Human teams - Ogres and Catchers

[NightDragon 2]

Are ogres essential for a human team to have?

[NightDragon 2]

And in a fully developed human team how many catchers is it best to have, given their low strength, but high speed?

[Darkson]

1. Depends on the coach - some swear by them, some won't touch them.

2. Depends on the coach - some run all 4 as offence, some run 2 offence & 2 defense, some only run 2, some won't touch them.


Basically, find what works for you.

[burgun824]

I played humans for a while. I found the Ogre was necessary for one reason, he attracts attention from the big guys. He's there for abuse on the LOS that would normally get doled out to your more important guys. Although, they are very unreliable due to bone head. There will be that one time that you HAVE to blitz with him for whatever reason and he will fail his bonehead and loner rolls which will strip you of your blitz, a re-roll, leave you out of position and likely cost you the game all in one go.

As for catchers, they are higher TV and only ST2. I will not get on my soap box about how they should be stat line 7337 because some people get really irritated with that. However, thanks to their disproportionately high speed I like to have 2. I developed one as a true catcher (block, side step, diving catch) and one as a ball striker (dauntless, wrestle, tackle). Additional skills from there if they're lucky enough to survive, but that worked fairly well.

The key to a human team is developing your 4 blitzers. Get them skilled as fast as possible and never use an apothecary on anyone but a blitzer (unless its an end of game CAS on a real stud you don't want to lose). Also, play to the strengths of whatever stat increases you are blessed with.

[JaM]

Youo could start humans with a thrower (or 2?), 4 blitzers, ogre and no catchers. Add them later when the team is developed and is able to protect them.
2 should (or can) do in a league, in a tournament you MIGHT want to get all 4 of them and use/abuse them.

Just my 0.02€

[NightDragon 2]

Thanks folks. I have played a Human team for a while and wanted to get other opinions as I am pretty undecided myself. I agree about the Ogre only really contributing bulk and for that reason thought of cutting him (but I cant bring myself to do it). I currently run 3 catchers, as catchers, and hadn't thought of giving one dauntless- my concern would be the inevitable failed roll and a st 2 wimp hitting someone tough.
I was thinking of the following two options, but am quite unsure as to how I got here:
1. Keep the Ogre, drop a catcher and replace with a lineman
2. Drop the Ogre and add another catcher
You will note that one is more of a fighting outfit and the other more for speed and outscoring.
Given my indecision any opinions as to whether I should keep my current line up (4 blitzers and an Ogre, a thrower, 3 catchers and 5 linemen) or swap to one of the two above?

[siggyllama]

In my experience, trying to go the fighting route is playing a losing game. Your speed + developed blitzers will be enough to handle agile teams; the bashy teams will crush you no matter how bashy you try to be. You have to counter them with speed and (here's the real challenge with Humans) maneuverability. I find Catchers essential to the strategy but they get carted off in bunches, which means you need a bunch of them.

[NightDragon 2]

What you say makes sense, but would not the harder version do well against Elves and still be faster than bashy teams with 4 blitzers and 2 catchers? I think this is my main problem I can't resolve. Linemen with dauntless would be useful.

[siggyllama]

That's the great thing anout Blood Bowl. There's not one right answer. Find what suits your style.

[mattgslater]

In FUMBBL [R] Division, I'm 22-6-4 with no Ogre and 31-14-15 with an Ogre.

Ogres are fun and sometimes nice to have, but in the net they're a liability.

One Catcher is awesome. More is optional; more than two is at least a bit suboptimal.

[DixonCider]

purely theorybowl, but if you want to play with multiple catchers wouldn't it be better to play some flavor of elf instead?

[NightDragon 2]

I've decided I'm going with 2 catchers and an Ogre. I love the unpredictability of Humans, one of the best teams to play.

[Overhamsteren]

In FUMBBL Division some of the best human teams at both high and low TV have had an ogre. (and some of the best teams have not!)

[burgun824]

With the Ogre I think it comes down to experience level. I think strong coaches can probably perform better without.

I wouldn't know what that's like though, so I always have one.

[Overhamsteren]

Dunno, weaker coaches will probably be hurt more on average by his unreliability since they don't safeguard as much in case he fails something.