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Looking to get more betterer...

Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2017 5:55 pm
by Jip
Been playing for about 1½ years now and, at the last couple of tournaments I've been to, I've started asking coaches who are doing well for suggestions on areas that 'clicked' for them, to make them better coaches.

I'm sure posting this question on Facebook would just descend into "roll more Pows" and "take Leap", so I've given that a swerve and brought it to the more sensible (!) TFF forum, instead!

Example: Try no to base too often (my logic: they'll have to block or dodge their way out, risking a turnover. my mistake: my opponent just get free hits).

Essentially, what were (are?!) the <insert arbitrary number of examples> rookie mistakes you made when starting out. Which small tactical awareness switched your game up. What do you see coaches doing that you'd advise them to steer clear of?

I know there will be race-specific hints and tips, but I'm looking to improve as a player in general, rather than with any specific team/s in mind.

Thanks in advance.

Re: Looking to get more betterer...

Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2017 9:34 am
by Jip
The lack of replies is the confidence boost I needed; you're right, I can't get any better.

See you at the top table, losers! :wink:

Image

Re: Looking to get more betterer...

Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2017 10:19 am
by dreamscreator
I can tell you than in my experience, I think that I have improved lot in the last year after two more playing.

To me, the most important is the defence, and to have a great defence the best way is learn how to position your players. This depend of each race and the best way is copy the good coachs.

Other general tip, it's have a good order of action. First actions that not need rolls (avoiding leave gaps in case a turnover with the first rolls), second action with low risk, third the risky actions and last the non significance ones.

The rest is more race tactics.

And, in my opinion, base players could be great depending race. I always base players with orcs, if I can force a one die block roll (you can force a turnover or at least make the opponent team slower).

Re: Looking to get more betterer...

Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2017 10:34 am
by Loki
Roll more Pows :D

Its difficult to be generic as advice for Orc's looks very different that that for W Elfs, etcbut to try and get some sort of ball rolling...

Sometimes the threat of something is enough... e.g. Frenzy is the obvious choice - you could use Frenzy every turn use up your blitz etc. Knowing when to use something and when to position to keep it a threat but allow you to progress elsewhere on the board is very beneficial. Similar to Frenzy - Claw,MB combo: often you risk a Mino/Yeti Wild Animal fail eating your Blitz if you use every turn - sometimes in the context of a game its good enough to just get him in the right area risking only a move rather than a Blitz.

Re: Looking to get more betterer...

Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2017 11:19 am
by nightwing
Positioning of players. Sure, you marked that player. But if you'd been one square further left, you could have marked that player and plugged the gap that catcher ran through... Or you could have moved your Guard player in to assist in a block.

That kind of thing. I'm rubbish at it :lol:

Re: Looking to get more betterer...

Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2017 3:30 pm
by Itchen Masack
Two biggest mistakes which i felt i made as a newbie were:

1. Believing every TD had to be scored using a pass. Not rules-wise, but they do it loads on the TV in American football so it didnt feel right to grind up the pitch.
2. Scoring too quickly. Never stalling. It's boring, but you have to do it.

Re: Looking to get more betterer...

Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2017 6:46 pm
by besters
Itchen Masack wrote:Two biggest mistakes which i felt i made as a newbie were:

1. Believing every TD had to be scored using a pass. Not rules-wise, but they do it loads on the TV in American football so it didnt feel right to grind up the pitch.
2. Scoring too quickly. Never stalling. It's boring, but you have to do it.
Every Pass on offence is a failure.

Know when you can't stall any longer.

Play defence better than offence.

Re: Looking to get more betterer...

Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2017 9:31 pm
by spubbbba
The difficult thing about giving advice is that it is very situational.

A big part of the game is balancing risk/reward, sometimes you’ll be in a position where you have the option of playing safe or going for glory. It could well be that making a 5+ dodge as your first move will win you the game if it succeeds but cost it should you fail. The alternative being a safe option that will probably lead to a draw. Most general guides are aimed at new players and tend to be risk averse.

Tactics with identical teams and opposition can change between a resurrection tournament, a scheduled league or online open play.

