BB Storm Vermin teams!

[Sgt_Colon]

How does this sound... We all know that in Warhammer you can field a regiment of Storm Vermin as regular troops, so long as you pay for them. So how's about a BB Skaven team of just Storm Vermin! With the same kinda stats and models (i.e. not just a bunch of SV blitzers) but an AV of 8! (and black fur of course!) Obviously you'd have to pay a bit more for them but it would certainly even the odds against, say any elven teams or other stupidly good ones. Anyone see any reasons why this would be hugely unfair, providing the points scheme was worked out ok?

[duff]

Many people say that the skaven are among the stupidly good teams, so a power upgrade is probably not the go, but i like the idia of a slightly tougher version of skaven being available. As the Skaven are to the Woodelves, the Vermin could be to darkies (say).

[sean newboy]

Basically your suggesting a Norse team with +1 mv and +1 av. Most people will consider it broken. With st skill access and mutations this team would be majorly nasty.

[Xtreme]

Real Nasty real quick.
And with as many people who were unhappy with the Norse and Amazon rosters I don't think they would like this one much either.

[Gonzo]

About as broken as a broken thingy owned by Baron von Broken who lives in Broken Castle in Brokenville

In short........Broken

[Sgt_Colon]

Hey,

Well as the adage goes "if it aint broke don't try and fix it!" And trust me i know what u mean! But since some of u seem more than a little bit sure that at least this little plan of mine is severely broke! Then allow me to elaborate.
I can definately see what ur saying, the thing is one of the worst feelings is when ur beautifully crafted GR gets squished for good! I'm sure you could impose some cost increases that would make the team as difficult to get off the ground as an elf team and I guess you could always tinker with some other stats too to make them a little less "stupidly good" I'm gonna get some play testing of this done asap and I'll report back. But how doe's a SV GR of 8 3 3 8 sound? or even keeping them the same completely as they're gonna come from clan eshin anyways (do they take SV or is it just Mors...) That way you either suffer from not so good GR's or just as fragile, but get slightly boosted Linos and throwers although they'd cost that much more!

[duff]

A "Storm Vermin" team shouldnt have gutter runners. Maybe an SV catcher (7 3 3 7 catch?)
The blitzers as normal SV and line vermin as 7 3 3 8 General skills only and no starting skills. If I read your first post correctly, this is more what you had in mind than a team of 7 3 3 8 Blockers.

[Sgt_Colon]

Yeah, that is just what I was thinkin, This is the outline of the team I'm going to try out in a league asap. At the moment tho I'm thinkin an SV Catcher would be better too but perhaps either 7 3 4 8 or 8 3 3 8 starting with catch or dodge... (this is def the player on the team who will cause the most confusion in how it should be set out! But another idea would be to limit the no. on the pitch) The rest would be easy:

0-2 SV Blitzers 7 3 3 8 Block 90,000
0-2 SV Throwers 7 3 3 8 Sure hands, Pass 80,000
0-2 SV Catchers 8 3 3 8 or 7 3 4 8 Dodge or catch maybe both!... 80-100,000 no idea yet!
0-12 SV Linerats 7 3 3 8 60,000
TRR 60,000

I must admit I'm starting to worry that this team may lose the fun element of the traditional Skaven and turn into the WE team but hope this wont be the case.

[Gonzo]

Ok how about this:-

0-12 Linevermin 6338 gen, phys 50,000
0-4 Stormvermin 7338 block. gen, str, phys 90,000

0-2 Vermin Runners 8337 Sure hands gen, phys 70,000
0-2 Vermin Catchers 7337 Catch gen, ag, phys 80,000

0-1 Rat Ogre 6538 all the usual skills gen, str, phys 130,000

Re rolls 60,000

Looks kind of human really, slightly more expensive, with less starting skills but with some long term potential.

[Sgt_Colon]

Good plan I like the idea of ditching throwers, I never imagined ratz getting their act together in such a manner, always thought they'd be much more likely to grab the ball and scamper forwards at full speed! or use the "give and go" ideology. Your team idea definately adds something to the mix!

[Sgt_Colon]

Ok I have decided to test this team out:

0-12 / Linerats / 6 3 3 8 / Gen, Phys / 50,000
0-4 / Storm Vermin / 7 3 3 8 / Block / Gen, Str, Phys / 90,000
0-2 / Vermin Runners / 8 3 4 7 / Sure Feet, Dodge / Gen, Agi, Phys / 110,000
0-1 / Rat Ogre / 6 5 3 8 / Wild Animal, Frenzy, Mighty Blow, Prehensile Tail, Big Guy / Gen, Str, Phys / 130,000

TRR 60,000

(perhaps no apoth’s… due to the clan Mors either your hard and live or your weak and you die philosophy on life! One of the fluffy things about skaven there is always a load more where the first lot came from, thus they don't care much when the odd one becomes a smear).

