The one thing you HAVE TO DO for FOF 2004 success is...

[Phoenix]

... what???

I say have a strong offensive line more than anything else.

What do you say???

[Anthony]

get that monster QB. life is a cakewalk after that.

[Fonzie]

get that monster QB. life is a cakewalk after that.

Ayup.

FOF2k4 is all about dominant quarterbacking.

[Phoenix]

Is the Front Office Bowl Winner always the team with the best QB?

My experience says not always.

[stevew]

Dominant QB'ing is the correct answer. I thought you could win with above average QBing, but until I traded for a stud QB in muliplayer, i never won a title.

[JS19]

Agreed, QB is a must to win.

[Franklinnoble]

Agree with the monster QB theory.

[Phoenix]

So what you're saying is find a great QB and slap the franchise tag on him year after year?

[stevew]

Is the Front Office Bowl Winner always the team with the best QB?

My experience says not always.

Its a lot easier to win with one, that is for certain.

[stevew]

So what you're saying is find a great QB and slap the franchise tag on him year after year?

Giddyup.

[SackAttack]

... what???

I say have a strong offensive line more than anything else.

What do you say???

The strong offensive line is useful for protecting the quarterback, but he's the straw that stirs the drink.

[SirFozzie]

The one thing you have to do for FOF2004 success?

Cheat.

[sovereignstar]

The one thing you have to do for FOF2004 success?

Cheat.

jshipman sucked balls in the IFL. Just thought I'd make note of that.

[st.cronin]

Just play bump and run defense all the time.

[Swaggs]

I'd say the monster QB is the way to go.

I personally enjoy building the o-line and playing ball control.

[QuikSand]

Think.

[SackAttack]

Think.

And sign a kicker who makes his field goals.

[sovereignstar]

And sign a kicker who makes his field goals.

Will a punter suffice?

[JeeberD]

jshipman sucked balls in the IFL. Just thought I'd make note of that.

And in the CFL as well...

[Swaggs]

Think.

Cut all the existing players on the roster?

[stevew]

If you don't like the way the game does rookie contracts, or if you wife is mad you play too much FOF and don't bang her enough, you can always invent some ways to win easier.

[Eaglesfan27]

Think.

Agreed. While clearly a monster QB helps, I think just sticking to a well thought out plan is the key. If you are going to build a ball control, defense first team, make sure you invest heavily in the areas that are going to help you pull that plan off and not overpay for non-necessary positions to that plan. Also, I think looking for specialists in certain roles rather than overall great players who command more top dollar is also vital.

[Joe]

throw the ball 73 times each game

[SackAttack]

throw the ball 73 times each game

But 73 was only good enough for a tie. Shouldn't you go 74, just to be safe?

[gottimd]

