First skill for Norse Werewolf (rolled a double 3)

[mattgslater]

Well, if you have a SS'er, you may not need the traditional "X" cage. You might actually be better served by taking a looser formation.

Dodge only eclipses SS at 31 SPP, and that only maybe. Which would you rather have: Block/Dodge/SF, or Block/SS/MB?

[sunnyside]

Which would you rather have: Block/Dodge/SF, or Block/SS/MB?

The former. This is because, and I think this is fairly well accepted, the hardest and most dangerous games for Norse are against the heavy armor teams. MB still helps, but the comparison leans towards the positional advantage.

You're right about using a slightly looser structure, so long as the situation supports it, as those have their own weaknesses. But you're still nearly doubling the chances of getting taken down on that blitz.

[mattgslater]

Even if you go down, though, you're getting mileage out of it. And pushes, rather than being good for the attacker (no skill) or neutral (Stand Firm) are actually bad for the attacker if the defender has Side Step.

It's much better for cage-cracking, in particular. If the corners try to block you off, you end up manned-up on the carrier.

[sunnyside]

Even if you go down, though, you're getting mileage out of it. And pushes, rather than being good for the attacker (no skill) or neutral (Stand Firm) are actually bad for the attacker if the defender has Side Step.

While SS is better in most cases, SF is still "bad" for them on a push, because they're stuck in your TZ.

But in almost all cases I'd much rather be standing with SF than hitting the ground with AV8 and SS.

You're probably right about the 31SPP thing in terms of absolute performance. However I'm not so sure about how much better you are before, and dodge is going to give you a better chance at reaching that point, especially since a lot of the better uses of SS essentially force your opponent to stick in the boot if you're down.

It's much better for cage-cracking, in particular. If the corners try to block you off, you end up manned-up on the carrier.

I used to think that. And it's true if all you do with the player is mark a corner.

However for marking the ball carrier, I've been having too much success lately with putting my players in the right places and than throwing the block. The side stepper has to move, and if the spots adjacent to both the carrier and the stepper are plugged they step off. Maybe it's just flukes I suppose.

[Drool_bucket]

Which would you rather have: Block/Dodge/SF, or Block/SS/MB?

on an STR 4, AG 2 player with Frenzy, the latter.

[Carnis]

Well, if you have a SS'er, you may not need the traditional "X" cage. You might actually be better served by taking a looser formation.

Dodge only eclipses SS at 31 SPP, and that only maybe. Which would you rather have: Block/Dodge/SF, or Block/SS/MB?

I think the more fairer comparison would be:

S4 Block/Dodge/MB or S4 Block/SS/MB (double for double). Given my experience of key norse players dying, I'd take the former ;P.

That being said, I'd like to use this moment to memorize the untimely death of yet another blitzer . He died, because his coach spent the apo untimely on a knockout in a desperate attempt to not lose the game. The game drew, no thx to the remaining 2nd blitzer on the pitch, but because it is difficult to play passball during rain with 0 RRs with chaos dwarves.

[Drool_bucket]

S4 Block/Dodge/MB or S4 Block/SS/MB (double for double). Given my experience of key norse players dying, I'd take the former ;P

Carnis, I usually agree with you on most of your developmental ideas, but on this one I can't let it go.

There is a *huge* difference between a STR 4, AV 8 player and a STR 3, AV 7 player, no?

Dodge is a no-brainer on a Blitzer or Runner, but on the Norse Werewolf, a stronger and tougher player, Sidestep is a great selection, especially over dodge. Yes, following with Break Tackle makes a great player, but if you are set (or have already taken) on Mighty Blow, I would much rather SS than Dodge.

[Carnis]

To each their own, the games that I have difficulties with are the ones where both my ulfs & my snow troll goes out early in a drive. Dodge only helps a little though, as mostly they go out fouled after a greedy piling on .

If I'd want positional power I don't think Sidestep fits my scheme of a norse team at all, tbh.

The main cannonfodder is spending ALL their skillpoints on fend to keep the opponent stuck, hence unable to maximize their use of frenzy, guard, piling on - THEN taking sidestep allows your opponent to follow your ulfies. I'd rather either not take a positioning skill on an ulf (my normal choice), or take SF ;P.

Here's my current team, with it I actually plan to take fend on my runners too, over sidestep - http://fumbbl.com/FUMBBL.php?page=team& ... _id=618668.

[mattgslater]

One advantage to SS is that with ST4 and Block, the player is nigh-unblockable. Keep the big guys off of him, and he'll be fine. With SS and Block, nobody will 1d him, ever. So they need to get 2d on him in order to even try to block him. And then, the oppo needs to look at where he can go and decide whether it's worth the risk of pushing.

@ Sunnyside: Push vs. SF = burned action. Push vs. SS = burned action and free reposition. And as far as sticking the boot in, SS does make that much harder. If he's fronting a trap screen, you can prevent all assists on foul actions.

[Jimmy Fantastic]

I tell you what I would like after 3 skills on an Ulfwerener, Block, Mighty Blow and Piling on. And no double skill on the first three skills is better than that combination.