4th Skill for a very special Orc Blitzer

[one_second_of_insanity]

Well my Orc team is progressing along beautifully after only 16 games (tabletop) but I am in a bit of a conundrum as to what to give my star blitzer who just rolled a double. At the outset I decided against taking any dodge on the team on doubles but instead go for different skills, now with this player I'm not so sure.

My team : Bad Moon Brawlers

Blitzer - Side step, Frenzy
Blitzer - Mighty Blow, Tackle, Piling On
Blitzer - +AG, Mighty Blow, Stand Firm
Blitzer - +AG, Tackle, +ST, plus doubles choice (my star player)

Black Orc - Diving Tackle
Black Orcs - Guard
Black Orc - Guard, Block
Black Orc - Guard, Block

Troll - Guard

Thrower - Block
Thrower

Lino - Kick
Lino

Goblin

[Greyhound]

I have a similar 6449 Orc blitzer and went with leap. It's a gem. Bash-bash-bash then when you can't push further run-leap-block ! Yes you will fail one in 3 leaps but it's bringing a new skill to your team no one else can provide and you will add a brand new threat.

Kick short with the kick skill and watch the blitzes turn into pure wins.

[mattgslater]

Dodge, Leap or Side Step. Can't go wrong.

[Khail]

Leap or Diving Tackle gets my vote, though an argument could be made for Jump Up as well.

[Drool_bucket]

Leap is a great choice but its number one use is getting into Cages, which I don't think your team would struggle with that much. You have Block/Guard/Raw STR to stop cages cold.

I would think dodgy teams are what is troublesome for you, so a Diving Tackle/Tackle STR 4 player is great at ruining dodgy teams day.

Next up can be Standfirm on a regular role, or Sidestep on doubles and he will be an absolute terror.

This guy isn't actually your primary blitzer, your MG/Tackle/PO dude should be hitting most of the time, this guys job is to mark the ball carrier if you can, if not, another key player.

[Greyhound]

Leap is not to get into cages for an Orc team, it's to catch up the running skink, to force the opposition to build the other side of the cage that wouldn't need to worry about and to crowd surf like a maniac.
Leap is to make the most of the blitz event and to completely change the tactic of your opponent.

Leap is a threat, you often don't need to use it against good players but it forces them to work around it. A skill that forces my opponent to cage better is a perfect.

[mattgslater]

In that case, I'd rather have Dodge. Usually more effective, though not always, and comes with another advantage (staying up) that by itself is worth the block skill.

Side Step is another option. Usually, if that guy has catching up to do, it's 'cause he's been knocked out of position. You can then take Mighty Blow or Frenzy on this piece eventually. Frankly, if you give him Side Step, he becomes effectively unblockable.

[one_second_of_insanity]

Thanks for the replies so far, the contenders for me at the moment are: dodge, sidestep, jump up, leap

I was going to give him mighty blow or sure hands if he had rolled for a normal skill. For me this guy is a ball hawk and usually ends up scoring a lot of my touch downs as usually the best on offer that anyone gets to blitz him is on 1d and thats most often with unskilled players.

Dodge helps him out in keeping mobile (and not using up a TRR) and also keeps blocks of him, if i take dodge though do i need to start taking it on other players to maximise its value?

Sidestep is fun and often when people ask about skils on my frenzy side step blitzer they just setup differently, it will also help in his ball hawk duties, especially when combined with the other +AG blitzer with stand firm whose next skill will most likely be guard.

Jump Up makes the most of his AG if he gets knocked down and gives me a burst of speed from that position

Leap is nice but this team can usually break the opposition apart easy enough and after playing a lot of Slann I am second guessing its value in this team, especially if the leap fails it will have a significant impact on the pitch.

[Greyhound]

jump up is as good on ag4 (2+) than on ag3 (2+)

[Joemanji]

I'd so Side Step. ST plus Side Step = pain in the ass

[Greyhound]

I insist on leap, all my league wants to kill him.
He won't leap every game but he will use his skill to shape your defence and attack by forcing your opponent in making un necessary moves. If he doesn't then 3+ leap and make him regret (save a TRR)

[spubbbba]

He'll probably get the most use out of dodge really.

Not only does it help him stay on his feet but it makes him a lot more mobile, he can even dodge through 1 or 2 tackle zones with a reasonable amount of reliability.

I've always seen leap as too risky on AG4 and rarely take it on normal choices for elves much less a double for an already high TV player. I doubt you'd use it more than once or twice a game and if you are using it that often then it's likely you're taking too many risks or in desperate straits.

[hancock.tom]

You need to take dodge to keep him on his feet, or else he is going to be gang fouled into the ground. Leap just increases his chances of doing a face plant and being fouled to death. Dodge will give you close to the increased mobility of leap while simultaneously making him far more survivable.

Dodge, then hope for strip ball!