Slann - league team development help needed

[Heff]

GUARD!!

leap in on a 2 negate half a cage AND let your blitzer get 2 dice on the carrier.

[Khail]

Wait... AG boosted catcher? Hail Mary Pass is the answer you're looking for. Leap into anywhere, pick up with 5AG, and punt!

[dfunkateer]

Wait... AG boosted catcher? Hail Mary Pass is the answer you're looking for. Leap into anywhere, pick up with 5AG, and punt!

I love this idea but forgot to mention that this is a fumbbl team so HMP ain't an option.

[Ullis]

I'd skip the doubles and take Dodge. The only double I'd really consider for slann catchers is Guard. Reasons for not going there being:

- AG5 = Waltzing through TZ's. But you require the Dodge skill for this because a 1 will still fail. With Leap this catcher is unstoppable.
- Slann catchers are very squishy. Dodge will make them a lot less squishy. With +AG they become valuable assets instead of just 80k. The issue with catchers besides cost is that when you run out of them in the middle of a match you'll start struggling.
- With a +ST, +AG lino you can get by without a mobile Guard. Aim to skill up that lino as quickly as possible, shouldn't be too hard with that stat line, and give him Wrestle.

[nick_nameless]

I would take Pass.

[dfunkateer]

I was toying with the idea of pass although as he doesn't have any survival skills I chose dodge so he'll hopefully be around a bit longer to use his 5AG.

Thanks for the advice again guys.

[dfunkateer]

My team has played a few more games and actually won a couple (woo hoo!!) so I now have a new catcher related dilemma. My 4 catchers look like;

1 - dodge (niggled)
2 - +AG, dodge
3 - dodge - new skill pending
4 - dodge

I also have a 4AG, 4ST linefrog who takes the roll of hitter (as I have no krox, yet) and the AG boost helps him jump into cages with a 2db on most ball carriers, so my questions are;

Should I cut the niggled catcher before he gets any more SPPs (and to lower my TV) as I already have a 4AG linefrog, or should I use him to lend assists when blitzing cages until Nuffle claims him?
What second skill should catcher 3 take? I love preservation skills on 2ST players (ie to give him blodge) but side step would make him uber annoying for side line rushes and get him to his 3rd skill quicker (if he lives that long).

Thanks in advance.

Dfunk.

[Jimmy Fantastic]

Sack the niggler, Block/Wrestle next on all catchers unless double for Guard.

[Ullis]

I have to say I'm not really sure about Block on the catchers. There's a lot of other skills they can take that are useful and Block will be a defensive skill for the most part so it feels like a bit of a waste (same as Dodge for AG1-2 types usually). I guess in the end Block is warranted early due to how squishy the catchers are without it, especially as Dodge can be negated with Tackle.

[dfunkateer]

hmmm..interesting... dodge + wrestle (is that dostle or wredge?) is a combination I hadn't thought of. It'd keep them alive a bit longer than side-step although block would keep them on their feet for a both down result leading to a 2+ leap/dodge away next turn, although wrestle would put the opponent down and then they stand and have 4 points of movement left..... maybe wrestle is a better option.

Damn this game, there are too many skill combinations. It makes my brain hurt.

[Smeborg]

I have to say I'm not really sure about Block on the catchers. There's a lot of other skills they can take that are useful and Block will be a defensive skill for the most part so it feels like a bit of a waste (same as Dodge for AG1-2 types usually). I guess in the end Block is warranted early due to how squishy the catchers are without it, especially as Dodge can be negated with Tackle.

I think another consideration is that typically the Catchers are receivers, so you need them to remain standing in order to receive the pass (or hand-off). Thus the defensive skills (Block, Dodge, Sidestep, Fend) do double duty for them (protection and receiving). They also become more handy in a defensive role with these skills, as despite their ST2 they are not too easy to get past.

My own experience with Slann suggests that the Catchers are extremely squishy at the beginning of a league (indeed they are one of the squishiest player types in the game). Thus I always start with Dodge, Block.

