Formation Creation

[Bob]

Here you can find and modify a formation to have it included in Blitzball. They'll be implemented at the beginning of the closest league. They'll be made available for all teams.

Let me explain how this works. You will see information like this:

else if (position == "T1LF"){
if (team1ball) { optimal_movement(player, 7000, 2000); }
else { optimal_movement(player, -1000, 9000); }

Here's what you need to know:

1. This is Team 1's Left Forward (T1LF).
2. The "if" line has the coordinates for offense in x, y order.
3. The "else" line has the coordinates for defense.
4. If you change anything besides the numbers I will kill you.
5. The numbers are in the thousands so that we can use integers and still use decimals, basically. So figure 10000 is 10, 7000 is 7, 7500 is 7.5. Yes? Yes.
6. The boundaries are restricted by a radius of 10000 (aka 10) centered at the origin (0,0). Do not put players outside the boundaries.
7. You can ask me any questions about this. Please download the Formations.docx file attached to this, edit it, and send it to me. Change the words "Wide" to whatever formation name you choose.
8. USE THIS NOT THE ATTACHMENT BELOW: forum.goatpen.org/Blitzball/Formation.docx

Attachments:

[countlieberkuhn]

Just to let you know, Bob, there's an error in the Wide formation! The T1LD has an optimal x co-ordinate of -1000, whereas the T1RD has an optimal co-ordinate of 1000. I assume they're both supposed to be -1000? Probably doesn't make a whole lot of difference in the long run though.

Will hopefully have a new formation for you guys shortly, just needs testing.


EDIT: The formation is made, but I'm not sure how to work the Blitzball program, so I've just sent it to Bob and am hoping for the best.

Anyway, the formation is called JECHT, and looks a bit like this (shooting to the right; ignore the dashes)


LD--------LF


---------------------C


RD---------RF


The formation is for teams who are focused on having one star shooter, who sits in the centre position, while LF and RF act more as mid-fielders. The forwards are actually slightly wider apart than the defenders, so as to try and bypass a strong centre opponent as much as possible without making the passing too strenuous.

The advantages are that if the centre player gets the ball, chances are they'll get a more or less uninterrupted shot at the goal unless the enemy has a very defensive formation, but the downsides are that the centre player is going to be less readily able to assist his team if the ball gets hotly contested around the middle of the pool, and may result in some 2 on 3 situations should a central clusterfuck happen. Ensuring your LF and RF have decent endurance and pass stats is recommended.

Keep in mind that this is all how it plays out in theory, but in practice it may not be the case

[wyvernxk7]

I've also created a formation (which is actually going to manifest itself as two formations because they aren't symmetrical), which I will explain and have pictures for, etc. soon.

[Bob]

Thanks for catching the "Wide" formation issue. I just checked and found "Center" to have the same problem. All better now!

So a couple things about formations. First is that I'm not sure about the formation, Count. I like the concept and we might just have to decide as a panel, but last night while talking to Wyvern, I came up with a condition just based on principle: "the forwards should still be forwards." Meaning, I think if we push the Center to be the #1 scorer, it doesn't make sense from a Stamina perspective. I can see exploiting the system by having one good forward, then four defenders. Essentially, the positions with 3 Stamina could be filled with average, benchwarmer players and basically work around the Stamina system.

That's just my thought though. I'm up for debate on this though, so don't scrap the design. I mean, it DOES still encourage a good design since it is easily countered by a single Lani in the opponent's Center But my thoughts are that Centers, as I mentioned to Wyvern, should stay out of the goalie net by a radius of 5 (5000).

That being said, I also want to make sure people understand the way the program works. If somebody has the ball, they can carry it allllll the way to the opponent's goal, as we've seen them do, from time to time. Just because the position says their offensive location is at (5,0) doesn't mean they won't drive that all the way into the net, it just means that if they don't currently have the ball, they'll wait at (5,0) for a pass from the ball carrier (on offense, of course).

So, long story short, Count, would you mind backing up the Center a couple clicks to 5000? Again, I am open for debate, but I think that the 3 Stamina players should be the ones to get those super optimal positions, y'know? So, essentially, I think this:

3 Stamina: Cannot be within a radius of 1 (1000) of the opponent's goal.
2 Stamina: Cannot be within a radius of 5 (5000) of the opponent's goal.

(Pssst: And I will say that currently, 5 is a great place to wait for a pass because typically nobody is guarding it, whereas at 7.5 like you have is often right by defenders, especially Normal and Center formations )

Anywho, those are my thoughts. Oh! And one more quick thing!

