Tough game tonight

[Aradiel]

I play in a small league with some friends from work and tonight is the second game of our season. I have a tough opponent so I'm here looking for some advice. Here's the deal...

My team: Norse
4 Blitzers, 1 with Pro
1Catcher
1 Thrower
5 Linemen
2 RRs
9 FF
Apothecary

Opponent: Skaven (don't think he has any statted up players yet)
2 Stormvermin
2 Gutter Runners
1 Thrower
5 Linerats
1 Rat Ogre
3 RRs
4 FF
No Apothecary

This is only the second game of a fairly short season, 11 games including the playoffs. My Opponent is an excellent player by the way, I believe he's better than I am. I played a preseason game against him, my Khemri vs his Dwarves, and he was able to keep away from my mummies pretty well. I got destroyed that game.

I imagine scoring on him won't be terribly difficult but I'm terrified of his Rat Ogre. I imagine he'll spread his players out and just blitz with his RO every turn. I don't have the agility to stay away consistently and we all know the woeful state of Norse armor. He likes to bunch his players up so isolating his RO to take it out will be difficult.

So should I try focusing on the RO or try to stay away? I want to win but I have the rest of the season to consider as well. If I had my Mino I wouldn't be as worried, but alas. Either way, I anticipate a bloody game all around.

Any advice is greatly appreciated
Oh and here's our glorious trophy, the object of all our desires
http://www.monkeyjive.com/bloodbowl/soe ... frames.htm

[atropabelladonna]

I play against Skaven a lot. They are tough to beat at the start due to the gutter runners and a lack of anti gutter runner skills. Norse should be okay though as you have block on everyone and have better odds to taking gutter runners off the field.

So

#1 Do your best to get his two gutter runners off the field.

#2 The next target would be the rat ogre. Only target it if the opportunity arrives (i.e. it frenzies into a good position for your players to beat on it). Don't go all out against it. Foul it if you get the chance.

#3 try to wear him down. Norse can lay quite a beating against a newbie skaven team. If you do win the kick off, receive and try to get a numbers advantage. Normally its better to let the Skaven receive first and let them score quickly and you spend the rest of the game kicking them all over the pitch, but it may not work with your 7 AV and lack of reserves.

Good luck

[The Florist]

If he relies too much on blitzing with his ratogre he will fail WA rolls,
and he will roll both down results.
A rookie ratogre will be very unhappy against norse.

[TuernRedvenom]

Play the clock, kick, let him score, cage up and aim for 1-2. 1 TD in turn 8 of every half.

[DoubleSkulls]

Play the clock, kick, let him score, cage up and aim for 1-2. 1 TD in turn 8 of every half.

I reckon he should do better than that. Line rats will go pop easily enough and he shouldn't be too afraid of the 1 or 1/2 dice blocks against the Rat ogre. Once its on the ground foul it.

Make sure you send your blitzers after the Gutter Runners, because once they are gone you shouldn't have to worry too much about him scoring.

[mbuku]

Don't be afraid of the Rat Oger. Especially the rookie ROs will easily fall down. And with their low armour they are easy to foul.
And remember that all of your guys have block!!!

But the most important thing on skaven teams is to take out the gutter runners. But also here you should have no problem, because of their ST 2 you only need 2 supporters for a 3 dice block roll AND you have block which the gutter runners don't have. If one of the gutter runners is down, foul him.

Good Luck

[el sid]

He likes to bunch his players up so isolating his RO to take it out will be difficult.

Are you sure he's an experienced Skaven coach? In my experience, this is the worst a Skaven coach can do! He loses the best advantage Skaven have: their high MA. Moreover, concentrating rats will provoce the concentration of the adversary's players, guaranteeing a war of attrition. Which Skaven consistently will lose.

If I were you, I'd concentrate my players against his rats. Just battle it out. You both have AV7, but all your players have Block. Which is a huge advantage!

Don't worry too much about the Rat Ogre. As someone else already mentioned, it's WA will fail 1 time in 6, making your opponent lose his blitz. Also, if you concentrate your players, it is very well possible the Rat Ogre will frenzy itself into problems, being surrounded by your players. The Skaven can only negate your assists against the Rat Ogre by marking your players. Which is excellent, as you can even try to throw one-dice blocks against the rats thanks to your Block!

Don't go hugging the Rat Ogre, but don't worry about it either. Big Guys are not as destructive as they used to be.

[Aksho]

with only 2 Gutter Runners it should be an Easy game for you. Blitz down the Runners and he is lost. Use your Block Advantage with only 2 Players with Block he will no have a chance if you play hard and without an Apo he can´t even save a Runner, so just kick ass and everything will be ok

mfg Bernd[/list]

[Aradiel]

I lost 4-1.

I did alright during the first half. I scored once and he scored on nearly the last turn, having to use his last death zone card to do it. I even gave one of his linerats a niggle.

The second half was a joke. His first death zone card kept my one statted up blitzer out of the game half the time. I made a couple of big mistakes and fumbled around trying to pick up the damn ball, failing my rerolls. He did a really good job of protecting his GRs, and the few blocks I made on them were harmless. Sorry, now I'm just venting hehe. Every armor breaking block resulted in nothing more than a stun, while he was able to KO 3 of my players. I got out played in addition to having some bad luck. Oh well, it could have been worse.

Thanks for everyone's advice. If I hadn't have made the offensive mistakes I did it might have been a closer game. At least everyone in the league will be gunning for those gutter runners, one of which got +MA on a SP roll heheh.

Aradiel
Sad Norse Coach