(Un-)Living NecroTacticum: Necros vs the world of Blood Bowl

[Digger Goreman]

This is fine for Necro discussion...

Be sure to take Johnny in perspective: he plays dwarves, aka the co-cheesiest spambots in the game... with all that block, and stupidly designed spam access to guard, of course he just throws blocks....

With Necros you have to choose your scrums carefully....

[squirrelfanatic]

Alright, the next round of matches is about to kick off and I'll be facing this lovely gang of Undead (experienced coach):

Mummy 1 Mighty Blow, Regeneration, Block, Tackle
Mummy 2 +ST
Wight 1 Blodge, Regeneration, Guard
Wight 2 Block, Regeneration, Guard
Ghoul 1 Blodge, +1ST, [-MV]
Ghoul 2 Dodge, Wrestle, Mighty Blow, Tackle, [-AG]
Ghoul 3 promotion, nothing chosen yet
Ghoul 4 nothing
Skeleton 1 Regeneration, Thick Skull, Kick
Skeleton 2 Regeneration, Thick Skull, Block
Zombie 1 Regneration, Block, Tackle
Zombie 2 Regeneration
Zombie 3 Regeneration

My team is still almost unskilled: 1 WW, 1 Ghoul (promotion, rolled doubles, thinking Guard), 2 FG, 2 Wights, 5 Zombies, 3 rerolls. I'm also literally swimming in money, my last winnings were 20k rerolled into 30k. That's almost a whole Zombie!

TV total opponent: 1580 (1560 + the one promotion on Ghoul 3, no idea if it's a double or regular skill, let's assume the latter)
TV total my Necro: 1040 (1010 + one double)
Makes 540k in inducements. I've noticed the lack of Sure Hands on my opponent's team (although that may change with the remaining promotion), so I was considering taking again Setekh (220k), as well as a Wizard (150k), maybe one Zombie with Dirty Player (120k) and Bloodweiser Babes.

As usual, thoughts and helpful input are highly welcome!

[Digger Goreman]

Alright, the next round of matches is about to kick off and I'll be facing this lovely gang of Undead (experienced coach):

Mummy 1 Block, Tackle
Mummy 2 +ST
Wight 1 dodge, Guard
Wight 2 Guard
Ghoul 1 block, +1ST, [-MV]
Ghoul 2 Wrestle, Mighty Blow, Tackle, [-AG]
Ghoul 3 promotion, nothing chosen yet
Ghoul 4 nothing
Skeleton 1 Kick
Skeleton 2 Block
Zombie 1 Block, Tackle
Zombie 2
Zombie 3

540k in inducements. I've noticed the lack of Sure Hands on my opponent's team (although that may change with the remaining promotion), so I was considering taking again Setekh (220k), as well as a Wizard (150k), maybe one Zombie with Dirty Player (120k) and Bloodweiser Babes.

As usual, thoughts and helpful input are highly welcome!

Did you french kiss the promoter's wife and get caught?!! You seem to get the damnedest matchups....

I think setekh is the way to go this game... and a wizard to either fireball a guard heavy grouping, or lightning bolt that +St ghoul whom I assume will be his ball carrier....

Kick to him and hunt his ghouls (rookies first if possible), while staying four+ from his mummies, or giving them a zombie to occupy their time.... Remember that their mummies, and the -ag ghoul, can be screened two squares away, forcing them to dodge into tackle zones which they won't do.... Downing the bunched up mummies with a fireball requires them spend their whole normal move just getting up....

When you kick, set up interior (no one on the sides) and counterattack his ghouls should they try either side.... Look for creative surfing opportunities using lateral blocks and your werewolf.... I think you should forego the dp zed and think along the lines of a surehands ghoul merc.... Let him fetch the ball and hand it to your ag3 players.... If a zed can fall down in such a way that the mummies are channeled/screened because of the body on the ground, then risk the 50/50 dodge (as the last thing you do)... remembering that the ground does NOT have mighty blow....

If, by chance, he takes surehands on his ghoul (he must do this before you choose your inducements), a merc ghoul with wrestle might be wiser....

[squirrelfanatic]

That's some good input there, thanks again, Digger. I hadn't thought of the Ghoul merc possibility, but it certainly makes sense.

Concerning the matchups: The league is structured in ranks, where each rank is split into two divisions for faster turnover rates. However, in each rank all teams are shuffled before they get assigned to a division. Last season had some developed teams from a higher rank drop down into mine/the rookie one (that's why my last opponent had those helpful injuries).

It surely is tough, I'll just have to see how it goes.

[MKL]

As another option, I can add Setekh+ Wilhelm Chaney.
Another set of claws can unnerve him, and you can make the sidelines really dangerous.

Edit: just read that the Cyanide client doesn't feature Wilhelm Chaney. Oh well...

[squirrelfanatic]

Yeah, it's really a shame that the Star Player options in Cyanide's version are so limited. Can't imagine how it is for Skaven players, they just get Headsplitter I think... Would love to take Wilhelm.

I'll try to watch some extra matches on Fumbbl before I have the game, just to get some additional ideas about proper positioning/formations. I have to say though, it is pretty difficult for me to infer the reasoning behind certain moves just from looking at them.

