Running Multiple Feds

[Gunslinger]

The question about running Interpromotional Angles feeds into this topic, running multiple feds.

I currently run two LOW feds, the AWF and Ring of Victory (which is primarily LOTF with a few LOW guys at the top), and am contemplating running a third. The problem I run into when running more than two feds is how to keep the federations different. I ran into this problem with the LAW when I ran three feds and it eventually led to the LAW being absorbed by the AWF. I've been toying with the idea of using a different set of charts for each fed to give them a different feel.

My question to the group is

• How many feds do you run?
  
• How do you give each fed a different feel?
  

[LWPD]

How many feds do you run?

I only run one Fed at a time. I try to fully immerse myself in the process. Realistically I could divide my time up and take on more than one...but I think it would be a case of spreading myself too thin and not maximizing the experience.

How do you give each fed a different feel?

I've found that the easiest way to test different booking approaches is to establish clear objectives at the start and set a firm time table to accomplish them by. One of the most rewarding experiences I ever had with FG was my personal Booking Scenario Challenge. I chose a set that I hadn't played in years, set up a series of objectives that I knew would be hard to accomplish (use of a roster of 82, must use everyone, no hot shotting, etc.) and then posted a public time limit under a card minimum.

I called it 'Booking on Death Ground' because it forced me to either reach my goals before the deadline...or die a failed bookers death! Positive pressure is a good motivator.

Here are links of two separate approaches I've tried in the past:

Galaxian Pro Wres Network

Booking Scenario Challenge: GWF 2098

The former was more glitzy and character intensive. The later was under a time limit with specific creative targets that I was trying to hit (ie. financial system, card minimum, roster usage challenges). What they had in common was a clear upfront layout.

I believe that (with-in reason) going outside of your comfort zone now & then and challenging yourself to find a way to make things work can be a very rewarding experience...and a good path to creating unique Fed booking approaches.

[Vegas]

To answer Gunslinger's questions:

1) I run 1 LOW fed which is called Major League Wrestling and I have 3 different brands on it (RAW, Smackdwon and the EAWA).

I also run a LOTF fed called Minor League Wrestling.

2) For major League Wrestling, my EAWA brand is somewhat different frommy other two brands because all the matches are no DQ and no countout (the EAWA stands for the Extreme AWA and its roster mostly consists of former AWA wrestlers and ECW/hardcore wrestlers).

But overall, roster management issues instead of creative identity is the main reason for my separate brands.

Minor League Wrestling however is different than Major \League Wrestling because, with a few exceptions (such as The Destroyer, Steve Corino, Brian Kendrick and Paul London, etc), Minor League wrestling is mostly LOTF wrestlers and Major League Wrestling is LOW wrestlers.

[holland227]

I usually only run one fed at a time. I get a bit over worked when trying to do too many things. However through out my fed, I do run an NWA angle every now and then where phantom champions from other territories will visit for special attraction matches.

What I could recommend for multi feds would be spice it up. Do one fed traditional, one sports entertainment, one hardcore, one pure, one all speciality matches, etc. Give something a theme and stick with it

[jasonjaconetti]

I'll be honest, I have found running multiple feds to be very time consuming. As this is supposed to be fun, when it becomes a job, I start to resent it.

With that said, I do run 4 different feds, but only 1 is active (Cove Championship Wrestling). As LOW Online is on the horizon, I am thinking about starting another fed that will be a larger type fed (WCW, WWE, etc..) as compared to Cove which is in the ROH style. The one thing that I have done with other games in the past to keep things from stalling out, is involve someone else in that fed. I have been trying to recruit my brother for some time now, but he is very busy with work and his new son. I am hoping that he will help me do story lines and book, as I do the posting and actual matches. If that is not an option, maybe spend a week working on one fed and then switch to the other fed the next week.

[Avarice]

I run one fed. I used to run 2 (GWF current and aCe), but found it hard to keep both running. I had a tough time trying to come up with angles for both and was kinda mentally draining since they are both high quality in characters that deserved so much attention. What I did was merge the 2 feds into my GWF: FUSION now. I use mostly GWF guys, but brought in all of the high profile aCe people to round out what GWF guys I didn't use.

[dragon350]

I run 3. Just to keep up, I use the dates from real life WWE, with the 3 brands being RAW, Smackdown, ECW. Smackdown is an old school/ROH type fed with Gotch, Lewis, Londos, Pesek, cruiserweights, more technical guys. ECW is more like the original ECW-RVD, Sabu, The Sheik, Ox Baker, Vachons, Sandman, Corino, more hardcore type guys. My RAW brand centers around sports entertainment type guys-LOD, Heenan Family, Valentines, DiBiase, Brody, Rogers, etc. Whereas Smackdown has very strict rules and more technical wrestling, ECW has no rules and lots of specialty matches. RAW is somewhere between the two.
I'll admit, it's difficult to keep up and very easy to get behind. I think I'm about to have a Smackdown/ECW feud (a la ROH vs. CZW) where one gets absorbed into the other...

[executioner]

I run an NWA style fed with several regions both in the US and overseas (some are run regularly, others once a month or so):

Regular:

NWA-Northeast (Developmental region) (PA, NJ)
NWA-Mid Atlantic (VA, WV, MD, NC, SC, GA)
NWA-Southern Extreme (TN, KY, AR)
NWA-Midwest (MN, IA, ND, SD, WI)
NWA-Central States (Developmental region) (KS, MO, NE)
NWA-World Class (TX, OK, LA)
NWA-West Coast (Cal, Nev)
NWA-Maple Leaf (Ontario)
NWA-Japan

Part time:
NWA-Women's Championship Wrestling (Two shows a month in L.A. area)
World Wrestling Council (PR)

Rival Fed: American Wrestling Association (NY and Masschusets right now).

I rotate through all my regular feds, keeping the storylines basic and letting the dice lead me. Over the top dramatic stories are not my thing. I rotate the guys around as needed so things don't get dull, with full integration of LOW official and boots. Each region is built with its own "feel or theme" to it in mind (i.e. NWA-Northeast is like ROH, Mid Atlantic like the Crocket promotion, NWA-Southern Extreme like ECW, etc).

[Scott Fire 54]

How many feds do you run?

I run 3 feds. They are Heaven & Hell Wrestling (LWF), Legends Wrestling Federation, & Galaxian Wrestling Federation (GWF). However, I only post results for the 2 LWF feds on this site.

How do you give each fed a different feel?

Well, my GWF fed, obviously, has a sci-fi feel to it. My LWF is pretty standard, and then H&HW is extreme rules all the time and I use the old TNA weekly pay-per-view format.

[Mr. Beefy]

I run...
aCe
GWFZ
Classics
GWF 2087

I sometimes find it problematic with trying to deal with so much. However, I find it nice with there being so long since the last aCe set was released to start on some other feds I've wanted to. Sometimes its nice to have a break if you're stumped as to where to take things in a fed to have a back up as well.

As far as a different feel? I like the idea of themes. That is one reason I'm hesitant to get into LOW. There are a lot of great wrestlers but I think feds like the aCe (horro/sci-fi), GWF, POW (MMA), and the Z bring their own flair with the wrestlers and storylines presented.

I think it is harder for the LOW to do that on its own (needs more work from the promoter), and that going with different themed shows might be a good way to try and keep them different. I'm afraid personally my LOW fed would be bland as I'm working with real life wrestlers and would be hesitant to use them 'out of character' or even have problems writing them in character.