Newbie question

[donpaulo]

Hello we are a 20+ team league with each team having a human GM to manage roster decisions. Each manager/GM submits files to the league office who then runs the sim, updates the files and posts them on our website.

We are currently using APBA which has a great program that allows each person to easily make roster moves and send 1K files to the person in charge of the sims. But the program is quite old and we are thinking about changing.

FHM is at the top of our list so I am asking if it is possible for us to repeat this procedure.

Does every person need a copy of FHM to play in the league ?

If somoene does NOT have FHM on the their computer how would they send a roster file to the league office ?

Can we use a program to send roster files to the person simming the game ?

Thanks in advance
DP

[JeffR]

FHM4 doesn't support multiplayer leagues right now. We're hoping to add that in FHM5, out next fall, so you'd have to wait until then to switch over.

When it's added, it'll likely be similar to OOTP Baseball's multiplayer, which is somewhat mechanically similar to what you do with APBA now (everyone needs a copy of the game, files are sent to a central commissioner who handles things like trades, etc. - I'm assuming APBA is still like that, I haven't played since I was in a league in the mid-late 90's.)

One major difference: since FHM isn't a single-season simulator, you're not limited to playing one season per real year and waiting for new data from the real NHL season; you can progress as far as you want (with fictional players eventually replacing real ones) depending on how active your owners are and how quickly you want to move things along.

[donpaulo]

Thanks very much Jeff

APBA does not require a copy of the sim to adjust rosters.

There is a separate program for roster adjustment, so GMs simply download the game stats file and load the roster. Since both programs are abandonware cost is not an issue.

This allows the vast majority of players to participate WITHOUT having the sim.

Obviously the program itself is a dinosaur in the age of 64 bit software which is why we are seeking an alternative.

Of course this flies in the face of the business model of FHM, but I think you will agree that asking each GM to pay 30 bucks to participate will most likely result in the less devoted ones leaving our 15 year league.

For a hardcore gamer such as myself 4000 yen is a drop in the ocean and I look forward to the changes coming in FHM5.

Are you aware that the greater APBA community rates a new disk every season ?

Over the past 3 seasons the ratings have been very solid.

I am curious how you rate difficult things to measure across the league such as foot speed. If thats part of the secret sauce, I understand but I thought I would ask.

Thanks again

[JeffR]

I used to be on the APBA community ratings committee, actually. First or second year, I think, right after the company stopped releasing disks and the leagues got together to create a replacement. Impressive that it's still going, after all this time.

Unlike APBA, which mixes subjective ratings with objective stats, all of FHM's ratings are entirely subjective and not (directly) stats-derived. Something like skating is broken down into multiple ratings: speed, acceleration, agility, and balance.

[USNspecialist]

Originally Posted by JeffR

FHM4 doesn't support multiplayer leagues right now. We're hoping to add that in FHM5, out next fall, so you'd have to wait until then to switch over.

When it's added, it'll likely be similar to OOTP Baseball's multiplayer, which is somewhat mechanically similar to what you do with APBA now (everyone needs a copy of the game, files are sent to a central commissioner who handles things like trades, etc. - I'm assuming APBA is still like that, I haven't played since I was in a league in the mid-late 90's.)

One major difference: since FHM isn't a single-season simulator, you're not limited to playing one season per real year and waiting for new data from the real NHL season; you can progress as far as you want (with fictional players eventually replacing real ones) depending on how active your owners are and how quickly you want to move things along.

that is good to hear that multiplayer leagues are potentially in play for the next edition. I have been in a few different OOTP baseball leagues and they are great, looking forward to that aspect in this game as well (just downloaded FHM for the first time).