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2010-08-01 21:22:32
36 votes, rating 4.9
36 votes, rating 4.9
Slann
So at home today with a crippler of a hangover, I decided to start a Slann team in the LRB6 division, since my head wasn't in competitive games, I'd hunt bugs and try something new! I've not played a vast amount in the new client yet, not invested time or emotion in any team (mainly been a case of bug huntin' and forgetting the result), so I thought today whilst under the weather I'd try to start a team that I'd keep for more than probing bugs. I'm pleasantly surprised at the speed with which the client is coming along, and apart from the ruddy icons, it's almost there really. Have a go if you've not already!
I've not seen too much chatter around yet about our new Froggie friends, and to be honest I'm not sure what I make of them, or what my long term plan is with them. It's nice to be an uber rookie with something again! They seem to have some of the game like qualities of Vampires. Is any ball safe from an entire team of Leapers (same sort of thing as Gaze)? On offence, they looked on paper to respond well to an eight turn look after the ball drive, the MA7 AG4 Catchers look good from a point of view of moving the ball, and the 2+ Leap option if things get bad is a good second plan. They're almost Ratty, just a little slower. There is, however, no real Blitzer on the team to start, a total lack of Block, and a real lack of starting skills that actually help on a turn by turn basis. Everything also seems pretty pricey, they might be a slow burner! Perhaps evolving at the pace of an AV8 Elven team.
Anyway, I decided to start with a Krox, a Blitzer (two at 110k seemed expensive), three Catchers and some Froggies. 3 RRs was a must with so few skills.
First game I played some DEs that gave me 350k odd of inducements. With no Wizzie available, I got the stabby star and a Saw, and set about trying to get some 13 player attrition. The Darkies got in quite early so I lost the Saw, I hit 1-1 at the half, and got a really good 8 turner in for what might have been 2-1, but I forgot the Handoff before you move thing, and had to settle for a tie.
The Krox I thought was a boon, helping add some much needed muscle to proceedings. The Blitzer seems expensive for what he is. Against all of the Blodge for the DE, the Leap in to hit option with Rookies wasn’t really on, but I think with some skills Slann are going to be a bugger to keep the ball against. Stripping Wrestle SS Blitzers or Catchers will be a real nightmare! The 8 turn keep ball with Catchers was good, but the issue with the team in the game was the attrition they took, 3 CAS and some KOs, even with AV8, boy with no skills they take some licks. And these were only Elves, against bashers, in the same way as Vamps I guess, you’ll really need to know when to go after the ball before everything dies!
Game two was some similarly beat up Rats. As they crushed the LOS (SI, SI, KO, see you later Journeymen) on T1, the attrition thing reared it’s head again, I think it’s the team’s main issue, the ease at which they go over. Anyway, the game in terms of competitiveness was a washout as the KO box filled up, sadly dicings still happen in FFB! Boo! :) I didn’t really learn much on the basis it wasn’t a game, but I suppose there was always a Leap option on, so perhaps there’s something there in that no situation is dead, even when it looks over.
Overall, I like my starting lineup, and am enjoying the feel of Slann. I'm not sure yet where they'll end up and quite how much control one can exert with them, it seems the team might degenerate into a high risk, high reward style that might not fit with how I like to play, but we'll see. I've never really gotten along with Rats - I think from first test this might be the same dealio. I'm not sure after two games I can offer an awful lot of insight to other Slann rookies, but I might well keep this blog up, and with any additions other Slann coaches might like to add, perhaps we can piece together some sort of text over time to go in the User Guide section.
Slann - so far, skilless, fragile, but interesting!
I've not seen too much chatter around yet about our new Froggie friends, and to be honest I'm not sure what I make of them, or what my long term plan is with them. It's nice to be an uber rookie with something again! They seem to have some of the game like qualities of Vampires. Is any ball safe from an entire team of Leapers (same sort of thing as Gaze)? On offence, they looked on paper to respond well to an eight turn look after the ball drive, the MA7 AG4 Catchers look good from a point of view of moving the ball, and the 2+ Leap option if things get bad is a good second plan. They're almost Ratty, just a little slower. There is, however, no real Blitzer on the team to start, a total lack of Block, and a real lack of starting skills that actually help on a turn by turn basis. Everything also seems pretty pricey, they might be a slow burner! Perhaps evolving at the pace of an AV8 Elven team.
Anyway, I decided to start with a Krox, a Blitzer (two at 110k seemed expensive), three Catchers and some Froggies. 3 RRs was a must with so few skills.
First game I played some DEs that gave me 350k odd of inducements. With no Wizzie available, I got the stabby star and a Saw, and set about trying to get some 13 player attrition. The Darkies got in quite early so I lost the Saw, I hit 1-1 at the half, and got a really good 8 turner in for what might have been 2-1, but I forgot the Handoff before you move thing, and had to settle for a tie.
