Playing with four slann blitzers

[Ullis]

Hello!

I'm looking for ideas on how to build slann blitzers, especially when there's 4 of them on the team. I've been intrigued by trying to run all four of them and recently started a team on Fumbbl's Blackbox. The starting lineup was 3 blitzers, 1 catcher, 7 linos and 3 rerolls. I had enough winnings and savings so that I could buy the fourth blitzer after the second game. The third game was played with all blitzers and no catchers (as the lone catcher was missing the game due to -MA).

Now the team looks like this:
Blitzer, Block, 13 spp's
Blitzer, Block, 8 spp's
Blitzer, Block, 6 spp's
Blitzer, 2 spp's
Catcher, -MA, 3 spp's
Lino, Guard, 6 spp's
3 linos, 5 spp's
1 lino, 2 spp's
2 linos

3 rerolls, 70k in the bank

I've really been focusing on scoring with the blitzers and they've scored 7 out of 9 TD's plus 4 casualties. As a result I'm going to get the second skill on a blitzer any game now. So please help with ideas on how to build the blitzers and in what order to take skills! Any experiences about your own 4 blitzer teams will be highly appreciated as well.

My team for reference: http://fumbbl.com/FUMBBL.php?page=team& ... _id=680823

[Dr. Von Richten]

After Block, you can't go wrong with Dodge (unless your league is Tackle heavy), Guard and Side Step*. At least on two, possibly even on all four of them.

Secondary options, after the obligatory Blodge, would be the Killer with Mighty Blow and Piling On, and the Marker with Side Step* and Tackle.

*Since you have both S and A access on normal rolls (the only player besides the Vampire!!!), you could take Stand Firm instead of Side Step, but I believe the flexibility of the latter generally trumps the roadblock function of the former, especially on a team which isn't made for sturdyness.

[nick_nameless]

*Since you have both S and A access on normal rolls (the only player besides the Vampire!!!), you could take Stand Firm instead of Side Step, but I believe the flexibility of the latter generally trumps the roadblock function of the former, especially on a team which isn't made for sturdyness.

with 4 blitzers I think you should have 2 of each once the pieces are developed. I like 2 wrestle builds and 2 block builds.

Something like:
1) Block, Mighty Blow, Tackle, Sidestep. Juggernaut if you get a fifth skill.
2) Block, Guard, Sidestep, Mighty Blow. Grab if you get a fifth skill
3) Wrestle, Tackle, Dodge, Stand Firm. Strip Ball if you get a fifth skill.
4) Wrestle, Stand Firm, Dodge, Shadowing. Sure Feet if you get a fifth skill.

Clearly stat boosts have to be taken into account. I probably wouldn't bother with move or AV on these guys, but I would take Str or AG every time, and then that might affect my choices.

[Jimmy Fantastic]

One blitzer at least needs to get pomb. probably combined with block tackle and jump up

[dines]

I wouldn't go wrestle on a blitzer, thats for the linemen and possibly a catcher or two. Wrestle does not have any synergy with the strength skills, so I see it as a waste.

I'd follow Jimmy and say one (or two) block, mb, po and two-three blodge, guard, ss ones.

[Tourach]

I wouldn't go wrestle on a blitzer, thats for the linemen and possibly a catcher or two. Wrestle does not have any synergy with the strength skills, so I see it as a waste.

I'd follow Jimmy and say one (or two) block, mb, po and two-three blodge, guard, ss ones.

ditto

[nick_nameless]

Funny...you see that the other skills on that piece are all agility except for SF...so I agree about the synergy. The Blitzers start with three agility skills and I like to maximize that.

[Ullis]

Thanks for the replies so far.

I agree that Wrestle on the blitzers isn't too good. Any lino can take Wrestle and Wrestle combos badly with Diving Tackle, hitting skills, Side Step and Guard.

I think I'll do the following now:

Next Block blitzer to skill up: MB, PO, Tackle
The second and third Block blitzers to skill up: Dodge, Side Step/Guard
Fourth, no skill, blitzer: MB, PO, Block

I want a hitty blitzer as soon as possible. The fourth blitzer can start off with MB and PO before Block since I should have some Wrestle on the linos by then anyway so that I have enough Block and Wrestle on the team for reliable blocking. It'll also give him a leg up on the spp front.

In an ideal world I'll have:

2 blitzers with Block, MB, PO, Tackle, Dodge, Fend
2 blitzers with Block, Dodge, Side Step, Guard, Fend

I guess the flaw in that plan is that those non-hitty blitzers will have to rely on mvp's and td's to skill up so getting to a fourth skill will be a struggle. That might mean that I'll have to apply some judgement into whether to take Side Step or Guard first. Making them blodgers is I think a priority so I can position them with more ease.

I'll also never be able to digest all that TV in the Fumbbl Blackbox.

[nick_nameless]

Just curious, but if you are running four blitzers and four catchers, how many linos are you fielding? You are generally going to just have line scrubs who are constantly getting knocked down and getting back up. If you have more than four aren't you starting to suffer from some serious bloat?

My Slann team has 24 games, and I just don't see the line frogs skilling up all that often. You'll rarely get a good wrestling ball sacker build out of a Lino.

Wrestle also combos nicely with Jump Up, so while it might not be the best with DT, it is pretty good when backed by Dodge and Jump Up.

[Ullis]

That's a good point. Add a kroxigor to the mix and there isn't much room for linos!

But just Wrestle makes a lino into a pretty decent blitzer for the aerial assault. Strip Ball and Tackle are just icing.

[dines]

I'd probably pick guard just after block on one of your blodge, ss, guard blitzers unless you get an early double on a catcher. Games will be much easier if you have that mobile guard.

[Smeborg]

It had occurred to me to run a Slann team with no Catchers... Would you consider dropping your lone Catcher? Is he used just as ball distributor?

In a sense Wrestle is a good match with both Jump Up and Diving Tackle. But of course with lots of Linos, you have the luxury of being able to give Block to all the Blitzers.

I too find it relatively easy to score with the Blitzers, if you prioritise such.

I think you will need some early Guard on at least some of the Blitzers. Relying on doubles on Linos will likely not work.

How many players and RRs will you end up with, do you think?

All the best and good luck with the team.

[Ullis]

I think my aim would be 12-13 players and 4 rerolls.

I think forgetting about the catchers completely would be silly. They're so much more mobile than the AG3 frogs and AG4 also makes them excellent ball handlers. They're also essential for the aerial cage assault as they're much better at scooping up loose balls, especially as the reroll for the turn is very likely spent already in which case AG4 leaping, dodging and Sure Hands are at a premium. All those are good catcher skills. Last, if I'm down to say, 6 players, offence is pretty much impossible without at least one catcher.

My current thinking is that I'll aim to have two catchers. One will get Dodge, Block, Sure Hands, Side Step. The other will go for Dodge, Block and Side Step. Doubles will be Guard because it's that good on AG4.

That comes out at 4 blitzers, 2 catchers and 6-7 linos. I still don't have any idea what to do about the kroxigor.

[Chris]

When i eventually play Slann i will be keen to try 2 slann catchers with kick off return for total backfield coverage!

[nick_nameless]

I play with 4 blitzers and three catchers, mainly because I am lucky enough to have an AG boosted LF. I think that if I were to lose that LF the I would go back to 4 catchers. The 2+ leap is so key to the team's success because you have so much TV invested in VLL and Leap.

EDIT: And no Krox, although I so have a S4 linefrog as well...and if he dies I might replace him with a Krox.