Is an all-Fend line of scrimmage worth aiming for?

Fat_Emrys · Post by **Fat_Emrys** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 12:46 pm

I tried Fend for the first time with my Norse team last night against Lizardmen (two of my linemen have the skill and it was their first chance to use it).

I was fairly happy with how it went as the inability to follow up rather spoiled my opponent's plans a couple of times.

Was this a one-off or would a line of scrimmage of 4 or 5 linemen all with Block and Fend be a serious annoyance (until the AV7 comes into play)?

Edit: The team, in case it affects advice, is now a useless Snow Troll (2 SPP in 5 games - triple skulled against a skink last night), 2 Ulfwereners (one with Block), a Berserker, a Thrower with Sure Hands, 2 Runners (both now have Catch, one also has Dodge) and 6 linemen (2 of which have Fend). We have 3 rerolls and after 4 draws and a win, fan factor's risen to 5 (all teams start at zero in our league)

PubBowler · Post by **PubBowler** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 12:56 pm

I like Fend on Norse linemen, not least as they don't have many good normal choices.

A couple with Tackle.
One with Kick.
One with Sure Hands.

And then you're hoping for doubles.

bjorn9486 · Post by **bjorn9486** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 12:57 pm

I would say it has the possibility, but you need to remember that the Saurus are ST 4. However, 95% of the time you are going to be facing ST 3 linemen (possibly without block either) so they may not want to follow up anyway.

mattgslater · Post by **mattgslater** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 1:58 pm

All Fend on the line is great for stopping 1TTDs and chainpushes to get attackers into the backfield. Fend is the poor man's Side Step. It's also good on the corner.

Digger Goreman · Post by **Digger Goreman** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:05 pm

And don't forget that Fend is optional.... Sometimes you might want to let just one guy into the party....

mattgslater · Post by **mattgslater** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:33 pm

If you ever opt not to use Fend, rest assured your opponent will respond by opting not to follow up (unless he has Frenzy).

Smeborg · Post by **Smeborg** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 8:36 pm

On the LOS, Fend protects against Piling On (unless the blocker has Grab). So I would say that an all Fend LOS is an excellent and valid aim for any team.

Block/Fend/Sidestep is one of the best potential combos on the defensive LOS, as it means that each defender can only be blocked once.

Hope this helps.

GreedySmurf · Post by **GreedySmurf** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 10:38 pm

I've got a 50+ game Norse team I'm running at present and a Fend LoS is invaluable. I hate it if I'm getting badly bashed or in a recovery game and I don't have my fenders on the line.

For the Norse, taking Fend as first skill on 3 or 4 liney's is a no-brainer.

It has the potential to completely ruin your opponents plans, and if your opponent hasn't encountered it much (it is tragically underused skill in our league) or is not ready for how to deal with it Fend can be very inconvenient.

Carnis · Post by **Carnis** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 6:48 am

As with all positioning skills, it helps your defence significantly (in theory).

I'm aiming for it, took some tackle/guard on the first liner skillups though, so might take a while. But in theory anyway, 3 fend linoes + 2 sidestep runners will be a small nightmare to face in an all-block/(wrestle) team with a competent coach.

kombat · Post by **kombat** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 7:03 am

mattgslater wrote:If you ever opt not to use Fend, rest assured your opponent will respond by opting not to follow up (unless he has Frenzy).

Dont you only use the skill after your opponent have declared that he wants to follow up?

Lictor · Post by **Lictor** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 7:06 am

kombat wrote:
mattgslater wrote:If you ever opt not to use Fend, rest assured your opponent will respond by opting not to follow up (unless he has Frenzy).
Dont you only use the skill after your opponent have declared that he wants to follow up?

Valid point. They declare to follow up and you keep your trap shut so they secure themselves in your dasterdly deeds!

Baduk · Post by **Baduk** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 8:28 am

tiny hijack:
is it the same for skaven linerats?

Atalvyr · Post by **Atalvyr** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 9:05 am

In the same spirit:

Do all teams want Fend on linemen? I'm playing Lizards and I've honestly not given much thought to Fend. Should I consider it on my LoS-crew (2 saurus and a krox)?

I do use sidestep quite alot on skinks though.

Fat_Emrys · Post by **Fat_Emrys** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 9:20 am

If your opponents usually follow up when they block you then Fend is going to be great for your linemen.

I think that anything that makes an opponent rethink their strategy can't be bad ... unless they think of something you can't counter.

TuernRedvenom · Post by **TuernRedvenom** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 9:22 am

Baduk wrote:tiny hijack:
is it the same for skaven linerats?

Yes, but they need to get Wrestle first IMO.

Do all teams want Fend on linemen? I'm playing Lizards and I've honestly not given much thought to Fend. Should I consider it on my LoS-crew (2 saurus and a krox)?

Krox: no, it has a lot better options available.
Saurus: maybe, but probably not. They can use other skills a lot better(Block, Break Tackle, Guard, Mighty Blow, Stand Firm, Grab, Tackle, Frenzy,...).

Fend is best used on pieces with average strength IMO. Then it serves 2 purposes:
1) free up the player after he was pushed so he doesn't need to dodge to gain better positioning (used by average and low AG pieces)
2) protect against Frenzy and especially Piling On (used by vulnerable pieces or dedicated man markers)

Norse lineman and linerats can use both 1 and 2.
Saurus can kind of use 1, but has access to break tackle which is better for increasing his mobility. Normally Saurus don't have much use for Fend, since it only kicks in when blocked and that shouldn't happen all too often. I think they're better off taking stand firm for positioning value.