[Skaven] Dealing with Skaven

[Archie]

Okay I want to know how to stop those furry rat b*stard's from running straight through my defensive lines as if they aren't there.

I'm playing on the PSP if that influences the answers. I've given up trying to stop them and gone to using strip ball (given to two blitzers) who hang about in defence.

I can't but think that there has to be a better way of doing it!

Archie

[Thanatos]

What team are you using?

Normally when I am defending versus Skaven, I will form a line of 5 dudes across the field. About 5 spaces from the LOS. That leaves 3 dudes on the LOS and 3 dudes behind the 5 dudes (this won't work if they have a Rat Ogre as he can crowd surf someone).

They can blitz one of your 5 dudes aside but if they don't then they have a lot of dodging to do. Assuming they get past your 5 dudes; then you have 3 dudes who can still beat them up.

I guess the short answer to your question is. You can't stop them running through your line; you just have to be prepared for what happens after they do.

[Coach]

Tackle is going to be more useful against Skaven than Strip Ball, which is a skill you only really need one of on a team.

Your best way of beating them is to take a hitting approach and grinding slowly up the pitch using up as much time as possible.

On defence, if they are running Gutter Runners through your lines then mark them up and blitz one. This is why you want Tackle, makes the hit more effective and makes dodging away for them harder.

If you haven't read them already check out the articles on doing a 2-1 Grind and on Marking Players.

[Narly Bird]

I also have trouble playing against a friend of mine who has a 1-turn scorer gutter runner on the Cyanide version of the game. The GR has +1M, go for it, sure feet and 2 heads.

On every offense, he places the gutter runner on the line but not in any of my players tackle zones. He will then do a blitz to clear one of my guys out of the way, then hand the ball off to the gutter runner and score (all in the 1 turn). Even if he doesnt knock my guy down, he just dodges the GR through my players tackle zones as if they weren't there. He does this every time and it is so frustrating. The best i can manage is a draw against this guy.

I've played against him as dark elf and chaos, but can't manage a win. As recommended by Coach, i do the grind and totally wail on his players (I actually tend to cause quite a few casualties). But he doesnt field the 1-turn scorer on defense. I'm waiting for him to one day roll double 1's on a dodge. Then im going to gang-foul that damn dodging rat!

[Ian]

The best method for dealing with filthy Skaven is to stamp on them as hard as possible as often as possible.

[Gio]

As Thanatos said, think ahead and keep your guys defending the area behind the line. Then, as Coach said, Tackle is great for this purpose, especially when combined with Diving tackle (they don't have to be on the same player). Try to create as many tackle zones as possible if you can't manage to pound on his Gutter Runners. We had a 1 turn scorer in our league, and what we did was pound the team as a whole untill he had no choice but to be out on defence. Then... it was pay back time...

[Archie]

Thanks guys for the idea. My save game corrupted so I have had to restart my campaign. Which actually works as I can now go for tackle not strip ball.

I've have been doing the marking thing and pounding away at the little rats. Such ridiculous satisfaction from the crunching noise they make

Nice to know it wasn't just me having issues as well.