How do you Plan?

[The_Monk]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="mrwhippy" data-cite="mrwhippy" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="41693" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I keep an Excel file for every save.<p> </p><p> <strong>First tab (Roster)</strong></p><p> Name, Alignment, My Custom Rating, Push, Momentum, Gimmick (and Rating), Health, Ego, Lifestyle, Probable Core Angle Rating, Probable Core Match Rating, Base Stats, Popularity</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Second tab (Storylines)</strong></p><p> Whereas the first tab is regimented, this is just a mess. I run <em>a lot</em> of storylines. Everyone that appears on TV is involved in a storyline somewhere. If you're not in my plans, you appear on pre- and house shows only. The file goes everywhere with me through Google Drive so any ideas I have go in this sheet. I've got current storylines, future storylines, random ideas etc. in this sheet. It's a mess but it works for me. I must have spent about 6-8 hours on my current WWE save and I've booked one show.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> this is what im thinking...ive been so caught up in wanting to just run shows its become a mess. I think I need to stop, possibly restart, take what I have learned and move forward with that. PLan, then plan again, then plan a little more and then run a show etc</p>

[mrwhippy]

<p>It depends how you want to play the game. I imagine most people will book on the fly week to week just with an end goal in mind (ie. the PPV).</p><p> </p><p>

I have just as much fun writing my storylines and analysing the stats as I do playing the game. My current save is with WWE, June 2016. I've booked RAW on Week 1 June only so far but I've already got MITB, Battleground and Summerslam - curve balls permitting - nailed down (my major feuds go further than this, with matches provisionally pencilled in for NoC, Survivor Series and even Royal Rumble and Mania) and I already know what angles I'm running on the major TV shows in the next month or two. The introduction of Freestyle Angle is a life saver for me! I find keeping the Excel file and planning ahead helps me get really creative; I managed a 77 rated show for my first 3 hour RAW, which considering I kicked off and progressed 12 storylines and closed with the E-rated popularity Gallows and Anderson, I was rather happy with.</p>

[bookerman]

Before you have a plan, you need a goal. Takeover the world, go from Regional to National, develop young talent, etc. Then you can determine how you want to reach your plan.

 

I tend to book on the fly, but earlier in the thread someone pointed out choosing who you want to develop. That stuck with me and I now have 4-5 guys I want to develop this year along with who will be helping with that, either via matches or teaming together. That gives a base for how their character arcs should go this year.

 

For instance, I'd like to see if Mighty Cavanaugh can turn into a Main Eventer in NOTBPW. He already has a tag team with Tim Westybrook so it's just a matter of figuring out who he will be facing in singles matches to help his growth. Important to keep in mind is that developing does NOT equal beating. In true mid-90s AJPW fashion, Cavanaugh needs to have goals for this year and beyond. In terms of matches, he needs to prove himself above guys like Frost and the Natural while seeing if he can hang with Bloodstone, DeColt, etc. I'm probably going to have Westy drop the Canadian title, but that allows him and Cavanaugh to tag together more and possible win the tag titles. I've also used him as part of a talent trade with TCW. He lost a 77 rated match to Jay Chord on TV which gives him US exposure and experience. If near the end of the year Cavanaugh looks like he can be a main player, then I might put him over Khoklov.

 

If your goal is to develop talent, try to pick 3-5 guys to focus on per year. If they get where you want them earlier, you can find someone else and start working on them.

[Alan James]

Think of what my main event for the biggest show of the year is and wing it until I get there.

[lghikas]

<p>Outside of a few big or long term feuds I usually book on the fly....although Im trying to at least plan out at least my World Title picture a little bit more.</p><p> </p><p>

Usually I kind of know who I want to push/develope...if I use anything its normally the in game notepad which may cover Stables...long term feud/story...guys I want to build my company around..ect...if I'm a few months from my Season Finale I'll write out a makeshift card with the major matches that I plan around.</p>

[Koholos]

<p>I can't decide if it's because I like spontaneity or I'm just bad at this game, but I do very little pre-planning. For me, it's more about documentation. I update storylines & their descriptions after every PPV describing a rough outline of events and motivations. I use stables and short-term tag teams to track why people are together. Etc.</p><p> </p><p>

