Post by Heloo on May 19, 2008 0:28:47 GMT 1
For my 100th post I want to present an idea for a new parameter in races: FORM
Why?
In order to make this game more challenging and diverse, we need to introduce some new tactics in the game. Adding form to the race-engine could have this effect. The second reason why i think we need something like form is because i don't think its realistic nor fun if some teams can use their top 5 cyclists in every great tour without any problems for their fitness. Well I'm not saying you cant do this, but they should at least not be able to perform top in so many races.
What?
Form should have a similar influence as fitness in the race engine. But it would be calculated completely different. It would not depend on how much effort you put in races and be increased every Sunday. Form would have be similar to what happens in real cycling: the cyclist starts with a low form in the beginning of the season. Then he trains/ participate in some races to increase his form. Finally he would top in a certain period of time, in the races he finds most important to win. After this top, his form would slowly drop and he needs some time to recuperate. Then after some time he might have another top, but the days he can perform top are limited, and once he exceeds this, he will have a burn-out and be quite useless for the rest of the season.
How to implement?
Well this is the hardest part of course!
So this is my idea, and i'm aware that it's not perfect, but if others could suggest some changes it might really work.
Start of the season: we choose a level they start. Here i have 2 options, 1 simple and 1 more advanced. The simple one would be to just let everyone start with the same amount, let's say 70%. The disadvantage is that nobody can top in the first races then. That's why i have a second option. You should be able to choose for every cyclist what period you want him to perform best. They're could be 4 choices: pre-season, Giro, Tour de France, Vuelta , (end of season?).
If you choose pre-season you start with a higher level of form (90%?) but your form will soon start to drop naturally so it will be harder to still top for the TdF etc. For the other choices, you would start with a lower form (60%?) but starting 3 weeks before the race he wants to top (Giro, TdF or Vuelta) the form would slowely start rising naturally again (consider it a sort of bonus on top of how much he would increase normally ).
How to regulate form: Well there should be two ways how to increase the form of your cyclists.
a) by participating in races: it's the easiest way of gaining form, a bonus of +10% (or less?) would be awarded if you participate in a 1-day race, +5% for each race in a tour. These numbers could be different, it's just a suggestion.
b) by training on form: i'm not sure whether people will like this idea, but i think you should be able to regulate a level of training you want to spent on form, and this for each cyclist. I hope this is not to complicated to implement. You would put most cyclists on a 100% skill-training, but the ones you want to perform in the following weeks you can give up to 50% for "form"-training. Then of course you will only have 50% skill-training.
c) your form will slowly drop a bit every week if you didn't participated in a race, the drop might be higher if you haven't participated in races for a long time.
I'm not sure about this b)-part, so people who have better ideas just post them, but don't just so it's a bad idea but without giving any alternative.. It could also work without the form-training. But then i would consider the idea of stages (see other topic).
Limitation of top-form: no cyclist can top a whole season. You should carefully choose when a cyclist is in top-form. They're are many options here as well. My idea is an amount of points you can use. The amount drops if you have a good form (let's say above 70%), and decreases even more once you reach top-form (+90%).
Once you run out of points your cyclist can't go over 70% of form anymore.
Advantages![/b]:
- a new and challenging system of tactics
- less talented cyclists will now have a REAL chance of winning a race, just by choosing a smaller tour and top in that period
- no team will be able to use the same 5 cyclists to win all three great tours. Every cyclist will have to choose a tour which he will ride in a good form. He can still participate in the other tours, but might loose against another cyclist that tops for this tour.
=> no longer always the same 20 cyclists that dominate every tour
- a lot of new things to consider while planning your season
- teams can choose what to concentrate on: winning races and have cyclists in top form, or let them train 100%. You can also choose to let your older cyclists go for good results, while you let some younger cyclist concentrate on training.
After this short summary i just want to add that every opinion is welcome. I really hope a lot of people give some advices and suggestions how to make things differently. Ow and don't forget to vote, and please explain your vote.
