Taking a long time to score on purpose...is this unethical??

Artificial Penguin · Post by **Artificial Penguin** » Thu Jan 23, 2003 8:20 pm

I'm playing Undead in my store's league, and the best way I've found to win with them is a 2-1 game, where we each score in one half, and then on my half I take 7 turns to score.

Most of the people at my store think this is unfair/not in the spirit of the game. They say I should "play the game" instead of spending a few extra turns holding the ball.

The problem is if I'm playing against faster teams (which is most other teams), they can score on my in two turns if things go well...so why would I want to give them the chance?

Personally, I think this tactic is OK, and I've told them that, but they don't really agree. I'd like to know what you all think.

Khankill · Post by **Khankill** » Thu Jan 23, 2003 8:26 pm

You are doing nothing wrong. During those turns you are delaying, they get to move their players and try to knock the ball loose. You are playing to your teams strength as you should. Spirit of the game

dosen't sound to me like your opponents have played long enough to have any idea what it is.

Fronko · Post by **Fronko** » Thu Jan 23, 2003 8:27 pm

Definitely ok for me!

I play dwarfs and use exactly that tactic and I play wood elves and then I hate it.

It´s just the way, some teams play. There are so many things that can happen, if u decide to wait some more turns before that touchdown. And if your opponents are not creative enough to counter such tactics - hey, then it is not your fault.

At least, that´s what I think.

Fronko.

Post by **Thadrin** » Thu Jan 23, 2003 8:28 pm

Grinding down the pitch? Fine. Taking an age to score? fine.
Deliberately sitting on the ball when you can score (holding a cage on the goal line for example)? Bad form. I have only been guilty of THAT once and then I was playing against an abandoned team for a place in the play offs. Our Commish was the proxy opposition and he wasn't really botherd about the game, so fair dos.

I like Balrog's Glory rule. If you can score without Dice rolls, you must.
I would however change it to "you get one turn to try and kick the crap out of your opponent. You roll a skull its your fault if he can then stop you.

ZanzerTem · Post by **ZanzerTem** » Thu Jan 23, 2003 8:28 pm

Its a valid tactic. They should not have let you get downfield in the 1st place.

Blood

Ghost of Pariah · Post by **Ghost of Pariah** » Thu Jan 23, 2003 8:32 pm

There's no downs in Blood bowl. If they want to score then they need to take the ball from you....I have never seen crying get the ball loose. Tell them they need to try to block your ball carrier instead of crying, it works better.

Indigo · Post by **Indigo** » Thu Jan 23, 2003 8:33 pm

IMO it's a superb tactic and credit to you if you pull it off. Tell them to stop whining and to think of a better way to combat this (whisper Strip Ball in their ears)

but make sure you whisper Ball and not Balls or they might get the wrong impression

Post by **Thadrin** » Thu Jan 23, 2003 8:34 pm

The question is taking a long time with or without opposition? is he trying to defend and you're taking the slow but sure route or are you just goal hanging?

sean newboy · Post by **sean newboy** » Thu Jan 23, 2003 8:39 pm

Some where, i think in tactics, there is a poll about this.

Ghost of Pariah · Post by **Ghost of Pariah** » Thu Jan 23, 2003 8:39 pm

I don't have a prob with goal hanging either.

In real life teams do this all the time. Ever seen the NFL team in the lead do running play after running play and wait until the last second of the play clock to do it? It's legit to me.

If the player who is crying would have left a lineman or 2 to goal tend then he would have that problem. It's all strategy.

ZanzerTem · Post by **ZanzerTem** » Thu Jan 23, 2003 8:39 pm

Either way, it is still counterable. Throw a 2 dice his choice block on him. I can't remember how many times I have seen 2 explosions. "Oh, which one do you want to pick? HAHA!" You can foil "goal hanging". Just hope for some luck, or dont let them get to the goal in the 1st place

Blood

MistWraith · Post by **MistWraith** » Thu Jan 23, 2003 8:46 pm

It is called "Dwarf Ball" because that is the way most good dwarf teams play. "Elf Ball" on the other hand is all about quick scores. And, "Orc Ball" is all about beating down your opponent, with little reguard for the ball.

All are valid, if they do not like it, then they need to learn how to counter it.

Fronko · Post by **Fronko** » Thu Jan 23, 2003 8:48 pm

Indigo wrote:but make sure you whisper Ball and not Balls or they might get the wrong impression

Whoa, Indigo, I must admit, didn´t laugh so hard the last couple of days! Good one, boy, good one!

Artificial Penguin · Post by **Artificial Penguin** » Thu Jan 23, 2003 8:50 pm

Thanks so far for all the responses.

It seems like a perfectly valid point that the other team can still try and get the ball out, or knock me down. In fact, in the game where I used this tactic last, he got a Niggling on one of my Mummies

Luckily, it regenned

I guess I would draw the line at using this tactic if it weren't done explicitly to win the game. For example, if I were ahead by 1 already and it was the end of the game, then I wouldn't do something like this. And I do believe in giving my opponent 1 turn to try and get some SPPs with a pass or something...

Skummy · Post by **Skummy** » Thu Jan 23, 2003 8:53 pm

Perfectly legal and completely ethical. Stalling can be a very good tactic with almost any team. My Skaven held off scoring for 5 turns against Orcs to force overtime becasue taking the coin toss for the ball was better than playing 3 turns of defense against them. Offence is the best defence, and winning through good tactical decisions is what the game is all about.