The ACPW Thread

[Jaded]

Okay, two years or so into a game, which I'm loving, although it's slow progress - but thought this was a good time to share some thoughts on Canada's smallest fed.

 

1. Finances - This is your MAJOR issue. With ACPW's starting popularity, and your product not being too great for sponsorship, you're going to struggle to make money. It IS possible - but takes planning. I went with 10 for negotiation, sorted out new contracts for everyone (I can't decide whether this is super-gamey or just fairly-gamey, but justified it as being a new guy coming in and telling them "Look, I'm cutting costs somehow, so if you want to hang around...", threw in a lot of things like "Never pushed lower than main eventer" for my top guys and "only used on events" to shave a few bucks off the wages I needed to pay. I also worked out after a year that giving Diablo and Jamie Atherton the 'special attraction' clause meant they were happy being used less often, and since I wasn't jobbing either of them to anyone except each other there was no real loss there.

 

2. Road Agent - KEY piece of advice. Ditch Dragon, bring in Farrah Hesketh. She's slightly cheaper, can also work as a manager or commentator, and if you're desperate for decent angles can get C/C+ from firing T-shirts.

 

3. Production - Drop it ALL down, to save money. The only thing I went for was local music, to avoid a possible fine down the road.

 

4. Jobbers - This isn't specific to ACPW, but I bring in a fair few guys on short contracts (I think 3 months/3 appearances is the cut-off for a 'try out', meaning you can rehire without having to wait six months.) This is mainly to use them as jobbers, but also lets me see if any of them show up in creative meeting screens and are worth signing long-term. Having your stars go over jobbers boosts momentum and, given your popularity is tiny, isn't going to cause a problem with ratings.

 

5. Double duty - related to the finances point, I have a LOT of guys pulling double duty. Typical shows might be something like this (before Atherton, Mimic and Ant-Man got stolen, anyway):

Opener: Mimic/Diablo over jobber team 1, followed by Mimic/Diablo arguing over who's better and Mimic challenging Diablo in tonight's main.

Inner City Express over jobber team 2 in first match of a 2-match challenge.

Inner City Express over jobber team 3 in second match of a 2-match challenge.

Ant-Man defends against midcarder.

Mimic vs Diablo.

 

Add in a few more angles (remember 90% ratio lets you use 25% angles because of the 15% leeway) with Hesketh/Mimic/Diablo/Ant-Man.

 

That's five expensive guys, one middling one, and six cheap ones used. There is a BIG issue in that it's likely to leave you with morale problems if people get annoyed about not being used, but I keep an eye on who's not happy and try and make sure they get on the next show and praise 3 of them after it.

 

6. Location - Okay, you're in the worst area in Canada to grow. But you have 40% spillover in Quebec, at least. I did wonder about trying to run half my shows in Quebec and grow to the point of getting on TV there, but I think weekly shows will be too much financially. I've instead gotten to E importance in The Maritimes, and am planning on staying here while I grow, then maybe running one show every couple of months in Quebec, and touring 2 other areas every three months or so. The aim is going to be to get on PPV in the next 2-3 years. (ACPW is DEFINITELY a long-term game, not a short fix!)

 

7. Tag teams - I think your teams look better than they are, as you have a lot (compared to the roster size) but only the Inner City Express are actually decently experienced. I used the first year or two to try a LOT of different pairings searching for chemistry. ACPW's product seems to lend itself perfectly to 2 vs 2 vs 2 or 2 vs 2 vs 2 vs 2 matches, which at least help build experience quickly. (On the subject of double duty, I quite like team A vs team B, team C vs team D, then team A vs team B vs team C vs team D, with a team getting a title shot at the next show if they win both their matches, or the 3 winning teams going into a 2 vs 2 vs 2 match at the next show for a shot. Changing pushes might be necessary for this to work, and does have the drawback that you're possibly making people REALLY egotistical by over-pushing them.)

 

8. Signings - Assuming you're sticking to lightweight and under, which seems fairly key to me, there's actually quite a few fun signings you can make. I have Ash Barnaby and Zack Rudge from the Paratroopers in as 'A to Z', Robin Newman and Johnny Needham are solid lower midcarders, and Flash Savage and Leftie Wilkes came in when their contracts with bigger companies expired and are 2 of my key guys now. Cal Sanders is someone I keep thinking about - I'm generally sticking to younger guys but am considering either teaming him with Sky King (I let Reggie Bishop go as his attitude sucked) as a pair of grumpy veterans, or having him and Sky King each mentor a rookie and feud. Either way, their psychology should improve the youngsters'.

