps. Chaos Dwarfs start slowly, and get better as they skill up. So don't worry if you have been struggling a bit. And let us know how you get on!

[Punk_in_Drublic]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. First thing, the development part of the team from here is easy I think. Normal development route for the BC (after block and breaktackle, I'll look into making one defensive / ballcarrier and one offensive / blitzer), and since my lucky str boost on the BC, I am going to buy a mino when I get the cash (after 1-2 games, barring dwarf casualties) for two str 5 guys. I aim for 4 dwarf holders (guard, stand firm) and two dwarf hitters (If I can get another claw - two with claw and MB). Two HG's with wrestle , two with block / sure hands, with maybe a sprinkling of kick off return. I just need to get more games under my belt to earn the SPPs.

Now, when looking at the crossbow, Matt, you're saying two str 5 (in a pinch, before I can buy or induce a mino, I'd say the two BC's), hug the WZ line from the inside, right? With three dwarves (looking at my current roster, the three without skills?) at the LOS, should I also put dwarves on the most lateral positions, with HG's in safety positions?

Would any of you propose another deployment when I can get a few more guard pieces with stand firm on the team (4 holder) for a defensive deployment?

For offensive deployment, I tend to just ram most of the team up on the LOS and holding 3 HG's back for ball retrievement.

thanks!