Franchise Project

[xcoolxx]

I've been thinking for a while about a DIY kind of franchise. It's definitely going to be a complex and time consuming process, but I'm thinking it will be worth it because I desperately want a good franchise mode experience. The plan is to use both Madden 12 and Madden 13 for the project, so I'm also going to post in the old gen forum. But this post is about ideas to have the best franchise possible so I'm posting here as well hoping someone can give me some more ideas.

I'm going to have a fictional league of 32 created teams (Madden 12 is the last version that allows you to create teams). I will start the league with all of the divisions the same as far as rosters go. (I'll use the Browns, Bengals, Steelers, Ravens rosters to make up one division, but just change the players names so they're "fictional".)

I will be using Madden 13 for the draft classes as I really dislike the scouting system in Madden 12. With Madden 13 you can at least find out what scheme a player fits in and what type of player they are.

I will not be doing the off-season as it is in the game. Instead I'll be coming up with my own system for the decisions teams will make.

I'll start each new season with a fresh franchise after up****** the team's rosters.(Another great aspect of Madden 12 is that you can edit players names and ratings) If there's a 6'5" 230 pound QB drafted as an 80 overall then I'll add Peyton Manning to that team and edit his ratings to be an 80 overall. So on and so forth with each player drafted. I'll also customize each roster to reflect free agency and any trades made.

The plan is to control one team as the coach/GM and come up with a system to use for the other teams for their drafting/roster moves.

I'm going to use coach mode in the games, just calling the plays and letting my team do it's thing. I'm still working on sliders but getting pretty close to where I want them to be I think.

I'm trying to figure out some sort of random number generated system for free agency and the draft. I'd even like to come up with a few trades each year. I'm thinking something like if there's a player around 85 overall or higher but getting older and on a bad team, then the player is less likely to re-sign with that team. Though not to say it couldn't happen. That's where the random number generator comes into play.

Also a similar system for coach firings. Like if a coach has been with a team for 5 or more seasons, coming off a playoff appearance but still no playoff wins that coach could be more likely to be fired than the coach of a bad team that's only been with them for 2 seasons. Not to say either would be fired, just that kind of idea. I'll also have a list of fictional coaches to be hired for teams looking for new coaches.

I feel that figuring out the progression and regression system will be the most difficult. I'm thinking of perhaps basing it on the round they were drafted and then randomly progress players through their 3rd season. Like 1st and 2nd rounders have more potential than 3rd and 4th rounders, not to say they'll reach that potential. And then maybe something similar for regression. Once a player reaches age 30 they could be up for regression, and figure out a system to lessen their ratings. Again, I feel that this will be the hardest to figure out.

And instead of money for the player contracts, I'm thinking of using "Contract Points." As in a QB rated 95-99 overall would be worth say 30 contract points. And maybe an Edge Rusher rated 90-94 would be worth 22 contract points. So in free agency this Edge Rusher would sign a 4 year contract worth 22 contract points per year. This will be difficult to figure out as well.

I'd also like to figure out a rookie wage scale. Maybe the top 5 picks are worth 15 contract points, picks 6-10 are worth 13 contract points, then the rest of the first rounders are worth 11 contract points. So on and so forth for the rest of the draft.

I'd also like to figure something for dead cap penalties, but want to keep it fairly uncomplicated.

So what do you all think of this. It seems like it will take a lot of time, but will be fun. Any ideas?