SOLITAIRE VS TRADITONAL LEAGUE

[mantaraydre]

QUESTION,

More and more coaches seem to be happy playing solitaire. Itf they can devise a system where gameplay is just as or more exciting than dealing with league play. THEN WHY DO THEY NEED A LEAGUE /

Thats a major question for many, WHY DOES THE SOLITAIRE COACH NEED YOU SITTING ACROSS FROM HIM ? What can you offer him that he already mastered himself playing alone ? With charts it is like playing against someone else. Only difference is he must set up both teams ?

Why does he need to ride in your mercedes when he pulled up at a red light in a B M W.

Does the solitaire coach need you, or do you need him to fill up your league ?

of course some will experience the best of both worlds.

One advantage any solitaire coach has over any league is he can play exactly how he wants without any interference from disgruntled employees.

Solitaire is all about the set up first, then the actual execution regarding managing a league.

The set up itself is a process like building a house. but once it is done, you enjoy living in it.

The notion of i beat you or you beat me does not excite some coaches. THEY JUST WANT TO SEE THERE TEAMS RUN UP AND DOWN THE UNDER THERE WATCH !

So, with that said, which do you prefer ?

Why haven't you set up a solitaire league if it is in the back of your mind.?

do you think it is respected enough ?

Through dice and playcharts and playbooks. you can play any former or CURRENT NFL coach under your system. You can play

1) jimmy johnson this week and vince lombardi the next

or

2)play 2 coaches in a local league who's playbook may not be as extensive.

In other words, what is the bigger challenge

1)a coach with strong bases and some plays

or

2)some suprise play pulled from a chart you never saw before


which one is more enticing to you personally ?

mantaraydre

[Reginald Rutledge]

Dre,

At least for me, I could care less whether it's looked at as respected. I look at whether I am happy. If I am not happy, no needs to be a part of a league. Innovations that you try to bring to the game, most roll their eyes because their interest is just simply to play. I've got no problem in that. But by the same token, they ask you "How do you grow the hobby or the league?" not understanding that your league was created on the back of innovations like the stadium and the hype around what you did to put the league on a national platform.

I had a coach try to throw that argument of "You play alone because you can't compete with the best". Does it really matter? Am I happy? I think there is great aspects to both methods. In leagues, you do have fellowship. There's camaraderie in that but if you like the solitude of not being bothered with issues, the solitaire method works too. I just tell people, "Don't knock it til you try it".

Then he ask me to consider getting back in the league. My thoughts were were simply "I have the BMW and the Porshe so it's not like they would be doing me any favors".

There is something to be said for "Intellectual stimulation". Matching wits with others can be fun at times but the "win at all cost" attitude and the "put a notch in my holster" attitude totally makes me lose all interest. Yeah, I want to win just like anyone else but for where I want to go in the game, competitive/traditional leagues can't fathom.

When the conversation ended, the coach understood what you are asking, at least about me, "Did I really need a league or other guys to do what I was doing?" I had always told them, "I just wanted them to experience what I knew I could experience anytime".

I will take the Solitaire play ANYDAY but if I could get the kind of guys I like to be a part of a traditional league, I would always be open to that as well.

Reg

[Treks1]

Good question. I played solitaire for many, many years. After I started to play in a league I was hooked on the fellowship and the excitement of playing in competition. Now I see my days of playing alone as kind of a waste of time. I wish I had been playing in a league all those years, I think I would have developed into a better coach (maybe ). It was convenient, and I could play in my stadium and on my terms. When I did come into the League, I brought some of aspects of my solitaire experience to the league, especially for our Superbowl. And I think some really enjoyed it; others could care less and hey, that's fine with me.

Bottom line is I really enjoy spending time with other coaches and the highs and lows of playing in a League.

[Michigan Joe]

Originally Posted by mantaraydre

which one is more enticing to you personally ?
mantaraydre

Competition stands out to me as the one area that is at the heart of the solatiaire vs. playing an opponent (league play or tournament play). There is "playing" the game and there is "simulating" a game. Unlike video games, solataire MF doesn't have a computor to play against so it really becomes more of a football simulation rather than a game to outwit and out manuever an opponent.

I prefer playing with/against somebody because I like the challenge of the "playing" the game. Probably just as important to me thogh is that I enoy spending time with people that also like to play. For me games involve friendship, fellowship, competition...and overall just sharing the experience. With that comes difference of opinions, schedule conflicts, cultural differences, and the like...but thats also the beauty of it. The time challenge of league play can be tough to manage. I think with the size of the hobby right now, regional tournaments is an easier way to get more people involved in the "playing side of things" than is leagues (because most people are spaced too far apart to make it like a Wednesday night bowling league). For me personally the solataire part of the hobby is practice time, painting, figure making, board making, motor making, etc.

[the System]

Beginning in 1971 I played in a solitare league. It was the NFL but I realigned the divisions to reflect the 60's AFL/NFL. Since 1981, I have played Tudor NFL Strategy as a solitare league. Mantaraydre talked about going against real life coaches in a simulation mode. I do this now with my Strategy league. As I watch NFL games I now chart the plays that are called. I accumulate the data and make a game plan for my opponets out of it. Then I try to create a game plan to beat the other team. In the spring I will try to make a Miniature Football league out of the old BIG - 8. In my planning for this I looked at my old rules, and with MPFL stops I hope to make a good league for myself. I do not have a car so I cannot drive to any tournaments. In the one tourney I have played in, I realized that I will never be a winning coach. But as Paul Brown said once " losing is S#!$$&, but it is better than no football at all."

[styx]

to play solitare for about 5 yrs. dont get me wrong ,i really enjoyed the solitude of not having an opposing coach,when i joined a league in 2001,i did'nt really know what to expect, but i really hit it off with everyone in the league,the togetherness and comeradere was off the charts,i couldnt believe there was other adults sharing thier love of this great hobby called min.football,i had such a blast my first yr. that i could'nt wait till the months rolled around until the next season,those coach's that show once and u never hear from them again , dont give this hobby a chance, or maybe thier expectations are set two high,and when they dont meet them or even come close ,they're ready to jump ship,other than that i can say.

[Megawattz]

Could never make it past the few plays, scored once, didnt know if I should be happy I scored, or p'd at my defense!

[canadatabletopgames]

Solitaire is sooooooo extraordinaire.

Life is great, can play when i want (unless my wife asked me to go to sleep),decided my own rules which i think is the most realistic (4 downs of 9 plays), a play chart for offense and defense and i'm on business. The only thing missing is to get my 32 NFL teams which will come soo (i hope..)



Take it easy

Benster

[canadatabletopgames]

made a mistake.

i wanted it so say: 4 quarters of 9 downs

Ben

[the french guy]

Could never make it past the few plays, scored once, didnt know if I should be happy I scored, or p'd at my defense