Madden 10 -- QT3 league(s)

[Talisker]

We're playing Madden 10 on the 360; we're creating two leagues -- one with the teams actual rosters (this thread), one with a full fantasy draft (that thread).

There are two requirements for playing in the league:

1) You must have a QT3 account -- so games can be scheduled via PM and trash-talking can be done in the thread. If you haven't posted in this thread, you'll be removed from the league.

2) Own & use a headset -- playing against mute stone walls kinda sucks. You don't have to be crazy chatty, you don't have to even use it every game, but it's polite to at least say "hi, can't talk much, wife is asleep" or whatever when the game starts up.

League names/passwords

League name/password: QT3 / entity

League Settings (both leagues)

Skill: All-Pro
Quarter Length: 8 min
Accelerated Clock: Off
Accelerated Presentation: On
Injuries: On
Fatigue: On
Trading: On - no CPU trades
Weather: On

We aim to play one game per week, rolling over from one week to the next (and thus simming any unplayed games) on Wednesday mornings.

Trading

Blatantly one-sided trading is not allowed -- if someone's doing poorly, and decides to give away all their starters, they will be removed from the league, as will the person who agrees to take 'em. Honest, serious trades only.

Weekly Schedule

The league will roll over from one week to the next on Wednesday mornings.

Scheduling problems

If you are unable to reach your opponent to schedule your game, send a PM to both the commish (Talisker) and your opponent by Monday night at the absolute latest (to allow for communication prior to giving someone the boot). If you don't say anything until Tuesday, the game will be simmed.

Non-responsive owners will be removed from the league to allow their opponents to play vs. the AI. (Owners that are booted are welcome to re-assume team ownership if they come back online later)

Please notify the commish if you will be travelling or otherwise unavailable for a given week; as there doesn't appear to be any way to set "unavailable" status to allow your opponent to play against your team's AI, we'll need to boot you from the league, and re-add you after you return.

In the event that two owners are flat-out unable to agree to a time to play, the game will be simmed when the week rolls over on Monday morning. (if this becomes a recurring issue with anyone, yep, *boot*)

The Rules

As described by Ryan A here:

1) try to play like it's a football game rather than a video game. This means don't run the same play over and over, don't sprint your QB straight backwards, don't try to "nano blitz" don't go for it on 4th unless it makes good football sense (4th and 1 on the the other guy's 40 vs. 4th and 5 on your own 30).

2) use a mic.

[Talisker]

Team -- QT3 handle / gamertag

AFC

North
Ravens -- fuzzyslug / fuzzyslug
Bengals
Browns -- Ryan A / rakiyama
Steelers -- Mightynute / MightyNute

South
Titans
Texans
Colts
Jaguars

East
Bills -- James Gutierrez / Tristero
Dolphins
Patriots
Jets

West
Broncos -- Maddengeek / xX MizzouRob Xx
Chiefs
Raiders
Chargers

NFC

North
Bears
Lions -- Talisker / Talisker 18
Packers -- Shmtur / Shmtur1
Vikings -- VegasRobb / VegasLife

South
Falcons
Panthers -- strummer / strummer007
Saints -- Matt Bowyer / Kid Socrates
Buccaneers -- Omniscia / Omniscia

East
Cowboys -- Pumpkinhead / Denoginizer
Giants -- Xeras / vexthorne
Eagles -- Lenkenobi / Lenkeninja
Redskins -- ashileedo / acheng

West
Rams -- Cubit / Hexbit
Cardinals -- Not One Of Us / Not One Of Us
49ers
Seahawks -- BlueJackalope / BlueJackalope

[Talisker]

Turns out there wasn't that much interest for the fantasy draft league once things were actually underway, so, never mind.

If we actually start one, we can call dibs on teams then. We should probably stick to one conference or the other if we do, though.

Edit: distauma started one up -- c.f. http://www.quartertothree.com/game-t...ad.php?t=56780

[Talisker]

Real Rosters -- Free Agents

OK, in order to complete the round one free agent picks this week (to keep things fair, we're doing one free-agent per team, in worst-rated to best-rated order), we're instituting a schedule. All times are EDT.

