After careful consideration of what has occurred here in this forum, including the effort put in by managers like Wagner and Demars etc, and all those who have conversed here, as well also appreciating the challenges of creating a HG League using the Pick-Up tokens system, I have decided to create a Private League for 100% HG teams to compete in while the PickUp version continues to be worked on.
Both kinds of leagues (PickUp and Private) can run parallel to one another. This has some great benefits:
Those who are Supporters and 100% HG can compete in the Private League (link will be found here soon to the forum) and not worry about the issues a PickUp system creates. Eg. Setting of games, results etc etc.
A Private League will also allow the greater HG community to see (via the newly created forum) the results and interest HG leagues and teams are generating. This helps the PickUp HG League too as those managers who do not have supporter, can still compete with their HG team in the system being formed in this forum.
In fact, HG teams who have supporter, could perhaps compete in both the PickUp and Private Leagues.
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EDIT: See bolded text: PL to start at beginning of next season.
If I may give my opinion on this, after stating the obvious: this is not an attack in any form, even if it would sound like it as my opinions seem to differ on some parts. Opinions here should be taken with the understanding of me having high appreciation towards you - I see you as a smart and considerate person based on forum and BB mail messages, and I'm sure practically we all appreciate the major contribution you've given (and luckily will likely keep giving) to the HG community.
Having said that, I'd like to share some opposing views especially in terms of running parallel leagues.
FWIW: I do not have any means to try to prevent anyone from playing a homegrown private league.
However, I want to mention couple of things, why I consider this counterproductive and actually harmful for both leagues especially in long term.
So I quite strongly think this actually is a negative thing to run parallel leagues, as then it mixes up things even more. The "competition" on which one is the "real"/"true/"better" homegrown league starts eventually, and it divides attention to 2 different leagues, in terms of mental attention and in practical participation to the league(s) - I don't see all teams wanting to participate in 2 leagues.
It's like running 2 different "champions league" (or actually regular season) type of competitions parallel - it takes away from both leagues. Having a HG private league is something one could've had starting from season 1, and it's nothing to do with what I've planned here and what this conversation to begin with has been about (at least on my part). It was the whole point initially to make 1 league, and 1 league only that does never require you to have been purchased anything in order to be able to participate.
I know we do not have experience about possible challenges of organizing PU matches, but I suppose it shouldn't be a huge hassle as we discussed earlier, as long as teams are willing to do the work required (setting up PU matches) couple of times per season (plus playoffs time).
Also, given that the HG community isn't huge, it is less realistic to be able to run 2 different, but same kind of leagues parallel from year to year. And as many people are comfort seeking personalities, PL in that sense is easier that you don't have to do anything, and therefore having "a side/parallel HG private league" running simultaneously would be very bad for the
actual BBHG league (in my eyes) in the long run. Also, the commitment to the leagues, and meaning of the results/games would be less if more than 1 such leagues would be run simultaneously. (While not perfect example, think NBA - what's the meaning of one regular season match when you play 82 of them)?