[Team Blog] The Mighty Mighty Mashers

[Sudonym]

So I'm playing in a league for the first time (Blood Bowl North America), and being a newbie, I'm starting up this blog, in the hopes that people will help me improve my play.

Here's my team, as it stands right now:

Blitzer- [Dodge], [Block]
Blitzer- [Dodge], [Block
Blitzer- [Dodge], [Block]
Blitzer- [Dodge], [Block]
Thrower- [Dodge], [Pass], Block
Thrower- [Dodge], [Pass]
Catcher- [Dodge], [Catch]
Catcher- [Dodge], [Catch]
Linewoman- [Dodge]
Linewoman- [Dodge]
Linewoman- [Dodge]

3x Reroll, Apo.

I went positional heavy in my build; maybe I should have taken a fourth reroll instead, but I wanted a chance to get my guys leveled up fast.

My goal with this team is to try and take advantage of Amazon flexibility. Mostly, I plan to cage up and run, but with dodge everywhere, I should be able to open up passing lanes, should the cage get stalled.

My levelup plan as it stands right now is to get Block/Sure Hands on both Throwers (Amazon are slow enough that I want to set up both when recieving, so I can get one of them into a cage quickly). Then, assuming more levelups, one will go more offensive, taking Accurate and Safe Throw, and the other will go more defensive, taking Leader (since she'll be on the pitch for both offense and defense), and maybe Nerves of Steel so she can pass out of tackle zones on a pickup? Not sure, really, since Dodge can kinda do that, too.

The Blitzers will all take Guard, then two will go with Stand Firm and Tackle to serve as cage corners, while the other two go with Side Step/Mighty Blow/Frenzy and work as killers.

The Catchers will go with Wrestle, Strip Ball, and Diving Tackle, and be used as ball hunters, I think.

Linewomen will go with Wrestle, and Fend if they happen to level up beyond that.
I'm thinking about getting Kick, since my next purchase is probably another linewoman, and I'd want Dirty Player in there somewhere, probably. Not sure about this.

Any constructive feedback is welcome, and very much appreciated.

[Sudonym]

So I just completed my first game vs. Cheesy Ninjas (Skaven), and I'm sure there's room for improvement. I won 2-1, but I'm not super-satisfied with it, since I think the win should have been a bit easier for a better player.

First half, I recieved. I managed to get the ball into a cage quickly, but wasn't able to really do much damage with my blocking. Thanks to dodge, though, I managed to zig-zag my cage up the pitch, and had my thrower run the ball-in, after stalling on the goal line run the clock out.

Second half, we're both relatively unhurt. This is the part of my game I'm convinced needs the most improvement, since I try to setup a column-style defense, but his gutter runners just run around me, and he manages to score in three turns.

I try to get up the pitch for the last score, but I'm having trouble advancing; a fairly poor cage set up, he hits my thrower and pops the ball loose, but my linewoman immediately picks it up. I try to dodge her around later, but fail a go for it while trying to get her to safety, and she drops the ball. His very last turn, he attempts some Skaven trickery to score the game-winning touchdown, but my thrower intercepts it. One lucky long throw later, my catcher has the ball, and runs it in on turn 16 for the win.

The replay should be on BBManager, in BBNA Mischief Season 5, if anyone wants to watch it, but I'm very willing to accept any help with improving my play. Even just general tips for Amazon (Especially on defense), would be very much appreciated.

[Nikolai II]

Linewoman are your best ballhunters and could use wrestle+tackle and wrestle+strip ball. Catchers are also secondary ballcarriers, as well as your future SSDT annoyances, so have better use of block.

Against skaven your best defense is pretty much to force them to score in two turns and then cage up for a second grind, much as you did.

I wouldn't aim for two sidestepping blitzers, since you need a double for that. Killers can manage with stand firm anyway.

[Sudonym]

Using Linewomen as ballhunters instead of Catchers is interesting, though I have only three linewomen at the moment, and generally just put them on the line. I'll probably continue doing that, but will keep ballhunting in mind, if any should get more than 1 skill up.

Your catcher suggesting, though, is really interesting. Maybe something like Block, Side Step, Diving Tackle, Tackle? Turn them into really annoying man markers, basically.

I like the idea of having two killer blitzers, though. Guard/Mighty Blow/Tackle/Frenzy/Stand Firm, and set one up on each side of the pitch, maybe?

[Nikolai II]

All Blitzers should end up with Guard, SF, MB before diversifying. You are allowed one that takes MB sooner just to blitz with

Catchers - yup.

Get an extra linewoman for defense. She could also get kick one day.

[Sudonym]

So skills finally went through; just one level-up, since with a TD, completion, interception, and the MVP, my thrower dominated the SPP that game, and now has block, to make her tougher to bring down on the run.

[Lebe666]

Just remember that you are no Elf... don't dodge too much

Bitchslap 'em !

[Sudonym]

Had my second match last night against Necromantic. Oddly, Necromantics put up a stronger defense than the Skaven did.

First half, he choose to kick. I managed to get my cage onto his half of the pitch, but then his flesh golems got really annoying. ST4+Stand Firm is . I manage to dodge away, but he pins me up against the sidelines, and knocks the ball loose with a Werewolf charge. I blitz him off the ball, pick it up, and decide to run it in just to get out of the scrum, but fail the GFI in the endzone. Luckily, he's out of rerolls, and gets double skulls when he tries to blitz a path to the ball, for an immediate turnover. So I just run over and pick it up for a touchdown. He's got one last turn, but sets up to hit my dudes instead of play the ball, but gets no injuries.

Second half, I kick to him. He again sets up to try and hit my dudes with just one ghoul back to fetch the ball, and gets a lot of knockdowns with no injuries. I hit back, and managed to BH a Wight, but he regens. He gets a cage to the halfway line, but decides to go for the win instead of a draw, and tries to force a ghoul through for a quick score, only to fail. That lets me pick up the ball and grind up the pitch to kill the clock. He manages to knock the ball loose, but it just bounced into the hands of my blitzer, so she puts it in for a mostly superfluous touchdown.

So in an oddly bloodless match, I beat the Graveyard Stompers 2-0, and should have a levelup on a blitzer and the second thrower after verification.

[Viajero]

I have seen a couple of times Amazon coaches sport a full team of linewoman. Starting with Dodge and all at the meaguer 50K a piece, it is one of the most TV efficient line ups you can have. All you need is 6 SPP in each to get to Blodge. and since all of the positionals move 6 MA anyways there is no compromise there.

Amazones play a running game for the most part anyways so catchers/throwers are not really that much missed. The only issue is really the strength access which with a couple doubles skill ups you can help solve, alternatively oyu can have an exception and hire 1 or 2 blitzers tops.

In league play all this allows these coaches to get truckloads of inducements for the most part. In a TV based matchmaking system (Cyanide open leagues or fumbbl BB) makes the match up really efficient giving you a killer edge in terms of raw number of skills.

[Barninho]

I don't pass much with 'zons either, but I like having the pass and catch skills around on an AG3 team for hand-offs. Reliable handoffs can make your running plays deadly. Also those Blitzers are so good I feel like they're the main reason to play Amazon. I guess for mm the all linewomen roster is TV efficient but I feel you lose more than you gain personally.