Is it worth taking the deathroller?

[inkpwn]

Is it worth taking the dwarf deathroller? I tried using one late into the last league and I just didn't think it was worth the team value. It is worth 2 reserve linemen. Of course it would be very low on my purchasing schedule.
What's everyone elses opinion?

[Warpstone]

A late purchase. It's handy for when Orcs and Chaos are pushing TV225+.

[inkpwn]

A late purchase. It's handy for when Orcs and Chaos are pushing TV225+.

Couldn't you just induce it then?

[Demagoge]

I only induce one. It´s bloating up your TV otherwise. If you´re playing fast teams (Skaven, but even the stunty ones which are able to make a touchdown fast) it can nearly gives the opponent a wizard and you can perhaps use it only for two turns.

[Drool_bucket]

Dwarfs naturally keep their TVR pretty low when compared to some of the other teams that just keep going. They don't carry a lot of skilled players, they don't carry a lot of players overall.

So you can keep the deathroller as a nice inducement against higher TVR bash teams, but save TV against those fast teams, like WE or Skaven, where a Wizard is much more important than a DR.

[Warpstone]

A late purchase. It's handy for when Orcs and Chaos are pushing TV225+.

Couldn't you just induce it then?

Yup, you could do. It would be good idea in a league with a wide TV disparity between teams.

A death roller with multi-block or (nuffle bless you) block is pretty exciting though. If you have a division like my league where all the teams are in their 2nd season or later, then a roller becomes handy against all the high AV bash teams you'll face.

Again, it could be argued that merc'ing a DR with a skill is worth the extra 80kgp though. It all comes down to how tight you want to keep your TV against underdogs VS how much slugging power you want on staff against grinders.

[inkpwn]

Warpstone you speak the truth. I agree completly.

[Smeborg]

In my experience (as an opponent), the Deathroller is a TV liability more often than not. It's like giving your opponent a free Wizard (which Dwarfs do not like). A 2-skill DR is 20 points of TV, for a player that spends only 1 drive on the pitch. He works better against ST teams than against AG teams. So the choice would be quite situation-specific (for example, in a very bashy league, the DR might work).

I think the DR is better as an inducement option (bear in mind that as a Merc, you can give him a skill, too).

Hope that helps.

[Arklite]

here's the way I see it. is it advisable to take the death roller? no not really. it has poor skill access, only lasts for a single drive and has loner. should you take the death roller? That’s a different question entirely

Its big, its intimidating, it looks awesome, its S7 and its damn fun

like most things I say give it a spin for a season, if it doesn't work out? Drop it.

If it does work out? Laugh gloriously as your 5 ton mechanised steamroller/bike of doom grinds the opposition into the turf! I recommend piling on so you can park on people’s heads for good measure

[mattgslater]

It's not like you have anything else to do with all that cash.

[grampyseer]

I've seen it used to good effect. It's not like dwarves need to save their cash anyways!!

[Long_Bomb]

I've added one to my league team just because I love having something to go toe-to-toe with the oppositions big guy. It has however caused my team value to rocket and I'm now giving away quite a bit in inducments to my opposition. As a few of my blockers get guard I may well drop it but I'm sure it will prove worth while against the Ogre team that is looming in the horizon.

[mattgslater]

Actually, the better your Blockers, the better your Deathroller. Once you're loaded on Guard/Stand Firm/MB, having that ST7 lump makes a huge difference. You can totally field him on defense against bash teams, if you've got Blockers who can provide real support and prevent quick TDs. That means you are likely to get a whole long drive with him against those teams. Against speed teams, with a couple SF/Guard Blockers (and some more with just Guard) and some SF/MB positionals, you can usually hold the net to force a quick score or a turnover TD. Either give it up fast or hold on until T8 for a TD, and you'll maximize your time with him on the pitch.

[Greyhound]

I find the DR has diminishing return as he levels up.
A Guard-Block-Frenzy DR could tick the box I suppose but without non-double it reaches its top after Guard.

[mattgslater]

Multiblock-Grab-Guard for my $. A Multiblock DR makes a good stopgap for line-chains, letting you make blocks with your backfielders to drive scrimmage players downfield without sacrificing either undue actions or giving up a risk of pushing on the line without being able block the victim again. He forces defenses to set up deeper, too, letting you take command of the midfield. Ever had a ST7 Multiblock Grab guy get chained into the spot between your midfield and your safety? Let me tell you, man, the first time it happens to you is also the last.