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Java
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Java (24641)
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2024

2024-03-20 01:01:29
rating 6
2024-02-13 09:20:56
rating 6

2023

2023-11-29 21:07:30
rating 6
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rating 6
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2022

2022-12-28 19:17:52
rating 5.6
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rating 4.8
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rating 5.5
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rating 5.9
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rating 5.2
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rating 5.7
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rating 6
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rating 5.7
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2021

2021-10-09 14:02:07
rating 5.6
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rating 5.5
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rating 6
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rating 5.9
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rating 5.7
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rating 5.5
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rating 5.8
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rating 5.4

2020

2020-12-28 22:44:11
rating 5.3
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rating 4.9
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rating 5.4
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rating 5.9
2020-11-20 15:08:31
rating 4.8
2020-10-24 23:58:51
rating 6
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rating 5.5
2020-10-13 10:36:47
rating 5.2
2020-07-17 07:27:24
rating 5.7
2020-05-08 14:42:09
rating 5.9
2020-04-13 11:37:55
rating 5.3

2019

2019-12-07 21:10:39
rating 5.6
2019-05-25 00:49:44
rating 5.4
2024-02-13 09:20:56
14 votes, rating 6
Twelve Ways to Steal a Caged Ball
So the other guy has stabilised and has a nice X cage set up, you feel like it's no longer possible to just stand in their way but you really, really, REALLY want that ball. And this time, just basing everyone and blizting a cage corner won't cut it. None of that PoSiTiOnInG. WHAT DO, FUMBBL? WHAT DO???

This is a list of the options you have, arranged from the most available to the least. Some are really unlikely, some are standard practice. See if you can spot an extra one somewhere.

Cagedive dodge!
There's no two ways about it: sometimes you just have to plunge at the ball carrier with reckless abandon.
Are you an elf? Good. Are you a two headed rat? Even better. Are you a break tackle big guy? Doable. Everyone else, start to pray.

Leap into it
The roll is marginally better than the dodge, and you get to choose where the ball will spill. Requires a skill or a prone stepping stone nearby.

Chainpush and Crowdpush
Maybe you have a frenzy guy or enough stunties to fill in the gaps. Maybe the cage has been setup a bit too close to a player that can be pushed into contact with it. Maybe there's trapdoors active! There's no exhaustive guide on how to exploit boxes and Ts, Malmir said a few interesting things in his stream with Bazakastine, but you'll just have to practice.

Wizard
Best inducement or bestest inducement?

Bomb, barrel or buddy?
Multiple stars can semi-reliably chuck stuff at a ball carrier or screening player. Protect your ranged weapon until they can be useful, as they're all kind of flimsy. Sometimes just them being on the pitch will have an effect on the game.
In a pinch, TTM and KTM can have similarly devastating effects on a tight cage, and technically every team can have some of it.

Ball and chain magnet (12 teams)
Not just for goblins. Can you push aside a cage corner? Time to stop moving the fanatic and to declare a blitz on the ball! Are you feeling greedy, or desperate? Maybe you can clear some more space or hit the carrier themself. Remember that almost every roll could be a turnover.

Gaze it away (10 teams)
Not just for vampires. Other undead teams can get two different gazing stars. Elf teams have access to the best gazing star in the game (and another situationally similar one - Kiroth!). Amazons and Lizardmen have some sort of gazing option on 3 of their stars. Just make sure you're not blocking your sacker's path with the gazing guy. It happens more often than you think.

Scyla rampage (5 teams)
Say you roll a one to activate, and a push on the first frenzy block allows you to get into contact with the ball carrier after the second frenzy block is resolved. Now you can declare a second block action against the ball carrier. Unlikely but not impossible.

Bilerot unpleasantness (4 teams)
He can Blitz a cage corner and then vomit (once per game option!) on the ball carrier. That's it. That's his entire deal. Movement 4 and no block so don't expect it to work very often.

Bite the bugger (4 teams)
Blitz a cage corner. Activate Kaptain Karina. If you fail Bloodlust, move into contact with the carrier. Enjoy the results.
Or in case that's difficult to pull off because of blocked paths etc, you can start with a Gaze from the Kaptain which could also be a bite, and both could open up the way for a Blitz on the ball.

Steal this ball (2 teams)
You need to chainpush a not-yet activated Boa (the snakeman star player) into contact with the carrier. This plan requires some level of "opponent's cooperation", so to speak.

The maul always gets through (2 teams)
You need to chainpush a not-yet activated Glotl Stop into contact with the carrier and hope to fail the activation roll. Probably works best with a prone Glotl Stop, as he'd need a 4+ activation to stand up.

Sp00keh spotted a missing one: Ivar's raiding party trick. Along with a couple clarifications and addenda. Good job!
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Comments
Posted by Sp00keh on 2024-02-13 10:26:33
Estelle la Veneaux can do Baleful Hex which switches off tacklezones and prevents them from being activated for a turn

Ivar Eriksson can do Raiding Party to move someone into contact with a cage which would let you block a corner away

Kiroth Krakeneye can do Black Ink to switch off 1 player's tacklezones
Posted by Habeli on 2024-02-13 10:27:29
Does TTM still work or is it a turnover?
Posted by Sp00keh on 2024-02-13 10:42:47
There's some excellent chainpushes from Candlejack's Mummy in the second half of this game https://fumbbl.com/p/match?id=4521799
Posted by spelledaren on 2024-02-13 11:30:17
TTM absolutely works.
Posted by Java on 2024-02-13 11:41:32
TTM should go under ranged weapons, extening their availability to everyone
Estelle and Kiroth are listed under gazing

Ivar is definitely something I didn't think of! well done Sp00keh
Posted by MerryZ on 2024-02-13 15:04:13
TTM doesnt turnover if you dont hit own players, Ive won games where ive snotbombed opponents ballcarrier. Best move.
Posted by Gary_Gygax on 2024-02-13 18:37:51
The TTM way is of course my favourite one :D
Posted by Melmoth on 2024-02-13 21:49:46
Very well done Java thank you. Many of those options require Stars though. The best cagebreaker is to play a defense that prevents the other coach from building the best cage possible.
Posted by gamelsetlmatch on 2024-02-14 04:21:43
Pitch Clearing works too
Posted by The_Murker on 2024-02-14 07:02:05
Can't Kaptain Karina blitz away a corner then bite the carrier to satisfy her bloodlust?
Posted by Java on 2024-02-14 12:12:43
Captain Karina doesn't have block and most teams that can have her have loads of more effective blitzing option, but if none is available, sure, she can blitz the cage corner herself.
Posted by BeanBelly on 2024-02-16 13:57:52
Good article, really creative plays and you've shown options for loads of races.
Posted by spinball on 2024-02-17 04:32:06
Don't forget downed players next to the cage, if you have jump up or have a pig "pick me up" they can ruin a cage's day.