Why is there even a kick skill?

[Gratäng]

Feels pretty useless with a skill that often don't even work, lost a game due to two kicks that scattered of the field (and yes, my kicker was placed correctly) because the kick skill didn't work. And it's not the first time this has happend, is it really that hard to fix this problem? Pretty annoying, and it got worse when my opponent failed 2 out of 24 +3 rolls, never seen anyting like it... My record is 4 successful +3 rolls in a row. while I got 7 failed of 8 +3 rolls as my lowest.

[Done25]

Make sure that your kicker is both off the line of scrimma,e and not on the side lines. Also make sure he is the player you've last selected before kicking off.

[Emoge]

Also, if it selects someone else, all you have to do is click your kicker then it works.

[Mharr]

Kicking is something you can try for in Hail Mary situations, when a slim chance is better than none. It's not intended to be viable as a go-to strategy.

[Emoge]

I disagree, kick is key for many teams, especially elf teams. Slow team that setup entirely on their LOS, kick deep to try to get past them or force them to cage deep. Opponent sets up all on one side, kick to the opposite. Opponent sets up with 4 players back, kick shallow and force them to scramble.

There have been many games where kick won me the game.

Edit: A big part of blood bowl is to force the opponent to make mistakes or to make extra dice rolls. Kick helps with this.

[licker34]

Originally posted by Mharr:

Kicking is something you can try for in Hail Mary situations, when a slim chance is better than none. It's not intended to be viable as a go-to strategy.

I don't think you know what the kick skill does.

[Hellsteeth30]

Kick is great. The ball goes pretty much where you want it to.

Want to get some dorf hits in before the cage is assembled and are playing a fast team? Drop it deep so they have to go fetch and you can get around them.

Playing a slow team that needs to bash a few guys to get the ball or that have trouble with ball pick ups? Drop it shallow so you can surround the ball early.

Kick means the ball will go pretty much where you click and won't end up flying off for a touchback.

[Hairy Coo]

Kick is a pretty situational skill but some teams really benefit from it. Skaven, WEs and HEs to some exten could you use to get around a slow team and press the ball or even steal it on the blitz.

I believe it is a bloat on a bash team and not exactly too awesome on DEs (maybe a third nornal for a lino).

Rats probably get the best value from kick because there are only so many other skills linerats can take and pressing the ball early is too important for skaven.

If the landing zone didnt change, you probably just didn't select a kicker (happens sometimes, click on him during kicking first) or left him in a widezone or LOS.

[licker34]

I disagree Hairy, Kick is an awesome skill for literally every team. The priority with which you select it does matter, as elves/skaven probably want it much earlier than bash teams.

But the ability to completely negate touchbacks and to have better control over ball placement against one turn attempts (this is so great for bash) is easily worth the 20k on a throwaway lineman. Besides, just give kick to a dirty player who gets to 16spp and then so long as you don't let them score more than once you can foul away and not care about losing that player (if you defend first anyway).

It's also great against faster teams who set up their offense to one side, as kicking to the other side either means they need to retreat off of their formation to properly screen/cage, or risk longer passes, gfis, to get the ball to the other side, or, just wind up with a messier position generally.

Forcing those teams to spread out their players (especially if you have already removed a couple) to cover the entire pitch vs. your kick makes your defense that much easier.

[Fallenglory]

I was very confused the first time as well, seems like Done25 already got your back. I've made the mistake of putting the player with kick on the sideline as well. The time after that the kicker wasn't selected. Trial and error it seems

[Hairy Coo]

Originally posted by licker34:

I disagree Hairy, Kick is an awesome skill for literally every team. The priority with which you select it does matter, as elves/skaven probably want it much earlier than bash teams.

But the ability to completely negate touchbacks and to have better control over ball placement against one turn attempts (this is so great for bash) is easily worth the 20k on a throwaway lineman. Besides, just give kick to a dirty player who gets to 16spp and then so long as you don't let them score more than once you can foul away and not care about losing that player (if you defend first anyway).

It's also great against faster teams who set up their offense to one side, as kicking to the other side either means they need to retreat off of their formation to properly screen/cage, or risk longer passes, gfis, to get the ball to the other side, or, just wind up with a messier position generally.

Forcing those teams to spread out their players (especially if you have already removed a couple) to cover the entire pitch vs. your kick makes your defense that much easier.

Thats true, I didnt mean kick is completely useless, but it is just not a top priority for anyone but skaven or WEs I believe (maybe Pro elves too). Other elfs would rather blodge first imo, and crap linos on bash teams can probably get it after dirty player or after block/fend. But then just recycling those crap linos might not be a bad idea either.

[licker34]

I will usually take kick on my 3rd or 4th elf lineman to get to 6. Sometimes sooner if the positionals have really hogged all the spp..

For bash teams I will still take kick often as a 2nd skill after block or dirty player, but it's usually the first 2nd skill a lineman gets (assuming no double obviously). Though I don't suggest kick is completely necessary (it isn't), but I find a great deal of value in it for every team, once you've gotten to a certain TV at least (and so have enough skill development across the team that you don't need the additional block or dirty player immediately).

[Gratäng]

Good thing that 90% of you only read the topic... But thanks Emoge for the first comment which was the only relevant one.

[licker34]

Originally posted by Gratäng:

Good thing that 90% of you only read the topic... But thanks Emoge for the first comment which was the only relevant one.

Seriously?

Good thing you don't actually own the threads you start.

[Emoge]

Originally posted by Gratäng:

Good thing that 90% of you only read the topic... But thanks Emoge for the first comment which was the only relevant one.

You're welcome ^_^ Always here to help!

I want to make a note, my recent championship game my kick shallow caused the ball fall right onto the LOS and the opponent, rather than try to pick up the ball with a different player, ended up just marking it and moving up the original intended ball carrier. Which allowed me to blitz a player, knock the ball out, and leave it very accessible to my team. That kick won me that game.

(I looked and looks like that game wasn't still in my replays and it's not uploaded on youtube :( )