 

9. Schedule - Related strongly to finances, so will obviously depend on economy! I ran a show every month for first two years, and by the start of 2018 with popularity at D, I think, in the Maritimes, and economy at B- or so, I was able to run 2 shows a month without losing much money. I may scale it back to 1 when the economy drops lower.

 

10. Figurehead - I went with Atherton, and after a year he was established in the role and doing pretty well. Obviously after 18 months SWF stole him, so it wasn't THAT much of a benefit, but you have nothing to lose from going with him, I'd say.

 

Has anyone else been playing with ACPW?

[Self]

I did a year of shows when the game was released, a lot of skeleton crews (3 singles, then a tag featuring guys from the singles) and short shows... and after seeing my pop barely go up and barely breaking even, I got bored. I'm hoping the patch has changed things, because I love these guys.

[Jaded]

I did a year of shows when the game was released, a lot of skeleton crews (3 singles, then a tag featuring guys from the singles) and short shows... and after seeing my pop barely go up and barely breaking even, I got bored. I'm hoping the patch has changed things, because I love these guys.

 

MUCH better with the patch, I've been making solid gains. I've capped, but without capping I could have hit regional by now. (2 1/2 years, with 1 show a month for 18 months, then 2 a month.)

[cool name]

Right now I'm building Jaime Atherton up as a figurehead to use eventually. I'm using a stable titled "Takes 3 to Strangle" as a Triple Threat/Shield type with Jerry Martin as the leader and the team of Tyrone Gray and Nate Demarcus.

[Jaded]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Self" data-cite="Self" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="41745" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I did a year of shows when the game was released, a lot of skeleton crews (3 singles, then a tag featuring guys from the singles) and short shows... and after seeing my pop barely go up and barely breaking even, I got bored. I'm hoping the patch has changed things, because I love these guys.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Just to confirm the patch made this completely doable - I'm 3 1/2 years in and at regional, boosted most of my production to compete with 4C, and am still making $10,000+ a month profit running weekly shows despite the economy being at F+. I've also turned Ash Barnaby into a STUD, and am awaiting SWF coming calling for him. (He's routinely getting A grades for promos and B grades for matches.)</p>

[Self]

After a few false starts I gave this a crack last night. Wanting to start with a 'real' promotion, running 5 matches a show, I made some drastic financial decisions. I fired Grimm Quimble, Mimic & Sky King straight away, and only kept Diablo Duvak and Jamie Atherton because I renegotiated them to Special Attraction deals for under $1k a show. I also replaced Royce Greg with Bret Graveson. Better referee. Cheaper. Locker room leader. Gram Gorman was let go for the good of the backstage morale.

 

7 months in and I turned a $29 profit last month. Jamie Atherton was snapped up by SWF. I had to let Devyn Reynaud go when he and Mario Da Silva starting having issues (meddling made it worse) and he got simmering tension with half of the locker room. Da Silva has been jobbed out since then for being a trouble maker.

 

I've basically built around Jayson Van Pelt, who isn't amazing, but cheap enough and good enough to keep my popularity slowly climbing. Diablo Duvak is still Junior heavyweight champion, appearing every few shows. Inner City Express are doing well in 'High Spots' matches as tag champions. I retired the Canadian Regional belt because I hate midcard titles. Current pushes are going to Kamikaze ('high spots' note does well) and Little Dragon. I've only brought in Kid Fantastic and Jonnie Perez, to keep the spot monkey theme going.

 

Enjoying it so far. Looking forward to having more money to spend (typically lost $500 per show up until now) but this feels good to me.

[Self]

I do want to plug how useful the 'High Spots' match note is. Whether it's the product or the roster I've had great success putting on two High Spots matches per show. Kamikaze, far from a polished worker, is a god. Malik Cash does amazingly. I still frequently main event with 20 minute slow builds, but when I don't want to spend $1k on someone with good enough psychology, I headline with a couple of (over, pushed) spot monkeys in a 10 minute High Spots match. It's the Eye Candy match on ACPW. When $440 Kamikaze can comfortably headline, why would I keep Diablo Duvak? Totally fired him.

