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

[bbdave522]

Many players have skills such as catch, pass etc. Unless stated
otherwise in the skill description you never have to use a skill just
because the player’s got it, and you can choose to use a skill
that affects a dice roll after rolling the dice. For example, you
could say you were going to use the Catch skill either before or
after making a Catch D6 roll.

Does it strike anyone else as odd that this even bothers to mention the option of declaring the use of the Catch skill before rolling? This would force you to reroll (even if the roll were successful) effectively wasting the skill, since the first roll wouldn't matter. Does anyone know why it would mention this as an example (other than to mention that you are allowed to be an idiot?) The only thing that that example could be used for is by a jerk who tells someone "sorry, but you have to reroll that successful catch because you said you were using the skill." Now I'm sure that was not the intention but can anyone think of a situation where it is actually advantageous to declare skill use before a dice roll?

[Grumbledook]

it is probably just wording left over from a previous edition of the rules

anyone who says that deserves a knuckle sandwich

saying you are going to use it before the roll would usually indicate only in the case of you failing it in the first attempt, implicit implication if you please

[Carnis]

It's impossible to reroll a succesful catch, as you will see by reading the rules for the catch skill only "a failed catch" can be rerolled. A friend of mine wanted to fail a catch, and wanted to reroll with catch skill after the successful roll. But it's not possible.

[TuernRedvenom]

It's impossible to reroll a succesful catch, as you will see by reading the rules for the catch skill only "a failed catch" can be rerolled. A friend of mine wanted to fail a catch, and wanted to reroll with catch skill after the successful roll. But it's not possible.

Exactly, the old wording used to allow rerolling any catch but they changed this to only rerolling a failed catch.

[Jural]

I THINK what they are getting at is tthat both of the following situations are acceptable:

Situation 1
a) High Elf catcher tries to catch the ball in 1 tackle zone, and rolls a 1.
b) High Elf coach declares "I am using the catch skill"
c) High Elf catcher rolls again, and gets a 3.

Situation 2)
a) High Elf catcher tries to catch the ball in 1 tackle zone, and rolls a 1.
b) High Elf catcher rolls again, and gets a 3.
c) High Elf coach declares "I just used the catch skill"

It's pedantic, but in the case of situation 2), some coaches might claim that the 3 rolled didn't count, or was by default a team re-roll since no skill use had been declared.

If that isn't what the text is aimed at... I don't think there is any version of the rules where it might have made sense!

[bbdave522]

I don't think there is any version of the rules where it might have made sense!

That was sort of my point...

[Jural]

I don't think there is any version of the rules where it might have made sense!

That was sort of my point...

Exactly, which is why I think they are trying to say something different, and not that this phrase is a holdover from a previous LRB...

[wedge22]

I am thinking of adding Fend as a 2nd skill to my Human Lineman after they either get Guard or Block as their 1st skill, do you guys think this would work out well for me?

[Grumbledook]

not many better skills to consider given only general access

perhaps dauntless or tackle if you don't have much, fend works as well tho

[mattgslater]

@wedge22: Fend and Wrestle are optimal top-two skills on the ends. Guard and Block are best for the nose; either use a Blitzer or a lino with doubles. If you use a Blitzer and he goes up again, take Stand Firm.