Pass block - is it worth it?

Rupert · Post by **Rupert** » Sat Jul 20, 2002 10:07 am

I often see pass block recomended for Lion warriors (and other high ag catchers) – especially this is recomended if the player have an ag increase.

I wonder if any of you have had expiriences with pass block. As fare as I can see from the statistics on various BB-sites interceptions seems to be very rare. Just look at the MBBL2 or the PBEMBBL sites. The best players have a lot of TDs, Cas and Passes – while the ”top intercepters” have one pr two interceptions.

Of course the value of the skill is not just the actual number of interceptions, but that it may force the opponent to play differently than he would otherwise do, still, most teams will play a running/slugging game against elfy teams anyway so it dosnt change much.

My question is this: Do you think pass block is worth it?

Acerak · Post by **Acerak** » Sat Jul 20, 2002 2:12 pm

If your league features Throwers, it's worthwhile. Best to have two PBlockers, however. My Amazon team in our local league featured two such Catchers. They had only one INT between them, but they caused all sorts of problems for my opponents:

* Fumbled passes
* Dropped catches
* Failed dodge rolls
* Lost squares circling around the players when they got in the way

It was especially worthwhile against the Humans and Dark Elves, less so against Vampires, Ogres, etc.

-Chet

Ghost of Pariah · Post by **Ghost of Pariah** » Sat Jul 20, 2002 5:32 pm

I agree with Acerak. I took PB a couple times thinking about interceptions. It just never happened, instead those players always ended up MORE annoying than I thought they would be. It's definitely worth it but it's value is a little bit below the surface. I combined with foul appearance once and that was really fun!

Piepgrass · Post by **Piepgrass** » Sat Jul 20, 2002 7:23 pm

I find it worhtwhile especially when you have 2-3 or even 4 of them.
Its double usefull because it both gives you the opportunety to intercept the ball and allso puts pressure on you opponent to cover the routes, thus giving you a sleight edge.
Needless to say Passblock is more or less useless if the opponent is used to playing a running game.

Poul

Vesticle · Post by **Vesticle** » Sat Jul 20, 2002 7:33 pm

Well, even in a running game, a lot of them get an edge for themselves with the threat to pass, even if they don't use it. Sending a receiver or two downfield keeps the defense 'honest'.

As another note to passblock is one of those "Bloodbowl Maxiums" that Chet wrote... "2.) One of anything is a target."

If you only have 1 passblock player, he'll help some, but your opponent will be smart enough to either avoid him, or smash him first. If you have two or more, it's less and less likely that your opponent will be able to so effectively deal with them all, and more likely that they'll actually make a difference.

David

Post by **DoubleSkulls** » Sun Jul 21, 2002 11:37 am

One of my teams has an Orc Blitzer with +AG and PB, and a line orc with PB. Hopefully I'll have 3 PB's soon. The idea is that the threat of PB is going to persuade my opponent to run the ball more, right into my strengths (a solid line of Black Orcs and Orc Blitzers), rather than get any interceptions.

However they have been lucky and got 3 interceptions in 2 games (2 interceptions in consequitive turns).

The real advantage of PB is that if you have enough of them (at least 2) then you restrict the passing options of the opposition and either force them to blitz your PB's or risk the interceptions and/or modifies to pass/catch.

Lion Warriors are the great PB'ers. If they get PB as a first skill they have a 55% chance of making an interception (since they can use catch to reroll any failures). If they get +AG too then its 75% chance of making an interception. This either forces teams to run the ball more or start taking Safe Throw. Once a HE team has the numbers you can always leave the PB Lion Warriors on the bench when facing a running team anyway.

Ian

Mestari · Post by **Mestari** » Mon Jul 22, 2002 2:52 pm

Quoting from the roster of my perhaps the most succesful team (Wood elves), that played 18 games, of which they won 17 and lost 1 (to the horrendously unbalanced Forest Folk team in the second season final):

Vir Pering Line-elf 7 3 5 7 Pass Block, Catch

4 completions, 3 TD's, _7_ interceptions and an MVP.

Early on in the teams carieer he managed to score two TD's and get the MVP (or the other way round), rolled an agility increase, and as the second roll I took Pass Block.

