How to take on a Dwarf Deathroller.

Lictor · Post by **Lictor** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:31 pm

I play quite a reasonable Necro Team, TR 1.78. I am playing in the 1/4 finals against a Dwarf Team that I think sits somewhere 1.3-4(I hope 1.5 cause I do not want to see Morg). But they have a Deathroller... I have yet to play against this monstrosity in any games I've played and the only tactic I can see against it is to score ASAP when it hits the pitch. Any advice to give?

I am considering culling some aspects of my team to reduce TR since the coach is Babs, who is more reknowned for his Dark Elves but still a more experienced coach playing with a team I have a very poor win ratio against.

My team -

2x FG's, 1x St 5, 1x Guard
2x WW's, 1x Block Tackle, 1x Block
2x Wights, 1x Tackle MB, 1x Tackle
2x Ghouls, 1x Ag 4, 1x Sure Hands
6x Zombies 1x Guard, 5x with 'Punch Me' signs on their foreheads.
5x RR's
2x AC's.
2x CL's

I do not know Bab's Team. I put money into AC's and CL's because I have 5 RR's and a High TR I thought I would be seeing Halfling Chef's.

I am thinking of dropping 1x Z, 1x RR and the AC's/CL's just to drop the TR 15oK to reduce Inducements but again, how do I take on the Deathroller? Blitz with the Block WW hope the dice don't go against me and pray for Claw to work?

Any good advice would be awesome.

Storch · Post by **Storch** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:24 am

Unless you have a player kitted out to kill big guys, the best way to deal with the Deathroller is to either focus on it or ignore it, but do whichever you choose completely and ahead of all else.

It is not terribly hard to get a 2 die block against it if that is what you set out to do. The issue is that it will take the combined effort of the better part of your team.

On the other hand, if you can force him to bring it out late in the first half due to casualties, or if you can just score quickly, he goes poof and you don't have to worry about him any more. If you can pull off a two turn score, that means he gets at most one hit in before the 'roller is sent off.

Digger Goreman · Post by **Digger Goreman** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:48 am

My reply to any big guy is to give 'em a zombie to play with.... Tied up ol' Morg for a whole game with one, cheap-ass lineman....

mattgslater · Post by **mattgslater** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:53 am

I) Find out what their TV is in advance. Then look at it from their spot and see what you'd take.

II) If you're worried about Master Chefs, then either of two things is true. 1) you're worried about Halflings, which with all your Tackle and Frackle and Tacky-Blow, sounds kind of silly, or 2) you're worried about rookie opponents with gobs of inducements, which means you need more Guard, Block or Side Step. Either way, firing a TRR, an AC and a CL has a 90% chance of costing your Dwarfy opponent a Bribe.

III) Ignore the DR and score score score. Don't be afraid to take a 1/2d block on the DR with a Were if you have a TRR, as your Weres have Block and Claws, but only do this if you need to negate the Deathroller's TZ. If you can get a 2d hit on it from the FG, great, but don't sell out to do that. Much better to try to get the DR stuck up against blank zombies.

Lictor · Post by **Lictor** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 5:19 am

Digger Goreman wrote:My reply to any big guy is to give 'em a zombie to play with.... Tied up ol' Morg for a whole game with one, cheap-ass lineman....

St 7 Break Tackle, your kidding right? lol.

Storch wrote:On the other hand, if you can force him to bring it out late in the first half due to casualties, or if you can just score quickly, he goes poof and you don't have to worry about him any more. If you can pull off a two turn score, that means he gets at most one hit in before the 'roller is sent off.

I've never gone out of my way to try and win the Cas war against Dwarves but I do have 2 Block Claw Players and one Block MB so it might be my best chance.

mattgslater wrote:I) Find out what their TV is in advance. Then look at it from their spot and see what you'd take.
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:53 am Post subject:

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I) Find out what their TV is in advance. Then look at it from their spot and see what you'd take.

II) If you're worried about Master Chefs, then either of two things is true. 1) you're worried about Halflings, which with all your Tackle and Frackle and Tacky-Blow, sounds kind of silly, or 2) you're worried about rookie opponents with gobs of inducements, which means you need more Guard, Block or Side Step. Either way, firing a TRR, an AC and a CL has a 90% chance of costing your Dwarfy opponent a Bribe.

III) Ignore the DR and score score score. Don't be afraid to take a 1/2d block on the DR with a Were if you have a TRR, as your Weres have Block and Claws, but only do this if you need to negate the Deathroller's TZ. If you can get a 2d hit on it from the FG, great, but don't sell out to do that. Much better to try to get the DR stuck up against blank zombies.

I have asked him on our local forum for his TR, just waiting for a response.

St 7 Break Tackle makes it a bit hard to keep it stuck. I'm thankful it is only MA 4.

Thank you guys very much for your help.

mattgslater · Post by **mattgslater** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 6:28 am

Break Tackle only works on the first dodge. Just keep a Zombie between where the DR is and where it wants to go.

