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looking for a "guide"

lazy duckPosted on 04/04/08 at 05:16:30

I've been TNMing for about 6 months now and I have come to one conclusion. I do not have any idea how to book a card or future cards. MCPW was based loosly of of a rule set and my old school feds in Pro Wrestling Weekly I used a number formula to try to set up matches but non seem to work. Is there anyone or someplace I can go to read or is willing to help me with the basics of booking?

How do you know who faces who?
How do you devekop storylines that flows?
How do you know when to push someone or when to let them go?
When do you bring in new talent and how do you work them in?

I know some or saying WTF, but I would once like to run a fed that was more then off someone elses ideas.

Any feedback would be great.

LD
pszPosted on 04/04/08 at 05:22:59

Well... What do you mean by "How do you know who are faces?"

Do you mean "How do you determine who works well as faces" or do you mean "I don't see where to set Face/Heel" or... ?

Storylines are a difficult thing to master. Some people plan them out literally 10-20 cards in advance, some see where TNM is "making" rivalries, and work from there. It really depends on YOUR booking style.

Push should be from overness, as should firings. If a person is constantly getting Duds or -* matches, chances are they're not going to get over anytime soon

New talent is like storylines: It really depends on your booking style. You might work them into an existing angle (Former student vs his old teacher, friend/enemy from the past, etc) or you may enter them in as The New Guy/Girl taking on people in dark matches before coming on as The Hot New Thing on the main show.
lazy duckPosted on 04/04/08 at 05:25:09

Sorry I fixed it, it should be How do you know who should face who?

Another dumb question is how do I find my "Booking Style" ? If I'm not sure how to book how will I know my style?

thanks
pszPosted on 04/04/08 at 05:33:05

Who should face who... Hmm...

Well, you COULD start off the way so many indies have, and hold a tourney for the main title, and see who matches well against who (also good for initial angles), or you could just say "I really like Bret Hart, and I think he'd do good in a match against A.J. Styles" and work from there.

As for booking style, try booking cards *YOU* would want to see, interviews *YOU* would like to hear, and angles *YOU* think would work out well.

TNM will "learn" your style after a few dozen/hundred cards and you'll start seeing what "works" and what doesn't in your promotion.
Snabbit888Posted on 04/04/08 at 05:44:53

psz hit it well in that you should do what you like to do.  When I start a circuit, I have a general template I've found to be successful.  I'll sign 4 guys who will start as my main eventers and push them where they form early alliances, 2 two heels vs. 2 faces.  From there, I just see what flows with characters and angles.  I tend to book ahead pretty fully for about 2 months with my main event scene being booked loosely a year in advance (with room to wiggle for injuries, people quitting, real life events, i.e. Benoit's death) and just see what I like.
Snabbit888Posted on 04/04/08 at 05:47:37

And yes, TNM does learn your style and will develop subtle chemistries that certain wrestlers have in the ring together, whether good or bad.  My GCW circuit is in love with Monty Brown and he consistently puts on great matches with everyone.  Then there are certain people it shits all over.  Like I can't get a good match out of Brock Lesnar and Chris Benoit.  Both good by TNM standards, but you put them together and it's boring crap.  Yet I keep trying, I do...
rey619Posted on 04/04/08 at 07:44:46

The thing is, TNM isn't TEW. It's not a "game" in the sense that you need to do certain things to succeed. TNM's goal is to give you a tool in which you can simulate matches for a fantasy circuit. Your promotion can never go bankrupt. You can't get fired.

That being said, if you want to treat it as a game, you should think about firing (or not renewing their contracts) for wrestler's whose heat drops to 4 or below (or wrestler's who can't get past the 5-mark, no matter how you push them). If you are a star-rating junkie, you should also look at the star ratings of wrestlers. If you try to realistically depict an ROH-like promotion, you shouldn't have wrestlers who constantly gets DUDs or minus ratings.
blslivewirePosted on 04/04/08 at 09:09:36

One thing you want be sure to avoid is booking by rankings. That will just cause you to go in circles.

For the main programs, what I do is take the 12 PPVs I have for the year and decide which 4 are the "super shows" like SummerSlam. One of those 4 is the "WrestleMania" show which is reserved for the biggest and most anticipated matches. The other 8 PPVs are buit around those 4 big shows, with grudge matches and "transitional" programs leading to the big payoffs.

I outline what I want the PPVs to be and just book my way towards each one while keeping in mind what the future programs are.