I wasn't sure if I should make a new thread for this, but since it is to do with universe mode I wouldn't mind getting some thoughts on it so I can maybe add something I didn't think of while at the same time giving you guys some ideas for your own universe.
There's quite a bit of info so I included spoilers to keep the forum cleaner.
WWE2K seems to have added a lot of non match things this year with promos/attacks and there's always the possibility the ai is better at creating rivalries so some of this may not be needed.
The Why and How
Spoiler
I was tired of having the AI come up with Uso vs Uso or Cena vs Fandango where there was no reason at all to play that match.
I did test this out for a few months of universe including some PPV’s and was happy with the flow up/down of the rankings.
This system will help to make things random/fresh while making sense and where every match matters.
So if you have Cena wrestle Fandango, Cena can lose a ton of pts while Fandango can only lose 25 but can gain tons if he pulls off the upset.
You will want to set up a random number generator (rng) to do most of the things needed here. Random.org has worked great.
I found having all the wrestlers marked as face/heel makes it easier to set up matches that make sense.
1st week of month match types and participants for that month’s PPV are determined, using the updated rankings to that point.
Using the rng, and the match types in the spreadsheet you can select the different PPV matches.
I purposely left out some match types as they seem to be more PPV specific matches, extreme rules, TLC etc but you can add them to the list and using the spreadsheet it can be easy to come up with a match.
If the PPV is something special like Money in the Bank or Extreme Rules you would use that to determine what match types/participants are in.
By knowing what is going to happen at the PPV you can make #1 contender matches, Raw main events with the wrestlers in the PPV etc. This is more like what happens in real life where the end result of the PPV is known and they use Raw/Smackdown to build the hype for the PPV.
(Note that this may change drastically this year due to the new promos/attacks, where it might be easier to build the PPV matches after the weekly shows)
But who wrestles who, who, who..
Once you know the match type whether PPV or a regular show you use the rng to get the match up.
Example Raw main event you might want your heavyweight contenders. So you rng to get the first guy then rng to get the second guy but if the second guy is also a face then use the closest heel on the list.
I do this to speed things up a bit.
So on my spreadsheet Orton vs Cena but instead of Cena you can pick Sheamus or Lesnar.
If you did a normal match between guys on the US/IC list it might look like Rusev vs Miz but instead of Miz use Swagger.
Of course you can have two faces/heels wrestle, but sometimes it doesn't make sense.
When I actually play the matches I found it fun to let the player selector go through the guys quickly so I randomly got the wrestler.
PPV was especially fun since sometimes I was defending the belt and sometimes I'm trying to win it.
So to breakdown what I do:
1-start of the month using the rng to find out the main event is going to be a triple threat (in this case I wanted it to be for the world heavyweight belt)
2-using the ranking I get the current champ and the top 2 guys on the list. Note that the champ can be ranked lower than others because of losses in the previous month.
3- using the rng method selecting match types the 3 guys involved wrestled in a couple Raw main events in a 2 on 1 handicap match and 6 man tag where all 3 are on the same team.
4- after the PPV at the beginning of the next month I add up the previous months pts and update rankings.
5- guys can move up/down Tiers
6- add/remove boosts or abilities for champions or guys that lost titles
In my spreadsheet you can see what the rankings can look like, how the point system works, match types and some ideas to keep things fresh in universe.
Though I did some testing to see how many pts guys were getting it seems the low ranked guys don't move up too quickly because they don't always get a match for bigger points never mind win it.
How it all comes together
Spoiler
Power ranking system
WH= world heavyweight championship, us=united states tite, ic=intercontinental title
WH guys separate, us/ic guys separate ranking for each belt
Tier 1 non ranked individual wrestlers
Tier 2 are the guys on either ic/us ranking
Tier 3 are the ic/us champs
Tier 4 are the guys on the WH ranking
Tier 5 is the WH champ
25 base pts for a win with a bonus 25 pts for each tier higher
example,tier 1 beats the WH champ would be the max 125 pts
us champ beats the WH champ would be 75 pts, 25 base and 50 bonus for 2 tiers higher
Guys in a tag team are not in us/ic/WH ranking (if their team breaks up you give them individual ranking pts you feel they should have, and they can now go for those titles)
WH around 1000 pts for top guys
us/ic 600 pts top guys
These point levels are not tested deeply so they may need to be adjusted in a long term universe
individuals in tag team match/3way/4 way, wrestlers get +/- 10pts for being in a match
example, 4 way, winner gets 25pts, wrestler that lost -25 and other 2 wrestlers would get -10
Individuals as a tag team facing an active tag team and they win. The winner would get 25 pts, the other wrestler would get +10. The active team no individual pts but they would lose 25 pts in the tag team rankings.
