Foolinc explores TEW 2020 (and so can you) - Intro to TEW2020

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From where are you getting all those cool logos though? And, how are you making imgur pictures show? So far, in my diary, they only showed up as links. T_T

 

Looks like you already were helped out in terms of working with Imgur.

 

As for the logos, the GLW logo was created by Kamchatka a long time ago. So old in fact that it's not even shown in Kamchatka's current logo thread. And looking back at my old diaries, looks like the first time I used it was in 2010.

 

The Living Hell stable logo was something I created in PhotoShop for an old Thunderverse draft game.

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The GLW Epilogue

 

I might have posted the last show for GLW, but there are still a couple of more things I wanted to talk about before moving on.

 

Contracts

I ended up offering up full time contracts for Too Hot and Ellie May Watson before Crowning a Champion. Not only did both wrestlers fill their role well, but they also were going into this event with positive having positive momentum, morale, and gimmicks. I also decided to sign Black Diamond to a full time deal. She's didn't do great on the first show, but still looks like a solid prospect.

 

Despite booking him to win the battle royale, I ended up not re-signing Paul Steadyfast before the event and instead re-signed him after his deal expired, cancelling out his negative momentum and previous poor gimmick (the cause of his morale problem). Now that I have confirmed that 1 to 3 appearance deals still work like they do in 2016, I will recommend them to everyone running smaller promotions. They are perfect for when you need some random cannon fodder and a fantastic way to check out a worker that you might be interested in.

 

Bob Casey, Nathan Coleman, and Gareth Wayne unfortunately didn't make the cut. Bob wasn't putting up the match ratings that I was hoping for and both Nathan and Gareth are too expensive for the roles that they would be playing going forward.

 

Finances

At the start of the diary, I mentioned creating my initial budget around the amount of sponsorship money the promotion would be getting for the month. Based on those projections, I believe I will be seeing worker expenses around $7,000 and $5,000 in sponsorship income. GLW also will be earning around $2,400 in ticket revenue, meaning that we should end up around even for the month, assuming that we got some miscellaneous and merch sales and our other expenses aren't too crazy.

 

<img src="

https://i.imgur.com/HQuakmQ.png"

width="912p" />

 

Ok, so this is a bit different. Instead of breaking even for the month, we lost $3,500 and ended up $1,000 in debt. Not great, but at the same time I ran three shows in the month with more than 20 wrestlers on each show and the game is going to give us 15 more months to get back out of debt (since we are a new promotion). I also probably should have expected to see a decrease in sponsorship money due to the US having less than average economy and industry scores (which can be checked by going to the game world screen using the button on the left side of the screen).

 

The lack of miscellaneous income was unexpected, but a welcome change. I never really understood were that income was coming from and I am happy to see it disappear in 2020, at least at the moment. The merch sales though are a bit concerning. Then again I did also forgot that merchandise is handled differently in this game.

 

To the merch screen!

 

Merchandise

 

<img src="

https://i.imgur.com/jvb2jn0.png"

width="912p" />

 

Oh, that would do it. Looks like there is no merchandise sales because we have no merch to sell and need to invest time and money if we want to change that. When improving your merch level there are three choices, each with a different cost in terms of money and time. Here's the breakdown:

 

<img src="

https://i.imgur.com/vbOIQNH.png"

/>

 

Judging by this, it looks like the best method going to be either conservative or rapid depending on your current finances.

 

What's Next

Now that I've got through this in-game month in the beta, what I want to do next is download the retail game and make a post going over what I might have done differently with GLW knowing what I know now (as well taking into account any changes to the game that might have happened from my time with the beta). After that, I plan on hopping into one of the Japanese companies to show how I go through and break down an existing roster. Finally, if you have a question or want me to look into some in particular, let me know.

