[Nurgle] Starting Roster

[Narly Bird]

I'm surprised to see that there are no threads already on Nurgle. Perhaps the Great Unclean One should have a shower and then he'd get more followers?

Anyway, to cut to the chase, I am having a lot of difficulty in determining the best starting lineup for a Nurgle Team. Nurgle Warriors tend to skill up slower than their Chaos counterparts, as they are less likely to score with M4 and A2. So you want to have them as early as possible so they can skill up. But they are fairly expensive at 110k each and as they don't have any blocking skills, you want to pick up a lot of rerolls. But rerolls are a pricey 70k each. You then have your (probable) ball handler and blitzers, Pestigors, at 80k. Following up are the cheap and disposable rotters at 40k. And lets not forget the Beast of Nurgle himself at 140k.

My thinking is that the Beast is already pretty good without getting additional skills, so you can wait to get him until later on in the season. I also think that a team with no bashing/ball handling skills should start with 3 rerolls. So that leaves us with the mix of Nurgle Warriors, Pestigors and Rotters. My question is, should you start with the full lineup of Nurgle Warriors (4) and only 1 Pestigor (30k in the bank)? Or should you start with 3 Nurgle Warriors and 3 Pestigors (20k in the bank)?

Narly.

[Ian]

I recently started as a Nurgle team but have only played one game thus far. I went for:

Beast of Nurgle
2 x Nurgle Warriors
2 x Pestigors
6 x Rotters
3 x RRs.

My thinking was I'd rather, early on, spend some time trying to get SPP on my rotters so that when they're eventually, hopefully, filling the gaps between Pestigors and Nurgle Warriors they'll maybe have a skill or two. Or at least be on their way to getting one.

[Coach]

I believe the more experienced Nurgle coaches recommend starting with the following:

1 Beast
4 Warriors
1 Pestigor
5 Rotters
2 Rerolls

It maximises your strength, Foul Appearance, Disturbing Presence and gives you some Regeneration as well. It also gives the slow to skill up players more games to get the MVP. Unfortunately Nurgle players are expensive so you have to cut down on something, that means rerolls in this case. That probably points to taking Sure Hands as your first skill on the Pestigor.

I wouldn't bother trying to get many skills on the Rotters especially, they tend to die fairly easily!

[Narly Bird]

Thanks for the tips Coach. It certainly gives you a lot more hitting power by dropping the 3rd reroll and also adds to survivability of the team (higher average armour and regeneration). With only 2 rerolls though, there’s likely to be a lot of turnovers. Assuming you started with this team, what would you take as your first purchase? I’m assuming that it would be hard to get the reroll first as you are likely to suffer casualties along the way. So probably 1 or 2 Pestigors until you can afford that extra reroll (so expensive at 140k!!).

The other option which I am thinking for a more reliable (although less hard hitting) team is:
4 Warriors
1 Pestigor
6 Rotters
3 Rerolls
30k in the bank

Any thoughts?

[Coach]

I'd look to get more Pestigors. Nurgle should do all-right with the Foul Appearance being disruptive and Disturbing Presence adding to it. You may find the games to be low scoring as they are much better defensively than offensively. You can hopefully perhaps get Leader on a double for a Rotter if they skill up.

I think I may be tempted to leave the Beast and get the extra reroll to start though, I'm a big fan of rerolls. Then you need to decide what order you are going to purchase players. It does leave you 30k, so you may be able to afford a Pestigor after the first game. Then I would look to get the Beast after that, though it may be 5 games before you can get him and they are rather handy to have. That is also 5 less games for them to get the MVP and get Stand Firm.

Given that you either have to drop the Beast or a Reroll realistically and they cost the same, which is going to be the most useful to you until you can afford whichever you leave out. I think the Beast just edges it and they are far more likely to survive than an extra Rotter.

[Narly Bird]

If a frenzy player blitzes my foul appearance nurgle warrior, passes the test and get a push back, do they have to test again for the second block?
Also, how about secret weapon players, such as fanatic, looney and assassin with stab? Do they have to test for it when using their special attack?

[Coach]

Yes and yes.

Well a Fanatic doesn't as they ignore Foul Appearance and are doing a block cause they randomly moved into the player, rather than actively trying to block them.

Chainsaw and Stab needs to roll though.

[Narly Bird]

Thanks for helping with interpreting the rules Coach.

I also have a question regarding disturbing presence. If the opposition player is in the tackle zone of my disturbing presence player and they perform a pass/catch action, does it count as a –2 modifier (ie. –1 for tackle zone and –1 for disturbing presence)?

I currently have a chaos team with a beastman who I dedicate to blitzing (or marking) catchers that break through my line. He currently has wrestle and tackle and I am considering the next skill for him. I am thinking to give him disturbing presence as it will work even if he goes down with wrestle. Any thoughts?

[Coach]

Yes the -1 stacks up for -2.

Not sure I would give Disturbing Presence as a skill choice though as there are probably going to be more useful skills to take. Stand Firm, perhaps Frenzy, Mighty Blow for instance.

[Netsmurf]

I believe the more experienced Nurgle coaches recommend starting with the following:

1 Beast
4 Warriors
1 Pestigor
5 Rotters
2 Rerolls

I started with this and went 12 win, 4 draw and 1 loss - (due to a brainfart from myself), for the season. I used all my money to get 2 ekstra Pestigors, then started on Reroll 3 and then the final pestigor. That beast is great and five times disturb will cancel any passing and smack an opponent is easy with this team.

PS on your defensive goat I would take diving tackle, it is great to tie down catchers if you only managed a push