What I have started doing with 2016 is getting much better at angle & match naming, so I can go back to previous shows and remember what actually happened. </p><p> </p><p>

I'm curious how people are running 3+ month feuds though. Anyone willing to show me a couple? I rarely get more than 2 months before I either wind up adding some new people or spinning someone out.</p>

[mrwhippy]

<p>It's all preference. You say you update storyline descriptions all the time. Mine are left blank. All I do in game is give them a name. I prefer to do it in Excel. Some people use Notepad. Some people use the old fashioned pen and paper.</p><p> </p><p>

Long feuds are easy to book I think once you've done a few. If you use the repetitive booking feature then you're only going to do three matches over six months. Fill in the blanks with side matches or involve them both together in tags or three/four-ways. I've got a feud mapped out in my current save where Gallows and Anderson turn on Styles and deliver beatdown after beatdown but they are quite sheepish about it, dodging the questions why. Turns out they've been hijacked by Brock Lesnar who installs himself as the new Club leader. 3-on-3 at Summerslam. Styles recruits a debuting Nakamura (history with Lesnar) and the returning Rollins (unfinished business from WM31). Now depending on who is involved in the finish I could go several ways with this story. </p><p> </p><p>

If Styles pins Lesnar it would lead to regaining leadership of The Club and a face turn for the stable against Lesnar.</p><p>

If Nakamura pins Lesnar it would lead to a blowoff match built on legitimate fighting.</p><p>

If Rollins pins Lesnar it would lead to a blood feud because of what happened at WM31 and way down the line The Shield vs. The Club.</p><p>

If Lesnar gets the pinfall it will be a long period of domination for The Club.</p><p> </p><p>

I initially didn't want to have Lesnar involved as he is someone that should be alone but by having him command Gallows and Anderson then turn up on Raw and destroy Styles I've bagged myself a year or two's worth of storylines for 8-10 guys that have basically written themselves.</p>

[The_Monk]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Koholos" data-cite="Koholos" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="41693" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I can't decide if it's because I like spontaneity or I'm just bad at this game, but I do very little pre-planning. For me, it's more about documentation. I update storylines & their descriptions after every PPV describing a rough outline of events and motivations. I use stables and short-term tag teams to track why people are together. Etc.<p> </p><p> What I have started doing with 2016 is getting much better at angle & match naming, so I can go back to previous shows and remember what actually happened. </p><p> </p><p> I'm curious how people are running 3+ month feuds though. Anyone willing to show me a couple? I rarely get more than 2 months before I either wind up adding some new people or spinning someone out.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> So what ive started doing is using the storyline boxes more, but not filled out with a "Storyline" but more of a roadmap. So for example im running 21CW and one story in there is the Family First:</p><p> This contains Tommy Cornell, his brother Edward, Kevin Jones and Adam Matravers. I want this to run for approx three months (3 PPVs)</p><p> so ive written down the following:</p><p> 1) Tag team main event (AM to pin EC, next show request title match)</p><p> 2) Triple threat for world title (EC, AM and KJ)</p><p> 3) World Title EC vs AM (screw job from TC, new Champion)</p><p> End Story...start new story with TC and Dark Angel</p><p> TV Show notes:</p><p> TC not to compete but trash talk/hype</p><p> EC to take on KJ</p><p> General hype, odd brawls, PPV setups</p><p> </p><p> I'm finding this is already helping me a great deal as I used to plan on the fly but found that got repetitive, now I can actually see where i'm heading and what i'm doing especially where ive got cross overs, as i'll want to end a couple of story's at the same time so that I can then use members from it for new story's I have planned</p>

[moafnsteel]

I remember a similar thread on the 13 boards, where somebody posted a link to download an awesome set of stock storylines from generic to real world examples. Anybody have this file? or know where to find it?

