Orcs vs. Dark Elf - tactical opinions welcome

[Saebelsultan]

Hello all!

First up: very awsome forum! I am glad the Blood Bowl community is so active and that it sort of focuses here.

As somebody who has played Blood Bowl starting with the 2nd edition in the 90's, had a long break and only reluctantly picked it up again with the new rules, I have to say: this game is too good not to be played!
But I still need some tactical advice. So I started in a (recently reseted) Blood Bowl league where there are only a few skills around and I am playing Orcs. My next match is against Dark Elfs and I am not all too sure about their roster. I am afraid my understanding of how the skills work best with certain positionals is not fully developed yet. Or my opponent just made a few mistakes and took wrong skills. Anyway, this is his lineup:

Dark Elf
Assassin1: Shadowing, Stab, Multiple Block
Assassin 2: Shadowing, Stab
Blitzer 1+2: Block
Witch Elf 1+2: Frenzy, Dodge, Jump Up, Block
Runner 1: Dump Off
Runner 2: Dump Off, Leader, Pass
Lineelf 1: Leap
Lineelf 2: Dodge
Lineelf 3+4: nothing

TV: 1380
RR: 2
FF: 4
Apoth: yes

My lineup is as follows:

Orcs
Blitzer 1: Block, Mighty Blow
Blitzer 2 -4: Block
Black Orc: 1 - 3: Block
Black Orc 4: nothing
Troll: Block
Thrower: Sure Hands, Pass
Lineorc 1: nothing
Lineorc 2: -1 ST

TV: 1280
RR: 3
FF: 2
Apoth: yes

Concerning my team (seeing that I have another 60k in the treasury) I was thinking ditching the injured Lineorc and buying a Goblin for a hint of agility play and the odd chance of an OTT.

Questions to you:

[*]what do I have to be careful of concerning the Dark Elves?
[*]any general advice on playing against Dark Elves?
[*]buying a Gobbo rather than saving for a second Thrower, Lineorc, more RR, Cheerleaders, Coaches,...?

I thank you all up front for your answers!

[babass]

the dark elves roster of your opponent is not optimum against orcs (assassins are not bad against Ar9, only 2 blitzers, and all 6 Ar7 players present)

please fire that Str2 lineman. a gobelin is clearly a much better choice!
Against an 11 players darkelves team, it would be better to have at least 12 players (to foul some elves, etc...)
I would hire this goblin (and not save money: 3 team rr is enough)

You will have some inducement (110k)
Why not the Saw?

Don't forget to cage properly on your drive.
Try to target Ar7 asap (like the runners or the assassin) with your mighty blow blitzer.
if a witch is knockdown: please foul her with assist (with the saw if you have it)

[Saebelsultan]

THanks babass!
That was kinda along the lines I was thinking. And taking Ulgrot for inducements sounds nice, too. After all, the game is all about having fun and what could be more fun than cutting up some Delfs?

[MattDakka]

The Dark Elf roster is sub optimal, Assassins suck and 2 Runners are too many, 1 is enough.
Do you know FUMBBL?

[Saebelsultan]

Yes, I do know FUMBBL and I heard that it is a good way to speed up the learning process. But what were you hinting at?

[Chris]

Dark Elf
TV: 1380

Orcs
Blitzer 1: Block, Mighty Blow
Blitzer 2 -4: Block
Black Orc: 1 - 3: Block
Black Orc 4: nothing
Troll: Block
Thrower: Sure Hands, Pass
Lineorc 1: nothing
Lineorc 2: -1 ST
TV: 1280

No point having a troll without a goblin!

Fire the -1str player.
Leaves a TV of 1230 and 11 players.
So either leave it at that, get a wizard and pray.
Or get a goblin and a Ugroth Bolgrot and pray you receive.
Get tackle for next time you play him...

[MattDakka]

Yes, I do know FUMBBL and I heard that it is a good way to speed up the learning process. But what were you hinting at?

Well you should try some games there, it's a good place to get some advices as well.

[Saebelsultan]

Ok, thanks for the comments. More welcome of course!
My game is going to be ext Monday. I will let you know how it ended.
I think I'm gonna go with the Goblin and try my luck. At least it's gonna give the OTT chance... oh, and take the chainsaw for some fun and that fearfull look on my opponent face.

[Chris]

It is then very important he kicks... You get to try the 1ttd on turn 16, plus you get to stall all the first half while chopping up his squad. Just use the chainsaw after all the safe blocks...

The av 7 block/dodge players will be the chainsaws primary targets...

[Saebelsultan]

The Orcs won 2:0 and almost pitch cleared the elves towards the end. Second half he was only able to put 7 Players up and finished with three... The chainsaw was fun, but sadly didn't help with that
So, thanks for the advice!
Now I am stranded with the question what skill (rolled a 7) to give my #2 Blitzer...

[MattDakka]

The Orcs won 2:0 and almost pitch cleared the elves towards the end. Second half he was only able to put 7 Players up and finished with three... The chainsaw was fun, but sadly didn't help with that
So, thanks for the advice!
Now I am stranded with the question what skill (rolled a 7) to give my #2 Blitzer...

Either Mighty Blow, Tackle or Guard, what team is your next opponent?

[MKL]

The Orcs won 2:0 and almost pitch cleared the elves towards the end. Second half he was only able to put 7 Players up and finished with three... The chainsaw was fun, but sadly didn't help with that
So, thanks for the advice!
Now I am stranded with the question what skill (rolled a 7) to give my #2 Blitzer...

Either Mighty Blow, Tackle or Guard, what team is your next opponent?

Congrats for the win, Saebel.
And let me say that the chainsaw is rarely useful beyond its psychological effect (and that is fairly good.. till it lasts).

About your Blitzer, I'll second Mattdaka: Guard would be my first choice, since the team is lacking any. Alternatively, M-Blow or Tackle.

[Saebelsultan]

I was leaning towards Guard as well. But then I looked up my next opponents... As I said, we have a fairly fresh league with little skills around. And I am playing Pro Elves (3 x Dodge), Dark Elves (2 x Dodge), Humans (2 x Dodge) and Skaven (3 x Dodge). So I was thinking Mighty Blow, just to have that extra crunch effect and after that start building on the guard or better tackle, considering how many agil teams I am facing.

[mzukerman]

With that much agility, I'd take Tackle over Mighty Blow. That would have the same effect as the chainsaw - the coach will fixate on it. And if he doesn't, you have a way of popping the ball loose from a dodgy critter.

[MattDakka]

I was leaning towards Guard as well. But then I looked up my next opponents... As I said, we have a fairly fresh league with little skills around. And I am playing Pro Elves (3 x Dodge), Dark Elves (2 x Dodge), Humans (2 x Dodge) and Skaven (3 x Dodge). So I was thinking Mighty Blow, just to have that extra crunch effect and after that start building on the guard or better tackle, considering how many agil teams I am facing.

Since you already have 1 Mighty Blow Blitzer and you are going to face a lot of Dodge I'd suggest Tackle.
Guard is not yet essential because you outstrength all those teams, BUT if your opponents have some leaping ball hawks then having 2 Guards becomes important (place the 2 Guards on diagonally opposite corners of your cage in order to protect your ball carrier), anyway, I'd take Tackle for now.