<TABLE width="80%" bgColor=#00cfcf border=1><TBODY><TR><TH>Team</TH><TH>Maximize</TH><TH>Minimize</TH><TH>Fan Support</TH></TR><TR><TD>Arizona</TD><TD>MelissaGilbert</TD><TD>AlisonArngrim</TD><TD>MichaelLandon</TD></TR><TR><TD>Atlanta</TD><TD>AlfredHitchcock</TD><TD>StevenSpielberg</TD><TD>BrianDePalma</TD></TR><TR><TD>Baltimore</TD><TD>DaleCooper</TD><TD>AudreyHorne</TD><TD>LauraPalmer</TD></TR><TR><TD>Buffalo</TD><TD>GilbertPerreault</TD><TD>JohnRigas</TD><TD>TimHorton</TD></TR><TR><TD>Carolina</TD><TD>Clarissa</TD><TD>Garfield</TD><TD>Penelope</TD></TR><TR><TD>Chicago</TD><TD>NormPeterson</TD><TD>CliffClavin</TD><TD>DianeChambers</TD></TR><TR><TD>Cincinnati</TD><TD>HowardHesseman</TD><TD>FrankBonner</TD><TD>JanSmithers</TD></TR><TR><TD>Cleveland</TD><TD>Crimson</TD><TD>Scarlet</TD><TD>Cherry</TD></TR><TR><TD>Dallas</TD><TD>PhilElliott</TD><TD>ConradHunter</TD><TD>SethMaxwell</TD></TR><TR><TD>Denver</TD><TD>Gilligan</TD><TD>RufusButterworth</TD><TD>MaynardGKrebs</TD></TR><TR><TD>Detroit</TD><TD>PotsyClark</TD><TD>WayneFontes</TD><TD>BuddyParker</TD></TR><TR><TD>Green Bay</TD><TD>MaxineStewart</TD><TD>CarterPike</TD><TD>KimberlyBrock</TD></TR><TR><TD>Houston</TD><TD>ScottBakula</TD><TD>ReneeColeman</TD><TD>DeanStockwell</TD></TR><TR><TD>Indianapolis</TD><TD>AJFoyt</TD><TD>HelioCastroneves</TD><TD>RickMears</TD></TR><TR><TD>Jacksonville</TD><TD>LaToya</TD><TD>Michael</TD><TD>Marlon</TD></TR><TR><TD>Kansas City</TD><TD>SatchelPaige</TD><TD>EnosSlaughter</TD><TD>JoshGibson</TD></TR><TR><TD>Miami</TD><TD>BobGriese</TD><TD>MercuryMorris</TD><TD>LarryCsonka</TD></TR><TR><TD>Minnesota</TD><TD>MaryRichards</TD><TD>TedBaxter</TD><TD>RhodaMorgenstern</TD></TR><TR><TD>New England</TD><TD>Amherst</TD><TD>Hartford</TD><TD>Foxborough</TD></TR><TR><TD>New Jersey</TD><TD>JohannesKepler</TD><TD>CarlSagan</TD><TD>NicolasCopernicus</TD></TR><TR><TD>New Orleans</TD><TD>AnniePotts</TD><TD>DeltaBurke</TD><TD>JeanSmart</TD></TR><TR><TD>New York</TD><TD>RussellCrowe</TD><TD>JoaquinPhoenix</TD><TD>ConnieNielsen</TD></TR><TR><TD>Oakland</TD><TD>JesseJames</TD><TD>ButchCassidy</TD><TD>WyattEarp</TD></TR><TR><TD>Philadelphia</TD><TD>Albatross</TD><TD>Ostrich</TD><TD>Vulture</TD></TR><TR><TD>Pittsburgh</TD><TD>TomCruise</TD><TD>CraigTNelson</TD><TD>LeaThompson</TD></TR><TR><TD>St. Louis</TD><TD>RobertDeNiro</TD><TD>ChristopherWalken</TD><TD>MerylStreep</TD></TR><TR><TD>San Diego</TD><TD>JohnRitter</TD><TD>NormanFell</TD><TD>JoyceDeWitt</TD></TR><TR><TD>San Francisco</TD><TD>MontanaWildhack</TD><TD>KilgoreTrout</TD><TD>EliotRosewater</TD></TR><TR><TD>Seattle</TD><TD>SidMeier</TD><TD>BillGates</TD><TD>RonGilbert</TD></TR><TR><TD>Tampa Bay</TD><TD>SteveSpurrier</TD><TD>JohnMcKay</TD><TD>LeeRoySelmon</TD></TR><TR><TD>Tennessee</TD><TD>ChumleyWalrus</TD><TD>CommanderMcBragg</TD><TD>YaketyYak</TD></TR><TR><TD>Washington</TD><TD>JimmyCarter</TD><TD>RossPerot</TD><TD>GeraldFord</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[Emiliano]

-Find a great QB
-Build a solid O-line

[chinaski]

Besides mega QB, im a big advocate of keeping your cohesion high as possible and avoiding conflicts.

[TroyF]

Agreed. While clearly a monster QB helps, I think just sticking to a well thought out plan is the key. If you are going to build a ball control, defense first team, make sure you invest heavily in the areas that are going to help you pull that plan off and not overpay for non-necessary positions to that plan. Also, I think looking for specialists in certain roles rather than overall great players who command more top dollar is also vital.


This is the beauty and the curse of FOF. ANY well thought out plan will work.

You can build whatever type of team you want and win. I've won with everything from the 2000 Rams style offense to the '86 Giants style. I've won with aggressive defenses that blitz the hell out of the QB and defenses that play bend but don't break.

It's easy to make a mistake like you talked about above. I'm building a blitz happy defense/ball control offense, but the WR looks SO good, I have to have him. Plan=blown up.

Follow the plan, you win.

All of that said, if there is one plan that works better than any other, it's get the franchise QB and get him quick.

[Phoenix]

With regards to your "plan" --- do you set the gameplan and/or call the plays to implement your "plan?"

