How do you plan your booking?

[Benrollo]

I often find myself starting games with the likes of SWF but then struggling when it comes to booking actual shows. What I normally do is start a spreadsheet and title a column with the feud at the top e.g. 'Jack Bruce vs Remo' then trying to split that into 'week 1, week 2, Jan PPV' etc in terms of what's happening but I'm finding myself spending more time planning than actually playing the game. Plus I'm not very creative in terms of thinking of ideas so I find myself planning a lot of the same angles - 'A cuts promo on B', 'C attacks D backstage' etc

 

How do you guys plan your booking; and how do you come up with original ideas for angles week to week while you're trying to maintain 4-5 plus storylines at once?

[Jaysin]

I break the year up into chunks of time depending on when the big ppvs are.

 

For WCW I always treated SuperBrawl, Great American Bash, Fall Brawl, Halloween Havoc, and Starrcade as the big five of the year.

 

I decide where I want my main eventers at on each card and work my way down the roster that way deciding who works with who and writing the stories that way.

 

Fall Brawl is always fun because I combine story lines together for the War Games match.

 

For weekly shows the heels tend to look better than faces(grew up on WCW...) so faces get their time to shine at ppvs.

[Dave_Scott]

I always work it PPV by PPV. WWE for example. I know what I want to do for WrestleMania, but that's it. I'm starting the year.

 

Royal Rumble: I plan the who i want to win the Rumble, and the rest of the card is my current storylines.

 

Fast Lane: Throw away PPV that just builds hype to WM. My feuds here won't change much so it will be similar to RR

 

WrestleMania: All my feuds in matches. I usually just let them come along. I change my feuds a lot. I don't plan months away what I'm gonna have, it all just depends on who's feuding at the time. So basically summed up, my whole booking strategy is plan for the big one, and fill the rest of my PPVs with the current feuds. It's a very stupid strategy I know, but I'm a wing it kinda guy.

[Guest]

I'm not by any means the most diehard TEW player, as I've only played '05 and '13. But the way I book is actually in-game. I don't use spreadsheets or word or anything to go from week A to week B. I use my mind to play out how the angles go. Because unless you're booking in like attitude era where the angles could end up anywhere, there isn't much happening in a feud where it should go outside the promos, the backstage brawls/beatdowns, the manager interferences, the authority problems, etc etc. I use the storyline history feature that's built in-game and I use my imagination (which now that I think about it is probably why I could play for hours and hours on a save).

[Zero]

I always play as the WWF or WWE so I book from

 

April (post Mania) to August (Summer Slam)

 

September (post Summer Slam) to March (Wrestle Mania)

 

 

I often know who will win the rumble and main event Mania in advance though by a good year or two.

[Gungner]

Right now, I'm playing the 1996 mod with WWF, and I'm really just booking on the fly. I mean, I have my storylines going and they will face off at PPV's. But my tv-shows is basically booked on the fly.

[lr10540]

I generally have my main event title picture as the only story I always have a plan for. Everything else is filler in the sense of I don't stress about it. I usually have 6 to 8 feuds at any time and it usually looks like this in terms of importance and TV time:

 

1. World title picture

In my opinion, and where WWE fails, horribly, your title should always be the top feud, and every PPV should always close with a title match, but it doesn't have to be the top title, all depends on story. The exceptions of course would be when you have a PPV revolving around a gimmick. Royal Rumble, Survivor Series for example.

 

2. Main event, personal issue

Two ME, or one ME and UM with a heated issue. In my SWF game I made this slot the Eisen, Valiant program and it catapulted Eisen to the most over guy in the game. Currently, I signed Wolf Hawkins and had him cost Cornell his title match against Vengeance, thus having multiple layers with Wolf being Cornell's protege and the perceived betrayal.

 

3. Number 1 contender for World Title

Unless there's a built in story from storyline 2, I always have a number 1 contender ready.

