Block or Sure Hands on my ST4 Hobo?

Aliboon · Post by **Aliboon** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 2:57 pm

Hello all,

I'm torn between block and sure hands. I'm planning on making him my premier ball carrier (having just seen how difficult it is to get the ball off a ST4 guy in a cage, even with a leaping, strip ball wardancer).

At the moment I'm leaning toward block, as it'll help him on defence too, but was wondering whether sure hands would be better to protect from strip ball.

I've already a AG4 block, kick-off return hobbo for awkward kicks, who'll probably throw the ball to the ST4 guy when necessary. Otherwise the team is a MA7 dodge hobo, a claw MB CD, a guard CD, a guard mino, 2 bulls, 1 skilless and one with break tackle and wrestle. The rest of the team are skilless, full number of CDs and a few more Hobos.

They do seem to be cursed by Nuffle, so any help would be greatfully received.

mattgslater · Post by **mattgslater** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 3:20 pm

I'd generally be tempted toward Block on a ST4 player; how many re-rolls do you have? If you have enough TRRs, it's worth it to pick up early enough to have a re-roll ready, esp. if your BCs (your big re-roll hogs) have Block. In that case, take Block. If you don't have enough re-rolls, a Sure Hands guy will save you a lot of headache, but I'd still be tempted to go Block on a ST4 player.

As far as protection against Strip Ball on a ST4 player, Sure Hands is of course better, but Block is good enough if you can keep the opponent from getting an assist. If your opponent has a Block/Strip-Ball guy and he's going for an ST4 ball-carrier without Block, then even on 2d against he has a better than 2-in-3 chance of popping the ball out (totally worth it with a team re-roll); with Block, it goes to less than 50/50 and he won't even try it WITH a TRR except in desperation.

Aliboon · Post by **Aliboon** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 4:45 pm

Thanks, to be honest, in a recent game my wardancer was trying to leap in, and strip the ball against an AG4 (!) block bull at every available opportunity. He only suceeded once, but i must have tried it half a dozen times.

He did have a card to protect him from being fouled though, which helped...

Snew · Post by **Snew** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 4:55 pm

He's ST4. I hear ya when you say you want to make him your main ball carrier but he's more than that. He's ST4 and AG3. He's really your main Blitzer that you will just happen to have carry the ball. For that you want Block.

TuernRedvenom · Post by **TuernRedvenom** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 7:37 pm

mattgslater wrote: As far as protection against Strip Ball on a ST4 player, Sure Hands is of course better, but Block is good enough if you can keep the opponent from getting an assist. If your opponent has a Block/Strip-Ball guy and he's going for an ST4 ball-carrier without Block, then even on 2d against he has a better than 2-in-3 chance of popping the ball out (totally worth it with a team re-roll); with Block, it goes to less than 50/50 and he won't even try it WITH a TRR except in desperation.

I'd do it without even thinking about it! Can't count the number of times my blockless, strip balling gutter runner has saved the day by throwing a half-die block at a block ball carrier (in tourneys).
But I'd still take block as without it he'll eat rerolls and will die even faster (with just AV 7 he's a target!)

dendron · Post by **dendron** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 7:56 am

I would vote for block as well!

Dendron

Brokje · Post by **Brokje** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 9:03 am

Block would be my advice as well.

Greets (and no luck in the very near future, as I am your current opponent!)

M

Aliboon · Post by **Aliboon** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 9:12 am

Block would be my advice as well.

Greets (and no luck in the very near future, as I am your current opponent!)

Well, he just scored, so is up to 15SPPs now, just a comp away....

Brokje · Post by **Brokje** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 9:17 am

Just BH another Hobgob....

Cheers!
M

Aliboon · Post by **Aliboon** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 10:58 am

Thanks all, block it is.

My wrestle, break tackle bull will still be my primary blitzer, but i'm sure there will be times when the hobo would be the better choice.

Meradanis · Post by **Meradanis** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 2:17 pm

I am just curious, are you happy with Wrestle on a Bull Centaur ?

I've never seen this skill on a ST4 player before (besides some Star Players), in our league it seems to be mutual consence that Wrestle only is a good skill for ST3 or less.

Aliboon · Post by **Aliboon** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 3:15 pm

Yeah, pretty happy with it. He's designed to be a ball sacker, so I reckon wrestle is better than block for that. He's got BT, sprint and surefeet, so is pretty mobile really, certainly for a ST4 player. He'll get strip ball next to increase the odds of a steal.

Not sure I'd put wrestle on any other ST4 guys-maybe a saurus, but then he won't have sprint and surefeet (but the skinks make the lizzies fast anyway).

The wrestle protects from turnovers as much as block, he may have caused a few more CASs with block, and that may have helped my win record, which aint great (6,7,4), but wrestle fits in more with my designated use.

stormmaster1 · Post by **stormmaster1** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 4:34 pm

don't go wrestle. He's ST4 AV7. that means any chance to put him on the deck and your opponent will put the boot in. OK so foulings nerfed, but against AV7 it has reasonable success and few turnovers. A wrestling ST4 hobo will have a short career. I'd get block unless you get strip ballers breaking your cage most games. Sure hands as second skill, but block will keep the guy alive longer.

Aliboon · Post by **Aliboon** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 5:53 pm

Nope definatley not wrestle-my bull centaur's got that and his AV9 has protected him pretty well from fouls.

I want my ST4 hobbo to be a ball carrier, so if he gets wrestled down, the ball pops loose anyway and it sort of defeats the object!

stormmaster1 · Post by **stormmaster1** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 2:53 pm

Block then sure hands. Block will also combine better than sure hands if you roll something different for your 3rd skill, e.g further ST or a double. How many strip ballers are there in your league though?