Cunningly he stalked in my backfield and managed to surprise my opponents one after another. I often used decoy intercepters in their most likely passing routes, and they concentrated their efforts on removing them and managed to forget the PBlocker. Ah, the look on their faces as he moved in, took the ball, TO, moved, gave a hand-off, and what seemed like an easy score for them had turned into yet another point for me.

I had a PBlock catcher too, but he got the skill quite late, so he had managed only one interception.

Btw. Needless to say that it didn't take long until coaches were constantly asking me which of the linemen it was again that had pass block. But even then they were worth it by causing distraction.

Marcus · Post by **Marcus** » Mon Jul 22, 2002 5:16 pm

I think you're looking in the wrong place to find the advantage of this skill. It's not about the interceptions you make, it's about the tacklezones you put on the passer or reciever. Take two and use them to rush the quarterback off the kickoff. Take 3 and keep the spare for covering recievers.

Incidentally the skill combines well with skills/traits like diving tackle, tackle, shadowing, and foul appearance for just that reason. Get a TZ on the thrower or reciever and watch them suffer.

Marcus

Rupert · Post by **Rupert** » Mon Jul 22, 2002 5:54 pm

Thanks - I think I'm getting some good advice.

My HE team is still new with just one Lion warrior and he just got a move upgrade on his first skill roll so I guess I will develop him as a specialised offensive player. The next ones will be given pass block and developed for defence against other passing teams.

Cervidal · Post by **Cervidal** » Mon Jul 22, 2002 6:08 pm

No need to make him a defensive player. A MA 9 Lion Warrior should end up a defensive player. Toss Block and Shadowing on him and he's following anyone anywhere they go.

Mestari · Post by **Mestari** » Mon Jul 22, 2002 8:28 pm

Marcus wrote:I think you're looking in the wrong place to find the advantage of this skill. It's not about the interceptions you make, it's about the tacklezones you put on the passer or reciever

I prefer considering which one gives better odds of me having the ball. Quite often it is worthwhile to attempt a 4+ interception instead of causing a mere -1 modifier for the thrower/catcher. In addition, it's worth 2SPP's.

Acerak · Post by **Acerak** » Tue Jul 23, 2002 5:41 pm

I prefer considering which one gives better odds of me having the ball. Quite often it is worthwhile to attempt a 4+ interception instead of causing a mere -1 modifier for the thrower/catcher. In addition, it's worth 2SPP's.

The only problem is that you need Very Long Legs or AG5 to get a 4+ interception attempt. On the plus side, the Lion Warrior comes with Catch, which gives his coach a second shot to bring it home.

-Chet

Marcus · Post by **Marcus** » Tue Jul 23, 2002 9:50 pm

Quite often it is worthwhile to attempt a 4+ interception instead of causing a mere -1 modifier for the thrower/catcher. In addition, it's worth 2SPP's.

This is why you use more than 1 passblocker. 2 TZs on the thrower brings the chance of a fumble up to 50%, pass notwithstanding. Plus it generally means if they do fumble the pass you will generally have a 2 dice block on the thrower in their own backfield and a (presumably fast) player ready to pick up the ball and score.

Similarly if those passblockers are covering the reciever they have both the penalty to catch the ball plus the added advantage of forcing the reciever to dodge away - not counting any other nasty shadowing/diving tackle surprises you may have in store.

It's also worth noting that if your team only has AG3 the chances of intercepting are the same regardless of whether the thrower/reciever has a tacklezone on you or not. In this case, putting the TZ on the thrower/reciever gives you two chances to cause a turnover rather than just one.

Marcus

Zy-Nox · Post by **Zy-Nox** » Tue Jul 23, 2002 10:03 pm

Passing isnt really a feature in our league,

So I dont really use this skill,however I have a Question on it.
Say you have 3 PB on a side all are in the position to interfere with the pass, Say the first had to dodge out of a TZ and failed,could you still move the rest,I'm assuming you can,just want clarification.

Post by **DoubleSkulls** » Tue Jul 23, 2002 10:48 pm

You can't turnover in your opponents turn, so all PB's can move, regardless of whether any fail dodges.

Not a great skill if the opposition are all undead, dwarves, chaos etc.

I still think a real strength of a HE team is PB'ing Lion Warriors, 20/36 they'll make a interception in the open, even in TZ's they are still 11/36.

Ian

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Pass block - is it worth it?

Pass block - is it worth it?

Nah...