Help with tactics vs different teams

[Recreant 1]

Hey all,

Relatively new to the Rats & GB in general and while I feel like I'm doing ok, my opponent pool has been fairly limited thus far. Looking for tactical advice on how to handle different matchups, specifically teams that want to hide the ball & win on take outs (Butchers, brewers, etc.) Can you offer any advice on how to free up that hidden ball?

[Warpstoned 114]

Mostly by winning momentum and getting a double activation with Piper to have him go obscenely far (with 2 haunting melodies).

If you kick to a guild you think they have a good ball killing  (like oBrisket + tenderizer) , then maybe leave Bonesaw home I guess. 

vGraves can sometimes get into a good ball steal position with a late Reverie to set up before next turn, but again, that probably needs you to win initiative to be reliable too. 

[Recreant 1]

I've  been pondering it and it seems while we do have tech to get the ball out, it is heavily reliant on winning initiative & luck. I guess the best option is to not let them get set for a ball kill in the first place.

It seems like a miasma- pelage combo could be nasty for a grouped up team with damage & conditions to multiple people, but only if Miasma  can last through the counter activation.

Would lose both of them to take outs in exchange for a take out & the ball.

[Warpstoned 114]

While the ball is nice, and Rats do take good advantage of it - it is not everything. If the opponent plays super defensive with it, just scrum and work on the take outs and condition game for at bit. Graves and Scourge scrum well, and miasma keeps knockdowns off you. Piper is no slouch at escorting people off the pitch either. 

If you get a take out or two the board rapidly starts to open up for you to advance on the ball as well.