Will my plan work if I just let the staff handle gameplans and play calling?

[Phoenix]

<TABLE width="80%" bgColor=#00cfcf border=1><TBODY><TR><TH>Team</TH><TH>Maximize</TH><TH>Minimize</TH><TH>Fan Support</TH></TR><TR><TD>Arizona</TD><TD>MelissaGilbert</TD><TD>AlisonArngrim</TD><TD>MichaelLandon</TD></TR><TR><TD>Atlanta</TD><TD>AlfredHitchcock</TD><TD>StevenSpielberg</TD><TD>BrianDePalma</TD></TR><TR><TD>Baltimore</TD><TD>DaleCooper</TD><TD>AudreyHorne</TD><TD>LauraPalmer</TD></TR><TR><TD>Buffalo</TD><TD>GilbertPerreault</TD><TD>JohnRigas</TD><TD>TimHorton</TD></TR><TR><TD>Carolina</TD><TD>Clarissa</TD><TD>Garfield</TD><TD>Penelope</TD></TR><TR><TD>Chicago</TD><TD>NormPeterson</TD><TD>CliffClavin</TD><TD>DianeChambers</TD></TR><TR><TD>Cincinnati</TD><TD>HowardHesseman</TD><TD>FrankBonner</TD><TD>JanSmithers</TD></TR><TR><TD>Cleveland</TD><TD>Crimson</TD><TD>Scarlet</TD><TD>Cherry</TD></TR><TR><TD>Dallas</TD><TD>PhilElliott</TD><TD>ConradHunter</TD><TD>SethMaxwell</TD></TR><TR><TD>Denver</TD><TD>Gilligan</TD><TD>RufusButterworth</TD><TD>MaynardGKrebs</TD></TR><TR><TD>Detroit</TD><TD>PotsyClark</TD><TD>WayneFontes</TD><TD>BuddyParker</TD></TR><TR><TD>Green Bay</TD><TD>MaxineStewart</TD><TD>CarterPike</TD><TD>KimberlyBrock</TD></TR><TR><TD>Houston</TD><TD>ScottBakula</TD><TD>ReneeColeman</TD><TD>DeanStockwell</TD></TR><TR><TD>Indianapolis</TD><TD>AJFoyt</TD><TD>HelioCastroneves</TD><TD>RickMears</TD></TR><TR><TD>Jacksonville</TD><TD>LaToya</TD><TD>Michael</TD><TD>Marlon</TD></TR><TR><TD>Kansas City</TD><TD>SatchelPaige</TD><TD>EnosSlaughter</TD><TD>JoshGibson</TD></TR><TR><TD>Miami</TD><TD>BobGriese</TD><TD>MercuryMorris</TD><TD>LarryCsonka</TD></TR><TR><TD>Minnesota</TD><TD>MaryRichards</TD><TD>TedBaxter</TD><TD>RhodaMorgenstern</TD></TR><TR><TD>New England</TD><TD>Amherst</TD><TD>Hartford</TD><TD>Foxborough</TD></TR><TR><TD>New Jersey</TD><TD>JohannesKepler</TD><TD>CarlSagan</TD><TD>NicolasCopernicus</TD></TR><TR><TD>New Orleans</TD><TD>AnniePotts</TD><TD>DeltaBurke</TD><TD>JeanSmart</TD></TR><TR><TD>New York</TD><TD>RussellCrowe</TD><TD>JoaquinPhoenix</TD><TD>ConnieNielsen</TD></TR><TR><TD>Oakland</TD><TD>JesseJames</TD><TD>ButchCassidy</TD><TD>WyattEarp</TD></TR><TR><TD>Philadelphia</TD><TD>Albatross</TD><TD>Ostrich</TD><TD>Vulture</TD></TR><TR><TD>Pittsburgh</TD><TD>TomCruise</TD><TD>CraigTNelson</TD><TD>LeaThompson</TD></TR><TR><TD>St. Louis</TD><TD>RobertDeNiro</TD><TD>ChristopherWalken</TD><TD>MerylStreep</TD></TR><TR><TD>San Diego</TD><TD>JohnRitter</TD><TD>NormanFell</TD><TD>JoyceDeWitt</TD></TR><TR><TD>San Francisco</TD><TD>MontanaWildhack</TD><TD>KilgoreTrout</TD><TD>EliotRosewater</TD></TR><TR><TD>Seattle</TD><TD>SidMeier</TD><TD>BillGates</TD><TD>RonGilbert</TD></TR><TR><TD>Tampa Bay</TD><TD>SteveSpurrier</TD><TD>JohnMcKay</TD><TD>LeeRoySelmon</TD></TR><TR><TD>Tennessee</TD><TD>ChumleyWalrus</TD><TD>CommanderMcBragg</TD><TD>YaketyYak</TD></TR><TR><TD>Washington</TD><TD>JimmyCarter</TD><TD>RossPerot</TD><TD>GeraldFord</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


WHAT THE HECK DOES THIS MEAN?