The Krox I thought was a boon, helping add some much needed muscle to proceedings. The Blitzer seems expensive for what he is. Against all of the Blodge for the DE, the Leap in to hit option with Rookies wasn’t really on, but I think with some skills Slann are going to be a bugger to keep the ball against. Stripping Wrestle SS Blitzers or Catchers will be a real nightmare! The 8 turn keep ball with Catchers was good, but the issue with the team in the game was the attrition they took, 3 CAS and some KOs, even with AV8, boy with no skills they take some licks. And these were only Elves, against bashers, in the same way as Vamps I guess, you’ll really need to know when to go after the ball before everything dies!
Game two was some similarly beat up Rats. As they crushed the LOS (SI, SI, KO, see you later Journeymen) on T1, the attrition thing reared it’s head again, I think it’s the team’s main issue, the ease at which they go over. Anyway, the game in terms of competitiveness was a washout as the KO box filled up, sadly dicings still happen in FFB! Boo! :) I didn’t really learn much on the basis it wasn’t a game, but I suppose there was always a Leap option on, so perhaps there’s something there in that no situation is dead, even when it looks over.
Overall, I like my starting lineup, and am enjoying the feel of Slann. I'm not sure yet where they'll end up and quite how much control one can exert with them, it seems the team might degenerate into a high risk, high reward style that might not fit with how I like to play, but we'll see. I've never really gotten along with Rats - I think from first test this might be the same dealio. I'm not sure after two games I can offer an awful lot of insight to other Slann rookies, but I might well keep this blog up, and with any additions other Slann coaches might like to add, perhaps we can piece together some sort of text over time to go in the User Guide section.
Slann - so far, skilless, fragile, but interesting!
Comments
Posted by Calthor on 2010-08-01 21:35:08
Pssht. Don't tell, but there might or might not be an article on the Slann team in an upcoming GLN issue.
Of course, it's just rumours. Nothing important. Nobody told you this either.
...
Of course, it's just rumours. Nothing important. Nobody told you this either.
...
Posted by Garion on 2010-08-01 21:50:10
I've played roughly 18 games with them so far and have to agree with everything you said really. I have already retired 3 Slann teams because of mounting how often they die. The main reason I retired them though is because their Blitzers died and when a Blitzer dies it takes a long time to buy a new one.
An obvious point to make is just because you can leap doesn't mean you should and in fact you should try not to it all if it can be helped leaving it purely for emergencies and one turn touch downs.
In terms of skill development it is definitely tricky to work out what to do with the Blitzers - Having chosen wrong with all my teams so far I think I will in the future go for two with Block, dodge, sidestep, and two with block, MB, PO. I don't want to give them wrestle because it could negate the use of diving tackle and PO is good because it is amazing in LRB6 and they can jump up the following turn anyway.
I haven't given them Guard because having now played against better slann coaches than myself they tend to save guard for the linefrogs and catchers on doubles.
Catchers I don't think you can do wrong with block, dodge and side step really. Dauntless is obviously a good choice too and strip ball.
Linefrogs you want to try your best to keep them alive so wrestle, fend seem the order of the day. With the usual utility players kick and dirty player.
I haven't bothered with pass block on my catchers yet but it stands to reason that this would work well on one, but personally I'm not sure if it is worth giving up the protection from a skill like block dodge or side step to take it and would be interested to hear if other people think it is worth it.
I also think it is worth mentioning how good catchers are at 1TTD, yes they only have mv 7 which isn't perfect but they can catch the ball in a TZ on a 2+ and leap over a defensive line on a 2+ as well :) good times.
An obvious point to make is just because you can leap doesn't mean you should and in fact you should try not to it all if it can be helped leaving it purely for emergencies and one turn touch downs.
In terms of skill development it is definitely tricky to work out what to do with the Blitzers - Having chosen wrong with all my teams so far I think I will in the future go for two with Block, dodge, sidestep, and two with block, MB, PO. I don't want to give them wrestle because it could negate the use of diving tackle and PO is good because it is amazing in LRB6 and they can jump up the following turn anyway.
I haven't given them Guard because having now played against better slann coaches than myself they tend to save guard for the linefrogs and catchers on doubles.
Catchers I don't think you can do wrong with block, dodge and side step really. Dauntless is obviously a good choice too and strip ball.
Linefrogs you want to try your best to keep them alive so wrestle, fend seem the order of the day. With the usual utility players kick and dirty player.
I haven't bothered with pass block on my catchers yet but it stands to reason that this would work well on one, but personally I'm not sure if it is worth giving up the protection from a skill like block dodge or side step to take it and would be interested to hear if other people think it is worth it.
