[the french guy]

The toughest struggle we are having is with the kicking game. Though we are tinkering with the idea of putting a football on a straight running base for kicking and see if we can make that work somehow.

I'm thinking about the same thing. I'm also thinking about experimenting stationnary kicker and rubber balls. I'll see that during week end (I don't work tommorow! )

We are going to allow players to be stationary/on magnets (except linemen)

I'm not against stationnary players, but I believe there should be a limit for them. I'm thinking about 2 guys on each side : safeties only on defense, QB and skill player (rb , te in receiving position, wr) only on offense. I have to work on that too.

The upside is it doesn't really matter who controls the board

For me, it's an important point. On ALL games we had here (not speaking of solitaire scrimmages of course), we had several issues with tackle (and sacks) refereeing, with offense on board switching during offense plays.

I 'm speaking only for 2 players gaming, without referee.

I'm not speaking of intentional cheating : but since offense coach is focused on his routes, runs, yardage, etc...he not really pays attention to the defense game. It's why having defense on switch (not watching the offense routes and runs but his own tackles) improves the balance of the game (I think it's why majority uses that system). The defense can stop the board just before or after the tackle, clearly show it to the opponent.

It's particulary true on a fast board !

run for 0.5 seconds - snap of the ball. players move just a little bit.

run for 1.5 seconds - players get out in routes etc. Holes start to form in blocking.

run for 1.5 seconds - receivers make their cuts on routes. perhaps run is called here to allow the RB to make a cutback on the 4th stoppage.

run for 1.5 seconds - declare run or pass. declare the runner/receiver. If a pass then execute the pass in whatever manner you use (TTQB or passing sticks)

Good system in theory. But on 1vs1 game without referee, you'll see that real clock use can dramatically slow down and chop the game action. Playing a 3h30 game is not for everyone (especially if, as myself, you 'll have to demonstrate the game or play with casual players).

4 stoppages also seems a bit too much for me. On the first quarter, you'll remember all that, but after 2hours of game, will you remember wich stoppage you did, etc...

I know for timing for a game clock, the mid ohio guys idea of using boxes is brilliant imo.

I 100% agree with you. For me it's a big improvement in the game (like passing sticks, presnap, etc...), wich passed almost invisible for most of us. For me, the less electronics timers you'll have to operate, the smoothest the game will be. That Mid Ohio system allows us to play without worring about a general clock, but keeps the time strategy in the game wich is very important in american football.

How long you run the board for at each stop will depend on your personal preference and how fast your board goes.

Personal preference can't be ruled. 15years of wargaming let marks in my brain

If using sticks you would need an additional stoppage on a completion where adjustments can be made again.

Depanding the passing rule you'll use, it can add multiple stoppages : first stoppage after passing and receiver declaration, to pivot free men, then run the board, then if the pass is completed or interecepted, stop again, then pivots (depanding of the ruleset), then run the board. Add the 4 stoppages you planned...and you'll see if you like that way. Perhaps you will, personnaly it's not the game I like.

In boardgames/wargames, we try to simulate the old fashion way a sport, a conflict, or whatever using several mechanics wich have to reflect (in my opinion) the action we attempt to realize.

Example, passing play in football. In real footbal, it takes a few seconds between the snap and the pass throwing. For me (again, personal opinion, I respect the guys wich prefers to decompose all the actions in gaming steps : your fun is your fun, after all), the board game has to reflect that fast decision and action, and respect a certain theorical chronology/time line.

In my current "non official" ruleset, for example, offense coach has to designate the receiver IMMEDIATLY after he switched off the board on passing play. Not 1.5s or 2seconds, but immediatly. Because, on the game action "chronology/time line", that very moment reflects the exact moment when the QB has his arm ready to throw, and he made his choice.

I explain : when the offense runs the board to try to open his receivers, "in the real life", during that time the QB is reading defense and his receivers.

When the offense coach stops the board to make his pass (ttqb or sticks, whatever), in "real life" it represents the exact moment when the QB is throwing the ball. So if you stop the board, you have to know what receiver you'll throw to.

Counter example : if you allow the offense coach to stop the board, then having 2secs or 10secs or whatever to choose his receiver, in real life, that chronological point does not exist. I don't know if my example is clear, since I'm fighting with english to speak about complex and abstract concepts.






Here's my current game sequence (basic/fast/"discovering" ruleset version) I'm working on :

(note : I prefer to speak about "player" -in french, "joueur"- refering to the "coach" in majority of us rulesets)

A- FORMATION DEPLOYEMENT

1. each player put distinctly his squad on his LOS side (Not timed action )
2. Once the offense player placed his center on right position on LOS, the formation timing is started (50seconds). Formation deployement is simultaneous for O and D.
   
3. the offense formation has to be completed before the last 10seconds call sound (speaking timer, buzz, or whatever). The offense playert has to say distinctly "SET" before that clock limit.
   
4. defense has the last 10seconds to make last adjustements on his squad. He has to say distinctly "set" before that clock limit.

B - PRESNAP AND PLAY CALLS

1. offense player turns on then off (immediatly) the board. He says distinctly and normally "ON-OFF" with no delay between the two words, making the action in the same time (explanation : the O coachs say "ON" and turns the board "on" in the same time, then he says "OFF" and turns the board "off" in the same time).
   
2. the 2 players are now allowed to pivot each free athlete (not in contact with another athlete from both teams, the rear base side is the pivot axle, not including linemen or TE if he's in 6th linemen formation)
   
3. offense player calls the play, saying distinctly "pass" or "run". If if choose running play, he has to distinctly designate the ball carrier (telling his jersey number and/or showing the athlete).

C - PLAY SEQUENCE

1. If the offense player called a running play, defense player operates the board switch, until the play stops to develop (ball carrier has been tackled, went out of bound, scored, fell, has been blocked by his own teammates, or lost yardage).
   
2. If the offense player called a passing play, offense player operates the board switch, until he choosed to stop it (opened receiver) or play stops to develop (qb sacked, run out of bound, no reciever opened in a reasonable timing delay).
   
   Concerning specifically passing play :
   • Immediatly after the offense player stopped the board, he has to distinctly designate the receiver he choosed.
     
   • Then, the passing play is resolved following the specific passing rules (ttqb, target, sticks, etc...), the defense player operating the board until the play stops (, pass incomplete, ball carrier has been tackled, went out of bound, scored, fell, has been blocked by his own teammates, or lost yardage)
     
   • If the defense player intercepts the ball, the board is now operated by the former offense player.

PENALTIES : (not finished)


You see that that basic ruleset allows quite complex gaming already, but without too many external interventions. One clock (using the memory feature of the timer) with 50seconds setting, operated ONE SINGLE TIME for each play. Plays count system (certainly mid ohio inspired) for general timing. Play calls and presnap timed by "voice calls".

My goal is to be able to forget the game mechanics and external devices, and focus on the field and athletes.

Now I'm seriously thinking abut kicking and perhaps one stoppage on running play.