Gutter runners development for tourney

[ulvardar]

Hey guys, i was planning my new skaven team for next tourney. We have 1 M. teams, and i have decided to use this team:

2 blitzers.
5 linerats
4 gutters
1 thrower
3 RR



The reason to add the thrower instead of a lineman and FF/AC/Cheerleaders comes later.

We receive 100k to add skills to our players, with the cost of 20k normal skill, 30k double skill, 50k attribute. You can't spend more than 50k in the same player (so no one turner possible).

I'm not sure, but i expect to face some dwarves or norses (the player has only those teams, he's a block lover), a necro team, and nearly sure an orc team and amazon team. The rest of teams... not sure, but nearly sure there will be another basher.

So i decided to keep the thrower, to have some chance of grabbing the ball if my little runners are crushed.

Skill selection.-

Kick to linerat
Guard to blitzer
Wrestle to gutter
Block to gutter
Strip ball to gutter

Scoring must be easy, but defense is going to be really hard, so i decided to use all my skill selection in recovery the ball before the cage is created.

My question is: should i put each skill to a different gutter? That way, if one is crushed, i still have another chance of attacking the ball carrier. Or should i put a wrestle & strip ball gutter? A nearly sure ball hunter, and i would have 2 unskilled gutters to act as a bait, or just run near to cancel assits and similar. But if that poor little rat is flattened (it can happen) i lose a lot of defensive power.

What do you advice me? (and no, i won't add a rat ogre
)

[Cramy]

OK, I like your line-up. But you may want to consider trading a line-rat for a reroll if you can. Even at the expense of the Thrower. If it's a resurrection tourney, then 11 players ain't that bad, and the 4th reroll is pretty good.

Skills:
Linerat or Blitzer: Kick
Gutter: Wrestle, Strip Ball
Gutter: Leap
Gutter: Block

I don't like guard on the Blitzer. I don't block very much, and try to stay out of harms way when I play Skaven at tournaments. I like to have more skills that help with ball retrieval.

Kick is essential. I like to put it on a Blitzer at tournaments. As this is a tournament, it doesn't take away from another blitzer skill. With block and AV8, he is more likely to still be on the pitch at the end of the game. And with only 4-5 linerats, that gives you an additional linerat to put on the LoS (as you don't want your kicker on the LoS). The only disadvantage is that you can't setup your Blitzer in the Wide Zones.

Wrestle and Strip Ball on the same GR. From your post, you already know how lethal that combo can be. Having both skills on the same GR is big.

Leap. Once the Wrestle, Strip Ball player got the ball lose, he can leap-in to get the ball. Just having a leaper means that your opponent needs to thread with care. He can leap and hit the ball carrier if you really have to (and only if you really have to).

Block. He's the go-to GR on offense, either to put a screen in the most likely blitz path to the ball carrier or intended receiver. He can also be the ball carrier or intended receiver. On defense, he can blitz the ball carrier if the wrestle, strip ball player is not available .

General strategy: Try to get to the ball before the cage is formed, and blitz the ball carrier with whoever is best suited. If the ball is well caged, then stall the cage with the linerats as best you can. Hope to force your opponent to take some risks to score. If he does and exposes himself, make sure that you have your GRs in place to pop the ball, get the ball, and get away. If this doesnt work, then you will have to get in the cage and hit the ball carrier with two dice against. Keep your rerolls for those plays. Keep 2-3 rerolls for the last 3-4 turns of each half. That way you can reroll the hit on the ball carrier. If you don't need the reroll there, then you are likely to need it for the following leap, ball retrieval, hand-off, etc... High risk, high reward type plays. Just time them right so that you don't kill all your GRs in the first few turns of the game.

Offense. Score. Not much to add there

But you are right, defense is the tough part.

And with 1M, you are right not the take the Rat Ogre. I don't even take him on 1.1M rosters either. 1.2M I'd consider it.

Hope this helps.

[Ullis]

How about:

1 kick (blitzer or linerat)
2 x GR with strip ball and wrestle

Having two GR should be great on defense! Having two is insurance against one going down (which you're concerned of, as you should be).

I'd drop the thrower and get something else. 12 players on a skaven team is good as you're going to be rats down in games. Starting the second half with 8 rats isn't that great.

[DoubleSkulls]

I think your line up is fine.

Swapping kick onto the other blitzer makes sense in this environment - you aren't going to swap them on the LOS or wide zones.

The only thing I'd consider is frenzy instead of guard on the other blitzer. Frenzy makes it a lot easier to make holes for the gutters, gives you a sideline threat which changes your opponent's defence.

[DoubleSkulls]

It also will help taking down the inevitable blodgers as you don't have any tackle.

[ulvardar]

Ok, thanks so much for your help, i'm really improving my team with your advices.

The problem is that i have so many sweet options. I put kick on a blitzer and created a wrestle-strip ball gutter. Also a block gutter. And now?

Maybe it sounds stupid to be worried about just a single skill, but i want to exploit the team to the limit.

Options.-

1.- Leap. Mmmmm... sweet, although it can be lethal for my leaper if he fails, but sounds tempting to deploy him in the middle and suddenly leap through his front line and attack ball carrier.

2.- Frenzy on blitzer.- I started considering it, trying to create a small rat ogre than can use RR if needed. It also can help when trying the one turn score (if i have any surviving gutter in that moment).

3.- Other ideas.- I thought guard can help my two blitzers to work together and open a hole for the lightning gutters. Side step or Dauntless can be annoying on a gutter, too. In fact, gutters are annoying right now, and any improvement makes them awesome furry demons.

I should select my preferred skill, or the one i like most for the task the player has to do, but.... i like all of those options.... I should play a long league so i can put all those skills on my furry babes

Please give me an advice. You guys are helping me a lot, thanks so much for your time.