I use a similar setup to the Dwarf Lord but with the two changes; i) the Slayers down next to the Blitzer's forming a flexible pair of hunters on each wing. Runners, pretty much in the same places as you had. ii) four linemen on the line and one positioned slightly back to cover the gap wherever it is needed. This usually allows two linemen tagging one player each and the spare lineman to mop up anyone coming through the gap. This offers great tackle-shackle per player on the line as well.
Admittedly I have used all of these set ups and yes they are all very successful for 'punching face' and denying TD's. Dwarfs have the same strategy and traits in all tabletop games which is good because it maintains the lore flavour.
The soft center defense is pretty standard. Against faster teams that don't have many turns to score I start with this but change the wide zone to a column with a longbeard at the back, longbeards where the runners are and blitzers on the line. Reason being I don't want a gutter runner or similar running down the sideline where a fast team may be able to base or screen my players to protect him well enough to 2 turn on me. That puts tackle zones with the tackle skill everywhere but down the center which will not be removed by a blitz. If I force you down the center, that's the best case scenario for me collapsing onto it and holding it down, preventing the score. I use this defense almost always (heavy line if I've removed a lot of my opponent's pieces) and in season 39 of CCL it took 8 games before I conceded a TD. The Dwarf lord is interesting though, I'll have to give it a try. But there is no question, low move and low agility means you have to deploy where you are needed, not try to respond and occasionally you will have to dodge with a runner or blitzer and/or gfi on defense with dwarfs. Save your defensive re-rolls for those rolls if at all possible.
These set up videos are great. :D Hoping there'll be a follow up series on how to *counter* these sets ups, because I still don't know how to face dwarves. TT_TT
One more question : why is the dwarf setup splitting the LOS a bit, where other teams put the three Linemen closer together? (feels to make sense, but I don't know why.)
Just had my first game in like a year as a Dwarf team against some Dark Elves. One of my blitzers got injured and lost an agility point. Between that, some unlucky rolls and a couple of KO’s on my side, I lost 3-0. P A I N.
My preference depends on the team: Most of the time, I prefer to kick, which allows me to either go for a turnover and a defensive score on turn 8, or I can pressure the other team and force them to score early, optimally giving my dwarves 5-6 turns to score by the end of the half. Then I get to receive, and aim for another slow score on turn 16. Depending on the matchup though, if the team I'm against standing a decent chance of removing some dwarves early on, which is devastating to such a slow team that's reliant on assists and guard, I'll choose to receive first, solely for the chance to hit first on the Line of Scrimmage. If I can remove some pieces first, they'll be playing down the whole game rather than me
Prefer dwarf teams ........ hard to kill dwarfs ...... this means we can max them relatively safely without losses, which equals efficiency ..... that is a major advantage .....
I love Dwarves, that might explain my lack of friends
Thanks so much for this video. Been running a dwarf team in a league here in the states, and have been eagerly anticipating this one!
I use a similar setup to the Dwarf Lord but with the two changes;
i) the Slayers down next to the Blitzer's forming a flexible pair of hunters on each wing. Runners, pretty much in the same places as you had.
ii) four linemen on the line and one positioned slightly back to cover the gap wherever it is needed. This usually allows two linemen tagging one player each and the spare lineman to mop up anyone coming through the gap. This offers great tackle-shackle per player on the line as well.
Admittedly I have used all of these set ups and yes they are all very successful for 'punching face' and denying TD's. Dwarfs have the same strategy and traits in all tabletop games which is good because it maintains the lore flavour.
This will help me so much. Going to play some training matches this summer and start my first league ever in couple months.
The dwarf lord defence is what I use against my buddy's skaven team. I called it the "Runner Gutter"
The soft center defense is pretty standard. Against faster teams that don't have many turns to score I start with this but change the wide zone to a column with a longbeard at the back, longbeards where the runners are and blitzers on the line.
Reason being I don't want a gutter runner or similar running down the sideline where a fast team may be able to base or screen my players to protect him well enough to 2 turn on me. That puts tackle zones with the tackle skill everywhere but down the center which will not be removed by a blitz. If I force you down the center, that's the best case scenario for me collapsing onto it and holding it down, preventing the score.
I use this defense almost always (heavy line if I've removed a lot of my opponent's pieces) and in season 39 of CCL it took 8 games before I conceded a TD. The Dwarf lord is interesting though, I'll have to give it a try. But there is no question, low move and low agility means you have to deploy where you are needed, not try to respond and occasionally you will have to dodge with a runner or blitzer and/or gfi on defense with dwarfs. Save your defensive re-rolls for those rolls if at all possible.
These set up videos are great. :D
Hoping there'll be a follow up series on how to *counter* these sets ups, because I still don't know how to face dwarves. TT_TT
The last defense set up is great 👍
Finally, thank you for this. Love the dwarfs but I really really have no idea what to do best with them
Go for the 2-1 grind. I think I use the 3-4-4 set up every time, and it is amazing at creating holes for you to run your cage up.
1 slayer build is the best
At last, a REAL team ;P
In Tournaments Death Rollers are quite common. Does the Roller just replace the Lineman in the Middle of the LOS? Thanks for the videos!
Any suggestions for a formation that includes the Death Roller?
One more question : why is the dwarf setup splitting the LOS a bit, where other teams put the three Linemen closer together? (feels to make sense, but I don't know why.)
Just had my first game in like a year as a Dwarf team against some Dark Elves. One of my blitzers got injured and lost an agility point. Between that, some unlucky rolls and a couple of KO’s on my side, I lost 3-0.
P A I N.
I know that feeling. Got 2 draws and my 2 blitzers damaged on the new league that formed at my local store. I struggle to score with the dwarves.
Only played one tournament so far and I played with dwarves. I won. I felt like I was playing blood bowl on cheat mode though!
Been waiting for this one.
Is it generally better to kick out receive turn 1 as dwarves?
I don't think it matters. Have a look at the 2-1 grind video (probably a Theory Thursday vid)
My preference depends on the team:
Most of the time, I prefer to kick, which allows me to either go for a turnover and a defensive score on turn 8, or I can pressure the other team and force them to score early, optimally giving my dwarves 5-6 turns to score by the end of the half. Then I get to receive, and aim for another slow score on turn 16.
Depending on the matchup though, if the team I'm against standing a decent chance of removing some dwarves early on, which is devastating to such a slow team that's reliant on assists and guard, I'll choose to receive first, solely for the chance to hit first on the Line of Scrimmage. If I can remove some pieces first, they'll be playing down the whole game rather than me
A Slayer Team would be awesome!
Thank you for putting this together Ben.
"If you're running a dwarf team or your friends are..."
You know as well as I do Ben, those who run Dwarves have no friends!
Prefer dwarf teams ........ hard to kill dwarfs ...... this means we can max them relatively safely without losses, which equals efficiency ..... that is a major advantage .....