Is Theme Week Broken?

[IamMOOSE 361]

 

            The title kind of says it all doesn’t it? Theme Week. It’s been around a long old time and its had its ups and downs but beyond that you have to wonder when it’s time for a change. It was a post Monday that sparked this topic for me and while I have yet to really deep dive into it with other more veteran members, I have stopped to think about Theme Week and what it is versus what it could be. For those unaware, on Monday, Quik made a post regarding next week’s Theme Week as is pretty customary each season but unlike other seasons, he’s asking for ideas.

 

“A quik peek at the Season Schedule will tell you that next week is Theme Week. If you're new and don't know what that means, it's a week where all Point Task submissions that are "on theme" qualify as a doubles week worth 6 Uncapped TPE.

 

 

 

Well, let's pretend that the BOG is stumped on new ideas, and we are reaching out to the general population of the VHL to assist us in coming up with something to use as theme week for this season, and future seasons, as well. The only caveat is that the theme needs to be something that can be applied to both graphics and written/podcast form.

 

 

 

So, VHL, what do ya got?”

 

            I did make a suggestion but I wanted to touch on a different point here. Is the idea of a Theme Week straining the concept itself? It’s an odd thought but after 76 seasons and pedestrianly maybe 50-60 Theme Weeks, I imagine the pool is running thin for ideas and I can’t blame the league for that. It’s actually a point of sympathy from me when it comes to the Blues and while I’ve seen some creativity in the form of donation drives and Christmas events (I’m counting it stay with me), it’s not really sustainable, especially in today’s world. I would love to pick the brains of some long term members of the league to see how Theme Week has evolved and what their stance is on it, but from the eyes of a First Gen in my 5^th season (4^th full) I can honestly say I think we could do with a refresh on it.

 

            For me, and this isn’t really a pitch piece so much as a dart board for everyone, myself included. I’d like to see a cycle where some seasons it’s Theme Week, others it’s a Donation Drive, maybe another season it’s a recruitment tally or something, some special TPE driven tournaments. I don’t necessarily have the answer for it but I’m interested in the conversation. I felt bad seeing that post Monday because I feel that situation of not having a launching point for content. I could be reaching and this could’ve been just a genuine new idea for Theme Week and if so Oof. But to me it really read more as, “Hey members we’re out of ideas, what do you got?”

 

So in the spirit of either or, what do you guys think about Theme Week and what, if anything would you like to see in the future?

[Beketov 9,140]

16 minutes ago, IamMOOSE said:

I would love to pick the brains of some long term members of the league to see how Theme Week has evolved

As far as I can remember they are actually a pretty new concept that came about during the dark ages when we started throwing TPE at activity issues out of desperation. We had various types of things before then like team PT’s and stuff but nothing has ever really stuck, mostly because coming up with ideas constantly is exhausting, especially when you need to make sure that it works for GFX as well.

 

I also could 100% be remembering wrong, I’m ancient and frail.

[IamMOOSE 361]

1 minute ago, Beketov said:

As far as I can remember they are actually a pretty new concept that came about during the dark ages when we started throwing TPE at activity issues out of desperation. We had various types of things before then like team PT’s and stuff but nothing has ever really stuck, mostly because coming up with ideas constantly is exhausting, especially when you need to make sure that it works for GFX as well.

 

I also could 100% be remembering wrong, I’m ancient and frail.

Honestly that kinda sounds like the picture I painted of it. That's why I would almost like to see a rotation of some sort.

 

I'd love to do a deep dive historical piece one day on the "Dark Ages" of TPE Activity someday. lol

[BOOM 8,846]

Does anyone still have the theme week submissions from the last 30's?

[Fire Tortorella 2,653]

1 hour ago, IamMOOSE said:

"Dark Ages" of TPE Activity someday.

 

The cap was 9 but you basically needed a job to hit it.

 

6 TPE for a point task (those we were graded, and especially for graphics, 4 and 5s were given out)

1 TPE for a vhl.com article or player card

Basically needed to be a grader, updater, player card crew, mag, or another paying job (aka not VHL or VHLM GM) to get 2 TPE from that to get all 9.

 

1 TPE practice facility only went to VHLM players.

[Victor 11,043]

On 2/5/2021 at 12:35 AM, IamMOOSE said:

after 76 seasons and pedestrianly maybe 50-60 Theme Weeks

Yeah been touched on above, but yeah nowhere near 50-60 haha. I've skipped the past few because I refuse to be put in a creative straitjacket and 6 TPE doesn't make or break a career, I'm sure some others feel the same.

 

On 2/5/2021 at 2:07 AM, flyersfan1453 said:

 

The cap was 9 but you basically needed a job to hit it.

 

6 TPE for a point task (those we were graded, and especially for graphics, 4 and 5s were given out)

1 TPE for a vhl.com article or player card

Basically needed to be a grader, updater, player card crew, mag, or another paying job (aka not VHL or VHLM GM) to get 2 TPE from that to get all 9.

 

1 TPE practice facility only went to VHLM players.

I think they're referring to the 50s, not the entire 9 a week era lol.

[Gooningitup 1,290]

Good in depth look even if sadly its likely not a scenario and as people have pointed out it hasnt really run that long. Well it sucks that it is stale i just not sure what else the league could do. 

 

8/10