[squirrelfanatic]

Update: Had my match tonight, lost 2-0 with a turn 16 score (rerolled GFI from an enemy Ghoul), never came close to scoring. Lots of injuries during the game, including a total of 3 deaths, of which 2 regenerated. My Wolf killed a Blodge Guard Wight though, so I guess that's something. No permanent injuries on my side too. Went with Setekh, Wizard, Sure Hands Ghoul.

The game started off with a bunch of KOs and regenerated injuries, leaving me with fewer players than my opponent. Then one of my FGs went out with a BH that didn't regenerate and I felt the lack of muscle the whole game through. Lateron we got heavy rain and I just couldn't get the ball off the ground.

Quite disappointing on the one hand but I also didn't expect to do much better on the other.

[squirrelfanatic]

Another small update. Had my third match against a Lizardmen team that had a TV advantage of 540 or so and lost. This match was full of stupid mistakes on my part, lost my Wolfie (BH) in the second turn to poor positioning and then got beat up because I didn't spread out my players far enough to avoid my enemy's ST advantage and Mighty Blow. Wasted my Wizard in the first half. Chose to receive first. And so on and so forth. When one of my FGs died I already retired the team in my mind. Teaches me not to play BB when tired and/or stressed out from other things.

Since I'm going on vacations soon anyway, I can let some time pass and think about how to proceed. I would definitely like to continue playing BB but probably not in the current league. Has anyone made some good experiences with some of the bigger online Cyanide leagues that s/he can recommend? I was thinking Orca Cola or something similar.

[squirrelfanatic]

Update time (and sorry for the triple post)!

After some consideration, I've decided to give my Necros a quick reboot. I'm now looking at a fresh start with them in a 9 game season. Since I was pretty content with the starting roster, I've stuck to the following (1k TV):

2x Flesh Golem
2x Wight
1x Wolf
1x Ghoul
5x Zombie

3x RR

The league roster is looking pretty beefy so far (still possible that one or two teams will be swapped out) with 3(!)x Chaos Dwarves, 1x Dwarf, 1x Human, 1x Lizardmen, 2x other Necros, 1x Orcs. The skill level will most likely be somewhere between not-so-unexperienced and very experienced. Well, apart from me, obviously.

Thoughts so far, against...

- ChD: Try to get the slow players bogged down close to the line while pressuring the ball with Ghoul and Wolf early on, try for the sidelines. One of the teams is probably going to bring a Mino, -2D that guy with a Zombie.
- Dwarf: Similar to ChD, lock opposition near the line, score defensive TDs.
- Lizardmen: Not so sure with this one, have had some trouble in my last match against all the St4, probably trying to blitz with the Wights and get some Skinks off the pitch. Hope for a surf against the Sauri.
- Orcs: ???
- Humans: Get Zombies next to the Blitzers and possibly the Ogre, jam in the Golems somewhere close to the LoS.
- Mirrors: Hope for better rolls? No idea, tbh. One of the teams is appears to be running the same roster as I am, the other one has decided to get two Wolves at the cost of one less Golem and the Ghoul.

No idea about the order in which I'll face the opposition, but I guess I'm going to keep posting the upcoming match-ups in here or start a fresh thread if I find the time. In case anyone's interested in teaching a new player a lesson or two, I'd be up for some FUMBBLing too (never played there before, but I do have an account and a 1000TV Necro team created).

[Digger Goreman]

Do keep it here! I am sure we can all benefit from the examinations.... I find Necros best at 12 game seasons, needing at least 6 games to reach a comfortable stride.... Let us know the matchups ahead of game time and we will help....

[squirrelfanatic]

Ok, the match-ups are out, I'll be having a mirror match for my first match. Both teams are rookie Necros, 1000TV. My opponent's roster is as follows (I guess it could change until matchday):

2x Wolves,
2x Flesh Golem,
1x Wight,
6x Zombie

3x RR

So, less starting Block and no Ghoul but both Wolfies, meaning my positionals will have to watch out where they're going. Not much to say for this match I guess, I'll spectate some more games and see if I can find some good opening setups. Saw an interesting 101 (to go with mattgslater's notation) where ones are Golems and 0 is a Zombie on the line. Actually, let me draw you a picture:

Clipboard01.jpg

The two Zs in the widezones would have to be moved more towards the sideline to avoid easy T1 surfes from the Wolves, and maybe I shouldn't put the FGs on the line against a team with as much muscle as mine... hm... Standard ziggurat setup then on defense?

[Jimmy Fantastic]

Use the boat to protect ur good mens vs other bash.

[squirrelfanatic]

Something like this? Further back? Alternative order?

Clipboard01.jpg

[Jimmy Fantastic]

This formation, zombies in the 5 most vulnerable positions, FG where the central NWs are and your ag3 mens where the pests are.

[Digger Goreman]

SF: he will likely have the wight as his ball fetcher, imo, so the two wolves will be your main containment problem.... I would consider giving both sidelines and punishing him if he accepts the bait.... Spread your front 3.... I would like to see the ghoul and wolf a couple squares behind the linebackers and in the middle as a ready reaction force to either side of the pitch....