edenborn

<p>The new AI booking style is a welcome improvement. Very much appreciate the nod toward realism, the understanding of puro, and the forward-thinking ability for companies to evolve. That's dope. </p><p> </p><p> However...</p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Adam Ryland" data-cite="Adam Ryland" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="46105" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>When creating a card, the AI Booking Style then gets modified by the Product, which we looked at last week. The Product allows the AI to work out what matches to use, what ratio of matches to angles there should be, what sort of finishes are appropriate, whether certain matches are more appropriate than others in certain situations, etc - basically, it's taking the generic structure and making it unique to that product. To take the house analogy further, this is like putting in the brick work, connecting up the electrics and plumbing, etc.<p> </p><p> I don't normally cover things that are yet to be done in this journal, but I will add a side note here that there is planned to be a third layer in this system. The idea is that the head booker's style and stats will come into play to add a further level of modification. To really stretch the house analogy to breaking point, this would be adding in the furniture and painting the walls. This is something that we'll likely be returning to in the next phase of the journal when we go "live".</p><p> </p><p> The final phase is then to apply the bits and pieces of AI-improving features that we've already mentioned in the journal: things like the new tag team settings and stables, for example, which are designed to do a better job of teams than we've managed in the past. There's also some stuff that we'll be covering in the future: for example, the way that title reigns work has been changed to be more realistic. All these little things just boost the AI's realism a little more.</p></div></blockquote>Great as this all is, where's the <strong><em>storytelling?</em></strong> An impressive array of metrics is just an impressive array of metrics. A slick-looking house is just a slick-looking house; that doesn't make it a home.<p> </p><p> Question: "On the final TV show before the PPV, you booked a tag main event. Tell me why you did that." </p><p> </p><p> AI Booker: "This company books tag matches with some frequency; nothing precludes a tag match from a basic TV show; the booker character has a quirk where he prefers tag matches slightly more than usual, etc."</p><p> </p><p> Human Booker: "What he said, sure. But mostly, I wanted to give the fans good reason to buy the PPV. See, our babyface World Champion looks indestructible and he's much bigger than his PPV opponent, so I had the heel cheat to win on TV, to make fans think maybe this despicable cheater has the champ's number on the PPV. Right? Tune in and find out! Now I couldn't book this as a singles match because that would have been giving the PPV main event away for free! So instead I made it a tag, bridging our two hottest storylines together, etc."</p>

Good suggestions, thanks everyone.

<p>Playing RAW in the Cornellverse, I'm looking to give Heath Murdock and Horton Ravenwood more of a "tag team name" than just "Heath & Horton." They're good-looking, energetic, athletic, high flying, fun-loving Australian babyfaces. I've been searching for a team name that accentuates their quickness in the ring, and ideally a name that starts with H.</p><p> </p><p> The best I've got so far is Hypersonic. Or, alternatively, The Hypersonic Express. Does that work? Do you see a better way to go?</p>

There's a lot of truth in this. However...

<p>Likewise, I'm a longtime fan of the existing Product setup, someone who enjoys tinkering with the fine details. There's something immersive and fun about comparing your individual product to those other companies are running, and seeing how the fans will differentiate between them.</p><p> </p><p> I'm willing to leave that functionality behind if this new system can still allow for the range of products I enjoy.</p><p> </p><p> TEW 2016's Cornellverse has a number of companies running a product called "Sports Entertainment" but the differences between them can be profound. For example:</p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">CGC</span></strong></p><p> Key: Mainstream</p><p> Heavy: None</p><p> Medium: Traditional</p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">SWF</span></strong></p><p> Key: Mainstream</p><p> Heavy: Traditional & Risque</p><p> Medium: Comedy & Cult</p><p> </p><p> Those are very different products! And workers understand that -- certain conservative characters unwilling to work for SWF because of their Risque content. I would hate for TEW 2020 to lump products like these together, homogenizing them, instead of celebrating their differences.</p><p> </p><p> To use a real world example, there are a number of significant differences in product between Paul Heyman's ECW and WWE's ECW reboot. </p><p> </p><p> Even when WCW hired Vince Russo to more-or-less copy WWF Attitude, there were slight but meaningful differences between what the two companies were selling.</p><p> </p><p> I suppose what I'm saying is if TEW 2020 has preexisting products that support this wide variety of subtle and not-so-subtle differences, cool. Otherwise, I feel like we're losing functionality that helped us feel like we were really in control of what our fans were seeing.</p>

