Keskustankeisari

Per Reggie's comments, I think one solution to this would be to have a league that is designed differently, ie not and up and down, but more an NHL static level with equal leagues/divisions.  Some prefer that, some this.  If you want to jump in and be competitive in a season or two, then that style of league makes it possible, but not the current promotion/demotion style.  Each have their pros and cons.  
 
Like Erzac said, moving from SHL to GHL really requires most of us to spend 3 or more seasons before we have a realistic chance at the Finals.  My biggest challenge is not screwing up my plan and being impatient in the interim, haha.  
 
But more importantly, not doing these types of trades is also part of the sportsmanship of the league.  Anyone from GHL could easily pick off the top 2-3 players in each computer SHL team for a 3rd round pick and/or a bench warmer.  But we don't to not screw the real SHL players and we recognize the game is more fun this way, for us all.  We're all competitive, but we don't want to ruin the integrity of the game just to win a handful more of games each season.  

There are some more improvements on the way regarding computer team trading AI. This will include computer teams less likely to agree on trades with unrealistic number of players involved. Computer teams will be less likely to get involved in too many trades each season. They will value incoming trade picks less but will still demand great value for their own. I'm also thinking of introducing a lock down period for free agents before being able to trade them. This is not decided but maybe would prevent quite a lot of abuse.
 
Can't say when this will be ready since I'm in the middle of another update at the moment. But I will really try to speed things up or perhaps pause the other update and squeeze this one in before.
 
Thanks for all your comments and commitment of making this game better!

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-- I started with one of those awful teams that as been managed by the computer for a while.  By the way, I don't think a new manager will ever get a competitive team right away because it either has been managed by the computer (so not competitive) -- I made a lot of trades with computer and signed some free agents.  I wasn't always fair with the way I used free agents to make trades.  My apoligies if I ruined anyone experience --
 
Part of the reason why computer teams are not competitive off the bat might just be that they're robbed of their picks, and/or young talent. A big problem is the ability to trade freshly signed free agents for "free" assets, especially picks. Maybe one doesn't ruin anyone's experience right away, but making such trades just condemn new players into pilfered teams that will take ages to build up. You might just have started with such a team.
 
 
-- everyone has the exact same opportunity to trade with computer teams.--
 
Technically, yes, but every (computer) team has a limited number of assets. Once they're gone, they're gone. Also, just being able to do something doesn't quite equal that it should be done. It can't be a race of "who is the fastest to sign FA's and turn them into computer picks".
 
 
-- What's keeping new players from joining this game is the huge edge teams from GHL have on any other teams in this world because they get the best prospects (first two rounds so best 30 prospects every season) and the best free agents seasons after seasons --
--Right now, my best player is 86 overall, and a 85 goalie, I have a few 81-83 and mostly 80 overall players.  If I'm lucky, I might sign 1 or 2 players over 85 overall, a few 83-85 as free agents.  How will I compete with the top 4 GHL teams--
 
Comparing lower league teams to GHL teams is not a really good practice. Yes, they sign the best FA's. Yes, they get the best prospects. And so will you, if you make it to GHL and stay there. It's now my 3rd season in GHL, and I'm tied for 6th in the standings. The first two seasons I finished 12th. I never expected to compete for the first couple of seasons in GHL, my only goal was to not relegate and gradually build up the team. Maybe I'll even make the playoffs this season. I might even have a shot at the cup in a season or two. Even right now I probably couldn't win a playoff series against a top-4 team. But at some point I will. And the whole process has been, and continues to be, exciting.
 
Point being, I don't think you're expected to stand up to the best GHL as you come out of SHL. Hell, when I got to the GHL I barely knew a player's overall might be displayed in green (I think I had one, 81). It takes time, and it should, to become competitive when you move up a league level. For me, that's what a sports management game is all about - seeing your long term decisions, trades, signings combine into a hopefully winning package over time.
 
 
 
I might've ventured a bit off topic - computer trading in itself is not a problem. Computer trading, when used to accomplish trades that wouldn't be feasible between human managers, is a problem. That, and the FA flipping for computer picks.
 
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Hi all,
 
Not sure what to call it, but I think it'd be awesome if in contract talks you can not only discuss salary and the amount of time, but also discuss what line you intend / agree to play a certain player in. I think that could be linked to player happiness.
 
