Calling all human coaches Advice needed

[TheDoc]

I am going to use the catchers more defensively so I am sure one of them will bite the dust soon enough and relieve me of the 150TV.

The rookie thrower I will buy again when I get some losses in the player department.

I have 330,000gp banked so I can afford some new players when it happens

[Smurf]

I know the MO around here is line with kick but I'd rather give kick to a second thrower. Also many teams would benefit from it and it gives the offensive thrower some bench time and not be scoring points. Not a fan of giving throwers block either but that's humans who only get GP rather ag teams with GAP. IMO the thrower is supposed to pick up ball and throw it/hand off. So anything that helps them do that.

Accurate, Strongarm (double), Safe Throw and Nerves of steel. Maybe with slower moving teams that an Accurate, NoS and Dump off combo would work, someone challenges the thrower and he tosses it back to a waiting reciever... then block would be welcomed.

[Oly1987]

In my ranked human team I was lucky enough to get +ag on my thrower and he also has block, accurate and dump off. I took dump off as my last skill and have found it invaluable. Really messes with with your opponent when he blitzes him only for it to end up in the hands of one of you other players. Combine that with some well developed blitzers (guard all round is a must, more is better) and you can easily blitz your new ball carrier free to score. As for the defensive drive I'm no expert but I find against slower teams your best just trying to stand off them to minimise their blocks and slow them down and try and force an opening to get the ball. Against fast teams you want to pile on the pressure and stick TZ's on them and force your way to the ball carrier. In both instances guard is a valuable asset allowing you to mark 2 players and still provide assists. Like i say I'm no expert but that's my pennies worth

[Bathoz]

I'm posting a link to Coach's bb tactics forum, because in it is one of the more comprehensive and (frankly) good humans tactics guides I've read. Give it a look:

http://bbtactics.com/forums/lrb6-though ... ash-t1101/

[Hitonagashi]

I'm posting a link to Coach's bb tactics forum, because in it is one of the more comprehensive and (frankly) good humans tactics guides I've read. Give it a look:

http://bbtactics.com/forums/lrb6-though ... ash-t1101/

A draw is an acceptable result

That put me right off it before he'd hardly got started...

[mattgslater]

I'm posting a link to Coach's bb tactics forum, because in it is one of the more comprehensive and (frankly) good humans tactics guides I've read. Give it a look:

http://bbtactics.com/forums/lrb6-though ... ash-t1101/

A draw is an acceptable result

That put me right off it before he'd hardly got started...

+1. Coach is a smart guy, but there's no room in my mindset for calling a draw "acceptable" except under very unfavorable circumstances, such as against a great coach, or after getting wrecked in the first few turns.

[MKL]

A draw is an acceptable result

That put me right off it before he'd hardly got started...

Are you really quoting Coach?
I'm under the impression that such "Guide" is by some Nufflehatesme, junior member (9 post, joined sep 2011) of Coach's forum... or is it Coach's alias?

[Smeborg]

I think you guys are being a little harsh on what appears to me to be a well written playbook, with a coherent style and message. The coach is just saying that Humies would do well to emphasise "bash" more. The details suggests he is not really saying they are a great "bash" team (he lists 7 serious "bash" opponents as "tough" or "tough, tough"). When he says a draw is an acceptable result, I suggest he is also saying not to over-reach, and to put pressure on the opposing coach if he wants to win.

Just my thoughts. All the best.

[nufflehatesme]

I'm posting a link to Coach's bb tactics forum, because in it is one of the more comprehensive and (frankly) good humans tactics guides I've read. Give it a look:

http://bbtactics.com/forums/lrb6-though ... ash-t1101/

A draw is an acceptable result

That put me right off it before he'd hardly got started...

+1. Coach is a smart guy, but there's no room in my mindset for calling a draw "acceptable" except under very unfavorable circumstances, such as against a great coach, or after getting wrecked in the first few turns.

heh. way to go disregard an article without actually looking at the contents.
quick example, 1-0 down at half time against orcs. do you score in 2-3 turns and go for the win, or 4-6 turns, still go for the win but make it much harder to lose?
hope you like the read smeborg, comments and criticism, thoughts and opinions welocme.

