The KO rolling is just an extra side effect of something that is done due to the advantages of ball and clock control. These are more due to the fact you play two halves of eight turns than anything else. Older rules used to play until a certain score but then some games could go on for ages. There is likely a flaw in whatever method is used though, feel free to start a discussion on the forum about this to keep these comments on topic.

The fact that KO rolls are made after every TD incentivises players not to try and score as much as possible (especially bashy teams). I think that needs to be changed to just make KO rolls every 4 turns, and possibly add a substitution mechanic (bringing players onto the field once per match when your below 11).

Encouraging players to hold the ball 1sq from the endzone until turn 8 is just bad game design IMO.

Most of your comment though is perhaps more related to the 2-1 Grind and scoring quickly or not rather than if you kick or receive. If you have a deep enough bench and you choose to kick, then when you do receive you should still have those numbers. When you are defending they have to use more of their player protecting the ball giving you more “active” players.

If you receive and they hurt a couple of your players so you then kick to them with less than eleven. That makes it easier for them to score and then they can make that “mathematical disadvantage” worse when they take their first turn. Couple that with you losing players and burning rerolls trying to leap or dodge into a cage taking a two dice against hit with a fragile player and they can quickly assume dominance or the match.

I maintain that kicking first if you get the choice so you can defend with as much strength as possible gives you more of an edge in more games than receiving first does. Though like I said you are more than welcome to disagree, I personally love it if the other coach elects to receive and puts me in to kick.

I mainly play High agi team, favouring skaven. With a high agi team its fairly easy to break a cage even if your using -2 dice, each turn as long as you have wrestle skill gives you a 15-20% chance of blitzing the ball carrier – including the leap or dodge into the cage. A running player will usually take 4 or more turns to score meaning its more than likely you will have broken his cage before he can score.

Once the cage is broken all you need to do is fire the ball as far up the pitch as possible, HMP or just a decent pass and fast run and even if you dont score you will pretty much stop them from scoring.

You can also pretty much stop them doing much damage to your players as you whack in a 1 or 2 Turn TD before he really gets much more than a blitz off.

Basically, there isn’t a kick off, and the game just keeps going with the game checking to see if anyone won every 4 further turns.

I’m not too fond of this, but that’s how the finals were decided in one of my Leagues recently — to the surprise of both players.

I’m warming up to kicking off first, but am hesitant to do so in the playoffs…