Results from my "Playtest League"

[Orleanian In Exile]

The Playtest League is what I'm calling my series of experimental games using the teams I've got in my kit which were purchased two years ago from TVs Chachi in order to test and tweak the rules and procedures I've adopted for my solitaire game play —before I repaint them into the teams I've decided on to comprise my actual league. I'll post weekly results in this new thread, but will reprint the scores from the first two weeks of action as well as those of this week's game:

July 19

TIGERS 13
TRITONS 10

Continuing with my own process of experiment and self-learning, this afternoon I played my third game under the rule set I compiled for myself over the last two years and incorporating ideas from Brian McAtee, Glenn Hardaway, 46Defense, and several leagues as part of the mix. I've drawn from Buzzin'Brine the most since, given my work and family schedules, I need to play relatively quick games and don't have 3-4 1/2 hours to spare on a long, drawn-out affair even on weekends. So I play the game of possession sets: four downs to score and no additional downs except by penalty, with four complete possession-sets (eight plays per set) comprising a total 32-play game. I've also been playtesting my own method for simulating field-goal kicks in which the kicker must contact the immobilised holder before any defensive player does so in order for the kick to be good. A missed contact or a defensive player making first contact means a blocked kick or a miss.

Drawing from a bag of teams bought from TVs Chachi two years ago, I selected out two squads labelled the "Tigers" and "Tritons" respectively. The Tigers received first but did nothing and were forced to punt, and the Tritons managed to score on second down in their first possession for the early 7-0 lead, which held through the remainder of the first half when the Tigers first FG attempt resulted in a miss.

Going into the second half of play, the Tritons received the ball first and managed to drive downfield but had to settle for a FG —score 10-0. The next set, the Tigers marched their way up from the 35 (automatic touchbacks after a score, with the trailing team starting from their 35) and got on the board with their first TD. Tritons are held in their own territory and forced to punt. Tigers get the ball but are held to a FG to tie the game 10-10. Next possession the Tritons go for the pass on first down and make it all the way to the Tiger 1 yd line. They try a ground-attack to breach the endzone but are twice driven back for losses. Fourth down and the Triton pass is intercepted on the Tiger 4. Tigers drive downfield to FG range and make the successful kick for the 13-10 lead. Last possession goes to the Tritons, who try passing on all four downs (one attempt snuffed by a QB sack forcing them back to their own 2) and come up short on the last play as the game ends and the Tigers win by a FG.

Elapsed game-time, including the halftime break which lasted a bit longer than planned for, was 2.16. I was hoping for a faster clip to play action but perhaps this is due to inexperience. The main timelag is in getting the teams set in formation for the next play. Further experimentation and tweaking of game procedure may smooth out these difficulties so I can get a game that will take up less than two hours —a necessity given the aforementioned limitations on my personal time. On a more positive note, this was a much closer game than the first two contests I played, which both resulted in shutouts. Good mix of pass and running attacks, a kicking game which appears to work well enough but could also use some tweaking in my view, and some good red-zone defence by both sides which kept the game close right to the end.

All in all, a qualified success.


July 25

GOLDEN RAMS 17
TRITONS 6

The Tritons were held to only two FGs in the first half by the visiting Golden Rams, who scored a TD in the second quarter. Third quarter and with a 7-6 score, the Tritons manage to hold the Golden Rams to only a FG on their next drive. But a Golden Rams TD on a long punt return effectively puts the game out of range for the Tritons, and their last scoring drive ends with an endzone interception as regulation play expires.

This experiment was a bit more successful than last week's, with elapsed game time coming in at 1.49.

Now for this week's results:

August 1

TROJANS 35
SEAHAWKS 24

For this experiment, I added some scoring wrinkles (added points on long-zone TDs, yardage FG awarded to the team gaining the most positive yardage in the possession set, and 4 points for FGs kicked from 55+yds, though these last two did not factor into this game) and a new second-stop rule to deal with ball carriers who veer off sharply to the sideline or reverse due to the board (only one adjustment in the play allowed in said situation —with defence also allowed adjustment, of course). I'm also starting to feel a bit more comfortable with game play with each successive week, which aids in speeding up the tempo on setup for each play.

