Observations on Slann

[GalakStarscraper]

Galak.

One could wonder why they are not "runners" though. instead of Blitzers.

I've found that players that have them on the team do use them in the roll of Blitzer much more than the role of Runner.

Galak

[Jural]

I personally do like all catchers having catch, all blitzers having blitz, all throwers having pass, etc... but in this case, the team would lose out on some fun combos if those skills were forced in.

So it's not ideal, but it's fun... Go with it.

[GalakStarscraper]

but in this case, the team would lose out on some fun combos if those skills were forced in

Which as you understand from your "have fun" comment you get.

But for those that don't ... if you are adding a new team to the game at this point.... it really needs to be NEW not more of the same.

So the Slann start with skills that other teams don't start with (3 of them in fact that no other teams start with). So that they offer new ways of playing AND new ways to develop a team.

Too many changes to the team as some have suggested and it will just be one more "more of the same" team. I don't see this team changing at all based on my understanding of how it is proforming. And like we said ... the skills on the team are there for a reason ... they are all themed to match the fun background of the team ... one of the greatest things about Blood Bowl is the story behind it. Since the team works with skills that match its story ... that to me is a good thing.

Galak

[bouf]

Slann Are Awesome... Too Awesome!

Here is me playing Orcs this season after playing Slann last season... With Orcs I'm Undefeated in 14 (or so) games. So I'm doing silly Good with the Goons...

Yet,
My Slann team has been whispering to me from the wings...

"Remember us bouf, remember leaping on your opponents? Remember the frustration ans you penetrated the cage and leaped out of the tightest coverage?"

Come back Bouf, forget the clumbsy Orcs... Green is the colour of my God too"

~//~
While I agree with a lot of teh advice given above, I built my Slann to act like a sledge hammer and they were tied for first in the league for most casualtis inflicted...

You can fight one hell of a good fight with slann!

[Mad Jackal]

Galak.

One could wonder why they are not "runners" though. instead of Blitzers.

I've found that players that have them on the team do use them in the roll of Blitzer much more than the role of Runner.

Galak

Fair enough. I am wholeheartedly behind this team having new skills and not following the mold skills-wise. That is a good thing I think as you state later.

I was just curious about the naming mechanic as this is almost a "new positional"...And we don't want to create new positions obviously, so blitzer "fits" best = ok.

@ the other reply. I didn't think runners were purely offensive.
For example what about the Norse Runner?
Isn't his job also to be a pain in the arse defensively

[Jural]

@ the other reply. I didn't think runners were purely offensive.
For example what about the Norse Runner?
Isn't his job also to be a pain in the arse defensively

I think his job is to find a use for all the old Norse thrower models after they were removed from the game!

[Mad Jackal]

@ the other reply. I didn't think runners were purely offensive.
For example what about the Norse Runner?
Isn't his job also to be a pain in the arse defensively

I think his job is to find a use for all the old Norse thrower models after they were removed from the game!

LOL. there is that.

[one_second_of_insanity]

I love the Slann team and how they really do force others to play differently as well. I am not developing my team in a way that I would if I started a team that had all the basic skills of block ,catch, dodge etc ; I dont actually plan on putting many (if any) of these skills on my team (apart from the Krox if he rolls doubles)

Blitzers - man markers and ball harriers to the extreme (Wrestle, Strip Ball and Tackle) and can be killers too (Block, MB ...) very flexible players that can perform many roles with access to G,A & S skills

Catchers - beautiful utility players that the team really needs to perform. they can all develop individually but Sure hands and KoR are good as is NoS on doubles or guard to help out with a blitz on ball carrier. Starting with 4 is not overkill, think of them as gutter runners without the fur.

Linemen - Wrestle, Tackle and Fend with one having kick and guard on doubles. Really there just to limit what your opponent can do.

Slann restrict movement while capitalising on their skills to ignore normal movement hindrances (with leap and jump up)

Stat increases should all be taken when available except maybe when a double presents a better option (NoS for catcher) or movement (nice but not really required with lots of leap) Strength, Agility and Armour are all important (for Blocks, leaps and leaps)

[GalakStarscraper]

Galak.

One could wonder why they are not "runners" though. instead of Blitzers.

Its been a while since I explained this ... so I wanted to explain how the Slann roster came to be.

It started with the 2nd edition Slann roster.

That roster had only 3 positions. Lineman, Blitzer, Catcher.

The Slann Lineman had the same stats as a Human Lineman except that he was -1 for Throwing the ball and had Leap-level 2 (+2 to Leap rolls) and Intercept-level 2 (+2 to interceptions rolls)

The lineman was translated as a Human Lineman from this ( 6/3/3/8 -). The -1 Throwing skill was translated into the team not having a Thrower position and no one having Passing skill access. The level 2 Leap and Intercept skill became Leap and Very Long Legs.

