DE Assassin development

[TalonBay]

ok, so my assassin got his first skill (no doubles or anything) and I'm wondering what the development routes are with him. He's lost a step of pace thanks to some over-attentive ogres but he's rarely made use of his full pace anyway so I'm annoyed but it's hardly a disaster.


Looking through the available skills:

Diving tackle seems interesting, how does that work with shadowing?

Block and dodge would be nice for mobility and durability but he spends most of his time as a sort of safety so possibly dodge more than block.

Pass block could be an option but the receivers are likely to be running away from him so possibly less useful.

Leap just isn't required for his usual role on my team.

Side-step? always an annoying skill and would allow me to "stick" to target players where there's an attempt to blitz me off.

How have others taken them? There's usually a few skill routes for the different players so I'm interested to see which have been successful.

Cheers,
Gary

[Maleficum]

I gave mine 'dodge' and I am not inclined to 'use up a skill' that makes 'stab' pointless, so no 'block'. 'Dodge' helps with movement and to stay on his feet.

My assassin is quite the target though, so I'll consider 'wrestle', but next skill (which seems ages away, no SSPs for 'stabbing' ) may be 'side step' or 'leap', althoug 'shadowing' seems like a fluff-choice...


If yours has lost MA, I'd seriously consider replacing him.

[Kheldar]

MA is very important for your shadowing skill. So I would replace him as fast as possible. As long as you have him, dodge will make him better.

[mattgslater]

If you're -1 MA, Shadowing is useless. Sorry. Get him Leap now, and replace him as soon as you can afford to.

If you have an up on an Assassin otherwise, I think Side Step or Diving Tackle is your best first improvement, with Tackle or Jump Up to follow after DT. Alternately, go Leap, then Pro. The best thing you can get is +MA.

[Craigtw]

Well I know Cramy is very good with the Dark Elves, but until he pipes in, you`ll have to put up with my opinions!

Diving tackle seems interesting, how does that work with shadowing?

The same way as ever - except this way if your opponent dodges away (succesfully enough that you do not use the DT) and then you Shadow successfully, then when he dodges away again, you will have another chance to use the DT if the opportunity presents itself. But once you are down, I think common sense dictates that you are no longer shadowing!

Block and dodge would be nice for mobility and durability but he spends most of his time as a sort of safety so possibly dodge more than block.

I disagree with Maleficum on this one and say that block is not a wasted skill, as it has it`s defensive uses as well. Especially comforting when your Stab skill does not pay off! Also, you may elect not to use the Stab skill in favour of a blok or blitz (e.g. to crowd surf) in which case a `both players down` result can really ruin your day.

Side-step? always an annoying skill and would allow me to "stick" to target players where there's an attempt to blitz me off.

I think this skill would be swet on an assassin, not only can you not run away for the Sahdowing, but you cannot block them of for the Side Step! Maddening!

[whitetiger]

I'd go with the side step. You can stay on the ball handler.

[tribalsinner]

I took JumpUp on mine, helps when he inevitably gets knocked over but armour doesn't break. Stands back up for a free stab

[TalonBay]

MA is very important for your shadowing skill. So I would replace him as fast as possible. As long as you have him, dodge will make him better.

The league only runs for about 10-12 games in total so not really enough time to be ditching players I expect. Certainly I'll be adding blitzers before I replace my assassin.

I thought the shadowing skill was an agility check, just re-read the rules and I can see how the MA loss hurts him. It's not even a great start being on 6 considering the recievers he could face have 8 or 9!

So far he's been more about the free safety style hit on a receiver that's broken through alone, the stab makes the receivers dodge/block less useful. So I've yet to have him actually shadow anyone.

[TalonBay]

I took JumpUp on mine, helps when he inevitably gets knocked over but armour doesn't break. Stands back up for a free stab

I quite like that, hadn't thought to include that on the list.

[TalonBay]

Diving tackle seems interesting, how does that work with shadowing?

The same way as ever - except this way if your opponent dodges away (succesfully enough that you do not use the DT) and then you Shadow successfully, then when he dodges away again, you will have another chance to use the DT if the opportunity presents itself. But once you are down, I think common sense dictates that you are no longer shadowing!

This is my issue, if he rolls so that it's worth using DT then I choose to use it and force a re-roll. He passes the re-roll and I'm face down in the dirt staring at his heels instead of shadowing him. Maybe it's better now that he's -MA ?

[Glowworm]

Gave mine Takle (No double) as i use shadowing against gobbo's mostly, follow them around and watch them making 3+ rolls until they fail or stop, then I block with 2 dice to get a Cas (if im lucky!!)

On a double it would be "multiple Block" as that double stabbing is really going to annoy opponents. (I may have a large target painted on my assassin as he gets so much attention already!!)

[Cramy]

Assassins. On doubles, Multiple Block, no question.

Normal rolls. Block is a bit redundant. Although useful on defence and sometimes on offence, there are too many other skills that this guy can use and be more useful.

Tackle, Diving Tackle, Jump-Up, Dodge, Side Step, are my top picks.

Keeping in mind that these guys don't skill-up as fast as other players (unless you force it, which you can), you really want to pick the skills that are useful early on. And the skills that you pick depend on the opponents that you face.

In a 20 game league, he'll probably get 2 skills. 10 games, probably 1 skill.

You need to optimize the combos with Stab and Shadowing.

He will be a target, do Dodge helps protect him, and helps him to get in a better position to shadow or stab somebody. Dodge followed by Side Step is a very good combo. He gets hit and doesn't fall, Side Steps, and then use Shadowing to avoid the player continuing to move. If he stays there, then you can stab him on your next turn.

If you play against teams that run away a lot, then Tackle and Diving Tackle help a lot. That's fairly rare though, as most teams will hit him given the opportunity.

Jump-Up is good, but only after Diving Tackle. And I would not pick Diving Tackle as his first skill. So Jump-Up would come much later.

Dodge, Side Step, Tackle, Diving Tackle, Jump Up, Block would be the order that I pick skills to handle most cases (maybe switch Tackle and DT depending on how much Dodge I will be facing).

Wrestle? Nope. Don't want him on the ground at the start of his turn. And he's a big foul target.

Fend? Nope. If the other guy didn't make him fall and follows-up, I want to stab him. If the AV is too high or there is more important things to do elsewhere, then the Dodge skill will allow him to reposition himself.

[mattgslater]

After reading Cramy's post, I say, unequivocally, Side Step. He can't be blocked off his mark now.

[cpatrol]

I say, unequivocally, Side Step.

You said that on another DE thread too, right?

I agree that Sidestep is the one skill that works with both Shadowing and Stab, bringing out the full flavour of the assassin's role as a stalker.

With -1MA, Shadowing's effectiveness is diminished, but he can still be deployed to mark MA6 players who might be blitzing your ball carrier. It's still a 42% chance to shadow successfully. If the blitz was used to move your assassin away then there isn't a blitz left to hit your ball carrier.

On a larger roster the assassin may develop as a specialist as such, but for a longer term league and smaller roster I would consider dodge first, for survivability and versatility.

[PubBowler]

I say, unequivocally, Side Step.

You said that on another DE thread too, right?

Every thread I think!

But back to topic:

This guy is a bit lame for the normal favored role of catcher chaser.

If he didn't have -1MA I'd agree with Cramy (although i go Diving Tackle & Side Step first).

This guy gets Leap. A cage often follows a predictable course at a slow pace so his low MA shouldn't effect him. Leap & Stab with him till he dies because he isn't worth the TV developing him into anything else.