So for example, if you agree to 2nd line for a certain salary, the player will be happy with playing 2nd line, over the moon playing 1st / getting a bonus in happiness and not so happy playing 3/4th line. Something simliar can be done with amount of time played in special teams.
 
I think the happiness in that case should depend on the amount of minutes spent in a certain line. 
 
 
On top of that I think it's interesting to begin with in what line up a player performs best - 1st, 2nd etc.
 
 
What do you think?

It would be cool if there was a way for you to talk to your players and/or for your players to talk to you.
 
For example, you have a bad team close to relegation and your star player, though he has 1st line, power play, and maybe penalty kill minutes is simply frustrated because even though these are his stats:
 
GP 46
G 21
A 34
P 55
PER 76
+/- 4
 
His team can't win games and is in a relegation playoff place on a 4 game loss streak.
 
He might request to you (via the message system) to be traded, or if he is loyal, ask you politely to improve the team and say he is not very happy, or something along these lines.
 
But here is the good part:
 
You can respond to your players with maybe 3 or 4 statements, and they could improve your player's confidence level, increase loyalty, make them withdraw their trade request, make them want a trade, decrease player confidence, loyalty, etc.
 
For example:
 
John Doe, a star player and first liner on your team says,
 
"Boss, I've come to you today to discuss the team's current form." 
 
"This loss streak is very disheartening and I really want to win." Your player is sad with the team's form.
 
"I would love to be part of this organization for years to come and as a leader on the playing squad, I think we need a reshuffle." This implies that he is frustrated with his teammates and may want some better line mates or teammates.
 
And you can respond saying:
 
a. I'm sorry you feel like that, but I've actually been looking at a few players to acquire to improve the squad!
b. As one of my star players, I know you must be frustrated, but I regret to inform you that I've placed you on the trade block.
c. I appreciate the opinion John, but I'm happy with the squad right now and I know you can really up your game and be the star I know you are.
 
And depending on John Doe's personality traits, he would be affected.
 
Let me know what you guys think, and try to expand on my thought, because it seems a bit broad right now. 

Up or down voting could work, but i'm pretty sure people wouldn't use it properly. I think it's worth a shot. What i think is important to do before that is to restrict trading players who have just made a contract with your team, it's too easy to sign free agents and trade them instantly. This restriction would also be easier to put into effect than the vote system. How about one season or half a season no trade restriction for newly signed players?

I like keskustankeisari's idea. Maybe the rule before trading a player is that he must either remain on your roster for at least half a season or have played at least 15 games for your team.

Up or down voting could work, but i'm pretty sure people wouldn't use it properly. I think it's worth a shot. What i think is important to do before that is to restrict trading players who have just made a contract with your team, it's too easy to sign free agents and trade them instantly. This restriction would also be easier to put into effect than the vote system. How about one season or half a season no trade restriction for newly signed players?

Up or down voting could work, but i'm pretty sure people wouldn't use it properly. I think it's worth a shot. What i think is important to do before that is to restrict trading players who have just made a contract with your team, it's too easy to sign free agents and trade them instantly. This restriction would also be easier to put into effect than the vote system. How about one season or half a season no trade restriction for newly signed players?

I would love the option to wipe my lineup clear, and let me start from scratch.

A hall of fame would honour past players for each individual club that would also be a respectable addition to the game. Now for the idea:
 
-each club would be able to nominate 1 player a season for the hall of fame
-player must have played 100 games with the club (Season and playoffs)
-player does not have to retire to be in hall of fame
-players must be 25 years of age
-player would get a computer generated banner with name at bottom, jersey number, and a C or A in the top right corner if they were a captain or alternate captain for the club
-banner would be colour of team jerseys

I was thinking about a way to add more realism to each team, being able to name your home arena.
 
I kind of appreciate the fact that every team is on a level playing field in terms of finances, fan base, ticket prices, etc.  For example, selling more tickets doesn't get you more payroll.  Maybe that would be fun to look into down the road, but for now, each team should be proud of their home arena and, at the very least, be able to name it.

Just a small thing that might make speaking with other GM's more convenient, if something similar to an email inbox was implemented instead of having to chase down old messages through all the gm notifications.