The Drafty Meeting Room - Opinions of the FPL Draft Game

[Talkie Toaster]

So the game has been launched, the rules have been published, MoSe has read them and a few of us have dipped our toes in the game with a test draft or two.

The game is still in its embryonic stages, but I thought it was worth starting a thread for everyone to sing the game's praises, vent their frustrations and generally share what they think of it.

What are your first impressions?
Things you'd like to see changed/added/removed.
Comparisons with other draft games.
Is no trading between managers a massive disappointment?
Potential for FISO sidegames/competitions/a divisional league?

Please try to keep posts specific to the fpl draft game though, rather than just a general I like/don't like draft games.

[Mav3rick]

I do like it, as a way to play a small league among friends. It will be much more intense and personal than FPL, but ultimately I'd rather have a top 10k global FPL rank.

Very different games with very different purposes, I think public draft leagues won't work, I just don't see the appeal. And with such small numbers, money leagues will be plentiful but require trust.

Maybe that is the best way for FISO to be involved, the small leagues of members, who will discuss their league and provide 'bantz' as necessary in the league thread. I doubt I'll care much about someone else's draft, but side games could really elevate the experience, particularly divisionals with promotion and relegation.

Divisional competitions and also a repository of money leagues for those so inclined, FISO could massively work with draft FPL in that sense.

[DAREEL]

So the game has been launched, the rules have been published, MoSe has read them and a few of us have dipped our toes in the game with a test draft or two.

The game is still in its embryonic stages, but I thought it was worth starting a thread for everyone to sing the game's praises, vent their frustrations and generally share what they think of it.

What are your first impressions?
Things you'd like to see changed/added/removed.
Comparisons with other draft games.
Is no trading between managers a massive disappointment?
Potential for FISO sidegames/competitions/a divisional league?

Please try to keep posts specific to the fpl draft game though, rather than just a general I like/don't like draft games.

I think the game looks great. Very easy to use and fun.
No trading between managers is better as it stops daft dealings ruining the game " Oh I can't win now so I'll give my mate kane for gray"
I've not done a draft but I've been working on my watch list in prep .

I don't think I'd play with no money involved. Glad tacalabela is running his league as it will attract serious players. Leagues like this all depend on how good the players are. I certainly wouldn't bother playing against my mates

[Talkie Toaster]

I've enjoyed my first experiences with this game.
The draft was fairly intuitive, easy to get into and everything went pretty smoothly really.

Some of the rules could have been written better. In particular the rules around transactions - Waivers and Free-Agency, could do with more detail as what they have at the moment is rather open to misinterpretation. It doesn't help that the preview article for the game on the fpl site (and still there), describes completely different rules for transactions.

My personal wish-list for changes to what I've seen so far would be:

1. A Player Status filter on the transactions screen. Wading through pages of unavailable players is already tedious and I haven't even needed to start trying to find anyone yet.
2. On the Draft Screen for the Current Pick/Next Pick/Timer Window to be fixed in place so it doesn't disappear off the screen when you scroll through the player lists or down to the chat box.
3. To be able to set up a Draft Watchlist in the hub and then export that to your various leagues, rather than having to start a new one from scratch every time.
4. For the Administrator of a private league to be able to trigger the generation of the draft order as soon as the league is full, rather than having to wait until the draft starts.
5. A toggle button on the team lists on the right hand side of the Draft Screen so you could switch between the squad view (What it currently shows) and Draft View - Each team's draft picks in rounds 1 -15 (Like what you see from Mav3rik's Draft Summary Tool).

As for differences between how this game looks like it's going to work and how other draft games work, my view is give it a chance. I think draft games have become structured the way they are because that's the way US sports work. Maybe the fpl have taken the view that we can do some things a bit different and it might make a better game.

[Ardrageen]

3. To be able to set up a Draft Watchlist in the hub and then export that to your various leagues, rather than having to start a new one from scratch every time.

This is really annoying me too.

[bspittles]

I think short leagues (say, six gameweeks) with promotion, relegation and regular new drafts would be excellent. Certianly stop people at the bottom of a league getting bored!

[MoSe]

you mean, Draft Divisionals?

there's no evidence you can set a Draft League END date
Of course, you can use it just to manage the draft, register the score for 6 gameweeks, and then forsake it.

BUT

>Can I leave a league?
It is only possible to leave a league before the draft has taken place.
Once the draft has been run, your team is locked in the league for the remainder of the season.

>Can I delete a league?
A league can be deleted up until the first Gameweek deadline.
Once the season has started for that league, it will run until the end of the season.

so, once you let a league start its first GW, then one of your mere 10 Draft League slots will be burned for the season

besides, you can't choose GW start, although it looks like you can use the trick of setting a later Draft Date.

Draft date
The private league administrator will select a date for the draft to take place.
...
If the draft runs past the next Gameweek deadline, then the league will simply start the following Gameweek.

Draft pushback
If the minimum number has not been met at the time of the draft, the draft date will be pushed back 48 hours. This will continue until the minimum number has been met.
Should this time move beyond the first deadline, the game will start properly at the next deadline (assuming that the draft is completed).

