I really hate f***king stalling

[Patchwork]

I really hate f***ing stalling

Play better then.

Which is incredibly helpful when you're playing orcs and for some freakish reason the pro-elves you're playing have killed two black orcs, seriously injured your thrower, and knocked out two blitzers and two lineorcs - all for your measly one KO to a nameless linelf.

True, not much you can do in that case but I'd bet that elf player was stalling because you'll likely get one or two of those blitzers and lineorcs back and have your subs beach come onto the pitch. Even if he'd already guranteed winning the game, stalling then would limit how much damage you might inflict in return before the end of the game. That's a pretty nice gain for an Elf team. Annoying to be on the receiving end of that but fair play.

[MeatLoafX]

With every single team I build, my number one concern is "how can I create turnovers?"

There is something frustrating about a coach parking near the endzone for 4 turns, but my job as his opponent is to prevent that from happening. I understand that certain teams MUST do this. Otherwise, they are giving faster teams an easy win. Some teams can score relatively easily in 1 or 2 turns. Why on earth would any coach just give the other team a chance to do this? I would never give a wood elf or skaven team, for example, a turn if I could prevent it.

You need ways to break into cages when you make a team. It's my number one concern when I'm determining what skills to take, etc. (and maybe one reason I'm so drawn to teams like Slann which makes it all but impossible to park and sit for even one turn).

So, I can understand your frustration - it's not fun to play any game and realize that there's nothing you can do. However, it's going to happen unless you find a way to stop it because it's vital to certain teams and the way they play. And you don't have to like it, but you need to deal with it. (and calling other people names for playing the game a certain way is a little bit harsh)

I'm not the best player in the world, but I'm more than willing to share any meager help I can - if you want to post details of your experience here or over at our site, I'd like to help you if I can to crack those tough cages.

[Skurk78]

I lost my last game with Dark Elves against orcs 1-0. The other coach was clearly stalling to keep his lead. He scored the TD early in the 1st half, then knocked my witch elf over to win the ball back. Stalling the rest of the 1st half was a breeze and I was the kicking team for the 2nd half. I didn't get the ball until turn 15 and by then the road to my TD endzone was just too long even for a fast team like the DE.

Instead of complaining about the stalling I was cursing the dice gods for making me burn my team re-rolls in a very fast manner, I had 6 to begin with. I know that it wasn't just the stall that made me lose, at one time I had 6 KO'd players and two injured. It's not easy to build a even a desent blitz play on a troll with DE when you have 5 players and no assassin on the pitch. There's no way I'm putting my witch elf in front of a troll, even if she has 4 in ST she's only got 7 in AV and against MB that's suicide. Instead I kept doing what I should be doing, aiming at the ball carrier and when I finally got there it was too late (but I got there and got a casualty out of it to boot).

After the game I congratulated the other coach on the excellent defensive play he'd just exhibited. I think only the strong teams can stall like he did. What I learned from the game was that my 3 bllitzers are in desperate need of MB since that would've probably given me a few more stuns and KO's. So quit whining and get out there and take it to the stallin team. There are ways to beat a stalling coach, you just need to use your imagination.

[Joemanji]

Conversely, in tournament play many coaches feel (slightly) insulted if their opponent doesn't stall on them. It is like saying "I don't think you are good enough to score against me in 2/3 turns".

[Master Wang]

It depends on my mood and if I'm tired, but I will happily stall. As others said, why give your opponent a chance to win? If I'm 4-0 up, why give them the chance to tarnish my defensive record. Yes, it can be boring - I've been on the receiving end many times, too - but just suck it up. Go foul one of your opponent's players or something.

Next up - I hate bash teams that cage and elves that dodge Oh, Digger already has that second one covered

[Mootaz]

I absolutely agree that stalling has its uses because you need it to win in some matchups.
What I never do is stall to the 2-0 because being two touchdowns in the lead is almost the same as having won. Even if my opponent manages to score, I get another offense where I can still sit on the ball and defend it, if problems arise I don't even have to try to score. But what it gives me is a chance to get the 3-0.