[dfunkateer]

My slann have won their 3rd game in a row (woo hoo) and I'm now faced with another dilemma or 2 so would appreciate some thoughts from the more experienced coaches out there on the following frogs...

Lineman +ST +AG, just hit 31spp and rolled for a regular skill.

This frog jumps mostly jumps into cages (followed up by a 5AG catcher to retrieve the ball) or he just plain old hits folk as he's my only ST4 player but with 4AG he's not just a hitter so I'm torn between hitting (block), ball-freeing (wrestle) or survival (dodge) skills.

Lineman, kick, -MA, -MA, mng, 9spp - this frog is my only kicker but with a double move bust I think I should sack him.

Lineman, -AV, mng, 0spp - line fodder, but at 7AV should I sack him?

My team is 3 blitzers, 4 catchers, 5 linefrogs, 80k in the bank and 4 RRs. I was saving for RR5, (and not a krox as i think i just don't like big guys and prefer my frogs to be mobile, although that may be a rookie mistake and I maybe I should embrace the bash?!?) but if I bin 2 line frogs that are both mng then my squad is down to 10 frogs unless I buy a replacement linefrog but then my savings are down to 20k.

Your help as always is appreciated,

Dfunk.

[Sandwich]

I am in no way experienced with the froggies (5 games so far with a 2-1-2 record), but...

Lineman +ST +AG, just hit 31spp and rolled for a regular skill.

This frog jumps mostly jumps into cages (followed up by a 5AG catcher to retrieve the ball) or he just plain old hits folk as he's my only ST4 player but with 4AG he's not just a hitter so I'm torn between hitting (block), ball-freeing (wrestle) or survival (dodge) skills.

He can't take dodge unless he rolls a double.
Normally for a slann lineman I'd think wrestle, but I don't think you want this guy on the floor, he will get fouled (or he would if I was playing him anyways).

Lineman, kick, -MA, -MA, mng, 9spp - this frog is my only kicker but with a double move bust I think I should sack him.

Yes, definitely. MA like that = LoS duty at best, but then Kick is worthless.

Lineman, -AV, mng, 0spp - line fodder, but at 7AV should I sack him?

Sack him and get a journeyman in for LoS duty.

My team is 3 blitzers, 4 catchers, 5 linefrogs, 80k in the bank and 4 RRs. I was saving for RR5, (and not a krox as i think i just don't like big guys and prefer my frogs to be mobile, although that may be a rookie mistake and I maybe I should embrace the bash?!?) but if I bin 2 line frogs that are both mng then my squad is down to 10 frogs unless I buy a replacement linefrog but then my savings are down to 20k.

Your help as always is appreciated,

Dfunk.

I've been playing with 3 rerolls but its definitely not enough... but then I've been playing in FUMBBL's blackbox so TV is more of an issue. I'd consider getting a krox for keeping a frog off the LoS but not entirely sold. Definitely don't try to embrace the bash with these guys...

[Heff]

What about strip ball or sidestep on that +str guy.
leap in 2 dice on the carrier and the ball is popped. Or sidestep to keep him next to the carrier once he is there.
or diving tackle then he HAS to put you over before he can move the ball and you are strong. he is blessed so you want another str next.

[Ullis]

I'd give the +ST, +AG lino Wrestle. +ST and +AG is a dream combination for a slann team because it makes the aerial assault on the cage so easy. Otherwise you have to either rely on a 1d hit or bring in a Guard player first, which adds a lot of unreliability.

The cage jump wins games for Slann because a) the opponent has to prepare for it all the time and b) you often get the ball that way. Making the cage jump as reliable as possible is top priority. First Wrestle. Then either Tackle of Strip Ball. Dodge on doubles.

Because the lino can't get S skills, he'll make a bad blitzer or a support piece. Giving him Block would send him down that route. Both roles also don't need the +AG and you're better off blitzing with a blitzer with at least MB.

I'd probably keep the -AV lino now but cut the kicker.

The kroxigor adds a lot of durability for the team and complements the Diving Tackle of the blitzers with high ST and Prehensile Tail. The downside is the high TV cost.