 

4. Midcard Title

I follow the old philosophy of if you have the midcard title, it's a sign you're a future world champ. Big time feud for my companies. Depending on the workers involved, this usually opens my PPVs, and can also be the co-main if I've built title prestige up enough

 

5. Number 1 contender for midcard title

Same reason as storyline 3

 

6. Tag Titles

This is higher, or nearly nonexistent dependent upon the depth of the tag division. I try not to do the lame have the partners face their opponents in 1 on 1 matches in the weeks leading to ppv. They'll both look strong in matches leading to PPV, and do some angle work.

 

7. Number 1 contender for tag titles

Again, dependent on strength of tag division. This match usually doesn't make it on PPV.

 

8. Next big thing

Whichever super low card workers I have that I want to push to the main event over the coming months. Think guys like Primus Allen, Spencer Spade and Scythe in the Cornellverse, and any main event guy in NXT in the real world mods. Basically a squash feud designed only to get my future main eventer over. This will usually be the third to last match designed as a bathroom break type match before the 2 big matches.

 

 

If I have a singles feud, they'll never face each other one on one on TV. I'm saving the match for the PPV. They'll get multiman matches if their top card talents for the main events on TV, but never a blow off match on TV. Then of course, a lot of angle work. Promos, backstage brawls, in ring attacks, guest commentary, and very rarely the lame distraction finish.

[LordofGustav]

To be honest.... i only book properly matches when i am in a Cult or higher level promotion.

 

With regional promos i put matches and promos and nothing else... out of despair and fear of the bigger companies.

 

I really need some training in that aspect...

[AfRoMaN36]

I book backwards from Mania and Summer Slam. I think what combination of matches would give me the strongest card for those two shows, then I book to build hype for those matches.

 

I use a notebook too plan out my storylines a month in advance. I book the matches on the fly unless the angle I've written for that week leads to a certain match happening. I don't get extremely specific with minor feuds and just allow them to follow basic tropes (I cost you a match, you get me back, let's settle it at PPV, etc). Mostly my main event feuds get any specific detail.

[Winter8905]

I work out an outline..

 

If I'm WWF i'll look at Mania and book backwards from their. decide my top 3 matches ad they should be started to be built up a couple months before the Royal Rumble.

 

The other feuds under them are flexible depending on performances.

 

Like others have said Summerslam is another one i'll plan big matches too. it won't get the same amount of build but i'll get more than the other PPV's

 

I'll usually have KOTR, The Tag Team Classic (Tag KOTR) and the WWF v NJPW PPV's the PPV after Mania, Summerslam and Survivor series as a bit of a change and be something different to bring about new feuds.

 

If i'm looking at most of the year to build for Mania, I'll have not oly which main stars will be featured in the top matches... I will also have which guys in my lower card will be getting pushed up the card throughout the year.

 

 

In general I'll have a storyline for every title , maybe another storyline to raise up an up and comer and another feud or two for the top stars who are left out of the title feuds.

 

 

In terms of my titles, for the most part if you hold a midcard title your are either a top prospect and using the midcard title to step up to the next level, gotten massively over in a feud and deserve a run fo the good work or a older worker.

 

In my 1997 save of the 87 database

 

I'd have the WWF Champion - top dog

 

IC champion- for the Uppermidcarders/ lower Main eventers to take them to the next level.

 

 

US champion- a midcard title where the lower end guys who are hot prospects compete for against he older guys to help bring them up past the midcard and up towards the IC scene

 

Tag Team- this is a mixed bag but for storyline purposes Owen/Bulldog where feuding with outsiders of he title, both Main event teams. Usual it would be for the Upper midcard tag teams.

 

WWF X-fighters - my X-division title- specialist title that my midcarders and below will use for the under guys to compete for.

 

WWF European title: a title for the guys who have nothig much else to do or guys who are at rock bottom who I want to push high bu need a place to start.

[lr10540]

Yes, to touch further on what Afroman said, I always plan my huge event ahead of time. I'll have 2 to 4 cards in mind based on who is getting over and who isn't. Regardless I always have 3 to 4 guys in mind for each match. Stories are starting points until I decide, which will be by my Rumble PPV. For example, again with SWF...

