Why are undead so overrepresented in NAF stats?

[Ullis]

We finally have another tournament coming up in Finland (Helsinki) and the guy organising it even picked the one day that suits me perfectly. Yay! This got me wandering over to the NAF site to look at the rankings. I knew undead were supposed to be good at tournaments but I was amazed at how many players had good rankings with undead. Wood elves I get easy. How come there's so much undead up there? Is it just a matter of competitive types choosing what others have done well with or is some other factor at work? An optimal roster at TV110? Great mileage from getting to choose who gets skills?

I'm not just looking for tips to play undead for the tournament (I don't even have an undead team) but I'm still wondering.

The tournament itself had a quirky format. First two matches teams are at 110k+150 for skills. For the last two games teams are bought again at 130k+300 for skills (the race has to stay the same). I think it's been copied from somewhere but I don't know where. Anybody have any idea?

[Joemanji]

Undead were a team with an optimal roster at TV100 and 110. At 110 you could have all the positionals and 14 players whilst most other teams had to pick and choose. They are still good now, but their glory days are still represented in the stats. I also think they do best in situations where there are few skills around. Without Block or Guard Mummys are hard to deal with. Without Block or Tackle Ghouls can run riot. They also don't suffer from being one-dimensional like some other bash teams (Orcs, Dwarfs) as they have the pace to capitalise on a mistake/bad luck, or to push hard and try to win from 1-0 down. A 2 turn score isn't that unreasonable if you can get two 3+s with the ball.

[Darkson]

Also Mummies used to have General access on a normal roll, so could take Block easily at most tournaments, something other "big guys" couldn't.
30K for line fodder helped as well.

[Digger Goreman]

The roster is still quite optimal, given the rise in "line fodder" to 40k.... Having two, albeit s-l-o-w, big guys with no negatraits is a definite advantage on most lines; zombies are cheap punching bags/foulers; and skeletons make good cheap linbackers.... Having four ghouls (with dodge) creates an explosive offense and moves the ball quickly from any point (especially if the opposition isn't paying attention and/or the Undead coach positions well).... The only down sides are the exorbitant prices on the Wights (vis-a-vis Orc Blitzers, especially) and rerolls (and you can still fill positionals and get three!)....

[Darkson]

I agree - the Undead are still a good team - they're just not as good as they were.

[Digger Goreman]

True... and to tell the truth (*ducks the flying femurs from the rabid undead faithful*) they could stand to lose a pair of ghouls... and drop the cost of the Wights to 80k...? Totally academic discussion, but that could even them out....

[mattgslater]

They need more than 4 AG3 guys in my book! It's okay that Wights are overpriced; Ghouls and Mummies are categorically cool, but they need the support. No problem making them pay for it!

[SillySod]

Mummies, zombies, and wights form a relatively sturdy, relatively cheap team. They very seldom suffer from games where they suffer too many casualties and the mummies make sure that they frequently inflict those games on other teams. Ghouls would be great players on any team but they give undead a very safe and relatively fast way to move the ball.

One problem that I always have is that you can totally crush an undead cage and more often than not the ghouls will still wriggle their way out of it and score. If you are playing against a competent coach then forcing them to score early (turn 4-6 at best) is the absolute best case scenario.... thats incredibly powerful. Occasionally you can go better but you have to do something pretty extreme. I've had both Joe and Stick (both great undead players) pull off -relatively- safe touchdowns against me despite having their cage isolated, surrounded, and smashed into pieces. Its always the ghouls

IMO the ghouls should get regen (good long term) but cost 90k (instant tournament/short term nerf).

[plasmoid]

I quite like SillySods fix.

IMO, the undead power comes from early access to 4 ST3 blodgers, so a harsher fix could be to swap dodge for fend.

Cheers
Martin