[foolinc]

<p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span style="font-size:12px;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>If I did it (again)</strong></span></span></span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

</span></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Initial Retail Thoughts</strong></span></span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

After downloading the retail version of the game, I have to say I am pleased with the changes to the default skin. It's gone from legitimately giving me a headache to being my favorite default skin to date. I also like the changes that were made to the Office. I still feel like there is too much going on, but the organization of the buttons makes it a lot easier to find what you are looking for.</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><img src="</span></div></div></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/DKe1YdB.png" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/DKe1YdB.png" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/DKe1YdB.png" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/DKe1YdB.png" rel="external nofollow"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">https://i.imgur.com/DKe1YdB.png"</span></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/DKe1YdB.png" rel="external nofollow"></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/DKe1YdB.png" rel="external nofollow"></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/DKe1YdB.png" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> /></span></div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

</span></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Major Changes</strong></span></span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

I haven't read through the entire patch log, but it looks like the biggest change for GLW are the updated contract demands. All wrestlers will now expect travel costs to be included to their contracts on top of their "handshake" appearance fee (which hasn't changed). This makes a lot of sense from multiple levels. From a common sense standpoint, I didn't think it made much sense for that someone would fly from a different country for just $30. In addition, I also thought the contract demands were a bit too generous at this level and making wrestlers expect travel costs makes is a really easy way to help increase costs without having to toy around with the demand formulas. </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

The travel demand costs are fixed and are also pretty reasonable, maybe even too reasonable. I'm not going to suggest for Adam to mirror real life, but all I'm saying is that I WISH travel between the United States and the UK was around $200. </span></div></div></div><img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/wink.png.686f06e511ee1fbf6bdc7d82f6831e53.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><img src="</span></div></div></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/qnhNtGm.png" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/qnhNtGm.png" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/qnhNtGm.png" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/qnhNtGm.png" rel="external nofollow"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">https://i.imgur.com/qnhNtGm.png"</span></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/qnhNtGm.png" rel="external nofollow"></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/qnhNtGm.png" rel="external nofollow"></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/qnhNtGm.png" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> /></span></div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

Another change I noticed was that the estimated sponsorship numbers appear lower than they were at the start of the beta. I'm not sure if it's due a change in the code or just a change in the formula to better estimate the weight the economy, but I'm now seeing an estimate of around $3,600. That number is much more in line with the sponsorship money we saw GLW get in the beta, so maybe this change was addressed a while ago and I just never noticed. </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

</span></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Re-doing the start to GLW</strong></span></span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

Looking back at my experiences with the beta and seeing the changes that have been made to the game, I can say that there isn't much that I would change with how I booked my first few event for Great Lakes Wrestling. I like the stories I told as well as the major majority of the wrestlers I signed. However, it wasn't all perfect:</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

• The first thing I would do is sign a second ref. I know it didn't seem like it mattered, but signing a second referee still seems like the way to go. The game is warning me that one ref was an issue for the length of my shows and, if nothing else, a second ref will help protect me from being SOL if a ref quits right before a show. </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

• I wouldn't have signed Bob Casey, Nathan Coleman, or Gareth Wayne. Too Hot can easily fill the role of midcard veteran that I initially signed Casey to be and it would open up a spot on the card for another young prospect. As for Nathan and Gareth, both of them are fine, but neither of them are on the same level as my main event and I didn't connect with them in the same way I did with Art Reed and Paul Steadyfast. At most, I would have signed them just for the first night to fill out the tournament. </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

• With the slightly higher worker costs and lower revenue estimates, I would have planned on running only two shows a month. Or maybe not. Being in debt at the beginning is not that big of a deal and you have a ton of time to get back into the black. </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

• I would have started to increase merchandise from day one, using the rapid setting. 125 extra bucks a week is not that bad and the next level of merchandise doesn't have downside, so getting to it as quickly as possible seems like a really good idea.</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

• I would use the pre-booking feature a bit more. I really like the amount of detail this version of the pre-booking feature has and anything that makes it easier to book future shows is a good thing. </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

</span></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>What's next</strong></span></span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

