Pro Elf tactics

Underdog · Post by **Underdog** » Sun Apr 25, 2004 12:06 pm

ianwilliams wrote: IMO a better fix would have been to make them S2 - and have a really cheap catcher position.

Couldn't agree more.

Munkey · Post by **Munkey** » Sun Apr 25, 2004 10:17 pm

ianwilliams wrote: Av7 no block or dodge and 100k a pop - catchers are expensive. In a strength league I think you are much better off taking both blitzers from the start as they at least have some protection.

TBH with that lineup I can't see how you'd stop a cage.

That's certainly true, I started a team similar to this with no Blitzers and have been paying for it for all of my first 8 games. Against a well formed cage I stand no chance.

I've just bought a Blitzer and hopefully if he doesn't die he'll help turn the fortunes of the team around.

juck101 · Post by **juck101** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 4:55 pm

Nos is very good_ but at least it offers a little diffrence to other elf teams in terms of skill.

think they are a good team but suffer from probably the most weak defense in the game. Without 2blitzers they cant stop much. I think they are great for a one game friendly because cheapest elf option. But need a lot of good team management to be a good team at 200tr. good planning on skills and longevity are needed to keep up vs high strength teams at 175-250TR

Slinky78 · Post by **Slinky78** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 10:16 pm

Started my REBBL team heavy on linemen, single catcher and re-rolls, going for a slow burning effect.
Currently burning at the rate of a damp brick... Despite winning the first game they've been mauled with injuries over the next two (2x -1move), lack of skills and extra movement is a killer, certainly wouldn't recommend it as a starting formula unless you're in need of a challenge.

Underdog · Post by **Underdog** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 10:28 pm

Im about to start my pro elf team in my local league and even before reading this topic I intended to max out on blitzers from the start. Block AV8 and MA7 all very valauble to this team.

Probly wont go with any catchers at first that way I could either get 12 players or 3(wow!) rerolls and a high ff (7-8).

VoidSeer · Post by **VoidSeer** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 7:18 am

I started a Pro Elf team not long ago with the following:
2 Blitzers
9 Lineelves
9 FF
3 RR

With AG 4 and 3RR I had 5 lineelves with a skill after game 3 and bought a thrower.
After that things went on smoothly.

pfooti · Post by **pfooti** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 5:30 pm

Underdog wrote:Im about to start my pro elf team in my local league and even before reading this topic I intended to max out on blitzers from the start. Block AV8 and MA7 all very valauble to this team.

Probly wont go with any catchers at first that way I could either get 12 players or 3(wow!) rerolls and a high ff (7-8).

This is what I did, essentially, and have done reasonably well so far (5-4 in the regular season, with 2 more games to go), especially considering that the league has 3 chaos, 1 khemri, 2 orc, 1 dwarf, etc.

By now, after 13 games (4 preseason, 9 regular season), I have 4 catchers, 2 blitzers and 2 throwers.

The team definitely seems to lose linemen at a rate of 2 SI and 1 Death per game on an average to bad game, and even in good games, I get 1 or 2 MNG players.

One thing the pro elves are really good at is capitalizing on opponent mistakes and bad rolls. With a high speed and interesting skills, you can really get a bunch of people on the ball when it hits the pitch, and get it out of there quick. That's my experience so far, at least.

da Squighunter · Post by **da Squighunter** » Wed May 05, 2004 2:45 pm

I am setting up a new pro elf team for the league I play in, and was reading above how some think these guys have poor defensive talent.

Here is what I propose: the pro elf defensive back. Give two catchers the following skill progression: Pass Block, Shadowing, and Diving Tackle. With Shadowing, the high movement of the catcher will assure he can "keep up" with nearly any opposing scorer. This will force the opoponent into continuous dodges every step of the way, thus allowing the appropriate use of Diving Tackle to force a knockdown and hopefully a loose ball. With two such "safeties" you can move both catchers on your opponent's turn assuring you will have your second cover guy in the backfield ready to scoop up the ball on your turn and heave it the opposite way! Using Pass Block, these two would excel on defense being able to get INT's on a re-rollable and unmodified 5+ (as was said elsewhere on this thread)!

So what do you all think of the pro-elf defensive back? I think their great--unless of course your opponents simply blitzes his way past them!

Underdog · Post by **Underdog** » Wed May 05, 2004 3:03 pm

I would have to agree. When chosing skills for your Pro elves Defence should be at the fore front of your mind. Even a rookie Pro elf team will have no trouble scorring so I will will have to resist the temptation to make an uber-catcher with leap, dodge, stepasside, sprint, dump-off etc... in favour of your defensive backs development. Might add Block and leap to a catcher aswell just for sh*ts and giggles.

Im looking forward to playing this team greatly.