 

Marquez (Champagne Lover) v Cornell

Story: Cornell brought Marquez to America, put him in his stable and showed him the ways so to speak. Cornell just lost his title, meanwhile Marquez remains undefeated in 1v1 matches (a few losses in tags, but always kept strong and never eats the pin) and has held the North American title since his first month in the company. Cornell begins to get jealous. From here, Marquez can win the title and be kicked out like the Orton/Evolution angle. I could have Cornell just kick him due to fear of be usurped by the upstart, Marquez wins the rumble, Cornell gets the title back, SC34 Main Event.

 

Marquez vs Gilmore

Gilmore, the epitome of close but no cigar, wins the Rumble and finally gets his first world title win at Supreme Challenge. Basic, but classic storytelling since he's so loved by the fan

base.

 

Marquez vs Eric Eisen

This is new, since Eisen is so effing over now. He has his bodyguard in Bear Bekowski, he has his Shield-esque stable. I could turn Syndicate face (Cornell, Marquez, Remo, Rich Money) and set up a monster stable vs stable angle to complete the under card.

 

 

Also, forgot to mention, if a feud has just started, I don't do num 1 contender stories. I replace those with undercard feuds with personal issues. Generally pushing the talents that will be the num 1 contenders when ready.

 

I try not to overexpose my main event, that's the reason for just 2 main event programs. Going into my top 2 PPVs, I'll stack the cards and it'll feel special.

[itstjg3]

I plan out the Big matches for my biggest event of the year, and book my entire year around that. I Usually plan pretty far ahead too. For instance in my wwe save, i have yet to book wrestlemania 31, but i already have the main event for wrestlemania 35 planned and all of the world champions in between.

[Condors]

I know i am not a typical player of TEW.

Every January i plan out the year but things happen so it is subject to change

I set goals and try to get the best ratings that i can.

I save the 1v1 matches of main eventers for the big shows as well.

I give every worker a number. heel #1 heel#2 heel #3 face#1 face #2 etc

The number is the guy i believe is most valuable to the promotion.

With the swf would make a jobsquad of 24 guys 12 faces/heels these guys are going to put over the guys in the storylines on tv every week.

The guys who get the best match ratings are going to wrestle one of the jobsquad starting with the best and work his way down then repeat.

The guys who are good at angles are going to do angles. I use custom angles most of the time. There are some go to angles in the default database. Modern TV opening 1v1 is usually good to train up a guy. Face off no contact is good way to increase pop.momentum for some of the lower card guys

 

Basically you do 3 months of what you think will work then everybody switch partners (change the feuds) repeat the 3 months with new partners. If you have 4 top heels/faces you can have then feud once a year with each other for 3 months. You can have some guy fight one guy 6 times at the ppv and another guy 6 other times.

 

If you want to get some creative inspiration you can youtube great wrestling angles/promos/interviews/storylines etc. For me i will watch some old ecw on the wwe network.

 

You want to look at things on an escalating scale

 

1st week challenge to a match

2nd week make it personal (heel says why he is better than face and everyone in the building, face appeals to the crowd and will overcome this blah blah blah i like heels what can i say)

3rd week shanagins (match interferance, vandalize property)

4th week the declartions of doom

ppv great match (hopefully)

 

that is about as basic as it gets but keep what your workers do well and try to stick to that

[Colby]

Depending on my company, their size, and amount of shows per month. However I usually take advantage of the in-game notepad and either notepad or word on my pc or mac as well.

 

I just like to keep a rough card of each "big" show, so PPV or monthly show so the booking flows and follows a pattern of evolving rather then just random matches and angles. If I have a PPV to build to then I use the card from that month and months after to build my TV weekly, while using the pre-booking feature in game.

 

I have used excel sheets and the like in the past but haven't been going that route for a few years now. If we could export our roster into excel I would definitely use excel as I am quite well versed in the program from school; however transferring data there now doesn't appeal to me or how I play the game, as I don't attempt to only score 100's or A* and just have fun with each game (turning injuries and the like up).

 

I would love to see a re-design of the roster and roster overview screens in future games, possibly allowing for re-sortable rosters much like we have now but including more stats such as performance, etc.

