Rin

I absolutely despise @Rin.

if anything we don't have enough tribalism. everyone's too nice. need more hatred, more rivalry, more forum content

My favorite instance took place like a year after after the Bulls/Reapers fallout in which [Redacted Philly GM] got into a disagreement in a random thread. Someone rushed to join the thread, adamantly defending [Redacted Philly GM] on whatever point was being made.
 
The user that rushed to their aid had literally not logged onto the VHL in 3+ months. They replied to some press conference thread, went inactive for three months, and suddenly appeared in the right thread at the right time to defend their friend.
 
I don't claim to be fully in the right about anything that happened back in those days, but holy shit... at least I didn't start an active simp cult.

BladeMaiden leading her Reaper troops into battle against the Houston Bulls (S66 colourized)

Due to the good start of the Americans, coach STZ gave his squad a game-free weekend off. Cal knew exactly what to do. Once back home with his roomie Rin, he asked her whether she would join him for a visit at his uncle's. The Japanese back agreed immediately. Kagamine uses every opportunity to learn something. And one can certainly learn from a back-to-back Continental Cup winning defenceman. 'Pack your swim trunks, Rin. The old man has a pool and I intend to use it.' 'The Beast' obliged and packed a weekend bag with all the necessities. 'On that occasion you will meet Eilidh as well.' 'Who is Eilidh? Your aunt?' 'Janser laughs. 'No Eilidh is my truck.' Kagamine only shakes her head. How could anyone give inanimate objects a name?
Once the duo had packed their belongings, Cal called an Uber to get to the Hamptons. 'Knowing my uncle, he will take us fishing. The man is obsessed with it. I hope you like fish.' Rin just looked at Cal-Gary with a raised eyebrow and an 'are-you-serious?' expression. 'Yeah, that was indeed a silly question.'
A few hours ride later, the Swiss and his linemate arrived at Marcel's place. The former Calgary player welcomed both of them and showed them their rooms and then said: 'Okay folks let's go fishing. I put everything we need in Eilidh's boot. You drive Callum.' The latter just turned to Rin with a 'Told-you-so'-look on his face. There was no dispute to be had and Janser obediently drove, following Marcel's instructions.
 

Eilidh
 

Week ending 1/21
 
1) It's been a hot minute! The Americans are under new management with new general manager @STZ, how are you feeling about the change so far?
2) How did your player spend their offseason?
3) Between signings and callups, the Americans are a fundamentally different squad this year. What do you think was our best area of improvement?
4) What do you look for most in a team captain?
5) It's been a fairly hot start for the Americans, what do you attribute that most to?
6) Be honest-- is New York style pizza the BEST style of pizza? If not, what is?

Hello,
 
As you've all probably seen here, Halifax 21st GM @ShawnGlade was punished for using AI to complete tasks. @Gustav and I have discussed the situation with the Head of PT and Moderators and agree that our M GMs are held to a higher standard due to their roles in the community and the impressions they make on the newest users to our community. 
 
For this reason, we are removing Shawn's VHLM GM pay of 4 TPE for the remainder of S92. He is still able to cap out at 12 if he chooses, but he simply won't be allowed to claim his VHLM GM pay for this season.
 
As a reminder, the use of AI is prohibited in the completion of your VHL tasks. If you are unsure whether tools you use are against VHL rules, feel free to reach out to a Commissioner or an Updater. The VHL values original content and the efforts of people who put in their valuable time to engage with our league and create content for their own development and the enjoyment of others.
 
 
- @VHLM Commissioner
 
Tagging @Updater for awareness.

This was the initial plan- to put it in the red stripe
 
Maybe I'll keep playing around with it, I think that's the right idea

Tried to add a little spice with the flag but it didn't really work out, still really happy with the artwork done by Sashachii!
 

 

Tried to add a little spice with the flag but it didn't really work out, still really happy with the artwork done by Sashachii!
 

 

Just a tad bit of an overreaction here I'd say. This voting was done by E GMs. M voting is M GMs. Most VHL award voting is the BoG which sees new faces join every 2-3 seasons with no commissioner votes. I don't think there's a systemic "fuck that member" baked into the voting system at any level.
 
