Help with my Orc teams

[Jackolas]

Hi all,

I'm in a bit of a predicament with my team. My season is pretty much over now as I have suffered 4 2-1 losses.

In trying to sort my roster ready for next season and I would appreciate any help from you guys.

My roster can be seen here-http://www.level10.org/BloodBowl/index. ... obj_id=146


I'm seriously contemplating sacking my skilled thrower and using te ag4 blitzer as my main ball carrier. With the aim if him getting strong arm and ideally accurate too.
However, Im also well aware that I have a cracking thrower that will only get better with strong arm or if nuffle really likes me an ag boost.


What do you all reckon?

[garion]

I havent looked at your roster, but dont bother with strong arm or accurate for any orc players, Orcs just dont need to throw the ball ever. concentrate your skills on bash, so get guard mighty blow pilling on and tackle all over.

[MKL]

Hi Jackolas

Garion maybe put it a bit harsh, but I think he's right. Orcs are a bash team and you need to focus on bashing skills. Throwing is only a secondary option.
Your team is seriously lacking in Guard and M-Blow, but on the bright said you got a Block Troll, a +ST Blitzer, a +Ag Blitzer and some skilled BoBs.

On the skilled Thrower: NoS is not my cup of tea, but I loath firing skilled players, so, unless you got serious TV issues, keep him. On a normal skill, I'm for Block.

On the +Ag Blitzer: if you want make him your ball carrier, please avoid throwing skills and focus on Dodge, Fend, or bashing skills. You need a Blitzer or a Runner, not another Thrower.

Well, that's my 2 cents...

[Jackolas]

Thanks guys, all are being noted on my development plan

[mattgslater]

Depending on what you're facing, either skill the rookie Thrower (Block) ASAP, or cut him and replace him with a Lino, Goblin, or nothing. I'd be inclined to cut him. Thrower #2 is great when you're winning, but he won't pull his weight. when you're not.

Nerves was a mistake on the other guy, but you should just eat the lost pick and go for Block next to make amends. Don't believe those who tell you not to take Accurate: having a passing game, as an Orc team, is a game-changer. You've got some of the strongest, most reliable positioning pieces in the game: it's very easy to build a lateral offense based on 2+ QPs and 3+ SPs. Normally, my track is KOR-Accurate-Block-Safe Throw.

You need more Block. Try to skill the rookie BOB.

If you get another double, get another SS. I love that track, but it takes two to make it work at full power. It's even better on a Block BOB: my SS Blitzer has suffered maybe a third of the team's total Casualties, while my SS/Block BOB is a super-duper game-changer studmonster. But when the SS Blitzer misses the game (a common occurrence), the BOB isn't nearly so good. Each anchors one wing of an I-Zig, with BOBs and Troll on the LOS except against Claw-heavy chaotics (then it's Troll and two Linos). The opponent can either cage at midfield, in which case I can shrink the front, or go on a suicide mission up the wide zone, through the SS Blitzer. If they take him out (happens a lot, statistically WAY more than it should), they can score, but if not, the BOB swings in and prevents a redirect. I've screwed it up before, but if I do it right, it almost always works.

[Jackolas]

Cheers matt, appreciate the input mate. Do you think I should sack the nerves thrower and start again?

I have enough mobey to buy a Lino to replacement. I'm also tempted to sack the guy with kick when I can replace him and just get a block Lino

[swilhelm73]

My take...

I like the Throwers to be my runners for an Orc team. So they need Block, or dodge if you get lucky. They start with SH, and they are good for throwing the ball to an open receiver even if your cage can't get close enough to the end zone.

The blitzers are hitters and to an extent catchers. Though I like to have a goblin or two for that role also. It is hard to stop a cage, and a stunty catcher on the wing.

If you are losing 2-1 is it because of clock management or because the other team can take the ball from you?

[Jackolas]

Effectively my offense is rubbish

[swilhelm73]

Effectively my offense is rubbish

I'd need a bit more detail. Does your cage get stopped?