[st.cronin]

lol

yo phoenix

[Swaggs]

WHAT THE HECK DOES THIS MEAN?

That is old school.

[Eaglesfan27]

With regards to your "plan" --- do you set the gameplan and/or call the plays to implement your "plan?"

Will my plan work if I just let the staff handle gameplans and play calling?

In MP or any other career I care about, I always implement my own gameplans. You can't truly implement a "plan" 100% unless you do your own gameplans.

[TroyF]

With regards to your "plan" --- do you set the gameplan and/or call the plays to implement your "plan?"

Will my plan work if I just let the staff handle gameplans and play calling?


The plan is usually strictly roster management. You tweak a gameplan here or there on occasion, but it's really more about finding the right guys to fit your system.

The fact any plan works is really what started my interest in QS's house rules. More than the AI flaws the game has, you really had to challenge yourself because you could win doing anything.

I wish it were nearly impossible to win with a dominant defense and a ball control offense, I wouldn't have needed house rules and challenges.

[Anthony]

any plan does not work. against the AI in a single player career - yes. over time the AI does not build up it's team like a human does. ever wonder why you can have a dynasty and win 4 championships in 5 years, yet no AI team never really seems to win more than 2 in a row?

in MP - no. any plan does not work. you need a monster QB and a generally pass happy team. in the MP league i was in no team that won the championship had a QB that was average or low rated. every team had a good to awesome QB. no coincidence. nothing makes up for having a great QB. yes, you can tweak a couple setting here and there and try to get cute and you'll wind up winning a couple more games than you were meant to, but you're not going to win the championship.

anyone who tells you different thinks he's too smart, but ask him when was the last time he won a championship in his league after his QB Jaime Canter retired.

[Suburban Rhythm]

If you don't like the way the game does rookie contracts, or if you wife is mad you play too much FOF and don't bang her enough, you can always invent some ways to win easier.

Can your wife talk to my wife?

[Subby]

Don't listen to these guys. Get a running back with high ratings in route running and outside running and pound the ball from the goal line formation and you are going to totally pwn thine enemies.

[MIJB#19]

I'm not 100% sure about the Monster QB, but if you can have only 1 great player, it has to be the QB. When your system is good, a 2nd tier QB can be good enough, providing you have a big LT who can protect him. And depth is third, depending on the injury settings in the league you're in.

[stevew]

Can your wife talk to my wife?

It was some reference to some crazy guy in the past who's wife was mad he played too much FOF and then he cheated to get caught.

[Bee]

If you're talking about multiplayer success, the best strategy is to find a bunch of guys who don't know what they are doing and join their league. Sadly, I believe the IHOF is full though....

;)

[wade moore]

any plan does not work. against the AI in a single player career - yes. over time the AI does not build up it's team like a human does. ever wonder why you can have a dynasty and win 4 championships in 5 years, yet no AI team never really seems to win more than 2 in a row?

in MP - no. any plan does not work. you need a monster QB and a generally pass happy team. in the MP league i was in no team that won the championship had a QB that was average or low rated. every team had a good to awesome QB. no coincidence. nothing makes up for having a great QB. yes, you can tweak a couple setting here and there and try to get cute and you'll wind up winning a couple more games than you were meant to, but you're not going to win the championship.

anyone who tells you different thinks he's too smart, but ask him when was the last time he won a championship in his league after his QB Jaime Canter retired.

I was talking about this with cthomer5000 just the other day...

None of those teams had a RB that was average or low rated either, so why does everyone always tie it to the QB?

[Anthony]

I was talking about this with cthomer5000 just the other day...