[The_Monk]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="moafnsteel" data-cite="moafnsteel" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="41693" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I remember a similar thread on the 13 boards, where somebody posted a link to download an awesome set of stock storylines from generic to real world examples. Anybody have this file? or know where to find it?</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> That would be quite interesting....... to see if nothing else. have you looked in TEW Warehouse?</p>

[dalenichol]

I remember that being a thing for on like 05, but was gutted when I couldn't find it for more recent games. I'm not always creative enough to have storylines play out in my head

[Bluestillidie00]

<p>Here you go</p><p>

<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/zguajd35masnz30/Storylines.rar?dl=0" rel="external nofollow">https://www.dropbox.com/s/zguajd35masnz30/Storylines.rar?dl=0</a></p>

[moafnsteel]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Bluestillidie00" data-cite="Bluestillidie00" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="41693" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Here you go<p> <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/zguajd35masnz30/Storylines.rar?dl=0" rel="external nofollow">https://www.dropbox.com/s/zguajd35masnz30/Storylines.rar?dl=0</a></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Thank you so much!! I have been trying to find that since my computer crashed!</p>

[dalenichol]

<p>Dude! That's awesome, thanks!</p><p> </p><p>

This'll make things really interesting</p>

[gmsubzer]

<p>hello everyone,</p><p>

below is a spreadsheet i've been using for years and past iterations. it is something i took a few ideas from while creating my own. it has a slot for roster, t.v. show planning, finances, chemistry, tournament planning, and on and on. Seeing as i just started a game for CGC, i have a fresh sheet for everyone. While it's self explanatory; i think; i'll go over the Roster and the T.V. Show planning tabs real quick.</p><p> </p><p>

Roster:</p><p>

Down the left, we have the roster split by push and whether they are face or heel. The numbers at the top are automatically filled in when a Wrestlers name is entered so you don't have to constantly count your guys to see if you have a balanced roster. Wrestlers names are a default black. Then changed to match there Tag Team partner if they have one. Then the dark yellow/ golden backgrounds are a quick look as to who are champions are who are not.</p><p> </p><p>

The rest of the slots are self explanatory. Titles and champs, tag teams, Managers, Creative meeting slots for Talk the talk, Next Big Thing, and Hot Prospects. Current story storylines, and Consider gimmick changes. Oh there is also a quick ratings guide in there as well. </p><p> </p><p>

T.V. Show Planning:</p><p>

You can get as simple or as complex as one wants with this. The Grey cells are for Main show show matche, Blue are for Pre Show. The yellow combined slots are for angles. The Pink(ish) slot next them is for segment rating incase you want to go back to see who's doing what in shows. The way i usually do it is i put the winner first, the loser/ or multiple losers in the second slot. That way there is no trying to remember who won the match im looking at. </p><p> </p><p>

One little trick I used with this is i open a second excel sheet. I copy and paste the Roster from teh roster tab into this second slot. Then i can cut a wrestlers name from this sheet and paste it into the show and do a whole show that way. That way i know who's been used, whos been left out. Also, when you're done filling in the matches and angles, you can cop the row of info into the second sheet for whatever order you want it to be shown in, and then paste it back to the original sheet.</p><p> </p><p>

Well anyway, heres the link. I hope any one who wants to use this really enjoys it. I know at times when im at work and i can't play the game, i still have access to this and i can plan a show or two ahead of time that i can run when i get home.</p><p> </p><p>

CGG Roster Sheet.<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/6z7dmnuhyrh202m/CGC%20Roster.xlsx?dl=0" rel="external nofollow">https://www.dropbox.com/s/6z7dmnuhyrh202m/CGC%20Roster.xlsx?dl=0</a></p>

[mvargus]

I mostly use physical notepads.

 

But I also just keep quite a bit in my head. I use the notepads to chart out the next 2-3 months of events and sometimes the angles, but mostly I just try to remember what I'm doing. (And yes, I make a lot of mistakes if I don't play regularly.)

 

In the past I would have a clipboard with more extensive notes, but I have to find it and the paper I used.