To use your “free blocks” example, giving away free hits can be a good tactic. A lot of coaches consider a 2 dice block a “safe” move even without the block skill. However the odds of failure are 1 in 9 and if you are making 4-5 of these blocks a turn then you can easily fail every 2nd turn. The gamble is that your opponent will fail enough blocks to leave you an opening before doing too much damage to your sacrifices. Though even if they are not failing they may be slowed down enough to stop the TD.
So a valid if risky tactic against rookie lizardmen is to base the saurus and krox with high AV or cheap players whilst hunting down the skinks with blitzer types. Undead can do this with zombies and mummies and use wights to hunt whilst dwarfs use blockers and slayers to hunt. In a league or open play you’d probably avoid using runners or ghouls to base the saurus players, but you might in a resurrection tourney. The ghouls in particular have dodge so are harder to take down and

Similarly the meta of a particular league can really influence playstyle and team building. Some groups really hate fouling and stalling and that can have an influence if doing so ruins the experience for them. In scheduled leagues you also can build your players specifically to take on certain teams. Adding negating skills like grab, fend or tackle to counter certain tactics and skills.

There are even psychological tactics that can be used against opponents that have nothing to do with the game. If you the heaviest fouler in the league then an opponent might risk a win to avoid you fouling the star player they need for the rest of the season for 4 straight turns.
If you are using cards and your opponent is stalling then continually glancing at it may convince them that it is something that could stop the TD and they’ll score on T7.

Re: Looking to get more betterer...

Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2017 10:59 am
by adhansa
I think my big leaps to improve my gaming was in three areas.

1) Thinking a lot of time before the first move instead of a short time before each move. Taking the time to read the board laying up an overall strategy and prioritizing before starting moving. I find this gives some brilliant ideas, prevents a lot of errors and also saves time as i move faster in the end of the turns.

2) Set up to get 2nd/3rd chance blocks. Just don't block and push without thinking. I imagine that i will get a lot of push-results and figure out in what order and where shall i push so i get another go at it. Also figuring out in advance where i am content with just a push.

3) Hold the line. At least in simple games where there is not to many guards keeping players in a straight line instead of
placing them zig-zag prevents a lot of assists and give some additional possible block to you when your opponent is forced to go into tackle zones.

But also of course a lot of other stuff to.

Re: Looking to get more betterer...

Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2017 11:11 am
by straume
Itchen Masack wrote: 2. Scoring too quickly. Never stalling. It's boring, but you have to do it.
To elaborate a bit on this: I think many people generally rush too much and get in a position where they score too fast, or not at all. Take your time, stay a place on the pitch where you can dictate tempo to get that T8/16 TD. Don`t be afraid to backtrack a few squares to open up better offensive runs a turn or three later on.

Re: Looking to get more betterer...

Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2017 6:03 am
by harvestmouse
Play online. The amount of games you can get through in a month is massive. There's little doubt you'll learn lots of new things.

Re: Looking to get more betterer...

Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2017 2:19 pm
by nightwing
straume wrote:
Itchen Masack wrote: 2. Scoring too quickly. Never stalling. It's boring, but you have to do it.
To elaborate a bit on this: I think many people generally rush too much and get in a position where they score too fast, or not at all. Take your time, stay a place on the pitch where you can dictate tempo to get that T8/16 TD. Don`t be afraid to backtrack a few squares to open up better offensive runs a turn or three later on.
This. Dictating the pace of the game is crucial. If you get a scoring opportunity turn 5 or 6, think- do you have to score? Or have you positioned well enough for the Turn 8 TD?

Re: Looking to get more betterer...

Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2017 6:39 pm
by nazgob
Or, if you can choose to score or foul, what do you do? nightwing knows....

Re: Looking to get more betterer...

Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2017 9:36 pm
by nightwing
nazgob wrote:Or, if you can choose to score or foul, what do you do? nightwing knows....
Foul. Always foul :D

Re: Looking to get more betterer...

Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2017 8:24 am
by Aino
harvestmouse wrote:Play online. The amount of games you can get through in a month is massive. There's little doubt you'll learn lots of new things.
This!
Play online and or watch many games by fois coaches.
There are some basics you will see repeated over and over but also more race specific stuff

Fumbbl is a good place to go. If you need commentary too, check out the_Sage streaming BB2 on twitch or his YouTube Channel.
Aino- William