Subject: USA Support Team

It really does need to be better advertised. In google you have to type in "powerplay ma" to get the site the first thing shown.

Online hockey manager has it come up second. The first that comes up involves real players.

The big thing through is once we get players here how do we keep them? Its hard enough to get guys to join but the game moves slowly and they want instant playing so they move on. Any ideas for how to get USA players to stay?

Facebook is a powerful tool. I just simply refuse to use FB.

Div.III & Div.IV need some kind of crutch for newer players. An enticement so to speak. Aside from canucks357 showing up at their house in his crazy car, offering free donuts and a ride around the block for hitting the 100 day mark.

I'm still convinced the 11 day waiting period has a lot to do with players simply signing up and realizing, crap, i cant do anything for 11 days? Screw this, and dont come back.

Short of dropping off flyers at the retirement home, im out of ideas.

11 days is to keep them off the market.

right but in order to get really good early on you need access to the market. I didn't really build a decent team till I got on the market. Then again if the manager does not know what they are doing they can put themselves into a hole by buying to many players early on

I agree with skeptimist.I was counting the days on my calendar until I could raid the market. But now that I have been shown the light that was probably not the best move.

True. But like I have stated b4, just how much damage can a rookie do in one day,with limited funds? It wouldn't affect anyone higher than Div.III, would it?

I get the fact that the waiting period does force a new player to do the unthinkable, such as reading the guidelines, rules etc. The real question is, does it actually them? I did the same thing that 99% of new guys do, spend money on players and thats it, trying to win it all right off, which i did. BUT, it only hurt me in the long run. I didnt have you guys to ask questions, or i didnt know i did have many vets available that were willing to offer advice.

I guess i struggle with the 11 day ban because i am failing to see any real harm a new player can do. Maybe im being obtuse about this and not seeing it from the proper perspective.

Agreed, if I had not been so foolish with my money. I could have a 3,000+ people arena being build right now. But that is in the past. Time to look ahead.

Not to throw a wrench in this......but the reason I play and enjoy this game is the many different decisions needed over time to build a good franchise. This is how real NHL teams do it. Some, like Detroit, draft well and develop from within, obviously if there draft picks suck, they take the forward thinking approach for the long term benefit of the team with traded/bought, signed incomers. This management style takes a long time to develop, but once it is up and running, it's the best system in the league. Conversely, the Rangers like to spend big bucks in free agency and play the win know approach. How has that worked out for them over the last 10 years? I do agree we need to recruit new people. I also have tried to mentor people with little luck. However, if a report can be established early with the manager....not just about the game....but say similar interests. Is it possible to try and team up a member with a mentor that is in or near the same State, maybe keeping the ages similar. Maybe a small survey for when new players join to help match them with a mentor? I am just spit balling here, but helping someone out is enough for me, but if I needed to put a little time in to build that report early on, I would be happy to do it. Maybe automatically sign every new member a mentor? Of course, only those that wanted to be help mentore would be used. I think the higher the mentoring teams status is, the better chance of getting their attention? Again, not trying to make waves, just throw out some ideas. Also, I would be glad to put the time into mentoring several managers at the same time. In addition, if an existing team is having a tough go and losing interest, post those who would like to try and keep him going. I would not mind mentoring these folks as well. I would be lying if I didn't email better managers to get their take. The biggest lose was Irresistible Force. He was top ten in the world......you think I asked him questions....you bet. At any rate, I enjoy the tactical decisions and how they effect your franchise in the future
It's a great game as can be demonstrated from different countries team numbers.

I definitely agree with the mentor part. A mentor DOES help.

A brand new player can completely wreck their team and force it into immediate bankruptcy by hitting the market too early. All they have to do is ignore the salary warnings, buy a couple of 200 OR staff members for 10k and their team is dead in the water.

So the question is, do we lose more players by making them wait 11 days, or would we lose more who screw up early, bankrupt their team and are forced to restart?

There should be a booklet let that is titled
Read this so you don't screw up your future.

Good point. I rest my case. I know nothing. Now back to my waterproof teabags....

instead of placing a 11 day limit just do a salary cap thing. for the first xx days. cap by player/staff not total so it is easier.

and also limit the transactions. so lets say he can buy 5 players and 5 staff only.
at least give them something to do. i have to say i didnt like that neither and almost ended up not playing pm for that. very boring 11 days.