[L-DOPA]

<p>I usually have a general idea of where I want to go with certain guys a few months in advance. For example, for the big summer TCW show I've known I want Hawkins vs Golden as the main event since before the first PPV I booked.</p><p> </p><p>

Also known I wanted to push both Bach and Andrews into big matches and get them more over for future programs.</p><p> </p><p>

How I get there and what storylines and feuds I do in between is more spontaenous and there will be certain guys on the way who I like the look of or who are starting to get more hot/over and I book accordingly. I also have a general idea of where I am going with each title.</p><p> </p><p>

So I don't plan specifics out months in advance but I have a general scope of the direction I'm going and what guys I want to focus on in the company.</p>

[21maxwell]

I mostly use physical notepads.

 

But I also just keep quite a bit in my head. I use the notepads to chart out the next 2-3 months of events and sometimes the angles, but mostly I just try to remember what I'm doing. (And yes, I make a lot of mistakes if I don't play regularly.)

 

In the past I would have a clipboard with more extensive notes, but I have to find it and the paper I used.

 

 

I used to just keep stuff in my head, but started this approach with notepads, as like yourself i made a lot of mistakes haha.

[mvargus]

I used to just keep stuff in my head, but started this approach with notepads, as like yourself i made a lot of mistakes haha.

 

Sometimes making mistakes is fun, and I definitely learn as much from some of the mistakes as I would with a year of perfect shows.

 

I do keep thinking "I ought to set up something more. But unless I can run 2 monitors at the same time (so one can have my notes and the other the game.) I doubt that I'll be in a hurry to do that.

 

Note to self, see if my working computer can handle 2 monitors at the same time.

[sabataged]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="mvargus" data-cite="mvargus" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="41693" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Sometimes making mistakes is fun, and I definitely learn as much from some of the mistakes as I would with a year of perfect shows.<p> </p><p> I do keep thinking "I ought to set up something more. But unless I can run 2 monitors at the same time (so one can have my notes and the other the game.) I doubt that I'll be in a hurry to do that.</p><p> </p><p> Note to self, see if my working computer can handle 2 monitors at the same time. <img alt=":p" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Most computers now a days can handle it. Most have 2 types of output between VGA (blue end cable), DVI (white end cable), or HDMI. I work from home and have one of these DisplayLink adapters. <a href="http://www.displaylink.com/products/universal-docking-stations" rel="external nofollow">http://www.displaylink.com/products/universal-docking-stations</a></p><p> </p><p> Basically just plug two monitors into it via hdmi, and laptop via usb and i have 3 monitors.</p>

[sabataged]

<p>As for my booking style I am very on the fly. I find I play a ton of the game (for me this is like 6 months worth) in less than a week and then I wont touch the game again for a few weeks/month. By the time I pick back up I forget what I was doing previously. Thus I just book on the fly. I typically have 5-6 storylines going. The main or world title storylines typically go a minimum of 3 months for me, and the lesser ones are 1-2 months. </p><p> </p><p>

Someone mentioned the idea of naming the storyline like Wolf over Golden or whatever so you know who is supposed to get over. I think I may use this idea.</p>

[mvargus]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="sabataged" data-cite="sabataged" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="41693" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Most computers now a days can handle it. Most have 2 types of output between VGA (blue end cable), DVI (white end cable), or HDMI. I work from home and have one of these DisplayLink adapters. <a href="http://www.displaylink.com/products/universal-docking-stations" rel="external nofollow">http://www.displaylink.com/products/universal-docking-stations</a><p> </p><p> Basically just plug two monitors into it via hdmi, and laptop via usb and i have 3 monitors.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Mine could. I even had the monitor already in the room as for a time I was running 2 different computers. (don't ask. <img alt=":p" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> ) Now to see if setting up the second one can actually make me more productive in regards to some things.</p>

[Bluestillidie00]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Bluestillidie00" data-cite="Bluestillidie00" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="41693" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Here you go<p> <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/zguajd35masnz30/Storylines.rar?dl=0" rel="external nofollow">https://www.dropbox.com/s/zguajd35masnz30/Storylines.rar?dl=0</a></p></div></blockquote><p> bit of an odd request, can someone reupload this please?</p>

[jtnlange]

<p>I have all the stories written out, over a thousand of them if anyone is interested. I can post when I get home.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

Trevor</p>

[dalenichol]

Please do, I'd love to get stuck into them tomorrow after work