I begin to dig into….Burning Hammer of the Wrestling Gods</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><img src="</span></div></div></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/HJaml45.jpg" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/HJaml45.jpg" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/HJaml45.jpg" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/HJaml45.jpg" rel="external nofollow"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">https://i.imgur.com/HJaml45.jpg"</span></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/HJaml45.jpg" rel="external nofollow"></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/HJaml45.jpg" rel="external nofollow"></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/HJaml45.jpg" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> /></span></div></div></div></div><p></p>

[foolinc]

<p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span style="font-size:12px;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Getting into Burning Hammer (Part 1)</strong></span></span></span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

A little background before I get into breaking down Burning Hammer of the Wrestling Gods, I didn't play a lot of the C-Verse in 2016 and played even less in Japan. I know the general story of the company as well as a handful of wrestlers, but I am going into this a lot more blind than most might think. But that’s probably a good thing for what I'm trying to do. Wouldn't be that much fun for me if I wasn't actually learning about the promotion.</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><img src="</span></div></div></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/uBvGUrH.jpg" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/uBvGUrH.jpg" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/uBvGUrH.jpg" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/uBvGUrH.jpg" rel="external nofollow"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">https://i.imgur.com/uBvGUrH.jpg"</span></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/uBvGUrH.jpg" rel="external nofollow"></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/uBvGUrH.jpg" rel="external nofollow"></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/uBvGUrH.jpg" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> width="800px" /></span></div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

From the intro, we are introduced to one of the major events of the C-Verse, the tsunami of 2016. It also mentions that Burning Hammer (and their main rival PGHW) are potentially on the decline. The promotion selection screen also tells us that we are the 5th largest promotion worldwide and the biggest promotion in Japan. Finally it mentions that Burning Hammer has 63 workers, 13 tag teams, 6 titles, and 94 active events (yikes!).</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><img src="</span></div></div></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/Inu8DOk.png" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/Inu8DOk.png" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/Inu8DOk.png" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/Inu8DOk.png" rel="external nofollow"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">https://i.imgur.com/Inu8DOk.png"</span></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/Inu8DOk.png" rel="external nofollow"></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/Inu8DOk.png" rel="external nofollow"></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/Inu8DOk.png" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> width="800px"/></span></div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

There are a lot of different ways to start understanding a promotion, but the first thing I like to look at is the product since it's going to tell me mechanically I need to look out for. </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><img src="</span></div></div></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/OllR5eu.png" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/OllR5eu.png" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/OllR5eu.png" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/OllR5eu.png" rel="external nofollow"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">https://i.imgur.com/OllR5eu.png"</span></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/OllR5eu.png" rel="external nofollow"></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/OllR5eu.png" rel="external nofollow"></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/OllR5eu.png" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> width="800px" /></span></div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

Burning Hammer runs the "Burning Path" style, which is based on the Classic Mainstream Puroesu product, which means:</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

• Burning Hammer uses a weight split and stables are considered integral. I'm not surprised by this as Burning Hammer real life comp has been New Japan in the past. </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

• Match focus is Three Ring Circus. For reference this means that our grade will be an average of the best three rated matches on the card. </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

• Fans are going to expect a show taking around 95% of the total event time during events and 90% during TV.</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

• The match ratios will be scored on a 60/40 split, which is honestly a bit more "even" than I was expecting. In the past I could have sworn there was a bigger weight towards performance. </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

• Fans will want to see lengthy matches with 20 minutes being the "grade cap" </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

• Fans also want to see clean finishes and will be put off by dangerous, controversial, or bloody matches</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

• A lot of non-traditional match types will be penalized, including Comedy matches and fans wouldn't want to see anything more complicated than a cage match. </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

• Each show will need to have a match aimed with Steal The Show as well as one Technical Masterclass.</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

Based on this information I am starting to get a picture of what an event is going to look like to run a successful show. The Three Ring Circus focus not only means that we are free to experiment with the undercard, but also that I can be a bit more aggressive when it comes to booking my main event. For example, I know fans don't like tainted or cheap finishes, but as long as I have three other strong matches, I am free to test out just how big of a penalty these types of finishes get.</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

