Underworld skill ups

[Hitonagashi]

Well, I've got an interesting set of FUMBBL criteria cast together here.

The team is: No Troll Wonders.

I've skilled up a MB blitzer, and a rookie linerat in a tournament game, and I'm looking to prepare for the next round.

I'm either going to be playing Amazons or Underworld (with a troll) (they play tonight).

The winner of that matchup will then meet Orcs in the final.

So, what I'm looking for is advice on the skill ups (both normals), and what to do with my 50k of cash.

My thoughts so far:

1) Both Ullakkomorko (UW) and PurpleChest (Amazons) are top quality coaches. The winner of that game is probably the favourite to go on and win the Minor, so I'm biased towards skills to play against them. In this case, Tackle on the MB is the logical choice, for both gobslaying and zoncrushing.

2) This team isn't going to be retired after the game, it'll resume Blackbox play (assuming it doesn't get completely trashed). This does add constraints over what to do with the cash. An example is, on FUMBBL, you can't fire an apo, and I'd really rather not take one...but it would be useful to have to prevent my 2 core players missing the final. In addition, there's a preponderance of bash over agility in the Box (though much less at low TV), which makes having two MB/Tackle players instead of 2 MB/Claw players less useful in the long term.

3) On a similar note, as well as claw being useful in the long term, 2 MB/Claw blitzers will really hurt the orcs if I manage to get past the next round.

4) I'm praying that PurpleChest wins, as no-troll underworld are at a distinct disadvantage against trolled underworld (it's all about numbers, and the troll can tie up 2-3 players easily), and I really struggled against Underworld last round.

5) It's probably Block for the skill on the linerat? Maybe wrestle/2 heads are options, but they are my higher ST players, and the 3rd player with Block (for 3 safe LOS blocks) could be rather valuable.

6) My usual style of play involves no contact, and constant cage-flipping. I like to keep the two blitzers on opposite sides of the pitch, and whichever side exposes a target of opportunity, take the hit, before the team falls back and regroups. I don't like leaving anyone in contact, except for the turn I make a play on the ball.

I'm really interested in reasoning here. I'm stalled internally between Claw and Tackle on the blitzer, and whether to buy an extra goblin, or go for the Apo (12 players isn't enough!). Also, this tournament is once a year I believe. Long term future of the team is certainly high in my mind, but when I'm in a tournament, I play to win.

Thoughts?

[Thadrin]

Guard on the Blitzer, block on the linerat.

Boring choices, but they're boring for a reason: they're GOOD.

I wish I had more Guard on my WIL team (strangely enough the ST boosts and Doubles on both Blitzers were hard to turn down).

[Ullis]

You get to play against Purplechest. I had serious issues with my calendar and we couldn't get around to finding a time. The game went Purplechest's way due to my suggestion. At least now he didn't get to skill up any more annoying blodgers.

Good luck!

[Ullis]

I see you went for Claw and Block. I agree on Block but the other choice was hard. If you beat the amazons, then Claw is of great help against the orcs. The other choice would've been Guard but you're still not going to outmuscle anyone so it wouldn't have been such a good choice but certainly much better than Claws against the amazons.

[Hitonagashi]

Hehehe, yep.

I was very torn, but it came down to that my team is better than his.

Against you, I could well have gone tackle, but with a horns/MB/tackle, a blodging ball carrier, some 2 heads, and him having 11 players, I should be able to win it.

If I don't, it'll probably because I was outplayed, and I don't mind that. I also bought another goblin instead of going with the apo, which is the other reason I took claw; that way, one injury doesn't completely wreck my chances against them if I do win.