Not exactly new to the hobby, but only recently have I started getting serious about it and this is the first post I’ve made. Thought I’d share the setup of my solitaire league.
It’s an 8 team league divided into 2 divisions, the East (Bengals, Browns, Lions, Packers) and the West (Broncos, Cowboys, Rams, 49ers). Each team plays 5 games, 3 against their division opponents, and 2 against teams from the other division. I haven’t settled on a playoff format yet. I like systems that reward division winners with a bye or something, so I’m torn between 2 formats. There’s a 6 team playoff, where the division winners get a bye, but I’m not crazy about 75% of the league making the postseason. My other option is to use a Page playoff, something common in Australia. The two division winners would play each other in the first playoff game, with the winner going to the final. The 3 & 4 seed would play each other, with the winner advancing to play the loser of the first game. The winner of that third game would advance to the final.
As for the games, I use 8 play quarters. I also use the TTQB for passing. I’m intrigued by passing sticks, but I like the practice.
To call plays, I’ve developed a simple system that I think lets me maintain some control and creativity, while still giving each team its own personality and not getting too complex. I’ve developed 8 different offenses, one for each team, that consist of 6 different formations. At the start of a play, unless it’s an obvious goal line or Hail Mary play, I roll a dice to determine the formation. I set up the offense, including angling receivers in anticipation of what might come and the down and distance situation is. Then, without knowing the specific play, I setup the defense. Each team is either a 3-4 or 4-3, which determines how many down lineman I use. From then I setup to try and cover as much of the field as possible and account for the game situation. Finally, another dice roll determines run or pass. Some formations are balanced, meaning 1-3 is run and 4-6 is pass. Others might be run or pass heavy, meaning I adjust the odds one way or the other. I don’t have specific plays. Instead, I determine routes, run direction, etc. based on what the defense is showing and the game situation.
So yeah, just thought I’d share my system. I’d love to hear any thoughts or questions or ideas. I may also start a thread with game recaps and what not, but it’s slow going. I’ve only finished about a game and a half and it took me an hour to get through a quarter today.