We can alter our rules if we must. I will sharpen up the rules board at the top before the first game. We can all talk modifying these rules here, for example, bending the play amount use back to 6 if we need.

I've also had a diversity idea, similar to Grandpa's Elite league, but maybe we could have minimum of 30 offensive plays selected and a minimum of 20 Defenseive plays selected. What do you all think?

The following is just my opinion, with no disrespect to anyone.

As a relatively new League Admin (4 seasons), I think we are way out of bounds in putting down markers on the game. Not everyone likes to be "told" what they can/cannot do, when the game already allows it to be done.

It's been my belief, for a long time, that the role of League Admin was to ensure the following:

1. A place of fun for those who join.
2. Promote your league via recruiting others.
3. Monitor trades.
4. Help others if they are struggling.
5. Overall fair play.

I'd like to think that is what JDBs' version of a league admin was to be - from the inception of the game.

What seems more likely nowadays is this trend to have a league admin stamp his wishes/changes to the game to make it "more competitive". For me, this started off with the NCAA/USFL/ etc. leagues. It' since mover to other leagues like Elite and NFL - each has their own restrictions...be it size/weight/plays.

This is a new league in the game and will more than likely be the newest league to make the transition to JDB's next version. So, in that regard, I would only be interested in continuing in this league if it is not so tightly nailed down by the diversity play or play restrictions per game philosophies.

I'm all for QB/K/P starting each game, and the realistic positioning of players in their groups.

Again, no offence intended to our, or indeed any, League Admin, it's just my 2 cents.

Kab

Here's my 2 cents:

For the time being I'd like to have a little bit stricter rules like player positioning and play diversity.
That is caused by the very glitchy and actually unsufficient game coding. As long as JDB does not fix known glitches, e.g. only certain plays are really useful (Long Passes still do not work), speed overwhelms nearly any other skills of players. There are some more things which should be adjusted for better game and fun.
Playing only with 10 - 20 plays and utilizing speed (only CBs, Cs and WRs) makes the game boring in the long run.

I agree with both of your arguments. I have a lot of trouble in new leagues with the minimum/maximum number of play calls and formations, even if you set everything at an identical percentage. Is there any other secret to setting up your gameplan to get close to the variety they're looking for?

(full disclosure, I'm NEVER going to select any long passes because, like ioan said, they're just broken)

My settings in Elite Football League were:
Offense: OR 20, IR 20, SP 30, MP 30; 005, 014, 104 -> 12; 113, 122, 203, 212, 221, 311 ->10; 230 -> 4
Defense: all secondary even, LBs 5 Blitz 2+, remainder even on 19.
Then you have to select out of any formation at least 2 plays except 104 only 1.
My average was O 33/40 and D 23/30. Nearly no game with plays higher than 7.

to make it simple, with regard to play diversity, you set the number of plays to be used at least on time per game. 15 - 20 defensive plays and 20-24 offense. No need to publish the play use every game or at all. You can see if your opponent is complying when you scout them, easy as that.

Best roster rule that Ive seen so far is pretty easy to follow, written by setherick in the NFL League, as follows .....................

. All teams should have starters with players listed at the following positions and as close to default weight for position as possible. Minimum caps are listed in parentheses.

QB
RB1, RB2 (210)
FB1 (235)
WR
TE1, TE2 (245)
OL

DE1, DE2 (260)
DT1, DT2 (290)
SLB
MLB
WLB
CB
SS
FS

2. No WRs are allowed to play running back with the exception of the flex rule below.
3. No LBs are allowed to play DE.
4. DE can back up DT, but teams should must carry the minimum minimum number of starters at weight.
5. Backup LBs can all be WLBs as long as you have starters at position.
6. Backup DBs can all be CBs as long as you have starters at position.

Flex Rules

1. WRs can be substituted for a running back for the following formations: 104 all plays, 113 Shotgun, 203 Shotgun, 203 Split Backs. The reason why is that the running plays out of these formations are fairly limited and the RB1 often gets targeted as a top target in these formations. This will means WRs will some times end up with running yards, but these should be fair inconsequential. If players figure out how to abuse this rule in the running game, I'll pull it.

2. WRs can be substituted for TEs for the following formations: 014 all plays. The TE routes should be more effective than they are. TEs are still often overmanned in these formations because coverage still largely depends on speed.

3. RBs and FBs can be swapped to take advantage of the FB designed runs like the 212 Weak I FB Inside Weak. You can also run 2 RBs in the 212 Split Backs.

4. This one seems obvious, but I forgot to call it out. FB can flex to TE3.

Im going to mostly complete the rules for this league at the top by tonight or tomorrow. Kababmaster, check it out. At the top I did mention about not being so strict as Grandpa's Elite league, but it scaled down a bit to 30 selected plays on O and 20 selected on D. Look I agree with Grandpa's reasoning where this simulation where when everyone starts using only the bread and butter plays that work on offense and defense, the realism feeling of football breaks down here. It mostly becomes too predictable and then it's all about the loopholes.

Your input here is valuable Kabab and I partially agree. That's exactly why I am offering to scale it down to the goal of using 20 out of 30 selected offensive plays each game. The goal is using 10, or maybe 12, out of 20 selected defensive plays each game.

This is a choice of following a code of honor here. Rules we finalize here, like in the Elite League, matter and there is a real purpose. There are plenty of leagues where there are no restriction rules. When you join these types of leagues there is an understanding of this.

So why join this kind of league, then don't follow the specified rules in the playoffs, then when you make it to the championship game you complain about how you don't like the rules? Why would you do that?

Actually I have found that there are a few long pass plays that work as long as you use them relatively sparingly. Try using them only around 1-3 times a game and make sure your O line and FB can pass block.

Yeah - First off, when you published about starting a league - the scope of rules of play restriction and position restriction was very loosely defined. Based off that, I decided to join this league because I enjoy building a team from scratch.



I think you are referring to my win in the Elite league - which to be fair - I came up short on D plays, and looking at it now, I will discuss with the League Admin there.

Please understand that I was not complaining; I was echoing my opinion about nailing down the leagues unnecessarily. The said opinion was posted long before any meaningful game in any other league that I am involved with at the time of my initial post.

I hope this clears things up mate.

I appreciate your honesty on Defense, but when your scouted of only using 18 out of 30 minimum use required / 40 selected Offensive plays in that Elite League previous game, that means you way low of the expectation on offense as well. Lets at least be honest about your offense as well because that matters when the game simulates.

Kabab, you are a well seasoned skilled team owner here on MFN. I totally believe you have the knowledge and skill here to follow an Admin set of required rules right? I know it means we all might lose a few more games because of it.