I'm fairly sure I have over done it in some places, with the team being maybe a bit too strong but they cost alot and I need some fresh ideas to change it up a bit. I had considered ditching the RO, or just further tinkering with the Vermin Runner. But like I said I'll get some games in and see how it goes. On that note though has anybody tried putting experimental teams into JBB and if so is it hard to do / is there some sort of play testing channel on FUMBBL where games could be played with a "beta" team? For instance how did chaos pact etc come about?

Cheers.

[miguel77]

One of the gripes I have is the cross over with Warhammer and I find it hard to relate it with the fluff. Why would a races elite fighting troops desert the army to become sportsman I would prefer renaming Storm Vermin blitzers and Gutter Runners catchers, then get rid of them awful minis and replace them with the old 2nd Edition Skaven Minis.

[Sgt_Colon]

Rats are a very unscrupulous bunch and as such they will go anywhere or follow anyone in order to find fortune or power! There are constant strugles (often short and bloody!) amongst the lesser clan members to get to the top of the pile for some recognition in an effort to be noticed by the council (often the easiest way to end your career!) as long as they percieve something in it for them!

The story I envisage behind the Warpstone Stormerz is based on these characteristics. A warpstone addict of a young but promising Grey seer has just one too many encounters with his fellow peers more underhand tactics for getting ahead in the game. As a result he becomes very paranoid and hugely warpstone snuff dependant, he decides that everyone is out to kill him (which they probably are...) and as such he gathers together his personal body guards and fleas (lame I know!) to get away from the rat race

This results is a warpstone junkie and a small but diverse force of tough rats (stormvermin, as they would be any self respecting seer's choice for a body guard) roaming the lands in search of wealth and warpstone to feed the addiction and allow the travelling band to stay away from Skavenblight for ever as to return would mean death at the hands of the council...

Personally I can see many reasons why a small force of Stormvermin could make a break from the military life rats are very cowardly and when they saw 2/3 of their regiment minced by a squad of black orcs I can certainly see them legging it be they Stormvermin or not. I do think a more likely cause would be as I have mentioned. SV are more proud than the usual clan rat but I think it's perfectly conceivable.

Also as with any war band I'm sure they would soon notice the benefits of Blood Bowl! Fame , Glory and money! Lots of it! All with what would be a still present but much lower risk of death...
To any rat that would sound appealing! But especially to our wondering seer he can follow the warpstone meteors as they fall around the world, while playing Blood Bowl matches so he can afford those other luxuries a grey seer is so used too. Also you can imagine him coaxing and training his body guards / players with the dark energies from the stones he strives to collect. Meaning even more twisting and warping of there bodies into the perfect BB team.

I think that roughly justifiable and considering so many of the other major races have there own spin offs and sidelines (think of all the elves and dwarves!) I think it's about time for a new Skaven team idea too.

I would agree though I'm not as fond of the Skaven minatures now as I was, but for this team (dare I encourage it) some new mini's could be made with some heavier armour. This wouldn't have to be done by GW though. I'm sure there are lots of converson possibilities out there and let alone the imaginative use of paints and existing mini's as I'm trying myself.

Check out my team on FUMBBL and you will see some of the models I have painted so far in a Stormvermin manner although it is of the normal skaven line up. I will however offer apologies first as the image quality is awful (my digi cam really sucks at close ups!).

Anyway here's the link: http://fumbbl.com/FUMBBL.php?page=team& ... _id=112211

Cheers.

[miguel77]

Blimey, u thought up a team concept and wrote up a concise history and purpose for the team thats more than GW do with the Official teams

The 2nd Edition Star Players book stated that the Skaven had their own clan, Clan Rigens, which governed and controlled blood bowl. It continued that the clan was comprised of 20 teams so this definatly gives scope for Skaven spin off teams like u suggest.
I personally would like a mutant team of rats who are Warpstone miners maybe comprising of line rats with a random mutation.

[Sgt_Colon]

Glad you like it and nice to hear someone else who thinks there is some scope within the Skaven fluff for some new ideas I'll admit I have never read this bit about Clan Rigens before... I don't have the literature you mentioned but if you could point me to where you got it from? If I still can? I'd be most grateful!

I would second the mutant idea for sure! I have participated in some discussion on a mutant team although not skaven based on another thread... I'm sure some of the ideas could cross over.

viewtopic.php?t=9260&highlight=mutant+team

Take a peak and see what you think.

Cheers.