Hello everyone.
Right now, I'm the captain of a team that is in the middle of open - we will most likely finish with 8-9 wins and a placement between 15th-20th.
I'm more interested in keeping as many of the existing players as feasible for S13 than I am in killing the team and playing roulette with 4-6 people that I've never met before. I have some good existing relationships and would like to develop them further with a FULL TEAM off-season.
My previous ESEA team that I captained went a decent 8-8 (back before I took a hiatus for college graduation, etc.). The team stuck the whole season out, but then peacefully died after the season due to mutual differences. I'd like to think that had I done a better job of keeping it together that more could have happened in the following season.
I've always loved to run teams - and most had minor success - but entering a full 2nd season is a bit of new ground for me. I know that TF2 has had some teams that stuck together for multiple seasons (Disposable Heroes, Vector, THPS, Marxist's team, MooseFortress, etc.) and were able to cope in year 2.
There is a lot at stake here since the right decisions (and hard work on my part) could take this team to 12-4 and IM consideration by the end of S13. The wrong moves would have this team tire out and either break up and/or finish 6-10.
I have three questions to ask the community on this topic:
1. What warnings would you give a team (and it's "captain") in season 2?
2. What do you do to keep everyone interested? Six+ months is a LONG time to play with someone.
3. What do you focus on in the offseason?
To everyone who reads this - thanks.
Love, radium
Hello everyone.
Right now, I'm the captain of a team that is in the middle of open - we will most likely finish with 8-9 wins and a placement between 15th-20th.
I'm more interested in keeping as many of the existing players as feasible for S13 than I am in killing the team and playing roulette with 4-6 people that I've never met before. I have some good existing relationships and would like to develop them further with a FULL TEAM off-season.
My previous ESEA team that I captained went a decent 8-8 (back before I took a hiatus for college graduation, etc.). The team stuck the whole season out, but then peacefully died after the season due to mutual differences. I'd like to think that had I done a better job of keeping it together that more could have happened in the following season.
I've always loved to run teams - and most had minor success - but entering a full 2nd season is a bit of new ground for me. I know that TF2 has had some teams that stuck together for multiple seasons (Disposable Heroes, Vector, THPS, Marxist's team, MooseFortress, etc.) and were able to cope in year 2.
There is a lot at stake here since the right decisions (and hard work on my part) could take this team to 12-4 and IM consideration by the end of S13. The wrong moves would have this team tire out and either break up and/or finish 6-10.
I have three questions to ask the community on this topic:
1. What warnings would you give a team (and it's "captain") in season 2?
2. What do you do to keep everyone interested? Six+ months is a LONG time to play with someone.
3. What do you focus on in the offseason?
To everyone who reads this - thanks.
Love, radium
tell your team to dm 8 hours a day entire offseason
instant open playoff contenders
tell your team to dm 8 hours a day entire offseason
instant open playoff contenders
1. Don't force players to stay together; players develop at different rates. There are people who will be content with playing in mid-open for 4 more seasons whereas others want to win open or advance to IM asap. Its important you recognize the goals of your team as a whole and individuals.
2. The second season is always easier than the first. Hopefully the time your team dedicated this season was well spent. Since 7/8 maps will stay the same, the next time you play the map rotation it will be much smoother.
3. Focus on enjoying time away from competitive TF2. Play some pubs and other games with your team. It keeps relationships less serious and games more fun so when you do return to 'serious-mode' it will be more enjoyable.
1. Don't force players to stay together; players develop at different rates. There are people who will be content with playing in mid-open for 4 more seasons whereas others want to win open or advance to IM asap. Its important you recognize the goals of your team as a whole and individuals.
2. The second season is always easier than the first. Hopefully the time your team dedicated this season was well spent. Since 7/8 maps will stay the same, the next time you play the map rotation it will be much smoother.
3. Focus on enjoying time away from competitive TF2. Play some pubs and other games with your team. It keeps relationships less serious and games more fun so when you do return to 'serious-mode' it will be more enjoyable.
Grillz with some great points - deleted previous because I dragged on a bit so it's round 2.
All I have are some short points
- Don't play too much TF2. It's great to actively play the game you enjoy and want to improve in, but playing too much can leave you and your team burnt out.
- TF@ is a learning process. It will take time to get better - you don't become the better overnight.
- If you are actively trying to improve, you WILL improve.
