Suggestion : 2 managers for 1 team

[olmania]

The idea is simple and short : allowing 2 persons/managers to have one shared team if they want to play that way

In short :
Having a frame that allows 2 persons/managers to share one team (different IP). That means these 2 have to communicate a lot for their team building, race registrations, form planning, etc. It means they can both connect to their account everyday, do a race “together” or one after the other (even the one day races).
The idea is to offer a solution for managers with low availability to have a big/competitive team.
Because RSF racing is about 50h-60h/month, at fixed times; and that can refrain plenty of (new) players. Theoretically dividing by 2 the amount of required time to have a competitive team and lots of fun could attract more managers.
I understand it is a totally different approach of what we are used to with RSF; but that would be nothing mandatory; and would not imply any change for the managers who are happy with their own team as of now.

Why ?

- Lack of time for playing c4f

That’s the main reason the idea came to my mind. It’s a personal experience during the past months, but also an observation of participation and activity of managers in races I take part.

First, personal thing, really not a general thing, even if I can imagine that many others can relate :
I have less time to play, depending on the season, the week and the IRL things happening here. So some months, I play just 20times/month; often I can’t inscribe in a tour cause I’d rely on sitters too much; often I can’t play cause none of the offered starting times fit to my schedule, etc. But it’s a bit frustrating, cause I feel that to enjoy this game fully, I need to play almost everyday. Some might disagree with it, I understand. But there’s kind of a fact that the most competitive teams; and the most involved managers are the ones playing almost everyday; and the game is alive and strong thanks to them !
Last personal thing : I enjoy very much being here and focused for my race, that means from 10’ before the start, til the end of the sprint. I dislike being off most of the race, just clicking refresh and be here 5’ at the end (important point cause that might influence my vision of what comes after ofc !). I try to avoid playing like that, and sometimes I just don’t race when I feel that I’d be doing that thing of being mostly off.

Observation of races / other managers behaviors :
Some managers seem to play like I described just before : a quick refresh from time to time and not really here. Hard to know why as they are often the ones who don’t communicate in game in chat.
Many other managers are often late, missing some parts due to IRL things happening when they play. They often mention it, apologize for it and feel sorry for that. They often say they wish the time was different, or that they did not miss a key part of the race.
It could be because : the offered time is not so good for them, they have an unexpected thing happening at that moment, or because they prefer to take the risk to not be fully around (even if that might badly influence the race (of others too), and even their result), instead of not riding : that implies another key thing I might talk about later : the importance of the cashflow in the game.

My interpretation : some managers would happily skip a race day on RSF because they can’t truly be around; only if they know that someone else is riding the race (easy cash f.e) with their team. For some managers, sharing a team would mean their % of online time in race would be much higher, even if they race less (other part is done by their co manager).


- Keeping/increasing the number of managers – f.e the ones with only a little time to play the game :

Many managers often say they struggle to find time to play the game, fully. Some probably leave the game because racing 10-15times/month makes it very very long to reach objectives and build a competitive team for the long term (as buying youth is often preferred than using the market once you reach a certain tax level; but that’s another topic/issue !). I’d guess that many managers would prefer to share a team with someone and enjoy playing with a competitive team, even if it’s only 10 times a month.
But I agree that most of the current managers, who have time, or who are attached to play alone and do everything on their own; would not like the idea and not change a thing; even if that’s means that some months they play less and their cash flow and their teambuilding for the long term is affected.
I guess we would not see the number of active teams drop (or only very temporarily) and it could even increase on the long term the number of active managers that way, with new managers staying longer in the game, and being tied not only to a team, but also to another manager they share the team with !

Also, it could keep some managers (like I f.e) to keep playing, on a daily basis, but with a shared team. Instead of doing a long break, or slowly letting the team rot.

- Increasing the participation rate in big races / Grands Tours

That starts again with a personal thing : I often lack time to race GT and long tours; also sometimes long races (>2h), that are often cat4+ races. It’s quite frustrating.
I’d be super happy to ride them, even if I ride only half of the stages/classics myself.
I believe that having managers sharing a team would increase participation in big races; and also quality of the tours and important one day races with less offline teams. Tours are often really demanded, but it’s also often frustrating because the offered times can’t make everyone happy. Until we have enough teams to have 2-3more times for each tour, again two managers sharing a team would be more likely to be available for a full tour than one manager solo.

- Implementing a new fun feature – a new way to play the game

Sharing a team and all involved things coming with it would be totally new. It would require communication, build bonds between managers or attract groups of friends playing with one’s and other. It’s a way to bring something new to the game without changing the existing core of the game (and code).
Again, it might not be attractive at all for most current experienced managers; but could be interesting/attractive for new ones and the ones who lack time and find a good alternative in that offer !

Optional (and I did not think about it a lot yer) : we could even imagine something like a “transfer window” that could allow managers to change the share team they have. So one year I share a team with “A”, then the 2 years after I share a team with “B”, then I change again if I want to or need to (B not available anymore, etc.).

- Allowing having more than one team ? (optional – to be discussed)

This could be controversial, but what about allowing the players with plenty of time to ride a lot of RSF to have 1,5 teams ? I mean, one team on their own, normal. And one shared team with someone else. This would probably increase the number of active teams. It’s been something that’s been asked several times in the past, to avoid multi or just by passionate players who have loads of time for RSF !

It would mean that the two teams the manager is involved in can’t be taking part in the same race/field.
Also, in case the shared team is between two players having their own teams on the side, it would mean the managers with their own teams cant ride in the same field. With this, it would push these managers who have lots of time to pair with managers who have less time. Cause it could be not super interesting for two managers with their own team to share one : they’d need to ride at 3 different times/field every day.