Another key takeaway is that each event will be expected to have one Technical Masterclass and another match with the Steal the Show road note. When I look at the wrestlers, I will want to take note of the types of wrestlers that I think can pull that type of match off.</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

I was already thinking of using NJPW as a touchstone and the product definitely reinforced that thought. That said, I think I'll be ignoring the bit about Burning Hammer being run as "Evolving Puro". This roster is extremely large and the only way I could get away with keeping everyone happy is a heavy dose of multi-man tag team matches. </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

</span></div></div></div>

[Neoteros]

Those requirements, damn. Running a small company with that product seems to be basically impossible - how many rookies can even hope to pull off a Technical Masterclass match - but since BHOTWG looks kind of bloated, I'm sure you'll be able to find good technical wrestlers there.

[foolinc]

Getting into Burning Hammer (Part 2)

 

Now that I have a bit of understanding of the product, the next step is to start learning about the major players on the roster, looking at the starting storylines, factions, and champions. There are no set storylines for Burning Hammer, but there are factions.

 

The Factions

 

<img src="

https://i.imgur.com/txCjxJf.png"

/>

 

It looks like one of the major aspects of 2020 Burning Hammer is the fallout from the implosion of NEO. The game described NEO as Burning Hammer's most "popular faction" in the previous edition of TEW consisting of the trio of Koshiro Ino, Yasuhiko Taira, and Yasunobu Masuno. Per the stable bios, the split happened during August 2017 after Yasunobu broke his leg in. Soon after Koshiro created NEO Prime and Yasuhiko creating NEO-X. Yasunobu would return to action a year later, forming his own group in SaughterHouse.

 

After reading through the stable bios and looking at each of the logos, I'm getting vibes of what New Japan wanted to do with the Bullet Club Elite vs. Firing Squad civil war (with Prime being the more face like Elite while X takes the place of the Firing Squad). As for SlaughterHouse, I think the inspiration is coming from an older NJPW feud, Team 2000 vs. NWO Japan, with Yasunobu taking the place Chono. Admittedly that era of NJPW isn't something that I have a lot of knowledge of, but that's what Google is for.

 

<img src="

https://i.imgur.com/48Fq88U.png"

/>

 

Joining these three stables are Senmatsu-gun and The Golden Army, two "invading" factions from two defunct promotions (WEXXV and GCG respectively). While officially there are no heels and faces in Burning Hammer, I can't help think of the Senmatsu-gun being a group on the same level of Suzuki-gun while I see The Golden Army primarily as a babyface group.

 

The Titles

 

<img src="

https://i.imgur.com/7F0zasF.png"

width="800px" />

 

The first thing that I've noticed is just how important the Junior Heavyweight title is for Burning Hammer. The division has always been a highlight of the company in the past, but this version had made it clear just how important it is as the starting prestige for both the Junior Heavyweight championship and the Best of the Super Junior title has been set to the low 70s. The title history also tells a straight forward story between the rivalry between Sensational Dragon and Elemental III. The two have the 2nd and 3rd most titles Junior Heavyweight title reigns with Sensational pulling ahead of Elemental 15 days ago (at the expense of Elemental III no less). The two are also tied for the most number of victories at the annual Best of the Super Juniors event. I'm not sure if I would want to book them in a rematch so soon, however I know if I was booking this game long term, the main story of the 2020 Best of the Super Juniors would be Elemental and Sensational Dragon trying to break their current tie.

 

The second thing I noticed was that our World Champion, Kinnojo Horri, took the title from Hiroaki Nakasawa during the middle of the previous year and is the co-leader of NEO Prime. The latter is interesting because Horri's previous title reign started at the expense of hiss current stablemate and NEO Prime co-leader, Koshiro Ino, happening back in June 2017. This is an important moment because less than two months later NEO splits into Prime and X. So the man who (arguably) broke up NEO ended up joining it's most successful off-shoot, giving Horri the push to gain the World title for the 5th time.