Digger Goreman · Post by **Digger Goreman** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 6:32 am

Lictor wrote:
Digger Goreman wrote:My reply to any big guy is to give 'em a zombie to play with.... Tied up ol' Morg for a whole game with one, cheap-ass lineman....
St 7 Break Tackle, you're kidding right? lol.

Not at all... that's what they're there for.... And, in spite of that awesome BT/St 7, it's still a roll on a loner that he might Ace-out on! When you have a chance to dance with Slim and None... dance with Slim!

Another strange sounding tactic is to intentionally fail a zombie dodge away from the DR IF it blocks off the slow moving machine. In spite of it's name, it can't pass through a fallen figure and it only has a Mv of 4.... A rare circumstance, but a tool is a tool and an opportunity should it come your way....

In a like vein: surround it with zombies at a distance of one hex.... Make him burn a blitz/roll lotsa dice while getting almost nowhere and use your wights/weres/ghouls to quickly score/turnover the ball....

If nothing else takes your fancy, then remember "Bugs Bunny Philosophy": "Keep smiling Doc!" (Dwarves are extraordinarily high cheese)....

PubBowler · Post by **PubBowler** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:28 pm

Digger Goreman wrote: Not at all... that's what they're there for.... And, in spite of that awesome BT/St 7, it's still a roll on a loner that he might Ace-out on! When you have a chance to dance with Slim and None... dance with Slim!

Only Loner if they've moved to experimental.

Lictor · Post by **Lictor** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:04 pm

PubBowler wrote:
Digger Goreman wrote: Not at all... that's what they're there for.... And, in spite of that awesome BT/St 7, it's still a roll on a loner that he might Ace-out on! When you have a chance to dance with Slim and None... dance with Slim!
Only Loner if they've moved to experimental.

I thought all big guys came with Loner... We are still using LRB 5.0 (I don't know why) so, this could be problematic...

mattgslater · Post by **mattgslater** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:36 pm

Like I said, fire a TRR, an AC and a CL to get rid of a Bribe, and then score score score!

Lictor · Post by **Lictor** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 2:11 am

Well I finally found out his TR is approximately 1.56 gives him 220 K of Inducements, only gives him -

Barik 60K - for passing so unlikely
Boomer 60K - Bomber, could ruin things.
Flint 100K - Chainsaw, everyones favourite Inducement friend.
Bribes 100K - Likely considering he has a DR.

I can safely drop 190K from my TR which is a TRR, 2 Zombies and all my AC's/CL's, which gives him nothing in Inducements, but leaves me with only 1 reserve...

Opinions?

Post by **DoubleSkulls** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 2:41 am

Don't be scared of the inducements. Overdogs normally win so you only should cut "fat" that doesn't really add value.

I doubt you use all your rerolls that often. If you are then ignore the following! I'd just drop a reroll and 1 AC or CL - that makes the gap 140 which is a bribe or a 'saw.

You've still got a better team than him and 14 players which is exactly what you want. I would want more than one reserve against a dwarf team anyway.

mattgslater · Post by **mattgslater** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 4:38 am

Drop the RR, and the difference goes from 220k to 150k. Drop anything else, one AC or one CL, and now you're at 140k. That'll let the oppo get one Bribe and nothing else. If this were an elimination match (de jure or de facto), I'd consider dropping a TRR, a Zombie and both an AC and a CL, so he couldn't take any Bribes, but I don't think that's enough better of an idea to justify burning 40k over if my season isn't on the line.

As Ian said, ignore all of that if you think you need the TRRs: 5 seems excessive to me, but some people get good use out of them. I think the best gauge that you have the right number of TRRs is that you're running out most of the time, but aren't always cursing your lack of TRRs. For me, that's generally 3 or 4, but I know that's different from coach to coach.

You could also just save 30k by dropping ACs/CLs so that you'd know he can't take more than one 100k inducement.

Lictor · Post by **Lictor** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:58 am

It's elimination time, I win this I'm in the Grand Final, if not I battle it out for 3rd for the second time in a fortnight lol.

I've only played one game where I have used all of my RR's but that was when I was trying to get my Zombies throwing more hits trying to get SPP's, but I always go thorugh 3 RR's.

Ian - I am worried about Inducements as I have lost key games against some pretty mediocre teams who otherwise have excellent coaches making best use out of Inducements. That little bit of extra strength, speed or skill always seem to be capitalised with impressive efficiency. To be honest I am embarassed that 2 star players have changed the last few games against me as they have. (I whine, I know)

But thank you all for your advice. I will let you know what I hav decided tomorrow. You guyshave been awesome!

Jural · Post by **Jural** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:32 am

ianwilliams wrote:Don't be scared of the inducements. Overdogs normally win so you only should cut "fat" that doesn't really add value.

Hmm, I'd beware this advice. My Dark Elf team two seasons ago faced a chainsaw every game, and it really took it's toll. Sure, sometimes it did nothing, but I lost at least 5 players to it over the season... and another 3 to wizards. Pieces which ignores all your advances are very hard to deal with if you run a Dark Elf squad at high TV.