(already picked: Lions, Browns)

Tuesday (8/25)

7pm: Saints -- Jon_Danger / Dr JonDanger
8pm: Texans -- James Gutierrez / Tristero
9pm: Bills -- seventimessix / hypnotoad42
10pm: Seahawks -- BlueJackalope / BlueJackalope
11pm: Jets -- Cubit / Hexbit
12am: Dolphins -- Mysterio / LivinItUp
1am: Packers -- Shmtur / Shmtur1

Wednesday (8/26)

7pm: Bears -- Technoverse / BulletBlueSky
8pm: Redskins -- Kid Socrates / Kid Socrates
9pm: Vikings -- VegasRobb / VegasLife
10pm: Falcons -- Adam Altmann / Two Nine Actual
11pm: Ravens -- fuzzyslug / fuzzyslug
12am: Panthers -- strummer / strummer007

Thursday (8/27)

7pm: Cowboys -- katdawg215 / katdawg215
8pm: Cardinals -- Not One Of Us / Not One Of Us
9pm: Colts -- Matt Perkins / wzrd
10pm: Titans -- CalvinGT / CalvinGT
11pm: Eagles -- Lenkenobi / Lenkeninja
12am: Giants -- balut / balut
1am: Steelers -- jpinard / jpinard
2am: Patriots -- ashileedo / acheng

You may make your initial week 1 free agent pick either a) after your scheduled time, or b) after the person immediately before you makes their pick.

Anyone who joins the league after this post will be added to the end of the list.

For people who left for vacation/travel before the pick schedule was implemented, the commish will make picks on their behalf at least reasonably promptly using a simple "which Free Agent provides the biggest OVR skill boost?" system.

Further free agent picks

I'm not sure how many worthwhile free agents will be left; but, here's the schedule for the rest of week 1:

Friday (8/28) 10pm: Teams may sign a 2nd free agent (first come, first served).
Saturday (8/29) 3pm: Teams may sign a 3rd free agent (first come, first served).
Sunday (8/30) 3pm: No further restrictions; sign any/all available free agents whenever you want.

[Cory]

My thoughts:

#1: I would personally enjoy using the actual team rosters, as it would be more realistic, prompt people to get creative with trades/free agent wires, and cut down on setup time (no draft needed). I would still play in a league with a fantasy draft, I just like seeing the actual players on their correct teams.

#2:
Skill: Whatever the medium (50/50 sliders) skill level is, equivalent to all-american in ncaa10
Quarter: 10 or 12 min, I'd like to look into this more.
Fatigue: On
Injuries: On
Accelerated Clock: On

#3: I would prefer a set day for everyone to play their games. That way we know what games to sim or not (if the person is not present), and there will be less procrastinating.

#4: none

[Not One Of Us]

Most of the settings I won't have much of an idea until I get the full game.

But I still say actual team rosters.

[Talisker]

Originally Posted by Not One Of Us

But I still say actual team rosters.

Poll to that effect is up :)

[Matt Perkins]

I'd love to see this... A league online where I only play other human players representing an actual team in the NFL. I don't want to play AI for one week because we didn't have enough people to fill up league. The whole point, for me, is to play against people I at least kind of know.

I'll be buying Madden 10 360 style very soon. I'll play pretty much anything you guys want. The above is just my perfect world system. :)

[Mysterio]

I have a strong preference for actual team rosters for the same reasons pointed out by Cubit. With regards to settings, I prefer cerebral, realistic games as opposed to those with accelerated play clocks, shorter quarters, and unrealistic settings. I haven't played a Madden game in a long time, so the more time I have to select a play and ponder my strategy, the better.

[BlueJackalope]

Originally Posted by Talisker

#1: Should we play with actual team rosters, or build teams fresh with a fantasy draft? Or run one league of each? (see above poll)

I'm down for real team rosters, but I'd play fantasy nerd stylee too.

#2: what settings (Skill Level, Quarter Length, Fatigue, Injuries, Accelerated Clock, etc) should we use?

Couldn't even guess at skill level until I've played some.

I generally like 7 min quarters. Its nice to have enough time to work on a ground game without seeming like a clock eating cheese monster. But I don't care too much. How does the accelerated clock work?

Fatigue (seeing that they actually bothered to make it work this year) should be on.