I also think it is worth mentioning how good catchers are at 1TTD, yes they only have mv 7 which isn't perfect but they can catch the ball in a TZ on a 2+ and leap over a defensive line on a 2+ as well :) good times.
Posted by DukeTyrion on 2010-08-01 23:53:40
Be thankful they don't play on Diamond pitches ...
You think you're smart,
you think you're Wiz,
but just remember,
who's planet this is!
You think you're smart,
you think you're Wiz,
but just remember,
who's planet this is!
Posted by Nightbird on 2010-08-02 03:16:52
Here's a nice little slann playbook w/ some good tactics & advice:
http://www.plasmoids.dk/bbowl/playbooks/slann.pdf
http://www.plasmoids.dk/bbowl/playbooks/slann.pdf
Posted by RedDevilCG on 2010-08-02 06:40:32
I'd ditch the blitzers, and fill out the roster with the krox, catchers, linefrogs and rerolls. A Wrestle/Stripball linefrog is just as good as the blitzer for getting the ball, and more rerolls upfront is a winner. Start with 4 rerolls if you can. Since all your linefrogs will likely have Wrestle anyways, adding stripball to one or two is a cinch. Guard is the obvious double.
Catchers are built like aggressive gutters, with 2 ball-carrier hunters, and 2 receivers, or swap one for a pass-block/marker. A dauntless, wrestle, stripball/tackle, leap on a 2+ catcher makes fun of cages.
Catchers are built like aggressive gutters, with 2 ball-carrier hunters, and 2 receivers, or swap one for a pass-block/marker. A dauntless, wrestle, stripball/tackle, leap on a 2+ catcher makes fun of cages.
Posted by Purplegoo on 2010-08-02 08:21:19
Cheers for the comments.
I try to avoid the TT playbooks, often they're daft or far from relevant to FUMBBL.
And yes Duke, the fluff is terrible. ;)
I try to avoid the TT playbooks, often they're daft or far from relevant to FUMBBL.
And yes Duke, the fluff is terrible. ;)
Posted by benjysmyth on 2010-08-02 11:38:09
I think the plasmoid playbook is quite useful in the case of Slann. I started my first Slann team and tried to buy my way up to 4 blitzers, but they kept dieing due to lack of block, and their other skills simply don't pull their weight in terms of TV. Second team is developing much better, despite my 50/50 win loss record.
Lineman are just as good as ball-harriers when they have wrestle and strip-ball for much less TV. I think 2 blitzers is the maximum you want, one as a "hitter" with block/MB/PO for when you need to take someone out, and one with guard/block/SS for assist powah. If you roll some doubles on your lineman and catchers for guard you probably don't even need the assist-build blitzer (although having DT/jump up, and being able to get guard/block/SS/dodge on normal rolls is a very nice combo of skills).
Krox is needed to take some hits/stick opponents in place, especially now stand firm is a normal roll.
Catchers are your game winners. One skill gets them dodge, which saves your RR for the 2+ leap, meaning they can get virtually anywhere they need to go. A double for guard is simply gold, combined with daunltess on another (now a normal skill, oh yeah), or, even better, +AG on one of your ST3 guys means the ball is never safe.
Any mistakes by the opponent in terms of handling the ball should mean a turnover score, perhaps even more so than when playing Skaven/Woodies.
Combine with a Whizz and you have a very evil team.
Not sure how they will fare at high TV, but I am very much enjoying using them at the moment.
Lineman are just as good as ball-harriers when they have wrestle and strip-ball for much less TV. I think 2 blitzers is the maximum you want, one as a "hitter" with block/MB/PO for when you need to take someone out, and one with guard/block/SS for assist powah. If you roll some doubles on your lineman and catchers for guard you probably don't even need the assist-build blitzer (although having DT/jump up, and being able to get guard/block/SS/dodge on normal rolls is a very nice combo of skills).
Krox is needed to take some hits/stick opponents in place, especially now stand firm is a normal roll.
Catchers are your game winners. One skill gets them dodge, which saves your RR for the 2+ leap, meaning they can get virtually anywhere they need to go. A double for guard is simply gold, combined with daunltess on another (now a normal skill, oh yeah), or, even better, +AG on one of your ST3 guys means the ball is never safe.
Any mistakes by the opponent in terms of handling the ball should mean a turnover score, perhaps even more so than when playing Skaven/Woodies.
Combine with a Whizz and you have a very evil team.
Not sure how they will fare at high TV, but I am very much enjoying using them at the moment.
Posted by maysrill on 2010-08-02 12:50:51
Human/skaven hybrid, with leaping.