[Wood Elf] Mid-season shopping and other conundra

[John McGuirk]

For reasons that come down pretty much to a failure to comprehend the workings of the game, I recently joined an LRB 5 league with an expensively decked-out wood elf team: positionals aplenty, a man on the bench, and, you guessed it - 0 team re-rolls.

I thought it would balance itself out - I mean, who doesn't want a sub handy for their AV7 team? But I didn't realise how psychologically paralysing the effect of lacking a dice-roll safety net would be. To wit, in my last game I chose to kick from the off (trying to weave a little of Coach's strategic genius into my game) and - Holy of Holies! - got a Blitz event from the KO table. But how many rolls did I make? A single two-dice blitz with my Wardancer (which totally live up to their billing as the best players money can buy to watch getting kicked to death - somehow, I still have both alive). Without the knowledge that I could re-roll my dodges, I didn't dare leave one or two players isolated in enemy territory - or compromise my defence by getting overenthusiastic wood elves prone'd or KO'd in turn 0 - even though the odds of failure were no greater than 1/6.

I expected the season to quickly dissolve into so much crushed hope and tenderised elf buttock, but my first two games were mercifully bash-free and I managed to muddle through with only 1 (permanent) injury, scoring 5 TDs and raking in a faintly outrageous 130,000 gp. The over-reliance on my dodgy catchers and pass-y thrower is very worrying, but - so far - proving effective.

So I now find myself in the unexpected position of being able to actually afford a re-roll. I see that as a compelling option, but my plan for a less risk-averse team before all this good fortune was to grab an apothecary, a smattering of cheerleaders and just look to load up on leader and pro. Fiscally I can't afford to do both ahead of the next game - and it's against a mobile, ultra-bashy and generally fearsome Chaos team. One other point of interest: it's not a long league, so the chances are that few players are going to acquire more than a couple of extra skills.

With all this in mind, I humbly submit the following teaser before the forum: what should my spending and levelling priorities now be?

[Coach]

That was a fun post to read, my answer won't be quite so poetic though!

Apothecary first, then save for rerolls. Cheerleaders etc are very low priority, also get Leader on your Thrower as soon as possible.

[coachman]

Unless you absolutely need to only use actions where you get a skill reroll. Catch with catchers, dodge with Dancers etc. Your next double (or when your thrower levels) get leader.

You're a brave man. I trialed the no reroll team before settling with a thrower, 2 dancers and 2 rerolls. Buying catchers late isn't an issue as they eat ssp. Double skulls is always around the corner.

[sunnyside]

Esh, no APO. I'd probably get that first. WE can do reasonably well against most teams just resting on their player based re-rolls, but not having an APO can be very expensive long term. And the elvish inducements aren't so hot especially for low values, so I'd want to avoid falling behind the leagues TR curve.

Leader on a thrower would be good, since you can have a second that actually does the throwing.

I'd avoid pro though, at least until you're talking about a later skill pick on a wardancer or something. It only works half the time, and there are a range of other skills that would be better for the early picks.

Something to be careful about once you get a re-roll is just using it. You'll want to manage that thing. Don't just throw it when you're looking at a turnover. Often you aren't so bad off if you blow whatever you just rolled, and so you can save your single RR for when it really matters.

Also thinking that way makes you play ahead of time in a way that conserves re-rolls.

[John McGuirk]

I think one of my larger problems is that I'm already having to play ahead of time in a way that conserves re-rolls!

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I'm still sorely tempted to get the reroll now, while I can 'afford to afford it', if you see what I mean. But losing the next match is probably going to be less of a problem than losing player, so I'll probably have to bow to the strength of that argument.

Great point about pro, though - I'd probably be just as paralysed by fear of it failing as I would not having it at all. Will focus on grabbing Leader, and perhaps again if a Liner rolls doubles.

[VoidSeer]

I'm pretty sure Leader skills do not stack. You can have multiple leaders, but only use one leader reroll per half.

Anyway, I always stood by the #1 rule of elf team development:
"Thy lineelf being blessed by a double shall get guard".

As for the apo against the reroll, if you have more than 2 games to go, get it. If your league is nearly over, get a tree. It'll protect your lines a bit, and give you a somewhat deeper bench.

[John McGuirk]

Good spot on the point of multiple Leaders. Something as useful as Guard seems like a bit of a death sentence for a line-elf, but there'd be no questioning its utility for the three or so assists he would make

[VoidSeer]

I've been playing elf teams since the 3rd BBowl edition. Believe me, you can't have too many guards.

It doesn't mean your guards have to be in any tackle zone at the end of your turn. A dodge/guard player that can move 7 squares is a potent combo. Have 3-4 in your team if you are lucky, and you'll have a much better time against Black orcs, Chaos warriors, sauruses, etc...

The only woodies that do not get guards in my book are the dancers. They get mighty blow on a double.