<p>I'm thrilled by this expansion of stables, first and foremost because they'll bring added fun and realism to the game. AI stables actually functioning like stables will make match results so much more believable. It's very cool.</p><p> </p><p> Even better, unless I'm mistaken, this change to AI stables opens the way for potential additional features that I'm excited to see.</p><p> </p><p> For example, angles where some or all stablemates cut a promo or get into a brawl with a common enemy/rival stable. With a max of 18 in a stable, this suggests to me that the AI is likely to have the ability to feature a greater number of wrestlers in angles than TEW 2016, which should put the AI on more equal footing with how most players book their shows. </p><p> </p><p> I have questions about the "fine tuning" of how this will work:</p><p> </p><p> - When an AI stable kicks a wrestler out, can the AI turn that wrestler to the opposite disposition and have him feud with his former stablemates? </p><p> </p><p> - When an AI stable recruits a new member, can the AI do so dramatically as part of a show? For example, having a face betray his tag team partner during a match to join a heel stable? (Taking off his shirt to reveal an nWo T-shirt underneath...)</p><p> </p><p> - Can the AI stable recruit tag teams or just individual wrestlers?</p><p> </p><p> - Will an AI stable have stablemates interfere in each others' matches and will we be able to see this interference/distraction in the match reports?</p><p> </p><p> - Etc.</p><p> </p><p> Very encouraged by where TEW 2020 is going!</p>

<p>WCW question here. I'd like to run WCW of the mid 90's with some WWF gimmicks. What should I do to make this "plausible?"</p><p> </p><p> For example, I'd like to turn Dustin Rhodes into Goldust but Goldust is an edgy character and in the mod I'm playing WCW has Cult at Very Low.</p><p> </p><p> Yes, I realize it's my game and I can do what I want but I'm hoping to stay fairly true to the circumstances of the time. Is it remotely reasonable that the WCW of 1994-1995 could have been persuaded to raise Cult to, say, Medium? And beyond hiring Vince Russo to reflect his influence on my Creative Team, are there other choices that make sense?</p>

<p>I'm playing around with RAW in the Cornellverse and trying to imagine how my product comes across in the ring. With Traditional at Low and no Modern in the product, the top skills like Brawling, Mat Wrestling and Aerial are deemphasized. In turn, I have Mainstream at Key and I have Comedy and Risque both at Heavy. What do these matches look like?</p><p> </p><p> As it's a product not terribly far from, say, G.L.O.W. my instinct is to say this is just "bad wrestling" but no... the RAW roster has many charismatic workers and a few polished workers, so the end result should be watchable. But what is it? A typical wrestling match but with a premium on comedy spots, taunts and crotch chops? Or is this more a situation where my workers are putting on something akin to an SWF/WWE match but I've conditioned the fans to pop for the storytelling in the ring instead of the quality of the moves themselves?</p>

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Sco xY2Jx" data-cite="Sco xY2Jx" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="41194" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>As far as I'm aware, in my non-extensive knowledge, the wrestler can lose popularity and then regain it. Just as long as they don't go over the number they were at when the goal was set.<p> So, you can drop to 50, jump to 58. Just don't take him over 60.</p></div></blockquote><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="mitsukaikira" data-cite="mitsukaikira" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="41194" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>This is also the result I have seen. Just don't pass the numbers at the time the goal was presented and you should be just fine.</div></blockquote><p> Excellent, thank you both.</p>

An Owner Goal question: "Owner is feeling vindictive; targeted wrestler must not gain any more popularity in America." With this goal, can the wrestler safely lose and gain back popularity points so long as the grand total stays under the current level? Or will any regain of popularity count as a failed goal? In other words, if I get this goal for a wrestler with 60 popularity across America, can I take it down to 50 and then back up to 58 without a problem? Thanks!

