Why using TTC bases ? typical beginner question

[detroitchild]

I agree with Joel and Chris on this one. Since you are new to the hobby and will be playing mostly solitaire or just against your brother, the advantages of the TTC may not be that obvious. In time as you learn the details and fine points of the the game (in particular the game with in a game like one on one match ups) you will find the TTC invaluable. You can use them on both the offensive line to create holes and on defense to disguise the types of formations to use, examples like blitzing, filling running lanes and using linebackers to do their many jobs.

Keep all of your TTC bases and practice your tweaking on them and as you learn the game a little better I guarantee that you will understand the advantages of using them.

[sweetka]

For about 25 years we played with rookie bases only.

TTC's bring control. Set them to run straight then place a mark on them that only you can read. You will then be able to keep them straight. Once you play around with a bit you should be able to make them dance if you'd like.

TTC's with Proline dials are a potent combination. You can get them to run almost as fast as a rookie base or as strong as a proline. The key is the tweaking and how much you are committed to performance. There are many tips for tweaking these bases on the tips section. Good Question, and good luck.

[RavennaAl]

Dimitri, here is my perspective on TTC vs. rookie bases. Generally speaking, TTC's are better for strength and rookies are better for speed. Keep in mind that TTC's weigh more than rookies, too, which probably accounts for their better strength. If you want to compete in tournaments against other people, you will want to have TTC's on your line. If you are playing solitaire, or in your case against others who have limited knowledge of the game, then you could use all rookie bases and play just as well.

I use all rookies on my teams, with the exception of one team which has some TTC's on it. My teams are all pretty much competitive with each other and the game play is just as good as anyone elses. TTC's are ok, but as you already stated, it is easy to accidentally move the dial and mess up a play. Since you will most likely never play against most of us over here, you could use nothing but rookie bases and have just as much fun, perhaps even more fun because you won't have bases turning the wrong way from the dials being turned.

Also, since you are isolated from us over here, you could play with minimal tweaking for strength and have your teams on equal footing. This will make it more fun for your friends who don't know how to tweak because they will be able to play with some equality to you. If your team is a lot stronger than your friends, they may become discouraged and not want to play. Something to keep in mind...

[styx]

if you dont want the dials to move ,cut a small piece of double sided scotch tape to put under the dial to keep it going straight, the dial can still be turned ,but at a much stiffer rate.

[FrustratedFinFan]

The mobility from TTC bases is the reason.

It allows you to change the arc on player movement (and it can compensate slightly for unbalanced figures and such.....so you can go straight without extensive tweaking....not the best solution, but it can help) and this can allow you to have a player spin in an area (zone defense on passing), or maybe create a looping blitzer or a running back for sweeps. Other than spinning in place or for guys who you want to change their angle of attack....all of these can be done with a rookie base though....but obviously, your spinning guy needs to be set to go straight at some time to make a tackle so a TTC is a must. TTC's can also allow your offensive linemen to shift their angle of attack....or allow a tackle to arc backwards and out to pick up blitzers from the outside. A fast TTC base on a running back can be very valuable. Your opponent won't be able to predict his arc of travel out of the backfield as easily as if he were on a rookie base.....the same being true for a blitzing linebacker....the offensive player can't be sure how sharp of a loop he is making if he is on a TTC.

TTC's typically could be made stronger than rookie bases.....till the Proline strong bases came along....and that was another advantage.

I have found that those Proline strength dials can be used in other shells to give you VERY strong TTC bases. The Proline TTC's as they come are not good.....the dials are loose and positioned too far back. You can do surgery to move the dial. An easy fix would be to cut out the post that holds the dial and then glue in (or just place) some friction bandage material to the shell....and then put the dial back in. The dial can then be moved forward and used....the friction tape will hold it where you want it. You might have to cut some of the shell opening to get the dial far enough forward.

Wait till you find the interesting things you can do with ITZ dials....true 360 degree movement....but best with balanced figures (unbalanced figures will not go exactly the direction of the dial, but you learn to use them!). The ITZ dials are not gonna' be very strong....but you can get speed out of them. I have seen them used on offensive lines with wide splits for running and passing. I did well using them for my offensive line before....for passing. Never quite got down the run game with them. Mklingbeil on this chat board is the guy to contact to buy ITZ dials.

[the french guy]

Ok, thanks everyone for the help and developed answers

Even if I 'll certainly never make tournaments in USA (but I hope one day I'll come in USA for holidays and met some of you!), I want to practice the hobby as closed as you 're actually playing it.

lso, since you are isolated from us over here, you could play with minimal tweaking for strength and have your teams on equal footing. This will make it more fun for your friends who don't know how to tweak because they will be able to play with some equality to you. If your team is a lot stronger than your friends, they may become discouraged and not want to play. Something to keep in mind...

that's a wise observation.

But when I play with my brother, with our "demo/generic" teams (with decent speed -diamond bases, running 6secs the 100y/42"- and strenght -I 've got 2 Revells linemen bases to compare), we 're quite frustrated with some athletes, especially blitzers, and runners. Our coverage defense could be better too. I'm not happy with the messy LOS of angled linemen also.


Another point is, even if I don't think I'll become passionate about tweaking, I want to integrate that part of the hobby, because better is the tweaking, better will be the experience on the field IMHO.



Well...a lot of theory for the moment . I believe I'll order plenty of bases soon, Proline rookies (fast and strong, round and square), and Proline TTC (fast and strong, round and square), and apply the tips you gave me.


In a first time, I believe I'll just use TTC for strenght my line (since I obtain quite good results in strenght tweaking), and learn how to use the dial for control. So the improvement will be not too violent for us.

then, I'll try to use TTC bases for coverage defense (even if on passing play, since I use Buzzball rules, the defender is allowed to angle his free athletes)

Then, I'll try to use the TTC for speed for runners (= achieve good tweaking then learn to control)

then, TTC for strong runners (the most difficult tweaking IMHO)



By the way, you're talking about control : on a rule point of view, when do you turn that dials ? on placing pivot sequence ?



Another question :

TTC's are better for strength and rookies are better for speed.

What about the Proline strong rookie bases ? Could they be good candidate for easy tweaking mixed strenght/speed athletes ?



thank you all

[Coach K-LO]

French Guy,

Good luck in your tweaking beginnings! It will take time to master the skills, but it is worth the investment.

The use of TTC bases can be explained in a number of ways which some have already expressed. Here are some other aspects that can be included in your game play.....

.... like I had mentioned before, you can use the TTC to create different blocking patterns. LT blocks to the left and LG blocks to the right it should create a hole between the two. you can creat double team blocks, pulling linemen, all block to one side, wedge blocking. And the best thing is you can control how much torque on each player....

.... use as RB ... can move the pile on dive plays; can sweep into any hole along the line iof scrimmage, not just around the corner.

practice session for you:
take 4 players on both sides of the ball (O - RB, TE, RG, RT); [D - DT, DE, OLB, SS] and setup where the DT will be over the RG, DE over RT, OLB can be over the TE or inside/outside the TE, and the SS where you like to place him. The RB will be running the basic sweep, but in the exercise you will work on the angles and the blocking and the running pattern from the RB to run in all the holes that are possible. turn the dial for the RG to left and RT to the right and try to have the RB "cut" into that hole...then have him cut in the hole between the RT and TE....then run all the way to the outside...

After you run a few practice sessions, you begin to see the merits of TTC baseology and how it can work for you....