How the simulator works

Okay, I'm not too far away from this being ready to test on something properly (CPL Rugby perhaps, but probably something that requires less drafting first), so I thought I'd let you all know how it worked. I think the best way to start off would be just explaining, properly, what each player on the field actually does, so I'll go through all the positions one by one.

I'm doing this to get feedback and ideas, so don't be afraid to post in here in reply to each position as I post it.

 

Fullback

Unlike every other rugby league game/simulator I've ever seen, the fullback gets heavily involved in attack. This is something I put special effort into it as it's easy to just leave the fullback out.

Attacking Role

• Kick returns
• Dummy-half running
• Supporting forwards on the inside waiting for offloads
• Chiming into the backline (75% of full backline movements will contain the fullback)
• Chasing in-goal grubbers
• Possible general-play kicking option
  

Defensive Role

• Second line of defence if breaks are made
• Fielding in-goal grubbers
• Fielding long kicks

 

Wing (Right, Left)

Attacking Role

• Returning long kicks
• Dummy-half running
• Finishing off backline movements
• Contesting bombs
  

Defensive Role

• Defending on the the very edge of the field
• Contesting opposition bombs
• Fielding long kicks

 

I doubt mine will be released to the public at any point though so I'm sure yours will be a hit if you do that.

 

Centre (Right, Left)

Attacking Role

• Dummy-half running
• Running off the fullback or halves in backline movements
• Setting up the winger in backline movements

Defensive Role

• Defending one in from the wing

 

Halfback (Right, Left)

Splitting the halves into left and right seems like an incredibly un-Cribbage-like thing to do, I know, but the way the game was coded made it ridiculously easy to do it this way, and it tends to happen a lot in the NRL these days regardless.

It is worth noting, though, that there are several advantages to having one dominant, organising half and one more creative and/or potent half, regardless of which side of the field you put them on. The structure of the team will work a lot better in general if the halves compliment each other, so you essentially still have to pick a halfback and a five-eighth.

Attacking Role

• Throwing passes to fringe-running second rowers
• Throwing inside passes to tight-running props
• First receiver in backline movements
• Second receiver in backline movements
• General-play kicking option

Defensive Role

• Defending two in from the wing, between a centre and a second rower

 

Yeah, one of the key attributes for centres is defensive positioning.

 

Nah, intercepts will not be in the first "release" of the sim. Too complicated ATM. They'll be in there eventually though.

 

Hooker

Attacking Role

• Dummy half running
• Throwing passes to the halves from dummy half
• Throwing passes to tight-running props from dummy half
• Possible General-play kicking option

Defensive Role

• Defending two across from the ruck
• Along with the lock, the most important and busy defender in the team

 

You'll name a left half and a right half. The sim will determine which one is more of an organiser and which one is more of a creative and/or running player based on their attributes. So for example if you named Kimmorley at #6 and Roberts at #7, that'd just mean Kimmorley played right side and Roberts left - Kimmorley would still do the majority of the organising and Roberts would be used to create and run for the mostpart.

It'd be a good idea to put the creative one on the side with the better attacking centre.

 

Yeah, exactly. If that meant something like naming them

6. M Monaghan
7. Campese

Then you'd still do it, as the sim would only infer that meant Campese was playing left. Monaghan would still be the primary organiser and Campese would still be the primary creator.

It's just a kink in the way you name the teams, basically. There's still halfback and five-eighth - the sim just decides for you who they are based on the player stats.

Yeah, that's kind of what I was planning.

 

Indeed, which is the tactical side of deciding which side to name players on. You'd have to be one step ahead of your opposition.