I've decided that, since we're doing so many new formations, it makes sense that at the very least, they always have to line up the same. Currently, I have them lining up in their defensive positions, but I got to thinking about Blitzball and...hell, real sports. Typically, there's a set way to line up, but once they move they can differ. So, with that, I'm going to set it now so that they always START a round in essentially Normal formation (though I'm scooting the Center back to +/-3). From there...hell, they can go wherever on offense AND defense. You'll see why this is important when you see Wyvern's new formation

[countlieberkuhn]

Oh yeah, I forgot about the stamina perspective. In which case that's fine! I had come up with another interesting idea for a formation loosely based around Hannibal's Crescent, which could make for some very interesting occurrences and shouldn't break the centre rule.

[countlieberkuhn]

Question about the JECHT formation: Would it be fair if I kept it the same as it is now, but instead swapped Center with either RF or LF? Since then it'd be like having two centers, but one of them is more expensive stamina-wise, but the tradeoff is getting your other forward into a more optimal position.

If not, I'll probably abandon the idea which is no real issue for me, but just thought I'd try this avenue for a simple fix just incase.

[countlieberkuhn]

Also! I have made the CRESCENT formation! This is a variant on the wide formation, only the strikers are further apart than the defenders, and the centre player's role changes drastically depending on whether you're on attack or defense.

Attack:

---------------------------LF

-----------LD

-------------------C

-----------RD

---------------------------RF


Defense:

---------------------LF

-----------LD

-------C

-----------RD

---------------------RF


This formation is all about the centre player shifting roles to suit the game's situation. When your team has the ball, the centre will attempt to move forward into a position where they can support your forwards. When on defense, the centre will try to move to a position behind your defenders to form the crescent, to act as a last line of defense and hopefully support your defenders well regardless of whether the opposing team comes from the left or the right. This formation is probably best used with centre players who have high pass, block and attack stats, but poor shooting skills. Think of them as an adaptable, highly mobile, third defender.


I don't plan on using this formation exclusively but it could be fun for some teams to try out, or maybe as a niche formation to use against certain teams. Assuming it doesn't suck in practice

[Bob]

Definitely like the Crescent formation. Write it up and send it my way and I'll get that put in.

The JECHT formation could work if you swap Center and one of the forwards, sure. Keep in mind, they'll have an awkward phase at the beginning of every ball launch where they're swapping, which could leave you vulnerable, but yes, it can work, just like Wyvern's Sweep formations.

[wyvernxk7]

Behold: My two formations! Asymmetrical and idiosyncratic, I had to make two to keep things interesting, unpredictable, and balanced (I am a Libra, after all)!

[glow=Blue,3,300]Sweep L[/glow]


[glow=red,3,300]Sweep R[/glow]


Bob - I hope you got the last corrections on the formation sheets?

[Bob]

Noticed more things I need. Basically, when submitting a formation, could you also give me a list of offense and defense coordinates? Just a like like:

T1C: O (5000,3000) D (-1000, 0)
T1RF: blah blah blah
yadda yadda
T2LD: blah blah blah

O = Offense, D = Defense. Just a quick list of their destinations as offense or defense, but for every single player on the field. Then I can update a few things easily.

Tanks!

[wyvernxk7]

Aren't those already in the formation files?

[Bob]

Actually, in analyzing the program, I'm finding I don't need that. In fact, I figured out a way to optimize the program, I think, so don't worry about it.

I actually am going to upload a simpler formation page, so please hold for simplification.

Done. To do formations now, please use forum.goatpen.org/Blitzball/Formation.docx It's basically the same, only now that top line is gone because I really didn't need it.

Oh, and Wyvern: I got the corrections, yes. Well, at least, I know you sent me links, so I'll add those in.

[Bob]

The program is updated with all these new formations, plus my newly-created Relay formation! The idea is that the Center hangs back to play defense and can act as a relay position. Idea being, give the center some massive pass stat and help compensate for some defenders with crappy pass. Defenders give the Center the short pass, then Center tosses it downfield to one of the Forwards, who play pretty exclusive offense. This formation also provides a thicker defense since the Center generally never crosses into offensive territory. It's very similar to Wide, but the Center hangs back more. (Note: The Center CAN still score since all players move toward the goal if they personally hold the ball, he just won't go beyond -1 until he holds the ball).

Relay isn't implemented yet (soon though...soon), but I do have the picture for it: forum.goatpen.org/Blitzball/BlitzFormations.html

Also: If you want me to make an image of the formation, then let me know the general coordinates so that I can reference it quickly.

[countlieberkuhn]

Do you have a blank image of just the circle with the numbers? Then I can make mine in the same format as yours quite easily. Build up a nice little database of formation pics!

[Bob]

Sure. You want the photoshop PSD, or just the jpg? Hell, I'll upload both, probably some time after work today.