- When off-season rolls around, don't try and have the same scrim schedule as on-season. Take time to reflect on what happened during the season, and what you can do better as a team next season.
- Have fun. Sure you're trying to improve, but don't forget that the main aim of playing games is to have fun.
Grillz with some great points - deleted previous because I dragged on a bit so it's round 2.
All I have are some short points
- Don't play too much TF2. It's great to actively play the game you enjoy and want to improve in, but playing too much can leave you and your team burnt out.
- TF@ is a learning process. It will take time to get better - you don't become the better overnight.
- If you are actively trying to improve, you WILL improve.
- When off-season rolls around, don't try and have the same scrim schedule as on-season. Take time to reflect on what happened during the season, and what you can do better as a team next season.
- Have fun. Sure you're trying to improve, but don't forget that the main aim of playing games is to have fun.
I think its really important to establish mutual understanding within the team about where the team is headed and what people should expect. When shwan and i started vector in season 9 open we did so with the intention of setting up for the long haul and making the progression to where we are now and beyond. For us it has never been a question of, "Hey guys so uh, stick around for another season???" since everyone understood and accepted the commitment from the get go. Sure, we have had people lose their drive, conflicts between players, real life force people to quit, etc, but it has always been a given for us to keep on trucking. Playing with a bunch of legitimately good friends has obviously made this easier for us, so if you're not already try to grow those relationships beyond the game.
I think its really important to establish mutual understanding within the team about where the team is headed and what people should expect. When shwan and i started vector in [i]season 9 open[/i] we did so with the intention of setting up for the long haul and making the progression to where we are now and beyond. For us it has never been a question of, "Hey guys so uh, stick around for another season???" since everyone understood and accepted the commitment from the get go. Sure, we have had people lose their drive, conflicts between players, real life force people to quit, etc, but it has always been a given for us to keep on trucking. Playing with a bunch of legitimately good friends has obviously made this easier for us, so if you're not already try to grow those relationships beyond the game.
milehighmilitiaI think its really important to establish mutual understanding within the team about where the team is headed and what people should expect.
very solid advice
it's crucial that every member of the team has the same level of motivation and goals in mind
[quote=milehighmilitia]I think its really important to establish mutual understanding within the team about where the team is headed and what people should expect.[/quote]
very solid advice
it's crucial that every member of the team has the same level of motivation and goals in mind
milehighmilitiaI think its really important to establish mutual understanding within the team about where the team is headed and what people should expect. When shwan and i started vector in season 9 open we did so with the intention of setting up for the long haul and making the progression to where we are now and beyond.
Unrelated: I remember when you and Shwan would run pugs many moons ago.
My situation is weird - I didn't exactly have a 3-4 season plan in mind when I first drafted up the team. It kind of dawned on me though - if my team can climb from a 2-5 start to be in the position we're in (which is just 1 game back of the postseason), why not just turn the team into a long-term project?
The season has been far less than perfect, but it has taught me two things:
1. My teammates have good character. It would have been easy to bail out and kill an Open team after a 2-5 start, but they didn't. I know that to some people it's a very minor point, but to me that really does mean a lot. I'm appreciative of every single one of my teammates - and I would have no reservations to play with any of them in the future for this reason.
2. What my inherent flaws are as a player. I know what needs to improve within my game this off-season, and I'll have about 2 months to correct it.
Sorry if I come off as emotionally soft. :P
[quote=milehighmilitia]I think its really important to establish mutual understanding within the team about where the team is headed and what people should expect. When shwan and i started vector in [i]season 9 open[/i] we did so with the intention of setting up for the long haul and making the progression to where we are now and beyond.[/quote]
Unrelated: I remember when you and Shwan would run pugs many moons ago.
My situation is weird - I didn't exactly have a 3-4 season plan in mind when I first drafted up the team. It kind of dawned on me though - if my team can climb from a 2-5 start to be in the position we're in (which is just 1 game back of the postseason), why not just turn the team into a long-term project?
The season has been far less than perfect, but it has taught me two things:
1. My teammates have good character. It would have been easy to bail out and kill an Open team after a 2-5 start, but they didn't. I know that to some people it's a very minor point, but to me that really does mean a lot. I'm appreciative of every single one of my teammates - and I would have no reservations to play with any of them in the future for this reason.
2. What my inherent flaws are as a player. I know what needs to improve within my game this off-season, and I'll have about 2 months to correct it.
Sorry if I come off as emotionally soft. :P