 

The last big take-away is that all three NEO off-shoots have titles while the invading stables do not. For the next big event, The Burning Path 5, I intend to have all of the titles on the line and would also like to have each faction in a high profile match. Knowing which stables hold which titles is an important step in that regard. One thing that might make this a bit more difficult for me is that most of these stables don't follow a traditional NJPW setup. Neither NEO Prime and Slaughterhouse having a junior heavyweight (much less three) and SlaughterHouse only has three members total. Definitely something to think about as I go forward.

 

Event Schedule

 

<img src="

https://i.imgur.com/8ssNMap.png"

width="800px" />

 

In TEW 2020, the touring schedule has been revamped to better reflect reality. In the past, companies would be "on tour" for around two to four months at a time before taking a month or two off. While this structure made the popular "touring" contract possible, it doesn't really reflect how Japanese companies are actually run. This time around the game will have monthly events as well as auto generating a number of tour shows with the number varying based on the amount of time inbetween each event. It's not perfect, but I think it's a marked improvement.

 

Burning Hammer has a full schedule already setup however there is a way to have the game automate a new schedule if you decide to make additional changes (or are starting from scratch). Based on the default schedule I have six events scheduled from now until The Burning Path. What's interesting is that our first tour show is technically the second show in the tour with the first event taking place on the last Saturday of 2019. Something for me to potentially play around with as I look to built out the road to The Burning Path.

 

<img src="

https://i.imgur.com/T2bVsdn.png"

/>

 

The schedule also gives me a macro view of where we are on the Burning Hammer calendar. Like WWE and NJPW, Burning Hammer resolves around a set of tentpole events that help give structure to the promotion's storylines. For Burning Hammer, those shows are Fire Dream of the Immortals in March, Best of the Super Juniors in July, and Night of The Burning Hammer in October. It looks like we are at the midpoint between our two biggest shows in the year, at least as far as the heavyweights are concerned.

 

Starting to build the card

 

Looping back to the titles, I noticed that Kinnojo Horri won the World Heavyweight title in August. This brings up an interesting question, who did Horri defeat at Night of the Burning Hammer? It might seems like a silly question as, unless it's stated within a bio, it could be anyone. Also, coming up with additional backstory for a promotion can be daunting, especially one of the size of Burning Hammer. However, the reason why this is an question I want to answer is because it will help me figure out what to do with the World title situation. Burning Hammer has a large and talented roster, and building a bit of backstory might help me logically work through what I want from the present. For example, if Hiroaki Nakasawa challenged Kinnojo Horri in a rematch at Night of The Burning Hammer, then it's probably unlikely that they'd meet for a third time in six months.

 

The more I think about it, the more I want the challenger not to have been Hiroaki Nakasawa. First, of all it means that I can book Kinnojo Horri vs. Hiroaki Nakasawa without feeling like I am overbooking the two. Second, I can easily justify another high end feud due to the failed challenge. Maybe something like having the failed challenger attack a former champion to prove that they are still worthy or someone might have insulted the failed challenger in a post match promo. Finally, I'm able to utilize a solid strategy for people who are new to a promotion, mod, or TEW: when in doubt, book the top two wrestlers in the promotion against each other. It might not always give us the best grade possible, but booking the top two wrestlers against each other usually will give us a more than acceptable outcome.

[foolinc]

Those requirements, damn. Running a small company with that product seems to be basically impossible - how many rookies can even hope to pull off a Technical Masterclass match - but since BHOTWG looks kind of bloated, I'm sure you'll be able to find good technical wrestlers there.

 

Yeah, I'm not really too worried about not having the right talent to pull off the requirements. However I will need to go through the roster and make a list so I can easily remember who can work a technical masterclass match.

[Neoteros]

Yeah, I'm not really too worried about not having the right talent to pull off the requirements. However I will need to go through the roster and make a list so I can easily remember who can work a technical masterclass match.

