Skill path for AG5 WE Catcher?

[Smeborg]

Just played my first WE game for many years in our friendly open league. The team will play perhaps 20 games.

The only skill I got from the first game was +AG on a Catcher, which of course I will take.

My questions are simple: Are there any prevailing views on how to develop him? How have y'all developed such a pleasant player?

[Roster after 1 game is: 2xWDs, 1x Thr, Ca (+AG), Ca (-1MA, MNG), Ca (MNG), 5x Linos, 1xRR, 1xFF, Apoth, 10,000 gps. As you can see from the CAS, my style is a bit gung-ho and I don't care overmuch about player safety. I expect to save for the Tree as next purchase, for learning purposes and fun.]

All the best.

[neverworking]

obviously you may want to take block next. there will certainly be some who will argue for leap; however i recently had one and ended up giving him sure hands. cant tell you how many times i used him to pick up a spilled ball in traffic on defense. given your lack of rerolls it might be useful at other times too. side step may still be the better 3rd skill though.

[plasmoid]

If you think you can protect him, I'd take Sure Hands

[nazgob]

Agreed. You will probably want leap, block and sure hands, but at the moment sure hands will be best if you can keep him alive.

My problem is that I rolled +Ag on a rookie lineman. Now I have to keep him alive until I can get him dodge

[Smurf]

Pass block, Leap, Nos on double, shadowing, Sidestep.

Use only on defence. I envy you!

[solarflare]

Use only on defence. I envy you!

Not too sure about this. Is it really sound to have a player with TV130 as a defense-only player?

I think I would go block then sidestep as the next 2 skills for this catcher. Especially with your current roster having as few players/the mangled players. But I think I would go block/sidesteps regardless of the roster. Will be interested, though, to see if someone can convince me here that I am not correct.

[Smurf]

Just played my first WE game for many years in our friendly open league. The team will play perhaps 20 games.

The only skill I got from the first game was +AG on a Catcher, which of course I will take.

My questions are simple: Are there any prevailing views on how to develop him? How have y'all developed such a pleasant player?

[Roster after 1 game is: 2xWDs, 1x Thr, Ca (+AG), Ca (-1MA, MNG), Ca (MNG), 5x Linos, 1xRR, 1xFF, Apoth, 10,000 gps. As you can see from the CAS, my style is a bit gung-ho and I don't care overmuch about player safety. I expect to save for the Tree as next purchase, for learning purposes and fun.]

All the best.

Apart from reading my playblook. You'll like it, but you really have gone OTT on the Catchers. You need the 8 line.

Until the coffers fill and you get more line, dump the -MA catcher on the LOS... so what if he dies. On offence use the MNG catcher and hold the good one back (keep him away) and only bring him forward on defence.

IMO (see playbook) 2WD, 1 Thrower, 1 Catcher and 7 Line with an Apoth would have been ok. You could even down grade the Catcher to the 8th Line and dump the money into a Reroll.

But now you have what you've got. Do not waste block on a AG5 Catcher, I would ignore an AG5 block catcher because it is nothing special. Also I would not bother with an AG5 lineman either, not worth it.

AG5 Catchers need to work on everything that enhances bringing AG5 into play, even by denial of plays from the opposition.

[Smeborg]

Thanks, guys. All good food for thought.

[Drool_bucket]

I have been blessed with AG 5 Catchers before... they are wonderous tools.

I did Block, then Leap then Sure Hands. Sidestep and Sure Feet to round things out if you make it that far, people like to go after these guys. Safe Throw on Doubles might be interesting. I did find a I did a lot of throwing with him after he would retrieve the ball, and often their would be an intercept attempt...

[Aliboon]

AG5 begs for leap. You'll also need something to keep him alive, block for me > wrestle as you'll wanna keep him on his feet.

[Digger Goreman]

If you think you can protect him, I'd take Sure Hands

They all get taken down eventually, just with Ag5:

[JaM]

Richard ftw !

[juck101]

Wrestle leap ss and use him like a extra Wd. Players will still need to gun for the WD so he may make a lot of games.

He can catch in a zone so practically an easy score if left upright. I think he's a defensive peice so being a fast leaper you just must get a blocking skill to use the threat. Passblock is an option but frankly leap block are far more use. He's very weak to 3d so also keep him wide and burn rubber. 11 squares of threat are pretty hard to ignore whilst you try to avoid 2wds

[Smeborg]

Thanks, juck, I also have an inclination towards Wrestle. In my last game, I started a defensive drive with 9 men, and suffered a Pitch Invasion at -2 Fame. This left me with 7 players stunned or KOd, one player prone, and one player standing (the AG5 Catcher). As anything else would have conceded the drive (and probably the game), I launched a suicide blitz on the ball carrier with this guy. It succeeded (on a double both down); unfortunately the ball scattered favourably for my opponent. AG5 + Dodge is what enabled him to get at the ball. I too see him as primarily a defensive player.

[I still lost the drive and the game, but the sack was fun, and I would attempt the same again.]

I will have more experience with this team before I have to decide on his next skill, so please keep the suggestions coming.

All the best.

[Smeborg]

Guard, Guard, Guard. Somebody put something in the team's half-time oranges. Following the +1AG on the Catcher, I now have 3 Guard Linos (one with -1MA, but never mind). That's 4 skill advances without a normal roll. I retired the -1MA Catcher and have just got back to 11 players again:

Tree, 2xWDs, Thrower, 2xCatchers, 5xLinos, 1xRR, Apoth

The WDs are retarded in their growth due to a marked tendency to roll double ones or double skulls in lieu of scoring (at least once each per game). But they will get there soon (I am thinking Tackle, followed by S-Step, M-Blow on doubles).

My next question is this: normally I give Dodge to Linos, but it seems I should give Block to the 3 Guard Linos as their next skill. As well as protecting them a little, it will enable them to block and follow up in a scrum, in order to advance their Guard. And if I don't give them Block, it will be an age before I have much Block on the team as a whole. Obviously I will buy some more Linos now, to have something to put on the LoS... As and when the Tree gets his first skill, Guard seems appropriate, to make it 4 Guards, no?

Because of what is happening to the team as a whole, Wrestle is looking like a potentially appropriate choice on the Catchers, especially the AG5 one.

Do you all agree with this thinking?