And I don't see where anyone is ganging up on anyone. People in this thread have explained that Rin is not a first gen to clear up that area, and also discussed their own opinions on how close the award was. The fact that he's won 4 championships now is definitely does not support your idea that the league is holding him down.
 
Could this frustration possibly stem from your goalie not being eligible for RotY awards due to how many times you were played during your first season? And then not qualifying for the award when you became the starter? Nothing in this thread is anti-Plate but this suddenly flies in with no examples or references.

She 😠

I'm not a first gen. This is my third player.

I'm not a first gen. This is my third player.

idk seems like rin has a pretty decent argument. She has points on 40% of Oslo goals vs. Bennets 32%, has only 4 less goals, but also 20 more hits and 150 more SB's. So not much less offensive production with insane defensive numbers.

Think the only argument is whether she deserves it cause his team sucks and numbers are artificially inflated, but she blocked 8.7% of shots against her team, while Bennet blocked 6.1% against.

I think its close for sure

She 😠

I will gladly fly my team flag so elitist Canadian hockey fans can bully me for enjoying a sport
 
Joking aside, I think it's a great idea

"The Beauty and the Beast"
 
I can absolutely get behind this
 

graphic courtesy by Leandrofg
 
The Iron Eagles are battling with Rome for the first seed in the playoff race. Trailing by one point but having the better goal difference they are not out yet, despite recent losses who set them back.
 
Our New York correspondent Dick Hammer visited one of the Americans' biggest fan clubs. He has heard rumours that Rin Kagamine and Callum Gary Yannick Janser have already received a nick name. He wanted to get a confirmation from Helen Masterson, the president of the supporter association, the 'Club 53'.  
 
Helen confirmed that there is indeed a nickname for Rin and CGY, who already played in Saskatoon together and almost ended up in the same team in the VHLE as well, had they not been traded for one another. 'So what is it, Helen?' Dick asked impatiently. 'Why, we call them 'the Beauty and the Beast''.
 
Hammer thought of the two backs. Here the hulking, rugged defender from Switzerland. Playing a very physical game with the elegance of a lumbering, overburdened hay wain. A man who looks like he could get into a wrestling match with a grizzly and live to tell the tale. A back with the rumbling bass voice of a drill sergeant, fit to call an unruly company of grenadiers to order on a windswept parade ground. A hockey player who loves to dish out open ice checks, where many a forward recalls entering the enemy zone at speed, head down, only to wake up the next moment on a stretcher. The captain of a dominant Vasteras squad who is the only viable candidate to challenge Grimgor Ironhide for the title of the meanest son of a gun in the VHLE. Surely, he must be the Beast.
 
And on the other side you have the minuscule, wiry defender from Japan with the grace of a figure skating champion, an angelic face and the voice who resembles the song of the nightingale. A more offensively talented player, top scorer of her struggling team. She appears to be of elven fragility and an unrivaled innocence. The Japanese prodigy is the leading shot blocker of the VHLE and a power play specialist with five marker on the man advantage. Surely, she is the Beauty.
 
Well, turns out the Americans' fans have a weird sense of humour and beg to differ. A puzzled Dick asks for clarification. 'You see', Helen explains, 'we have watched so many Vasteras games in our clubhouse and seen how Callum catches unaware wannabe goalscorer on the open. And every time he got one, Hiram, our senior resident called out: 'What a beauty.' referring to the clean checks of course. Whereas Rin is a puck stopping beast and also delivers the death of a thousand cuts. She provokes the opposition with pinpricks, a slash here some trash talking there, until her adversary snaps and retaliates, often enough in front of the umpire. Which draws a penalty like as not.'
 
The Americans' supporters are sure looking forward to welcome the Beauty and the Beast in the VHL.
 