 

Got it.

 

A question about touring, wouldn't implementing a touring schedule be prohibitively expensive for a brand new company? Burning Hammer is a well established company in the game but, for example, I'm running a glorified backyard federation right now, and two shows per month seems to be the maximum amount of shows a n00b-level company can hold without going bankrupt in a matter of just a few weeks, as I learned in this very subforum.

 

Unless, running a tour is far less expensive than doing a couple of shows a month, somehow?

[foolinc]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Neoteros" data-cite="Neoteros" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="47986" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Got it. <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p> </p><p> A question about touring, wouldn't implementing a touring schedule be prohibitively expensive for a brand new company? Burning Hammer is a well established company in the game but, for example, I'm running a glorified backyard federation right now, and two shows per month seems to be the maximum amount of shows a n00b-level company can hold without going bankrupt in a matter of just a few weeks, as I learned in this very subforum.</p><p> </p><p> Unless, running a tour is far less expensive than doing a couple of shows a month, somehow?</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Schedules like the one Burning Hammer is running are generally meant for promotions with large rosters. The benefits of tour shows are a lowered grade requirement (at the expense of attendance and popularity gains). </p><p> </p><p> The best thing I can say for schedules is book as much as your finances and mind can handle.</p>

[foolinc]

<p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span style="font-size:12px;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Building feuds using stables</strong></span></span></span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

With me having a better understanding of the company, it's time for me to start thinking about our first big event, The Burning Path. </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

</span></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Building to the World Heavyweight Title</strong></span></span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><img src="</span></div></div></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/yPvDXYj.png" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/yPvDXYj.png" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/yPvDXYj.png" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/yPvDXYj.png" rel="external nofollow"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">https://i.imgur.com/yPvDXYj.png"</span></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/yPvDXYj.png" rel="external nofollow"></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/yPvDXYj.png" rel="external nofollow"></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/yPvDXYj.png" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> /></span></div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

I have the world title match between Horri and Nakasawa, so let's figure out how we are going to get there. If I was running a North American based promotion, I'd probably be thinking about the angles and matches I would run involving between the two. But right now I'm more thinking about which wrestlers will join the two in all of the multi-man tags during the tour. Horri has his NEO Prime stablemates: Koshiro Ino, Matthew Keith, Tatsuya Toshitara, and Michio Gensai, the latter of which is also the Japan Heavyweight champion. All of the stable are in the heavyweight division, giving us this pool of unaligned wrestlers to choose from:</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

• Gargantuan</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

• Murai Enomoto</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

• Prometheus</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

• Tadakuni Toshusai</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

• Taro Shionoya</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

• Teruki Nakayama</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

From the jump, Tadakuni Toshusai needs to be added to this build. Not only is the 37 year old, over in Japan, but he's a former tag team champion with Koshiro Ino way back in 2006. I also like giving Murai Enomoto a shot at Michio Gensai's Japan Heavyweight title. That leaves us with last members being either the tag team of Gargantuan and Prometheus or Taro Shionoya and the young lion, Teruki Nakayama. While I love the idea of giving a young lion the opportunity to get some time in a big time feud, Nakayama looks like he's far too green for anything more than losing undercard matches. So welcome to the squad, The God Butchers. </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

</span></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Pairing the rest of the stables</span></strong></span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

Booking like modern NJPW hits a big roadblock for me when it comes to Burning Hammer's three man stable, SlaughterHouse. It's kind of tough to get around repetitive booking with a three man group and unlike early LIJ, there isn't a sister promotion to temporary fill out the stable. There also aren't that many options in-house now that I've already aligned a bunch of wrestlers with Hiroaki Nakasawa. But we haven't touched the junior roster yet and as we know most of them are unaligned at the moment. Will loop back to figuring out who should these people should be later.</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><img src="</span></div></div></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/oNO0htQ.png" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/oNO0htQ.png" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/oNO0htQ.png" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/oNO0htQ.png" rel="external nofollow"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">https://i.imgur.com/oNO0htQ.png"</span></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/oNO0htQ.png" rel="external nofollow"></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/oNO0htQ.png" rel="external nofollow"></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/oNO0htQ.png" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> /></span></div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