<p>TEW 2016ers, would love your advice on a 1987 WWF game I'm playing. I need to write an exit for The Iron Sheik.</p><p> </p><p> Vince McMahon gave me an Owner Goal about The Iron Sheik so my plan was to push him heavily, despite his advanced age, his poor temperament and his drug addictions. Right as I was offering him a written contract, JCP tried to steal him away from me, so I got into a bidding war, even offering Creative Control as part of the package.</p><p> </p><p> On Saturday Night's Main Event X, I booked Ricky Steamboat vs. The Iron Sheik (just like real life), and they had an excellent match (93) with a few complications. What kind of complications? Despite an A* safety rating, Ricky Steamboat somehow botched a move, though it likely wasn't entirely his fault as The Iron Sheik was high and wasted at the time. Maybe their match turned into a shoot? Anyway, end result, both wrestlers are injured, Steamboat with a back injury that will stop him from wrestling for a month (so no Steamboat-Savage match at WrestleMania III), and The Iron Sheik suffering a groin injury that will keep him off TV for 4 months. </p><p> </p><p> After that show, JCP upped their offer again, and I was just like forget it. Take him. And they did. But I need a TV explanation for why he's no longer around. </p><p> </p><p> Jim Duggan has been cutting patriotic promos but I've yet to put him in a match. Do I have Nikolai Volkoff and Slick find Iron Sheik injured backstage and there's Duggan with his 2x4 chanting "USA?" Thing is, I can't literally do that since I can't even use Iron Sheik in angles. </p><p> </p><p> Would I be better off using The Killer Bees (I had Sheik and Volkoff cost them a match before Sheik got injured)? Or Sgt. Slaughter? Hulk Hogan?</p><p> </p><p> Maybe Hulk Hogan and Ricky Steamboat are welcoming Jim Duggan to the WWF and we see they're all sealing up a crate together, and at the end of the skit we learn the crate is addressed to Tehran and there's someone pounding from the inside?</p>

How would you book Christopher Daniels in the Attitude Era WWF?

Playing a WWF Golden Age game, I'm building up to WrestleMania III, playing out the various historical feuds when Billy Jack Haynes gets busted for steroids. Love it. I didn't suspend or fire him, not with this Full Nelson Challenge coming up, so the press got wind of the story and my prestige took a hit. Now... what do I do? Or, realistically speaking, how might Vince McMahon of 1987 have attempted to make lemonade out of this steroidy lemon? The natural thing to do: turn Billy Jack heel, right? Maybe you could push a steroid abuser as a tweener face in the Attitude Era, but this is the Golden Age. So I'll turn him heel, and probably change his gimmick from Bad Ass to Man Beast, playing the notion that steroids have unhinged him to the point where he'll periodically fly into animalistic rages. When? I could turn him on the very next TV show, having him lose it on Mean Gene during at an interview, manhandling him when the question of steroids comes up. But then I have a heel vs. heel match at WrestleMania, which doesn't seem so fun. Instead, I'm thinking of having Billy Jack apologize to the fans for his bad judgment and humbly ask for their forgiveness going forward. Meanwhile, Bobby Heenan starts cutting obnoxiously self-righteous counter promos about "Billy Jerk" being a cheater and a coward, so in fear of Hercules, he's willing to take any shortcut he can. Then, in their Full Nelson Challenge at WrestleMania, we pull off the double turn, Bobby Heenan suddenly betraying Hercules, turning him face. In a later interview, Heenan gloats about his new acquisition, praising Billy Jack as "a man with a killer instinct, he'll do anything to win." From there, I push Billy Jack as a monster heel and potential Hogan-killer. Hercules gets to spend the rest of the year feuding with Heenan and various members of the Heenan Family. Plausible? Fun? Some better way to go? EDIT: This save is hilarious. Two days later, Hercules has also been busted for steroids! Now what do I do?! Half-inclined to just fire them both (probably what would have happened in real life.) Otherwise, what am I booking after WrestleMania? A steroidal monster heel tag team?

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Alucidus" data-cite="Alucidus" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="41194" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>It really depends on one's personal perception of success.<p> There is an argument to be had that it ended Neutral for Savage and was a minor positive for Hogan. That argument being if you're on TV and not being humiliated you're better off for it, which offsets the fact that Savage ended the encounter on the losing end.</p></div></blockquote>I've never looked at it that way before. I've always tried to "balance the scales" so to speak, no success without some corresponding defeat. But you make an excellent point: Savage isn't humiliated exactly, it's just a failed attack. You could argue he's not in a worse position than he was before.

