It seems that interest in the Deeproute league is getting low. That's understandable, because it is a very challenging game. Before I knew how to evaluate players (that is, if I know..) I was completely lost. But the sim seems to be deep and interesting, so I hope there is still some interest in the game.

A few of us have discussed opening up the league to everyone at Deeproute/VOFL so that we can fill the vacancies we will have this next season. There are already 9 CPU teams, and it seems that some of the original players may have moved on. Please leave a post here if you are still playing, and indicate whether you would like to see the league opened up.

My vote is - yes, I'd like to see all teams run by real people.

EDIT: I'll keep a running tally here.

Still Playing:
21C -- no
DeToxRox -- voting "present"
Sir Fozzie -- voting "present"
rjolley -- voting "present"
Autumn -- abstained
gstelmack -- no
lordscarlet -- yes
dbd1963 -- yes



Definitely out:
wade moore
Raiders Army
Racer
marcmoustache2

I am still in. It seems that we HAVE to open it up to non-FOFC players or be faced with a league that is at least 50% CPU.

It would also be nice if people who aren't playing can drop their team -- I don't know if that requires writing Mike or something else. I'd rather a CPU team than an unmanaged human team that somoene could pick up.

Whatever it takes to drop my team, go for it.

I'm giving it one more season to see if the interface improves.

I'm still in. I don't mind if it's opened up or not, either way.

I'm still in. I enjoy the game.

It's definitely not a pick up and go game. I've come up with ratings for players that works for the gameplan I like to use. Just need those kinds of players in the FOFC league. :)

I'm still in.

In

I'm sorry I'll be out. I'm traveling on the 27th and don't know if I'll be staying at a place that has internet. I'm not sure when I'll be back either.

I think the game shows a lot of promise.

I'm in. I'd prefer to see only FOFC guys in it for the time being.

You'd rather 10(ish) FOFC guys and 22 CPU teams?

We should have done a 16-team league. Alas...

You'd rather 10(ish) FOFC guys and 22 CPU teams?
No, I'd rather see a full league of FOFC guys but I know it would be difficult to achieve.

We should have done a 16-team league. Alas...

Is that an option on VOFL?

No, I'd rather see a full league of FOFC guys but I know it would be difficult to achieve.

We couldn't even get one the first time around when people hadn't grown sour on the game. :) It's just not going to happen, I don't think. So your choice is half CPU teams or non FOFC people.

16 teams leagues are definitely possible there. Maybe there is the option of restarting the league with fewer teams rather than opening it up. I'm not sure if it is possible to just drop teams from our current configuration. It would probably need to be a complete restart.

I'm not dead against opening the league up but I would prefer to keep it inhouse - but I'm realistic of our chances with that.

Even with a 16 team league we'd only fill half of it right now.

Out

The voting has been sparse, but the motion to open the league is winning by a 2-1 margin. By virtue of there being two votes for, and one against.

Unless someone pipes up to join 21C, I'm going to ask Mike to open up our league to membership after the draft.

I'll also ask Mike to release the three teams that owners have indicated they will no longer be playing.

If a flood of game experts enters and takes over the league, I'm out. Part of the point here was to learn the game and make suggestions to improve it.

You have a vote you know.

And there are a few problems. 1) those things have, largely, fallen on deaf ears. I of all people can't complain much when life gets in the way of development, but a huge opportunity to have us evaluate the game was wasted by the circumstances. 2) can you evaluate playing very unintelligent cpu teams?

If people want to keep the cpu teams, that's fine -- but it will take a lot of the enjoyment out, imo, and make it more likely for people to drop playing.

sorry i was out a while ago, sorry for not saying

You have a vote you know.

Sorry, missed that we were voting. Yes, keep it closed.

2) can you evaluate playing very unintelligent cpu teams?

I'm still evaluating the basics of how to even build a roster. I'm not even that worried about the game engine and wins/losses yet given how difficult that remains.

I'm still evaluating the basics of how to even build a roster. I'm not even that worried about the game engine and wins/losses yet given how difficult that remains.

Well, except that performance is important -- one of the key things is that overall means jack squat. I think it's harder to evaluate your performance when your opponents are not putting together the best team possible. Regardless, I'm OK with whatever. I put together a second team in another league so I at least have that. My preference is to either contract the league by 50% or open up the league, but I can live with having 70% cpu teams if that's what people want.

The lack of activity in this league leaves me hopeless that it will be a good experience, so I'm bailing out too. Good luck to everyone who sticks it out.

That is not a good sign, dbd. :( You were one of the most active.

Well, I like to be in an active league too. So I went back to league 16, where my Seattle Deer had come open again. Changed their name to Seattle Sasquatch and it's like I'm not even going anywhere! (Except my team is crappy..)

I don't blame you, it's just unfortunate. I was hoping I would finally have a football sim to play with the FOFC guys.

There are still two openings in league 16, and grendel and techranger both play there. I think it's a pretty competitive league.

I can only do so many leagues. :) I picked up in L12, which is pretty competitive (grendel, chaddilac, squish, others) and I don't think I can handle more than a couple at a time.

I like the game and have been enjoying it. Hate to see this league go away. I was hoping more FOFCers would try it out and help. It does take a bit to learn the ins and outs, but I think it's doable if you don't mind losing a bit early.

The deal breaker for me was the poor sim engine.

I can work around a clunky interface, but not a clunky interface and a poor sim engine.

You know, I didn't really give enough thought to keeping two teams running. I could think of one as a test league kind of thing, which seems to be how others are thinking of this league now.

PLUS the draft just happened and I got EVERYONE I targeted. I need to know if my targeting was, uh, on target..

First off I would like to thank everyone that has given the game an honest effort. That’s all I can ask for.

I would also like to apologize again, as my goal was to work directly with you guys and really try to give DeepRoute my undivided attention. Unfortunately, as I’ve mentioned, a real life job and real life monetary issues have interfered, and I have been forced to put any additions / changes on the backburner. Once my contract expires and my financial commitments are paid off, I will use this thread as a guide on the high priority things that need addressing.

If there is anything you can give me advice on that drove you away that hasn't already been covered, I would appreciate it. Again, I am very thick skinned : there’s little you guys can say that I haven’t heard. :) All I ask is that you be as detailed as possible. That’s the only way change can occur when I get time to make it.

I will be opening the league up publicly, and hope to see some of you guys stick.

Thanks again, guys. You have a great community here; I wish I had more time to stick around it and get to know you guys better. I’m hoping one day I can.

All the best!

--Mike

For me I'd love to see you read some of my posts in the other thread about my game engine concerns. In the end the interface was troubling, but my perception of the engine issues is what drove me away.