Hi everyone, looking forward to having a go at this. And interacting with you all in some way.

I was wondering with recruiting, is it more important to go for the highest rated available or build the team up with more quantity over quality?

Thanks

Welcome Matthew, I hope you enjoy TMVL, I know I do (unless I'm playing Al of course...oh and just so you know, Dallas are the most badly done to team in the entire TMVL, OLMEC despises us).....I am not the person to ask but I will give you the benefit of my one season's worth of experience...

Of course you want the highest raters as possible but one thing to bear in mind is that even the 5 star raters aren't guaranteed to be Gods because they are allocated (at the end of the season?) a number based on their star rating....for example:

A 5 star Libero is guaranteed to have a SRV (serving) rating of between 10 and 11

A 4 star Libero is guaranteed to have a SRV (serving) rating of between 8 and 10

...and so on and so forth...if you click on the 'recruiting' link at the top of the site and scroll down, you will see the highest and lowest numbers for each skill (as per the above Libero example for SRV) in each position (don't worry if the highest/lowest ratings are 1 to 2, this just means that skill is irrelevant for that player position - eg Libero BLK and ATK ratings have maximums of 1 to 2).

Hopefully you get the idea but yes, the higher the star rating the higher the potential for a better player (just to add a spanner in the works, some players have a speciality which is viewed on the same recruiting page...eg Maximo Fernandez  - the Libero at the top of the recruiting list - has a speciality of Max SET+2, this means his SET is GUARANTEED to be the maximum for his position - in this case 10 - PLUS 2!! So he will have a guaranteed SET of 12 which is VERY high because by the time you can no longer coach him he'll be a level 18 which is MONSTROUS...expect him to go for BIG bucks)

The actual bidding is a bit of skill and luck and all depends on how much research you want to put into it....for example, you will know your fellow bidders because they have to declare their interest. So are they going for any other players? Which players do you think they want the most based on their squad? How much RP do they have?

The other thing to consider is your weaker areas - yes you will need a minimum number of players at the start of a new season (the recruiting pages tell you your areas of need - click on 'recruiting' at the top of the page then click on 'dashboard', here's my link if it works: https://www.olmec.org/tmvl/recruiting.php?type=dashboard this tells me I need a minimum of an Outside Hitter and a Setter which I'm quite happy about because it means I can either concentrate most of my RP on those 2 areas and hopefully secure 2 quality players or I can look to spread the love and sign 3 or 4 players, perhaps to a lower rating but that will improve the overall squad)

Like I said, I am NO expert on this but there are plenty who are (I'm probably looking at the likes of Steve, Mike, Big Al of course and a few others who I'm sorry not to have named, please don't be offended...it's laziness on my part :)

I hope I've got this right Matthew but I will be corrected by those 'in the know' if I'm wrong :)

Enjoy the game :)

Hi everyone.  It's a pleasure to join the game and I look forward to crossing swords with you all.  I recognise quite a few names from U1, which I joined last year, and where I'm definitely on the receiving end of the wrath of Olmec more than anyone else (that isn't true but I appreciate it's kind of the expected thing to say).

I'm glad Matthew has asked the strategic question.  If anyone has tips on how to set up your team for individual games, I'd be interested, as the Rock, Scissors, Paper technique I use in United doesn't look like it will cut it given the increased tactical depth of this game (none of which I understand).  If you need any more incentive to help, my first game will be against the Commish and, while I'm sure Al will say he's the underdog, it would be great to pull off an early upset...

And I'm not sure I want to know the answer to this question, but what are Pushin Peas?  Is it some kind of American delicacy like mushy peas? 

So I've managed to bemuse myself completely with the recruiting process. As far as I can make out it's:

Step 1 - express an interest and pay the fee

Step 2 - confirm that interest and pay another fee OR drop out OR express an interest if you haven't already done so in Step 1 but at a much higher cost

Step 3 - put in an actual bid, highest wins and what you've paid in so far in Steps 1 and 2 is a sunk cost not included in the bid BUT you can only bid if you have confirmed or expressed an interest at Step 2

Step 4 - if you win the bid they join your team next season

Is that right?

Thanks for the thoughts Craig. It's good to know that Olmec can screw you over when determining potential, and doesn't have to rely solely on results to demonstrate how far it despises us.

Roger, you are correct. In Step 3 it's second highest bid + 1 RP that you pay.

Craig's answer was excellent apart from two small errors:

The player mentioned is a Setter not a Libero but he should go for a lot of RP with +2 SET. 

I wouldn't call myself am expert except on the process. I am useless at this part of the game.

Your 34-4 record of last season says otherwise 'Expert Steve' :)

As far as lineups go, Roger, you can win any of your first games if you T7 and they let up a little. Like United the better is not forced to win.

Of you look below the orders input you'll see suggestions on what to CP first and who to put where. Some of these can contradict each other.

I think serve order is the most important thing to look at. Pick the 7 and look at putting them in serve order within the rules. RS at VI? So S at III when it suggests putting him at I? Well I for one don't stick to the latter. And try your second worst at V.

I'll try and put an email together with other stuff as well.

