Defensive play question

[tool]

howdy,

On my dark elf team I have recently rolled a +ST for a line-elf. First skill up for that player.

I am curious what the community opinion is regarding setting up defense against an AGI team, where on a line of scrimmage where the 3 players are 2 spaces apart ( |0--0--0| ) the +ST guy is set up in the middle.

I'm wondering if it is more important to nurture my +ST line-elf by reducing the amount of blocks he takes, or if its statistically acceptable to use him to tie up 3 ST3 AGI players in the middle of the pitch.

thank you

[Khail]

I wouldn't put him on the line for defense, even after he's got Blodge. Too valuable a player - protect him as much as you can and get some skills on him.

On the line he's destined to catch a bad block - it's not like he won't get hit with 2 dice repeatedly just because he's ST4.

[Smeborg]

I too would consider him too valuable to go on the defensive LoS.

[besters]

+1

[dsavillian]

you'll probably naturally gravitate to using him as your blitz action as often as you can, so I'd keep him in a place that prevents him from getting marked

[MKL]

Hi Tool,

I agree with the others: a S4 elf is wasted on the scrimmage.

(...) on a line of scrimmage where the 3 players are 2 spaces apart ( |0--0--0| ) the +ST guy is set up in the middle.
(...) if its statistically acceptable to use him to tie up 3 ST3 AGI players in the middle of the pitch.

Btw, note that without Block, S-Step or S-Firm, he's not going to tie up 3 players, unless the opponent feel like chainblocking you. Otherwise, one of them will simply push your S4 away, and the other two are free to blitz/move anywhere.

[Ullis]

Los is for chumps so this guy is exempted. The only time to deviate from this is when you can comfortably outstrength and outguard the opponent. Elves can very rarely do that.

[Smeborg]

tool - this Lino is a valuable player, as I am sure you know. Assuming no more stat increases or doubles, you can give him Block, then Dodge. On offense, he has 2 main uses: as a Blitzer, to make holes in the defense, and as a ball-holder. On defense he is a kind of enforcer, able to take on the ST4 and ST5 opponents, or to take a Blitz without needing an assist. For later development (4th and 5th skills) you can choose between ball-carrying (Sure Hands) and blocking/blitzing (Tackle). Guard is a good doubles skill on him, but if the team already has enough Guard at that point, you might want to consider M-Blow. It's worth feeding this guy TDs as and when you can.

In part-answer to your other question, you may find that spacing out players on the defensive LoS x--x--x is not as popular as bunching them together, say --xxx-- This is for several reasons - the bunched deployment will likely lead to fewer blocks against the defenders, the spaced deployment may lead to higher odds against the defenders, because they are isolated (e.g. 3-dice blocks), and lastly, the bunched deployment will help to bunch the attackers too, leading to gaps or half-gaps for the defender to exploit on his first turn in counter-attack. But there may be situations and opponents where the spaced deployment is appropriate.

Hope that helps.

[tool]

Roger that everyone, thanks. Cherish him I will.

In part-answer to your other question, you may find that spacing out players on the defensive LoS x--x--x is not as popular as bunching them together, say --xxx-- This is for several reasons - the bunched deployment will likely lead to fewer blocks against the defenders, the spaced deployment may lead to higher odds against the defenders, because they are isolated (e.g. 3-dice blocks), and lastly, the bunched deployment will help to bunch the attackers too, leading to gaps or half-gaps for the defender to exploit on his first turn in counter-attack. But there may be situations and opponents where the spaced deployment is appropriate.

Hope that helps.

I was considering the spacing against AGI teams only because of forcing more players in the center of the pitch. I was thinking DE's can out-bash your average AGI team if they pushed mid. Also i was thinking it left fewer players to run sideline giving my WE's a better chance at a nice frenzy-blitz.

I'm mostly attracted to (i think its called) the inverted zig for a base defensive line-up but mess around on play-creator sometimes when its slow at work to see if I can come up with something.

[RogueThirteen]

I wouldn't go on the line with him. Even against weak, agile opponents like you suggest, they'll just either avoid this guy or dodge off of him with ease as a best case. Worst case they'll focus on him and knock him down pretty easily, though this might commit them to a center cage. Not sure you'd gain much defensively from that.

[mattgslater]

1) Your worst players for the line (worst is relative: my HE can spam Block or Dodge on the LOS and still keep to this rule).

2) Don't use that 303 defensive line unless you've got Fend or Side Step, or are up against a battered opponent.
– – – o|o – – o o o o|– – – –
– – – –|x – – x – – x|– – – –
quickly becomes
– – – –|o – – o – – o|– – – –
– – – –|o x x o – – o|x – – –
with just 3 actions. Note that if any of these players is pushed (as opposed to pow'ed), there's a second 2d block available.

3) Against low-AG your objective is to force the action to the sidelines. I recommend one of two basic defenses against a low-AG team:
a) 303 stack with 5-tech wingers (6-tech once you have SS)
– – – –|– – x x x – –|– – – –
– – – –|– – – – – – –|– – – –
– – x –|x – – x – – x|– – s –
– – – –|x – – x – – x|– – – –

b) asymmetric defense
– – – –|x x x – – – –|– – – –
– – – –|– – – – – – –|– – – –
– – x –|– x – – x – x|– – – –
– x – –|x – – x – – –|x – – –