I'm okay with injuries, but understand if someone doesn't want to go a whole season without their marquee player. But I'm fine with whatevs

#3: What sort of schedule shall we set, namely, how long do we give people to play their games?

How bout we play games every week with a mutually agreed upon day as the end of the week (make that a regular league night). Essentially you have a week to schedule and play your game. If you haven't played it by the end of that week and you don't show for league night and your opponent does. You take the loss.

Mercy would be up to your opponent and the commish.

#4: Anything else we should argue about before we get started?

I'm not especially good, and have picked up some bad habits playing primarily solitare. I run out of the pocket on every pass for instance. I often go for it on 4th down. Y'know, video game stuff.

I can curb these instincts easily and play a more "simmy" type game, but I don't want to unilaterally disarm.

So...etiquette?

[Adam Altmann]

I'll play whatever. Two leagues might be a bit ambitious for me, but I'd give it a shot if that's what it comes down to.

I'd prefer Fantasy Draft style, but that's mostly because A) I figure it'll even everyone out and make it more enjoyable for everyone, and B) I don't know who plays for what team anyway, so what do I care?

My interest is mostly in playing games with a bunch of Qt3-ers (Q-ties, threepers, whatever.) My biggest concern is that, if we do real rosters, dude stuck with Worst Team is going to become tired of getting his ass kicked after a few weeks and stop playing.

Also, I haven't played a football game since 2K? on the Dreamcast. I have no idea what the possible settings are, but I'd prefer realism over anything else.

[Matt Bowyer]

Originally Posted by Talisker

#1: Should we play with actual team rosters, or build teams fresh with a fantasy draft? Or run one league of each? (see above poll)

I'll play in both, but my preference is real rosters. Easier to get going, everyone has more of an idea of what they can do, and assholes like me who analyze the game can't do a fantasy draft and stock up on every 26-year-old wunderkind in the league.

Originally Posted by Talisker

#2: what settings (Skill Level, Quarter Length, Fatigue, Injuries, Accelerated Clock, etc) should we use?

On the old Madden, I'd do 10 minute quarters, accelerated clock, so I had plenty of time to pick my play, but once the play was selected, the play and regular clock would tick down very quickly to twenty seconds or whatever it was. This also made the no-huddle more effective.

Skill level, I don't know -- how adept are we all? I'm decent -- fair-to-good on last-gen Madden, but only decent on the new one. Pro or All-Pro is fine by me. All-Pro might be better, because you learn fairly quickly and then Pro can be beaten by 50 points, allowing those of us with PC opponents to add some wins like we're playing Detroit or something.

Originally Posted by Talisker

#3: What sort of schedule shall we set, namely, how long do we give people to play their games?

I'm cool with whatever's decided. Once a week?

Originally Posted by Talisker

#4: Anything else we should argue about before we get started?

I think a general sense of fair play. Don't go for it on every 4th down, don't abuse AI glitches to win, don't go for two every touchdown, etc. I'm not saying don't ever do those things -- I for one plan on some aggressive play-calling -- but generally try and run your team like you're coaching in the NFL, not the XFL.

[Lorini]

But but but I'd have to play the shitty Raider roster!!!! No fuckin' way man, no fuckin' way!!!

:) :)

[Matt Bowyer]

Originally Posted by Adam Altmann

My biggest concern is that, if we do real rosters, dude stuck with Worst Team is going to become tired of getting his ass kicked after a few weeks and stop playing.

I doubt that -- Talisker's a Lions fan, he's used to losing!

(Is it too early to start the trash-talking? That's the best part of football leagues!)

[BlueJackalope]

Originally Posted by Lorini

But but but I'd have to play the shitty Raider roster!!!! No fuckin' way man, no fuckin' way!!!

:) :)

You will have the advantage of video athletes (video Russell won't hold out for instance) and you won't have the Lich King calling plays from the owner's box.

Russell and McFadden could be fun to play.

[Talisker]

While I'm all for picking a night of the week as the recommended "league night", the operative word is recommended -- I'm guessing it'll be tough to find a single day that works for everyone.

As far as quarter length/clock settings, I'd say let's aim for something that makes a typical game take 1-1.5 hours. I suspect anything longer than that will start to make it tricky for people in different time zones to schedule their matchups.