How ?

Transparency :

The two managers need to be declared and known by all.
FPC or another entity could give allowance to such teams with 2 managers, and control it when necessary.

Not a multi in races :

As mentioned earlier :
- if one of the 2 manager has a solo team too, he can’t race with the shared team in the same field
- if both managers who share a team also have a solo team, all the 3 teams have to race in separate fields

Not a multi in transfers :

- No transfers between any team of the managers sharing a team are allowed.

In order to “create” a shared team, several options :
- both managers already have a solo team : they can either create a new shared one from scratch or choose one of their solo teams. The solo teams not used anymore could be “frozen” for indefinite period (until one decide to use it again) : rules have to be decided about that, I did not think of it in details yet
- only one manager have a solo team : both can decide to use the team as the shared team (case of an old manager inviting a new player to join him); or start from scratch
- two new managers arrive together in game or are in touch though inscription/forum/else : they start one from scratch. This might be a bit difficult for totally new players, but why not !

“Shared team means shared” :

introduce % minimum of race time done by one of the two teams : per month ? Per 3 months ? Else ?
Different % for short time and long time ?
f.e : 80/20 gap per month max (holidays / busy times for one manager and not the other, etc.); then it means it’s quite flexible on a short period. And 70/30 or 60/40 for a 6months/12months period ? Less flexible on the long run, balance has to be found by the 2 managers.

Money penalty + warning when not respected ? % of tax for each % over the limit ? When over the limit several months in a row : extra penalty ?
To be discussed and determined.

Optional : making the offline rules more strict.

As it’s something frequently asked recently. Having the opportunity to share a team should be aiming to also reduce the offliners practices; because an option is available for the ones who are not often around. Making the offline rules more strict would make even more sense imo.


Aparté :

As the game is quite “blocked” in terms of development, upgrades and/or improvements or new features; that proposition allows a new feature / tool to increase the number of regular players without changing the core of the code. One of the things that would need to be touched is the access of the accounts, multi tracking system and probably the statistics with points per team/managers.

Also, as one of the key thing is the importance of making cash : to develop the team and then keep the team strong. Riding every day increase the cashflow of a team. As it does not seem to be something that will change anytime soon; at least, if 2 managers share a team, they have better chances to ride almost everyday and have an interesting cashflow for their team building.

Risks ?

Yes probably ! And I can’t imagine them all at the moment of course.
It could create new unbalanced things. It could be abused by managers of course I guess (I’m sure some will find creative ways for that). It could be counter effective : less teams, less participation then and not offering more times/tours at the end (but I doubt about this theory).

To conclude :
Ideally, this plan could lead to more active teams on the long run, and bring new dimensions in game/team management, without changing lots of things in the game/code. More active teams, would mean more hours of riding offered, which would mean again higher participation in races, and so on. Something has to be done to engage/continue a positive circle of more managers/teams in the game; and this solution could be worth trying, having that as one the aims.

[drei.zehn]

+it can be used as a fine from FPC for teams who needs to find a way to get along.

F.e.:

bergwerk and taka are forced to have a team together and have 3 months to leave div6 otherwise their main team gets banned as long as they manage to do it

[Radunion]

I do not see why anybody should do this. Two small teams are easier to handle than one big. In tours, you can do some extensive sitting if two managers want to cooperate.

[cataracs]

+it can be used as a fine from FPC for teams who needs to find a way to get along.

F.e.:

bergwerk and taka are forced to have a team together and have 3 months to leave div6 otherwise their main team gets banned as long as they manage to do it

Like create a new team and share it with bw? I'm down, pretty sure we'll dominate.

[drei.zehn]

Like create a new team and share it with bw? I'm down, pretty sure we'll dominate.

Its already working

[olmania]

I do not see why anybody should do this. Two small teams are easier to handle than one big. In tours, you can do some extensive sitting if two managers want to cooperate.

I disagree with your opinion.
Of course, as I wrote, many current managers who are happy with the current system won't want to change a thing and see the interest in that suggestion. And that's fine, that suggestion is not something for all current teams. You don't want to change a thing for yours, totally ok.
But about your point

Two small teams are easier to handle than one big

Agree on the management side, if you are the lone manager, you don't need to communicate with someone else. Less management/communication time.
But this suggestion is more about playing time. If two managers divide by 2 their playing time, let's say 15x2h : 30h saved of RSF time (in case they were racing everyday before); then they wont spend 15h in communication/management time with the other manager, probably way less. Also management/communication time can be done any time of the day and night, unlike the playing time that has not many options.

In tours, you can do some extensive sitting if two managers want to cooperate.

I find this abusing if someone gets sitted 50% of the time, especially if by the same other manager.
But riding 50% of time while the comanager rides the other 50% looks totally fine; and much better for everyone (no shared forms or details to other team manager, etc.)
Tours are super attractive to many players. Many teams ride mostly tours. I am convinced that we'd increase the number of players and the quality of tours with co-managing : more teams available for tours without looking for sitters; and more online time of the managers in the tours.

I know it will be hard to get support here, because on forum are active mostly "old managers", kinda happy with the current system and dedicating lots of time to the game. so the possible targets of this suggestions are probably not active in forum (except me and maybe a few others), or even not registered yet (or came back yet) to the game !
But I'd like the current "old managers" like I and many others to considerate the suggestion and imagine that many others don't have the same time for the game and would be happy to play it, differently. same game, same races; just a different approach of the team concept in game with co-managing a team.