[Human] Ancient Titans

[Rusty]

If it makes you feel any better, as far as I'm aware Hades didn't actually kill, he was just the ruler of the Underworld who took in already dead souls and then refused to let them leave. So Guard might fit after all.

[Nikolai II]

Originally Posted by Rusty

If it makes you feel any better, as far as I'm aware Hades didn't actually kill, he was just the ruler of the Underworld who took in already dead souls and then refused to let them leave. So Guard might fit after all.

Good point there.

Ares should be the MB+Tackle killer, and Poseidon the MB+Piling On killer. Hermes should hope for Dodge and Guard, while Hades should get Stand Firm and Guard. So there

[FTJUK]

Thanks for the feedback guys and that is my Blitzers development sorted for the short term future (if they survive...).

I decided to give Hades guard after all as my boring common sense approach to life won out in the end.

I did purchase Nike the catcher before Narly Bird's comments and now I am living in fear for their well being.

There was some logic to my decision though in that on offense I would move them deep and see if they attracted the attention of two or more players (two catchers would pose more of a threat than one), which would then weaking his first line of offense for me to run through.

On defense the thinking was to keep one back as a safety and throw one deep always within TD distance. That way I am always threating my opponent that I can score straight away if I get a turnover.

Also the sooner I get the catchers (no more than two though) the quicker they would skill up. The OCC is a bashy league anyway, so catchers will always be at risk (although I acknowledge the neutralisation of dodge with tackle by a dwarf team).

We will see if it works and there will be plenty of prayers and sacrifices offered to both the Ancient and Nuffle Gods before the game.

[danton]

You are right that the Dwarfs' abundance of Tackle makes things hairy for your catcher, but equally your catcher's Ma 8 can make things very unpleasant for the Dwarfs!!

Try and not leave him exposed to easy blitzes in general and then use his Ma to suddenly burst into space and leave the midgets' little legs flapping!

[Valokiloren]

I personally don't like the catcher, but it's more of a cost/ profit issue in what he brings to a game. In a Injury-reset cup, they're much more useful.

Still, make sure to take advantage of any potential crowd-surfs - while they'll be few and far between, the opportunity to ignore the Dwarf armour will be highly useful. Apart from that, the only other advice is obvious: cripple any AGI 3 players you can without compromising your game, stay out of range of their team, and play to the advantage of human teams: everyone in the team is a all-round average player, so even the Linemen should be considered as potential ball-carriers or receivers if necessary.

[FTJUK]

Played my match last night, which ended in a hard fought 1-1 draw. I will post the match report later today, but it was probably a fair result.

More importantly though, I have had a new signature done and just wanted to share it with you guys. Let me know your thoughts.

[Netsmurf]

I think it is to high, I would prefer if it was wide instead. Looks cool though

[Narly Bird]

Congrats on the draw result. Dwarf are a hard matchup for a rookie team (actually they are normally pretty hard at any tv). How did your team hold up? Any serious injuries?

I also like your rationale for choosing Guard on Hades. Perhaps after Stand firm you could then give him Grab? Actually your team theme is really cool and I hope you do stick with themed skill choices and also keep running the team after this season.

LOL at Poseidon getting PO!

[FTJUK]

Thanks for the comments on the signature and theme. Barring any real Nufflings from future matches that just breaks the back of my team I am keeping these for the forseeable future.

Hopefully a not too boring match report of the game between Ancient Titans and Blue Cheer.

I ended up with 130 worth of inducements in the end and after my recent history with injuries I decided to use a take a second apo. As it turns out, that was probably a good idea.

First Half and I won the coin toss and elected to receive setting up strong on my right hand side, with lineman back to protect Aeolas. Blue Cheer adopt a 3-man LoS and standard deep column formation, obviously aware of my speed advantage. Kickoff is out of bounds, so hand ball back to Aeolas. I proceed to knock down the LoS and form a cage behind the Blitzer spearhead in centre of the pitch. A few linemen are sent forward to place tackle zones (TZ) on some dwarfs and Nemesis and Nike (my two catchers) are sent deep into the Cheer’s half. Blue Cheer’s manage to re-establish is LoS forcing the Titans to form a loose cage on my left hand side (with a few dodges). The Cheer’s move back to cover, but a dodge from Nemesis to the open, and blitz by Hermes supported by Hades creates a hole for Aeolas to run and dodge through to throw to the open Nemesis.

I had placed Nemesis out of normal movement Blitz range and ensured that all Dwarfs close enough were placed in TZs, but a dodge and Blitz by a Troll Slayer with two GFIs knocks down Nemesis. The Cheer’s then put as many TZ on the Titans as possible. A small brawl then brakes out with Sisyphus and journeyman lineman supporting Nemesis, with the Troll Slayer supported by a Blitzer and Runner. During this period a Troll Slayer BH’s Nike, but no lasting damage. The journeyman lineman then knocks the Troll Slayer out of bounds and Nemesis manages to pick up the ball that is in two dwarfs TZ and dodges out for a TD!

