@TomHanks and I are honored to serve as your league commissioners. The announcement regarding this can be found here! We wanted to give you a chance to ask us anything you'd like about this exciting change!
TH -
Bex - No. I don't wanna take the job back because someone decided to shank him. pls.
Bex - We tricked him into this obviously.
TH - I am, as the kids would say, “not smart”
Bex - The DSFL matters a great deal to me, and I've done my best to try and make improvements there. But at the end of the day, it's a project that's a little too big for me, especially given the huge time commitment that the NSFL side of things has, and we need more boots on the ground. I'm excited to pass off some of the ideas that have been sitting on the backburner for me, as well as to see what new ideas these lovely humans can come up with to improve things. Few things could be better for quality of life than an infusion of fresh perspectives coming from passionate members of the league.
TH - I think with the amount the league has grown recently, the DSFL needs a head office that is focused on them and only them. I also think we were asking far too much of HO to run both the NSFL and the DSFL for the last few seasons. We have a few projects in the works which you’ll be seeing soon, but as I mentioned in the announcement, the first thing we want to do as a head office is get feedback from the community as to what you think needs to be fixed in the DSFL. So, please reach out and let us know!
TH - I don’t think there is obvious administrative bias. Both Bex and myself are dedicated to doing what is best by the league, so I can promise being on New Orleans will not impact our decision making at all. As for new players wanting to play for NOLA, we can’t as a team draft everyone. Player preference matters in the sense that we want to draft people who want to play for us over people who don’t, and are more likely to trade up for people who really want to be career NOLA players, but at the end of the day we only have so many draft picks, so that isn’t always an option. Not to mention the fact that commissioners and head office often have to make controversial decisions, which means some people vehemently do not wish to play on the same team as head office members.
Bex - DSFL HO is not NSFL HO. These are separate entities, and as such DSFL Commissioner won't be weighing in on NSFL HO matters, so there is no admin favoritism that is created by this change. As for bias of new draft classes, I don't know how realistic that is. TH and I are just people. The roles don't make people more or less likely to want to be on our team. Our attitude and approach to the league might. But not the fancy titles.
TH - There won’t be sweeping structural changes such as the ones you mentioned, because the DSFL is dedicated to new player experience. We don’t want to do anything that will take away from that. What we plan to do as a head office is make everyone who comes through the DSFL have the best possible time in the sim, in rookie chat, and in their locker rooms.
Bex - I think we will see some smaller changes and initiatives in line with that goal though. New ways to drive engagement, to provide assistance in getting acclimated to the league, and to make connections to the community here.
TH - I largely addressed this in the previous question, but I wouldn’t really compare DSFL and NSFL HO to the House and the Senate from a logical perspective. We’re making decisions for our respective leagues, and they will impact each league differently. Rather than the house and senate metaphor where one can pass rules through all the checks and balances system for one country (or league).
Bex - As TH said earlier, we're dedicated to doing what's best for our leagues, regardless of team affiliations. I also think this oversimplifies the way "commissioner" operates as a role. Yes, we're in a particular HO leadership role, but HO is more than one individual. There are a lot of other voices from a lot of other teams there. Commissioner is more about facilitating conversation than imposing one's will on the league.
TH - I think the biggest thing is that NSFL HO will be able to dedicate themselves fully and completely to the NSFL. Up until this point, they have been doing great things in both leagues, but their attention has been split at all times. In general communication will become more timely, and they’ll be able to focus on what the NSFL needs to do to grow.
Bex - I think it takes some stress off of NSFL HO for sure. The DSFL HO is separate and runs basically independently from the NSFL HO, meaning we get to hand off a lot of DSFL specific responsibilities. I'll still be working to coordinate things between the two as league commissioner, but I have full faith in the new DSFL HO to handle the day to day operations and to steer the ship in the right direction. As far as impacts on the NSFL, with a strengthening on the DSFL and its support networks, I think we could very well see a boost in retention and interest in the league, as well as more people leaving the DSFL feeling positively about their experience and their place in the league.
TH - The biggest goal of our head office is to improve the overall rookie experience, and make sure every DSFL team is dedicated to helping the newest users to the league have more fun. At the end of the day this is all for fun. It gets competitive sometimes, and that’s a little more excusable in the NSFL. The DSFL should be all about people having a great time with their friends.
