Warrior General Games

General Complaints
1. Too many leagues, which fosters having too many CPU teams in said league.
2. Current league structure is too sterilized, which does not foster rivalries.
3. Conferences are often imbalanced: see the 16-0 Alpha/Zeta thread in GLB Main.
4. Too many stepping stones for non-coalition dots to get to World League.
5. Pro Leagues are too diluted with talent.
6. The elite/competitive/normal divide is easily exploitable.

How This Proposal Aims to Fix the System
1. Reinstituting the pyramid: creates fewer levelsl; will bring back rivalries; and will eliminate the tiers.
2. Contracting from 8 Pro Leagues to 4: helps foster greater talent and skill in Pro.
3. Eliminating some lower-level leagues: leagues with mostly-CPU teams will be eliminated.

Discussion
We've had the benefit of 10+ seasons to gauge the new league structure, and the result of much of the userbase ranges from lukewarm to angry and upset. In fact, many of the current problems we see listed above can be traced to the elimination of the pyramid and the institution of the age-based tiered structure.

Therefore, I propose some changes. I personally would prefer more significant/drastic changes (like eliminating World League), but I know that it would never garner the support. My proposals are meant to be the best compromise I can strike among the many users of GLB.

Tier 1: World League

Tier 2: Four Pro Conferences
North American Pro League
Southern Continental Pro League
European Pro League
Asiatic Pro League

I propose contraction from 8 Pro Leagues of 16 conferences to 4 Pro Leagues of 8 conferences. Each conference shall be made up of each of the old pro leagues: North American = USA + Canada. Southern Continental = South America + Africa. European = East Europe + West Europe. Asiatic = Southeast Asia + Oceania.

To arrive at 16 teams in each conference, I propose that the Top 8 teams from each current Pro League conference (in the season before implementation) be combined into the conference that will be represented in the new Pro League. Example: Top 8 from Oceania Alpha + Top 8 from Oceania Zeta = Oceania Conference in the new pro league.

Tier 3: 2 AAA Regions
Each Pro League shall have 2 AAA regions that feed into it.

Tier 4: 4 AA Regions
Each AAA region shall have 2 AA regions that feed into it.

Tier 5: 8 A Regions
Each AA region shall have 2 A regions that feed into it. The A regions shall be the base/starter league for teams of new players.

To prevent teams from gutting and simply coming down to A to roll through 3+ seasons of instant league titles, there should be a level cap limit for SIGNEE dots that's based on age limits. Assuming a dot boosts in the offseason of its creation and every season thereafter, the levels of the dot would be the following at the end of every season:

Season 1: 19
Season 2: 32
Season 3: 43
Season 4: 53
Season 5: 61
Season 6: 69
Season 7: 73
Season 8: 77
Season 9: 79 (MAX)

Therefore, what I would propose is to set a Level Cap for signing dots at the following: for A, 32. For AA, 53. For AAA/Pro/WL, unlimited. Players above Level 32 cannot sign with an A team, and players above Level 53 cannot sign with AA teams. Furthermore, no team with a player over that level limit can demote or request to stay down without special consideration by an Admin (for example, some douche owning a team with 1 Level 79 player to avoid demoting below AAA).

I know some people are going to complain about having Level 32 dots beating up on Level 4 dots and Level 53 dots beating up on Level 32 dots. Three words: take your lumps. Those teams will be gone after the season is over, anyway, and it will soon be your turn to rule the roost. A and AA are more developmental stages, anyway.

Promotion will take place under the dynamic promotion system of the old pyramid. As a default, 15th/16th from each conference will promote down, one each to the tier below it. The conference champion will promote. If there are multiple teams from one conference demotion (read: sold/CPU), then multiple teams from that conference will promote. This should save the Admins much time and should keep from having imbalanced conferences.

Assorted Rules.
No league hopping. You buy a team in a regions A/AA/AAA/Pro systems, you stick in that system. There shall be no more conference jumping just to win a Pro League title to promote.

All signing date restrictions shall remain in place.
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This is my idea, but I welcome any revisions/additions to/subtractions from it. I want this game to be as fun as it used to be, and I think that this is the best first step toward getting it that way.

+1

Doesn't really feel like it is changing much of anything for the good of the game other than contracting pro to 4 leagues.

+1

Originally posted by bhall43
Doesn't really feel like it is changing much of anything for the good of the game other than contracting pro to 4 leagues.

Explain why, please.

My proposal decreases the number of teams by quite a bit, which accomplishes the tasks of eliminating (1) large amounts of CPU teams in (2) largely CPU leagues. It eliminates the tiers, which are abused by people looking to win a cheap title. It fosters rivalries, which currently only existed in the Elite tier and in Pro and WL. It balances conferences, which Bort/Catch/Whoever have never competently achieved. It makes it easier for new players/agents/teams and the same who don't join alliances to have a chance at making WL if they build dots correctly. And that's really just off the top of my head. Hard to believe, but there's an entire game outside the highest of the high tiers.

Put the WL/Pro shades aside, and leave your issues with me at the door, please.

-1

How does this deal with further expansion/contraction? A pyramid is rigid and expansion or contraction becomes its fatal flaw (as we saw previously).

Originally posted by CDCLaw
Explain why, please.

My proposal decreases the number of teams by quite a bit, which accomplishes the tasks of eliminating (1) large amounts of CPU teams in (2) largely CPU leagues. It eliminates the tiers, which are abused by people looking to win a cheap title. It fosters rivalries, which currently only existed in the Elite tier and in Pro and WL. It balances conferences, which Bort/Catch/Whoever have never competently achieved. It makes it easier for new players/agents/teams and the same who don't join alliances to have a chance at making WL if they build dots correctly. And that's really just off the top of my head. Hard to believe, but there's an entire game outside the highest of the high tiers.

