The only part of the lineup I do the same as Matt (typically, depends of course on opponent) is the front 3. After that mine is like this:
Code: Select all
- - - -|- - B T B - -|- - - -
- - - 1|2 - - - - - 3|4 - - -
- B - -|- - t - t - - |- - B -
I want Block and Guard on everybody up front, and Guard on ALL the blitzers The Black Orcs on the corners want Block and StandFirm, Diving Tackle on Doubles. The throwers (or Goblins or line orcs, however you like to roll - on my defense I tend to have 1 thrower and 1 gobbo, but that depends on who the opponent is and such) in the middle act as safeties, to use the NFL terminology.
Black Orc corners aren't bad early-on, especially against the grind, but understand that MA4 can't get to midfield from the corner without GFI'ing twice. That sucks sometimes.
I've never had it pose much of a problem for me. In my experience, if I force my opponent to the middle of the field, I can collapse in from all sides and it's bad for them. And they have to get through the troll and bob wall up front to get there, too. Frankly, defense with orcs has NEVER been my problem. I win lots of 1-0 and 2-1 games with them. The part of my orc game that needs more work is offense. My base mindset is always wood elf tactics, and I sometimes lack the patience to grind slowly enough.
Use them near the line, where they simply can't be caught out-of-position. Remember, if your corners are prohibitive, an agility team will go up the middle.
Again, I welcome that, because it generally negates their speed advantage, and I can collapse down and turn the middle of the field into a big scrum. Now, if they have lots of Leap, that's something else entirely.
A BOB with Block and Frenzy, once you've got some good development to build another inside linebacker to replace him (or a strong safety to cover for a lesser inside linebacker, like a Blitzer with Guard and Lino with Block), can play outside LB next to the Dodge/Stand Firm Blitzer: anyone who goes that way is cruisin' for a crowd-push.
Funny, I do that in the exact reverse order. I give Frenzy to one or two Blitzers and use the Black Orcs with guard to help them crowdsurf. Your way works fine too though. That's what makes this discussion fun - neither way is necessarily "wrong", just different. Find what works for you and make the skills fit around that.
(this being said, Guard still rocks - but I'm the first to pick skills that are alternate to no-brainers... that's it: alternate skills, alternate luck (Nuffle is a fickle god))
