Using the Snow Troll

[mattgslater]

Really. Those opposition rosters need help, badly.

[mattgslater]

Wait, didn't you have a +ST Berserker?

[steveq]

Nope never had +ST on any players.

As I said we are all rookie coackes but I have scratched my head a few times over skill choices my fellow coaches have taken. I have realised as I played more games that some of mine are not brilliant either.

Steve

[steveq]

Matt, missed you other post. Player numbers are:

Thrower (AG5) - 1
Thrower (no new skills) - 2
Runner (Sure Hands, Sure Feet) - 6
Runner (Dodge) - 5
Berserker (Guard, Stand Firm) - 4
Ulwerener x 2 (Block) - 7 & 8
Lineman (Kick) - 10
Lineman (Tackle) - 12
Lineman x 3 (no new skills) - 9,14 & 15
Snow Troll (no new skills - 16

Steve

[mattgslater]

Code: Select all

Vs. Orcs
-- -- -- --|-- -- 09 04 15 -- --|-- -- -- -- 
-- -- -- --|-- -- -- -- -- -- --|-- -- -- -- 
-- -- 06 --|-- 07 -- -- -- 08 --|-- 05 -- -- 
-- 02 -- --|10 -- -- -- -- -- 16|-- -- 14 -- 

Vs. Elves 
-- -- -- --|-- 09 -- 04 -- 15 --|-- -- -- -- 
-- -- 06 --|07 -- -- 16 -- -- 08|-- 12 -- -- 
-- 02 -- --|-- -- -- -- -- -- --|-- -- 05 -- 
-- -- -- --|-- -- -- 10 -- -- --|-- -- -- -- 

Vs. Skaven 
-- -- -- --|-- 09 -- 04 -- 15 --|-- -- -- -- 
-- -- -- --|-- -- -- -- -- -- --|-- -- -- -- 
-- -- 06 --|07 -- -- 10 -- -- 08|-- 14 -- -- 
-- 02 -- --|-- -- -- 12 -- -- --|-- -- 05 -- 

Stand Firm is golden on Ulfs, esp. against Elves and Skaven.

[steveq]

Thanks Matt.

I will let you know how I get on.

Steve

[mattgslater]

Code: Select all

Vs. Elves, alternate 
-- -- -- --|-- 09 -- 04 -- 15 --|-- -- -- -- 
-- -- 06 --|10 12 -- -- 05 -- 16|-- 02 -- -- 
-- 08 -- --|-- -- -- -- -- -- --|-- -- 07 -- 

Another alternative 
-- -- -- --|-- -- 07 04 08-- --|-- -- -- -- 
-- -- 02 --|10 12 -- -- -- 15 16|-- -- 14 -- 
-- 05 -- --|-- -- -- -- -- -- --|-- -- 06 -- 

Make them pay for not taking Catchers. They can't get past you at all once #5 gets Side Step and/or a single Ulf gets Stand Firm or Guard (in this case, we'll say #8; reverse that if #7 goes up first). That lets the other Ulf go for Break Tackle or mighty Blow. This is even better if you have a lino w/doubles (Guard; Side Step is the other good alternative here) to cover for both Ulfs (where #14 is in the diagram).

Code: Select all

If you give 08 Guard
-- -- -- --|-- -- 14 08 15 -- --|-- -- -- -- 
-- 05 -- --|10 07 -- -- -- 04 16|-- -- 12 -- 
-- -- 02 --|-- -- -- -- -- -- --|-- -- 06 -- 

Or if you give him Stand Firm (the superior choice IMO)
-- -- -- --|-- -- 14 04 15 -- --|-- -- -- -- 
-- 05 -- --|10 08 -- -- -- 07 16|-- -- 12 -- 
-- -- 02 --|-- -- -- -- -- -- --|-- -- 06 -- 

Focus on skilling the linos. You have a long way to go on the Runner, and the Ulf's SPP progression is hard to control anyway. Two doubles linos (a Guard and a Side Stepper) would put the season away, and on three or four more rolls isn't all that impossible.