[ZanzerTem]

Learn to play.

[KidStealth]

Learn to play.

i was curious how long it would take someone just sayin' "l2p"...

[Angeblich]

I wish the WoodElf-player in my first ever tournament-game had stalled instead of beating my Halflings 9-1...

[ZanzerTem]

i was curious how long it would take someone just sayin' "l2p"...

Does it really need to be said that scoring with Dwarves on Turn 6 versus Skaven is a bad idea when you kick to them next half?

Do I really have to explain the concept of clock management in this game?

No, not if the OP would l2p.

[Jonny_P]

I've always been a bit of a "Stall Man". Completely valid tactic if you are a bit pee-shy.

[Skurk78]

I don't think stalling is the best way to keep skaven from scoring a 2 turn TD. They've got 7 in AV, just hit them HARD.

I always try to keep the ball moving forward when stalling. That can sometimes open up a scoring chance and I'd rather be defending deep in my opponent's half than deep in my own. Those damn skaven can run 18 squares in 2 turns... I think I just accidentally asnwered the question up there ^ lol.

[Asperon Thorn]

Why is the defense of stalling always considered a valid tactic and the people that use it blame the one being stalled against?

Why do they need to learn to defend?

As far as I can tell the people that stall can't defend either. Which is why they are stalling. Seems like a weak defense for stalling.

I agree with Babs. I almost always consider it bad sportsmanship especcially if it is carried on for more than 2 turns. Games are meant to be fun for everyone. Stalling turn after turn definately makes the game un-fun for at least one person.

Asperon Thorn

[mattgslater]

What is "stalling," really? Is it stalling to play for a 5TTD when you have a viable 2TTD strategy? Is it stalling not to GFI into the endzone senselessly?

Sometimes, you need the tempo to win. Gratuitous stalling is actually kind of dumb, and costs SPP. But if the game is close, you better take what you can get. It's not like there's even one team race that never plays clock management, or like there's one football game anywhere that doesn't use clock management as an accepted strategy. Get over it, man.

I get the feeling that those people who bitch about stalling would bitch even more loudly about running up the score. What are we supposed to do, play down to your level? I don't think so. Get better.

Conversely, in tournament play many coaches feel (slightly) insulted if their opponent doesn't stall on them. It is like saying "I don't think you are good enough to score against me in 2/3 turns".

This is me, when I go up against another veteran coach. I'm better than him, I know it even if he doesn't, and I love to rub it in his face because football is a mean-spirited game and if you can't handle a little disrespect you don't deserve to play. I used to step up my pace of fouling once the game was in hand, but I've learned that running up the score is a lot more fun, profitable and reliable. Of course, if I dislike my opponent, I do both.

I do this as a matter of course with Orcs; I game for a 2TTD, and then if my opponent says anything, I'll tell them that I'm anticipating a 5-0 win, and my next score will be with a BOB. The truth, however, is that with Orcs, defense is easier than offense, especially after 5-7 games, when I have the skill selections to lock out all the openings.

[Asperon Thorn]

Abusive stalling is anything BUT tempo and clock management.

It is, "I have the upper hand, you can't do anything about it, and I am going to use it."

That's not particularly a friendly way to play. When it is used against me I stop playing the game, and just start dismantling teams. I start singling out players and fouling every turn until they score. . .After the kick off, I will continue doing the same at the expense of the ball.

I play to either destroy their team or get mine sent off, but as the game has already become unfriendly, I am going to share the wealth.

Hell, I think Thads and I had a friendly game on fumbbl a few years back where I convinced him that stalling was probaby a bad idea. Since he and I get along, I went back to playing the ball after he scored.

Rather than that. Score and play the game. Mount a defense rather than assume that your opponent will score which is why you would have had to stall. The fact of the matter is that people that feel the need to stall for 2+ turns can't play both ends of the ball. So are no better than their opponents that they are so quick to judge as poor.

Asperon Thorn