And look at all the forum and blog posts if you have time. Lots of useful information. Go back far enough and you'll see me desperate for (and getting) answers.

Another question,

On the order page there are circle symbol things. What are these? Can't seem to find anything in the rules

Thanks

Cheers Steve, will take a look.

Matt - I wondered the same thing, but thought they might represent the number of times each skill can be raised given the ages of the players - 1 for Junior, 2 for Sophomore, etc.  I'm sure others will correct me if I've got that wrong!

That's correct, Roger. Your main team page has the same.  I'm sure Al has done a video about this but I couldn't find in last night. 

Your youngest players can be trained more on each skill.

Fr 3 times. So twice. Jr once and Sr fully trained.

A couple more recruiting questions if I may:

1. As far as I can see, the rules don't say any one position on the team is more valuable than any other, yet each position has a different min RP - which would seem to suggest that the Setter is most important and the Libero the least.  Am I reading too much into this?

2. As a new coach this season, am I eleigible for a free 1 star walk on at the end of the season?

Steve - have taken a look through the some of the previous post.  You are very generous with your tips!

Thank you, Roger. Some stuff I say has already been told to me but it could be lost in all the other posts so hard to find.

Some is because I've had access to some of the code and have asked Al/Max. I worked though some stuff that's in the Support link and feel it's only right ti share.

There is still stuff I havent mentioned but which can be worked out.

The Circle Symbols/Pie Charts

Matt and Roger: The following will be a good post to review.  It will give you a little on the CPs but mainly is about eXperience Points aka XPs.  This game is a marathon not a sprint so focus on the CPs initially and don't beat yourself up if you don't get everything right away.  But an understanding of XPs helps you with how you coach your team and play your roster.  The post shows how some of the "pieces of the pie" get filled in.  Before I was showing fractions like 1/3 or 1/2 and it was hard to read.  Mike Halpin showed me the way and we now have a visual way to see this and I know it really helps me. 

https://www.olmec.org/tmvl/forum_topic.php?topic_id=86

Andy, of course, had it all right in his post on how it works.  Freshman can improve 3 levels per skill.  Sophomores 2 levels per skill.  Juniors just 1 level per skill.  Seniors are about to graduate so they've given up on learning/improving and are just drinking beer and partying.  This is a fact and 100% true. :-)

1-Star Walkon - For New Coaches Only

Roger: Yes you can get a free 1-star walkon.  However, your plan should be to have recruited 3 players in the competitive recruiting (bidding w/RPs), then get the FREE 3-star walkon and not get to the free 1-star player.  The 1-star is there as a fallback for a new coach, but frankly that player will not play much on your roster.  

Positions

Roger: Min RP values are based on the importance of the position.  You have are right there.  Here's a brief summary:

Liberos do two things exceedingly well: return serves and dig attacks from the other team.  The play the back row only.

Middle Blockers do two things exceedingly well: block at the net and attack sets from the setters (though there's timing involved and typically the MBs don't get set by the setter as much).  MBs ONLY play the front row in our setup.  Once they rotate to the back row they may serve, but then after that they go off for the Libero to come in.  So think of them as roughly half time players on the court.

Right Sides (RS) are there to attack and block.  They also should be good servers and have the ability to dig (DEF).  They play all the way around, front row and back row.

Outside Hitters (OH) play on the left side (when in front row) and do everything the Right sides do PLUS the two of them on the court handle serve receive (RCV) duties witht he Libero. These players play all the way around.  

Setters are like the Quarterbacks in American Football or the midfielder that can put a perfect pass on the striker's foot to score a goal.  They set the attackers 95% of the time.  If they are bad, your team struggles.  If they are good, your team may do well.  If they are elite, your team will win a lot of matches.  

Steve is Awesome!

Steve has done a great job putting additional information out there for us all to learn from and I'm happy he is here to help us all.  Thanks Steve!

From my orders page, I am missing something or are the grades the wrong way around ?

Would have thought Chapelle (D) would have a better grading than Solomon (C)

S

Dallas Solomon

Fr

0

C

6

-

7

5

5

5

S

Matthieu Chapelle

Fr

0

D

8

-

9

9

9

9

Solomon is an F on your team page. Maybe a glitch and you should play him against us 

Dr. White: This should match better now.  Some pages use "grade" while other pages use "effective_grade" which takes into account FIT for example.

The issue here though is my end of season code doesn't seem to update the effective_grade very well for new recruits.

I did a manual update.

Please review and reply to see if this resolved it.

I'm sure Steve's comments are not "mind games or gamesmanship" or anything...

:-)

mushy peas are not a deiiacy, ask Pekin!

Pekin's just lucky the Mount Sterling Mint Sauce play in a different league!

Soup-er!

Soloman showing as grade F on orders page now , whatever you did worked Al.

Thanks

So just wondering what happens with recruiting? Do I have to do it again each session? How do I know if I was successful in the recruiting from the previous session?

Thanks

Matthew: Please review this thread for more on how recruiting works.  The video link should answer many questions but please ask more if  you have them.

https://www.olmec.org/tmvl/forum_topic.php?topic_id=69

Umm, I've watched it but I think I'm still not 100% sure about what is meant to happen with the two sessions.

