Summary
Franchise Mode is a league consisting of human owned and operated teams with CPU only players that utilizes the advanced AI engine. The intent is to provide a style of game play that lets users focus on team management with a more level playing field. Features of this mode will put a greater emphasis on strategy and a less emphasis on recruiting, while getting more out of existing but lesser utilized aspects of the game.
A franchise team is a new type of team in addition to normal, casual, and pee wee. Franchise teams only play in franchise leagues against other franchise type teams.
Key Goals
Pit strategy vs strategy without the large gap in dot building and networking abilities
Remove the "build for long term success" vs "immediate success" paradigm.
Make money management relevant
Make trades relevant
New users can learn basic AI strategy without worrying about screwing over human players
Test new strategies in a more controlled environment.
Implement these changes in a cost effective manner by leveraging existing functionality as much as possible.
Key Features
CPU Players
CPU behavior remains mostly unchanged, except for the following:
They have a set, but unknown X factor to adjust their attributes.
They have a set but unknown greed factor to influence their salary demands.
They sign with teams based on amount of money offered, length of contract, current and past record of the team, and trade clause status
Teams
Roster size is limited to 48 players. This is to encourage more strategy around where to have extra depth.
Reduced salary caps to force careful contract decisions.
Leagues
Removes age based leagues because CPU dots don't age.
Structured the same or similar to Pee Wee leagues depending on number of teams.
No FA signings during regular season to encourage trades and trade deadline excitement.
Issues
Dead team forums - Look, a franchise team can still have an owner, OC, DC, and ST. Since dot attributes are hidden, the X factor put a greater need on scouts too. A team of 3 - 5 humans actively involved is going to have more forum activity than half the normal teams already.
What to do about stadium building? - You can still have concession and ticket sales and promotions, but the stadium building part probably doesn't work. Teams would start with fully or mostly built stadium.
How would this make money without 55 dots boosting per team? - Higher cost of ownership is needed obviously. Hopefully this new mode retains more people by giving them something different.
What about player tactics? - Would need to default this, or allow control by ownership.
Other Benefits
This type of game play opens up realistic game possibilities that are otherwise impossible with human dots that are not mentionable in the suggestion forum.
Franchise Mode is a league consisting of human owned and operated teams with CPU only players that utilizes the advanced AI engine. The intent is to provide a style of game play that lets users focus on team management with a more level playing field. Features of this mode will put a greater emphasis on strategy and a less emphasis on recruiting, while getting more out of existing but lesser utilized aspects of the game.
A franchise team is a new type of team in addition to normal, casual, and pee wee. Franchise teams only play in franchise leagues against other franchise type teams.
Key Goals
Pit strategy vs strategy without the large gap in dot building and networking abilities
Remove the "build for long term success" vs "immediate success" paradigm.
Make money management relevant
Make trades relevant
New users can learn basic AI strategy without worrying about screwing over human players
Test new strategies in a more controlled environment.
Implement these changes in a cost effective manner by leveraging existing functionality as much as possible.
Key Features
CPU Players
CPU behavior remains mostly unchanged, except for the following:
They have a set, but unknown X factor to adjust their attributes.
They have a set but unknown greed factor to influence their salary demands.
They sign with teams based on amount of money offered, length of contract, current and past record of the team, and trade clause status
Teams
Roster size is limited to 48 players. This is to encourage more strategy around where to have extra depth.
Reduced salary caps to force careful contract decisions.
Leagues
Removes age based leagues because CPU dots don't age.
Structured the same or similar to Pee Wee leagues depending on number of teams.
No FA signings during regular season to encourage trades and trade deadline excitement.
Issues
Dead team forums - Look, a franchise team can still have an owner, OC, DC, and ST. Since dot attributes are hidden, the X factor put a greater need on scouts too. A team of 3 - 5 humans actively involved is going to have more forum activity than half the normal teams already.
What to do about stadium building? - You can still have concession and ticket sales and promotions, but the stadium building part probably doesn't work. Teams would start with fully or mostly built stadium.
How would this make money without 55 dots boosting per team? - Higher cost of ownership is needed obviously. Hopefully this new mode retains more people by giving them something different.
What about player tactics? - Would need to default this, or allow control by ownership.
Other Benefits
This type of game play opens up realistic game possibilities that are otherwise impossible with human dots that are not mentionable in the suggestion forum.
