Rookie Orcs - Down 2 BoBs - Thoughts?

[dsavillian]

So, I'm playing orcs in a fresh scheduled league. The league is 16 games long (+ playoffs) with a semi-scheduled format.

Good news? I'm 2-0 so far, beating a Norse and Lizard squad in my division.

Bad news? I only have 70k in the bank and no apothecary

Really bad news? A Black Orc died in my first match. Another one died in my 2nd match.

I'm not quite sure what to do just yet.

My current roster:
2 BoBs - no skills
1 Blitzer with guard
3 Blitzers
1 Thrower with block
2 Linemen

2 Journeymen

FF 2
NO APO
70k in the bank

TV 99

Here are the teams I have to play for my next 3 matches (we pick the order, so I'm not sure who is my next opponent)

- Pro Elves (1-0) - Down at least a blitzer in his next match, perhaps down a catcher too, not sure. His TV is probably around 100.
- Humans (0-0, with a game this week) - Unorthodox starting roster, started with 4 catchers, 4 blitzers, a thrower, an ogre, an apo and 1 RR. His TV will likely be 100-104 if I play him next
- Nurgle (0-0) - know nothing about the team, likely TV 100.

I'm not guaranteed to play these teams before they get another game or two in, so that list could change, but I doubt it will as I'm one of the more active coaches in the division. My most likely opponent is the Pro-Elf team.


So, being down 2 Black Orcs sucks. Luckily, neither of them had any SPPs and the replacement players haven't stolen any MVPs yet.

With 70k in the bank, and the potential for a small amount of inducements, I'm not sure what to do.

Should I save the cash to replace a Black Orc asap? Should I bite the bullet and buy the Apo? Should I save some cash to hire a journeyman if he happens to get 6 spps in a match (like a CAS and MVP)?

If I can get 100k in inducements somewhere, does that change things?

I'm really going to need the Black Orc against the Nurgle team I think, but I'm not sure I can risk losing another player to injury or death.


It's times like these that makes me appreciate how much fun this game is! I like having challenges both on and off the pitch

*crosses fingers for a +1 FAME, a win and a roll of 6 for winnings next match*

[Glamdryn]

Id save the cash and take the inducements. As long as your blitzers are good to go the other teams shouldnt be much of a road block for you. I think your hardest matches are behind you.

[solarflare]

I would buy the apo before the next match.

[mattgslater]

I'd save the cash and get the BOBs as soon as you can, but I can see both arguments.

Don't sweat it much, by the way. You'll out-ST everybody you face anyway, until you get up to fight the Nurgle, where you've got a win in the Block war.

[dsavillian]

Don't sweat it much, by the way. You'll out-ST everybody you face anyway, until you get up to fight the Nurgle, where you've got a win in the Block war.

True that.

I might get sick if I lose a 3rd positional player though...


Being down 2 BoBs might also change my development plan for the Blitzers a bit. I was going to take Tackle on the next to skill up to take care of those pesky humans and elves, but I might have to take a 2nd Guard first.

[mattgslater]

Don't bother. You need the Tackle.

[pelle]

I'd buy the apo asap, you don't want to risk losing another Black Orc, or a Blitzer. Regarding skills, I would go Frenzy or Mighty Blow on the Blitzer. Frenzy = more crowdpushes = majority on the field = victory. Mighty Blow = more damage = majority on the field = victory.

[Penwaaagh]

Put both the journeymen on LOS.
Buy Apoth now(20k left). Win the match and hope you earn 60k to get 3rd BOB.
I have found my MB blitzer got to next level much quicker than Blitzer with Tackle, so I would go MB then Tackle on Blitzers.

[mattgslater]

Put both the journeymen on LOS.
Buy Apoth now(20k left). Win the match and hope you earn 60k to get 3rd BOB.
I have found my MB blitzer got to next level much quicker than Blitzer with Tackle, so I would go MB then Tackle on Blitzers.