The next question for SlaughterHouse then is who are they going to feud with this tour? SlaughterHouse already has the World Heavyweight Tag Team titles, so it would make sense for both the title-less Senmatsu-gun and Golden Army to challenge for those titles. However, NEO-X makes a ton of sense from a lore perspective. We know the stables hate each other and It also gives us another easy reason why a couple of junior heavyweights would align themselves with SlaughterHouse: NEO-X's Hijo Del Relampago & Jin Miyamoto hold the Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles. </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

But, a much as I would like SlaughterHouse vs. NEO-X as a concept, it would leave us with Senmatsu-gun and The Golden Army pairing up. Not that a bad fit, but without a title to fight over, it feels hollow for them to fight each other. And since The Golden Army doesn't have roster to challenge for the junior tag belts, that means SlaughterHouse will be defending their tag titles against The Golden Army, while NEO-X and Senmatsu-gun clash.</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

</span></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Current The Burning Path 5 Card</span></em></strong></span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

World Heavyweight: Kinnojo Horri © vs. Hiroaki Nakasawa</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

Japan Heavyweight: Michio Gensai © vs. Murai Enomoto</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

World Heavyweight Tag Team: Strike Unit vs. The Killing Floor ©</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

Junior Heavyweight Tag Team: PUNK Nasty Club vs. Rebel Run X © </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

</span></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><em>Tour feuds: Burning Hammer vs. NEO Prime, NEO-X vs. Senmatsu-gun, The Golden Army vs. SlaughterHouse</em></span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><em>

Notes: Align one or two junior heavyweights with SlaughterHouse for the tour</em></span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

</span></div></div></div>

[Arlie Rahn]

Honestly, this is a great thread - Im going to sticky this up top (esp for new users). Thanks foolinc!

[foolinc]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Arlie Rahn" data-cite="Arlie Rahn" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="47986" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Honestly, this is a great thread - Im going to sticky this up top (esp for new users). Thanks foolinc!</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> <img alt="4rP.gif" data-src="https://i.gifer.com/4rP.gif" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> Not really sure what to say here, but thanks for thinking this diary is that helpful for new players. <img alt=":o" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/redface.png.900245280682ef18c5d82399a93c5827.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p>

[foolinc]

<p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span style="font-size:12px;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Booking the Junior Heavyweight division</strong></span></span></span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

Now that I've paired up the factions, the next biggest thing I need to take care of is handling the junior heavyweights. I know I mentioned how most of the factions only have heavyweights, but it's really surprising just how few juniors are in factions. When you start the game, Burning Hammer has 26 juniors on the roster and only five of them are aligned with a faction. This isn't an issue per say, but with so many non-aligned wrestlers, I now need to either to come up with some new feuds and/or need to align them with a faction (at least for the tour).</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

</span></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Who joins SlaughterHouse?</span></strong></span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

There are a bunch of different ways to find the best wrestlers for SlaughterHouse. You could go digging into the bios to see if there are any points of cross over, you could look at the stats to see if anyone fits, or you can do what I did and scroll through the worker pictures for anyone that looks like they would fit in. And wouldn't you know if there isn't a fantastic choice in Crimson Ghost. </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><img src="</span></div></div></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/M4inNY8.jpg" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/M4inNY8.jpg" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/M4inNY8.jpg" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/M4inNY8.jpg" rel="external nofollow"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">https://i.imgur.com/M4inNY8.jpg"</span></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/M4inNY8.jpg" rel="external nofollow"></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/M4inNY8.jpg" rel="external nofollow"></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/M4inNY8.jpg" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> /></span></div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