6 man matches and active tag teams are a part of it, they could still get tag team pts, while the 3rd man would get individual pts.
Title matches are +/- 50 base pts
Points are added and at the end of the month each wrestler's points are updated along with ranking.
Possibly have Mania, Rumble, Survivor and Night of Champions as 100 base pts
Winning a Title
I plan to give a small ratings upgrade, to help simulate the wrestlers development into the next level of their career, probably a once per ic/us then once for WH thing.
I like to give the title holders a boost on reversals, so they have 1 extra while champion only. This may work well with things like ring escape, comebacks, resiliency etc also.
Holding the title through the next PPV 25 bonus pts for each PPV
example won title on 3rd week of raw, defended at PPV and won, bonus 25 pts.
#1 Contender's
They are for the following month ppv to give time for rivalry and buildup
power ranking system decides #1 contender, but sometimes there will be a match of top wrestlers and a rng situation ie fatal 4 way could vault a lower ranked wrestler into a #1 contender match
Moving up Tiers
At the beginning of the month when pts are re-calculated if a Tier 1 wrestler has more pts than someone on ic or us ranking list they move up with the lowest ranking guy moving down into Tier 1. It's possible for multiple guys to move up/down. They stay on the ic/us ranking list until at least the following month.
Former ic/us champs that had longer runs (a few successful PPV defenses) replace the lowest ranked WH guy to simulate the "push" into WH level. Their pts should be adjusted to the new tier level.
RNG
Using it to get match type and then the wrestlers in match can determine rivalry and story lines.
Factions
Members can go for belts and be on the same ranking list but if the rng comes up with them to wrestle each other you just choose the next heel/face on rank list instead.
So Wyatt Family, Luke Harper can go for ic belt and Bray Wyatt can also be ranked on that list but they won't fight each other unlike how the game sets up matches sometimes.
Rivalries
wrestlers have 2 matches during the month with a ppv match, can have 4,8,12 week rivalry
possibly have boost in ratings or ability if wins both matches to sim momentum
Keeping It Fresh
Spoiler
All of these are done after the PPV before the 1st week show
Rivalry
These are often, every 3 months.
next 2 or 3 PPV wrestlers will wrestle each other can be for titles or non titles
If first 2 PPV one wrestler wins both then rivalry is done, if PPV's are split then a 3rd PPV to settle rivalry
Injuries
6 month injuries, every 2 months a wrestler is injured. This means after a while there will always be 3 injuries, while the other wrestler comes back.
Suspensions
30 days maybe 1 every 2 months
New Talent
Every 6 months a new talent is brought in.
could use a bench system with caw/superstars ready
possibly once a year someone in tier 1 is put on bench but can make a return during the new talent phase.
Possibly once a year each brand drafts one wrestler from NXT level?
Heel/Face turn
Every 6 months someone turns
New Tag Team
Every 6 months? Tier 1 wrestlers form a tag team, both heel or face or have someone turn heel/face and then form team
Ratings Development
Every 6 months the new younger talent gets a small increase in some ratings to sim their development could also develop a new trait or skill
possibly decrease some ratings for a veteran
PPV
1st week of month match types and participants are determined, using the updated rankings to that point
If it's a 1 vs 1 ppv, could have a #1 contender match
If match is a fatal 4 way could have 3 1on1 matches to get 3 challengers, or other types as well as using the top 3 contenders for variety.
By knowing the match type and participants can make show main events involving those wrestlers.
example, ppv is going to be 1on1, after having a #1 contender match ppv is Rollins and Cena.
During the month on the show, you have maybe week 3 and 4 with those guys involved in singles/tag/triple threat etc building up to the ppv so the show matches feel like they mean something. Could be the main events on the shows.
Doing this for all titles will have shows where lots of matches involve the participants at the ppv with filler matches using the rng. Poss only the heavyweight title wrestlers on 3 or 4 shows with the other belts just 2 shows.
I always go with the "less is more" approach with my universe as it is what I wish WWE would do.
I usually book TV shows with 3 "main matches" even though we have to book 5 hopefully this year we can edit these so I can have just 3 for TV and however many I need for PPV.
Anyway here is what I do:
Spoiler
I break Raw and Smackdown up as a tier system using the belts as a way for singles competitors to move up and down the card realistically.
Raw
WWE WHC
WWE Womens Champion
Smackdown
NXT Champion
IC Champion
NXT Women's Champion
TAG BELTS SHARED BETWEEN BOTH ROSTERS
RAW EXPLAINED:
The men and women of Raw should be where the best in the world show their stuff the roster is smaller too show how elite you must be to compete.
WWE WHC & WWE Womens: Simply put the best wrestler in the world must put the title on the line within a 60 day period.