[Dawn]

I generally have long-term planning for my games, a big storyline or several big storylines, and I think about how long they will run, first of all. I look to have plans for as many guys on the roster as possible, be it 10, 50 or 100 guys who I have on said roster. I usually finish the starting storylines in the majority of my games. After I have everything on my mind, I think of the card for the biggest show of the year (WrestleMania, Starrcade, etc.), then for the other big Pay-Per-Views (Royal Rumble, SummerSlam, Survivor Series, SuperBrawl, The Great American Bash, Halloween Havoc, etc.), and I start the game. I'm not one who books the shows quickly. My A Shows got to have consistency, character development, matches that make sense and quality angles.

 

For my B Shows (which rarely last longer than 1 hour), I generally have four matches with a babyface winning the first one, a heel winning the second one, a babyface winning the third one, and a heel winning the fourth one, or vice versa. It's just a pet peeve of mine to have my B Shows run with that template. While I focus on the content that will have a payoff at my next PPV or at a future PPV following the next one on my TV shows, I look to have some TV-only storylines as well and showcase the guys with no stories as well, and give them some minor stuff to work on.

 

I write everything down on the notepads of both the Notebook and the game itself. I also look to have the title histories for a whole year all planned out at the start of said year. For example, in my old 1991-1993 game, at the start of the game I already knew that in 1991, my WWF World Title lineage would be Ultimate Warrior-Randy Savage, and in 1992, it would be Savage-Sting-Rick Martel-Hulk Hogan-Mr. Perfect. Plans ARE made to be broken, though, and when injuries or something else occurs, and my plans come to a screeching halt, I'm quick to find a plan B, that will obviously make sense and benefit someone.

[thadian]

I like to create 12 PPV Events. I name the odd number months a real event name, then the even number months "Clash in January, Clash in March, Clash in May", etc.

I name my feuds boring "World Title Clash, National Title Clash, Tag Team Clash, Brawl Queen, Brawl King". On this level, I keep it easy and boring - which to me is fun. My assumption is that all feuds start/end during the odd number months.

In my recent game main event title. I start by creating my main events at my PPV's. Odd months are minor "Clash" PPV's. I also keep my Tues/Sat shows 2 hours and my Sun PPV 3 hours, with a brand split. The PPV's are shared.

 

I never start or end an angle - very rarely. What I prefer to do instead, is cycle people in and out of the same angle over and over. If/When an angle tanks to the point that even 90 rated matches and angles can't restore it, I start a new angle with same name. The people in the angle with low momentum will gain some victories in a minor story then leave, which gives them momentum and then they can go into higher storylines. The people in the angle with high momentum will swap 3-way and 4-way dance wins with rotating opponents outside the feud. That way the PPV 1v1 match is "special".

 

I have the important people win matches but lose angles - which lets me cycle overness and momentum through my roster. The main problems arise when I have to deal with losing stars to bigger companies in waves. I solve this by only focusing on 1-2 stars at a time. I use people where they are good.

 

I already know in my CPWA game that Victor Ortega will defend against Jumbo Flapjack, then Titanic Tim for the first two main event PPV's, then I will have him lose the belt to The Scorpion - who goes on to dominate the roster with the help of El Stingray. Meanwhile in the midcardland, Gunloc Colt and Biff Slamkovich are preparing to rotate in/out of feuds with The Scorpion which will let me give Ortega his first rematch at the 3 month point, followed by Gunloc and Biff rematches at their respective 3 month points, placing the third Scorpion/Ortega match at the 6 month point, and following this formula, the PPV's can work with a limited main event setup forever on this.

 

1. What to do with the mid-card. Who to make minor champions.

Upper Mid-Carders will rotate in and out of 3-Way, Tag Team and 1v2 matches. This lets me keep my best matches for PPV's. I can also minimize who I depend on so that if I need to replace someone - I can.

 

2. Roster: Upper Mid-Carders pretty much win solidly over everyone beneath them. Sometimes, I bring in legends on 1-3 appearance deals then job them to my upper mid-carders or mid-carders who I want to build up. I sign main/upper midcarders to lengthy, exclusive written contracts. All others are signed Pay Per Appearance. If I really like someone, I aim for Exclusive PPA. That way I can always get rid of people who are in the momentum toilet forever.