Here are the stats of 'the Beauty and the Beast'
Rin: 46gp, 8g, 25a, 33pts, -25, 42 PIM, 78 hits, 189sb, 1gwg, 5ppg, 1 First Star nomination
CGY: 46gp, 8g, 21a, 29pts, +14, 116 PIM, 223 hits, 94sb, 2gwg, 1ppg, 1 First Star nomination
 
 
We will revert with news as soon as possible, in the meantime please some related articles linked below.
 
https://vhlforum.com/topic/141054-let-the-gloves-hit-the-ice/
https://vhlforum.com/topic/141334-the-cgy-janser-story-part-vi-between-two-seasons/
https://vhlforum.com/topic/141723-the-cgy-janser-story-part-vii-stars-spreading-the-news/
https://vhlforum.com/topic/142049-the-cgy-janser-story-part-viii-arrival-in-sweden/
https://vhlforum.com/topic/142307-the-cgy-janser-story-part-ix-one-third-of-a-season-played/
 
 

I think there are things that work with a wider audience and things that don't. Everyone experiences the league in different ways, and you've always been more into the roleplay aspect of the league than most members. I do think it's fair that that sort of approach isn't going to resonate with everyone that walks into the door, but what was important about Houston was that you applied your personality to giving the people on your team a better experience.
 
The VHLM (and the VHL in general) isn't meant to be a business. We're people, and players are best viewed as people. I don't think I ever cared about team branding or image or player storylines to as great an extent as you did, but I ran my teams in ways that fit my personality and so did you. I think if we tried to switch styles, neither one would be as successful. So I don't think it's necessarily the things that you do as a GM, but it's the things that you do as a GM that matter. If you're running a team so you can have fun pushing buttons and look cool in front of other people, you're doing it wrong.
 
And honestly I feel like the league is lacking in that regard now. We've got a lot of teams that I sort of just see as...existing...and that I don't really associate with any one thing or another. We've got to do better in making our teams communities within the community, not just stops along the way to the next place.

So when I decided to drop ~450 words on a .com article last week about recruitment, I should have stopped myself and kept that writing off to the side in anticipation for theme week. I was entirely convinced that this was coming, and didn't heed my own foresight whatsoever. Now, I face the consequences of my own actions.
 
So while my primary thoughts on recruitment are summarized here, I'll use this media spot to dive into some thoughts on the back half of recruitment- that is, player retention. I've been vocal in saying "oh, the 13-14 year old EA sports crowd doesn't wanna write essays, so they leave" but that doesn't mean we can't do our best to keep them here anyway.
 
I want to harken back to the before times, where I was a hyper active member that was chosen a few times to be the general manager of the Houston Bulls. I was put in a unique position to set the tone for an expansion franchise right out of the gate, though I'm sure the management and handling of the Bulls has changed drastically as ownership has passed between hands. Knowing that the #1 goal of the VHLM was to retain players, I set out to set the Bulls apart and really try and focus on the roleplay/immersion aspect of the league.
 
At the time, I was of the opinion that this sort of an approach was really lacking throughout locker rooms. I know most everyone at this point votes on captains and reserves jersey numbers, but I wanted to take it a step beyond. I had team members submit and vote on various options for goal songs, then edited the winner into a video to "hang up" in the locker room. I'd link it here if I still had it, but I think it's lost to time. Early on, I mocked up a "jersey reveal" featuring some of the inaugural members of the roster, and was quick to get people some graphics and sigs featuring their chosen player and number in a jersey swapped Houston uniform.
 
Making some pretty graphics and putting together a goal horn were just the initial, smaller parts of my retention plan, though. I really set out to engage my players and encourage them to do whatever it is they wished to do creatively. When a few players started to really buy in, writing over-the-top articles back and forth about their players and interactions within the fictional world of the VHL, I made sure to start including stories within the articles in weekly pressers. It got to a point where the team was collaboratively writing narratives that would last a few weeks, with users responding to each other through their articles and then having to face the media about them when it came time for the weekly press conference. A lot of it was over-the-top goofy, like the time a player's smell caused the entire arena to be shut down for an emergency cleaning, but everyone was having a great time without even checking the results of the sims. That's the kind of focus I really wanted to push with my LR, and I'm happy to say that we definitely got there (especially when the on-ice product wasn't all that much to write home about).
 
Looking back on the tenure as a whole, there are a good number of names that went on to hit the big leagues and find success in their own ways. Eventual cup champs, hall of fame players, taking up league jobs and being positive, active contributors to the community as a whole. I'd like to think that a big part of that was a good first impression from their early days as a VHLM signee/draftee. First impressions are everything, after all.
 
