Kind of piggy-backing off of this thread:
http://www.operationsports.com/forum...r-players.html
What are some of the things you guys do to bring your dynasty to life?
For me, the #1 thing has been dynasty reporting/blogging. It adds so much to your dynasty's life when you can write articles, get audience feedback, go back and read your team's history and look at pictures of big moments, etc.
That said, there are several things I do offline that maybe don't get reported on, at least not directly. I am only able to sit down and play literally about one full game a week (usually on the weekend), but I typically am able to pick up the sticks for 20 minutes or so in the mornings before work during the week. So this leaves me with a ton of "idle" NCAA time. I can "play" often but just can't play games often.
Some of the things I do are:
- Changing some of my players' equipment each week. It really adds to the immersion to see some of your players have different gear on throughout the year. And even better, once it gets to the colder months in my season, I start to put sleeves on a few guys.
- I change player names. Typically, every so often I may change a guy with a "short" name like Mike to something like "Michelangelo." Or a Tom to Tommy. I may even change a Chad to Chaz. Trevor to Trev. Mark to Marco. Mark to Markus with a "k." My current RB was recruited as a Bernard Davis but now I have him as Bernie Davis. I also had a FS named Andrew Harris that I changed to Dre Harris. I once changed a Corey to a JaCorey. I just feel it adds a little "flare" and personality to the player.
- I add "Jr." or "III" to some players' names
- I change player numbers' to be more college football-like. For some reason, this game defaults to having recruits having NFL-numbering rules. I.E. WRs all have 80 numbers, RBs and CBs all have 20-49, LBs are all 50s, etc. I go in and change my players' jerseys to where I have WRs with single digit numbers or even numbers in the 20s. RBs with single digit and teen numbers, D-Lineman with numbers in the teens or 40s, Kickers and punters with numbers in the 40s or 90s, etc. It all really makes it feel more like a college football game.
Furthermore, before each opponent, I change several of their player jerseys in the same fashion. I even may go in and "spice up" some of their top guys' equipment. Nothing looks tackier to me than seeing WRs, RBs, and DBs with no gear on and specifically, no gloves. I also add some visors. The game looks way more beautiful visually when both teams are full of guys with real-looking equipment combos.
- Created a rivalry. In my current dynasty, my Green Wave are in the SEC and face Alabama every year. Each year, it seems the two teams are in the Top 10 and the game has high stakes. This culminated with my forming of "The Tidal Wave Party" rivalry game. And I created a logo for it:
- Practice mode/install plays. Before each game, during the week, I try to get in at least one session of practice mode on offense and defense. Offensively, I tend to just focus on mastering one formation per week and "installing" a new play or two to use in the game. Also, if they have a unique defense, like a 3-3-5 or 3-4 or something, I will practice against that formation.
Defensively, I just do a quick browse of my opponents' playbook just to see what sort of stuff they've "showed on film." And I may practice against a play or formation or two that looks foreign to me. Like this week, I will be seeing the Pistol for the first time versus Alabama, so I spent 5 minutes with them running random plays from that formation versus my base Nickel defense.
What are some of the things you guys do to help bring your dynasties to life to help things not get stale?