EF basic strategy play sheet ?

[the french guy]

Hi,

THis afternoon, under the fever of my sickness : I had an idea.

I readed a lot (MFCA forum has became my bible since since one month), and it appears that there is a lack of informations on EF basic playing.
I explain : yes, we can find the rules, and yes, we can find playbooks and strategies from diference sources (videogames, websites, books, dvds, etc...).

But for the average joe beginner (especially the european one ), strategic play can be difficult to understand. How to place the athletes, how to react on a certain defense (or offense) strategy.

What is simple for the american football fan, is hard to learn and explain to other people. So why not create a simple basic sheet we can share for free on the basic playing of this game ?


I mean, for example, 2 sheets (pdf printable file for example), one for offense, one for defense.

On each sheet, we can see (for example) 5 or 6 basic strategies (short pass, long pass, run, dive, etc...) with complete full color diagram, with position name (QB, LB, etc...), and a little note on the PROS and CONS of this typical play, and on wich type of opponent strategy we should play that.

So for newbies, we should have 2 printed sheets, one for offense, one for defense, "ready to play". The idea is not to reveal the secrets of the best coaches, but just help newbies to get into this game.


We could add other infos (like diagrams with arrows, to see the moves of the strategy), or make in the future other sheets covering particular plays, etc, etc...


I can't make myself the strategies choices : I'm not a specialist. BUT I can draw the sheets and graphics, and give it to the community.

So if anyone interested in that project, simply think about it, find a set of all around basic strategy plays for offense and defense, draw it with the positions names (on your PC, or on a piece of paper and scan it or take a pic of it).

Then post the pic on this thread, and I'll draw it and share. Simply as that


Dimitri



EDIT : this idea came me from my miniatures wargaming experience, where diagrams are often used to clarify the game, and help people to understand, like on this example (squad placement in a futuristic wargame) :




very understable vector graphics, imagine the same for EF and you'll get the idea !

[the mellow canary]

is a great idea, I want to welcome you aboard this wonderful site asnd game.'
Thanks'
DJ Mello

[the french guy]

thanks

I want to specify one thing :

simply think about it, find a set of all around basic strategy plays for offense and defense, draw it with the positions names (on your PC, or on a piece of paper and scan it or take a pic of it).

When I tell you "draw it", a simple quick drawing on the corner of a bit of paper, or a fast windows Paint ugly scheme will do the job perfectly. I'll make (for free of course, and fast) the "pro" graphics side and fancy printable file from your sketches, once we'll agree on the content of it.


if you can't draw anything, you can give us ideas of wich plays should be included in these sheets. Once again, think basic, all around and eficient.

[the french guy]

Hi,

Just to say that the evening I passed on internet was not useless, I found a lot of infos to make my project.

For now, I'm organizing information for my newbie sheets.

I'll post my work results soon on this topic.


Bye


Dimitri

[FrustratedFinFan]

A good idea....but it might be hard to do. Depending on the personnel available to the coach, his alignments and schemes might be altered tremendously. For example, what if you have offensive linemen on ITZ dials? This allows the linemen to literally go in any direction the coach wants. Not a lot of power in that line....more finesse needs to be used.....better for pass blocking. So, an offensive play sheet designed to work with that line would be very different from one that featured a line of overpowering straight ahead run blockers.....

[the french guy]

You targeted the problem. It's all the difficulty to create such a document !

Yesterday, I found a LOT of basic strategies, a lot of infos on positions, etc...all dedicated to "scale 1" football. I'm sure most of them are compatible with EF, with slightly or heavy modifications, but the difficulty is to find WHAT I should choose.

Depending on the personnel available to the coach

It's why the plays sheet need to included figures and bases names too, not only the real football positions names.
For that, we have to select a all around roster too. Of course, it will not be the major championship combo, but just a selected O/D team with several possible options.

It's why I need the help of the veteran coaches : imagine you have to explain the game to a complete newbie, for example on a game show :

Imagine what basic figures and bases list you should advise to a newbie, to create a all around "starter team" for a fair and dynamic game. It's all the point of that.


SO the question is....if I had to build a starter kit, what team and what basic playbook should I choose ?

[FrustratedFinFan]

I think the best starter set would feature Miggle '67 Big men and Buzzball figures. I would pair them with standard bases from Miggle and Buzzball....but I would emphasize Miggle's Proline rookie strong bases and some TTC's (original run of any color seems good, but for long term...the blue and polo green ones seem to be consistently pretty good) and Buzzball's speed diamond bases. I think these bases are the best that are relatively cheap and widely available. There are some rare base types that are better performers, and great role players (such as boat bases of all types, wide tops, Playtime brown bases and original R/L rookies and frosty green bases), but that should be for the advanced player.

The only reason I would rule out custom figures for the starters is that many of these figures don't perform well stock....they need to be altered and paired with the proper bases....this takes a little more experience....but once you get to that point, customizable figures like Reggie's are a dream to work with!