Football Play Selection Mechanic

Hi Jason,

Your idea about "Plays" reminds me that I am working on another game where I must use a "language" to describe how to "execute" the card.

It reminds me of your "Plays".

How are you planning to identify "Plays" on a card?

Similarly in my specific case, They are "Elemental" cards for different categories of Magicians. I figure I need some sort of "LANGUAGE" that allows me to express the condition that must be met by the card...

So having an idea about how you are expressing "Plays" could help me with my deterministic language.

I don't think this is TOP-SECRET, but you may want to keep it under "wraps". If so you may PM me.

Thanks!

Hey Jason,

As a football fan, this sounds really exciting. It sounds like you've got a lot of great ideas here.

The drafting makes complete sense; It's an obvious fit for a sports game.

Can you tell me more about how the plays are run? Play selection makes sense as a mechanic, but is the defense running plays as well? For example, I imagine that the offense would run a play, assigning their players to it. The defense would do this as well, and you would compare the plays and the players of the offense and defense to determine the outcome (yardage?).

Where there any questions in particular you have about your mechanics?

Cool stuff, I would love to see more.

IF you want to stick to the GM aspect of the game, I have IDEAS for you.

1. Assume this is a two (2) player game.
2. Player's alternate playing the second team in a match up. So on Player #1 turn, Player #2 plays the opposing team - not his own.
3. Instead of playing game, I propose you roll 2d6s for each team.
4. This becomes the NUMBER of offensive plays for each team.
5. Next you draw cards from a score pile (one for each play): 8, 7, 6 and 3 points.
6. The opponent can CANCEL a play with a Fumble, Interception or Penalty card.
7. Add up the plays and that's the score of the game.

Something along those lines. You can expand on the idea - basically what you want to do is quickly simulate a game based on plays, scores and offer the opponent some "take-that" cards to alter the results...

Alternatively

You can use custom dice: 0 pts (x3), 7 pts (x2), 3 pts (1x). Each player can roll 10 dice (2x 5 dice) and add up the scores. This is more luck - but cards also have a luck factor also.

Now that I think of it, I would use DICE. Why? Because the GAMES played could be chosen from a DECK. Each match up would have different odds of winning. Like vs. the Bears: Roll 10 offensive dice, you roll 8. Or vs. the Falcon: Roll 8 offensive dice and you roll 10.

Maybe this could somehow be linked to your teams STATS... Not sure... About the stats, your "lines" could ADD UP to the total # of dice. You get 3 base dice + the player's you DRAFT! You could have like 5 or 6 SUPERSTARS in your team: QB, LB, DE, etc. And each one contributes to your OFFENSIVE (+x dice). IF somebody gets injured, he gets removed from your superstar lineup (you lose some "ability").

Definitely needs some thought... but dice could be an interesting mechanic.

Victory points = $$$

When you win a game - you gain victory points giving you more $$$ which can be used to DRAFT from the table new players (with their own special abilities...) Again from a GM perspective you don't spend as much time only playing games - but there is bidding, etc.

Ask Jewell Games

He likes designing light dice game. He may no more about that section of the board game industry.

The only dice rolling games I know are: "Yhatzee", "Dungeon Roll" and "Pocket Sport Games".

Note: I am sure there are others - but not knowing means that there aren't probably too many...

I would add like the possibility to HAVE 6 SUPERSTAR cards. If you "buy" the SUPERSTAR Coach, you earn the possibility of have 8 SUPERSTAR cards (+2 card bonus).

Some SUPERSTAR could be a "GUARD" and his "special ability" could be "Protects Quarterback from injury". So your opponent cannot play an "injury" card to try to sap you "game simulation/highlights". And your Quarterback special ability could be like "roll +2d6" which means you get two more dice to try to score more points!

Having 6 SUPERSTARS is like Dynasty building - you want the BEST SUPERSTARS on your team so that they can HELP you win more games!

Maybe your "Team" cards could have a set-up that DEFINES that specific team's SUPERSTARS... So it changes each game you play, how your superstars match up head-to-head. Like outside Linebacker = "-1d6 to your opponent", which means you would lose 1 dice when simulating a game...

Man there are so many cool things you can do with the GM concept... Football is a good choice - hockey sucks, there isn't as much strategy!

Anyhow, just some ideas!

Cheers...

Actually, when I was reading this thread I was thinking about player cards describing the dice that player gets to roll while executing a play. This has been done in many games, and I really like the way it plays out.

The way I imagine it, you would lay down your plays (i.e. the "highlights" of the game) then assign players to them as you described. Then each player involved with the play would be able to roll their dice to affect it.

I think the dice mechanic is a great direction. It sounds like you have a solid game already. I would love to give it a playtest.