Ag 5 Leaping Stripball Blitzer rolls an 11...

[Waldorf28]

Hi all -

Private League, my star DE blitzer has just presented me with a conundrum. He's currently:

+1 Ag
Strip Ball
Leap

...and has just rolled 11.

Ag 6 strikes me as overkill and TV bloat - he can leap into any square on a 2+ and doesn't need to be dodging into them. I was going to just take Dodge since he does end up on the floor quite a lot and this might improve his survivability. Tackle is an option, but the league doesn't have much Sure Hands and the ball will usually pop out even if the ball carrier has Dodge. Wrestle is a skill that optimises his "stripping" role.

So, I'm wavering between Dodge and Wrestle really, unless there is something obvious I've missed. Just in case it makes it easier to suggest things, his colleagues are:

Block, Dodge, Tackle
Block, Dodge, Tackle, Diving Tackle
Block, Dodge, Guard

Whaddyareckon?

- Waldorf.

[Joemanji]

Interesting. As you say, AG6 doesn't help his leaping. But it does allow him to pick up the ball in several TZs and dodge back out again. In fact, I think it makes him a monster. However, Dodge and Tackle are good bets. I think your opponents will be getting Sure Hands asap if they have any sense.

[Grumbledook]

prob dodge for me, less TV as well compared to another +AG

[stashman]

Becuse of Strip Ball I'll go Tackle or Wrestle

[voyagers_uk]

Pass Block - AG5 + Leap makes him a Ball Hawk

[Ullis]

+AG for me. Leaping in, knocking down the ball carrier, picking up the ball and dodging out without worrying about TZ's is sick and playing against that just feels plain wrong. He'll be operating in multiple TZ's, but he won't care about that. Dodge would be good too, but for that maneuver you can afford to spare a reroll. Odds are that he won't even need it.

[dines]

Dodge is imo more useful for protection and mobility. Ag 5 is already crazy good for ball handling, leaping and dodges, with dodge you get a free reroll for the most used of these actions.

[Mootaz]

Wrestle. Make him stronger at what he can do best and protect him at the same time.

[Waldorf28]

Thanks to everyone who has replied. I posted the same question here, on Cyanide's forums and on the League message board. The aggregate results were:

Ag6 - 9
Dodge - 5
Wrestle - 4
Tackle - 1
Pass Block - 1

Obviously Ag 6 the clear winner there, although not everyone who suggested taking it grasped that once he's blitzed the ball free he cannot then pass. Of course most people understood this fully, but still thought his outrageous dodges would be too sweet to ignore. If I hadn't rolled so many 1s recently I would see their point.

Wrestle did well, but on reflection I've decided that this guy is a foul-magnet, and voluntarily putting him on the floor in the middle of a four point cage is asking for trouble.

I think I'm going Dodge. If the next roll is a normal one I'll be taking either Wrestle, SideStep or PassBlock (I love this idea!) depending on how other delves have skilled up in the meantime.

Thanks for all your suggestions,

- Waldorf.

[Smeborg]

If you like Pass Block, then surely AG6 is the way to go? Intercepting on a 3+...

[Ullis]

I think you're missing out on a lot with Dodge. Whenever the ball is loose and within 9 squares, this guy would pick it up. The crippling fear that this puts into any opponent should win you matches by itself.

[voyagers_uk]

really don't see a lot of pass block on Cyanide... their loss could be your gain.

[mattgslater]

Dodge, then Pass Block at 76.

[juck101]

Dodge then sidestep for me.
Your star player wants to retain his qualities and taking more ag might not help keep him alive. Its no worry to die but I would suggest staying in the game upright would be the best option. I personally dont use wrestle that much on star elves because I was brought up with a foul every turn - dodge might help keep a star player on the pitch longer

[SillySod]

Dodge. Tackle might negate it alot of the time but its massively useful even if it just means re-rolling half of your dodges, let alone when being blocked away by non-tacklers. Its especially important because this player wants to make alot of rolls in one turn on a regular basis.