Gustav

Art Vandelay

I'm very curious why this isn't called the Roadsode at this point. I generally agree with your points about the issues, though I'll add that I made a bunch of really stupid moves at the beginning and was still able to recover reasonably well later on. So you don't necessarily have to be all sweaty, all the time to do well. Something I think was an issue on the player-mod end is that everyone ended up going 100% all-in for every single action. I don't need to see an essay for the time I explored some region and it has to drag on people to feel like they have to write that (though I appreciate the attention nonetheless).

Art Vandelay

This is one of those things that's technically true, but the way things work tends to make it not an issue. There are very few members who consistently earn 10 TPE per week, every week, without ever missing. And the reason for that is simple: if you're invested enough that you're always earning that much, week in and week out, you're invested enough that you're probably also doing PTs. That's not to say that no one ever earns 10, but it's not like what we see in the optimized situation (with a welfare player ending up not all that far behind) is exactly what we get. There's usually a pretty decent disconnect between people who do PTs and people who don't in terms of performance, but that's also because the people who do PTs are also doing more of the other stuff. Personally, doing PTs also keeps me interested in doing the other stuff, because it makes me follow the league more closely and helps me put myself out there as a member. I also think it's ultimately a good thing that it's possible to end up with at least a decent player without ever doing a PT. Some just don't have the time, some just happen to want to enjoy the league more casually, and some may even have a language barrier that makes writing or podcasting more difficult. At the end of the day, as long as someone is enjoying it, that's all that matters.

I shall feed my RARE CANDY to GARDEVOIR

Is this just for points? Might be useful to clarify that because there's going to be a clear positional bias. Also, are bots being included in this? Anyone with very low ice time is going to severely throw off the averages if they're still in the index. I'm also not surprised that you're seeing a lot of outlier performances in the late S40s-50s as member numbers were way low and player numbers went all over the place as a result. Apart from any of that, well done--it's always good to see people going beyond the usual "here are the numbers on my player page" for their articles.

^still relevant

That was addressed a while ago (not sure how officially) by what was more or less "don't do this, sincerely, commissioners" and that will continue to be the case.

It's been known for a long time that the VHLM is characterized by an extreme boom-bust cycle which often rewards teams for tanking--and subsequently stacking up multiple drafts' worth of picks at once--for targeted success in select seasons. It's also been almost a general consensus around the league that this isn't great for the environment of the VHLM and its (supposed) focus on player development. Proposed solutions to this over the years have included restrictions on holding picks to banning trading of picks entirely to changing the way the VHLM works to eliminate the draft altogether. Currently, VHLM rules allow for a maximum of three picks to be held in each of the first two rounds of any given draft. It's obvious that this is far too relaxed--so, we've got some news for you involving stricter restrictions on draft picks held by VHLM teams. Specifically: No team may hold more than two picks in each of the first two rounds of any VHLM draft. For example, a team may have up to two 1st-round picks and two 2nd-round picks, but no more. Each team must hold a minimum of four picks in the first four rounds of any draft. Each team must hold at least one pick in either the first or second round of any draft. This change is effective as of the S87 draft. Picks have already been moved for S86 such that this would not work for next season. We hope this does its job in ensuring that each VHLM team is able to maintain a reasonably competitive environment, whether buying or selling. Also--we hope we aren't just here to crack down. More freedoms to come in some form at some point @VHLM GM @VHLM Commissioner

Art Vandelay

Week 3

I was thinking about doing something similar, so thanks for this. I've said since before the VHLE existed that perhaps the shift in environment post-draft is enough to make some people drop off. VHLM team locker rooms are always going to be more active (in general) due to all the question-asking going on and the super high turnover rate as new members enter the league. When someone moves into a community of people that's fairly well established there, some of which have been in that server as a member of that team for up to a year or so, and everyone knows what they're doing and everyone knows everyone else...yeah, that's going to lead to some people losing interest. And, unfortunately, there have always been VHL teams that just don't really care to connect with and retain their new members. I've never played in the VHLE and I've heard many negatives about it from the viewpoint of more established members who have gone through it. People have told me both in public and in private that their locker room is dead, that they're surrounded by inactive players, and that they just can't wait to get out. I've never said myself that the VHLE is directly leading to inactivity because I know there's always been a drop-off...but I also wonder how much of that inactivity can be prevented as it seems that the E has mostly the same issues with keeping new members around as does the VHL. I hope there are genuinely good experiences to be had there, and I hope the GMs can do what they can to make it an overall positive experience (though I'll still hold certain...opinions of it myself). I also fully support this. Being drafted three times at once is stupid and overwhelming even for someone who knows what they're doing.

I hate that I don't even fully remember the context behind this anymore, but: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/projection

lmao I think it's possible to a) understand that the E does its thing to cut down on roster sizes and deal with the sudden growth we had (and continue to deal with) in the S70s, and b) not like what it is beyond that and generally believe that a two-league system would be preferable if numbers went back down to a point where that would be realistic. Those aren't mutually exclusive viewpoints, and it's what I've been saying forever.

You're right, I tried to remember what was what off the top of my head and this is why I shouldn't try to do that.

Celebi gains 1 level, Espeon gains 0.5 levels, and you earn $406.

First up, Steelix has to face Charizard. You use Stone Edge, then Synthesis, and Charizard misses on its second attempt to attack. You score the first knockout with another Stone Edge. As is Town of Pallet tradition, though, the next Pokemon out hits back, and Steelix goes down. It's Rapidash, so you send in Aegislash with the Focus Sash (as I drop mad rhymes for the ambience). Aegislash uses Surf once...and then Rapidash completely misses on a Poison-type move. One more Surf, and you have the second KO of the match. Venusaur comes out, and you use Retaliate after surviving a Solar Beam...but as there's been no knockout, it's just Retaliate 1. Venusaur rolls Solar Beam again, and you're down to Charizard. No surprise here--Charizard takes out Venusaur with one hit. You've won the match! Steelix, Aegislash, and Charizard each gain 3 levels.

7.3: You catch Suicune! Wartortle gains 0.5 levels, Ponyta gains 1 level, and you earn $257. --- 7.4: Ponyta gains 1.5 levels, Jolteon gains 0.5 levels, and you earn $355.

Poliwag lv 29 Dratini lv 27 Poliwag lv 27

I think I need a Focus Band to work, and to not get unlucky with the items, to win...but whatever. It's my last action and my last chance to sweep the Elite Four, so here goes nothing. 7.5: Challenge Lance. Quick Claw on Poliwrath, Focus Band on Gardevoir/Flareon. 1. Poliwrath/Hydro Pump on Garchomp/Dynamic Punch thereafter although I don't think I'll get to the thereafter. 2. Gardevoir/Moonblast and hope it hangs in there as much as possible because this is my only possible type advantage. 3. Flareon. Alternate Fire Blast and Double-Edge unless the Double-Edge will lead to a quicker knockout (I don't think it should). If it will, just use Fire Blast. I lost my test run, but I don't think I have a better plan.

Art Vandelay

Imagine your kids someday combing through your post history on this site. Congrats!

Week 2