DSP WE9 League Discussion Thread

mobiggins · Post by **mobiggins** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 12:20 pm

Ok, folks. It's high time we did a league format once the current tourney finishes.

The ideas being bounced around so far are a Champions League-style affair with initial groups, or a league table system with a top tier and a lower division from which there would be eventual promotion/relegation.

Either way, we need an agreement on teams, as it would not be fair for some to have the big guns while others get stuck with the medium guns.

I think we first need to figure out--via an honest, introspective appraisal-- the highest star level that each interested player feels comfortable playing against the computer. Then we can perhaps draft teams or whatever. Using this system, a league table would work really well, because the minnows among us can duke it out in the lower division, hone their skills, and come up and play with the big boys come promotion time.

There are a lot of things to sort out and iron out, and we need only the most committed players, but I think a game as brilliant as wE9 would deserve no less than our most concerted efforts at putting together a good, fun league (because the bastards at Konami, for yet another year, just couldn't help themselves in NOT putting out a knock-out features package to complement the gameplay).

So this thread is mostly for ideas, figuring out who is playing, how we will post results, etc.

Discuss.

LEAGUE PARTICIPANTS (as of 3/4)
mobiggins *****
Sully *****
Zeppo *****
Atxj *****
Naples *****
Jared *****
RobVarak ****
JackB1 ***
bphilipb ***
tjung ***
slimer ***

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 12:35 pm

I'm definitely in. I'm ML'ing on a modest three stars, but improving and I'm open to using a higher level.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 12:42 pm

I just got (finally!) my gamefly copy, so I would love to be in. I play at 3 stars (2 stars is too easy and 3 stars gives me all I can handle).

If anyone wants to get some practice games in before this league starts, drop me a pm or email at jackbandel@bigfoot.com

Boltman · Post by **Boltman** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 12:48 pm

Count me in boys!

Sully · Post by **Sully** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 1:50 pm

I'm in.
I played WE8 on 5 stars, and am currently playing 4 stars on WE9. I don't care what format we use, although I would prefer the upper and lower tier setup as opposed to the CL format.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 1:51 pm

RobV, you need to be on 4 stars at least. You will be able to handle it, believe me.

I played my last couple of ML seasons in WE8 on 6*, but am actually more pleased with 5* now in WE9 (less insane A and X button all the time defense from the CPU).

I think smaller divisions is the way to go. Keeping the 'seasons' short is imperative, as the relegation fights and promotion battles will keep people interested. We can do two or three seasons in our league in the time a normal league season would take.

So, I propose we keep divisions no larger than six teams apiece. That way, everyone plays 10 games a season. I would also love to see each season scheduled in two halves, where you play each team once the first half, then play through them again the second half. I'm not tied to this idea, but I think it would be best to play through the league fully before playing anybody twice.

I think the most critical thing to keep the league going is firm deadlines. Exceptions can be made as needed, but firm dedadlines must be established and enforced. With soccer, the beauty is that forfeits are easy and well established: 3-0. People who don't get their games in will quickly find themselves relegated to the bottom division, no harm to the rest of the gang. Everyone else's season will just be that many games shorter until we get firm divisions of committed players settles after a few season cycles.

With a ten round season, I would suggest deadlines every two weeks for each half season. That is, every two weeks folks must play five games, each opponent once. I don't think that's too much to ask and I'd rather start with ambitious goals and temper them as needed going forward. Forfeits would be enforced the day after the deadline and the tables updated accordingly.

We could add a multi-division Cup at some point, but I would want to wait until at least one season was done before cramming the schedule with non-league matches. This would allow unrelated tourneys like the one we are nearing the finals of to go on as well, say with National squads or something.

As to team selection, I am all for the idea of separating the available teams into groups based on overall ratings. Then have a draft or something maybe semi-random with one chance to re-pick (or re-roll) ro something. But the key is have the 2* pool of players (or 3* or whatever) allowed to select/roll for the top group of teams, the 4* players the next group down, the 5* and 6* players the bottom group. I like the dynamic of having teams of disparate overall quality going at it. We can re-draw teams after a couple of seasons if this doesn't work out.

Another idea is to simply eliminate the top and bottom groups of teams, and let everyone pick freely from a select group of mid-level teams. This way everyone is on the same footing, and the divisional promotion/relegation structure will balance the competition. I think either idea is a good one, but although I'm not married to it I would love to try the mutli-tiered team approach.