So before I get too rambly, I'll go ahead and wrap things up by re-stressing the need for good team-based engagement in the VHL, especially when it comes to lower leagues. There's a lot more to the VHL than just upping stats and checking sims, and I wish more squads openly embraced that the way some of our rosters were able to to in Houston. I've especially thought back to those days while reflecting on my current VHLE situation- a completely dead LR which is written off with a dismissive "nobody really joins their E locker rooms, anyway." It's a shame, because that kind of an attitude is what would honestly drive me to give up and stop participating in the VHL. If I wasn't on my 3rd player already, familiar with the league and how it runs, I would feel a lot more discouraged and ready to quit.

So when I decided to drop ~450 words on a .com article last week about recruitment, I should have stopped myself and kept that writing off to the side in anticipation for theme week. I was entirely convinced that this was coming, and didn't heed my own foresight whatsoever. Now, I face the consequences of my own actions.
 
So while my primary thoughts on recruitment are summarized here, I'll use this media spot to dive into some thoughts on the back half of recruitment- that is, player retention. I've been vocal in saying "oh, the 13-14 year old EA sports crowd doesn't wanna write essays, so they leave" but that doesn't mean we can't do our best to keep them here anyway.
 
I want to harken back to the before times, where I was a hyper active member that was chosen a few times to be the general manager of the Houston Bulls. I was put in a unique position to set the tone for an expansion franchise right out of the gate, though I'm sure the management and handling of the Bulls has changed drastically as ownership has passed between hands. Knowing that the #1 goal of the VHLM was to retain players, I set out to set the Bulls apart and really try and focus on the roleplay/immersion aspect of the league.
 
At the time, I was of the opinion that this sort of an approach was really lacking throughout locker rooms. I know most everyone at this point votes on captains and reserves jersey numbers, but I wanted to take it a step beyond. I had team members submit and vote on various options for goal songs, then edited the winner into a video to "hang up" in the locker room. I'd link it here if I still had it, but I think it's lost to time. Early on, I mocked up a "jersey reveal" featuring some of the inaugural members of the roster, and was quick to get people some graphics and sigs featuring their chosen player and number in a jersey swapped Houston uniform.
 
Making some pretty graphics and putting together a goal horn were just the initial, smaller parts of my retention plan, though. I really set out to engage my players and encourage them to do whatever it is they wished to do creatively. When a few players started to really buy in, writing over-the-top articles back and forth about their players and interactions within the fictional world of the VHL, I made sure to start including stories within the articles in weekly pressers. It got to a point where the team was collaboratively writing narratives that would last a few weeks, with users responding to each other through their articles and then having to face the media about them when it came time for the weekly press conference. A lot of it was over-the-top goofy, like the time a player's smell caused the entire arena to be shut down for an emergency cleaning, but everyone was having a great time without even checking the results of the sims. That's the kind of focus I really wanted to push with my LR, and I'm happy to say that we definitely got there (especially when the on-ice product wasn't all that much to write home about).
 
Looking back on the tenure as a whole, there are a good number of names that went on to hit the big leagues and find success in their own ways. Eventual cup champs, hall of fame players, taking up league jobs and being positive, active contributors to the community as a whole. I'd like to think that a big part of that was a good first impression from their early days as a VHLM signee/draftee. First impressions are everything, after all.
 
So before I get too rambly, I'll go ahead and wrap things up by re-stressing the need for good team-based engagement in the VHL, especially when it comes to lower leagues. There's a lot more to the VHL than just upping stats and checking sims, and I wish more squads openly embraced that the way some of our rosters were able to to in Houston. I've especially thought back to those days while reflecting on my current VHLE situation- a completely dead LR which is written off with a dismissive "nobody really joins their E locker rooms, anyway." It's a shame, because that kind of an attitude is what would honestly drive me to give up and stop participating in the VHL. If I wasn't on my 3rd player already, familiar with the league and how it runs, I would feel a lot more discouraged and ready to quit.

So when I decided to drop ~450 words on a .com article last week about recruitment, I should have stopped myself and kept that writing off to the side in anticipation for theme week. I was entirely convinced that this was coming, and didn't heed my own foresight whatsoever. Now, I face the consequences of my own actions.
 
