BuzzerBeater Forums

Two things:
First:
By studying the Game Manual, or simply by using best judgement, blank lineup is the logical way to set the lineup with the option Let Coach Decide. It says " entirely the coach's judgment".
When filling the depth chart with players, there´s a logical option to choose: Coach Picks From Depth Chart.

Second:
On the News Page, it still says that the "new" engine is tested in Private League Games, while this is being delayed in the meantime. An announcement solely made in THIS thread surely doesn´t address the majority of the users.

I agree with the change. Like it or not...the game now has only 26,000 users. They need to do something to make it more enjoyable and the way to do that is by making it more challenging. I thought it(blank line ups) were a glitch from the start. To me it is the BB's taking out the trash.

Obviously, this thread has moved from a new feature feedback thread to a discussion on whether this should even be implemented, even though I've warned against this. I'm not happy about most of the posts here as they are neither on topic nor constructive. I have refrained from deleting them because I do want to hear what our users have to say, but my patience has reached a limit and I will not tolerate such posts any more. This is a direct warning.

Let me be clear right away and reiterate: blank lineup will be dealt with, one way or another. The current plan is to, as a first step, test the BL prevention code in the GE, which will be tested again this Friday, until it is perfected. Second, we will consider implementing a stamina effect in the game shape calculation code for training to offset the possible loss of game shape due to "forced" lineups. We might even think of some other measures in the meantime. Then, we will implement the empty lineup prevention code when it's ready for all match types along with the countermeasures.

Since the offseason processing is starting today, I will need to concentrate on that for a couple of days and will therefore have very limited time to post here. Therefore, I urge you to behave, stay on topic and be more constructive with your comments in the meantime. Thank you.

EDIT:

Thank you Westri for the clarification. I deleted my below message to keep us on topic after gaining the understanding that:

1. I can still submit an empty lineup for PL games.
2. Instead of the GE choosing which players to start and substitute, the coach will now fill in a lineup before the GE starts processing the game.


Last edited by Michael Wolf at 7/7/2014 4:27:18 PM

Second, we will consider implementing a stamina effect in the game shape calculation code for training to offset the possible loss of game shape due to "forced" lineups. We might even think of some other measures in the meantime.

Greater control over minute usage would be fantastic.

One of the main problems I have with setting a lineup with high stamina starters means that backups will sometimes barely even play. If there's a better way to set minute usage per position between Starters-Backups-Reserve, this would waylay a lot of our complaints.

I believe between seasons 12 through 20, I set every spot in my lineups, but this meant I could almost never train stamina. Having quality depth was great, but only if the starters had low-middle levels of stamina. Once I started playing LCD/Blank, suddenly minute usage was more evenly spread regardless of stamina levels. This meant that I could now train stamina.

If this change is put into affect, stamina levels should not have an effect on minutes played during a game. I am completely fine removing LCD/Blank, but stamina and minute usage needs to be changed.

Obviously, this thread has moved from a new feature feedback thread to a discussion on whether this should even be implemented, even though I've warned against this. I'm not happy about most of the posts here as they are neither on topic nor constructive.

The past few months, I feel like the BBs have cultivated an environment that encourages player feedback -- playerbase expansion discussions, the Utopia implementation debate, season feedback threads, BB activity on the forums, etc. Making a relatively minor and entirely technical change in the middle of the season and asking for player TESTING without OPINION is very odd. We're not the beta team or QA guys. You could have just posted a news article that it was happening and then checked the results yourself. If you didn't want opinions, I don't think you should open the lines of communication. It's not clear what other purpose this thread could serve.

It's not even clear to me where you're drawing the "constructive" line but here's my comment on this feature:
I like Blank lineups, but I do think they're too strong. I think it would be better to "buff" other options than "nerf" blank lineups. SFDC should be the best, but currently it has far too many problems (all-backup lineups on court, high stamina players ruining gameshape, injuries/foul outs totally destroying your rotation, etc.). I haven't played Hattrick much but don't they have a pretty well-thought-out substitution system? How about more features and more options instead of fewer? I've always wanted to make a team with a Nick Young / Jamal Crawford 6th-man shooter type off the bench, but it just doesn't work very well with the options provided.

Even if you plan on sticking to your guns and removing Blank, you're going about it the wrong way. The News post and this thread are very unclear about what's happening. How is the Blank lineup being prevented? What happens if you try to use one? It seems like you're creating a trap that will only frustrate users. If you want to remove the feature, why let the lineup be submitted as Blank at all? You're talking about "countermeasures"?? Just put in some red text when you try to submit it that "Your coach doesn't understand this depth chart". At season rollover invalidate existing default lineups which may be set as blank and there you go, it's effectively extinct and you don't need player testing or this thread at all.

"Just think of it as if the coach never got the match depth chart and decided to go with his own vision instead. "... isn't this what blanking does already? The coach decides and sticks who he thinks should get minutes at different positions and it works out pretty well. How is this different?

It's different in that it will be a forfeit if you don't set your lineup. Now AI coach picks for you.