Bex - Couldn't say it better than that. I think the HO assembled is really hoping to boost enjoyment. This is something that we all do for fun, and I think recentering that fun will do a lot of good.
Bex - By letting the DSFL handle it
TH - I’ve touched on this already with some of the previous questions, but a big thing I want to do that ties into my last answer is improve the overall community feel of the DSFL. Rookie chat has been less active recently, and that has always been a big way for new users to meet other people in the league and their class. We’re planning on boosting that and areas in the league like it so that people will be able to meet more users than their individual DSFL teams, and get a better idea of different jobs and things to do in the league.
TH - Once the rest of the known world and maybe Atlantis has a team. New England has had it too good for too long football wise
Bex - When someone wins an expansion bid and wants to settle there. Ultimately I think it will happen eventually, but personally, I really enjoy having a very diverse set of cities in our league and I love that we haven't hit NE US yet.
TH - If we’re being nit-picky I might be inclined to call it a chowder but from a broad perspective chowder is a type of soup, so yes, chilli is a soup
Bex - I vehemently disagree with calling it a chowder. Chowders are primarily dairy based, and if you are having a dairy based chili, I will throw hands. I would categorize chili as a stew, which is in fact distinct from a soup. Chili is not a soup.
(05-19-2020, 03:11 PM)ScorpXCracker Wrote:So do i get to shank TH now?
TH -
Bex - No. I don't wanna take the job back because someone decided to shank him. pls.
(05-19-2020, 03:14 PM)infinitempg Wrote:why would you subject yourself to this, tom
Bex - We tricked him into this obviously.
TH - I am, as the kids would say, “not smart”
(05-19-2020, 03:14 PM)infinitempg Wrote:lol jk what plans do you have for DSFL now that you have your own HO? How do you see this improving quality of life, if it does?
Bex - The DSFL matters a great deal to me, and I've done my best to try and make improvements there. But at the end of the day, it's a project that's a little too big for me, especially given the huge time commitment that the NSFL side of things has, and we need more boots on the ground. I'm excited to pass off some of the ideas that have been sitting on the backburner for me, as well as to see what new ideas these lovely humans can come up with to improve things. Few things could be better for quality of life than an infusion of fresh perspectives coming from passionate members of the league.
TH - I think with the amount the league has grown recently, the DSFL needs a head office that is focused on them and only them. I also think we were asking far too much of HO to run both the NSFL and the DSFL for the last few seasons. We have a few projects in the works which you’ll be seeing soon, but as I mentioned in the announcement, the first thing we want to do as a head office is get feedback from the community as to what you think needs to be fixed in the DSFL. So, please reach out and let us know!
(05-19-2020, 03:47 PM)Rising Equinox Wrote:How do you plan on dealing with the obvious administrative favoritism going forward, considering both Commissioners currently play for NOLA and one is even the GM? Even if this somehow doesn't affect HO decision making, what about the clear bias of new draft classes wanting to play for NOLA due to this?
TH - I don’t think there is obvious administrative bias. Both Bex and myself are dedicated to doing what is best by the league, so I can promise being on New Orleans will not impact our decision making at all. As for new players wanting to play for NOLA, we can’t as a team draft everyone. Player preference matters in the sense that we want to draft people who want to play for us over people who don’t, and are more likely to trade up for people who really want to be career NOLA players, but at the end of the day we only have so many draft picks, so that isn’t always an option. Not to mention the fact that commissioners and head office often have to make controversial decisions, which means some people vehemently do not wish to play on the same team as head office members.
Bex - DSFL HO is not NSFL HO. These are separate entities, and as such DSFL Commissioner won't be weighing in on NSFL HO matters, so there is no admin favoritism that is created by this change. As for bias of new draft classes, I don't know how realistic that is. TH and I are just people. The roles don't make people more or less likely to want to be on our team. Our attitude and approach to the league might. But not the fancy titles.
(05-19-2020, 05:28 PM)CDub2 Wrote:Any changes coming to the DSFL? I know there are some feelings out there that it should be a minors team system or a system where people can stave off regression for a year by staying down?
