Undead Skellies: Ever worth it?

[White Zombie]

Greetings all, me again.

Another question for the Undead coaches (and anyone else who cares to chime in actually): Now that Skellies and Zombies are the same price again, is it worth including any Skellies for the extra MA, or is AV8 just that much better. I was thinking one or perhaps two skellies would be useful as dedicated foulers, am I in error? As I'm painting up my team at the mo, it'll be good to know everyone's thoughts. I was planning to paint 5 zombies and a skellie, or shall I just go for 6 zombies? Answers on a postcard!

[mattgslater]

Matt's Undead Plan has 4x Zombie and 2x Skel. I usually start with 3 and 1, and come by my Zombies unnaturally. The #2 Skel comes after I have my positionals, and after a TRR if I've picked up a Zed in the meantime. In a very bashy format, I build up to 5x Zombie, and run 15 men.

Zombies are cheap speed-bumps. You want three of them for the D-line, and one of them as a backup in case a Z or Mummy gets hurt. Skels are bad-but-versatile fill-ins. You want one or two of them to play roles for which the Zombies are even worse. This comes up a lot, as Ghouls are fragile. I tend to develop an offensive Ghoul (SH-KOR-Block) or a Wight if I'm really lucky (+AG-Pro-StrongArm), which leaves me room to build a Skel as a Kicker or a Dirty Player, so I can just give the Zombies Block. The extra MA is good when keeping up with cages, marking, and fouling.

[Digger Goreman]

I'll let you know how it goes, but I'm starting an Undead team with 3 zeds, 1 skeleton and filling in with positionals.... The skeleton will be in the linebacker position.... I want to get to two to make cheap replacements for the ghouls when I might not want them on the field.... As Matt astutely pointed out: giving the skellie "kick" will keep me from sloughin it off on a zed.... The one extra point of movement is very useful (toward the end of recent ladder league I tried one) and it's a crap-shoot between armor 8 & 8/9 knockout, vs armor 7 & 8 stun/9 knockout.... I really like zeds for the line... like Matt... and I really like numbers on the field (thick skull)....

So, again like Matt, I see them as synergistically complementary, as opposed to either/or....

[Alamar]

I agree with Digger ... let your slower, higher AV guys hang out on the line. If they're off the line speed counts for a whisker more than AV IMHO.

[cyagen]

I took 2 Skellies on my Undead team, gave them Dirty Player and never regretted it.

Having 2 of these guys is great since they attract a not of attention from the opposition. This free up other more important players.

I almost only do tactical fouls with these guys since their intimidation value and the big target that the opponents paint on their chests make them very valuable and I try to keep them on the field as long as possible.

[White Zombie]

Cheers for the thoughts fellas. I think when it comes down to it I'm going to start with 3 Zombies and 1 Skellie, probably adding a second skellie once I've filled up my positionals. Cheers all!

[duckwing]

I'm not an experienced undead coach, but I did play a team on fumbbl a while. I didn't bother buying any zombies at all since I'd much rather have players that can actually get to where they are needed.
But I'm probably influenced by having learned playing Blood Bowl with a norse team and therefor I guess I don't really considder AV7 as such a big drawback as other coaches who considder AV8 to be the standard.

[mattgslater]

I think a lot depends on your LOS and team development. Zombies are clearly better on the LOS, and they're less likely to get hurt in general, so if you're having a hard time keeping your numbers up, Zombies are the way to go.

[Joemanji]

I have very recently been converted by Skeletons. They have exactly as likely to stay on the pitch as Zombies (even vs MB), so you are trading more stuns vs the extra point of MA. I've found the extra point of MA to be very useful, as Undead often struggle to keep their slow players up with their cage.

[Smurf]

I go for a 50/50 split.

Skeletons are useful, esecially now they have thick skull. Their move 5 just speeds up the rest of the team a bit. Zombies are good too, equally, hard to decide. Play a mix and see what happens.

I think the Zombies can take the damage but the skeletons can get to better positions. Trade off, hope it works.

[Alamar]

I have very recently been converted by Skeletons. They have exactly as likely to stay on the pitch as Zombies (even vs MB), so you are trading more stuns vs the extra point of MA. I've found the extra point of MA to be very useful, as Undead often struggle to keep their slow players up with their cage.

It's true that Skellys & Zombies basically have the same chance of leaving the pitch after getting hit. However Zombies are more likely to come back to the pitch [more are KOd] so they are eventually more likely to come back when needed.

Of course that difference is small. I like Zs on the line & as easy markers. I like Skellys moving around and possibly fouling or assisting other players as needed.

YMMV

[SillySod]

Undead arent in the habit of running short on players

[mattgslater]

That depends on how much you foul!

[Alamar]

Hot dice will reduce a [starting] teams numbers dramatically ... IIRC in my last game vs. Undead they were down to 3 players.

[Joemanji]

Undead arent in the habit of running short on players

Er, yes they are. It is one of their major weaknesses. Vulnerable AV7 players and a lot of immobile AV8 means other teams often pick them off. I've lost count of the number of times I've been bashed by WEs.