Norse Lineman - Fend or Wrestle

Grumbledook · Post by **Grumbledook** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 11:47 am

to score in 4 turns leon

answer is in the question ;]

steveq · Post by **steveq** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 12:00 pm

Well thanks for the advice guys on my original question but who would have thought it would have sparked such a debate

Steve

Jural · Post by **Jural** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 7:53 pm

steveq wrote:Well thanks for the advice guys on my original question but who would have thought it would have sparked such a debate

Steve

I can't decide what is a more appropriate comment, so I'll say them both:

a- Welcome to the Internet!

b- Welcome to Talk Blood Bowl!

For my part, I agree that Wood Elves, Khmeri, and Undead can all be considered broken, and to a lesser degree, Dwarves and Amazons. Undead are the most suspect out of all of those, as I have extensive experience playing with and against them in leagues- and they are simply a low TV powerhouse that struggles to maintain advantage.

But Dark Elves, Lizardmen, Norse, Chaos Pact, Nurgle, etc I think add a lot to the game.

Nothing makes my opinion better than Matt's or Digger's of course, I'm just throwing it out there.

mattgslater · Post by **mattgslater** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:56 pm

Ironjaw wrote:
mattslater wrote:They have one of the best four-turner strategies in the game
What an odd comment. Why would anyone want a four turn strategy?

A four-turn strategy is an eight-turn strategy that can score in response to pressure, or a two-turn strategy that doesn't open itself up to seven turns of ugly: take your pick.

A conventional bashing cage is an eight-turn strategy: pick up 2-3 squares on turn 1 (either by caging directly or by building an out), and one per turn after for 5-7 turns. A Lizardman team can't reliably maintain that, as they're forced to field at least four ST2 players. But they can put themselves in easy scoring position in 3-4 turns, then hold on until it gets too hot or too late, or they start suffering KOs.

Also, if you have a good four-turn takeaway score, it can be an awesome team-builder. Kicking, you can put up two TDs, and receiving, you can either make a quick 2-3 turn strike and then force a quick score or turnover against a speed team, or make a 4-turn score and have an opportunity to follow up against a bash team (though that's a harder row to hoe in the first half). My philosophy on quick defensive scores is: "if I can take away and score on you once, I can do it twice."* With offense, think of it as a hybrid of the two basic strategies. However it goes, nothing says "pass with an MVP Saurus!" like a DC Skink, a re-roll and a 2-point lead. An 8-turn strategy, by contrast, gives you no cushion so you have to play high-percentage, with handoffs that don't earn SPP.

*Corollary: Score by turn 4 or wait 'til turn 8. Some exceptions....

Mad Banker · Post by **Mad Banker** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:54 pm

steveq wrote:Well thanks for the advice guys on my original question

In case you need some more advice...

This is strictly my opinion but I think I'll pass on wrestle for the Norse team as it has too much overlap with block and leads thus to unnecessary TV bloat, and with all the frenzy I find it not that difficult to take care of the blodgers. If you really want Wrestle you might do this the Carnis way and put it on the Ulfs (which I wouldn't do but I see the point in doing it).

I think 2 skills are the most useful for linemen on LOS duty:

Fend for defence and Dauntless for offense as most teams in my league are bashy and I nearly always get ST4 or 5 on the other side of the LOS.
One guarder is gold of course (especially flanked by 2 dauntless linos).
I also build a kicker who gets tackle as a second skill.

steveq · Post by **steveq** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 7:53 pm

Thanks for the advice MB. I have decided to go with Fend and will try and get three guys with that for the LOS. I have a guy with Kick and he is in line for Tackle next. I have a Lino with a niggle and he is going to get Dirty Player.

Steve

Smeborg · Post by **Smeborg** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 7:57 pm

Well done, steveq, your choice of skills is sound.

All the best, and let us know how you get on.

sunnyside · Post by **sunnyside** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 9:06 pm

While initially I had the same question as you (though Dauntless was thrown in the mix along with tackle).

I'm increasingly feeling that, in a league, the best answer may be "none of the above".

For the TV I'd rather have a skill on a positional than on a lineman. In fact I think I'd rather just have another re-roll as opposed to fend on three linemen, or a 60K inducement (Boomer).

This keeps them cheap, expendable, and replaceable. Of course some will get SPPs now and again. But you do want one with kick and maybe a dirty player.

What I'm saying though is that you shouldn't.

" try and get three guys with that for the LOS"

If it happens it happens, but don't go out of your way to give one of them a handoff if a positional is in an equally good spot.

mattgslater · Post by **mattgslater** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 9:29 pm

Hmmm... unless you're talking about basic players without G access, like Snotlings, I think skills are always worth it, even on a player like a Norse lino. For me, the factors in scoring with one player over another are:

1) Who can pull it off?
2) Who needs the SPP?
3) Who has the best chance?
4) Who has the hardest time improving?

A Hobgoblin with Block, Fend and choice of Pro, Tackle or some utility skill is a pretty darn useful player. He can go to the line, he can play any of the four key backfield positions (either midfield spot or either corner), and in a pinch he makes a pretty solid flanker too.

steveq · Post by **steveq** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 1:48 pm

I am with Matt on this one. Although I will not being going out of my way to score with Lino's if they are the one's best placed to do so then I will or if its late in the game and I have a comfortable lead I will look to see who will gain a skill if they can make a score or a pass.

Otherwise my lino's will only really get fend if they get the odd casualty and MVP. What I really meant was if that happens then Fend will be my choice for a first skill from now on until I can get three for the LOS.