Well, there you go, those are my thoughts. Take 'em or leave 'em, share your own, let's get this figured out. My last experience was not a good one, with the bloated NCAA league. I love that forfeits are easy in soccer and I think that will save us, but the only way they can work is with firm deadlines and clear evidence of one guy trying to get the game in while the other is not; a commissioner must make the official determination. That can be a toughie. . . . Still, firm deadlines are the only way keep moving forward, and allow the promotion/relegation mechanism function. Once we have a few seasons under our belt, we can reorganize into one big division or something.

bphilipb · Post by **bphilipb** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 2:03 pm

I'm in. I usually play on three stars in my master league. Whatever type of teams is fine with me.

BB

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 2:03 pm

I'm in without a doubt and even though i've done well so far in the current tournament, I know it's mostly because of the caliber of my issued team(Bayern) vs the calber of the teams of my opponents. I struggle on 3 stars against the CPU, but can dominate the CPU on 2 stars. I'm up for whatever you guys decide but I think it needs to be a short season to keep everyone interested. Nobody is going to want to continue through a 20 game or so season if they can't win any games. A short season, equals more continious seasons and makes for exciting promotion and relegation issues.

mobiggins · Post by **mobiggins** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 3:11 pm

Jack, you should probably own this game if you want to embark on a league commitment, don't you think?

mobiggins · Post by **mobiggins** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 3:14 pm

Guys: see my original thread for updated league participants.
Boltman, please give me an estimate of your abilities in this game i.e. 1-5 stars.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 3:14 pm

I often just buy the game from Gamefly and that is what I'll do if the league takes off, so dont worry about my committment. It's there.

mobiggins wrote:Jack, you should probably own this game if you want to embark on a league commitment, don't you think?

Atxj · Post by **Atxj** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 3:42 pm

I'm in.

Difficulty doesn't matter to me, whatever the consensus becomes. Im comfortable on 6 stars.

Post by **Jared** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 4:02 pm

Is there a difficulty level for online play? I'm in.

Random teams from a group of teams that is closely related in ability might be the way to go to start. Or choosing from middle-tier.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 4:15 pm

Jared wrote:Is there a difficulty level for online play? I'm in.

Random teams from a group of teams that is closely related in ability might be the way to go to start. Or choosing from middle-tier.

There is no difficulty setting for online play, but I think Mo was thinking of using that as a barometer for team selection and/or initial divisional assignment.

Also, if we do random team selection I think everyone should get at least one chance to re-roll if they don't like what comes up.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 4:33 pm

I'm in too. I always play on 5 stars as well.

mobiggins · Post by **mobiggins** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 5:21 pm

It's not a difficulty level...it's a measure of what difficulty you normally play at, so that we can have two separate divisions in order that the less-skilled players can have some fun and have a chance at promotion into the top tier.

Atxj · Post by **Atxj** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 5:44 pm

Not sure what everyone would think about setting form to normal instead of randomn, but I would like to suggest it. This way each squad is at a normal fitness instead of having some players really low and some high.

Thoughts?

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 7:08 pm

AtXj wrote:Not sure what everyone would think about setting form to normal instead of randomn, but I would like to suggest it. This way each squad is at a normal fitness instead of having some players really low and some high.

Thoughts?

I'm committed to random condition and weather. I think it really keeps things spicy and makes each game unique.

mobiggins · Post by **mobiggins** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 8:53 pm

I second that.

Sully · Post by **Sully** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 8:53 pm

Same here. Random condition can also keep a team from relying on one player.

Boltman · Post by **Boltman** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 11:28 pm

mobiggins wrote:Guys: see my original thread for updated league participants.
Boltman, please give me an estimate of your abilities in this game i.e. 1-5 stars.

I play the CPU on one, I win 11 nil, on two I win about 7 or 8 nil, on three I win, but they are 1 nil games, on 5? same as 3

mobiggins · Post by **mobiggins** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 12:22 am

Ok, so at what star level do you generally play at?

Boltman · Post by **Boltman** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 8:57 am

mobiggins wrote:Ok, so at what star level do you generally play at?

Only three, and as I said sometimes it ends up being a 0 0 match. I've only tried 5 because guys here said it's actually better than three.

If this thing is going to be really in depth, it's ok then...I'll simply pass. Consider me out bro.

mobiggins · Post by **mobiggins** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 12:56 pm

We've all tried different star levels. I wanted to know the level you usually play at. It wasn't a difficult question. Happy trails, bro.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 3:01 pm

I should be on tonite after 9 pm if anyone wants to get any games in