I was playing a little bit loose with a few too many dodges and blocks for my liking, but I was forced to do this. I caveated this by trying to ensure that the right person carried out the right task. It worked, just...

The Cheers then receive setting up with five blockers on the LoS and two runners deep. I set up with 3-man LoS, six man two squares back and Nemesis acting as a sweeper. The Cheers manage to knock down the Titans LoS easy enough and a Troll Slayer supported by a blocker runs down his right hand side stunning Hermes. However, the runner fails to pick up the ball! I then use Poseidon to Blitz a hole and place the two runners in his TZ aided by Hades (needed a few GFI’s to achieve this). The Cheers with a Troll Slayer manage to KO Hades (never to return from the Underworld for the rest of the match...) and also knock down Poseidon. A runner picks up the ball and hands to a Blitzer who runs down to the middle of the field and the Chers attempt to form a loose cage, but leave a gap for the journeyman lineman to assist Theseus with a Blitz that succeeds. Theseus following up fails to pick up ball (not a turnover action though). I tie up as many dwarfs as possible with only Poseidon deep, who the Cheers try and knock down on three occasions but fail. There is a possible TD on the cards if I can Blitz and dodge Poseidon out of three dwarfs TZ (with some support) but promptly fail the dodge...

Nevermind, the main objective to stop the Dwarfs scoring was achieved and I felt that with some good defence I could make things difficult in the second half. However, it was now 9 against 11...

The second half kicks off with a touchback to a runner and the Cheers form a tight cage in the centre of the pitch. The Titans try and adopt elf like tactics by retreating one square at a time and putting players on the edge of the cage or TZ the ball carrier where possible. However, superior numbers plus two more casualties to Sisyphus and Aeolas (Smashed Hand – MNG and Damaged Back – Niggling Injury both saved by my apo’s) eventually tell and the dwarfs score on the seventh turn on the second half.

There is a chance for a two turn TD, but a perfect defence rolled on the Kick-off really messes this up and only option is to run Nemesis deep into half and see if I get lucky. I don’t. End Result 1-1.

Overall, it was a fair result and I thought my defence was sound only failing when he had a significant numbers advantage. I was lucky with my dodges (77% success rate) but only succeeded with one armour roll that resulted in a stun. Need to add some nastiness and menace to these Titans.

Next up is a Pro Elf team called Sons of Loridian (Shadowplay), so it will be nice to not be feeling as much anxiety for my players lives for a change (although it was a High Elf team that inflicted my two deaths...). I will post more of their team details once they have played their fourth OCC match.

Both Nemesis and Poseidon will skill up and barring any juicy stat increases, they will get block and Guard respectively. However, Might Blow might come in handy for Poseidon with all that AV7 and I won’t need Guard as much. Deliberation, deliberation!

In the Name of the Gods!!

[FTJUK]

Hi,

Scheduled my next match against a Pro Elf Team called Sons of Lordian coached by Shadowplay for this Thursday. They have a TV of 1130 (mine is 1140) and the same overall record with one win, one draw and two loses. Current team is:

Lineman Lev 2 Kick
Blitzer Lev1 Block, Side Step
Blitzer Lev2 “ “, “ “, Dodge
Catcher Lev2 Catch, Nerves of Steel, Dodge
Catcher Lev1 “ “, “ “
Lineman Lev1
Lineman Lev1
Lineman Lev1 -1Str
Lineman Lev1
Lineman Lev1 -1Mov
Lineman Lev1 MNG
Thrower Lev1 Pass
3 RRs
1 Apo

I have a full team to choose from and recently added another thrower named Apollo. I think having another thrower will provide a useful back to Aeolas should he get removed from the pitch. Team details are:

Ares Blitzer Lev1 Block 5SPP
Hades Blitzer Lev2 Block, Guard 6SPP
Poseidon Blitzer Lev2 Block, Guard 9SPP
Hermes Blitzer Lev1 Block 5SPP
Nemesis Catcher Lev2 Dodge, Catch, Block 6SPP
Aeolas Thrower Lev2 Pass, Sure Hands, Block 10SPP
Theseus Lineman Lev1 0SPP
Acteon Lineman Lev1 0SPP
Narcissus Lineman Lev1 0SPP
Nike Catcher Lev1 Dodge, Catch 0SPP
Sisyphus Lineman Lev1 0SPP
Apollo Thrower Lev1 Pass, Surehands 0SPP
3RRs
1 Apo

I am expecting a close game, but I have an advantage in terms of strength with my two guard Blitzers and block (six to two). So my views on tactics will be too bash and too hurt as much as possible. I also have numerical advantage with his MNG, so some fouling is also likely (especially if I get numerical advantage on the pitch early on)!

I have no tackle though, so his blodging Blitzer might prove a handful. He also has kick, which could prove to be a pain, but I can combat this by hanging a Blitzer back to protect my two throwers.

I would welcome other peoples thoughts though.

In terms of overall development, I have a number of people ready to skill up, but conscious that my linemen don’t have a skill between them. This needs to be rectified asap if I want this team to do well in the long run.

“In the name of the Gods!”