Inducements in League Tournaments / Playoffs

[JPS]

Obviously, any commissioner can run his league's playoffs / tournaments any way he likes, but if I were to follow the rules as laid out in LRB 6, it appears that inducements other than Mercenaries and Star Players are still allowed in the playoffs.

Typically there are two semi-final matches followed by a final. Inducement and treasury gold may not be used to induce Star Players or Mercenaries for these matches as the NAF, while not monitoring day to day games on the road to the finals, enforces using your own team for these important matches! p.30

Boldface is in the rules, not mine.

Reading this rule strictly, am I correct that:
a) inducement money is still awarded to the lower TV team;
b) inducement and/or treasury money can still be spent on other inducements such as Bribes, Babes, Wandering Apothecaries, etc., and;
c) if the playoffs have preliminary rounds prior to the semi-final, all inducements are available in those rounds including Star Players and Mercenaries?

I've always played in leagues where no inducements were allowed during any playoff round, which did give the higher TV teams a big advantage. But, now I wonder if maybe we've doing it wrong. Or, at least, poorly.

- jps

[Corvidius]

As far as I can understand from the rules as written you are correct.

The new Commissioner of our League (also the coach of the team with the highest tv at 268) banned any Inducements for the playoffs as we were playing 4 man Dungeonbowl and he thought it would play quicker. I looked at the very rules you did and figuring a tv difference of 100 against Orcs, in a 4 man Dungeon, was ridiculous without Inducements, didn't bother entering. Felt very justified after seeing all the casualties.

[daloonieshaman]

It is the choice of the Commish
We have allowed inducements but Stars (Mercs I have to check) everything else is good
The reason is it gives the underdog a fighting chance and the highest TV does not sweep (some of the time)

[Daht]

I think what really matters is the disparity of the teams. In an open-format league I think they are important as a team that plays the most gets a HUGE advantage, especially if teams carry over season to season.

If you play in a league where everyone starts from scratch and plays the same number of games, you could skip inducments fairly.

[JPS]

Thanks, guys.

We're completely overhauling our league structure. We are going from fixed schedule seasons to a perpetual league. We will have intermittant playoffs/tournaments for the four trophies. My biggest concern was old, built up teams dominating and eliminating the possibility of newer coaches/teams having a chance. I'm glad I can go to any objectors and say, "this is the rule from the book." (Using the "I'm commissioner and I say so" approach doesn't work as well when two of your players own the store you play in!)

- jps

[nick_nameless]

Thanks, guys.

We're completely overhauling our league structure. We are going from fixed schedule seasons to a perpetual league. We will have intermittant playoffs/tournaments for the four trophies. My biggest concern was old, built up teams dominating and eliminating the possibility of newer coaches/teams having a chance. I'm glad I can go to any objectors and say, "this is the rule from the book." (Using the "I'm commissioner and I say so" approach doesn't work as well when two of your players own the store you play in!)

- jps

One reason you might consider not using that rule:

Teams like Halflings and Goblins can live and die by the star player. If you tell a halfling or goblin team they can't induce the players that got them there, then why even bother to play the teams at all?

At least you might consider making exceptions for these teams. Maybe a few others.

[JPS]

Teams like Halflings and Goblins can live and die by the star player.

That thought has crossed my mind. I'm not sure how we'll handle it. We don't have a big Halfling / Goblin team contingent, so as long as the coaches know beforehand, then I think we're ok.

- jps

[Smeborg]

Teams like Halflings and Goblins can live and die by the star player. If you tell a halfling or goblin team they can't induce the players that got them there, then why even bother to play the teams at all?

I'm not sure that's the case. Inducements other than players are very important for 'Fling and Gobbo teams, for example, the Chef, Bribes, 2 Babes. This is especially the case if you do not artificially trim your TV by sacking skilled players. I believe you need to develop stunty teams that can compete at even TV levels (or low handicap). I don't worry about lack of Stars, more about lack of Mercs.

Any league can do what it wants, and what suits its format and the preference of the coaches. I have sympathy with Jervis' position - he is seeking to get coaches to rely on "home-grown" rather than "imported" talent, and to prevent "gaming" of the TV system. However, his approach is not perfect. Any team, including bash teams, can suffer anomalously high CAS in a semi-final (or the preceding match). Without Mercs and/or Stars, the team will not compete in the following match (if they have the money to buy new players, they lose the skills of a MNG player). In the case of 'Flings and Gobbos, you are in trouble if one of both of your Big Guys is missing the match. Jervis' suggestion does not seem to address this kind of problem.