I have to bid again on the players I originally did in the first session and then bid on players in the second session?

Thanks

Umm, I've watched it but I think I'm still not 100% sure about what is meant to happen with the two sessions.

I have to bid again on the players I originally did in the first session and then bid on players in the second session?

Thanks

Think of it as buying access to an auction.  You have to show interest in a player at Step 2 to be able to recruit them.  Otherwise in Step 3 you cannot bid to recruit them.  

If you show interest in both steps 1 and 2 for the same player, then it is cheaper than if you only show interest in step 2.  (But there are reasons why you might jump in at Step 2)

So as an example for hot topic Micahael Brink, there were 11 coaches who had shown an interest in Step 1, now currently 6 who are going to visit him.  If the process stopped now only those 6 would be able to bid to recruit him.  You could join the party for 100 RP.  But Step 1 and 2 combined would have only been 50RP.    

You have shown interest in Miles Wade, it will cost you another 20RP to visit him and get to the bidding step 3.  For me (Cincy) it is 80 RP.

James is spot on.

Also don't pay for too many players in steps 1 and 2 each session as that will deplete your RP very quickly.

Thank you both for that. Makes a little more sense now 

Hi everyone,

Is there a simple description of what the letters in the after games stats mean? I can work out some of them (K=Kills) but most of the rest is beyond me.

K=Kills

E=Errors

TA=Total Attempts

SA=Service Aces (point from off the serve)

SE=Service Errors (lost a point from off the serve)

SP=not sure, think it has something to do with the Scottish Premiership

3=not sure, probably nothing to do basketball three pointers

RT=not sure, probably not re-tweets

RE=Reception error

Dig=Digs (preventing the ball from hitting the ground)

BE=Block error

BA=Block assist (multiple players make a successful block)

BS=Block solo (only one player makes a successful block)

Pts=I believe this is the number of points scored by a player

Thanks John. 

Roger: Most of the abbreviations (not all, but most like on the teams page or the standard match report) have "tool tips" where if you place your mouse pointer over the abbreviation and do not move it for a couple of seconds the description will appear.

So if I go here...

https://www.olmec.org/tmvl/teams.php?teamid=12&type=landing

And hover over "sp" I'll see "Sets Played"

Or "rt" I'll see "Average Serve Receive Rating. 0-3 scale.  3 is the best"

Then for more, click the Support link at the top of the page

Then click on Stat Definitions at the bottom right.  I did not write that one but it should be very reflective of what we're doing in TMVL.  

Many thanks both, that's really helpful. I'll try and make sense of what all of that means from a tactical point of view now. :)

John - Scottish Premiership reference would certainly explain why there are two teams dominating everything...

Grest read this topicmfrom knowledgable chaps. 

I have just re-read whole thing and the penny may be about to drop what I am doing. Or supposed to be doing.

I need a pound to drop, never mind a penny (eyes rolling of course)

Excellent thread, learned a couple of things I think I learned last season and had already forgotten!  

A question regarding recruiting again. 

I bidded on Alex Emery with 1500 but missed out because the higher bidder had 1007 to my 1006. This isn't sour grapes at missing out, more a learn for next ime.

So I'm currently a little confused as to how I missed out.

Thanks

You may have wished to bid 1500, but you only had 1006 RP.   Unfortunately going into negative RPs is not allowed.  Your bid was therefore reduced to the maximum available.

Ah ok, thanks for that. I've learnt something ?

So after a season of putting orders in I have suddenly realsed that there iis an option for "Servng for MB" at the bottom of the orders box.

Just wonderng what that means/how it works.

Thanks

Your Libero can serve for one of your Middle blockers. 

For most points the libero is on court in the back row substituted for the middle blocker that is rotated there.

However, for serving, a middle blocker can have the libero serve for him. The other middle blocker will always serve and stay on court until you lose the point.

Back row players only serve or defend (apart from a back row OH or RS who can attack or a Setter who sets).

If your libero is a better server and defender than your weaker middle blocker then you should select him. If he's better at one and worse at the other then it's a judgement call.

Ah ok, thanks for that, appreciate it 

glad i read Steve´s last note as I had up till now only been considering the server aspect and had completed not realised the defender aspect. I will now be going back to check my orders!

If I have 17 players this season, do I need to acquire 4 through recruiting this season, or can I get 2 through competitive recruiting and the free walk-on and go back to 16?  I assume Yes, but never assume anything!

James is very subtly reminding us how good his recruiting class was last season.

You assume correctly James.

It was not meant as a humble brag -  honest!!  

Thanks Steve!

However if you do go back to 16 you'll need to recruit 5 when the 5 Freshmen you have leave after their senior year.

(Posted in correct thread this time)

In regards to recruiting, if I'm the only team that is signing a player (stage 3). Is there a minimum amount of rp to spend?

Thanks

Yes, Matt, and it will show that amount on the stage 3 part next to the player.

Ah yes. I even looked at that but still didn't think that was it. Oops 

Thank you