I posted this in the Game Changes Forum, and a Q&A admin suggested I post here:
According to the Proposed Archetype List:
3) If your player is between 1-80 days old you will be forced to choose an archetype before the end of pre-season. If you do not choose one by then you will be assigned the default archetype for that position. If you would rather retire your player then choose an archetype, you can do so and receive a full (100%) refund.
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The mandatory election age will create a major dot dividing line. For many positions, dots that are not forced to select an archetype will be far superior to dots forced to select one - Center is the obvious example. Under the present proposal, a Center who is 81 days old when the archetype system goes live will become much, much better down the line than a Center who was 80 days old when the axe fell. For many positions, these players will be forced to retire, or suffer a career of being dominated by players just a few days older.
Assuming that the archetype system goes into effect between seasons 14 and 15, the current 80 day cutoff will correspond with another major GLB event: the new player roller. Players created on the first day of the new roller will be 79 or 80 days old and thus forced to select an archetype.
I understand that a line needs to be drawn somewhere, but it seems that the 80-day line will present a much larger number of players with this choice than is necessary. I would imagine a huge number of players were created on the first day of the new roller, and thus a disproportionate number of players will be forced into retirement. If the cutoff fell in the middle of a season, say 100 days or 60 days old, far fewer players would be forced into retirement.
Choosing a mid-season cutoff point rather than a cutoff point that places a large number of players right at the line would cause far less brain-damage than the current proposal.
