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Mass Shadowing

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 2:15 pm
by stashman
Have anyone tried mass shadowing (more than 2 players) ?

My necroteam has 2 shadowing players now (ghoul and wight) but I'm planning to have it on all positioning players (not golems).

Have anyone had a team with 4-6 players?

I'm doing great with the team (14 games in a row without any loss). Tying up players with shadowing is great and a sneaky way off "destroying" opponents blocking and cageing.

Re: Mass Shadowing

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 5:21 pm
by ZanzerTem
Shadowing doesn't work too well when you're on the ground. And you will be, because your opponent will have better skills than you.

It's a fun skill but I wouldn't mass it on my guys. Especially not Zombies as you say you are going to.

Re: Mass Shadowing

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 7:43 pm
by Khail
Shadowing works best on players that opponents are afraid to hit and or stay next to (Sidestep or Stand Firm are more or less required for this). On top of that, they need to be high enough movement (7+) for the skill to be worthwhile. Unfortunately - those players are few and far between.

Necro Werewolves could be built to fit the bill, but it'd take at least one doubles roll (Mighty Blow) and Shadowing is probably the 5th skill I'd take on them. (Block/Dodge/Sidestep/Mighty Blow/Shadowing would be the build... I don't know that Shadowing will perform better than other options like Jump Up or Tackle/Diving Tackle)

Dark Elf Blitzers or Witches could also work, but again it's a 5th skill, and there's probably something more useful to take. And they probably need to already have 1-2 doubles or a ST boost in their progression to be considered "scary".

If you wanted to build a Shadowing heavy team, I'd probably go Dark Elves (they also have the Assassin, who has it by default). With Necro there's almost never a situation I wouldn't take a shot at a ghoul left standing next to my players, no matter what they have. AV7 with no Regen is just too juicy to pass up.

Re: Mass Shadowing

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 8:34 pm
by Smeborg
I think stashman's idea is perfectly valid. It's the sort of thing you won't know about unless you have the courage to try it. There are plenty of interesting new builds waiting for coaches to try them. Some will turn out to be excellent.

All the best.

Re: Mass Shadowing

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 8:42 pm
by Khail
It's definitely an interesting idea. I could see making Dark Elves even more irritating with Shadowing on a Sidestep heavy build. Blodge/SS/Shadowing on the blitzers and possibly Witches, with some guard sprinkled in.

I'd forgotten that you could use Shadowing after someone follows up out of your TZ. And it'd give me a reason to take Assassins. Hmm...

Re: Mass Shadowing

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 9:41 pm
by RogueThirteen
I think it's worth a shot -- will be a lot of fun at least and something quite different. Most coaches will probably be caught off guard by it (I know I would be), so it could open up a greater chance for mistakes to capitalize on during the game.

Wights, Werewovles, and Ghouls are fast enough to make shadowing pretty darn effective. It probably won't be too useful against fast, agile elvish teams because they won't really mind the dodging all that much and will eventually break free (though you could shadow until you're next to another player without dodge who hasn't moved yet and then choose to stay).

Against bashier, less graceful teams it could be decent. The only limitation will be that alot of times they'd just rather push your guy away (and being all Strength 3 will make this pretty easy). Though, any turn they're shoving away is a turn they aren't advancing that player, so it could be useful for trying to slow the advancement of players who would be needed in a cage or screen. While some coaches might chance a 3+ dodge to move their players away, they likely won't consider at all against a Shadower.

Though, spamming Diving Tackle might be more effective than Shadowing, especially against more agile teams. Though, spamming Diving Tackle AND Shadowing will really, really, really make things annoying for your opponents...

Re: Mass Shadowing

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 10:47 pm
by Heff
I have an elf team where 2 catchers are going dodge, wrestle, strip ball Pass block and the others block, dodge pass block shadowing diving tackle. (or DT shadowing) hope that that will cause problems.

Re: Mass Shadowing

Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 12:16 am
by Smeborg
Of all the teams, I think Necros is a very interesting one with which to try this experiment. They are a sniping and skirmishing team, they excel in scrambled play, and they are past masters at achieving local superiority where needed.

Re: Mass Shadowing

Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 12:35 am
by Overhamsteren
Saw skitter-stab-stab have a great part in winning a majors match in fumbbl against elfs when he shadowed a key player, was good fun. :)

Also it's important to remember that the shadow roll is 2 points harder to beat than tentacles, not always that easy to make it.

Re: Mass Shadowing

Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 1:22 am
by Dzerards
Overhamsteren wrote: Also it's important to remember that the shadow roll is 2 points harder to beat than tentacles, not always that easy to make it.
I so want to build a Tentacles, Shadowing, Diving Tackle, Tackle, Dark Elf renegade now!

I took Shadowing as a late skill on a couple of Saurii one time. It was surprisingly effective: on Dwarf Runners and Orc Throwers, etc. Though it did catch out a couple of Gutter Runners too I remember.

But maybe he best team to try it on is Humans. I routinely take it early on two Blitzers, but you could spam it on the Linemen as well as they quickly run out of good general skills to pick.

Re: Mass Shadowing

Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 5:25 am
by Smeborg
I have an urge to try this with Chaos Dwarfs (not the Dwarfs themselves, but the Bulls and possibly the Hobgobs). Bull Centaur with B-Tackle, Block, Tackle, S-Firm, Shadowing. Hmm...

Re: Mass Shadowing

Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 8:28 am
by Hitonagashi
Smeborg wrote:I have an urge to try this with Chaos Dwarfs (not the Dwarfs themselves, but the Bulls and possibly the Hobgobs). Bull Centaur with B-Tackle, Block, Tackle, S-Firm, Shadowing. Hmm...
I actually watched a game with this on FUMBBL. It was an experiment team with tackle/shadowing bulls as first 2 skills.

It was surprisingly effective at times. Obviously, he turned over a fair bit, but I distinctly remember the AG 4 dwarf runner trying to get away from the shadowing bull. It was also very useful in block fests (as you can shadow someone who follows up!), so dragging guard players further into a melee. Can imagine that latter point would be great for humans.

Re: Mass Shadowing

Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 8:55 am
by garion
I think skaven is the way to go with this idea. They coul dexecute it very well and they have the stars that can also do it.

Re: Mass Shadowing

Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 12:52 pm
by txapo
garion wrote:I think skaven is the way to go with this idea. They coul dexecute it very well and they have the stars that can also do it.
i was about to say that: the best player for shadowing skill is the skaven gutter runner. is very funy to have one blodge, side steper shadowing gutter he becomes a real pain.

But never tried with more than one in the team as they have many other skill choices.

Re: Mass Shadowing

Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 1:39 pm
by klauser
:o ?!? Hmmmm, I have a (+MV, Side Step) Gutter Runner that I was gonna use for OTTs mainly. He will get Block next, but I could see Shadowing as his 4th skill. Even those pesky Woodies will have a hard time escaping a MV10 Shadow! :lol: