Gustav

Here's something I always thought should be the case, but I never decided to officially propose it until tonight, when @RunnerBert11 asked me what TPE there is to be earned from asking press conference questions. As most experienced members who have done a presser or two know, asking 5 questions will earn you 1 TPE, while answering 6 questions will earn you 2. WHY IS THIS THE CASE? Nobody wants to answer 5 (or 10) questions--5 won't get you 2 TPE and 10 gives you an extra 4 questions you don't know what to do with. So! Here's my proposal to fix the system, a thought that many have definitely had (and that someone's probably brought up here, though I'm too lazy to find out). What I'm saying is that we have two options... 1. Change the pay to 1 TPE for asking 6 questions and 2 TPE for asking 12. This is likely the less disruptive to the system out of both of these choices, though I must say that we do have something to consider here. Pros: This changes the system the least. Those who are already happy with asking 10 questions a week will likely be just fine with asking 12 (although I cannot claim to speak for anyone). Also, this brings about a HUGE improvement on the part of someone answering the questions. Under this system, anyone being asked anything at all will have at least 6 questions (to completely cover one week) and may end up with 12 (to completely cover 2 weeks!). No doubt about it, this is a great development for the answerer. Cons: Remember when I said we have to consider something here? Here's where I bring that up. The press conference tab is filled with people answering, and there just aren't that many asking. Individual press conference threads die within a week or two, unless you're pretty well-known around the league--I'd say I'm reasonably well-known, and even my first press conference thread died until Bert gave me some questions today (thank you Bert). In fact, the asker-answerer ratio is so unbalanced that two people came into my thread to answer my questions. The con here is not that this will make things any worse--which I don't think it will--but that it leaves another existing problem untouched. 2. Change the pay to 1 TPE for asking 3 questions and 2 TPE for asking 6. Originally, I thought this was a bad idea, but the more I think about it, the better it sounds. Pros: Remember that asker-answerer ratio? This fixes the problem. I'd say that what's keeping people away from asking questions is the fact that they have to come up with 10 new ideas for 2 little TPE. I've tried asking questions in pressers before, and having the mental capacity of a glazed donut, I'm next to incapable of doing so. Usually, I end up asking 6 questions, because a) that's all I can come up with, and b) that's what the answerer actually wants. By making the number of tasks required to earn TPE the same, more members will be active in terms of asking. Individual pressers will become largely a success (especially for newer members who currently create them and are then either ignored or given one or two sets of questions). This also helps out GMs in team press conferences--asking your team 6 questions, so they'll earn 2 TPE, will only get you 1 TPE, and asking them 10 or 12 for the extra points is pointless. Cons: The one possible negative aspect of this is that individual pressers may just become too competitive with the team ones, which are still, for the most part, the most important. However, I really don't see this happening. Human nature (at least for anyone who is, like me, fairly lazy) dictates that we'd rather have things handed to us rather than working for those same things (read: TPE). Answers aren't entirely original thoughts, though questions must be. I can still see the majority of the league being on the answering side of things, but I do believe that this system would help to balance things out. If you're reading this and you have any input on the matter, please feel free to add to it. Let's make the VHL a better place.

FISTED ANALLY BY A CIRCUS MONKEY ...just kidding, there were better players than Jerry and I'll admit that any day of the week. Congrats to all especially my man @Kirby

1. You're one of the league's most highly-rated new members from this past season. Who would you say helped you out the most on your way to success? 2. You more or less played center all season due to the lack of centers in Minnesota. You switched position, however, a bit late in the season, really only in time for the playoffs. Did you see Meyers moving to center as a move to be made for the long-term future? 3. We've seen a lot of new guys getting hired as GMs lately. Why not you, the new guy with AGM experience? 4. At what point do you see yourself getting drafted, and by which team? 5. Let's say you were currently sitting around 180 TPE, and could go up to the VHL or sacrifice a very small amount of TPE to stay down. Which would you choose given that you'd still be in Minnesota? 6. You were passed over by Team USA during World Juniors, and you'll likely pass the 350-TPE cap for Juniors when they roll around next season. How soon before you finally break into the World Cup? @RunnerBert11

6 likes. Let's hear it.

Congrats @FrostBeard! Hoping you can keep Houston great; you're taking over from one of my favorite people on this site. Good luck this season!

-While it has changed a few times, @Sonnet's title is currently "Dead Influencer," and I can say that if memory serves right, that's what it was when I first joined the league. -My player is Jerry Garcia, a name shamelessly stolen from the legendary Grateful Dead (often referred to as just the "Dead") guitarist. -Sonnet did everything possible to help (or, should I say, influence?) me in my first days in the league. While this is likely a reference to some anime I've never heard of, I like to think that this wasn't a coincidence. Sonnet obviously knew what he was going to do to me the minute I was drafted. Now I'm, you could say, pretty good. Damn you Sonnet.

#HireFacebookFighter This guy is super knowledgeable in not only the locker room but in his article writing as well. Has been outwardly interested in GMing in our locker room for quite some time now. I can tell you that if he's hired, he'll come in with a plan and make Houston dangerous this season.

So much for that expansion draft

I picked this team back when I had absolutely no idea what was going on...how did I manage 2nd place? Also--am I correct in saying that I can claim this for 3 TPE?

You included, let's not forget that. I'd like to take a moment here to thank this guy for giving me every last bit of help and advice he could in my first days in this league. I've probably said this too many times by now, but I came ever so close to logging off forever within a few days after I started. Sonnet stepped in and told me (as many times as I needed to hear it) all about everything I needed to get going (and then some). So thanks to the MVP of my VHL career, and good luck with everything. Hope to see you around.

I'd like to apply as a writer. My skills are pretty much limited to writing only, as I'm not much of a graphics guy and wouldn't be interested in or at all good at podcasting. I also likely won't be able to make much work in terms of covering events live (i.e. during them), but I'd be able to get something out soon after if needed. Hope this doesn't limit me too much.

1. I'll be the first to ask it in an official press conference: what inspired you to come back? 2. Who are you happy to see still around here? 3. On the other hand, who are you sad to see has left? 4. For our newer guys (myself included): has the league changed much as a whole while you were away? If so, what happened, and do you like it? 5. Where do you see yourself ending up with your career, in both the VHLM and the VHL? 6. This past season's draft class was arguably the strongest the league has ever seen, and it's my opinion that this season's could be just as good. Do you think this will affect your chances of rising to the top? @Phil

HOUSTON--Ludvig Sederstrom, the Bulls' most valuable free-agent signing this past season, has managed to create a few waves recently after the Houston locker room got quiet for, well, a few days. Since the team was knocked out of the playoffs last week (I think? Seems like we've been in the offseason now forever. Time moves by incredibly quik during the season and incredibly slowly outside of it), we've heard next to nothing from an otherwise attention-grabbing locker room. But in today's age of anyone and everyone being ripped apart (sometimes rightfully so, sometimes ridiculously) for things said on social media years in the past, it was only a matter of time before the trend (is trend the right word? Never mind, I've used too many parentheses) found its way to professional hockey. "Hanging at the beach with my boys," read the caption on a 2016 post from Ludvig Sederstrom's Instagram account (@xXGangstaBoi42069Xx). "Tried to pick up a few chicks but none of them seem interested in hockey. One of them said I was too white and another rated me a solid 3.8 out of 10. Better luck next time I suppose! XD" Too white? Come on, Ludvig, you're in Sweden. "Too white" is a legitimate achievement. What mattered most to the online community, however, wasn't the "picking up chicks" comment, nor was it anything that Sederstrom said, for that matter. Since the post resurfaced, it has been slammed relentlessly by player after player and regular internet troll after regular internet troll for none other than the sheer unflattering quality of Sederstrom's shirtless picture. Multiple users made posts along the lines of a simple "ew," but comments as creative as "This is the gay conversion therapy Mike Pence is looking for" could also be seen amongst the ranks in the comment section. Multiple VHL teams who had previously expressed interest in drafting Sederstrom, too, have since backed off that sentiment, and instead opted for the old "decline to comment". Of course, Sederstrom's sheer ugliness a few years ago says nothing about the physical appearance of his agent (@aleks), who assures me that he's an absolute babe.