In today's contest, the Trojans opened events with a score on their first drive from scrimmage after the kickoff return, but the Seahawks responded and tied the game at 7-7. Second quarter and a long bomb for 74 yards helps put the Trojans up 16-7. Third quarter sees a Trojan kickoff return for 100 yards and a TD, but the Seahawks step up and put 9 points on the board in the third quarter to make it a 26-16 contest. The Trojans effectively put the game out of reach with another TD to make it a 35-16 contest but the Seahawks on their next possession drive downfield and, aided by a critical defensive pass-interference penalty for half the distance to the goal, managed to hit the TD and then a successful 2 pt conversion but they still come up short as regulation expires.

The result was a faster-paced, higher scoring game that came in around 1.24 elapsed time. Just a couple of glitches due to distractions but the important thing is that my experiments are yielding increasing success.

[Orleanian In Exile]

GREENWAVE 25
TIGERS 22

A 100 yd kickoff return for a TD and a blocked punt which put the Greenies in excellent field position on the Tiger 30 punctuated a 10 pt 3rd quarter which was the key to the Greenies victory in this game. The resulting TD in the 4th quarter from the blocked punt sealed the win. Also, there were less procedural glitches and setup times are speeding up. Total elapsed game time for this contest was around 1.14.

[Orleanian In Exile]

SEAHAWKS 17
WILDCATS 14

A father/son contest today: it was tit-for-tat on scoring, with neither side able to gain an advantage until the late fourth quarter and my boy's last possession set, when his Seahawks complete a 75 yard drive and score the winning FG.

[Orleanian In Exile]

PATRIOTS 41
GREENIES 35

For this experiment, I added two additional possession sets for a total of six = up to 48 plays, so this added some time to this week's contest which came in at 1.51. This game was an offensive slugfest, featuring one 100yd TD return which opened the second half and long bombs for high scores. The game came down to the last possession as regulation play expired when the Patriots completed for a 71 yd TD pass to snatch away the win. The time factor, however, makes me lean toward going back to the four possession-set format for the next game.

[Orleanian In Exile]

RAIDERS 19
WILDCATS 19

A five-possession set game for this week's experiment, with the middle set divided between the halves. The Raiders were trailing 3-11 at the end of the first half, but a 16 point surge countering a second half 8 pt TD by the Wildcats knotted the score up. The rest of the game saw tough defence on both sides, which featured five QB sacks racked up by both teams and a final rush by the Wildcat DE to trip up n.32 of the Raiders who was sprinting downfield on a completed pass just as the final gun sounded. Only 3 yds separated the two teams on total offence: 275 for the Raiders, 272 for the Wildcats. Total elapsed time for this game came in at around 1.51, so this further indicates that a four-set game would work better for my purposes. But this one was a hell of a contest especially in the fourth quarter.

[Orleanian In Exile]

WILDCATS 21
GOLDEN RAMS 16

This week saw a return to the four possession-set format and orthodox scoring rules as the Wildcats took early advantage in the first quarter when n.7, the QB, ran on the option and managed to blow past the 'Rams for a 78 yd TD. The best the Rams can do in reply is to settle for a 47 yd FG. Second quarter and the Wildcats again drive downfield and make the endzone for the 14-3 lead. But as the Golden Rams again cannot make it into the endzone after driving 80 yards and lose yardage on a QB sack and a tackle behind the line, they again go for the FG —but the kick is blocked as the half ends. Third quarter sees a Golden Rams drive which finally results in a needed touchdown, but the Wildcats respond with a TD of their own. Fourth quarter and the Golden Rams go 80 yards for a TD on their own QB run on the option play, but a busted run-in conversion attempt limits the gain to six. They then go for the onside kick but the Wildcats come up with the ball for the last possession; four kneel-downs and it was all over. Once again, both teams were about equal in offensive effort: 285 yards for the Wildcats and 280 for the Golden Rams, but three missed opportunities made all the difference.

Elapsed game time for this experiment came in at 1.11. This week, no procedural mistakes and the action followed along at a good clip. I'm getting closer to the style and pace I need for my solo play, but next game I think I will experiment with the 40-play system, including kicks, to test the balance between timing and scoring opportunity.