So while my primary thoughts on recruitment are summarized here, I'll use this media spot to dive into some thoughts on the back half of recruitment- that is, player retention. I've been vocal in saying "oh, the 13-14 year old EA sports crowd doesn't wanna write essays, so they leave" but that doesn't mean we can't do our best to keep them here anyway.
 
I want to harken back to the before times, where I was a hyper active member that was chosen a few times to be the general manager of the Houston Bulls. I was put in a unique position to set the tone for an expansion franchise right out of the gate, though I'm sure the management and handling of the Bulls has changed drastically as ownership has passed between hands. Knowing that the #1 goal of the VHLM was to retain players, I set out to set the Bulls apart and really try and focus on the roleplay/immersion aspect of the league.
 
At the time, I was of the opinion that this sort of an approach was really lacking throughout locker rooms. I know most everyone at this point votes on captains and reserves jersey numbers, but I wanted to take it a step beyond. I had team members submit and vote on various options for goal songs, then edited the winner into a video to "hang up" in the locker room. I'd link it here if I still had it, but I think it's lost to time. Early on, I mocked up a "jersey reveal" featuring some of the inaugural members of the roster, and was quick to get people some graphics and sigs featuring their chosen player and number in a jersey swapped Houston uniform.
 
Making some pretty graphics and putting together a goal horn were just the initial, smaller parts of my retention plan, though. I really set out to engage my players and encourage them to do whatever it is they wished to do creatively. When a few players started to really buy in, writing over-the-top articles back and forth about their players and interactions within the fictional world of the VHL, I made sure to start including stories within the articles in weekly pressers. It got to a point where the team was collaboratively writing narratives that would last a few weeks, with users responding to each other through their articles and then having to face the media about them when it came time for the weekly press conference. A lot of it was over-the-top goofy, like the time a player's smell caused the entire arena to be shut down for an emergency cleaning, but everyone was having a great time without even checking the results of the sims. That's the kind of focus I really wanted to push with my LR, and I'm happy to say that we definitely got there (especially when the on-ice product wasn't all that much to write home about).
 
Looking back on the tenure as a whole, there are a good number of names that went on to hit the big leagues and find success in their own ways. Eventual cup champs, hall of fame players, taking up league jobs and being positive, active contributors to the community as a whole. I'd like to think that a big part of that was a good first impression from their early days as a VHLM signee/draftee. First impressions are everything, after all.
 
So before I get too rambly, I'll go ahead and wrap things up by re-stressing the need for good team-based engagement in the VHL, especially when it comes to lower leagues. There's a lot more to the VHL than just upping stats and checking sims, and I wish more squads openly embraced that the way some of our rosters were able to to in Houston. I've especially thought back to those days while reflecting on my current VHLE situation- a completely dead LR which is written off with a dismissive "nobody really joins their E locker rooms, anyway." It's a shame, because that kind of an attitude is what would honestly drive me to give up and stop participating in the VHL. If I wasn't on my 3rd player already, familiar with the league and how it runs, I would feel a lot more discouraged and ready to quit.

Dunno why you're coming in with this sort of response when we both know there's a newly made channel in the recruitment server to post and discuss community suggestions and thoughts. There's absolutely no reason why you should be feigning outrage here instead of just posting it in that channel for all of the recruitment team to see. It seems like you just wanted an outlet to vent which could be better done in a different spot than in a constructive article that was clearly posted for theme week - hence why it's not in that thread. I'll post this article in that channel on discord.
 
This has been a job within recruitment for as long as I've been here. RJ had the role and posted weekly draft class rankings for all active classes and also advised various commissioners on population trends to inform league expansion or adjustments. I presume Mubbles was hired for a similar role but per his own admission, has been busier with life recently and doesn't have the time. It was easier to justify a lower pay for RJ since he was one of the few people who had portal API access and just ran scripts weekly that made the job "easier." For anyone else, it'd be a much trickier and time consuming job unless they can set up a file like Gus has and maintain it over time.

ahhh gotcha, very confusing with all the vhl terminology. i just finished a trivia now so i think im getting the hang of it.