None of those teams had a RB that was average or low rated either, so why does everyone always tie it to the QB?

so you can't key in on the QB. i always had Bam Bam (MVP stud RB who broke several rushing records one particular season that have probably been broken since). Dean Houston had a monster RB named George Muldoon who i demanded 1,000 rushing yard seasons from while only giving him 15 or so carries a game.

that goes for real life - what Super Bowl winning QB since 1980 ever really did so without an adequate running game?

[Warhammer]

I think EagleFan27 said it best.

Formulate a plan and stick to it, whether it is MP or SP. Use SP to test out theories. Or, use rebuilding years in MP for the same purpose, as you can see how people will react to different things.

In MP leagues, I think most GMs are poor game planners. Some are great at one aspect of the game, but suck at another. I have seen plenty of teams with gobs of talent underachieve. Much of this can be masked with a stud QB, since he can make plays all by himself. However, your team must be more than one player.

You then need to determine where you are going to spend your money. Are you going to focus on the OL, running game, passing game, defense, etc.? Key to this is figuring out what you want to do. If you are going to be a balanced offensive team, chances are you are going to have to focus on getting a stud OL that can run block and pass block. If you opt for passing OR running, you can save money on the OL by getting guys that do one thing well.

The key is finding bargains. How much of a difference is there between a OG rated 64 and 75? How much can you save in getting the 64 guy? Some positions are rip-offs, WRs are typically not worth the money they are paid, nor are the stud RBs. But, if you can get a set of the second tier guys, they can be bargains. Don't forget, if you get a stud WR, he isn't going to be much with a 25 rated WR, and the opposite is true as well.

You can also game plan to mask the weaknesses of your players, so try to keep weaknesses and strengths the same across your players. Again, on the OL, having 3 guys good at run blocking, while 2 suck at it, and having 3 guys that suck at pass blocking, while 2 are good at it, is only going to result in a team that can't pass or run the ball well.

That is the beauty of FOF2k4, you can do almost anything you want. If you really enjoy the game, I encourage you to join one of the online leagues, because that is where the game really shines.

[wade moore]

so you can't key in on the QB. i always had Bam Bam (MVP stud RB who broke several rushing records one particular season that have probably been broken since). Dean Houston had a monster RB named George Muldoon who i demanded 1,000 rushing yard seasons from while only giving him 15 or so carries a game.

that goes for real life - what Super Bowl winning QB since 1980 ever really did so without an adequate running game?

But everyone says, "You can't win in FOF 2k4, especially MP, without a Stud QB".

Why not say, "You can't win in FOF 2k4, especially MP, without a Stud RB"? They seem to both be true.

[VPI97]

I'm a firm believer in that you can make a winner out of a team as long as your gameplan is solid. Having a great QB is a tremendous asset, but it doesn't guarentee success...you have to surround him with useful parts and play to the strengths of your players.

[cuervo72]

I'm a firm believer in that you can make a winner out of a team as long as your gameplan is solid. Having a great QB is a tremendous asset, but it doesn't guarentee success...you have to surround him with useful parts and play to the strengths of your players.

Hrm....define "winner". ;)

[Coffee Warlord]

Which, of course, the gameplan necessity in MP is a large reason why I don't *play* MP. I've always found setting up a big customized gameplan to be absolutely tedious (even worse than the dread time management in TCY). Hate it, hate it, hate it.

Long wished there was a sort of "template" system in setting up gameplans. A smaller handful of options that you could set to dictate the situational percentages.

[Subby]

Long wished there was a sort of "template" system in setting up gameplans. A smaller handful of options that you could set to dictate the situational percentages.
I pretty much used the same gameplan in GEFL every game this season after perfecting it last season over the course of our Bowl run. I don't think you have to make big changes based on your opponent. *shurg*

[Coffee Warlord]

I pretty much used the same gameplan in GEFL every game this season after perfecting it last season over the course of our Bowl run. I don't think you have to make big changes based on your opponent. *shurg*

Not even saying that. I don't even wanna build one in the first place.

[VPI97]

I pretty much used the same gameplan in GEFL every game this season after perfecting it last season over the course of our Bowl run. I don't think you have to make big changes based on your opponent. *shurg*
I fiddle with my gameplan before every game. Sometimes it works out for the better and I build off of those tweaks, and sometimes things go bad and I revert back to the previous plan. I keep doing it because every once in a while, I feel that it helps me figure out a little more about the game.

[Daimyo]

If you're talking about single player you only really need to do one thing to have success: show up. Anything reasonably resembling trying to win will be successful against AI opponents.