[Smeborg]

hope you like the read smeborg, comments and criticism, thoughts and opinions welocme.

The playbook and recommended development paths are coherent, and I expect that what you put forward is a valid way to play Humies. The only questions I have as an occasional Humie coach are (a) whether you are getting the best out of their MA advantage (e.g. having at least 2 Catchers on the field on defense) and (b) what about playing without an Ogre (I am open-minded, but it certainly saves a lot of TV).

All the best.

[mattgslater]

heh. way to go disregard an article without actually looking at the contents.

Wasn't referencing the article as a whole, just that one line. IMO, playing for the draw is a loser's mentality, and there's no way to sugarcoat it, no exceptions, no case where a half-measure shouldn't feel like total failure, unless maybe you needed the draw to win the tourney or rise in the standings at the end of the season, or possibly if you went into the match thinking little of your hopes. Even then, that's strategic/seasonal/personal rather than tactical/in-game/objective. That tie then becomes a "didn't perform but squeaked through" or "denied the other guy the satisfaction I couldn't have" rather than a success.

quick example, 1-0 down at half time against orcs. do you score in 2-3 turns and go for the win, or 4-6 turns, still go for the win but make it much harder to lose?

Those are both "playing for the win" in my book. But I still am completely allergic to the concept of a draw as halfway between a win and a loss: the game is about winning (okay, it's about having fun, but that's achieved by your opponent putting up the best effort he can towards a win: you owe it to your opponent to pull out all the stops), and a tie is a loss with an asterisk, like an F-plus, an indicator that you and your opponent are BOTH too sucky to come away with a W.

[Aliboon]

mattslater:

A tie is a tie, not a loss with an asterix. Just because you're North American and don't understand the concept of a draw, please don't denigrate those who do.

Hard fought draws are better games than easy wins imo. And why do you say there are no exceptions "...where a half-measure shouldn't feel like total failure..." then list a few

Anyway, back to topic. I think 16 players is two too many, I think I'd drop a lino and the rookie thrower, or two linos. You need some more tackle if woodies and skaven are running rings around you, more guard wouldn't go amiss either.

Not sure on what to get your thrower, + MA is always good for a thrower, but with Strong Arm and Accurate, you should be able to manage 2+ passes most of the time anyway if you do pass, but if you run with it, then the MA7 should come in useful. If he often gets sacked, then Dump Off might be an option, otherwise Safe Throw to protect from INTs when you need to go over the top, neither skill you should "want" to use, but they might occasionally come in useful.

[Aliboon]

Oh, and an Ogre with block is more than just a road block imo. Try to get 3ds as much as possible and then he's only got a ~0.5% of turning over (although I would say your killer blitzer is the better blitz candidate) more MB blocks can't be a bad thing.

[MKL]

Hi NHM.

I read your “thoughts & tactics” and found it a good read. Again, such guides tempt me to give humans another try
I found interesting the second point of your “quick gameplan”: take Dodge on most doubles, followed by its two corollary: target Tackle opponents first and build wrodge Linemen.
Common wisdom is to take Guard on Line's doubles, but I like your take (somehow, my Guard Linemen always failed their assigned duty). On second thought, maybe Wrodge got a better synergy with Fend, and with the Linemen's screening duty.

My biggest doubt arise from your reliance on receiving first. In particular, you wrote:
on the plus side most bash coach's like to receive first, and you will want to kick first EVERY TIME against bash, so this shouldnt happen too often.
My experience is the opposite: bash teams will happily kick and grind the hell out of me. Agi teams I can bash, but bash teams I found hard to evade...

PS: the “draw is acceptable” don't trouble me. Sometimes, to win a league, you have to play for a draw. Not nice maybe, but it's like stalling, a feature of the (meta)game.

[Megr1m]

Another thing; playing for a draw is an AMAZING way of encouraging your opponent into making stupid choices. Especially once he realises that you are going to sit on the 1-1 and have no intention of giving him anything other than the one point. Almost as good as fielding DE Assassins.