<p>In </p><div class="ipsEmbeddedVideo"><div><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/FSibIrjAuTw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" title="Rusty Brooks vs. H.Hogan_Championship_11-85"></iframe></div></div>, Hulk Hogan dispatches portly jobber Rusty Brooks and is immediately sneak attacked by Randy Savage. Macho lands some kicks and punches, even a double axe handle before The Hulkster blocks a blow and fights back, three big shots, clearing the Slim Jim-hawking heel from the ring.<p> </p><p> Savage ends up out of the ring, Hogan in the ring standing strong -- is this a Minor Success for Hogan and a Minor Defeat for Savage? Or since Savage got in several uncontested shots before he was chased away, would you deem this a Neutral result for all involved?</p>

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Midnightnick" data-cite="Midnightnick" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="41193" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I'm pretty sure Nero's been retired from the Business since he left RIPW to the watchful hands of Mean Jean Cattley but still, bring him back no doubt!</div></blockquote>Sadly, Nero wants to enjoy his retirement in peace. So I'm on the lookout for another evil genius from Skull's past. The Guru comes to mind but he's too busy booking CZCW. Who does that leave? Phil Vibert? DAVE is where the Vengeance character was born -- maybe that's my best choice.<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Midnightnick" data-cite="Midnightnick" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="41193" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>And the bonus question answer: Ricky Dale Johnson in his big SWF Debut (if you can snag him). RDJ and Skull were tag partners in TWL as Sidewinder and Winchester but obviously that's a real smarky answer.</div></blockquote>Smarky but brilliant. Wish I could get RDJ but alas, according to the editor he's locked into a two-year contract with T-C-dub.<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Midnightnick" data-cite="Midnightnick" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="41193" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>BSS would be the best already on roster save, and a great way to turn him Face.</div></blockquote>Honestly, Big Smack Scott against Vengeance sounds highly entertaining. Not sure the matches would be watchable but the promos would be gold.

<p>Could use some creative advice. I'm playing an SWF game where I want to turn Skull DeBones. One last run as a monster heel. </p><p> </p><p> The way I've been thinking about turning him is by having some evil genius play mind games with him, planting the idea that he's gone soft, or suggesting that the cheering fans don't really love him because deep down they know he's a monster. Initially, Skull seems to reject these mind games... but when the son of his old nemesis joins the SWF roster, the big man snaps, brutalizing poor Matty Faith, turning back into Vengeance.</p><p> </p><p> Sound plausible?</p><p> </p><p> To play my evil genius, I've been thinking Professor Nero, whose name "still conjures fear around Texas, even now." Of course, Skull and Nero were in the Texas Wrestling League together, so they've got history. Now if Nero makes sense to you, do you think it's legit for me to hire him for just a show or two to plant the heel turn in Skull's head? I'm concerned because Nero has no roles listed -- not even Personality -- so I don't know if he's in the database just for completion's sake, as opposed to someone I can legitimately use for this purpose.</p><p> </p><p> Bonus question: Since I can't hire Christian Faith (out of the business), who's the logical superstar to heroically avenge Matty? Would it be Valiant? Jack Bruce? Captain Atomic? Big Smack Scott?</p>

D-Lyrium, that post about match aims is super helpful, thanks.