TH - There won’t be sweeping structural changes such as the ones you mentioned, because the DSFL is dedicated to new player experience. We don’t want to do anything that will take away from that. What we plan to do as a head office is make everyone who comes through the DSFL have the best possible time in the sim, in rookie chat, and in their locker rooms.
Bex - I think we will see some smaller changes and initiatives in line with that goal though. New ways to drive engagement, to provide assistance in getting acclimated to the league, and to make connections to the community here.
(05-19-2020, 05:28 PM)CDub2 Wrote:NOLA now has control of the House and the Senate. I’m sure grievous isn’t the only one with those feelings.
TH - I largely addressed this in the previous question, but I wouldn’t really compare DSFL and NSFL HO to the House and the Senate from a logical perspective. We’re making decisions for our respective leagues, and they will impact each league differently. Rather than the house and senate metaphor where one can pass rules through all the checks and balances system for one country (or league).
Bex - As TH said earlier, we're dedicated to doing what's best for our leagues, regardless of team affiliations. I also think this oversimplifies the way "commissioner" operates as a role. Yes, we're in a particular HO leadership role, but HO is more than one individual. There are a lot of other voices from a lot of other teams there. Commissioner is more about facilitating conversation than imposing one's will on the league.
(05-19-2020, 06:17 PM)Memento Mori Wrote:I’ll ask some more positive questions as I’m a big fan of having a DSFL HO and the five members are great picks.
How do you see this affecting NSFL HO, and the NSFL?
TH - I think the biggest thing is that NSFL HO will be able to dedicate themselves fully and completely to the NSFL. Up until this point, they have been doing great things in both leagues, but their attention has been split at all times. In general communication will become more timely, and they’ll be able to focus on what the NSFL needs to do to grow.
Bex - I think it takes some stress off of NSFL HO for sure. The DSFL HO is separate and runs basically independently from the NSFL HO, meaning we get to hand off a lot of DSFL specific responsibilities. I'll still be working to coordinate things between the two as league commissioner, but I have full faith in the new DSFL HO to handle the day to day operations and to steer the ship in the right direction. As far as impacts on the NSFL, with a strengthening on the DSFL and its support networks, I think we could very well see a boost in retention and interest in the league, as well as more people leaving the DSFL feeling positively about their experience and their place in the league.
(05-19-2020, 06:17 PM)Memento Mori Wrote:What do you think the biggest positive impact on the DSFL will be?
TH - The biggest goal of our head office is to improve the overall rookie experience, and make sure every DSFL team is dedicated to helping the newest users to the league have more fun. At the end of the day this is all for fun. It gets competitive sometimes, and that’s a little more excusable in the NSFL. The DSFL should be all about people having a great time with their friends.
Bex - Couldn't say it better than that. I think the HO assembled is really hoping to boost enjoyment. This is something that we all do for fun, and I think recentering that fun will do a lot of good.
(05-19-2020, 06:18 PM)Faded Wrote:How do you plan to improve the DSFL?
Bex - By letting the DSFL handle it
TH - I’ve touched on this already with some of the previous questions, but a big thing I want to do that ties into my last answer is improve the overall community feel of the DSFL. Rookie chat has been less active recently, and that has always been a big way for new users to meet other people in the league and their class. We’re planning on boosting that and areas in the league like it so that people will be able to meet more users than their individual DSFL teams, and get a better idea of different jobs and things to do in the league.
(05-22-2020, 04:41 PM)LimJahey Wrote:Q1. When is the North East US getting an expansion team?
TH - Once the rest of the known world and maybe Atlantis has a team. New England has had it too good for too long football wise
Bex - When someone wins an expansion bid and wants to settle there. Ultimately I think it will happen eventually, but personally, I really enjoy having a very diverse set of cities in our league and I love that we haven't hit NE US yet.
(05-22-2020, 04:41 PM)LimJahey Wrote:Q2. Is Chili a soup?
TH - If we’re being nit-picky I might be inclined to call it a chowder but from a broad perspective chowder is a type of soup, so yes, chilli is a soup
Bex - I vehemently disagree with calling it a chowder. Chowders are primarily dairy based, and if you are having a dairy based chili, I will throw hands. I would categorize chili as a stew, which is in fact distinct from a soup. Chili is not a soup.