Post by **DoubleSkulls** » Wed May 05, 2004 3:15 pm

da Squighunter wrote:Give two catchers the following skill progression: Pass Block, Shadowing, and Diving Tackle. With Shadowing, the high movement of the catcher will assure he can "keep up" with nearly any opposing scorer. This will force the opoponent into continuous dodges every step of the way, thus allowing the appropriate use of Diving Tackle to force a knockdown and hopefully a loose ball. With two such "safeties" you can move both catchers on your opponent's turn assuring you will have your second cover guy in the backfield ready to scoop up the ball on your turn and heave it the opposite way! Using Pass Block, these two would excel on defense being able to get INT's on a re-rollable and unmodified 5+ (as was said elsewhere on this thread)!

Without Block, Dodge or Sidestep the combo isn't that useful. Dodge in particular is vital to get next to the desired target (otherwise they'll burn RRs when they are marked in turn) and TBH I think you'll find them ineffective against all types of teams as they are too easy to negate. Also how do you propose getting them 31 SPPs and remaining in one piece?

There is a lot to be said for pass block/shadowing/DT as a 3rd or 4th skill and I'm in the process of building some Gutter Runners along a similar lines but its a long way off (ideally block, dodge, sidestep, shadowing, pass block, diving tackle - but that's 5 skills and a long long way away).

Underdog · Post by **Underdog** » Wed May 05, 2004 3:36 pm

Ian would you go for block before dodge on a Pro elf Catcher?

By the way read you Blocking article. It is very good. I would value your opinion here also.

The progression I had planned was:

2x Defensive Catcher
Dodge, Pass Block, Shadow, Block, leap, Step aside

2x Offensive Catcher
Dodge, Leap, Block, step aside, Sprint, Sure feet, Diving catch.

Starting by developing a defensive catcher then an offensive one then another defensive and if I ever get this far another offensive one.

I think the flavour of the team is important to me Id much prefure leaping cathcers than blocking ones.

The rest of the team would be like this.

Blitzer 1
Dodge, leap, Tackle, Sure hands.

Blitzer2
Dodge, leap, strip ball

2x Lineman Defensive
Block , Tackle, Diving Tackle, Dodge.

4x Lineman Offensive
Dodge, Block, Catch

2x Thrower
Accurate, Sure Hands, Safe Throw, Sure feet, Dodge, Block.
Strong arm

Post by **DoubleSkulls** » Wed May 05, 2004 4:33 pm

TBH I'd want to develop them along blitzer lines - with Catch/NoS you don't need to worry about offensive skills. You can score for fun with these guys - its getting the ball back on defence that will be hard.

I'd be more tempted to develop the blitzers with dodge, tackle, diving tackle etc and use them to be the pests.

The catchers get block, dodge, leap, strip ball etc and are used to pop cages.

Maybe give one or two pass block instead, but only in pass heavy leagues - remember Safe throw ruins any chance of interceptions and people will take it if you get pass block.

da Squighunter · Post by **da Squighunter** » Wed May 05, 2004 6:15 pm

That's totally true about Safe Pass being taken as a response to Pass Block--but in a short league (like the ones I play), most opponents will react slowly if at all to what other players are taking. At any rate, the argument about defensive backs evolving slowly sounds pretty valid and I can definitely see the problem in that; I just think that overall, the team needs some pests to hinder opponents scoring ability, and at MV 8 a pair of these seem the best option to do just this. I am curious--why do you think they would not be able to "keep up" with most opponents--not sure if I misunderstood. With a MV of 8, only Gutter Runners and Wood Elf catchers would seem to have an edge n getting away from shadowing Pro Elf D-backs. Also, they wouldn't need dodge while using Shadowing right? The only thing they have to fear really is being pummeled--a weakness ALL of the Pro Elves have anyway. Either way, thanks for the feedback--I would truly fear a pair of your Gutter Runner D-backs!

Underdog · Post by **Underdog** » Wed May 05, 2004 6:25 pm

Im sure you are probly right Ian. My thinking was this:

With pass block I was thinking that when combined with Shadow these players will give absolute hell to any reciever even if the interception is not an option.

Am I right in thinking that when the pass is announced I can pass block to be next to the reciever then make an intercept attempt on a re-rollable 5+ and then if I fail he has to catch in a tacklezone and if he succedes and dodges out of my tackle zone i can then shadow him? if so then wow! In just two skills, two of these bad boys could cripple any passing team.

The Bitzers I would train up as cage breakers and train a few linemen as pests. (though I think you may be right that Blitzers make better pests as they have higher AV so can be less afraid of leaving them in tackle zones).

This free's up 2 catches to develop into wardancer types and if Im feeling extravegant an uber-catcher or else tackle, diving tackle if I need to play conservative.

Diving tackle would go probly to my block, tackle, linemen.

Bloody hell this team could be truely immence if the players survive long enough to get all these skills.

Mirascael · Post by **Mirascael** » Wed May 05, 2004 8:00 pm

Underdog wrote:4x Lineman Offensive
Dodge, Block, Catch

I think I've never given (and I'd never give) Catch to a player unless he was a goblin, halfling or skink.