Saurus Decisions ...

Tim · Post by **Tim** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 11:01 am

In one of my current Lizardmen teams i have an AG+ Saurus. I know many people think AG+ should be discarded by them, but playing ballhandling Bull Centaurs for quite some time, i think that ST4 AG2 has some nice sides to it (specifically, annoying cagebreakers with ST4).

Now after 2 MVPs and 2 TDs he reached his second skill and rolled a double (2-2, so no stat+ options)... For regular skills the path was clear: Break Tackle, Block, Surehands. But now ... Dodge is tempting but that would mean it would require 51 SPP to get Block and 76 to get Surehands ... very high numbers for a Saurus. Plus cagebreakers often come with tackle.

I also have an ST3 AG4 skink on the team (blessed by Nuffle, already with a NIG though), who will be the primary cage center (if only for the fact that i have to protect him, being already +2 on inj rolls).

What would you do?

Background info:
Other Sauri have Block (x2), Dodge (x1).
Guard Kroxigor
Several skinks with sidestep, 1 also has diving tackle.

purdindas · Post by **purdindas** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 11:47 am

Controversial...

I'm a fan of dodge on these blocker type players. I hav a black Orc with dodge who is great for standing next to big guys and absorbing the punishment.

Setomidor · Post by **Setomidor** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 2:54 pm

In my oppinion, AG1 or 2 will not matter if you plan on using him as a cage breaker (since you will be using Break Tackle for that crucial dodge anyway). Since you've already gone the +AG route with him, I'd probably consider changing focus with him and make some other saurus the cage breaker. Hopefully this other saurus can skill up with Break Tackle and Tackle before your super skink gets killed.

So what to do with the AG2 saurus? One idea is giving him Dodge at 16 and Block at 31 SPPs. Even though a 4+ Dodge with re-roll is far from reliable, it can still act as a poor mans Break Tackle while at the same time making the Saurus harder to knock down. You could also make him a ball carrier by giving him Block and Sure Hands (probably SH first if your league opponents frequent Strip Ball).

Ragnar Northwind · Post by **Ragnar Northwind** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 3:48 pm

hmm... How about the Diving tackle? Will be nasty. If not, then I say, took block. You will cry when You realise: Oh, no block.

Grumbledook · Post by **Grumbledook** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 4:11 pm

it is so easy to get sidestep/diving tackle skinks I wouldnt bother on a sauras

combos well with prehensile tail on the krox tho

Oxynot · Post by **Oxynot** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 6:08 pm

Since he already got an agility upgrade, I'd be tempted to try to utilize it. Maybe catch, so he can, or try to, get hand-offs from skinks that bring the ball from your backfield? In the minimum it will ensure that he has someone to block each turn, since your opponent will be happier to have a frgaile skink carrying the ball

That way you either get the chance to do more touchdowns or more casualtys with him.

I must admit, it wont be much of a help on defense.

Carnis · Post by **Carnis** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 12:06 am

Sure hands better than catch on offence too, as it cancels out strip ball. IF you really want to make him better at getting the ball though, then diving catch.

It's insane, but also the most likely way of delivering the ball to him!

Jural · Post by **Jural** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 5:04 am

Dodge, followed by Sure Hands, then Block, I would say... if he is a dedicated ball handler, that will really help.

As for Diving Catch, unless you have a few AG 4 skinks, forget about it! The -1 on passes from stunties make this a very unlikely play!

Darkson · Post by **Darkson** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 6:23 am

How many rerolls do you have? Leader is tempting.

Joemanji · Post by **Joemanji** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 7:31 am

I think BT is essential if you are using this guy as a ball carrier.

I am surprised you do though. Not because of AG2, but because it means hiding one of your ST4 players away from contact, and thus exposing some of your Skinks. Especially when Skinks are such good ball carriers against everything except Leap.

Carnis · Post by **Carnis** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 9:40 am

You don't need to hide a saurus ballcarrier.

You move it straight & surround with 2 skinks (sSs). Only guards & daunts- people can touch it. I you can tie those up with your 5 other sauri + Krox then it works ok.

I always give touchbacks to BT-sauri.

Grumbledook · Post by **Grumbledook** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 10:13 am

it still exposes more skinks

Tim · Post by **Tim** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 11:19 am

Thanks for all the feedback.

I went for dodge and he scored 2 TDs in the game after against Woodelf. He was not required to dodge at all, but the Wardancers (no strip ball) didn't even bother to leap into the cage (bit of a strange coach anyway).

It's true that caging a Saurus is exposing more skinks. However, i still have 6 other ST4+ players to dominate the pitch. And against the stronger teams (no leap, usually trying to collapse the cage rather than running a targeted strike against the center) i still have the option to use a skink as ball carrier (although my Blodging Skink was killed ...

).

Next Skill (only 5 SPP away now), will probably be Block to offer some more protection, then Sure hands for strip ball (and RR counter) protection. That means the Break Tackle will have to wait until 76 SPP, which is unfortunate, but has the advantage that i have 2 attempts to roll a second AG+ (which would make BT less useful) before