SMACKDOWN EXPLAINED:
Kayfabe wise I'm basically turning smackdown into to NXT. This is the show where you see who is up next(get it!) The roster is larger and because of random signings at any moment guaranteed fresher match ups over the course of time. All competitors here can move up the card to Raw by; Holding the belts for a significant amount of time, gain a call up/call down match.
NXT Champion & NXT Womens: The main title to this show it shows you are the number 2 man/woman in the world within the squared circle. Whether your a Dolph Ziggler looking to remain relevant or an Austin Aries coming in fresh to show dominance this belt is meant to give any wrestler who has it meaning. Must be put on the line once in a 60 Day period if defended successfully 6 times, The champion can request a Call Up match. Once requested the 6 defenses are reset. If the Champion wins they move up and belt is vacated, if the they lose they keep the belt but must defend again for 6 months to request another Call Up match.
IC Champion: Truly the definition of the workers belt. The first stop for a new smackdown competitor to make his name in WWE. A return to the "TV Champion" the belt must be defended once on TV every 30 days. While this belt will never see the PPV it is meant to show the heart and grit it takes to truly be a champion taking on all comers of different shapes and sizes each month. While you dont have to hold the IC belt to get a crack at the NXT Champ it is your best bet. If defended 6 times the champion can request and NXT title shot. There is more risk as the belt is vacated once the match starts.
Tag Champions: I want this division to stand out as in most tag matches are involving teams rather than singles competitors. Raw singles guys who come together to give the division a shot must compete as a team for a minimum of 12 months, the same is also for the Smackdown competitors. Once a team graces the gold they must defend once in a 60 Day period. If a team has 8 successful defenses depending on what brand the team is on, they can face one another in a #1 Contender's match for their shows top belt. Once the match starts the tag belts are vacated. The winner gets a title shot and the individuals of the team may not enter the tag division for a 12 month period.
Call Up/Call Down Matches:
This is more of a storyline gimmick thing that is unlike the sports vibe involving the different divisions but still works as a way to get fresher match ups and keep the shows moving
For understanding sake lets use the current Raw GM Mick Foley and Smackdown GM Daniel Bryan as stand ins here.
Here is a scenario that would trigger this match:
Orton is on Raw and has come back from injury with a slow 0-7 start to the year. Foley wants to keep Orton however he needs him to be competitive in order to make the title picture interesting. Meanwhile on Smackdown Samoa Joe has been a 2x NXT champion and while he has not consecutively defended 6 times in a row he is having matches in the top tier of his division and has 12-3 record for the year. Bryan loves Joe but knows its time for him to move on to better things on Raw. Both GM's agree that this match is best for both men and agree on the next PPV it will be Orton vs. Joe. Orton Wins he stays on Raw. Joe Wins he goes to Raw, Orton goes to Smackdown.
If anyone is interested I could go in to detail about my initial plans storyline wise its something fantasy like but could be alot of fun.
In previous years I would remove all real wrestlers from my universe and just use original CAWs. This took a lot of effort to set up and often times I'd end up burnt out by the process of getting things just where I want them before even beginning. Because of this, the last game I bought was 2k14 and I've used that one over the past couple of years with my all CAW universe since I didn't want to go through all the work again to get it set up.
I'm going to change it up this year, I am going to use actual WWE wrestlers for RAW and Smackdown and use NXT for my CAWs, I'll slowly incorporate them into the main roster and remove WWE wrestlers as they 'retire'. This will allow me to enjoy Universe mode sooner, and eventually end up at the same place with most, if not all, CAWs eventually being in Universe.
I'm thinking i might go and completely remake everything & make the WWE my own. It'll be a completely simulated universe.
I'll run only two shows with about 20 people per roster and the minimum amount of matches available i think 5 was the lowest for 2k16 (lowest amount of matches because I dont have the patience to set up 2 huge shows every week lol)
I'm going to eliminate Raw as a whole and make Monday Night Smackdown & re-color the logo to make it raw red. Then i'll make Friday Night NXT and re-color that with smackdown blue. Both shows will have balanced rosters & while NXT top 3 will consist of AJ Styles, Samoa Joe & Zack Ryder (as a wildcard guy getting a push). Smackdown's top 3 will be Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens & Bray Wyatt (Wyatt being the wildcard) I also might go ahead and make my own CAW, Willie Thomas and throw him in the mix on one of the shows
I'll create all new belts & Arena's for each show.
Top belts: NXT World Champion/
Smackdown International Champion
Tag team Champs will only be on NXT
Womans Champ will only be on Smackdown.
There's word going around that we will be getting Universe info on Wednesday as well as a bunch of videos being released by youtubers.
Please let this be true, the anticipation is killing me! Even though I've stopped following WWE related Youtubers like TubbyEmu i'll be paying attention for videos.
09-08-2016, 01:15 AM
