Slann! League Play! Oh Yeah!

[betterZthenDeaD]

I'm looking to take the Slann into a local league in the next few months and I'd like to start a 'Tactics & Team Development' discussion. I've read the playbook over at BBtactics and a few of the threads here, but I'd like to start a more generalised discussion covering team builds, skill choices and game tactics. Anyone up for that?

I'll start by posting the team build I think I'm going to start with.

2 x Blitzers
2 x Catchers
7 x Linemen
3 x Re-rolls
Apothecary

Totals a cool one million gold coins!

What are everyone's thoughts? Mistake to leave out the Krox? Drop the Blitzers for four catchers from the start? Four re-rolls instead of the Apoth?

Over to you guys!

[Magictobe]

You need the apo to save your catchers because without block or dodge they will be hunted.

I would always try to start with krox. You have no block so you want mighty blow to get numbers down on the other side. I would leave out the blitzers. Too expensive at the starting roster.

[Wanchor]

The Slann coach in the local league has said that he should have taken more blitzers at the start. That's all I have to offer.

[TalonBay]

We're in the same league, but not the same division so this is without bias

I played against slann recently and the lack of blodge was a killer for my opponent, so development wise: aiming to get some of these skills on your pieces is crucial as early as possible.

As an opponent the crazy leaping catchers were a pain but not as much as the two blitzers he had, that diving tackle combined with tackle was a brutal combo in shutting down my maneouvre. The blitzers will be harder to skill up than the catchers so I think you need at least two early on so they can start building up SPP. A slann team based around just catchers and linemen is a lot less scary.

I think you need to aim for the Krox as soon as possible too but you can't afford it and the bucket full of re-rolls you need at the start Initially you need re-rolls for everything (leaping, dodging and even blocking) as there's no-one on the team that's reliable so I think you have to ditch the Apo for a 4th re-roll, you can buy the apo after the first game (probably) but it's very unlikely you can buy the other re-roll at that point!

So, I like your starting lineup, just swap the apo for a re-roll IMO...unless you get a blitzer killed in your first game of course, it's a silly idea then

[betterZthenDeaD]

So, I like your starting lineup, just swap the apo for a re-roll IMO...unless you get a blitzer killed in your first game of course, it's a silly idea then

That was what led me to think about taking an apoth from the start! I had originally planned on four re-rolls from the off so I may switch back to this. I have seen lists that start with the Krox, but usually at the expense of the blitzers. I can see blitzers being slow to skill up, whereas to my 'un-trained' eye the Krox looks good to go from the off. Hence holding off buying him for a game or two. Will decide nearer the time I think (depending on opponents )

[Smeborg]

I have tried your starting roster (just) once, and found it rather unsatisfactory. Next time I will take the following roster:

4 Catchers
7 Linefrogs
5 RR

The reasons are multiple. Most important is the need to have 5 RRs right away (a RR is the only way you are going to re-roll a leap unless you take Pro). Next is the need to skill up all the Catchers as quickly as possible, so that they do not go squish too easily. Lastly, the side needs lots of Catchers. They are the ball handlers and poachers. They tend to accumulate in the dugout. 2 is not enough IMO - 4 is much better. Since they leap on a 2+ instead of a 3+, and can take Dodge as a normal skill, dodging on a 2+, having more Catchers means your RRs (however many you have) will work harder.

Hope that helps.

[Ullis]

I have a hard time deviating from the 2 blitzer, 2 catcher, 4 reroll start up for league play due to it being fun and giving a clear route to building up a nice team. Blitzers do suck at start but 2 Diving Tacklers is really nice against lots of other rookie teams. Only two catchers also lets you protect them and only throw them in harms way when making a play for the ball.

4 rerolls can be a stretch at start but should see you through a half once you get some blocking skills on the linos and blitzers and dodging skills on catchers.

[Coach_Yriel]

Before our season starts I have been trying out a few different lineups. From my own limited experience thus far it seems like Slann are extremely delicate out of the gate- you need your 4 rerolls, you are aiming for 4 catchers, you want to develop blitzers and bring that Krox in when you are looking at playing a short season... and then when you get on the table at TV100 you are terrified to throw a block for fear of skulling out and losing your reroll way too early or just sucking up a turnover.

