Skaven LOS

[King-Nerd]

I am new to Skaven (playing with a rookie TR100 team) and having trouble deciding who to offer up on my LOS for defensive plays.

My line up is:
4 Gutters
1 Thrower
2 Storms
4 Linerats
3 RR
1 Appo

I have been advised to put the Storms on the LOS, but I would like to use them as the ball hunter and safety.

Any advice from coaches with Skaven experience.

[stormmaster1]

don't put stormvermin on the LOS. They are too valuable. linerats are there to soak up punishment and get in the way. Stormvermin are there to assist the gutters in winning the game with hit and run tactics.

[Ullis]

Linerats all the way. You've only got two Stormvermin and AV8 isn't too much.

I was really stressed about playing with the Skaven before I understood that you really shouldn't care about what happens to the linerats. Never use the apo on them, skills or no skills, and don't even think about spreading SPP's to the linerats. In fact, don't even name the players as there's always the risk of getting too attached. Make an expection for a kicker. Kick is really valuable as you'll be kicking a lot with the Skaven.

[PubBowler]

Linos all the way for me.

[stashman]

Linerats!!!

Get wrestle and fend as first skills for "linefodder rats"

[King-Nerd]

Played my first game with them last night.

Of the 4 linerats. 1 got SI, another was killed. I did not use my appo (and he sat idle for the rest of the match). It was only this morning that I started to feel guilty for the poor bugger who died, 50K is still 50K (I only earned 20K from the game).

So, game 2 coming up soon. 2 Journeymen line fodder (LOVELY), might even scrape the 50K needed to buy one if he bags the MVP!

Just wanted to be sure. Linerats on the LOS is the way. Let 'em die is the way. And so far ithe poll says it is. Any dissenters?

[Jural]

Your Storm Vermin are too valuable to be on the line. You need to get them out in space hitting things with Block, Mighty Blow, and Claw!

I would put gutter runners on the line before I put Storm Vermin there- in most situations.

[mattgslater]

I like Storm Vermin in the blitz-me linebacker position. Not vulnerable to chain blocks like the would be on the line, less susceptible to big guys, still able to use Block and +AV to benefit the team (better in fact; it's harder to foul that guy, and your opponent is more likely to save a Blitzer to blitz, which is meaningless against an SV). Then, when they go up and get Guard, you can put them next to a blitz-absorbing Linerat.

[mattgslater]

Linerats!!!

Get wrestle and fend as first skills for "linefodder rats"

I disagree in theory but not practice. Get linerats a mix of Kick, Block, Wrestle and Fend, sure, but until you don't have three unskilled guys, just don't put skilled linerats on the line. When you don't have three rookies, yeah, Wrestle is probably the best linerat skill (not counting doubles skills like Dodge and Side Step, and Guard against AG teams).

Fend Linerats are great blitz-me boys, once your SV have Guard. Block is good for that too, as is Wrestle to a lesser extent. That's really where doubles shine: either you get Guard and use them to protect the cornerbacks or blitz-target LBs (grr-reat early on, as then you can go a different direction with SV#2), or you get Side Step and use them as cornerbacks (much better than a GR because of the ST bump; it's all about making them cut themselves off). Fend and Block make good cornerback skills too (not so much Wrestle, but again it's better than nothing).

[whitetiger]

Go ahead and put your Gutter Runners on the line. My Dark Elves love that. And don't ever, ever, ever buy a Rat Ogre. They're just useless.

[grampyseer]

I'd like to echo the statement "Don't ever apo a linerat"

I had a MV 8,block linerat that I liked quite a bit......late in the 2nd 1/2, he got a -AV injury..i thought " What are the chances of needing ANOTHER apothecary" So, I apothecaried him, and THEN NEXT BLOCK THROWN killed my ST3, extra arms GR star......
..please..a moment of silence for speedy gonzales


Linerats are there to die..put them on the LOS. And remember they are truly worthless

[King-Nerd]

I'd like to echo the statement "Don't ever apo a linerat"

I had a MV 8,block linerat that I liked quite a bit......late in the 2nd 1/2, he got a -AV injury..i thought " What are the chances of needing ANOTHER apothecary" So, I apothecaried him, and THEN NEXT BLOCK THROWN killed my ST3, extra arms GR star......
..please..a moment of silence for speedy gonzales


Linerats are there to die..put them on the LOS. And remember they are truly worthless

Let that be a lesson to me. Poor old Speedy, may he have all the cheese he can eat in the next world.

[plasmoid]

Gotta go against the crowd here.
If your opponent does not have bashy skills, the Stormvermin on the line!
AV8 and block on the line makes a heck of a difference.

Yes, losing a stormvermin on the LOS is bad.
But playing a defense drive with 10 or 9 players before you've even moved a piece is no picnic either.

Cheers
Martin

[King-Nerd]

Plasmoid you are not alone. Two very experienced coaches I spoke to both recommended putting Storms on the line. That is why I started the poll. I wanted to be sure that I was doing the right thing in not putting Storms on the line.

My big concern with having my Storms on the line is that they will keep getting knocked over, get up again, knocked over again etc until they break. While the rest of my team is trying to stop my oppo from scoring without any Block / other defensive skills.

Later on in the team development, when the Gutters have some skills (Block, Strip Ball, Wrestle etc) the pressure will be the Storms a little and maybe I can afford to strengthen up the LOS with them. This is just how I see it, I may very well be wide of the mark, as this is my first outing with the Rats.

[Joemanji]

Linerats for me against all but the softest teams. Opponents will chew the SV up.