complete Bloodbowl Newbie with Orc team

mattgslater · Post by **mattgslater** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 1:34 am

Orcs are very forgiving. Just remember that Blitzers are a really good deal, and everything else is up to personal tastes. See above for my setup using all teams: use "Bashy" and the above post as a position key.

Fast
4 Blitzers (corners, inside linebackers)
2 BOBs (line)
1 Troll (nose)
1 Goblin (safety)
2 Throwers (outside LB, safety)
1 Lineman (outside LB)
3 RRs

Bashy
4 Blitzers (corners, outside LB)
4 BOBs (line, inside LB)
1 Troll (nose)
1 Thrower (safety)
1 Lineman (safety)
2 RRs
1 FF

Medium
4 Blitzers (corners, outside LB/nose)
4 BOBs (line, inside LB)
1 Thrower (safety)
2 Linemen (outside LB/nose, safety)
2 RRs
1 Apoth

And yes, you CAN put a Blitzer on the nose against ST3 teams, and often he'll be free to move, as they won't be able to get a fair block on him and might not try (if he has Guard and you do a good job of protecting your ends, he might be very tough to get at w/o a 1d block). In that case, he essentially gets an extra square of movement and only has to GFI once to score. Use a lineman instead against bash teams.

whitetiger · Post by **whitetiger** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 1:45 am

Personally, I like bashy Orcs but I trade the troll for another thrower. Then I make the troll the first player purchase. I bank the extra as a head start. I like having both throwers at the start to develope them.

mattgslater · Post by **mattgslater** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 6:32 pm

That kind of works. Actually, you can stiffen your team up nicely that way.

4x Blitzer
4x BOB
2x Thrower
1x Lineman
1x Apoth
2x RR

Thrower #1 develops Accurate and KoR, while #2 gets Leader and Kick.

whitetiger · Post by **whitetiger** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 5:03 am

That line up is how I started them this league. I'm 2-1, lost the first game to a dwarf team. Had a BOB killed that game. Replaced him already. and am saving for the troll now. Gave thrower #1 accurate and thrower #2 got a +MA.

Hey, he's a six move thrower. Can't be all bad.

mattgslater · Post by **mattgslater** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 8:01 pm

Awesome. I'd make that MA6 Thrower an outside LB and give him Block next (Guard on doubles). This allows you to develop a Blitzer as a Safety with Tackle and Mighty Blow. The Accurate guy would become my toolbox player, getting Kick or Leader next. Maybe Kick, and then hope to get Leader either on a doubles roll for a lino or on the MA6 Thrower for roll #3 if he gets only ordinary stuff.

whitetiger · Post by **whitetiger** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 1:50 am

Actually, I'm thinking of making him a dedicated offensive player. I've got 4 BOBs, 4 Blitzers, I'll soon have a Troll, then a lino or two or the other thrower for defense. I'm thinking to give him block at 16 and if he makes it to 31 giving him Nerves of Steel. And if it's doubles, Dodge.

tenwit · Post by **tenwit** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 2:09 am

Faster thrower is an ideal candidate for a defensive player. Your offensive thrower will normally be sitting in cage moving as fast as you BOBs. Only time he'll get to use the extra speed is on the final dash to the EZ.

Make this guy your defensive thrower. Kick, HMP, Pass Block, Nerves of Steel, even Strip Ball (though normally he doesn't get to the ball until after it has been stripped) are good skills, depending on how you play. Of course Block and Dodge are must-haves.

BTW, NoS is mostly a defensive skill (run to ball that's just been stripped, throw it at no penalty to avoid dodging). Proper orc offensive drives won't let anyone into the ball-carrier's TZ. There's enough linefodder and Stand Firmers to prevent even AG5 stunty leapers getting close enough to require use of NoS.

whitetiger · Post by **whitetiger** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 3:33 am

I use NOS as an offensive skill. Either on catchers or throwers. I'll run a thrower right up to the line of scrimage and chuck the ball over to a reciever, who may also have NOS right on the other side. On my Orcs, I just use the thrower to get the ball and toss it to the other thrower or to a blitzer who can then move into the cage. With that tactic in mind, give the other thrower kick off return (he already has accurate) have that thrower retrieve the ball and chuck it to the 6 MA thrower and then use him as the runner. Now I can use all four blitzers to clear the field, use the BOBs as the four corners of the cage, and score, score, score.

mattgslater · Post by **mattgslater** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 4:59 am

If you have an Accurate Thrower and a +MA Thrower and want to develop an O Thrower and a D Thrower, I'd give the Accurate guy Kick-Off Return next, then Block (Strong Arm on doubles), and dedicate him to O. The other would go both ways, and would either a) play OLB and go for Block next, with Guard on doubles and Leader or Accurate 3rd, or b) play Safety and go for either Kick or Leader next, following with either Block, or as Tenwit says, HMP (good call for a 3rd skill, that), with Dodge on doubles.

NOS is good for Accurate Throwers (esp. Accurate/Strong-Arm) and 4AG players. I would seriously consider it for a #4 selection on the offensive Thrower, but it's really an elfy skill (or a second double on a Skaven GR).

Jural · Post by **Jural** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 7:42 am

Different advice here. If it is an all rookie league, try to win the FF and kick-off table first and foremost. Orcs and humans are fairly unique in that you can build to win the KO table and FAME and still be wildly competitive.

So, I'd go with:

3 re-rolls
5 FF
1 AC
1 CL
1 thrower-
3 blockers-
3 blitzers-
4 linemen-

First purchase- Apoth

Don't try this in a developed league (they will laugh at your puny 5 FF.) But in a rookie league, you'll still be competitive while dominating the random events.

Of course feel free to mix and match the 6 blitzers and blockers as you see fit. I personally like 4 blitzers, 2 blockers if I'm in a light league, and 4 blockers in a longterm league.

whitetiger · Post by **whitetiger** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 2:49 pm

I haven't really decided yet. This is the first time I've played Orcs. I'm still working it out. But I do like the thought of having that fast thrower on offense. I'm too used to playing elves, I guess. I'm thinking of having the slow thrower with Kick Off Return and Accurate to get the ball to the faster thrower, then have the faster thrower able to get into the cage is a hurry. I can then use a couple of the blitzers, some of the BOBs and a lino or two for the cage, then send the rest of the blitzers downfield. If I get that faster thrower Nerves of Steel, if a Wardancer or such gets into the cage, I'll be able to chuck the ball to a blitzer.