League customization and schedules

bwburke94 · 03-04-2015, 02:06 PM

Since we know that BTS will have at least theoretical support for smaller leagues, how will schedules be generated for leagues using non-historical formats?

Ideally (in plain text) it would be something like this.

Code:

If the number of teams in the largest division is less than or equal to half the number of games each team plays, each team plays their division opponents twice. Else, each team plays their division opponents once.

If there are two conferences in the league, set variable x for number of conference opponents and set variable y for number of nonconference opponents. Variable y is equal to half the number of non-division games rounded down. If variable y is an odd number greater than or equal to 5, subtract 1 from variable y. Variable x is equal to the number of non-division games minus variable y. Repeat this process for every division in the league.

If there is one conference in the league, set variable x for number of non-division opponents. Variable x is equal to the number of non-division games. Repeat this process for every division in the league.

Schedule the remaining matchups randomly, ensuring that in two-conference structures each team plays x non-division conference games and y non-conference opponents, and in one-conference structures each team plays x non-division opponents. If this is impossible (odd number of teams and odd x value, or y values not matching up) an appropriate number of teams play one less non-division conference game and one more non-conference game.

Yes, that's a bit complex, but it's basically the same algorithm Sports Mogul used for their football game, with a few fixes to cover the odd-number-of-teams scenarios.

Le Grande Orange · 03-04-2015, 03:36 PM

I'd settle for a custom schedule importation function like that in OOTP. Then users could create their own schedules in whatever format they wish.

sandman3 · 03-09-2015, 09:46 AM

The NFL used to be smaller than it currently is. Why not just use whatever formula the league used to use in years past?

BeanSobie · 03-09-2015, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandman3

The NFL used to be smaller than it currently is. Why not just use whatever formula the league used to use in years past?

My issue with that is, what if I want to create a league with X teams and Y divisions that the NFL has never seen before? I know customization can get buggy (ie. FHM custom leagues), but the solution of using the formula that the NFL uses is a too unidimensional.

sandman3 · 03-09-2015, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeanSobie

My issue with that is, what if I want to create a league with X teams and Y divisions that the NFL has never seen before? I know customization can get buggy (ie. FHM custom leagues), but the solution of using the formula that the NFL uses is a too unidimensional.

I see. I can understand having a league that is totally different from what the NFL used to be in any given year in the past.

What I meant is that the NFL has had to change their scheduling formula many times in the past. History of the NFL?s structure and formats, part two » Pro-football-reference.com blog » Blog Archive

So at the very least, anyone who has a league structure similar to something the NFL has had, should work in the game.

As for something more unconventional, you can have a generic formula like bwburke posted in the OP. Or you can create your own schedule, or d/l one that a modder already created that fits your league.

Le Grande Orange · 03-09-2015, 05:16 PM

Again, even just the ability to import schedule files made outside the game (as OOTP can do) would be a huge benefit. Plenty of real-world football schedules to serve as the schedule foundation for plenty of league alignments, and those with the inclination could create schedules from scratch to whatever scheduling format they wish. (Creating a football schedule would be a much easier task than creating a baseball schedule as they are far fewer puzzle pieces to work out.)

jbaumgardt1 · 04-02-2015, 03:25 PM

I would like to see the same schedule editor that OOTP has. With football schedules being shorter and simpler than baseball and hockey schedules, I could use this editor to easily create a football schedule from scratch for a league of just about any size and format in only a few hours.

03-04-2015, 03:36 PM	#2
Le Grande Orange Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Up There Posts: 15,403	I'd settle for a custom schedule importation function like that in OOTP. Then users could create their own schedules in whatever format they wish.

03-09-2015, 09:46 AM	#3
sandman3 Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 2	The NFL used to be smaller than it currently is. Why not just use whatever formula the league used to use in years past?

03-09-2015, 05:16 PM	#6
Le Grande Orange Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Up There Posts: 15,403	Again, even just the ability to import schedule files made outside the game (as OOTP can do) would be a huge benefit. Plenty of real-world football schedules to serve as the schedule foundation for plenty of league alignments, and those with the inclination could create schedules from scratch to whatever scheduling format they wish. (Creating a football schedule would be a much easier task than creating a baseball schedule as they are far fewer puzzle pieces to work out.)

04-02-2015, 03:25 PM	#7
jbaumgardt1 Minors (Single A) Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 75	I would like to see the same schedule editor that OOTP has. With football schedules being shorter and simpler than baseball and hockey schedules, I could use this editor to easily create a football schedule from scratch for a league of just about any size and format in only a few hours.