Orc team- Troll or no troll?!

[Jackolas]

Hi guys,
Currently coaching an Orc team that have just started their second season. They can be seen here-http://www.level10.org/BloodBowl/index. ... obj_id=146

They are doing great and I love playing them. I have never wanted a troll as to me the seem completely unreliable. However after reading a lot and hearing the fantastic 3DB how with the Orc genius that is Matt Slater, I find myself questioning if I should buy a troll or not.

What do you all think? Imntotally stuck and it's a big outlay or something I'm bot sure about.

Thanks in advance!

P.S- any other development suggestions for my team would be great too! ( I'm planning on skilling the other two blitzers next game)

[inkpwn]

He can throw goblins, hold the line and bash other big guys well. He is better than the standard lineman that sits in his place.
Buy him. 'Nuff said.

[purdindas]

I wouldn't go as far as to sat Matt was a genious (injest) but he does have a point. Get a Troll, Do it Now!! Expect him to fail but rejoice when he succeeds!

[Smeborg]

Doubleskulls, who is I think the top Orc tournament player, and no doubt one of the more experienced Orc coaches, recommends taking a Troll.

I am open-minded, and think that the team works fine without one. I guess in 5th/6th Edition it depends on whether you like having a lean TV (having a Lino instead will save you 6 points of TV). The main drawbacks of a Troll are his general unreliability (Loner/R-Stupid), his lack of G-skill access (= more unreliability), and the need to put a minder next to him (to partially negate his R-Stupid). If you do little with him (i.e. treat him like a static lump) his unreliability is less of a problem.

On the plus side, he adds a fair bit of weight to the team (can be useful on the LoS or when facing other Big Guys) and he can chuck Gobbos (one turn score capability is not to be sneezed at, especially in a league of any length).

Good luck, whatever choice you make.

[Digger Goreman]

Orcs are over-efficient, with terribly undercosted players and too many positionals.... And giving them access to Ag players is over-the-top.... They really don't need a one turner option and, in the early stages, doubt they'd give up the 4 Blitzer + 4 Blorc option to have one....

(Having said that, I actually like the Troll and gobbo or two at the start.... *shrug*)

Nevertheless, you have an established team that can be forgiving of a stupid rookie troll and no doubt (Av9 monger!) have plenty of cash to replace splattered/eaten goblin(s)....

Now, if your league is composed partially of twink teams, i.e. elves and dwarves, you may need the possibility of that one turn equalizer, especially if you're having (or had) trouble clearing the fromage from the pitch....

[RogueThirteen]

Digger Goreman's ability to turn every thread into why elf and dwarf teams aren't "real" teams is more trollish than even this thread, which is about frickin' actual trolls.


Nonetheless, if you do take a Troll always take a Goblin with it, as the one turn score is always a nice option against any team.

[mattgslater]

I'm hot-and-cold on Trolls, but I think the proper attitude is a general propensity to take one for bulwark value. If they don't get lucky and either score a few Cas or suck up an MVP, you really need to make the most of their added weight. Even then, they're worth it: drive the action into them, and your opponent must invest a lot to get through a guy you didn't have high expectations for anyway.

[Digger Goreman]

Reading his team... don't know... not as highly advanced as might be needed for a troll:

2x Lineman, one with kick
1x KOR, Accurate, NOS thrower (wow, what you feedin' that guy?!)
4x Blorcs, two with Block
2x Blitzers, stock
1x Blitzer, +St
1x Blitzer, +Ag and Sure Hands

Not having any reserves, and with two monster Blitzers, I think a Troll and a couple of Gobbos wouldn't be a bad investment anyways.... You can pull your star thrower off the field on defense.... You might want to flank the Big Lug with those two Blorc Block artists, both for minder assist(s) and in case he goes stupid/doubles down....

Then, again... two linemen are cheaper and handle the ball better....

[mattgslater]

I think it's really hard to talk about what's optimal. If I were to start an Orc team in an online matching format, it would look very different at all levels of development from a scheduled league team.

Box Orcs: 4x Blocker, 4x Blitzer, 3x Goblin, 1x Lino (12 men), 3x TRR, 10k bank. Purchase Order: Apo, replace dead positionals, Thrower, Troll, replace dead whatever.. Goblins are LOSfodder against heavies (except Dwarfs). Lino goes for DP track, is not replaced if he dies.

League Orcs: 4x Blocker, 4x Blitzer, 2x Lino, 1x Thrower, 3x TRR, 10k bank. Purchase order: Apo, replace dead positionals, Troll, Thrower or Goblin or nothing, depending on relative values and compositions.

Don't be afraid to bench the Troll if you have to. Never get suckered into feeling like his high cost means you need to squeeze every last turn out of him. He's great when he drives your opponent crazy and forces him to do risky things, or when Mighty Blow takes its toll, and not even as good as a lineman when you don't have a plan to funnel the action into his face.

[Jackolas]

Wow, thanks for the replies!
My division consists of 3 Orc team (both with trolls and guard B.O's) a vampire team, a human team and also a dark elf team.

I'm thinking that with a troll on the L.O.S against the other Orc teams with all the guard I'm just gonna get steamrollered.

It's a tricky decision

[Penwaaagh]

With no guard in the team so far, I would purchase the troll

[Smurf]

The easy way to give him the Troll some safety is Pile On. Every time he hits, he goes down to squish stuff. Which means he won't be hitting every turn and those nasty dice won't hurt him so much. Of course if your first skill is a double then block and you have a monster in the making... as far a Trolls go anyway.

[mattgslater]

With no guard in the team so far, I would purchase the troll

+1.

[dsavillian]

I'm thinking that with a troll on the L.O.S against the other Orc teams with all the guard I'm just gonna get steamrollered.

You could always keep the troll off the LOS against teams that have the strength to knock him over, and move him into a better position on you first turn!

[Jackolas]

Sounds good! Now I just need a name *Sigh*