Thank you again! Unfortunately I'm on Mac, so as far as I know Photoshop is out of the question. But thank you very much, as I'm sure just about anything you've said is applicable to Gimp. #freeboubabi

@gorlab wish I could like this more than once. I have a TON going on this week, but as soon as I can I'm going to use all of this and hit the photo editing. I'll probably be back watching these videos and reading what you said multiple times...I wasn't expecting anything near this level of response from anyone here. Thank you.

To whoever a) can help me out a bit and b) wants to help me out a bit: As you can see from my (current) signature, I know nothing about photo editing whatsoever. As a new GM, I'd love to be able to make some decent-looking sigs or graphics for my players by the end of next season, and would indeed consider it an underachievement if I couldn't at least make something passable by that point. I just recently downloaded Gimp and I've been playing around with it, but I really have no idea where to start. Does anyone here use Gimp for their editing? And if so... -What's the best way to isolate a player from an image (for example, to put over a different background)? -How can I get any sort of font that doesn't look like it would be readily available in Microsoft Word? -What are some other features that I might find useful, and what do they do? To anyone who gives me any valuable input on this, THANK YOU. I'd appreciate it a ton.

1. You've earned 10 TPE in your first week. Not only is that more than I got in my first week, but that's pretty impressive overall for someone who's just starting and doesn't yet know the ropes. Share a bit with our other new members about how you were able to get to this point. 2. On the other hand, has there been any part of the website you've found difficult to navigate or understand? 3. Have you looked around at all the VHLM teams? If so, where do you think you'd like to end up? 4. Our expansion teams--the Mississauga Hounds, San Diego Marlins, and Mexico City Kings, are all set to begin their first seasons in the league this upcoming season. Give us your take on the matter--how would you feel about playing for one of these teams? Better? Worse? About the same? 5. It's your chance to call it now--which round of the draft will you be picked in, and by what team? 6. If you weren't a forward, would you have ended up playing goaltender or defense? @mmarcoux98

Because there's nothing like clickbaiting Beaviss. sorry

Hey there Hounds! This thread, yes, this one right here, is where I'll be posting questions for all of you to answer every week. To find the latest set of questions, go all the way back to the last page of the thread and scroll down--everything here is chronological. Answer three questions for 1 capped TPE, or six questions for 2 capped! Let's make it a good season, and most importantly, GO HOUNDS!

Beginner's attempt at a sig, I know it kinda sucks but I'm pleasantly surprised I was able to do this much.

Looks great! A bit of build advice here: before you go pouring TPE into leadership, know that that attribute won't help you out nearly as much as defense will. Defense helps quite a bit on both ends of the ice--in fact, many VHL elite scorers have defense ratings of 99. It will also (I believe) help your checking game some. I'd never tell you what you can and can't do, and you have lots of freedom with whatever build you'd like to make. But I think most to all experienced league members would agree with me on this one.

Pete Rose wants to know your location.

Also stealing Blade's questions for press conference credit, here we go. What VHL team logo do you like best? You know, everyone is saying Malmo, and I tried to disagree, but it's simply the best one out there. What VHLM team do you want to be drafted by? I'm not going to be drafted into the VHLM, but everyone should want to be drafted by Mississauga. I can promise a load of fun here. Is your player a blonde, brunette or redhead? Yes. Weirdest thing in your hockey bag? Everyone's always checking my hockey bag for weed, but I don't actually smoke it. Right now, the weirdest thing would have to be a lucky bottle of rat urine, given to me by my lineman Beau Buefordsson as an end-of-the-season present after Houston was knocked out of the playoffs. I don't actually want it there, or anywhere, but I haven't found any good place to put it yet. Colored tape for your stick, totally yes or absolute no? why? Not just colored but psychedelic. Gotta make those opponents trip out when they're trying to get around you to your net. Funniest thing about your player? I've gotten so many letters from these supernatural-type Deadhead hippies who think I'm actually the second coming of their favorite guitar player. I've been in contact with the local police and every Friday I drive down to the station and drop off all the drugs I've been mailed over the week. What is your goal/ fight song? Give me the Grateful Dead's Terrapin Station. All 16-plus minutes. Not really an adrenaline rush kind of thing but it's a real masterpiece of a mind trip if you listen to it right. Edit: should anyone have further questions for Jerry, here's my personal press conference: