The Basics #6 - Divisional Alignment

[cthomer5000]

We've already handled important issues like cheerleaders and fictional players. Now that fictional locations appears to be cruising (stalling?) to victory, I figured we might as well kill some time by wrestling with some divisional alignment thoughts.

I scrounged together all the info I could from the city threads to come up with what I believe is everyones current choices. Feel free to submit your info (or changes) so we can start tossing out ideas.

<font size=3>Official-ish Team Location and Name List</font>
<font face=courier>
Player Location Team Name

albionmoonlight Fairbanks, AK Fairbanks Northstars
Bee Fairfax, VA
Blackadar Boulder, CO
Buccaneer Syracuse, NY Syracuse Mohawk
Buzzbee Vicksburg, MI
Celeval Georgia Georgia Gridlock
Chief Rum Anaheim, CA
cthomer5000 North Plainfield, NJ North Plainfield Plague
cuervo72 Frederick, MD Frederick Red Menace
Daimyo Indianapolis, IN
Darkiller Paris, France Paris Muskateers
FBPro Tennessee
Fritz Hampton Roads, VA Virginia Victory
GrantDawg Covington, GA Covington Newts
Hell Atlantic Astoria, NY Astoria Heroes
HornedFrogPurple Fort Worth, TX Fort Worth Fury
Jason TobiasIV San Jose, CA
Kodos Rochester, NY
KWhit Conyers, GA
mckerney Minnesota
MIJB#19 Maassluis, Netherlands
primelord St. Louis, MO
QuikSand Chesapeake, MD Chesapeake Chitterlings<font color=red>
Ryan S</font>
SackAttack Brooklyn, NY
Samdari Springfield, VA
Senator San Antonio, TX San Antonio Volunteers
SkyDog Tucker, GA Tucker Tigers<font color=red>
solecismic</font>
Subby Leesburg, VA Leesburg Generals
TroyF Stillwater, OK
Vince San Luis Obispo, CA San Luis Obispo Burn
</font>

[cthomer5000]

<font size=3>Potential Division Alignments</font>
<font face=courier>

Deep South
----------
HornedFrogPurple Fort Worth, TX
Senator San Antonio, TX
TroyF Stillwater, OK
Buzzbee Vicksburg, Miss


Frequent Flyers
---------------
Darkiller Paris, France
MIJB#19 Maassluis, Netherlands
albionmoonlight Fairbanks, AK<font color=blue>
Ryan S ???</font>


Georgia
-------
GrantDawg Covington, GA
KWhit Conyers, GA
SkyDog Tucker, GA
Celeval Georgia


Mid-Atlantic
------------
SackAttack Brooklyn, NY
cuervo72 Frederick, MD
QuikSand Cheasapeake, MD (?)
Hell Atlantic Astoria, NY


Midwest
-------
Daimyo Indianapolis, IN
mckerney Minnesota
primelord St Louis, MO
FBPro Tennessee


Northeast
---------
Buccaneer Syracuse, NY
Kodos Rochester, NY
cthomer5000 North Plainfield, NJ<font color=blue>
Solecismic ???</font>


Virginia
--------------
Bee Fairfax, VA
Samdari Springfield, VA
Fritz Hampton Roads, VA
Subby Leesburg, VA


West
----
Chief Rum Anaheim, CA
Blackadar Boulder, CO
Vince San Luis Obispo, CA
JasonTobiasIV San Jose, CA</font>
Notes:
<font color=blue>blue font</font> denotes unconfirmed info
Ryan S is overseas...right?
haven't heard from Solecismic, but will assume Northeast until I hear otherwise.
I (cthomer) would make more sense in the Mid-Atlantic, but I'd have to break up Astoria and Brooklyn to do so. Doesn't seem worth it to me.

http://s90012292.onlinehome.us/fofc/ihof_west.jpghttp://s90012292.onlinehome.us/fofc/ihof_northeast.jpg
http://s90012292.onlinehome.us/fofc/ihof_georgia.jpghttp://s90012292.onlinehome.us/fofc/ihof_virginia.jpg

[cuervo72]

Glad to see someone put this list together, I'd thought of it but never bothered. I'm willing to be switched around anywhere BTW, so I'm not married to my city/nickname choice (Fritz has me especially questioning the nickname anyhow).

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by cuervo72
Glad to see someone put this list together, I'd thought of it but never bothered. I'm willing to be switched around anywhere BTW, so I'm not married to my city/nickname choice (Fritz has me especially questioning the nickname anyhow).

And obviously this is a work in progress. We don't have info for so many people right now that I'm just tossing out some groupings that may help as starting points for determining the alignment. I think it would be fun to set it up regionally, but obviously there will be some exceptions. For instance, someone will get stuck in the international divison... but I guess we can try our best.

Personally, I'd like to be grouped geographically, but I'd gladly bite the bullet and jump into an oddball division to make things work out better for the rest of the league.

[cuervo72]

I still think the Rigel IV team should be in the International Division :)

(I wonder if there is an easy way to hack the division names considering Jim doesn't allow us to change them)

[Darkiller]

If we decide to go with "fictionnal" team names than it's the
Paris Musketeers for me (the name of my Fantasy football team every year)

[albionmoonlight]

I just decided to put my team in Fairbanks, AK. The only thing that we should consider for my team is to either replace a city that has naturally cold weather, or to put my team in a dome. (We don't get to hack the weather when we cosmetically change our cities, right?)

I can be in any division.

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by albionmoonlight
I just decided to put my team in Fairbanks, AK. The only thing that we should consider for my team is to either replace a city that has naturally cold weather, or to put my team in a dome. (We don't get to hack the weather when we cosmetically change our cities, right?)

I don't believe we can do anything about the weather or stadiums. I guess we can make step 1 figuring out the divisions, and then step 2 deciding which real-life divisions they should take over to best fit their geographical makeup.

[Fritz]

while I like all the talk, I keep thinking we are ahead of ourselves.

[Darkiller]

probably...

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by Fritz
while I like all the talk, I keep thinking we are ahead of ourselves.

In terms of city names, I don't really see how. Jim has stated we'll be stuck with the starting 32 teams, and with 8 4-team divisions.

I think this is probably the only aspect of the league we can discuss with any degree of certainty.

[Kodos]

I thought of putting the Rigel IV Marauders in the International (Interplanetary?) Division as well. :)

I could also go for Rochester for my team, or Chicago. Whatever works best for the league is fine with me.

[FBPro]

I take it my team would be in some "southern" division since it will be based in TN.

[Subby]

I'd like to be in the same division as Quik, Fritz, cuervo, Bee, and Samdari, if possible...

[cuervo72]

I think we are missing the DC division. And Ryan S should be International if he goes with something in Scotland. I think there is a lot missing from this list that was actually in your previous list in the 'team names and cities' thread (http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~fof/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15406)?

Edit: DC could be the 'Capital' division, and I'm not sure if I'd be in it or not. I've seen myself there, the atlantic, and the northeast, so who knows.

[Fritz]

Originally posted by Subby
I'd like to be in the same division as Quik, Fritz, cuervo, Bee, and Samdari, if possible...

I am for this. It would allow the heated Fritz/Subby rivalry to continue. Sort of like highlander, but sillier, and with puppets.

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by cuervo72
I think we are missing the DC division. And Ryan S should be International if he goes with something in Scotland. I think there is a lot missing from this list that was actually in your previous list in the 'team names and cities' thread (http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~fof/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15406)?

Edit: DC could be the 'Capital' division, and I'm not sure if I'd be in it or not. I've seen myself there, the atlantic, and the northeast, so who knows.

All that info came from where people are actually located. I decided I didn't want to make the assumption that those who haven't chimed in want their teams located there. I'll await input from those who haven't officially declared their team's location. It would suck to guess wrong and have to re-work a bunch of divisions.

[Fritz]

cthomer5000


I will be in hampton roads VA, but not sure what location name I plan to use. I have a team name, but am keeping it to myself for now.

Edit: if subby does not take it, as I think he might, I would like "Virginia."

[Anthony]

my team name will be the Astoria Heroes. i'm from Astoria, NY. i think i should be in the north east division if there is one.

and i also agree that much of this talk is premature. we don't have our own website yet which should priority #1. this forum is a nice temporary home, but you need like 10 different forums to break all the info up.

[JasonTobiasIV]

Oklahoma City Bombers
or
New Compton Prophecy
or
Indiana Jones
or
Sacramento Freshmakers
or
Albuquerque Turnicuts
or
Kingston Trio
or
San Jose Uribes <-- if not SJU I want to Puerto Rico Suaves or Kingston Trio, or Alabama Black Snakes.. I already have logos for these and many more.. They rule.. I would be Buffalo Wings, with no chicken pic but an excellent jet bomber I stole.

[Subby]

My team will be based in Leesburg, VA.... the Leesburg Generals

[Fritz]

Originally posted by Subby
My team will be based in Leesburg, VA.... the Leesburg Generals

Then I will take a generic "Virginia." The Virginia Victory.

[Darkiller]

I don't mind which division I play in, although there's no question that having my friend MIJB with me would make it up for a great european rivalry...

A lot of fine people here, a lot of competition : I CAN'T WAIT to battle off.
(Will be the first to win multiple championships ! Jim Fassell guarantee style)

[Vince]

I have no problem being 'relegated' to the international division, if need be. I'd rather not change my team name (I'm rather fond of it, and it's even QuikSand approved :)), but it's not a deal breaker for me if necessary.

[cuervo72]

Originally posted by Darkiller

A lot of fine people here, a lot of competition : I CAN'T WAIT to battle off.
(Will be the first to win multiple championships ! Jim Fassell guarantee style)

And if you're not you'll whine about being "cursed". :D

[Buzzbee]

I don't know if it would be considered "fictional" but I'm kinda partial to Tampa. Possible names might be the Tampa Tornados, Tampa Bay Stingrays, Tampa Tampons, Tampa Twisters (I can hear the tittie twister jokes now), Tampa Toros, Tampa Bay Trebuchet.

If no Tampa, then perhaps the Lincoln Logs. Just kidding.

Hmmm...Starting to like the Vicksburg Vipers. I could go Vicksburg Mississippi if needed geographically.

[Darkiller]

LOLOL

[JasonTobiasIV]

Sacramento 'Neggars (For Arnold.. Im totally not the guy who talks that biased bullshit..)

In fact I would erase this had I not began typing 25 seconds earlier.

[MIJB#19]

If I can have a preference, I'd like to be in the same division as some of the following due to history at FOFC and related events:
Blackadar, Buccaneer, Darkiller, Hell Atlantic, mckerney, QuikSand and/or SackAttack.

[cthomer5000]

Well, FOF2004's first screen shot (http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~fof/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15812) has made this process much more complex. We apparently will be able to redefine the starting cities. So if we want, we can make city changes "real" rather than cosmetic only.

[cuervo72]

Well, except for Paris and Rigel IV anyway :D

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by cuervo72
Well, except for Paris and Rigel IV anyway :D

Maybe we can ask for a patch to take care of those. :D

[albionmoonlight]

If my city choice is real, then I don't know if I want to be in Alaska. My only pitch to FAs is that "Hey, it's closer than Rigel IV."

[cuervo72]

I'm sure we can still tinker with names like we used to to make a couple of the cities look like Alaska, or Rigel IV (or Frederick for that matter). But this will still be nice, we don't have to make New York into Paris for instance.

[KODIAKBEAR]

Hello Fellow team owners, If there is an extra space, could I possibly get in on this, I live in Kodiak Alaska, but I am a Chicago Bear fan, and have no problem placing my team in Chicago.



Sincerely Clifton.

[cthomer5000]

bumping to start working on alignment maybe

[cuervo72]

Yes, I think it will be good to start nailing some of this stuff down.

Edit: it might be helpful to associate the made up divisions with real divisions (put them in parens or something), and put them all there; right now there are 7 listed? The Atlanta division for instance would naturally be the NFC South.

[Vince]

I like the idea of the divisional alignment in that second post of this thread...the only questions being where are BuzzBee and Tobias going to settle, and are primelord, Ryan S and Solecismic going to play?

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by Vince
I like the idea of the divisional alignment in that second post of this thread...the only questions being where are BuzzBee and Tobias going to settle, and are primelord, Ryan S and Solecismic going to play?

Tobias apparently settled on San Jose. I guess we'll have to see about the others. I'll PM prime, ryan, and Buzzbee. I'll ask SkyDog about whether Jim is in or out as well.

[cuervo72]

cthomer - we're going to have to break that Atlantic/DC division up somehow. Either creating a more southern atlantic division and including Buzzbee, or you moving out of the NY division and into one, or something.

Or maybe Rochester and Syracuse could move to the Midwest?

Also, I'd be willing to move anywhere, I could come up with another team name. Or we could just have a couple of divisions that are close but don't fit exactly.

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by cuervo72
cthomer - we're going to have to break that Atlantic/DC division up somehow. Either creating a more southern atlantic division and including Buzzbee, or you moving out of the NY division and into one, or something.

Or maybe Rochester and Syracuse could move to the Midwest?

Also, I'd be willing to move anywhere, I could come up with another team name. Or we could just have a couple of divisions that are close but don't fit exactly.

Agreed. I'm completely willing to jump out of a tight division into a "anything goes" one as well. I don't care. I'm just waiting to hear on the last few teams, and then we can really do our best to ratchet things together.

[cthomer5000]

added a potential split of the Atlantic coast into Virgina and Mid-Atlantic divisions.

edit: breaking up Astoria and Brooklyn seems like a really stupid idea. Perhaps moving Rochester and/or Syracuse west makes more sense.

[Samdari]

Why not all four together, ct? seems to make the most sense.

Does it matter that much if you have an open spot in the mid-atlantic vs the northeast?

[Samdari]

Another question cthomer.

Your above alignment has 28 teams in divisions. Three listed as awaiting placement. See where this is going?

[primelord]

Sorry cthomer I didn't see this thread. You can put my team in St. Louis, MO and I am fine with any divisional alignment although Midwest obviously seems to make the most sense.

[Kodos]

My team can be in Chicago if that helps with logical division alignments. I'd like to be in primelord's division so I can beat on him regularly. ;)

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by Samdari
Another question cthomer.

Your above alignment has 28 teams in divisions. Three listed as awaiting placement. See where this is going?

fixed. we got primelord's info, and are still waiting for 3 more. (i missed Ryan S last time).

[Samdari]

This is way more fun than my job. Can we re-align Europe next?

Put the New Hampshire Gindin's in the Mega-Mid-Atlantic. Divide as necesary.

Put the Scotland Sheep in the FF division.

The Vicksburg Vipers in the Deep South, with either Tenn or Stillwater moving to the midwest. Rename this the redneck division and you'll get lots of volunteers to move.

[Kodos]

I'd fit into the Midwest nicely with the Chicago Fire. Hint hint.

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by Kodos
I'd fit into the Midwest nicely with the Chicago Fire. Hint hint.

noted! lets wait and see where the others want their teams first though, then we can either toss you back to Chicago, or keep you planted in Rochester.

[Buccaneer]

You forgot to list the Syracuse Mohawks as the team name, which was prominently advertised by cuervo.

[Noop]

Is it to late for me to join?

[cthomer5000]

Rough draft of the divisions up. Please speak up if you see any glaring geographical anomalies.

Also chime in with any thoughts on conference affiliations. I think one easy setup would be East/West. everything west of Georgia in the western conference, everything else in the east. Id be fine with absolutely any setup though, even a random drawing.
In the long run, I don't think it will matter.

[Buzzbee]

You can go ahead and slot me for Vicksburg. Seems like it will make alignment easier than Tampa.

[Vince]

With no apparent method to my madness, I'd prefer something other than East/West. Couldn't tell you why...

EDIT: Huh, didn't notice it until now, but the map is cool, cthomer. The northwest and Florida are barren areas...

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by Vince
With no apparent method to my madness, I'd prefer something other than East/West. Couldn't tell you why...

EDIT: Huh, didn't notice it until now, but the map is cool, cthomer. The northwest and Florida are barren areas...

It is a pretty interesting distribution of teams. Just heavy concentrations in certain areas.

I think perhaps a random drawing for conferences would be best. it would proably help increase the variety of opponents (or something).

[Buzzbee]

Note: Team name for Buzzbee will be Vicksburg Vipers. If Cuervo or Fritz or anyone else want to fiddle around with helmets/logos/unis I'd be grateful.

I'm thinking black and gold. Perhaps a coiled black viper, ready to strike, on a gold helmet. Red eyes. Definitely red eyes. No that you'd be able to see them, but definitely red eyes.

Either black pants and gold/white home/away jerseys, or gold pants with black/white home/away jerseys.


Or anything that you guys come up with...well, almost anything. I'm afraid of what Fritz might come up with if I give him totally free reign.

[Samdari]

Originally posted by Vince
The northwest and Florida are barren areas...

This statement works on so many levels.

Nice job cthomer.

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by Samdari
This statement works on so many levels.

Nice job cthomer.

thanks.

How about we split up the regions closest together? Essentially giving each conference a full geographic presence... This would more accurately reflect the real NFL.


the "similiar" divisions:
Mid-Atlantic/Northeast
West/Frequent Flyers
Midwest/Deep South
Georgia/Virginia

a sample random assignment:

AFC
-----
Northeast (N)
Georgia (E)
Deep South (S)
Frequent Flyers (W)

NFC
-----
Midwest (N)
Mid-Atlantic (E)
Virginia (S)
West (W)

[Buzzbee]

Originally posted by cthomer5000
thanks.

How about we split up the regions closest together? Essentially giving each conference a full geographic presence... This would more accurately reflect the real NFL.


the "similiar" divisions:
Mid-Atlantic/Northeast
West/Frequent Flyers
Midwest/Deep South
Georgia/Virginia

a sample random assignment:

AFC
-----
Northeast (N)
Georgia (E)
Deep South (S)
Frequent Flyers (W)

NFC
-----
Midwest (N)
Mid-Atlantic (E)
Virginia (S)
West (W)

Or perhaps:

AFC
-----
Northeast (N)
Virgina (E)
Deep South (S)
Frequent Flyers (W)

NFC
-----
Midwest (N)
Mid-Atlantic (E)
Georgia (S)
West (W)

[cuervo72]

Hmm, I like having the Mid-Atlantic and Virginia together...(of course, that way I'd *never* win, but hey...)

[Noop]

Is it to late for me to join?

[Kodos]

Yes. But I'm sure people will drop out down the line. I don't know if we have an official wait list.

Oh, and I hate your sig. ;)

[Noop]

Originally posted by Kodos
Oh, and I hate your sig. ;)

Sue me :rolleyes:

[albionmoonlight]

I think that the division allignment is fine.

[Vince]

I agree.

[cuervo72]

Works for me. I'd say the next thing is to put it to a formal vote.

[Kodos]

I like this alignment too.