54 coaches online • Server time: 20:10
* * * Did you know? There are 415945 active teams in FUMBBL.
Recent Forum Topics  New Gnones vs Old Gn... | FUMBBL HAIKU'S | Custom Icon, Portrai... |
2011-01-25 23:21:55
32 votes, rating 5.7
32 votes, rating 5.7
Niche Players
I have a rookie Beastman on my BlackBox Chaos Team, his first skill roll was a double. My immediate thought was to take the safe pick, the smart pick, namely Dodge.
It's a solid skill, with high on-field use, and it's a safe pick.
However, as I usually do, I asked for input on IRC. What I got back was the usual smattering of responses, forgo the double and take block, take dodge, or side step, or Jump Up.
Then, an off the wall suggestion was offered. Take Leap. The thought being Leap, plus Very Long Legs, plus Horns gives you a strength 4 on the blitz cage breaking Beastman. It's gimmicky. It's at best a situational skill choice, and at worst a waste, but the very thought intrigued me, and I went with it.
Later that night I filled out the skill change form, ready to ask for Dodge, ready to take the safe skill pick. I never submitted the skill change, and instead played another game with the team. It got me thinking about sub-optimal skill picks and what it meant, to me, to play Blood Bowl.
Was I playing to win? Was a safe, predictable, route all I cared about? Or was I willing to invest one Beastman out of potentially ten to a gimmicky skill set that could, if it worked, cause a few moments of elation? Right on the heels of this I began thinking about the viability of gimmicky skill picks. Dauntless/Might Blow on a Skink comes to mind, and what I realized is that at the end of the day Blood Bowl is a game, and it should be fun.
If I can't accept a sub-optimal skill pick on one player on a team with the possibility of hilarity then I shouldn't be playing the game.
I've currently made one cage breaking leap, and I failed the leap, failed the re-roll, broke my armor, and stunned myself. Oh well. There's always next game.
It's a solid skill, with high on-field use, and it's a safe pick.
However, as I usually do, I asked for input on IRC. What I got back was the usual smattering of responses, forgo the double and take block, take dodge, or side step, or Jump Up.
Then, an off the wall suggestion was offered. Take Leap. The thought being Leap, plus Very Long Legs, plus Horns gives you a strength 4 on the blitz cage breaking Beastman. It's gimmicky. It's at best a situational skill choice, and at worst a waste, but the very thought intrigued me, and I went with it.
Later that night I filled out the skill change form, ready to ask for Dodge, ready to take the safe skill pick. I never submitted the skill change, and instead played another game with the team. It got me thinking about sub-optimal skill picks and what it meant, to me, to play Blood Bowl.
Was I playing to win? Was a safe, predictable, route all I cared about? Or was I willing to invest one Beastman out of potentially ten to a gimmicky skill set that could, if it worked, cause a few moments of elation? Right on the heels of this I began thinking about the viability of gimmicky skill picks. Dauntless/Might Blow on a Skink comes to mind, and what I realized is that at the end of the day Blood Bowl is a game, and it should be fun.
If I can't accept a sub-optimal skill pick on one player on a team with the possibility of hilarity then I shouldn't be playing the game.
I've currently made one cage breaking leap, and I failed the leap, failed the re-roll, broke my armor, and stunned myself. Oh well. There's always next game.
Comments
Posted by DukeTyrion on 2011-01-25 23:24:37
You should have tried Blood Bowl 2.
There was none of this picking skills, as all the skills we rolled on random tables. If you blitzer got a passing skill, then that's just the way it was.
In fact I was a little bit shocked at first when the new version came in and you were allowed to pick your skill ... took some getting used to.
There was none of this picking skills, as all the skills we rolled on random tables. If you blitzer got a passing skill, then that's just the way it was.
In fact I was a little bit shocked at first when the new version came in and you were allowed to pick your skill ... took some getting used to.
Posted by RC on 2011-01-25 23:26:36
Should definetly have picked jump up. Thats the new best skill in the game.
Posted by Reisender on 2011-01-25 23:28:28
You fail! You shall NOT actually leap with the leaper. Use him as a tactical fear generator to make your opponent beat himself.
Posted by Macavity on 2011-01-25 23:30:21
I think that skilling t ospecialize is under-estimated. Get him those legs, and enjoy!
Posted by fly on 2011-01-26 00:01:34
awesome!
Posted by Kinks on 2011-01-26 00:32:23
Can you give Str 2 players MB in LRB 6?
Posted by gregory_n_white on 2011-01-26 01:00:42
Not what i would have chosen... but can still be effective. To elaborate on Reisender's point below - use the threat of a leaping cage breaker to force your opponent to play more cautiosly. Tey will hopefully commit more players to forming a solid cage and will allow you to slow down the cage and hinder their offense.
Its a bit like having Frenz players on the pitch - forces opponents away from sidelines.
Its a bit like having Frenz players on the pitch - forces opponents away from sidelines.
Posted by cthol on 2011-01-26 01:37:22
Sounds great. But what use is Dodge in an ion field?
Posted by Synn on 2011-01-26 01:40:04
Interesting trick.... might have to remember that for the eventual onslaught of AG 4 goats I inevitably get.
Does PT and DT stack? Cos if so, grab one of those quick. -3 to dodging is sexy.
__Synn
Does PT and DT stack? Cos if so, grab one of those quick. -3 to dodging is sexy.
__Synn
Posted by Kryten on 2011-01-26 04:13:34
awesome :D
Posted by maysrill on 2011-01-26 14:02:25
PT and DT stack. For an underworld team, it's even a pair of normal rolls for most of the team. For pact, the gobbo and DE can take it on normal rolls as well.
Posted by Lakrillo on 2011-01-26 14:35:41
looking forward to hear more about your progress with this player.
It is an interesting option to have, Chaos does have a possibility to build a lot of specialists with their access to different skills and i would like to see more of this type of teambuilding than the standard that try to maim everything that moves.
It is an interesting option to have, Chaos does have a possibility to build a lot of specialists with their access to different skills and i would like to see more of this type of teambuilding than the standard that try to maim everything that moves.
Posted by Fela on 2011-01-27 11:54:03
This is all very nice, but leap still involved wasting the double. You could just have waited for a normal skillup on another guy to take it.
Posted by Jesperius on 2011-01-28 08:44:50
Go for it mate. I took leap on a bullcen once. Oki he had ag4 but still dodge had prob been better but hes still the only one player i miss after many 1000 games.