Note ... all Slann in 2nd edition had level 2 Leap and Intercept which is why all 3 player positions have Leap and Very Long Legs.
====

Blitzers:
Compared to a Human Blitzer they were:
Same MA
-1 ST
-1 for Throwing, same dodge and catch
Same of AV
Had the skill Heroic Leap extra

So we have MA 7 and AV 8 from the Human. We already took care of teh -1 Throw item by not allowing a Thrower position or Passing skill access so that leads to a clean AG 3. -1 ST was a problem. However the solution finally came to this. ST 3 + Block is much more potent on a Blitzer than just ST 3. So the decision was made to remove Block from the Slann Blitzer to match up the -1 ST.

Then Heroic Leap. Heroic Leap was this super ability to make a huge leap for the TD. It was a the real save the game type of skill. I've argued with folks about this ... but Blitzers should be defensive players normally so Heroic Leap was changed into its closest skill for the idea behind what the Slann Blitzer could do and thus Heroic Leap was translated to Diving Tackle. Still often a jump to save the game type of ability.

=====

Then came the Catchers. Comparing to the Human team .. the Slann Catchers were:
-1 to their total movement potential (MA+SP)
Same ST
AG = Same for Dodging, -1 for Throwing, +1 for Catching
Same for AV

This was not as straight forward to translate. MA 7, ST 2, AV 7 were easy ... but AG was more difficult. It was finally decided to try letting the team have a 2+ leaper as the translation of their AG from 2nd edition. Diving Catch was added simply because it mirrored the Blitzer so well and really fit in with the jump, leap, dive theme of the team.

======

50k re-rolls because the Slann work well together and were not a cheap team (especially when they first started LRB 5.0 testing and had 70k Linemen).

The Kroxigor was added when many folks complained that the LOS was too difficult to protect with just Slann Lineman and since BB history still has them closely watching over the Lizardmen ... the decision was made that it would be very easy for them to get their hands on a Kroxigor.

======

And that is the history of how the team came to be. At its core (90% is an attempt to translate the 2nd edition team into LRB 5.0.

Galak

[Pipey]

Like I say, I've yet to play against or with Slann.

But I agree that they are a very interesting addition and will add a whole new dimension to the game. Good work on this one, rules guys

[PubBowler]

@ the other reply. I didn't think runners were purely offensive.
For example what about the Norse Runner?
Isn't his job also to be a pain in the arse defensively

I think his job is to find a use for all the old Norse thrower models after they were removed from the game!

Catcher but yes, I think you're right.

And I like the Slann team both concept and execution.

Making a Kroot team right now to run in my GW store league.

[Ironjaw]

Like I said, I personally have no problem with the team, the history or the skill sets.

I just think a blitzer should have block, and a catcher should have catch.

[Darkson]

Ok, let's rename them Leapers and Jumpers.

[Jural]

Ok, let's rename them Leapers and Jumpers.

What about Jaguar Warriors and Kroot?

[plasmoid]

Hi all,
I should probably saying that I do like the current slann design.
It's just that I could have liked it better

I agree with the critique of the catcher/blitzer. I get that the team is different, and that equals fun. I just think that being different in so many ways seems a bit strained. I've had the same critique leveled against one of my own team designs, and I get it. I'd prefer it if one of them had the position defining skill.

I can understand the translation of 2nd to 3rd ed. statlines. Some if it could have been different, but that will always be the nature of such a translation.

On the blitzer, the strength reduction was a problem, and the solution makes sense. But another solution could have been to give them wrestle rather than block, and/or to simply deny them ST-access. Wrestle would certainly have been a knockdown style skill.

I'm one of the guys that Galak has discussed the Heroic Leap translation with in the past. Heroic Leap was a skill allowing players to leap over standing players (though only into the EZ). 3rd ed. Leap completely covers this ability! There was no need to translate it into anything. And I do think that the translation of "...a jump to save the game type of ability" into Diving Tackle seems completely arbitrary. I'm not even sure where their Jump Up came from. Do they have it in 2nd ed? Because that too could be called a jump to save the game. As can Leap. Heck, as could diving catch.
IMO, it just seems like a bit of an excuse to put the combo on them.
Which is fine I guess, except the expensiveness of the team is a bit of a problem - which combined with the lack of stability skills make them a tricky starting team.
I think the blitzers are quite frankly just a bit too clunky.

I'd go 7338 VVL, Leap, Wrestle-or-JumpUp-or-DivingTackle GA - or something along those lines.

Finally - I'm not crazy about the kroxigor. I dislike the fact that the 2nd ed team had no such thing. I also dislike that a krox on the roster makes the slann team break another mold - by having an extremely high cost for best 11 players. Finally, it was put on back when Slann linemen were 70K, and they were very voulnerable to beatings. With 60K linemen they can afford more of a bench, and the Krox is less necessary.

Ah well.
Galak has heard some of this before. So - for the record - I'm not bringing up all of my now outdated ideas. Just the 2 things that still really bug me.

Cheers
Martin