[mattgslater]

I wouldn't sack Nerves guy. At 51 SPP, he'll be fine.

Three tips that seem really basic, but a lot of people don't get them.

1) On offense, the goal is to dominate the midfield and one wide zone. Since you want to dominate midfield, you can load up on the line of scrimmage. Block diagonally, so if you push you can make another block. Game out your plan to follow or not in advance to help you...

2) Cage at midfield. One of the most common mistakes (I've made it plenty of times myself) is to leave your Thrower too shallow with the ball. Stay out of range and be willing to QP into the cage if you have to (QP over handing off: need SPP).

3) Control the breadth of the pitch. You can leave an opening on the far wing, but everything else has to be sealed up tight. You can't afford to cage in your own backfield: that's a loser's game. You gotta be able to get the ball (and cage) to midfield, and not go wide without a plan to reverse. Playing grind offense against a competitive opponent is in fact a little like skiing downhill in that regard.

[Smeborg]

Your team is fine, except that you lack Tackle altogether (you will find life difficult against any dodgy teams, I expect). You also need to start increasing the amount of Guard and M-Blow (if you want to play in the traditional Orc manner).

Player development is fine, you have an Orc team that can score quickly (e.g. in 2 turns) and reliably. The Thrower can pass to the AG4 Blitzer who is fine for holding the ball.

I would have taken S-Throw in place of NoS, but NoS is quite a good skill - no need to sack him nor indeed any player - just enjoy the team that you have.

[Jackolas]

Thanks guys, I tend to set my cage up On offense like this

B-T-B
- Ag -
B---B

B are black orc, t is troll and ag is the ag boosted blitzer waiing for the ball from the thrower in the back field.

I then have the remaining blitzers and a Lino pair off down the wings.

The front of this cage is on the L.O.S from the first receiving turn.

[spubbbba]

The team is looking pretty healthy but if your season is over then the key area you need to work on for next season is the Black Orcs.

You want to get them all block asap and ideally a couple of them guard and Mighty Blow too. I’d probably turn down any doubles or stats (aside from ST) on them until they all have block or if it is 3rd skill. It’s even worth risking losing or drawing a game to get a TD on a BoB and remember hand offs work on a 4+.

The troll is great, he just needs guard now and then he’s ideal, the Blitzers are really nice and just need some guard, MB with a little tackle added as well.

As for the throwers I don’t think you need either of them now you have a Sure hands AG4 blitzer. I’d certainly sack the skilled one as KoR is good on him, accurate is ok and NoS is worthless, frankly NoS is a skill I’d be unlikely to take on anyone before their 4th skill if at all.

Orc Throwers should be renamed runners, block is 1st choice, KoR is useful too, after that I give them skills like kick, tackle or strip ball so they can be useful on defence. Against other nasty bashy teams you don’t want to put skilled BoB’s on the LoS that’s what lineorcs and the troll are for, but that means they can’t use kick.

If I were you I’d replace the skilled thrower with a lineorc and concentrate on skilling up the BoB’s. On offence against fast teams you should have both the thrower and sure hands blitzer deep with the lineorc and blitzers able to form a mid board cage whilst the Troll and BoB’s bash the LoS. You can then move the cage into the middle and grind your way up the pitch.

[Piousman]

You do not need to start your lineup with a cage, you can always block away , open a hole, and then build your cage in the opponent's half.

- Piousman

[mattgslater]

You do not need to start your lineup with a cage, you can always block away , open a hole, and then build your cage in the opponent's half.

- Piousman

This.

You also really need to establish a pretty carefree attitude as to who your cagers are. Your cage will morph and change form from turn to turn. Do be aware of optimal pairings and positions, but don't be picky about who they are.

Don't cage in your backfield. Use that Thrower to QP or SP into the cage, and form that cage on or around the halfway line. Try to give yourself at least four turns to get downfield once you form up. Try to control one sideline as well as midfield, so you can redirect. It's okay if your cage forms near or in the WZ, but you should work your superior ST to control center-pitch.