Ogres or Halflings

[poochée]

hi there,

Finally I decided to really try and play a tier 3 team for a longer period of time. And because for some reason I'm quite desinterested in goblins (please don't take offense all you goblin lovers out there ) I now have to choose between the other two possibilities. And this is the point where your advice comes in:

I really do like the idea of an Ogre team (and of the halfling team too, so fluffwise it's a close one), but on paper halflings look a bit more reliable. I know that playing both teams is really really rough, but wth halflings it seems, that the risks I have to take are a bit more predictable... But maybe I am wrong...

Basically I want a fun team that doesn't win overly much, but leaves me at least a slim chance for success (or else, where would be the fun?).

I would also like my team to hit a bit and inspire some terror... (this is where ogres seem to take the cake, but on the other hand halflings with 2 trees + deeproot + maybe morg or bertha or... also sounds nice).
So, any advice or anecdotes to sway me in either direction? (completely subjective, statisticly unsound personal oppinions are of course very appreciated).

By the way, I will be playing table-top in a new (long term) league-season (11 other teams with quite a variety of bash and flair) with normal star player rules.

[mattgslater]

Both are more-or-less what you'd expect them to be. I prefer Halflings, because the little guys are tough enough that you can build some decent players. Halflings tend to take more than they give, but well-coached there's often a lot of blood on both sides. Ogres are random: if you get a good first couple turns, you can win a lot of bloody blowouts. Halflings also get a lot more out of doubles and stats than do Snotlings, or even Ogres in the case of stats.

If you're playing in a really long format, Ogres have excellent skill memory. Almost Orc-like... almost.

[betterZthenDeaD]

'Flings. 'Nuff said. Move along please... Nothing to see here!

[plasmoid]

I vote ogres.
Get to 16 players quickly - if you play them well you can win without freakish injury rolls.

But if you're open to other (slightly less) sucky stunty teams, then I recommend Creepers!
Cheers
Martin

[Smeborg]

poochée - the Stunty teams each have a quite different character.

I think if you want to play Gobbos, you have to enjoy the crazy world of Secret Weapons, Bribes and sendings off. The Trolls are as much a curse as a blessing (Really Stupid, Loner, Always Hungry), so you have to be able to enjoy that too. AV7 on the Gobbos is a lot better than 'Flings and Snots. The Gobbos always seem to have "da cunnin' plan", but it rarely seems to work!

'Flings are more steady, they are rather slow, and AV6 can be annoying if you are not used to it. The Trees are rather good when they are not Taking Root (no Loner). Possibly the least risky Stunty team to start with. They are quite popular in our league. The best Stunty team at throwing bodies, if that's what takes your fancy.

Ogres are the "little and large" team, with Snots who are surprisingly good from the start (dodging everywhere on a 2+ with re-roll, also Sidestep) and Ogres, who are also rather good (no Loner). The team is relatively expensive and takes time to build. It is difficult to start with more than 4 Ogres. When you get to 5 or 6 Ogres and a few skills, the team changes character. Carrying the ball with an Ogre is usually a good idea on offense. Both Ogres and Snots are excellent with just one skill (Diving Tackle on the Snots, Break Tackle on the Ogres). I like the way the team plays, and have had better than expected results with them. The Ogres seem to accumulate permanent injuries.

Underworld Pact is an intermediate team between "normal" and "Stunty", with quite a wild and sporting character.

I suggest you have a practice game or two with each team, and see what you fancy. It depends very much on your taste.

Hope that helps.

[poochée]

thanks for the replies so far guys. But please do keep them coming! I'm still kind of on the fence. I would start both teams (we can have up to two teams each in the league), but I do not have the minis for either (sold my unpainted 3rd ed. halflings a while ago...) and getting both teams seems pricy...

@plasmoid: I know that creepers are a fantastic team, I have played a few games with them myself, but a good friend of mine is going for creepers this season and I want to have as many different teams in our league as possible.

[mattgslater]

The Ogres seem to accumulate permanent injuries.

This is a general problem with slow AV9 blockers, especially expensive ones in good quantity without Block, like the Saurus and the BOB. They're pretty tough, but they take so many hits that eventually something bad will happen.

[Smeborg]

But it's more common for Ogres on the Ogre team, as they are so expensive (140,000) that you cannot easily replace them. You have to spend a large part of your income just replacing Snots, who may be cheap, but are also the most fragile players in the game.

[Drool_bucket]

I've been playing underworld and they are not a Tier 3 team. They suffer from poor skill memory, that's the worst part of the team. aside from that, they are a good team unless, like most teams that have a lot of Dodge and Stunty, they are facing some Dwarf-ish team.

I play Halflings, I like them. They are all about Inducements, 2 Star Players, a Wizard, some Babes, that kinda stuff. I play them in "Tom Ander's" style, always trying to remain 400K+ under the opposing teams, and happy to be 700+ or more. To me, 'Flings are about single game play and cherry picking opponents. If that's what your gaming group offers, go with them.

I do not play Ogres, but if I was going to play a Tier 3 Team in my set schedule League, I would play them. They develop over time (the Ogres at least) and when you get to 6 Ogres with a couple skills each, they can actually threaten some teams to win, and can do some damage... (though they rarely win the CAS war because of those Snotlings) So if you play in a scheduled sort of League, I would lean towards the big guys!

[poochée]

thanks for your replies so far, guys! You are being very helpful.

@Drool_bucket: this is some great insight you are offering about teams and league structure and your arguments seem sound.

After all I have read up to now, I am leaning towards Ogres, but I am not quite sure yet.

[Smeborg]

I've been playing underworld and they are not a Tier 3 team. They suffer from poor skill memory, that's the worst part of the team. aside from that, they are a good team unless, like most teams that have a lot of Dodge and Stunty, they are facing some Dwarf-ish team.

When playing Underworld, I reserve the Apoth for the Skaven players (plus Troll). In this way the "big 7" have excellent SPP retention. However, the Gobbos die aplenty and do not retain skills. In compensation, they are excellent at just 1 skill (2-Heads).

[Jimmy Fantastic]

Ogres are effectively tier 4, so only use them if you REALLY need a challenge!

[Nod_Hero]

What about playing a higher tier team as a tier 3 team?
1 Krox + 14 skinks, for instance.

[plasmoid]

Ogres have a bad reputation. (Especially on FUMBBL).
I think they're better than that.
But you do need to fill your roster with snots before buying the last ogres.

[The Dazzler II]

An Ogre team took my Gobbos to the ******* cleaners in my first all stunty game

I was amazed just how bloody it was!! The game was hillareous.

The Stunty Cup may be BB's best kept secret.

I tried Flings but found them dull. Horses for courses i guess. So for me, if not Gobbos, then Ogres

Welcome to the mad mad world of stunty