Improvisation During Matches

[Chad Olson]

The Apron Chart that's been suggested in this area got me to thinking, how much do you improvise during a match? What I mean is, do you go strictly by the charts, or do you change up the results, depending on who is wrestling?

When I'm making wrestlers for the LOW series, I usually picture the wrestler doing the move on the card in (ch) situations, and not the move listed on the chart. I like the aspect of having wrestlers "win some, lose some" with the choice chart, but I like them performing the move on their card, instead of the moves spelled out on the choice chart.

As I mentioned in the Apron Chart thread, I hadn't thought about a chart like that because I would improvise moves like that off of the Out of the Ring chart. I've heard folks complain about moves on the charts not working for everyone. When I worked on the last revision of the game charts, I tried to add a few "depending on the opponent's style" type options to alleviate that.

Of course following the charts to the letter can yield some fun results too. I recall a feud between Flamboyance and the Draconian Sheik & Cycle Hog. Hog rolled a dive out of the ring on the Out of the Ring chart. I thought "what the heck?" and let Hog do a plancha through the ropes onto Killer Queen! Now, this was more of a steamroller, where Hog fell through the ropes onto Queen, but fans exploded for the move! Similar to Undertaker's annual big dive at Wrestlemania, Hog would hit the move once or twice a year to a big pop.

Opinions?

[Justin Case]

I improvise all the time! I go with how I feel the match was going. Very rarely do I ever follow what the actual chart said, because in most cases, it doesn't make sense with how the match was going originally.

[executioner]

Just like the talented Justin Case, I too improvise. When I had Londos feuding with Larry Hennig, I had no problem with Hennig rolling on the Ropes chart. I figured Hennig shot off the ropes to do a move and Londos used his agility and quickness to launch a high impact move. Very realistic and practical to do and adds alot of spice to matches.

[holland227]

Improvising is a good thing to do because he makes you feel more the owner and booker of the promotion. It shows that you have the creative control over the match.

One way I improvise are DQ ending. I don't see just ramming someone into the post as a DQ so I will throw a weapon in there or ref attack or whatever will fit the wrestlers style.

[Avarice]

I also improvise when a guy rolls snake eyes for instance and the match is HOT. If he's pinned, I may say that he rams the ring post and then turns around into the finisher instead of hitting the post and getting rolled up.

[thegreatestreferee]

I improvise all the time. Mainly when a wrestler is DQ'd or when there is a COR. To me yes a piledriver on the outside hurts, but I can not have every wrestler have a COR with the same ending. Sometimes the winner hits his move on the floor.

[jasonjaconetti]

Feb 1, 2010 4:46:47 GMT -5 thegreatestreferee said:

I improvise all the time. Mainly when a wrestler is DQ'd or when there is a COR. To me yes a piledriver on the outside hurts, but I can not have every wrestler have a COR with the same ending. Sometimes the winner hits his move on the floor.

Definately do this as well. It is the same result {COR}, but always a piledriver seems silly.

Also with the idea of DQs, that is a prefect chance to further an angle of story line with the DQ. You can have some interference at that point or something to that end.

[Chad Olson]

To add fuel to the fire....

A common compliant I've heard states that wrestler "X" should be able to body slam wrestler "Y". I've never had that problem, because I picture wrestler "X" doing something else. People seem to want more (ag) or (pw) reversals in that case.

I can't see Danny Hodge bodyslamming King Kong Bundy in the opening minutes of a match either. Hodge is probably doing another move at that point. But imagine the crowd roar if he does hit a slam in the closing action!

[Deleted]

I improvise a great deal, actually. Sometimes someone being thrown into the ropes, or out of the ring, or going up to the top, it just doesn't 'fit' with the match nine times out of ten. I rarely use the Choice Charts, because of this as well. Don't get me wrong, I'll occasionally use the charts, but more often than not, I either re-roll, or just say the guy hits a move and continue.

[thegreatestreferee]

I have never been one to use the choice charts myself because it just never made sense to me. As Tom Filsinger says it is your promotion and do as you want to do. I rarely use the feud chart. If I have two wrestlers feuding and it is coming to an end, if it is a brutal, bloody, affair, then I will normally say the loser is out for so many cards, sometimes I roll the dice to determine it.

Another thing I do and I was just talking to Tom Filsinger about this on facebook is that I do not go by game rules as far as offense and defense. I have them both start at level 1 and then drop down to the next level at the same time. Of course if the wrestler on defense has a roll and it is his name he takes over on offense on the next level. IE. if say the match is Bryan Danielson and Nigel McGuiness and Danielson rolls his name on level 2 defense he goes to level 3 offense. It is how I have played since I played the original G.W.F. I just always had problems following which level to drop too and so on. To me it doesn't make that big of a difference. Now of course if someone kicks out of their pin I do move their pin rating up 1 number. If this makes any sense at all. It makes sense to me.

I think when your improvise it is totally up to you what you improvise. I do think that it makes the matches fun to imagine it in your head how would play out.