16. Describe your player and/or team’s journey through this latest season. What were the highlights? What were the lower points? What might you have done differently? What are your expectations for next season?
Everyone knew from the beginning of the season this would be a down season for the Berlin Fire Salamanders. I do not want to say tanking, because if we would have tanked we would have been very bad at it, but no one expected too much from us including ourselves. We have a young core, up and coming players and were never an Ultimus contender. That said, the 6-10 record positively surprised me a lot. We ended up second last in our conference in the end, but the record should have been even worse if we are being honest to ourselves.
We started out losing all four of our pre-season games which lowered expectations even more, but crushed into week one on the tankbowl by beating out the Honolulu Hahaluas in a good game 35-24. Honolulu tried a comeback in the 4th quarter by scoring two touchdowns but in the end it was not enough because Berlin started a good game.
So we were all a bit surprised by how good we looked, how good the rookies looked and how good the QB performed but what came afterwards did not surprise that much. Dropping four consecutive games to Baltimore, Chicago, Sarasota and Cape Town was pretty much expected, especially since these were supposed to be quite good teams.
Thus started a bit of a pattern this season, win a game, drop a couple afterwards. Week 6 brought us to Colorado and a nice win against the Yeti only to drop the next three again. In Week 10 Berlin collected their next win to sweep the Yeti successfully for the season with a close 27-21 win. One of the biggest surprises for the season may have come in Week 12 which showed us why "Any given Sunday" is a thing beating the second place Baltimore Hawks in a great 36-30 win. While we still had somewhat of a chance for the highest pick then (although very minimal) Week 14 and 15 brought wins over the Copperheads and Wraiths to close the season out 6-10 with a loss in the final week against conference champions Chicago.
So generally a good season. The outlook for next season is much better I think with our young core getting better and I do not think we should change too much in our strategies. Continue to build the team, and trust the process.
397 words - 5 TPE
23. What are your thoughts on the sim engine? What sort of improvements would you make to the sim engine if given the opportunity?
I think there are a lot of improvements we could bring to the sim engine. One of my biggest pet peeves is the inability for game time decisions. I know it is hard seeing how we handle tactics and strategies and a lot of the GMs do not have the time to sit and watch a live sim to make coaching decisions, but I think the ability to do so would increase the importance of General Managers of the teams in a more head coaching style role.
Some things I could see working there would be rotation of players or changes to the general game strategy if your team is ahead a lot or behind a lot. Or simply taking underperforming players out as a possibility.
Another thing that I think is happening is that Random Number Generation still plays too big of a part in the sim engine. While I get why it is necessary I think it should be toned down.
163 words - 2.5 TPE
26. if your player wasn't a professional in the ISFL/DSFL, what would they be doing instead?
If Pitter Patter did not go into professional football I think he would be a pretty serviceable hockey player still. While he played as a junior and only later decided to switch to football, he still has the Canadian hockey genes inside him that would at least get him to AAA league play. Pitter Patter enjoyed hockey a lot like any good Canadian would and has gotten quite good at it in the past. While his cousin Wayne Shoresy (who funnily enough looks exactly like him) had a short, but good stint in baseball he always felt more attached to hockey.
If he would not be doing any sports at all he would probably follow in his families footsteps and do some good old choring on the farm in Ontario. He still plans to do that after retirement because the simplicity and friendship is something Pitter Patter thoroughly enjoys. Just the well planned daily chores is something that is very close to his heart.
164 words - 2.5 TPE
10 TPE TOTAL
Everyone knew from the beginning of the season this would be a down season for the Berlin Fire Salamanders. I do not want to say tanking, because if we would have tanked we would have been very bad at it, but no one expected too much from us including ourselves. We have a young core, up and coming players and were never an Ultimus contender. That said, the 6-10 record positively surprised me a lot. We ended up second last in our conference in the end, but the record should have been even worse if we are being honest to ourselves.
We started out losing all four of our pre-season games which lowered expectations even more, but crushed into week one on the tankbowl by beating out the Honolulu Hahaluas in a good game 35-24. Honolulu tried a comeback in the 4th quarter by scoring two touchdowns but in the end it was not enough because Berlin started a good game.
So we were all a bit surprised by how good we looked, how good the rookies looked and how good the QB performed but what came afterwards did not surprise that much. Dropping four consecutive games to Baltimore, Chicago, Sarasota and Cape Town was pretty much expected, especially since these were supposed to be quite good teams.
Thus started a bit of a pattern this season, win a game, drop a couple afterwards. Week 6 brought us to Colorado and a nice win against the Yeti only to drop the next three again. In Week 10 Berlin collected their next win to sweep the Yeti successfully for the season with a close 27-21 win. One of the biggest surprises for the season may have come in Week 12 which showed us why "Any given Sunday" is a thing beating the second place Baltimore Hawks in a great 36-30 win. While we still had somewhat of a chance for the highest pick then (although very minimal) Week 14 and 15 brought wins over the Copperheads and Wraiths to close the season out 6-10 with a loss in the final week against conference champions Chicago.
So generally a good season. The outlook for next season is much better I think with our young core getting better and I do not think we should change too much in our strategies. Continue to build the team, and trust the process.
397 words - 5 TPE
23. What are your thoughts on the sim engine? What sort of improvements would you make to the sim engine if given the opportunity?
I think there are a lot of improvements we could bring to the sim engine. One of my biggest pet peeves is the inability for game time decisions. I know it is hard seeing how we handle tactics and strategies and a lot of the GMs do not have the time to sit and watch a live sim to make coaching decisions, but I think the ability to do so would increase the importance of General Managers of the teams in a more head coaching style role.
Some things I could see working there would be rotation of players or changes to the general game strategy if your team is ahead a lot or behind a lot. Or simply taking underperforming players out as a possibility.
Another thing that I think is happening is that Random Number Generation still plays too big of a part in the sim engine. While I get why it is necessary I think it should be toned down.
163 words - 2.5 TPE
26. if your player wasn't a professional in the ISFL/DSFL, what would they be doing instead?
If Pitter Patter did not go into professional football I think he would be a pretty serviceable hockey player still. While he played as a junior and only later decided to switch to football, he still has the Canadian hockey genes inside him that would at least get him to AAA league play. Pitter Patter enjoyed hockey a lot like any good Canadian would and has gotten quite good at it in the past. While his cousin Wayne Shoresy (who funnily enough looks exactly like him) had a short, but good stint in baseball he always felt more attached to hockey.
If he would not be doing any sports at all he would probably follow in his families footsteps and do some good old choring on the farm in Ontario. He still plans to do that after retirement because the simplicity and friendship is something Pitter Patter thoroughly enjoys. Just the well planned daily chores is something that is very close to his heart.
164 words - 2.5 TPE
10 TPE TOTAL