6+4 on a BC in a short format

[neverworking]

If I take the team on as my primary team next year, and get him to 31 SPP, I'll be glad I did it.

This to me says everything. If you stop playing this team at 8 games did it really ever make that much difference? Would going +MA make the team more fun if you do opt to keep the team? I'm presuming from the description that if you don't keep the team its just 7 more random games with no standings, title or glory involved so the only thing that should matter in the least would be if the team was still fun over those 7 games, and I'd guess they still would be. You will have a lot of chances to make a block bull centaur, not as many to make ma7 one. I'd build the team towards the chance you keep them rather than worry about the probability you don't.

[Jimmy Fantastic]

I really don't see the point of +MA on a BC, especially early.
He is already kind of MA9, does being kind of MA10 make much of a difference really?
Maybe once or twice a game it will make a difference, but I would much rather take Block,BT,MB,Tackle,Guard only dodge or +AG/+ST beats any of them for me.

[Smurf]

MA... the extra movement means alot.

You have the rest of the team bashing. MA7 means a lot of opportunities.

[PorkSol]

Yeah but think of all the opportunities that will be missed by not having break tackle between 16 spp and 30 spp.

[DoubleSkulls]

Just think of all those nurgle warriors and black orcs that skill up with mighty blow first for spp generation.

My own experience doesn't really support this. Giving a player block (or wrestle) probably generates as many extra SPPs as Mighty Blow does. This is because I tend to hit with them a lot more - as well as try 1 dicers etc. So I think the rate of SPP gain is about the same - but the Block player is much more reliable so wins more games than the MB one.

TBH with BOBs I'll only look at MB for the 3rd skill - block and guard are just too good.

[spubbbba]

I’ve never had a MA7 bull but have faced them a few times and they are a huge pain since it’s very hard to hide from him. If he has the ball then he can quickly redeploy and use his ST4 to break free more easily. People often forget the extra MA and won’t always factor in he can move up to 10 squares either.

Do you have another bull yet and does he have block? If so I’d be tempted by the MA as once he gets BT he will be a huge threat to any ball carrier and a great safety. As you will likely have 6 MA4 Blockers on the pitch he will add a lot of mobility to the team as well. Even without BT he can still dodge on a 4 so that’s 75% with a RR.

If you focus on the bull then it’s quite easy to rack up the SPP’s and shouldn’t take to long to get to 31 where he can be block, MA7, BT.

[juck101]

The problem I have with ubber stat players is mostly from playing elf too often. I can see ma as great for blitzing and running but I fear that a 1d block from a block player, or even a -2d from a block will tip the balance for me and I would of wanted block.

ma is good but not sooooo good that over 8 games I would pick it over basic skills. I just find like saurus ma and high strength is crying out for break tackle to actually use the movement as a blitzer. Did the dude use ma to gain the spps? Did they block to get the spps?

Still plenty of voices for taking MA so maybe im very wrong.

[dines]

Agree with Juck101.
In my TT league I currently run CDwarves with a block, BT bull and a BT bull. I have experienced several situations where either block or BT was needed and those situations are far more numerous than where one more MA would have been crucial. Therefore I see MA+ as a pure long-term choice.

[mattgslater]

Do you have another bull yet and does he have block?

No, just him. Gonna save for the other one now that I have an Apothecary.

Did the dude use ma to gain the spps?

The 6 SPP come from two TDs. He would have used Block once in this game to save a RR, and the +1 MA would have saved me a RR once too. In both cases, the RR worked. So nothing to comment on there.

Interesting. The vote is split right down the middle. We don't have a statistical sample yet, but it's TFF, so whaddaya want? I guess this one is a judgment call.

[Glowworm]

Obviously, when I'm not up against a low-AV team I may need the BC to make some 2d hits. I've played CDs a few times, and I've learned that while BCs don't block a lot, usually when they do it's very important.

you may have answered your own question right there

Voted Block. which probably means +1Ma would be a better choice

As no-one else seems to have asked....any idea what other teams you'll be facing in the short league?

[mattgslater]

Lots of Skaven, probably some Necro, potentially Orcs, Dark Elves, Undead and Chaos Pact.

[mattgslater]

Maybe once or twice a game [MA7] will make a difference...

If you use a skill 1.5 times a game on average, it's not a bad skill pick at all. Block has 3, 7, or 9 perms to matter on a 2d hit for or against, averaging about the same 1/6 that it yields on a 1d. Some Block players, like blockers, get maybe 2 uses per match, but many, like carriers, use it only about half as much and still tend to be perceived as getting good value. Mighty Blow works 1/6 (vs AV7) to 1/9 (vs AV9) of the time on AV rolls, plus another 5/108 (AV7) to 1/54 (AV9) to be used on the injury roll, a maximum of 23/108, or a little more than once per 5 knockdowns, or about 9 blocks, or about one use of the MB skill per match for a blocker-type with Claw. Speaking of Claw, each and every player with Claw (or Tackle) takes it with the full knowledge that whole games will go by with little to no potential to use the skill. Yet....

[Jimmy Fantastic]

However the times that lack of block matters often means a turnover or your ballcarrier knocked over.
The times the MA will matter will be a 1/36 or 1/6 chance of a turnover, or maybe a slightly worse position and no risk.

[Smeborg]

I would like to suggest the main reason for a difference in perspective on BC development. Those who use a BC as primary ball-carrier (Runner) on offense are likely to favour +1MA and B-Tackle. Those who do not are likely to favour Block. I fall into the former camp.

All the best.

[mattgslater]

Is that true for all? Those who voted MA, did you envision its primary use being on a runner-type BC?