COACH'S CORNER: These are a few of my (least) favorite things... Team Edition

And now, for the teams I like the least from each season and why...

Season 1

Midgard Delvers

Do I like the look of the Forge Fathers? Yes. Do I like their flavor and history? Yes. Do I enjoy playing them? Nope. They are not my play style at all. Their Speed is awful, their Movement is ridiculously slow, and the only successful way I have ever seen them played has to do with scoring quickly and them hoarding the ball. Totally viable strategy mind you, I just find it boring. And besides, why play the original Forge Fathers, when you can play the Brokkrs! Seriously, why?
Be part of the Solution: I think that there could be a number of things that could help out the Forge Fathers. First, I think that it should be racial trait across the board that they have Steady. Then maybe something new, like... Low to the Ground - +1 on attempts to Pick Up the Ball. That could be on both Jacks and Strikers.

Season 2 

Chromium Chargers

What a cool concept for a team! What cool models! What a disappointment in action. I have seen so many people struggle with the robots. Quick Change Artist is great... in theory. In practice, you end up wasting actions trying to turn your players into something every other team already has. And don't get me started on failing to change... ugh!
Be Part of the Solution: I think that they should allow a double on Quick Change Artist to give you a free action, that would change the entire play style of the team and make them a LOT more interesting.

Season 3

Koeputki Kolossals

I own the Zees. I have played the Zees. I just don't like the Zees (except in DBX, where I LOVE them!). All Jack teams are hard enough as it is without making them so bad at scoring too. If you want to have a few fun Exhibition Games with them, they can be a hoot. But trying to play them as your "everyday team" or league team is going to be challenging.
Be Part of the Solution: I would do something like... Supported - For every Zee in the same scoring zone as the Zee trying to score, you get +1 dice (to a max of +2). Too much?

Season 4

The Unincorporated

Ok, I have the Rebs on here for a totally different reason than the others. The Rebs are too good! It is ok to have a Jack that can move 7 and still Slam? Sure it is. Is it ok to have a Guard that double Slams? Yeah. Is it ok to have a Jack that can reliably catch the ball? Yes. Is it ok to have a Movement 6 Striker with a Skill of 3+? No. I do not like a regular player having a 3+ Skill. But, I could live with it if the rest of the team were not amazing too! I think that the Unincorporated are just plain Overpowered.
Be Part of the Solution: Make the Striker Skill 4+.

TACTICS: Robots Setup - Standard Packaging

Now, with full disclosure, I do not play the Robot (by Robots I do mean the Season 2 Chromium Chargers). I have a buddy that does and I have watched him play them a good bit. This is more theory than practice, but it seems solid enough.. :-)

Standard Packaging (Home)

Orange - Jacks

This would be my starting setup for the Robots. It is a pretty standard setup with Jacks positioned near the launch line and three Jacks protecting the 3/4 point goal--something has to be sacrificed, in this case I decided on the 1/2 point areas.

Red - Guards, Orange - Jacks, Yellow - Strikers

I would use my first two actions to convert two Jacks up front to Strikers (of course, if the ball is one the left side the set up above would be the reverse). I would run one into position to catch and shoot the ball. With another action, I would convert my other upfront Jack into a Guard for later Rushes*. With my final action I would Pick Up the Ball, hope it doubles, Throw the ball to the other Striker, hope he doubles the catch, and throw the ball in using my Coaching Dice.

Surly someone has a more reasoned setup than this one... please share! :-)

*Another very viable option as an alternative here, would be to buy another card. This might well help you get into position to score better, depending on the card.

PAINTING: DBX Free Agents

So, I have a few of my free agents painted so far. I have the second round from the kickstarter that I still haven't touched, but hey, you gotta start somewhere. Below are the Zee Bucaneers, the Avaran Treebeast, and the training robots (Jetari SL-22 "Thrower" and Jetari GL-14 "Brawler").

PLAYER: Jetari SL22 “Thrower” (Robot DBX Free Agent)

Jetari SL22 “Thrower” (Robot DBX Free Agent)
Reviewed when only the DBX box set was out


Strengths:
Dream Striker - A Striker that is always facing you and can always try to catch an inaccurate Throw is pretty sweet. Oh yeah, and has a Skill to match even the Ralarat Striker. The Jetari SL22 is a Striker almost without equal. Not bad for an old practice bot.

Um, see above! - Seriously.


Weaknesses:
Average Chances of Survival - No matter which sponsor you are playing, this robot is going to cost you a pretty penny. And with that kind of investment, being only "average" at survival makes a one nervous. With one decent Slam, he could be out of the game. Protect him well, or keep him away from heavy hitters.

Rich Blood - His is a bit expensive for either sponsor. More on that...


Best Sponsor:

Warden - Would the SL-22 be good with Blaine? Sure. But Blaine could buy 2 Kalyshi Strikers for the same MC cost, and two of them are a better than one SL-22 from where I sit. The Warden on the other hand has the super cheap Runners, he could almost buy 3 for the cost he would pay for the training bot. The difference is that SL-22 is much better, and actually more survivable, than the Runners. I am not necessarily saying that the Warden should go with the SL-22 over 2 Runners and a Con (same cost as the SL-22), but it is a different option. And I really think that is much less of an option for Blaine.




Overall:
Wow, what a tremendous Striker! Such a great idea, model, and cool, very tempting rules. I do think the biggest drawbacks are his cost and the fact that he will be a big, expensive target. Is he great? Yes. Is he worth the cost? I usually can't justify the MC output for him. I imagine in league play that would be very different.

Grade:
B *

*(...for now, and mostly due to his MC cost for both sponsors)

TEAM: Chromium Chargers (Robot Team)

Chromium Chargers (Robot Team)
Reviewed during early Season 4 for DBO only


Strengths: 
Versatility - The great strength of the Chargers is Quick Change Artist. When you need a Striker but your a Guard, just transform, then BAM, you're a Striker. This is a neat feature that is unique to the Robots. And in each form, their stats change to match the role. Very cool.

Choose Your Strategy on the Fly - Want to use a bashy team? A few changes and then you have one. Want to play heavy toward scoring? Transform into a bunch of Strikers. This allows for you to cater to play style, or against the style of your opponent.


Weaknesses:
Quick Change Artist - The fact that changes from one form to another requires an action really hurts. And if it fails... UGH! Then you have wasted an action and nothing has happened.

Low Number of Starting Players - Beginning with only 6 players can be a detriment. If someone takes out a few guys, you are playing at a disadvantage.


MVP Recommendations:

My first recommendation would be buying an Offensive Coach.

Wyn Greth'zki - Much like Nightshade, Wyn is only available through the Mantic site via Mantic Points, but he is worth it for the Robots. A Striker with fantastic Skill, Alert, and Duck and Weave? Yes, please. And he will only play for the Chargers.

The Praetorian - Let's stick with all the same themes here as with Wyn. The Praetorian has amazing Skill, A Safe Pair of Hands, Can't Feel a Thing, and a Movement that is the same as a Robot Jack. He is all that and a bag of microchips!









Overall: 
I love the look of the Chromium Chargers. I like Quick Change Artist, in theory. But on the pitch I always find the Robots a little lacking. Their weaknesses outweigh their strengths. I am not saying they are unplayable, but they definitely an uphill battle, especially against some of the Season 3 and 4 teams.


Grade:
C