If you get a second Side Stepper, you can stick him in 12's place, take 6 out (unless he IS that Side Stepper), and put 12 one square inside of 6's location. This lets you move the Snow Troll to the inside of #4 in the top diagram if you want and GUARANTEES he'll flatten himself out on the other side trying to get past the Ulf (good luck). A smart coach might not (the Snow Troll really is on the weak side), but a rube won't see it and that's how you'll nail 'em (unless they're reading this thread).

Code: Select all

After #5 and #6 get Side Step (assuming 8 goes for Stand Firm)
-- -- -- --|-- -- 14 04 15 -- --|-- -- -- -- 
-- 05 -- --|10 08 -- -- -- 16 07|-- -- 06 -- 
-- -- 02 --|-- -- -- -- -- -- --|-- 12 -- -- 

[thechosengobbo]

Matt, there are times when you scare me.

Having said that I am throwing some of this advice around my league ('cos I take my laptop) in the hopes of improving all the players.

But still, you scare me

[mattgslater]

@ Gobbo: I hope that's a compliment. If so, I've got some more ideas for Steve riffing off the ones above.

I think I'm falling in love with that Norse team list. It's a little overpriced (except at the lino position, so you have to grow into your positionals but you don't lose a lot for doing it), but there's so much potential in that team. Still not sure what to make of the Berserker, though... he seems extraneous, except for his S access and the fact that he's so well suited to developing in line with my TZ-maintaining ways.

Maybe you should move 5 up one square in this diagram... that'd make it very hard to get past.

Code: Select all

-- -- -- --|-- 09 -- 15 -- 04 --|-- -- -- -- 
-- -- 06 --|10 12 -- -- -- -- 16|-- 02 -- -- 
-- 08 -- --|-- -- -- 05 -- -- --|-- -- 07 -- 

Once #5 gets SS, swap him out with an Ulf, in the same reverse pattern as for other Side Steppers (where the corner man is the Side Stepper, and he's placed forward of or in-line with the inside man, rather than one back).

Code: Select all

-- -- -- --|-- 09 -- 15 -- 04 --|-- -- -- -- 
-- 05 06 --|10 12 -- -- -- -- 16|-- 02 -- -- 
-- -- -- --|-- -- -- 08 -- -- --|-- -- 07 -- 

Of course, once he gets two Catchers, you need to be ready to play deeper, or at least to place your Runners in a central location. The first defense might work in that case.

Skaven and Orcs both present more of a challenge, but that Orc coach sure have some ... um ... unorthodox development decisions. Are you or the Skaven coach dominant right now?

[steveq]

All I can say is wow and thanks again Matt. I will now try and take all this information in. If you hear a pop that will be my head exploding

Steve

[steveq]

I have been trying to persuade both orc players to go for the 8 turn grind but they seem to be obsessed with passing. Each team has several players in the top passer lists but they are amongst the lowest teams for casualties inflicted!

The Skaven player and I are the top two ranked teams. He will overtake me if he wins his last league match. We drew 1-1 when I played him very early in the season.

Steve

[DoubleSkulls]

Feed the snow troll....

As others have said try to minimise the amount of blitzing the troll needs to do.

By that I mean try and line up your blocks & blitzes so that should the victim manage to stay on their feet they end up next to the troll - who can then block them.

Also against the high AG teams don't forget he's got Disturbing
Presence. That extra -1 to throw/catch can be vital.

[voyagers_uk]

the Curse of Rodders is about to strike

[steveq]

Well the final league matches were finished last night and I will be playing this Orc team in the semi's:

Orcs:
Thrower (nns)
BoB x 4 (3 with Block)
Blitzer x 4 (one with HMP, one with Dauntless)
Lineorc x 4 (nns)
Goblin x 2 (one with MA+)

He rolled 1+1 on his unskilled BoB but is probably going to take Block. I expect him to buy a Troll to conter the ST.

My plan is to feed the ST with Frenzy on defence and try and push as many off the pitch as possible on both sides of the ball running a sideline cage but trying to score quickly with my runners to avoid a brawl. He throws way too much for Orcs and only averages 1TD a game. I figure if I can get two quick scores on the board he will be tempted to pass even more.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Steve

[Ullis]

BoB x 4 (3 with Block)
Blitzer x 4 (one with HMP, one with Dauntless)

I can't get past those two blitzers...