ORDERS

Let's start with lineups/orders.  Click the Orders link at the top.

Per match you select 

1 Libero (L)

1 Setter (S)

2 Outside Hitters (OH)

1 Right Side (RS)

2 Middle Blockers (MB)

Note that I did not add COACHING yet.  But here's an example of a legal lineup:

Note that the S and RS are "3 zones apart" (I and iV to start the match).

The same is true with OH.  Both are 3 zones apart.  Same for MB.

That's to show how they play.  When the RS is in the front row the Setter is always back row.  When one OH is front row, the other OH is always back row.

Here's another example.  One thing I'm doing here is playing OH Lepper THREE times in a session.  If you play 0 times a session you gain +1 FIT (max of 1 FIT).  If you play 1-2 times a session your FIT is unchanged.  If you play 3 times a session you lose 1 FIT at end of session.  If you play FOUR times (occasionally we have 4-match sessions) you will be dropped -2 on FIT at the end of the session.

Please have a look and then fire back any questions you have.

Thanks for getting your orders in Eduard on short notice.  Please add questions here.

Given the skills of Starkville's players:

Can the code handle negative effective SLs (after FIT)?

Can you share some examples Eduard?

We don't see a lot of FIT worse than -1.

On another topic, please see this one on XPs.  This will be key to your planning and usage of Freshman and Sophomores (and some Juniors).  If you have questions about it please ask.

https://www.olmec.org/tmvl/forum_topic.php?topic_id=86

After that first session Eduard, you should be sharing tips with the rest of us! Well done!

How does this game work?

It's been a while - and I think I've learned a thing or two about this game, however ...

Season 13, i.e. mid season is considered a "regular" round, so especially with regular income?

The taxman rule (i.e. 2500 RP max) is no longer applied?

Eduard, I believe the taxman rule applies after you pick up your walkons but before the 500 RP and winning bonuses are applied.

There is a potential 40 RP media bonus for session 13 but no CP or 140 RP regular income.

Al posted this clarification on the tax rules last year:

At the start of session 1, a team with more than 2500 RPs gets their total RPs dropped to 2500 RPs.

I'm going to get some mileage out of this post and cover 3 topics.  Thanks for the great questions.  

THE TAXMAN COMETH

I had to verify it to make sure I had the wording right as well.

Manitowoc has been dropped to 2500 RPs per the rule.

If anyone wants to debat that rule going forward I will listen.   At the same time I will say that I like the ceiling on this to prevent RP hoarding.  In general using your RPs keeps you competitive in each season so you can sign good players.  Not using RPs much at all means that (in my opinion):

1. You have not signed anyone

2. You'll still need to sign walkons (and overspend) typically to some degree

So I don't see a big benefit on hoarding or a need to change it.  This is the first season I believe I've had to intervene (it is not coded to automatically happen yet) and I feel like it should be rare anyway.  

THAT SESSION 13 MEDIA BONUS

In Season 8 (or perhaps back to season 7) I added the session bonus to session 13 as it seemed like a good idea as people reflect on the season or the final match session (session 12).  But there is (should not be) any CP changes or 140 RPs.  Only the media bonus can earn RPs for Session 13.  That led to some issues like:

1) The end of season program thinking 13 was a normal session, not using any CP and giving everyone like 70 CP to start the next season (as opposed to the proper value of "end of session 12 CPs".

2) In Season 8 me forgetting I NEEDED to run the sim program (even though no matches are run) to process the media bonus and a couple other minor things.

I updated code to address #1 (which took a little time yesterday) and my process to address #2 this end of season so we should be good there.  

So Steve is 100% correct in his statement:

There is a potential 40 RP media bonus for session 13 but no CP or 140 RP regular income.

BENIGN DICTATORSHIP

This is just a general reminder that there may be times where a benign dictatorship (a phrase from a rules set I remember from like 1985) unfolds, but its rare.  

I don't have a lot to say on that topic but I'll give 2 quick examples:

For the United game VERY early on I wanted to go all out on the participation bonus (now called the media bonus).  I think we capped it at 10k in that game back in the day.  I think I wanted to go with 25.  Reaction was mixed.  One person with a lot of experience in these games was "outraged" and thought it would kill the economics of the game.  Sometimes I'm democratic, sometimes I will listen to a strong voice as they've given me good advice and/or have experience. 

We kept the low 10k.  A few seasons ago in that game (and TMVL) we went to 40k (or 40 RP) as the max per session and I think we've had more interaction since then.  Sure, not all comments/actions are equal.  5 RPs for voting and 5 RPs for a long post are both worth...well...5 RP in this system.  I think it encourages more interaction.  Its not perfect but its improved overall interaction.

Which brings me to the team theme night (aka Fan Intimidation night).  The reception to the idea was lukewarm at best, but I still may do it some season (maybe 1 match as a trial; not 2).  And its likely teams will just use it against me anyway so I'll be on the losing end.  😎

I say all that as while I try to listen/read all the feedback there may be times where I just want to try something (and fail or succeed).  

I like having the Media Bonus