How many games you gonna play? That's the driver. If you plan to play a lot, you should take MB as a universal #1 on Blitzers. Ultimately, in a perpetual or long format, I want 11x Block, 5x Guard, 5x SS/SF, and maybe 7x MB, with a couple Tackle guys and a smattering of toolbox (Frenzy, Grab, DP, PO, KOR, passing skills). But if you're not playing many games, you should go for the stuff with onesy-twosy value, like Block, Guard, Tackle, and maybe a few toolbox skills.

[dsavillian]

14 games remaining, plus either playoffs (top 8 of 12 make the cut) or a one match deathbowl/dungeonbowl

With potential for a second season.


Originally my plan for the next Blitzers was:
- Tackle on the first, followed by Mighty Blow
- Mighty Blow on the second, followed by Tackle
- Stand Firm on the third, followed by Guard

the current Guarding Blitzer was going to get Stand Firm

I was thinking of taking tackle first only because of the Elves and Humans that are coming up in 2 of my next 3 matches (and the humans have 4 catchers to start). I got away without needing tackle against the Lizards thanks to 3 dice blocks and most of the skinks not having block... I don't think I'll be as lucky against the humans in that regard.

IIRC, all of my blitzers are within 5 SPP of a skill, so it shouldn't be too hard to get them each a skill over the next 2 or 3 games.

I'm a bit worried about the Nurgle matchup though. I'm thinking a second guard would help more than a tackle or MB.


I think I'm going to see what my next matchup is before I decide. If somehow I end up with 100k in inducements, I'll sit on the 70k and induce an apothecary. If I'm giving up inducements, I'll also probably sit on the cash and hope I don't lose a 3rd positional to death. Otherwise, I'm considering just buying the Apothecary and treating it like an insurance policy.


What are your thoughts on buying a journeyman that happens to get a skill? (say a CAS and MVP)

[Darkson]

- Humans (0-0, with a game this week) - Unorthodox starting roster, started with 4 catchers, 4 blitzers, a thrower, an ogre, an apo and 1 RR. His TV will likely be 100-104 if I play him next

Hope he has a lino in there, else that's an illegal roster.

What are your thoughts on buying a journeyman that happens to get a skill? (say a CAS and MVP)

If it's a double (or ST), keep him, else cut him.

[dsavillian]

- Humans (0-0, with a game this week) - Unorthodox starting roster, started with 4 catchers, 4 blitzers, a thrower, an ogre, an apo and 1 RR. His TV will likely be 100-104 if I play him next

Hope he has a lino in there, else that's an illegal roster.

What are your thoughts on buying a journeyman that happens to get a skill? (say a CAS and MVP)

If it's a double (or ST), keep him, else cut him.

oh yea, his roster is filled out to 11 players

And I didn't know you rolled skills before deciding to buy or let go. That changes everything

[Darkson]

And I didn't know you rolled skills before deciding to buy or let go. That changes everything

Post-game sequence:
#1 Improvement rolls
#6 Buy/release Journeymen

[mattgslater]

I'd hire a skilled JM if I had a 0SPP lino to fire (once I got over 11 men). Bad luck aside, eventually you'll stop caring about money. The first skill turns a lino from a speedbump to a playa.

If you have 14 games and Humans next, Mighty Blow or Tackle for the Blitzer. If you don't know who you're facing after that, take MB. If you do know and it's somebody speedy, take Tackle. Tackle > MB on this match only, because of the Catchers, but frankly you can probably give him MB and use him to work the Lino/Throwers just as well, or to 3d Catchers with two assists.

He needs everything he's got. Game for 3d shots on Catchers, foul with JMs! When you're manning up, put BOBs and JMs on Blitzers or other Block players and Blitzers on everybody else. Use a Journeyman to eat up the Ogre, unless you get a chance to 2d him without doing anything you otherwise would have done.

[Penwaaagh]

I still think MB will do more against any of the 3 possible opponents than Tackle would...
Have you decided who next opponent is or which skill you chose?