Post by LWPD on May 19, 2008 18:40:09 GMT -5
First I'd commend you for putting thought into your Fed. That's a good thing and will help to make realizing your goals more rewarding. There are an infinite number of ways to play the game...and if any one of them results in 'enjoying the time that's been invested' I'd say the game is being played 'right'. Here are some concepts that have worked for me...(you can view my Fed by clicking my sig) hopefully they'll provide you (or some other reader) with some practical value:
1. Build/book 'system first'. What I mean by that is establishing events as a creative primary that will drive a period of your Fed's year (season, whatever you want to call a period of time). This keeps the focus on building to a payoff (the event's culmination) while avoiding the biggest and easiest creative hurdle a player can fall into...over-booking and burnout.
I prefer a round robin approach to my events because it avoids multiple match ups from occurring among any two wrestlers (or teams)...making when they 'do meet' high stakes all or nothing scenarios.
Another thing that has helped me is that the development of multiple 'systemic events' builds in a change of pace into each game year. When I flip from my 2119 Team Challenge Series (which focuses on crowning Six Man Team Champions for the year along with an event MVP) to my Galaxian Pro Wres Tag League...I have a whole new creative landscape to work with and explore. One part of my history for that year is now behind me but I haven't burnt through everything else that can still be played out in the new context.
2. Allow yourself 'room to change' at any given point. Part of your Fed's history should be that your approach to booking is 'dynamic'. It's ok to experiment, make changes, back track, etc. Past and present, it happens all the time in the real world. There's no need to 'erase' anything that came prior...even if you later view it as imperfect. Be proud of what you did...it's a part of your playing the game and learning from your experiences.
3. Less is more. I think it's a huge creative mistake to model what WWE (and now TNA) does and apply it to running a CotG/LOW based Fed. The two have different goals and the structures of these two contemporary pro wres companies run counter to what often makes CotG/LOW fun to play.
WWE runs a creative cycle where they don't expect the memory of their audience to extend beyond 6-9 months. This has become a necessity due to all the programming they air...and god bless them their system draws a great deal of bank. They make more money off rights fees and residuals than what most old time territories were doing for live gates at their peaks. In other words the creation of 'content' for 'contents sake' equals revenue...regardless of it's direct value to selling a specific program or event. That they've created such a market is phenomenal.
For a CotG player...the quality of the creativity content, establishing continuity with-in and the subsequent development of a history consistent with the aforementioned are some of the best rewards that come about from playing. More TV Cards or PPVs or House Shows, etc based off of WWE's excessive touring structure doesn't necessarily mean a greater payoff from the perspective of the players enjoyment. For myself I definitely know it would detract from it. I don't have the time and it works against my creative philosophy. Just something to keep in mind when looking for structures to model.
This is a great game...try not to let any standard set from 'the outside' take away from the basic fun that comes with playing it. If the fundamentals work to your enjoyment...the challenge of successfully running your own promotion will always be with-in your grasp.
1. Build/book 'system first'. What I mean by that is establishing events as a creative primary that will drive a period of your Fed's year (season, whatever you want to call a period of time). This keeps the focus on building to a payoff (the event's culmination) while avoiding the biggest and easiest creative hurdle a player can fall into...over-booking and burnout.
I prefer a round robin approach to my events because it avoids multiple match ups from occurring among any two wrestlers (or teams)...making when they 'do meet' high stakes all or nothing scenarios.
Another thing that has helped me is that the development of multiple 'systemic events' builds in a change of pace into each game year. When I flip from my 2119 Team Challenge Series (which focuses on crowning Six Man Team Champions for the year along with an event MVP) to my Galaxian Pro Wres Tag League...I have a whole new creative landscape to work with and explore. One part of my history for that year is now behind me but I haven't burnt through everything else that can still be played out in the new context.
2. Allow yourself 'room to change' at any given point. Part of your Fed's history should be that your approach to booking is 'dynamic'. It's ok to experiment, make changes, back track, etc. Past and present, it happens all the time in the real world. There's no need to 'erase' anything that came prior...even if you later view it as imperfect. Be proud of what you did...it's a part of your playing the game and learning from your experiences.
3. Less is more. I think it's a huge creative mistake to model what WWE (and now TNA) does and apply it to running a CotG/LOW based Fed. The two have different goals and the structures of these two contemporary pro wres companies run counter to what often makes CotG/LOW fun to play.
WWE runs a creative cycle where they don't expect the memory of their audience to extend beyond 6-9 months. This has become a necessity due to all the programming they air...and god bless them their system draws a great deal of bank. They make more money off rights fees and residuals than what most old time territories were doing for live gates at their peaks. In other words the creation of 'content' for 'contents sake' equals revenue...regardless of it's direct value to selling a specific program or event. That they've created such a market is phenomenal.
For a CotG player...the quality of the creativity content, establishing continuity with-in and the subsequent development of a history consistent with the aforementioned are some of the best rewards that come about from playing. More TV Cards or PPVs or House Shows, etc based off of WWE's excessive touring structure doesn't necessarily mean a greater payoff from the perspective of the players enjoyment. For myself I definitely know it would detract from it. I don't have the time and it works against my creative philosophy. Just something to keep in mind when looking for structures to model.
This is a great game...try not to let any standard set from 'the outside' take away from the basic fun that comes with playing it. If the fundamentals work to your enjoyment...the challenge of successfully running your own promotion will always be with-in your grasp.
