How Do You Decide Who Starts Tag Team Matches?

[Swarm]

This applies to both COTG & LOW players and specifically to tag teams where one guy has the much stronger defense on L1D and the other guy has the stronger offense overall and usually a big move on L1O6.

Basically, do you start with the guy with the more explosive offense or do you start with the guy with the weaker offense but stronger defense (maybe multiple - 2 reversals on L1D)?

I’ve had a handful of matches using the Alchemists (new Kronos cards) and I was starting matches using Synthron because he had a - 3 (pw) move on L1O and he has -4 pw so that’s a big move to start a match if he hits it. And each time I did this the Alchemists underperformed out of the gate, and Synthron found himself in trouble a lot if he didn’t win the opening move of the match.

Last night I switched it up starting Mechanos in a match, and he has a - 3 (ag) move on L1O6 which would have failed against both opponents, but he has this great L1D. And his L1D really set the tone of the match, and the Alchemists looked like the wrecking balls they were designed to be. Synthron had his best match so far coming into the match on L2O, and it just got me thinking that I’m usually starting tag matches for all tag teams with whoever has the strongest L1O. Now I’m rethinking my strategy.

How do you guys do it in tag team matches where these properties apply?

[paul]

Fun question.

For both teams I automatically start with the member with the lowest PIN rating. That way if one of the teams gets on an early hot streak and quickly gets to L3 offense the other team has a slightly better chance of keeping the match going.

If both team members have the same PIN then I choose at random who starts.

[Shane Sullivan]

Mostly random. But if I have a guy in a feud with another guy on the other team, only one starts the match. That is at random too. I had the original gladiators fueding with Commander Sam, he never started the match because it made the gladiators angry and I would have, say Omega get to roll first on offense because they wanted to kill Sam. Just made sense.

[~KB~]

The guy w the stronger L1O, no brainer IMO.

[Swarm]

Apr 13, 2024 14:19:59 GMT -5 ~KB~ said:

The guy w the stronger L1O, no brainer IMO.

So Malice started over Overkill despite Overkill’s one of kind L1D? What about Massacre & Brute, especially in 2090. I have to believe I used both Overkill & Brute first although I have no clear memory of that now, and no way to know looking at my old notebooks.

[TTX]

Pretty much always better offense at least GWF wise.

(Legends I have a tendency to put teams in order of wrestling names..no idea why)

[on_the_edge]

Roll two dice. Highest roll wins. If a tie, roll again. If the winner is 6 or higher, they start on L2O. If 5 higher and the low roll was low, I will sometimes start on LV2 as well.


EDIT: I realize I had a brain fart earlier and misunderstood the question. I should know by now not to multitask while reading on here. Anywho, my pick in the poll "other" still applies. I tend to start with the weaker guy and leave the big hitter on the apron to kick off the match. If the weaker guy gets in trouble he can tag out. However, if he gets things rolling, he can call in the big hitter to finish it. If guys are fairly even, then I just randomly pick one. One an occasional or two I have it where both members want to start and do something like Rock, Paper, Scissors (dice role) to decide who starts. If each tag team has a member who is in a blood feud with each other I tend to keep them on the apron to build up to the moment they face off in the ring. I have also had it where when on the initial role to decide which team starts on offense, if the difference is huge, say 12-3, the winning team gets to pick who starts for the other team by starting the match with a beatdown and tossing the other guy out of the ring.

[gamtime247]

I always went with the quicker and more agile guy. Probably was influenced by being a fan of The Hart Foundation.

[Bazzy]

Random - basically when I put the two together, the wrestler on top card starts

[Gunslinger]

I roll unless I feel like having someone start for their team for some reason. Like Tiger Conway starting a match to protect his son Tiger Conway Jr from some monster heels.