Talk Fantasy Football

has any of you guys ever played in a draft league? I have done a few and they really make for a fun time, as you can try to get players to fill specific roles on the field. the draft is loads of fun as well.

I was in a league like that way back in 1988 using 2nd Edition rules and custom-designed players available to be drafted. It was fun, but you really have to have everyone in your league in the room at the same time for it to work properly. Plus I drafted badly and ended up last in the league...

My current league uses a modified version of The Crush (as it appeared in BB Mag...or was it Fanatic?), without the actual draft because it has been difficult to get everyone together if not for games.

Another problem I can see is the fact that mixed-race teams don't work, so if you have a variety of races represented, there wouldn't be much competition for players.

why don't mixed race teams work?

I have developed some interesting rules for a draft league and the first thing that happens is we throw out all race restrictions. these guys are professional bloodbowlers they can get along with their racial enemy (didn't anyone see Brian's Song!).

I am going to writie them up over christmas break and may post them if anyone is interested.

Because teams will draft in players from other races to cover what are deliberate weaknesses in their teams (for example, high AG players for ball handling on low AG teams, ie Elf player on a dwarf team; or high AV players to stick on the line on low AV teams ie CDs on Skaven teams).

well I thought that is the idea of a draft league. you would not want to have an elf playing on the offensive line of the green bay packers would you? you draft players to play a certain role on the team. everyone should be trying to build the same type of well rounded team so it does not give any coach an unfair advantage. I would say it adds a deminsion to the game more than it takes away anything.

bjorn wrote:you would not want to have an elf playing on the offensive line of the green bay packers would you?

I've absolutely no idea.

But the teams are all balanced, with their own strengths and weaknesses, for a reason. Allowing teams to circumvent their in-built weaknesses is a receipe for disaster. That's why there are no official draft rules, because every time it's been put forward, it's been found to be to powerful (Chaos Pact team from LRB1 or 2 for example).

But hey, it's your league. If you want to go for it, then do so.

I am saying that it is a different type of game, built on a different model. there are no races just a team of professional bloodbowler. the balance comes from skilled drafting by the coaches not from an integral faction specific balance built into the game. Perhaps I should pull out some of my old rosters from our earlier draft leagues and give you an idea of how it works.

Be great if you could give a brief run-through of the rules you use, I like the idea but I'm wondering what you do about buying in extra/replacement players later on.

Edit: spelling.

sure. it may take a while to write out the rules, but I would love to share the info and hear the criticism to make the game more enjoyable.

Sure, I'd like to see your draft rules so I can really make an informed comment on them.

I would also like to know more about these rules.

My league runs a draft system, it works very well given that we're large and now coming to the end of our 4th year but we're quite a long way from the official version of the rules in order to make it work.

maybe you could draft players of different spp values ie 2 skill or 3 skill players and allocate them to different groupa of players: linemen, passers, blitzers and others (i.e. catchers or blockers). Then you get orcs and elves in competition for a 4 skill player which will be a catcher or blocker depending on who gets it. This would keep the races with natural weaknesses.

Stormmaster1's idea appeals to me the most. "Dogs of War" teams get pretty boring since there will probably be no dramatic difference between you and your opponents during a match.

you must understand that, it is a different type of game when you play a draft league. just don't think in terms of race and think how you would put together a professional sport team.