Deleting / Leaving a league
The private league administrator may delete a league before scoring starts.
Players are able to leave a league up until the draft starts.

I have tested creating a dummy league, setting draft date to Sep 2nd
it says
Draft Date: Sat 2nd Sep 2017
Draft Time: 13:00
Draft Time Zone: Europe/Rome
Starting Gameweek: 1

and the countdown says 9 days, that is it "thinks" 2nd Sep is 2nd Aug...
if I set it to Aug 26th it says 2 days.... <sigh>

[DAREEL]

I think short leagues (say, six gameweeks) with promotion, relegation and regular new drafts would be excellent. Certianly stop people at the bottom of a league getting bored!

This is why I joined the cash league. So serious players stick with it

[wahine]

and the computer is thinking... who is this idiot that wants to start playing the game after its already started.
This is just not logical

[MoSe]

I think short leagues (say, six gameweeks) with promotion, relegation and regular new drafts would be excellent. Certianly stop people at the bottom of a league getting bored!

This is why I joined the cash league. So serious players stick with it

I avoid joining a cash league, despite money not being a problem, because I'd lose interest should I fall early out of prizes reach, while I'd be happy fighting for 6th place till the end, just for fun and "glory" if no money involved

[MoSe]

Curious:

Would you draft Injured players?
E.g. Hazard is expected to be back for gw4

would you avoid drafting him, and risk a rival higher in the waiver order brings him in before you when he gets back?
Or would you pick him, and play with 14 players till he gets back, with the risk his return gets pushed back or he's slow to pick up form again?

[wahine]

i was pondering Hazard myself, what if you never had a chance to get him in your team and he comes back in in gameweek 4 and has his usual great season,
I think with the league being 8 - 10 players you have plenty of talent right through your bench to cover him for three weeks so I recon you need to be in from the start with premium injured players, of course if you can rank him further down , you just need to figure out who you would like more - if eveyone left him alone the worst ranked player would get first chance to waiver him in - its all about timing.

[asm_fanz]

The draft room looks good to me, the only thing I'll add is sound to warn you it's your turn or when you have 10 secs left to act.
edit: it would be great if you could do mock drafts too, I only did a 2 man draft yesterday with a friend to see how it looks but a draft with 6 to 10 teams is a whole different thing.

2. On the Draft Screen for the Current Pick/Next Pick/Timer Window to be fixed in place so it doesn't disappear off the screen when you scroll through the player lists or down to the chat box.

I think they might have fixed it, I did a draft yesterday and the "Current Pick/Next Pick/Timer Window" was going down as I was scrolling down the players list and the chat box.

No trading between managers is better as it stops daft dealings ruining the game " Oh I can't win now so I'll give my mate kane for gray"

I strongly disagree with that! I've been playing fantasy baseball for a few years now and trades are half the fun in this game. What they do to counter what you suggest is that any member of a league can vote against a trade if they find it unfair, if there's a majority of votes against a trade then it's cancelled.

Curious:

Would you draft Injured players?
E.g. Hazard is expected to be back for gw4

Absolutely. It depends on the player and the length of the injury of course but Hazard will likely be one of the top scorers in the game and should be drafted. I'd probably draft him even if he was out for the first 10 GWs. You have a bench (and likely a much better one than on regular FPL) and you should use it

[DAREEL]

The draft room looks good to me, the only thing I'll add is sound to warn you it's your turn or when you have 10 secs left to act.
edit: it would be great if you could do mock drafts too, I only did a 2 man draft yesterday with a friend to see how it looks but a draft with 6 to 10 teams is a whole different thing.

2. On the Draft Screen for the Current Pick/Next Pick/Timer Window to be fixed in place so it doesn't disappear off the screen when you scroll through the player lists or down to the chat box.

I think they might have fixed it, I did a draft yesterday and the "Current Pick/Next Pick/Timer Window" was going down as I was scrolling down the players list and the chat box.

No trading between managers is better as it stops daft dealings ruining the game " Oh I can't win now so I'll give my mate kane for gray"

I strongly disagree with that! I've been playing fantasy baseball for a few years now and trades are half the fun in this game. What they do to counter what you suggest is that any member of a league can vote against a trade if they find it unfair, if there's a majority of votes against a trade then it's cancelled.

Curious:

Would you draft Injured players?
E.g. Hazard is expected to be back for gw4

Absolutely. It depends on the player and the length of the injury of course but Hazard will likely be one of the top scorers in the game and should be drafted. I'd probably draft him even if he was out for the first 10 GWs. You have a bench (and likely a much better one than on regular FPL) and you should use it

I would vote against anyone above me getting what I thought was a better player. So not sure that would work as others would surely do the same no?

[asm_fanz]

Well every trade is unfair to some extent (i.e. is Sanchez for Hazard or Milner for Valencia fair?) Normally you wouldn't vote against such trades, they are probably made because both managers think they will gain from them. These "vetoes" are made for trades like the one you mentionned.
I've never had any problems with those really and I've managed a fantasy baseball league for 3 years now

[Tacalabala]

How many players do peeps have on their watchlist at the moment? I've got 49, is that too thin? I'd like to think that beyond the big hitters and ever-presents, I'd be able to think on my feet towards the latter picks.

