The elf doubles conundrum

martynq · Post by **martynq** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 12:51 pm

Conventional wisdom, says that if your line-elf rolls a double on his first skill then you give him Guard. I've noticed a problem with this choice. My Guard elves aren't picking up any more SPPs, since all they do is assist blocks. I'm either left waiting for them to get two lucky MVPs or (when using the EXP system) waiting for them to get old.

Would it be more sensible to give a line-elf who gets doubles Dauntless on his first skill and save Guard for the second skill (goes well with Dodge and Block for example, the former makes your Guard mobile while the latter makes him difficult to remove from the pitch).

Martyn

sean newboy · Post by **sean newboy** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 1:02 pm

Some should get guard. I always mix up my traits when i get doubles. What i mean by this is, for elves there are a bunch of good doubles skills/traits. They include leader, nerves of steel, guard, mighty blow, piling on, and dauntless. Of course u dont want more than 2 leaders (and the second is so the 1st isnt targeted, and then very late in team development). Any elf team should try to have 2-3 each, if they can, of the guard and dauntless. An elf team should also try to get at least one piling on as well.

martynq · Post by **martynq** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 1:20 pm

That's an awful lot of Doubles, Sean! My MBBL team has completed 9 matches and only got 3 doubles (in 12 skill rolls) while my MBBL2 team has completed 12 matches and again got 3 doubles (in 15 skill rolls).

How do I get my Guard players to their second skill when all they end up doing is lending assists?

Martyn

Post by **DoubleSkulls** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 1:21 pm

I realised the same thing with my guarding Elf linemen - so I started sending them up with the receivers as "support" - naturally my opponent marks/blitzers the catchers so the guard is often left free to pick up the odd TD.

The other thing was when they got near critical thresholds (i.e. 11 SPP where they only need the MVP, and of course 16 SPP) deploy them deep with the thrower, use the guard to make a quick pass to thrower at the same time putting themselves in position to form the cage.

sean newboy · Post by **sean newboy** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 1:34 pm

guarding is not an action, after they guard they should try scoring. Be the line then dodge out and catch the winning td. The first post was just to show how many other possibles than guard.

martynq · Post by **martynq** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 1:43 pm

sean newboy wrote:guarding is not an action, after they guard they should try scoring.

Hmmm... I must be using my Guard wrong - He usually performs a Move action so that I place him where he can lend an assist. (Usually I find that he is flat on his back at the end of my opponent's turn... after all he doesn't have Block or Dodge to help prevent him being knocked over.)

Martyn

sean newboy · Post by **sean newboy** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 1:48 pm

Sounds like your guarding every single time u can think to do it. Having a guard on your team doesnt stop u from being elves, avoid alot of iffy hits and dodge dodge dodge. Your guards should be for the 1 or 2 hits u think are necessary and u cant dodge others to give normal assists for. Think of them as safety assists not moving walls.

Dangerous Dave · Post by **Dangerous Dave** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 1:50 pm

I'm not sure that Piling On is in keeping with an Elf style of play!

But... if you get a second double then start developing your own Norse Blitzer and give him Jump Up!

Dave

sean newboy · Post by **sean newboy** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 1:52 pm

A piling on should be an elves response to dirty player.

martynq · Post by **martynq** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 2:09 pm

sean newboy wrote:Having a guard on your team doesnt stop u from being elves, avoid alot of iffy hits and dodge dodge dodge.

Ah, another thing I'm probably doing wrong. I usually try to throw a block if I can get an assist if it will allow me to push the player away rather than try to dodge away from him. Dodge has a 1 in 6 chance of failing (or 50% usually

) which when backed up by a re-roll becomes 1 in 36. Blocking with an assist (without Block) has a 1 in 9 chance of resulting in my player down or 1 in 81 when back up by a re-roll... so getting an assist and blocking tends to result in less of my players falling over and getting injured.

Martyn

sean newboy · Post by **sean newboy** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 2:17 pm

Assuming the dice are with u (elven curse aside) he should only be allowed 3-4 blocks (yes i know, happens to all of us).

Post by **DoubleSkulls** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 2:17 pm

sean newboy wrote:A piling on should be an elves response to dirty player.

I've never really though about that skill choice - its a pretty effective way of getting even, especially when you've got Jump Up too. Nice as it draws the fouls away from your vulnerable players too.

However the ECBBL plays old style PO so its nothing like as effective.

sean newboy · Post by **sean newboy** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 2:19 pm

The nastiest team in our old face to face league was a Norse team. PO on an ogre and 3 st 3 blitzers with jump up is very very scary.

Fronko · Post by **Fronko** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 2:22 pm

ianwilliams wrote:
I've never really though about that skill choice - its a pretty effective way of getting even, especially when you've got Jump Up too.

Well, that´s 2 doubles on an elf lineman. Doesn´t really happen that much, does it?
Pretty wicked combination, though, if it does happen!!!

Zombie · Post by **Zombie** » Sun Jan 26, 2003 7:18 am

If you're having a problem getting a second skill for your line-elves, then you're not playing the team right. All they need is 3 TDs and a completion. It's an easy thing to get in 3 games at most. Guard it is.