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Fresh Circuit Ideas

Glum76Posted on 04/18/04 at 12:43:35

I've been using TNM for about six years, and I've run every type of circuit imaginable.   I've run real wrestler feds, fictional wrestler circuits, indy groups,  mixed leagues, historical circuits, multi-fed circuits using the "talent limitations" option, etc.  

After simming a bunch of cards, I inevitably get antsy and decide to start a whole new circuit with a "fresh" concept, and I thought it would be cool if we all shared ideas for circuits to break up the monotany.   Here's a list of "fresh" circuit concepts that I've used in the past:

1. Ultimate Fighting-Style Circuit - The format for this one was pretty simple.  I'd book three bouts and three interviews (via the Interview Integrator) on each card.  Each bout was a "fight" and each interview was an analysis of the outcome of the fight.   I turned "Damage Meters" ON, and I set strict time limits of ten minutes.   I made sure every wrestler had a submission finisher, or (for created guys) a "Ground and Pound" finisher.   Any pinfall was a knockout.  Any draw was a decision "win" for whoever had the most damage points left at the end of the match.  To make a draw into a decision, I would use the Circuit Editor.   I had different weight divisions and the whole nine yards.  Obviously, there were no tag matches, and the only "hype" I would do would be an added interview where potential matchups were pondered by the straight-laced announcers.

2. Cage Fight Circuit -  All cage-escapes-only steel cage matches.  Once again, this was very UFC-like.  There were no "angles" so to speak.  No promos cut by the performers.  Just an occasional head-to-head interview.  It was completely unbooked, and the no-pinfall stipulation led to some unpredictable finishes.  The problem with this format is that it required me to keep a steady influx of new guys to prevent it from growing stale.  

3. Faction-Based Wrestling Fed - This was an extension of the AWA Team Challenge Series concept with a Real World-type twist, with four teams competing in a seasonal competition.  The main "angle" of the circuit was that each team was followed 24/7 by cameras, and on each weekly card using the Interview Integrator, I would type out highlights of the drama and conflict that occurred within each team.  At the end of the season, the team member with the best overall win-loss record would become the captain of their team, and could pick new teammates.   The team that won the competition would remain intact, but would have to choose a new captain.  This circut was a real pain in the ass at times, but it was also fun at times.  I kept logs of win-loss records, and I booked angles based on team dissension, jealousy, and each wrestler's aspirations toward becoming the captain.

4. Seasonal Tournament-Based Pure Wrestling Circuit - I ripped off some of the Japanese feds for this one.  The circuit was all fantasy wrestlers from various parts of the world (Great Britian, USA, Canada, Japan, Mexico).  Each created wrestler used the same amount of fantasy points (I think it was 140) divided amongst workrate, charisma, stamina, and push.  (I tried to make it so that the wrestlers were all essentially equal, with the wrestler who was ranked first in push was last in workrate, and vice versa).  The circuit was a seasonal deal, with the season's champion being crowned at the beginning of each year via a round-robin tournament.    The rest of the season was the champion defending his title (trying to retain it for the duraton of th season) , while the rest of the round-robin participants tried to keep their "spot" by fending off the challenges of newcomers in best-of-five and best-of-seven series.  Angles were based on honor and athleticism.  Factions were based on style and not on geographic origin.  The fun for me as a user was seeing if any of the newly created lower tier guys could break through and earn a spot in the next season's round robin tournament.  

These are just a few examples.  What have all of you done to keep TNM7 circuits fresh and exciting without getting mired down in the whole "sports entertainment circuit" mode?
phudjiePosted on 04/18/04 at 13:12:55

.....That Faction Based wrestling fed is a pretty good idea, with the reality influences and such, I might have to try that.....
LillaThrillaPosted on 04/18/04 at 17:04:30

Faction-Based Wrestling Fed
ACK!  REALITY TV INVADES PRO WRESTLING!  And here I thought it would stop with Tough Enough.  LOL

I always though the TNM-MP concept was absolutely magnificent, its just requires several other people and its nearly impossible to have everyone getting their cards out on time.

Anyhow, those are some inventive ideas.  Hopefully some other people will chime in too.
FStanislawczykPosted on 04/18/04 at 22:29:28

I toyed around with this idea a couple years ago. Basically it's like a professional sports league (i.e. NFL, NHL, etc.) You use however many teams you want from different parts of the country you're in or world (I think one of them I had was the Tokyo Rising Suns...you get the idea). I think I had 8 for the first season. Then you do a draft for 5 wrestlers on each team (or as many as you like). This would work well if you had a bunch of different people act as the "owners" of the different teams. And then for the cards the options are almost unlimited. You could do 5 on 5. Or 5 singles matches. Each card could be only 1 team vs. the other or there could more then one team involved. Then at the end of the "season" (however many cards you like) you get the total team records and you seed the teams and have playoffs for the champion. Then you could have expansion teams and whatnot the next season. It's a pretty open-ended circuit idea with room for individual tastes. Just thought I'd share it with you all.