For the few that were able to read this completely: thanks a lot
Why?
In order to make this game more challenging and diverse, we need to introduce some new tactics in the game. Adding form to the race-engine could have this effect. The second reason why i think we need something like form is because i don't think its realistic nor fun if some teams can use their top 5 cyclists in every great tour without any problems for their fitness. Well I'm not saying you cant do this, but they should at least not be able to perform top in so many races.
What?
Form should have a similar influence as fitness in the race engine. But it would be calculated completely different. It would not depend on how much effort you put in races and be increased every Sunday. Form would have be similar to what happens in real cycling: the cyclist starts with a low form in the beginning of the season. Then he trains/ participate in some races to increase his form. Finally he would top in a certain period of time, in the races he finds most important to win. After this top, his form would slowly drop and he needs some time to recuperate. Then after some time he might have another top, but the days he can perform top are limited, and once he exceeds this, he will have a burn-out and be quite useless for the rest of the season.
How to implement?
Well this is the hardest part of course!
So this is my idea, and i'm aware that it's not perfect, but if others could suggest some changes it might really work. Start of the season: we choose a level they start. Here i have 2 options, 1 simple and 1 more advanced. The simple one would be to just let everyone start with the same amount, let's say 70%. The disadvantage is that nobody can top in the first races then. That's why i have a second option. You should be able to choose for every cyclist what period you want him to perform best. They're could be 4 choices: pre-season, Giro, Tour de France, Vuelta , (end of season?).
If you choose pre-season you start with a higher level of form (90%?) but your form will soon start to drop naturally so it will be harder to still top for the TdF etc. For the other choices, you would start with a lower form (60%?) but starting 3 weeks before the race he wants to top (Giro, TdF or Vuelta) the form would slowely start rising naturally again (consider it a sort of bonus on top of how much he would increase normally ).
How to regulate form: Well there should be two ways how to increase the form of your cyclists.
a) by participating in races: it's the easiest way of gaining form, a bonus of +10% (or less?) would be awarded if you participate in a 1-day race, +5% for each race in a tour. These numbers could be different, it's just a suggestion.
b) by training on form: i'm not sure whether people will like this idea, but i think you should be able to regulate a level of training you want to spent on form, and this for each cyclist. I hope this is not to complicated to implement. You would put most cyclists on a 100% skill-training, but the ones you want to perform in the following weeks you can give up to 50% for "form"-training. Then of course you will only have 50% skill-training.
c) your form will slowly drop a bit every week if you didn't participated in a race, the drop might be higher if you haven't participated in races for a long time.
I'm not sure about this b)-part, so people who have better ideas just post them, but don't just so it's a bad idea but without giving any alternative.. It could also work without the form-training. But then i would consider the idea of stages (see other topic).
Limitation of top-form: no cyclist can top a whole season. You should carefully choose when a cyclist is in top-form. They're are many options here as well. My idea is an amount of points you can use. The amount drops if you have a good form (let's say above 70%), and decreases even more once you reach top-form (+90%).
Once you run out of points your cyclist can't go over 70% of form anymore.
Advantages![/b]:
- a new and challenging system of tactics
- less talented cyclists will now have a REAL chance of winning a race, just by choosing a smaller tour and top in that period
- no team will be able to use the same 5 cyclists to win all three great tours. Every cyclist will have to choose a tour which he will ride in a good form. He can still participate in the other tours, but might loose against another cyclist that tops for this tour.
=> no longer always the same 20 cyclists that dominate every tour
- a lot of new things to consider while planning your season
- teams can choose what to concentrate on: winning races and have cyclists in top form, or let them train 100%. You can also choose to let your older cyclists go for good results, while you let some younger cyclist concentrate on training.
After this short summary i just want to add that every opinion is welcome. I really hope a lot of people give some advices and suggestions how to make things differently. Ow and don't forget to vote, and please explain your vote.
For the few that were able to read this completely: thanks a lot
)