[jpinard]

I'd be up for 2 leagues. One real one with draft. This is under the fantasy that I'd not end up in last place in BOTH leagues.

[Jon Rowe]

I would much rather do a draft league, as some people who didn't know this existed (me) get screwed because their favorite team got picked already.

[Jon Rowe]

I'll take the saints, fyi

[Talisker]

Originally Posted by Jon_Danger

I would much rather do a draft league, as some people who didn't know this existed (me) get screwed because their favorite team got picked already.

Some of us are gonna get screwed because we'd already picked our favorite team before everyone started crowing for real rosters :)

[Adam Altmann]

(If anyone wants the Falcons, I have no problem giving them up. I just picked a team that was available.)

[Technoverse]

Hey, I would like to participate as the Bears if no one has claimed them. I can do both leagues, if thats the route everyone takes.

Thanks :)

[Talisker]

Originally Posted by Technoverse

I can do both leagues, if thats the route everyone takes.

Mark it off in the poll above, if you'd be so kind :)

[seventimessix]

Originally Posted by Talisker

#1: Should we play with actual team rosters, or build teams fresh with a fantasy draft? Or run one league of each? (see above poll)

I voted for playing two leagues and would still be up for that. Starting up the standard rosters league should be a little easier so we could probably get that one running first and do a full draft league once we've gotten used to the game.

Originally Posted by Talisker

#2: what settings (Skill Level, Quarter Length, Fatigue, Injuries, Accelerated Clock, etc) should we use?

I'd vote for All-Pro (I think that's the second highest level) for skill level. Quarter length could be whatever people want, I think 10 minute quarters would work well. Fatigue and injuries should definitely be on. I'm assuming accelerated clock makes the 15 minutes of a quarter fit into whatever quarter length you pick, so that's probably a good idea so you can't abuse an inordinately long play clock.

Originally Posted by Talisker

#3: What sort of schedule shall we set, namely, how long do we give people to play their games?

If we can get people to commit to playing one game between Monday and Thursday and one game on the weekend that would be great, but one game a week should be the minimum to play.

Originally Posted by Talisker

#4: Anything else we should argue about before we get started?

We need to make a list with everyone's gamertags so we can get all friended up for the league. Also even though it would suck for some people we might want to think about asking some of the folks who are alone or with only one other person in their division to move to a team that's the last one not taken in a division. Because we don't have a full league everyone will have to play a game or two against the AI, but if someone is alone in their division they'll end up playing 6 games on their own and it may not bee too much fun.

[Adam Altmann]

Originally Posted by seventimessix

We need to make a list with everyone's gamertags so we can get all friended up for the league.

Gamertags appended after forum handle...if you're not in the list it's because I couldn't find your gamertag in the Madden 10 or Gamertag thread. I'll remove this post if/when Talisker grabs it.

...

[Mysterio]

Originally Posted by Adam Altmann

Texans -- James Gutierrez -- Tristero
Jaguars -- jpinard -- jpinard
Cowboys -- ashileedo -- acheng
Redskins -- Kid Socrates -- Kid Socrates

Obtained these names from our Qt3 Gamer Tags List Database.

[jpinard]

I'm in for two leagues. One real and one fantasy draft. Skill level needs to be All-Pro I believe and the slider set should be based on the obsessively, neurotically, accurate sliders that Bill Abner or Bill Harris provide.

Bill, Harris wrote this yesterday (my emphasis):

A reader (who wishes to remain anonymous) sent me a copy of Madden 10 early. I've put in 25+ hours since I got the game, and on Monday, I'll put up sliders that are very close to a final version. There's a day one patch dropping on Friday, so I just want to make sure I don't need to make any additional changes.

With the right sliders, this is the most realistic football game ever made. Period.

I'll explain how and why on Monday

Quick question though... I'm starting to get sick (began while we were on vacation) and know a hospital stay is fairly inevitable. Can the computer take over for me while I'm gone? I wouldn't want to slow down the league.

[Jon Rowe]

This will be my first madden game ever...

be gentle.

[Mysterio]

Originally Posted by Jon_Danger

This will be my first madden game ever...

be gentle.

Ditto.

[Cory]

Don't worry. I've played a lot of Madden over the years, but I'm not that good. On defense I don't even control a player. I let the AI do everything! :)