Discuss: Concrete Ballin'

[Cerevant]

So, your hype and streak ARE not at stake if someone else challenges you?

Streak is at stake, Hype is not (except for the advancement of Hype due to reduced streak).  An important difference between this and FC is that I wanted players to be able to affect other people's ability to advance.

There just has to be a better way to advance, even if you want to avoid making it a machine like FC.

That seems like a self-contradictory statement: make it easier to advance, so I can power level, otherwise the game will be about power-leveling?

What are people's thoughts on calling your own plays? Obviously only the initiator could call their plays, so the other teams actions would be subject to the semi-random, but it might make the game more fun to play, rather than just sitting around waiting for points to regenerate.

Making it interactive isn't out of the question, but it could make games take forever to complete, and you wouldn't be able to play people who were offline (or games would drag out until they responded).

[Diomedes]

It's worth trying out, right?  If it doesn't work, abandon it.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

So, your hype and streak ARE not at stake if someone else challenges you?

Streak is at stake, Hype is not (except for the advancement of Hype due to reduced streak).

Well, that's kind of horsepoop.  The little guys like me will never be able to keep up a streak and train up to catch up if the more powerful players can just keep beating us to knock our streaks down.

[Sgt PSN]

I just got crushed by Geo and had like 7 injuries in the game. 

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

So, your hype and streak ARE not at stake if someone else challenges you?

Streak is at stake, Hype is not (except for the advancement of Hype due to reduced streak).

Well, that's kind of horsepoop.  The little guys like me will never be able to keep up a streak and train up to catch up if the more powerful players can just keep beating us to knock our streaks down.

n/m.  You can go to the training room to avoid being challenged.

Of course, that means pretty much everyone should move to the training room when offline.

[Diomedes]

which would make it harder to find an opponent.

my inability to comprehend that each team plays offense and defense regardless who attacks notwithstanding, a bonus given to the offline "defender" who wins a game would help to increase the availability of opponents

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

a bonus given to the offline "defender" who wins a game would help to increase the availability of opponents

great point

[Cerevant]

I'll definitely implement that - "defenders" will get 2 exp for a win while "attackers" will get 1.  Unfortunately my work blocks access to everything that isn't a web page, so I can't update it until I get home tonight.  I may also reduce the amount of exp required to level, but you should be winning more games than you lose at your current level before you can level up.

Two other things I'm thinking of adding to help balance:
1) Level check: you can't start a game with someone who isn't the same level or above.  Maybe some extra XP if you beat someone of a higher level.
2) Stat cap: you won't be able to train your stats past a certain point until you level

It's worth trying out, right?  If it doesn't work, abandon it.

Because it is basically a fundamental re-write of the game engine, and I don't want to do that if it doesn't sound like fun.

So, do you think having some ability to call plays during the game would make playing more fun, or would it just slow things down and be a waste of time?

Call for Vote: What would make the game more fun?
a) Calling your own plays during the game
b) "Playoff Run" where you automatically play out 8 games vs. randomly selected opponents for some kind of bonus

[Diomedes]

... it is basically a fundamental re-write of the game engine...

in that case, do not do this.  keep your time spent tinkering on things efficient...no sense sinking a bunch of time into something like that, particularly if you can address a half dozen other points in the same amount of time

[Cerevant]

... it is basically a fundamental re-write of the game engine...

in that case, do not do this.  keep your time spent tinkering on things efficient...no sense sinking a bunch of time into something like that, particularly if you can address a half dozen other points in the same amount of time

Can you name 3 other things that should be fixed right away?  I'm digging for ideas to improve the playability of the game, so I consider this pretty high on the list.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

The stat cap isn't a great idea in and of itself.  Can't you achieve the same thing by awarding enough EXP for training, though?

Awarding twice the experience for winning when challenged is a great idea, however, especially if paired with your stat cap idea.  Of course, that will mean that the guys not in the training room will be ones that are usually at the max for their level, so if anyone at their level or below is actually stupid enough to challenge them, it would turn out poorly for the attackers more often than not.

Of course, I'm assuming everyone is actually attempting to win and employing the best strategy to do so.

[Diomedes]

well, the "defender" exp bit is a good one.

what about property and money?  take ish that the game already has and give it some function, even if it turns out to be not the right thing at first...it would be better if we had more to do in the game, even if it brings only small benefit to our team

[Diomedes]

make the play by play visible to both teams

bold/different color the scoring plays in the the play by play

add a stats page..number of games played/win-loss/average points forced-allowed/avg starting position on kickoffs and punts/FG %...etc

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Scavenging --> Trolling for endorsements?

[Diomedes]

riffing on that..."your job" = endorsements

at lowest level/stats, you rep for the local bail bondsmen...on up to Nike at the highest level/stats