My impressions and lineups:

Setup 1:

4 Catchers
1 Blitzer
6 Linos
4 RR

I seemed to like this one best. Even though I struggled to figure out why I bought a blitzer and have hopes of skilling him early, I still think the physical presence was beneficial, you just have to make sure to keep him near the action at all times. If you can build up a decent lead, then actively trying to skill him is a nice option.

Setup 2:

3 Catchers
1 Krox
4 RR
7 Linos

I'm not used to playing big guys all that often so I'm not sure what to make of this one. I found myself needing that 4th catcher more than the Krox. Sure he is a great roadblock but in early games I am looking for development, and after losing 1-2 catchers I found myself with a pretty sub-par team.

Setup 3

4 Catchers
1 Krox
3RR
6 Linos

Catchers are great but I seem to have more mismatch problems go sour with less RR. 3 RR is painfully unforgiving...

Setup 4

4 Catchers
7 Linos
5 RR

I've been trying this one out lately and still having a rough start. The 5 RR's are great but I find myself burning them even more quickly with the mismatch problems, and once catchers start going down it just doesn't matter how many RR's you got, they burn up even more quickly as less catchers means less ball-handling and less reliable leaping. You end up losing attrition really early and by the time you ar emaking desperation plays you are out of RR. I believe a more experienced coach could really make this lineup work much better. What I like most about it is that (if) you get your team skilled and reasonably healthy, you have enough rerolls so that you can focus your treasury on apo first, then start developing a more rounded roster. But the first games seemed harder with this than when I traded a lino + RR for a Blitzer.

I'm still not convinced that one of these setups is really better than the others (though for me personally <4 rerolls hurts most).

[plasmoid]

For your playbook needs you can also go here:
http://www.plasmoids.dk/bbowl/LRB6Playbooks.htm

The Slann coach in the local league has said that he should have taken more blitzers at the start. That's all I have to offer.

Interesting. In mine, the Slann coach said he wished he had taken less.

Cheers
Martin

[Ullis]

I'm coming around to thinking that unskilled catchers are a bit of a liability. They're obviously essential at start when nobody else has skills but as the team progresses it's best to add new catchers only when the others have at least one normal skill (Dodge). So I'd aim to have only one unskilled catcher at any time. The same goes for blitzers really.

[Dzerards]

While it is the catchers without doubt who make the team, AV7, ST2, no dodge, no block makes for a fast trip to the dug out! For league play, starting with less, say 2, allows them to be better protected, allows more ST3 and AV8 on the pitch and gives the linefrogs early chances to get some needed SPP.

[Penwaaagh]

I am not too sure with my starting team too.
I have settled on 2 Blitzers for diving tackle and jump up a useful combo...(110K blitz vs 100K for RR during play)
4 catchers for scoring + 5 lineman. 3RR
leaves me with 10K for apoth in future.
I know lack of RR will kill me though...

[betterZthenDeaD]

I am not too sure with my starting team too.
I have settled on 2 Blitzers for diving tackle and jump up a useful combo...(110K blitz vs 100K for RR during play)
4 catchers for scoring + 5 lineman. 3RR
leaves me with 10K for apoth in future.
I know lack of RR will kill me though...

Those was my thoughts with that particular build too. Personally if you're desperate for the four catchers from the start I'd perhaps consider dropping the blitzers for linemen and adding two re-rolls. How long is the league you're playing in? I've heard that can make a difference as skilling up the blitzers can take a long time.

[Penwaaagh]

It'll just be a small league between friends for me, so gaining SPP quickly will be an issue for me.
Thats why I'm thinking 4 catchers will be doing most of the scoring.
I don't know, I like the idea of jump up, that could be a real annoyance factor for my opponents... and for recovering quicker from fumbles etc.
I do like more RR's though, damn it I might be going back to the drawing board again...

[Coach_Yriel]

I do like more RR's though, damn it I might be going back to the drawing board again...

Yeah, I am in a similar situation and I've been wracking my brain over it.

The 2 Blitzer 3 Catcher 3 RR lineup is the most exciting of the rosters I have been trying out. 2 Blitzers can wreak havoc on rookie teams and a lot of people discount this but Jump Up, MA7 and the occasional leap lends better mobility to a team, and when you start losing catchers off the pitch you start to lean on them a bit more, and working as a team they keep you in the match.

The problem is, 3 Rerolls WILL cost you games. So while 2 Blitzers will help you earn a tie- the reroll loss will prevent you from certain wins.

So I've been wracking my brain on this one too.