On Stalling.

[Waldorf28]

I foul vigorously and often. T16? All the better. Regardless of league format. If I'm playing that coach again, and they have a potentially risky move that might win them the game but put a piece on the floor if it fails, I want to train them not to try to win the game by making risky moves. If my opponent knows that his precious Juan Turner/other precious game winning piece is getting stamped when he falls over, he thinks twice.

I do it with a laugh and a smile and no TT opponent yet has ever had a problem with it.

The T16 foul is no less legitimate than the T16 Blitz.

[Wifflebat]

I'm definitely on the "stall as a tactic" side of things--maybe it has to do with being an American Football fan, where managing the clock is an absolutely essential part of the strategy.

I don't consider it to be a dick move ever--even if it makes me frustrated. It's frustrating because it's successful, much like a one-turn score. I think calling illegal procedures is much more irritating, because they have nothing really to do with the game--they're a meta game mechanic which, I understand it could be argued, makes play faster and, perhaps, simulates the possibility of players making bad decisions or something like that. Still, it always feels like nailing somebody on a technicality. I don't do that.

[daloonieshaman]

Besides
Why should you be forced to score then show your opponent how to play defense

[longfang]

Simple solution to this. If stalled on, get the score to 1-1 then go and stall at the bar until the refs call time on the game. If someone cares more about the win than the enjoyment then they can go feck themselves.

[ManticoreRich]

Simple solution to this. If stalled on, get the score to 1-1 then go and stall at the bar until the refs call time on the game. If someone cares more about the win than the enjoyment then they can go feck themselves.

^ Nice

[lunchmoney]

Simple solution to this. If stalled on, get the score to 1-1 then go and stall at the bar until the refs call time on the game. If someone cares more about the win than the enjoyment then they can go feck themselves.

I'd call that as 2-1 to the person still sat at the table.

[Darkson]

I'd call that as 2-1 to the person still sat at the table.

Yep (well, actually I'd call it in line with a concession as per whatever the rules say for that league/tournament, but I agree with the sentiment).

[Dr. Von Richten]

The trouble with preventing people from stalling, either through house rules or social pressure is that it takes all emphasis off the other team to play defence. It's especially bad for newbies as learning how to control the clock is an important part of the game.

If the defence know you are going to score in 2-3 turns and their odds of preventing it are low why should they bother to even try? Instead they can either get out the way and protect their own team or spend their turns hunting down and taking out your key players.

I've seen a lot of players not even bother trying to get back to pressure the ball if the offence breaks through and then start to whine when the other team sits on the TD line. Or they get a bit of a kicking and don't bother standing players up. I seen plenty of games that looked hopeless won or drawn simply down to the other team not giving up.

Honour. It's against my sense of honour to 'let the other team score', so I'll try to prevent it even if it means taking high-risk moves and/or exposing key players to counter assault.

But then, I get the feeling I'm thinking in a whole different frame of reference than many people, so perhaps I'm just crazy!

[spubbbba]

The trouble with preventing people from stalling, either through house rules or social pressure is that it takes all emphasis off the other team to play defence. It's especially bad for newbies as learning how to control the clock is an important part of the game.

If the defence know you are going to score in 2-3 turns and their odds of preventing it are low why should they bother to even try? Instead they can either get out the way and protect their own team or spend their turns hunting down and taking out your key players.

I've seen a lot of players not even bother trying to get back to pressure the ball if the offence breaks through and then start to whine when the other team sits on the TD line. Or they get a bit of a kicking and don't bother standing players up. I seen plenty of games that looked hopeless won or drawn simply down to the other team not giving up.

Honour. It's against my sense of honour to 'let the other team score', so I'll try to prevent it even if it means taking high-risk moves and/or exposing key players to counter assault.

But then, I get the feeling I'm thinking in a whole different frame of reference than many people, so perhaps I'm just crazy!

Well that's the point, good defence tries to stop the other team scoring and if possible steal the ball. But if they do break through then you don't just give up and expect the other coach to give the ball back. You do your best to take it or if you can't so that put them in a position where they have to score, thus giving you time to score back.

If someone uses a tactic that you find hard to beat then you can cry about how unfair it is or learn how to best counter it. Sure sometimes you will get a kicking and have virtually no chance, but even those games can be a learning experience. Plus often getting stalled on can mean a painful game is over much more quickly than when getting thrashed 5-0 and you have to set up to receive multiple times and have players come back from KO or reserves to have another chance to get killed.

[Pug]

I do that!...that is hurl as many halflings at the B@$|@rds as possible...Actually sacked the backk carrier once or twice doing that and retrieved the ball!

[Digger Goreman]

Remember, almost ALL teams can stall: elf-points passing around in the backfield... stopping at the goal line.... What about "strategically repositioning"? Reversing field (with my Necros you wouldn't notice, thinking I'm honestly stymied, when I could have easily plowed through your defense)... or the DEFENSIVE STALL, which is considered good tactics, by arranging a screen to keep the cage from advancing more than one square...?

It IS all relative....

What is a peeser, is getting diced/positioned out in a way that you can't adequately respond.... Nobody likes feeling impotent, but this is a very unforgiving game....

[chuckie1982]

I personally don't mind when people stall, its part of the game! I have fun win or lose, if people didn't stall it would be no fun leaping into the cage and winning an uphill block!

I think this whole debate is a little crazy, if it was cheating then that is dishonorable, bad sportsmanship whatever you want to call it but this is just another way to be outplayed by your opponent. Like yesterday I got absolutely smashed by a chaos dwarf team, I had 2 players left as all the others were red boxed, is this as bad as stalling? I couldn't possibly put up a fight, which according to this thread is no fun if you can't compete! No I laughed it off and put it down to the opponent being better than me, the dice gods were on his side and he has built a crazy bashing team. (Second season)

Sounds like people need to get a grip and just have fun!
But what do I know, I played high elves and was stalled on and I guarantee now I play lizard I'm going to try and be the staller! What can I say I'm a bad man who doesn't know how to have fun!

[Digger Goreman]

I think this whole debate is a little crazy....

It is.... As are others... especially IP....

[DixonCider]

Nobody likes feeling impotent, but this is a very unforgiving game....

not only unforgiving, but punishes you when you are down

[daloonieshaman]

Feeling that stalling is a bad tactic to use against you is just you not admitting to one's self that you were out played. It is akin to whimpering that someone got an unexpected pass or 3rd block that you did not see coming. Go to the bathroom and splash some water on those tears and get back and finish the game.