[Jaded]

<p>Very nice, Self! I just got to 2020 and am breaking even running 3 shows a month in the Maritimes and 1 on the road (was Quebec, have now moved to Ontario.) Most of my roster is on major positive momentum due to me bringing in guys for very short runs to put over my main players, and only really having main eventers/upper midcarders ever lose in the semi-main or main to each other. This is giving me some INCREDIBLE ratings; I'm having fun. (I also got rid of Diablo too, wanted a ridiculous pay raise and I thought 'Nah'.)</p><p> </p><p>

I've had 3 shows rated A, and 12 more rated B+, which I'm pleased with.</p><p> </p><p>

Best matches of the first 4 years (all A rated)</p><p> </p><p>

Flash Savage and Leftie Wilkes over OMG</p><p>

Flash Savage and Leftie Wilkes over Sky King and Marcus LeFleur</p><p>

Flash Savage and Leftie Wilkes over Inner City Express</p><p>

Midnight Stars (Jayson Van Pelt and Princeton Pryce) over OMG</p><p>

Midnight Stars (Jayson Van Pelt and Princeton Pryce) over OMG</p><p>

Flash Savage and Leftie Wilkes over OMG</p><p>

Flash Savage and Leftie Wilkes over Sky King and Marcus LeFleur</p><p>

Leftie Wilkes over Zach Rudge</p><p>

Flash Savage and Leftie Wilkes over Ash Barnaby and Zach Rudge</p><p>

Hugh de Aske over Grimm Quibble and Leftie Wilkes in a 3-way</p><p> </p><p>

As you can see, Savage and Wilkes have been an incredible pair of signings (aided by great chemistry!) although Savage tore a quad and is out at the moment. However the pair of them, Ash Barnaby, Jayson Van Pelt, Peter Michaels and Farrah Hesketh are consistently getting A* angles, which helps as well. <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/smile.png.142cfa0a1cd2925c0463c1d00f499df2.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> (Michaels, who I'm using as an announcer and a manager for Wilkes/Savage is PHENOMENAL, although his mic skills and charisma are dropping so I may need a replacement in a year or two.)</p>

[Jaded]

Just finished 2020. Still at regional, but making a profit running 2 shows in the Maritimes a month (1 weekly and 1 PPV), with the other 3 shows being in Quebec, Manitoba and Ontario.

 

This just happened, which was nice.

 

http://i.imgur.com/WehXyNe.jpg

 

Also quite pleased with the Power 500. Go Paratroopers!

 

http://i.imgur.com/1muM4r8.jpg

[Jon The GOAT]

Are you building towards cult now and do you have enough bank in to get ready for the costs hike. Nice to see you blowing away the big leagues with your modern wrestling. Would love to see your guys face off against Japan's juniors at some point.

[Jaded]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Jon The GOAT" data-cite="Jon The GOAT" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="41745" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Are you building towards cult now and do you have enough bank in to get ready for the costs hike. Nice to see you blowing away the big leagues with your modern wrestling. Would love to see your guys face off against Japan's juniors at some point.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I'm more interested in building towards a TV show than towards Cult at the moment - I have $750,000 in the bank, so not really enough to make the jump for a while. ACPW is DEFINITELY not one for a quick fix, but it's enjoyable. And would be interesting to see my guys against some Japanese talent, tempted to form an alliance at some point if Daedalus will let me. (I'm annoyed as I just tried adding a women's division - which seems a good fit for ACPW - and he blocked me.)</p>

[Benrollo]

Jaded, do you mind showing a couple of screenshots of the Paratroopers guys' stats? Always interested in how certain guys progress and they must be looking pretty good now to be so high up the power 500.

[Jaded]

Jaded, do you mind showing a couple of screenshots of the Paratroopers guys' stats? Always interested in how certain guys progress and they must be looking pretty good now to be so high up the power 500.

 

Sure! In both cases, I've grabbed a screenshot of their starting stats, then pasted current stats to the right so you can see how much they've improved.

 

http://i.imgur.com/wNO7Pup.png

 

and

 

http://i.imgur.com/lLX6K3U.jpg

[Self]

It's weird seeing all of the 'name' stars in your promotion. A few years in, and my roster is pretty much cycling around the same level of quality. Maybe I decided to run a second monthly show in Quebec so early, but I'm constantly battling to break even financially. So when Princeton Pryce gets over and wants more money, he's replaced by Zak Attack. Little Dragon's excursion ends, so he's replaced by Monkey... something. My original undercard has been replaced by just-as-cheap 4C rejects and Paratroopers.

 

At the top of the card, my special attractions are all gone, furious at having to put people over. Which needed to happen eventually. New ones come in, but other than a brief Edd Stone run, they stay around the same price.

 

Kamikaze & Dagger looked like they might break out. Dagger was my first non-special attraction Champion... but he disaligned his spine, then tore his quad on his first match back. Kamikaze excelled in High Spots matches, but kept botching in main events, so he's been dropped to the undercard.

 

My current champion is Malik Cash, who can do flips, but is far too inconsistent to be a long term champion. My tag champions The Amazing Bandits (chemistry blessed Marcel LeFluer & Reggie Bishop) have taken over main event duties. I hope nothing bad happens to them.