[Mav3rick]

I'm spending a little time on the watchlist in excel now. I guess it's more important in the deeper categories, and I'm also thinking about what happens in late Vs early draft order, when all the top strikers seem to go in the first 5 picks.

Are you best off taking your 1st and 2nd pick (which will be in close succession) on the best mid and then the best striker you're left with?

[Tacalabala]

I'm spending a little time on the watchlist in excel now. I guess it's more important in the deeper categories, and I'm also thinking about what happens in late Vs early draft order, when all the top strikers seem to go in the first 5 picks.

Are you best off taking your 1st and 2nd pick (which will be in close succession) on the best mid and then the best striker you're left with?

Yeah, I'd be surprised if people aren't putting Alexis and Alli ahead of most forwards as well, their output is just as good.

[robot]

I'm spending a little time on the watchlist in excel now. I guess it's more important in the deeper categories, and I'm also thinking about what happens in late Vs early draft order, when all the top strikers seem to go in the first 5 picks.

Are you best off taking your 1st and 2nd pick (which will be in close succession) on the best mid and then the best striker you're left with?

Yeah, I'd be surprised if people aren't putting Alexis and Alli ahead of most forwards as well, their output is just as good.

It isn't as simple as ali/ sanchez verses most forwards as a comparison though is it?

It could be ali plus 24th best forward verses say 10th best forward and a mediocre midfielder if you go all out up front first.

[Tacalabala]

I'm spending a little time on the watchlist in excel now. I guess it's more important in the deeper categories, and I'm also thinking about what happens in late Vs early draft order, when all the top strikers seem to go in the first 5 picks.

Are you best off taking your 1st and 2nd pick (which will be in close succession) on the best mid and then the best striker you're left with?

Yeah, I'd be surprised if people aren't putting Alexis and Alli ahead of most forwards as well, their output is just as good.

It isn't as simple as ali/ sanchez verses most forwards as a comparison though is it?

It could be ali plus 24th best forward verses say 10th best forward and a mediocre midfielder if you go all out up front first.

That's the judgement call you're going to have to make during the draft though, someone makes a bad pick and you hope you're next? I do get what you are saying though, you certainly need two top 10 strikers if you can possibly manage it in the first two rounds of draft, the third man I think you can afford maybe to sacrifice to bring up your mids in draft, and then hope to trade up with a Vardy ala two years ago when he came out of nowhere to storm it? But also, do you just skip the middle man and go for a Vardy type pick in draft?? Of course, if you get Jesus or Lukaku you're probably going to look to getting Ageuro or Rashford to handcuff that club in your front three.

[Talkie Toaster]

How many players do peeps have on their watchlist at the moment? I've got 49, is that too thin? I'd like to think that beyond the big hitters and ever-presents, I'd be able to think on my feet towards the latter picks.

I went with 120 for my last test draft (24 F, 40 M, 40 D, 16G), enough to fully cover an 8 team league. Although, admittedly, I didn't put a massive amount of effort into it.

I think when it comes to the later rounds there's more divergence between my choices and the fpl draft rankings, so without a complete list you end up having to search around the player lists a lot more to see which of the players you're interested in are still available. Not ideal when under time pressure.

My list held up pretty well in the end even though we finished up with 9 teams in the draft.

[dino1980]

If anyone checks their score(s) today they'll see a little pop up from the FPL saying that we'll be able to view our teams from today and leagues will be updated by Wednesday. They also claim future GWs will be processed immediately.

[Talkie Toaster]

If anyone checks their score(s) today they'll see a little pop up from the FPL saying that we'll be able to view our teams from today and leagues will be updated by Wednesday. They also claim future GWs will be processed immediately.

Fingers crossed eh.
You seem to be able to click on other peoples teams as well now in the league tab, but when I tried it just hung for ages.

This last week's been a bit of a shambles really with drafts crashing because they couldn't handle the volume, no visibility of transactions in waivers or free-agency and then the leagues not updating over the weekend. Hopefully they get it all sorted before people start losing interest.

[ROCKFISHDG]

Slow progress:

+ You can now see other teams in your league from the "League" tab!

+ You can now switch from your own team to team (if you have more than one) without having to leave the draft site & then return.

- Still no auto subs from the weekend, so no final scores & GW rankings

[Matty B]

when searching for players to make transactions it would be great to filter out those already in peoples teams and just see those available

[MoSe]

when searching for players to make transactions it would be great to filter out those already in peoples teams and just see those available

Yeah, we noticed
Someone suggested to put all them available in your WL, there's then a button to filter WL

[mad dog]

So still no points showing?? Or am I being blind?

[Tacalabala]

Nothing yet, a bit frustrating now

[MoSe]

It's gonna be a long F5 wednesday....

[MoSe]

Now I see my score updated with expected autosubs, under my country flag
Points/Rankings
Gameweek Points:55
Overall Points:55
And the league standings are updated too with the correct scores

EXCEPT
in the Points pitch wiew I still see the pre-subs score at the top of the page, and autosubs are NOT displayed as they use to do in FPL
e.g. I still have Trippier on GW1 pitch and Keane on my bench...