Firstly, a repeat of the rules. Unlike other drafts here, there is no draft order but each pick must match some specific set of criteria I will specify. Every participant will have to submit their choice of player by PM to me (so that all is kept secret each round) although there is a catch. If only one drafter selects a player then they get to draft him. If more than one person selects a player then the player is moved to the banned list and cannot be drafted until the final round. If the player does not match the criteria, then the drafter must pick again in the next round but the player will not be banned. Those failing to get their player will then have to submit a second choice with the same criteria and process being applied (note that those players successfully drafted will not be revealed yet). If they fail again, a third and final submission will be made. If anyone has failed on all three chances, then they will receive a Sheep pick (details in a later post). Each drafter will eventually end up with 12 players (although some rounds may involve picking two players) and must be able to form a recognised team including goalkeeper. At the end, everyone will vote for a winner. As an example: Criteria: Select a player who has played in a World Cup Final. Drafter 1- Pele Drafter 2- Maradonna Drafter 3- Puskas Drafter 4- Puskas Drafter 5- Zidane Drafter 6- Zidane Drafter 7- Eusebio Drafter 8- Muller I would then announce: Drafter 1- Pass Drafter 2- Pass Drafter 3- Fail - Puskas selected more than once Drafter 4- Fail - Puskas selected more than once Drafter 5- Fail - Zidane selected more than once Drafter 6- Fail - Zidane selected more than once Drafter 7- Fail - Player does not match criteria Drafter 8- Pass Banned: Puskas, Zidane Drafters 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 must pick again Drafter 3- Muller Drafter 4- Moore Drafter 5- Beckenbauer Drafter 6- Muller Drafter 7- Ronaldo Results: Drafter 3- Fail - Player already drafted in round Drafter 4- Pass Drafter 5- Pass Drafter 6- Fail - Player already drafted in round Drafter 7- Pass Drafters 3 & 6 pick again Drafter 3- Moore Drafter 6- Romario Results Drafter 3- Fail - Player already drafted in round Drafter 6- Pass Drafter 3 is to have a player selected for him.
The rules: Player Naming - no player naming unless they have been revealed by myself from the successful picks, the banned list or suggested as sheep. Sheep suggestions should only be made after I have asked for them. Picks - Picks should be sent via pm to myself. In some instances, I may ask for further information to back up their eligibility. This is to make things easier for myself in checking (such as in the "Played in a World Cup final" critirea I may have asked for the year to be stated along with the pick).. If this is required I will clearly identify this when setting the criteria. Time limits - 48 hours for the first pick, 24 hours for the subsequent 2 picks. Weekends count as either one day or two, so any stage announced on a Friday will have a deadline on the Sunday. Sheep must be selected by the completion of the first pick of the following round. Missed picks - If you miss your pick it will be an automatic fail. If there are still picks to be made in that round you can just join in with the 2nd or 3rd pick. If you have missed a pick, you can make a supplemental pick (at the same time) who will be valid after all successful picks for that round. If you miss the third pick then you get a sheep. Teams - From your 12 picks, you must be able form a team in a recognised formation. You don't have to necessarily play players in their prefered position, but you may be marked down in the final vote. You must pick a goalkeeper in the first 11 picks as there may be no goalkeepers for selection or as sheep available in round 12. If you do not have a goalkeeper and do not pick one in round 11 then it will be an automatic failure and a sheep goalkeeper will be allocated if required. One player can be left out altogether, allowing for a bit of flexibility or possibly removing a sheep. Voting - Once the draft has completed, all drafters will be asked to post their team. If you want you can add a bit of a write up to explain how the team will play. After this, all drafters will be asked to submit a ranking off all other teams (from first to last) via pm. 1st place will be worth 1 point, 2nd 2 points etc. The lowest score wins and I will post the final standings when I have received all rankings. I reserve the right to add new rules as required in case I have missed anything, although there will be nothing draconian.
