Warrior General Games

A lot of people who try this game out aren't going to be able to jump on to a human team right away.

Most of the people who join this game to try it out will have their first team be a CPU one


When half of these teams can't even sign a QB when one leaves - they all end up with attrociously broken rosters full of 5+ HBs and 2 WRs without a QB.

And when players see their guy get no time at his actual position, playing every special teams snap so they get even less time on the field during exciting play, and generally watch a frustrating game with no real appeal...


They leave





I've been talking a long time about improving the pickup player experience for a similar reason, this game has a lot of newbies show up and not even post in the forums before giving up on it. If you want the community to grow you need to fix things like this that effect people who are just coming in and make sure their experience up front is a good one. Nobody is going to sink hours into a 'game' they aren't having fun with in order to break through to the fun parts - particularly with how small the userbase is you can't even rely on hype to get users to push past that experience.

Yeah if I was new and only tried pickups/CPU games I wouldn't last. I understand those games aren't there to be serious but they need to be better overall and more enjoyable. I don't even bother trying to test anything in pickups anymore because the gameplay and depth charts are so broken you don't gain any actually useful info.

^ Both correct.

I almost think getting rid of the pick up player is better then trying to fix it.

Originally posted by Cyberninja
I almost think getting rid of the pick up player is better then trying to fix it.

Better? No. Pickup players are ideal test beds for build experimentation. Easier? Certainly, but not to the overall benefit of the game.

I think a basic roster upkeep could do a lot in terms of having new people enjoy a CPU only experience.

1. Set minimums for each position.
- QB: 1, HB: 1, FB: 0, WR: 4, TE: 2, T: 2, G: 2, C: 1, DE: 2, DT: 2, LB: 4, CB: 2, S: 2, K: 1, P: 1
- When a player leaves, or joins it triggers a Roster Event function that checks the roster for these minimum values. If the current position is below the value, it signs a CPU player to that position. That's the minimum to keep a team going and would make these teams more "competetive"

2. If you want to really make new players have the most fun in the basement leagues you also need to make sure they get maximum playing time. To do that when a player joins a team it also triggers a Roster Event function using the maximum roster position numbers that already exist.
- If a player joins the function checks to see if there are currently players in that position.
- The function then checks to see if they are a Human player, or a CPU player.
- If the player is Human, and there is room at that roster position, the new Human player is added.
- If the player is CPU, the CPU player is cut in favor of the Human player.
-- EX: If a QB joins a team with a CPU QB player, that CPU player is cut, ensuring the Human player gets maximum playing time.
-- EX: If a WR joins a team with 4 CPU WRs, a CPU WR will be cut first. Making there still only be 4 WRs.

Originally posted by Brother3Wright
I think a basic roster upkeep could do a lot in terms of having new people enjoy a CPU only experience.

1. Set minimums for each position.
- QB: 1, HB: 1, FB: 0, WR: 4, TE: 2, T: 2, G: 2, C: 1, DE: 2, DT: 2, LB: 4, CB: 2, S: 2, K: 1, P: 1
- When a player leaves, or joins it triggers a Roster Event function that checks the roster for these minimum values. If the current position is below the value, it signs a CPU player to that position. That's the minimum to keep a team going and would make these teams more "competetive"
This is a good idea but I would adjust the numbers so that the minimum for each is the maximum number that a formation uses.
FB1, WR5, DT3, CB5.


Originally posted by Brother3Wright2
If you want to really make new players have the most fun in the basement leagues you also need to make sure they get maximum playing time. To do that when a player joins a team it also triggers a Roster Event function using the maximum roster position numbers that already exist.
- If a player joins the function checks to see if there are currently players in that position.
- The function then checks to see if they are a Human player, or a CPU player.
- If the player is Human, and there is room at that roster position, the new Human player is added.
- If the player is CPU, the CPU player is cut in favor of the Human player.
-- EX: If a QB joins a team with a CPU QB player, that CPU player is cut, ensuring the Human player gets maximum playing time.
-- EX: If a WR joins a team with 4 CPU WRs, a CPU WR will be cut first. Making there still only be 4 WRs.

This is also correct. I think if this was done a lot of the pickup or cpu players have a much better time with the game.

Originally posted by Adderfist
This is a good idea but I would adjust the numbers so that the minimum for each is the maximum number that a formation uses.
FB1, WR5, DT3, CB5.

A better idea to be sure!

Except Diamond uses 2 FB...

Originally posted by atlbruce
Except Diamond uses 2 FB...

WFB uses FB/TE/HB with no penalty and since there's no TE in the play i'm anticipating the starting TE taking that spot.

I’m wondering too. Say two friends want to play together. Would it be good to add the ability, that if you look at a CPU team and there is room at your position on the roster, to add a “Request Contract” button. Instead of rolling the dice you can choose a team, this only for the CPU team though.

Originally posted by Brother3Wright
I’m wondering too. Say two friends want to play together. Would it be good to add the ability, that if you look at a CPU team and there is room at your position on the roster, to add a “Request Contract” button. Instead of rolling the dice you can choose a team, this only for the CPU team though.

Would make things nice, but you can also just deny the contracts you have offered and search again too. If 2 friends truly got into the game together I would strongly advise them to get a team together or something and ask vets for help learning so they can enjoy it together. One run offense one run defense type thing. Keeps both involved more and learning more.

Originally posted by dredgar
Would make things nice, but you can also just deny the contracts you have offered and search again too. If 2 friends truly got into the game together I would strongly advise them to get a team together or something and ask vets for help learning so they can enjoy it together. One run offense one run defense type thing. Keeps both involved more and learning more.

Especially now with Franchises...$12/season makes it easy.

Since we are on the subject....How about not having human HB's returning kicks 100% of the time, using Zone at least sometimes, QB's with ZERO investment into running skills should not be running the ball.

That's the only 3 I can remember off top.....Pickup/CPU games are almost completely useless for HB & Zone testing.

Originally posted by dredgar
Would make things nice, but you can also just deny the contracts you have offered and search again too. If 2 friends truly got into the game together I would strongly advise them to get a team together or something and ask vets for help learning so they can enjoy it together. One run offense one run defense type thing. Keeps both involved more and learning more.

Sure but you can only get contracts once every 12 hours right, so it’s just a crap shoot. You’re asking new players to have patience and wait till they get the right roll before they play.

Also while I agree with buying a franchise being great, you’re also raising the barrier of entry from “Make an account and try it out.” To “Pay $12 each to try it out.” Its like dipping your toe in to see if the water vs. just jumping straight in. Keeping that barrier of entry low lets people in, and then after a season or two if they decide they like it they convert into a franchise owner.

…or maybe they don’t but make a bunch of players. Either way Bort makes $$$ and the game is healthier. But if you leave players that just want to try it out, or only make players, or only play on CPU teams without options, they’re more likely to leave.