6+4 on elf catcher

[narg]

Just got a 6+4 on the first skill of a catcher on a new pro-elf team. Should I take +1 movement or wrestle?

I'm inclined to take wrestle as it will increase the player's chances of survival and if I take the +1 movement I'll need 51 SPPs to get to wrestle - dodge - strip ball / tackle which seems a long way to go.
On the other hand it feels sinful not to take the +1 movement as I could then develop him as a one-turn scorer; but as it's the first catcher to skill up I think that I have a more immediate need of a ball-sacker...

What do people think? Any advice from experienced elf coaches?

More generally, is there a guide somewhere with detailed advice on skills for pro-elves (what to take on doubles / stat increases as a first / second skill etc)? I only found general advice which doesn't help in this particular case...

[Magictobe]

Take the fluff so take the movement. General skills are always to your choice, movement isn't.

[TuernRedvenom]

+MA, build on your strong points!

[nazgob]

on the pro [slow] elves, +MA is really useful. plus it gives you a one turn option.

[Ulthuan_Express]

MA, all the time.

Secondly, why on earth would you put wrestle on the Catcher? The last thing you want is for him to be on the floor, surely?

If you want to up his survivability, take block, because it's only when he gets to someone with wrestle that he'll hit the deck. Just because he's got MA8 doesn't mean you can take 3 points off for standing up and still have a highly-mobile piece.

[Master Wang]

For the record, I'd take the MA.

why on earth would you put wrestle on the Catcher? The last thing you want is for him to be on the floor, surely?

Because these guys will become his blitzers. Their role will be to get the ball, which Wrestle does better than Block as most opposing ball carriers will have Block. Combined with Tackle (or Strip Ball in a league without much SH) and the fact that they are ST3, they are simply amazing at doing this. If done right, they won't be on the floor long anyway as you will either score that turn or the next, and your opponent may be more concerned about getting the ball back. Furthermore, 16spps turns them into phenomenal players and it's pretty easy to get those points with their stats.

Somewhere there is a thread about not even bothering to give them Dodge as it shouldn't be necessary if you play your defense right and give the catcher protection with your linemen. I'm not good enough to do that and went Dodge then Wrestle on mine.

[narg]

Right so, as I'm playing the next game this evening I'll go for the +1 MA but it goes against my instincts. I'm surprised by the consensus here, if he dies from a "both down" before I have the time to skill him up I blame you all!
;o)

[mattgslater]

It's worth it. MA9 rocks.

[Grumbledook]

I'd be more than happy passing up movement to get block, wrestle or dodge first on an elf catcher

how often do you find yourself needing that extra square when you can you move 8 already compared to wishing you had one of those skills

[Magictobe]

Right so, as I'm playing the next game this evening I'll go for the +1 MA but it goes against my instincts. I'm surprised by the consensus here, if he dies from a "both down" before I have the time to skill him up I blame you all!
;o)

with extra movement it is your job to keep him out of harms way so don't blame us

[TuernRedvenom]

I'd be more than happy passing up movement to get block, wrestle or dodge first on an elf catcher

how often do you find yourself needing that extra square when you can you move 8 already compared to wishing you had one of those skills

True, but a catcher has no problems getting spp's. He'll just get those skills later.

[Grumbledook]

not if he is dead!

and what does the team do until then


short term league I'd turn the movement down, long term I would consider it and then still probably turn it down

that's the great thing about this game though, people do things differently

[narg]

Ok won the game and got only one lineman killed so all good. The +1MA catcher scored twice without going for it thanks to the +1MA and he was able to just about bring a crucial assist in defence by going for it twice, so the +1MA was handy; but on the other hand he blitzed a chaos dwarf ball carrier and got a "both down" so for this particular game I guess that Wrestle instead of +1MA would have allowed my opponent to score one more touchdown but me as well. He's now at 12 SPPs so nearly there...

And guess what, I got a 5+5 on the skill roll of the other catcher!

Will probably give him Guard, which is nice but at the same time very frustrating as I still won't have a catcher with Wrestle and it doesn't increase his chances of survival... Anyway this is interesting for this thread, what would you give as a first skill on an elf catcher on a 5+5? +1MA, Guard, Wrestle, something else? Dump-off? Now I have nothing against dump-off and I think it's great as skill #3 or #4 but as first skill I think that's just being masochistic and wanting your catchers to die (in my league dark elf assassins and dark elf runners without blodge all got killed or maimed, I don't think there was a single exception and elf catchers are just as fragile)...

[mattgslater]

Oh, damn. Hard to say. Can't have enough Guard. MA9 is even better in pairs. Damn, I know the feeling. My HE Linemen keep rolling 6+4 and having to turn it down in favor of Dodge, SS and the like.

[Grumbledook]

guard and I'd have been glad I took wrestle on the other one after now having to go another game and maybe more without it!