Sheep In the event of being unsuccessful with all three picks, you will be assigned a Sheep. Following the first set of picks, successful drafters will start to nominate Sheep. All drafters can attempt to veto any suggestion, and if more than one drafter puts in a veto the player will be made inelligible. Where drafters are teamed up, the team counts as one drafter for these purposes. Once the third picks have been made, if any Sheep are required I will randomly select one (or more, if required) successful drafters to assign a Sheep. The Sheep must be able to be accommodated within the drafters lineup - so you can't give a Sheep goalkeeper if the drafter already has a keeper, or if you have three strikers you can't assign a fourth (unless one of the strikers has a record of playing in another position). If the drafter receiving the Sheep objects to the position of the player, I will judge whether the Sheep is valid. Questions about the rules are welcome at any time, either in the thread or via pm.
Round 1 Select a player who has an immediate or close relative (definitions below) play in a FIFA recognised full international match. All picks to be submitted via PM Deadline - Monday 21st January 8pm (GMT) Definitions: An immediate relative is considered a parent, sibling or child of the player. A close relative is considered as an immediate relative of an immediate relative (for example a father's brother).
Anyone else who has not yet signed up is welcome to join in. Simply post in the thread to say you ant to join and submit your pick.
During the last sheep draft you mentioned that you thought about changing the supplemental picks. Some suggested to get rid of them altogether. But I see that the rules for missed picks stay the same? And you might delete the ' Player Elligibility' part.
I want to participate. This time, alone. I'm not so long ago on the BigSoccer and my knowledge of players is not so vast, but there seems to be so difficult play (I'll find out)... and the game is for fun and learning.
I'm happy to go with whatever people want: Option 1 - No supplemental picks. If you miss a pick then it's simply a fail. Option 2 - As per the rules in post #2. Majority decision - cast your votes. Yes, I think so.
Yep, we're ok to go ahead in a partnership - PM's have begun! I'll think about the question lanman asked about supplemental picks - would only really want harsher rules to deter any missing picks rather than actually have people missing picks and not getting supplemental ones . Obviously if we have the rule then people might still unintentionally miss a pick and would have to be penalised for it so like I say I'm undecided at present.
I'd vote for #2. Sure you can get an unfair advantage by missing picks sometimes, but I think (hope) nobody is abusing this on purpose. And afterall everybody misses a pick once in a while and being to strict about it ruins the fun. Like PDG suggests there might be another option to punish people a bit for missing picks but a fail is too harsh. How about maybe limiting the number of supplemental picks for each drafter to one or two? Like I said it happens once or twice - that's fine. After that make it a fail.
I think I agree with that actually so I can go down on that side of the argument (if there is one). I didn't think about that for very long lol! But now I can concentrate on the first round with thebigman!
How about the following: Maximum of three supplemental picks per team. Supplemental picks must be made at the next stage, or they are lost. So if you missed the first pick, you would have to take it at the same time as everyone's second pick - if you don't you would lose the supplemental pick (although this would not remove one from the allocation). No supplemental picks for missing the third pick.
One thing I wondered about before was if anyone does want to miss a pick for tactical reasons (I never have done and don't know if others have or not) they could PM you with that instruction so you know you're not waiting for them? If nobody has ever done that then it doesn't apply but I wasn't sure if sometimes people had done.
Ok with all of that except hesitant about the last sentence (although I realise people missing the 3rd pick is what we want to avoid so we don't have to delay and/or PM the results around the rest of us). If it's out there and everyone agrees then there shouldn't be a problem though I guess, and anyone who's going to be away from the computer could PM you with that info and a few reserve picks I guess...
Ok cool, certainly any 3rd stage misses must have been genuine (I know some people were away unexpectedly at some stages last year).
Confirmed that I am in, and I am okay with supplemental picks, although I wouldn't mind a hard limit on their number. As for the first criteria, I can think of one obvious top player, but I'm sure there will be more.
Okay, having done a bit of research, there are a lot of fish to be had here. I guess this is where the strategy of placing your picks begins...