Besides looking like a wrestler who would be in a faction called SlaughterHouse, Crimson Ghost is also a very talented worker with impressive technical mat skills and a solid all-a-around game. He also fearless and brings a bit of youth, being only 25 years old. Maybe more importantly, he's the tag team partner of Helikaon aka KC Glenn, who looks like one of the best under 30 wrestlers in the game. The more I think about it, the more I like these two in SlaughterHouse. Not only does it make my life easier to make booking tour events easier, but SlaughterHouse really was in need of help. The stable bio mentions that the group hasn't gotten over well and the starting momentum reflects that. They also are in need for a youth movement as the youngest member of the faction is it's leader, Yasuobu Masuno, at the age of 37. </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

</span></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Are there any more additions? </span></strong></span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

Now that SlaughterHouse has been bulked up, I want to ask myself if it's worth it to add any juniors to the other factions. The Golden Army and Senmatsu-gun's gimmicks are that they are invaders, so that doesn't make a lot of sense and NEO-X already is at parity with Senamtsu-gun. However, I wouldn't mind splitting the rest of the unaligned juniors between NEO Prime and Nakasawa's "Burning Army". I don't think I need to officially add any members to NEO Prime, but I feel like they would be ok with tagging with non-faction members. Also Nakasawa's group isn't an official faction to begin with so adding people to that group isn't an issue at all.</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

So let's split up the rest of the juniors. To make it easier on myself I will first look at the wrestlers' popularity alignment tag. </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><img src="</span></div></div></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/kEWG887.png" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/kEWG887.png" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/kEWG887.png" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/kEWG887.png" rel="external nofollow"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">https://i.imgur.com/kEWG887.png"</span></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/kEWG887.png" rel="external nofollow"></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/kEWG887.png" rel="external nofollow"></a></div><a href="https://i.imgur.com/kEWG887.png" rel="external nofollow"></a><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> /></span></div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

Not quite the split I was hoping for, but it makes sense. Burning Hammer doesn't officially use alignments so there isn't a reason for the company to have a balance of bayface and heel wrestlers on the roster. I might not have an easy split, but there are a couple of things that I can take away from this. </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

The first is knowing that Emerald Angel, Marihito Masuko, and MYSTIC Dragon round out the junior "main event" along with Sensational Dragon and Elemental III. Speaking of Elemental III, I noticed during this process that he and Marihito Masuko are former tag team partners, which in turn makes me want to pair them up. So let's add Elemental III and Marihito Masuko to Nakasawa's group while Sensational Dragon and MYSTIC Dragon get paired up with NEO Prime for the tour (because dragons). </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

Taking this a step farther, if I want to have Elemental III/Sensational Dragon later in the year, then it makes a lot of sense to stoke the fires by having Elemental's buddy, Marihito Masuko, challenge for the title now. Emerald Angel gets left in the cold, however I feel like I can use this opportunity to feed him wins to build him up as a challenger and keep his ego from running wild on my backstage. As for the rest of the roster, I will be using this table to help create a series of undercard matches to fill out the tour and will use the table to help me figure out which faction to pair them with if needed.</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"> </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

</span></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Current The Burning Path 5 Card</span></em></strong></span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

World Heavyweight: Kinnojo Horri © vs. Hiroaki Nakasawa</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

Junior Heavyweight: Marihito Masuko vs. Sensational Dragon © </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

Japan Heavyweight: Michio Gensai © vs. Murai Enomoto</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

World Heavyweight Tag Team: Strike Unit vs. The Killing Floor ©</span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

Junior Heavyweight Tag Team: PUNK Nasty Club vs. Rebel Run X © </span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

</span></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><em>Tour feuds: Burning Hammer vs. NEO Prime, NEO-X vs. Senmatsu-gun, The Golden Army vs. SlaughterHouse</em></span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><em>

Notes: Helikaon & Ghost to SlaughterHouse; Sensational Dragon & MYSTIC Dragon temp align with NEO Prime; Emerald Angel winning streak; </em></span></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">

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