Re: All about Dark Elves
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 10:41 pm
The trick to any kind of defensive setup that leaves a WZ open is that in exchange for letting the opponent set up deep/wide, you get to protect extra players and shut out the interior routes. The important thing is to run a set of screen-stacks (or some variant, like zigs and/or zags) that keep offensive players out of the box and assure you'll have your fast guys free to do their thing.
The reason to go asymmetric rather than "truncated" is that you can kick directionally, and that you can protect the line by discouraging overinvestment in line-blocking and making midfield cages take extra actions.
– – – –|x x x – – – –|– – – –
– – – –|– – – – – – –|– – – –
– – x –|– x – – x – –|x – – –
– x – –|x – – x – – x|– – – –
What it takes:
1) Schmoe AG4 linos. They have to be able to reposition after getting shoved out of the action. They don't need skills. This is strictly an elf defense, though all four types of elf can do it. I guess Amazons or stunty teams could do it too.
2) An opponent without multiple fast players or a good deep passing game. MA≤6 bash is the best target for asymmetry, but it works okay against the Undeady types too.
What you'd like:
1) Kick. Asymmetric defenses are a good way to get a maximum number of guys in the box, making it easier to get a kicker into the mix. Also, these defenses tend to force the offense to build a strong side for you to kick away from.
2) A couple Side Steppers or Stand Firmers, to let you expand your front. The great thing about this kind of defense is that you can put up a minimum investment in such players.
A little SF/SS can change a lot, especially if accompanied by Blodge and by Guard neighbors. Note a knockdown means the midfield route is free with just one dodge. But dodge-happy teams see symmetrical defenses from you, so whatever.
– – – –|x x x – – – –|– – – –
– – – –|– – – – – – –|– – – –
– – x –|– x – s – x –|– s – –
– x – –|x – – – – – x|– – – –
You can see the two safe positions, where you'd put the Witches (or Assassins, if so inclined). If you run three guys to protect (likely on DE), run perhaps the defense indicated at the top with no SS required. If you have a bunch of DE with SS and still want to run asymmetric, here you go.
– – – –|x x x – – – –|– – – –
– – – –|– – – – – – –|– – – –
– s – –|x – – s – – x|– s – –
– – x –|– x – – – x –|– – – –
If you've loaded up on line skills, you have other options to go along with it. With a SS defensive end on the interior side of the line (L1), you can totally lock out the inside and keep four safeties without needing to load up rookies on the LOS. When he gets pushed or knocked down, he goes to the point labeled *. Just make sure you use an AV8 guy with Block, because if he goes down in square or gets KO'ed, you're getting hit right up the gut. I'm not as keen on this unless the offense is both slow and down men, and in that case you may well be winning.
– – – –|s x s – – – –|– – – –
– – – *|– – – * – – –|– – – –
– s – –|– x – – – x –|– s – –
– – x –|x – – x – – x|– – – –
If you're in a big lead and highly skilled, cheating up on the defensive backfield may not be bad. The opponent can't chain, so unless he gets a Quick Snap, it just helps your turnover odds.
– – – –|x x x – – – –|– – – –
– – x –|– – – – x – –|– – – –
– x – –|– x – – – – –|x – – –
– – – –|x – – x – – x|– – – –
A note: Amazons with Stand Firm Blitzers may use the same players, but will want to drop the interior player back another square, using a Stand Firmer. Given the propensity to Guard up the Blitzers, it's most likely the outer player on the right side in the above diagram (the one at R5-3) is a SS Catcher, while a Blitzer with Stand Firm mans the interior post (b). The players labeled g are good candidates for Guard.
– – – –|x x x – – – –|– – – –
– – – –|– – – – – – –|– – – –
– – g –|– g – – – g –|– s – –
– x – –|x – – b – – x|– – – –
The reason to go asymmetric rather than "truncated" is that you can kick directionally, and that you can protect the line by discouraging overinvestment in line-blocking and making midfield cages take extra actions.
– – – –|x x x – – – –|– – – –
– – – –|– – – – – – –|– – – –
– – x –|– x – – x – –|x – – –
– x – –|x – – x – – x|– – – –
What it takes:
1) Schmoe AG4 linos. They have to be able to reposition after getting shoved out of the action. They don't need skills. This is strictly an elf defense, though all four types of elf can do it. I guess Amazons or stunty teams could do it too.
2) An opponent without multiple fast players or a good deep passing game. MA≤6 bash is the best target for asymmetry, but it works okay against the Undeady types too.
What you'd like:
1) Kick. Asymmetric defenses are a good way to get a maximum number of guys in the box, making it easier to get a kicker into the mix. Also, these defenses tend to force the offense to build a strong side for you to kick away from.
2) A couple Side Steppers or Stand Firmers, to let you expand your front. The great thing about this kind of defense is that you can put up a minimum investment in such players.
A little SF/SS can change a lot, especially if accompanied by Blodge and by Guard neighbors. Note a knockdown means the midfield route is free with just one dodge. But dodge-happy teams see symmetrical defenses from you, so whatever.
– – – –|x x x – – – –|– – – –
– – – –|– – – – – – –|– – – –
– – x –|– x – s – x –|– s – –
– x – –|x – – – – – x|– – – –
You can see the two safe positions, where you'd put the Witches (or Assassins, if so inclined). If you run three guys to protect (likely on DE), run perhaps the defense indicated at the top with no SS required. If you have a bunch of DE with SS and still want to run asymmetric, here you go.
– – – –|x x x – – – –|– – – –
– – – –|– – – – – – –|– – – –
– s – –|x – – s – – x|– s – –
– – x –|– x – – – x –|– – – –
If you've loaded up on line skills, you have other options to go along with it. With a SS defensive end on the interior side of the line (L1), you can totally lock out the inside and keep four safeties without needing to load up rookies on the LOS. When he gets pushed or knocked down, he goes to the point labeled *. Just make sure you use an AV8 guy with Block, because if he goes down in square or gets KO'ed, you're getting hit right up the gut. I'm not as keen on this unless the offense is both slow and down men, and in that case you may well be winning.
– – – –|s x s – – – –|– – – –
– – – *|– – – * – – –|– – – –
– s – –|– x – – – x –|– s – –
– – x –|x – – x – – x|– – – –
If you're in a big lead and highly skilled, cheating up on the defensive backfield may not be bad. The opponent can't chain, so unless he gets a Quick Snap, it just helps your turnover odds.
– – – –|x x x – – – –|– – – –
– – x –|– – – – x – –|– – – –
– x – –|– x – – – – –|x – – –
– – – –|x – – x – – x|– – – –
A note: Amazons with Stand Firm Blitzers may use the same players, but will want to drop the interior player back another square, using a Stand Firmer. Given the propensity to Guard up the Blitzers, it's most likely the outer player on the right side in the above diagram (the one at R5-3) is a SS Catcher, while a Blitzer with Stand Firm mans the interior post (b). The players labeled g are good candidates for Guard.
– – – –|x x x – – – –|– – – –
– – – –|– – – – – – –|– – – –
– – g –|– g – – – g –|– s – –
– x – –|x – – b – – x|– – – –