[Dark Elf] Thrower in Dark Elf team

[Rutger]

Seems like most people use the Dark Elves as a running team with mostly hand-overs and a short pass here and there because of their AG4 and their Runners.

I feel that a thrower can add so much more to a game that makes it very hard for an opponent to predict what you are up to. The obvious problem here is that you need to roll doubles to get passing skills and if you take Pass then you miss up on Guard. Also it would be nice to have two passing skills on an AG4 player and that much harder to get.

The best bet would be to make a Thrower from a Lineman or perhaps even a Blitzer (MA7 is always good on a thrower so that you can position him better) that has got +1AG. If you don't roll a double on his next level up then you give him dodge instead.

Or later in the league take Accurate on a player, since you are bound to have more rerolls.

Currently I have an AG5 Lineman with Pass and no Runners. Him having the ball almost guarantees a TD.

Honestly, I haven't tried out the runners yet, but one or two additional AV7 players gives me the creeps.

Thoughts?

[Coach]

Due to the mechanics with throwing the ball, passing skills are much more useful than having high AG. As the Lineman needs doubles for these (and passes up guard as you said) and also for strong arm, they aren't best suited to the role.

A Runner has passing skill access and can use the double to get strong arm, low AV isn't important as long passing throwers tend to stay deep and out of harms way anyway. Though if you want to play like that, all three of the other elven sides are better at it, so I'd suggest playing those instead!

[Rutger]

Currently I'm playing the Cyanide game against friends so I unfortunately don't have the choise of Pro Elves or High Elves.

Wood Elves are for a straight pass and run game, as are the Pro Elves. The High Elves can fight a bit, but Dark Elves can field 4 Blitzers and 2 Witch Elves. If you add a decent Thrower to that mix the Dark Elves becomes very potent. You will need to have some luck with dice rolls when you level up, but it seems a bit of a waste to me to have an all AG4 team and not include a good thrower.

As for developing a Runner to a Thrower that might work.
If you manage to give him +1AG, Dodge and Pass then he could fill both roles.

The bottom line is don't give a potential Dark Elf Thrower Pass until he has +1AG, preferably at level 2 for the best result.

[VoidSeer]

You're allowed 2 runners, and if you are like me, you field only one at a time.
You can build one as a proper thrower (acc., pass).

DE miss the 2 skills ensuring a safe passing game: pass and catch. Passing is always my "option play" with them: a threat my opponent has to consider.

This removes some pressure on the "loose cage" protecting the runner.

[Rutger]

Completely missed that Runners have access to Pass skills. I plead temporary insanity. My next team will start with a Runner instead of a WE.

I would like to think that a Thrower is a better player than a straight Runner, although one doesn't exclude the other.

[VoidSeer]

Runners in LRB4 use to start with "Pass" instead of "Dump off".

I like them much better now. DE are better geared toward the running game, with 4 blitzer and 2 witches and no "real" receiver.

I "almost" never pass the ball with DE, unless I can score in the same turn.

Sure, you can build a proper pass game with the right skills. But if you wish to do so, you're better off with other elf teams.

[Rutger]

I have nothing against the change of Throwers to Runners. Infact I think it's great, it gives more diversity to the teams. But this doesn't exclude you from having one Runner and creating your own Thrower.

Once again, I'm mostly playing the Cyanide game vs friends. So High Elves are out.

[VoidSeer]

Originally Posted by Rutger

I have nothing against the change of Throwers to Runners. Infact I think it's great, it gives more diversity to the teams. But this doesn't exclude you from having one Runner and creating your own Thrower.

Once again, I'm mostly playing the Cyanide game vs friends. So High Elves are out.

Fair enough, but if you make a thrower you'd build your 1st runner first and then, much later you'll introduce your 2nd runner and skill him up to be a thrower.

If you're playing on a short league, you'll never have the time to get 2 efficient runners.

If your league is longer, you'll have a thrower but no proper "wide receivers" as DE positionals lack the speed and the skills, other elf catchers have.
Sure, MV7 AG4 is nothing to sneeze at. But by the time you'll have your "thrower", your opponent will have tackle/shadowing players etc... Making receiving the ball in one or two tackle zones and break loose to score pretty hard.

[Rutger]

Good point!
Thanks.

[jawe]

Originally Posted by Coach

Due to the mechanics with throwing the ball, passing skills are much more useful than having high AG. As the Lineman needs doubles for these (and passes up guard as you said) and also for strong arm, they aren't best suited to the role.

Hey guys,

I just created a new DE team with the intention of making my runner a thrower.

Just finished the first game and he already moved to lvl 2 and I have the option for AG+

Now after reading this sentence from Coach I am not so 100% sure what to do because I am still a bit new to the game(at least to the "new" rules) and don't know how important AG+1 vs. passing skills in different situations is.

Especially because he is not so likely to get a ton of points if I am using him as a thrower. So he won't get so many lvl-ups.

Any input appreciated.