Put the WL/Pro shades aside, and leave your issues with me at the door, pleas.

This actually doesn't do anything for new users. They currently have a better shot of making wl now than with this idea.

-1.5

I agree with heballs. The problem is barrier to entry.

Sounds like a good suggestion, however will it help resolve the issue I raised in this thread?

http://goallineblitz.com/game/forum_thread.pl?thread_id=4941460

Originally posted by Mat McBriar
-1

How does this deal with further expansion/contraction? A pyramid is rigid and expansion or contraction becomes its fatal flaw (as we saw previously).

First, your There's a difference between "rigid pyramid" and "pyramid built of solid lead".

Second, your question isn't very clear. This pyramid IS the device that copes with expansion or contraction. Fewer teams + fewer leagues + fewer users creating/renewing dots = must do something. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that GLB's unique hits are going down muy muy fast. Unless GLB makes some major freaking fixes, about 8K unique hits per month is all this site will ever hope to have. This time last year, it had 20K. At the end of 2008, it had 50K.

The ABLs expanded the leagues to where a trained ape could make the playoffs in a non-Big 8 or non-Elite league. I've been on teams who have made the 2nd round with all CPU dots. I've sent out offers to players I knew had ghastly awful dots and had a 10-win season. If you've got a better solution than having over 100 CPU teams and having another 40+ owned by humans and totally CPU, please...by all means...go ahead and let us know.

Originally posted by jamz
-1.5

I agree with heballs. The problem is barrier to entry.

HOW is it a barrier to reentry, though? HOW. HOW, HOW, HOW.

BHall's done nothing but say:

CDC: Long, detailed proposal.
BHALL: Doesn't do anything.
CDC: Yes it does, here's 5 ways.
BHALL: Well...uh...it prevents new users from reaching the top.

You can count to 10, right? My pyramid has 5 tiers: A, AA, AAA, Pro, WL. THEORETICALLY, that's 5 seasons. In actuality, no. But theoretically, yes. With the current tier, you have to pretty much get to Level 70+, THEN navigate the Regional Pro - Pro - WL gauntlet. A new user (1) isn't going to have the connections to get on a competent network to take him to the WL and (2) if he lucks into one, he'll rot on a Regional Pro farm team while other dots by users deeper in the clique take the spot.

I'm chalking this up to a case where the WL cabal doesn't like it. It'll probably damn it to failure in the end, but what else is new.

tl;dr

But +1 to the title and the first paragraph!

Originally posted by CDCLaw
Originally posted by Mat McBriar

-1

How does this deal with further expansion/contraction? A pyramid is rigid and expansion or contraction becomes its fatal flaw (as we saw previously).

First, your There's a difference between "rigid pyramid" and "pyramid built of solid lead".

Second, your question isn't very clear. This pyramid IS the device that copes with expansion or contraction. Fewer teams + fewer leagues + fewer users creating/renewing dots = must do something. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that GLB's unique hits are going down muy muy fast. Unless GLB makes some major freaking fixes, about 8K unique hits per month is all this site will ever hope to have. This time last year, it had 20K. At the end of 2008, it had 50K.

The ABLs expanded the leagues to where a trained ape could make the playoffs in a non-Big 8 or non-Elite league. I've been on teams who have made the 2nd round with all CPU dots. I've sent out offers to players I knew had ghastly awful dots and had a 10-win season. If you've got a better solution than having over 100 CPU teams and having another 40+ owned by humans and totally CPU, please...by all means...go ahead and let us know.



Well you just dodged my question. This isn't an e-argument where you need to flex your bolicking skills.

My point was that if you change to this pyramid structure, where you fit the structure to the current quantity of players/teams and the game continues to decline or expands, you're just forced into more change as the quality of the leagues degrades.

I cannot support a rigid structure. I agree, what we have isn't perfect, but it still allows for the best we are going to get in a dynamic environment.

C'est la vie, I guess.

Site will just continue to lose users...

Originally posted by CDCLaw
HOW is it a barrier to reentry, though? HOW. HOW, HOW, HOW.

BHall's done nothing but say:

CDC: Long, detailed proposal.
BHALL: Doesn't do anything.
CDC: Yes it does, here's 5 ways.
BHALL: Well...uh...it prevents new users from reaching the top.

You can count to 10, right? My pyramid has 5 tiers: A, AA, AAA, Pro, WL. THEORETICALLY, that's 5 seasons. In actuality, no. But theoretically, yes. With the current tier, you have to pretty much get to Level 70+, THEN navigate the Regional Pro - Pro - WL gauntlet. A new user (1) isn't going to have the connections to get on a competent network to take him to the WL and (2) if he lucks into one, he'll rot on a Regional Pro farm team while other dots by users deeper in the clique take the spot.

I'm chalking this up to a case where the WL cabal doesn't like it. It'll probably damn it to failure in the end, but what else is new.

You can call the regions whatever the fuck you want man.

WL, Pro, Regional Pro

WL, Pro, AAA

Shit don't make no difference. Your A and AA bs is just chalking up the entire fucking minor system into a ball of shit and making everyone not want to do a damn thing. There is a reason they left this exact idea...it didn't work anymore bro. GET OVER IT.

As far as leaving your issues at the door. CLEARLY it is you that has them.

Trading "stepping stones" for walls that take 2-3 seasons to climb isn't a solution. There's a reason the pyramid structure sucked for the teams that weren't at the very top of it.

Condensing the National Pro leagues is an idea that needs to go the way of the dodo. It was the right call before APD, not so much post-APD.