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="shipshirt" data-cite="shipshirt" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="34859" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;"><p>Tennessee William</p><p> <a href="http://s145.photobucket.com/user/jkeats/media/TennesseeWilliam_zpse480899e.jpg.html" rel="external nofollow"><span>http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r219/jkeats/TennesseeWilliam_zpse480899e.jpg</span></a></p><p> </p><p> Marvel Malloy</p><p> <a href="http://s145.photobucket.com/user/jkeats/media/MarvelMalloy_zps5861cc3e.jpg.html" rel="external nofollow"><span>http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r219/jkeats/MarvelMalloy_zps5861cc3e.jpg</span></a></p><p> </p><p> Kyle Rhodes</p><p> <a href="http://s145.photobucket.com/user/jkeats/media/KyleRhodes_zpsb36e9f7f.jpg.html" rel="external nofollow"><span>http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r219/jkeats/KyleRhodes_zpsb36e9f7f.jpg</span></a></p><p> </p><p> Blackfire</p><p> <a href="http://s145.photobucket.com/user/jkeats/media/Blackfire_alt_zps977bf959.jpg.html" rel="external nofollow"><span>http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r219/jkeats/Blackfire_alt_zps977bf959.jpg</span></a> <a href="http://s145.photobucket.com/user/jkeats/media/Blackfire_zps5e388053.jpg.html" rel="external nofollow"><span>http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r219/jkeats/Blackfire_zps5e388053.jpg</span></a></p><p> </p><p> Lassana Makutsi</p><p> <a href="http://s145.photobucket.com/user/jkeats/media/LassanaMakutsi_alt_zps91e79b52.jpg.html" rel="external nofollow"><span>http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r219/jkeats/LassanaMakutsi_alt_zps91e79b52.jpg</span></a> <a href="http://s145.photobucket.com/user/jkeats/media/LassanaMakutsi_zpsdfc753d1.jpg.html" rel="external nofollow"><span>http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r219/jkeats/LassanaMakutsi_zpsdfc753d1.jpg</span></a></p><p> </p><p> Donte Dunn</p><p> <a href="http://s145.photobucket.com/user/jkeats/media/DonteDunn_alt_zpsdae6b23f.jpg.html" rel="external nofollow"><span>http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r219/jkeats/DonteDunn_alt_zpsdae6b23f.jpg</span></a> <a href="http://s145.photobucket.com/user/jkeats/media/DonteDunn_zpsae40ef4f.jpg.html" rel="external nofollow"><span>http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r219/jkeats/DonteDunn_zpsae40ef4f.jpg</span></a></p></div><p></p><p></p></div></blockquote>Wonderful. I'm particularly taken with the Rhodes pic, that's going into my TCW game now. Also, those Blackfire pics are going to get him hired and pushed, so many thanks on his behalf.

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="jhd1" data-cite="jhd1" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="34905" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Not the cleanest job ever, but the picture has been 'corrupted' by being on PB for so long (with the beard being the biggest problem area). If nothing else, it might be a starting point for someone to neaten it up.<p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong><span style="font-size:8px;">GHOST MONKEY</span></strong></p><p> <span>http://i754.photobucket.com/albums/xx181/jhdTEW/Alts/GhostMonkey_jhd.jpg</span><span>http://i754.photobucket.com/albums/xx181/jhdTEW/Alts/GhostMonkey_jhd2.jpg</span><span>http://i754.photobucket.com/albums/xx181/jhdTEW/Alts/GhostMonkey_jhd3.jpg</span></p></div><p></p><p></p></div></blockquote>Very nice! Thanks, jhd1.

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="The Lloyd" data-cite="The Lloyd" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="34905" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>How's this?:<p> </p><p> <span>http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q735/bazzalloyd86/Requests/HellMonkey_alt_zpsca7acba2.jpg</span></p><p> </p><p> Not happy with the hair and beard... but I gave it a go "/</p></div></blockquote><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Jaysin" data-cite="Jaysin" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="34905" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Hopefully I'm not stepping on your toes Lloyd, but I gave it a go as well. I'm not happy with mine all that much either but I only had a few free minutes when I did it earlier. <p> </p><p> <span>http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e322/VenomousPrime/spookymonkey.jpg</span></p></div></blockquote>These are valiant attempts and I thank you both! It's close to what I'm looking for but as you say there's something about the hair and beard that doesn't quite seem right. It's almost hovering in place. <a href="http://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj604/lucky_number8/SessueKawate-1.jpg" rel="external nofollow">Sessue Kawate</a> lacks a beard but his white hair seems to fit him a bit more naturally. I'm hoping for a similar "good fit" for Monkey.

<p>I really like this <a href="http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/xx212/Cverse_Rerender/J%20Silver/HellMonkey_alt.jpg" rel="external nofollow">great JSilver render</a> of an unmasked Hell Monkey. </p><p> </p><p> I'd like to request a white-haired, white-bearded "Ghost Monkey" alt. Just the color change itself would be much appreciated. Any additional touches to make the image spookier (a possessed look in the eyes, for example) would be wonderful but aren't strictly necessary.</p><p> </p><p> Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time.</p>