The Balrog Bridge

Questioning life's moments.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Ashjau's OFM Guide Part 4

Alright, number 4 and 5. And 5 is very important for those of you who need help in getting players you want using the Scout (Only available for season ticket holders). Also, if you like the guides, I would really appreciate it if you atleast leave a comment :D Thanks.




4: Training Camps, and Secret Training.



If there is one thing I need to tell you about training camps, it's this. Training Camps, increase your chances of winning tremendously.....IF your tactics don't suck compared to your opponent's. I have beaten so many people at their homes while also used training camps against me. That is enough reason to believe that training camps do not give you a 100% guarantee. However, like OFM suggests, it is always better to go on secret training first before going on a training camp, so that your opponent doesn't really have a chance of countering your tactics after spying. Please don't waste these, and also, try using training camps in the cup matches.

Secret trainings on the other hand, can be used to....mess with your opponent's mind. Well, he doesn't know that you're going on a training camp or not, and most of all, nobody knows what your tactics REALLY are. And believe me, that's a huge advantage. My only advice: You secret trainings where you feel it is seriously needed. Otherwise, don't waste them.

Free Users get 2 training camps and 2 secret trainings.
Season ticket holders get 4 training camps and 4 secret trainings.
Premium season ticket holders get 4 training camps and 6 secret trainings.

Use them wisely.


5: Finance and Transfers


Finance.....one of the most important aspects of OFM. And why? Because you need cash, to pay for all your expenses, and to buy better players. So, how exactly do you get enough cash?

First of all, sell those players you don't need in your team. Remember, the computer doesn't buy players on the transfer list if their value is usually above 10 million. (in my experience). Therefore, it is best if you sell your useless players for their original price, without any profits.

And then there's sponsors. In getting sponsors, if you're already at your goal or higher, you usually get better deals. Also, remember to get sponsors offering more money, say 300,000...even if the duration is for just one week. It's better than getting 100,000 for a duration of 3 weeks right?

Oh, and now comes the commercial manager. Take notice that this is ONLY for season ticket holders. So you can send this guy out to get more cash for your team. However, the amount of cash he is able to get, depends on where you stand in the league standings. Imagine you're at your goal, or higher. Then you can actually get very good deals. However, if you're lower than your goal...then don't expect too much. As for how much he can bring in, I have seen amounts from around 8 million to 14.
Oh, and getting this cash doesn't come with it's downsides. If you accept the cash from him, your goal might be raised. Imagine your goal was previously 4th. And one day, you check after getting some cash from the commercial manager, it's magically now 3rd. That's the price you pay for getting that extra cash. In other cases however, you are supposed to pay interest for a duration. So that adds up to your weekly expenses plus staff wages. Oh, make sure you don't make a loss.

So, what happens when you are in debt? Your players start leaving automatically. The computers will just buy them out of nowhere until you are no longer in debt. So make sure that doesn't happen. That's because I have seen a guy's midfield being reduced to just 4 players because he was in debt ;D




Next Stop: My very awesome, Scouting Guide


Remember, this is only available to for season ticket holders. So, how exactly do you get that specific player you want, out of all those similar players? There is a very easy way to do this. Just make sure you have some way to calculate prices. So, in order to do this, I am going to bring in Cesc Fabregas to my team which is Inter Milan. (I already brought the guy btw)

So, when you want to calculate the prices, and check for players yourself, you need to go to Overview -> Leagues -> Available leagues. From there, choose the league where the player you want plays, and click it. Now, this will show you a list of teams. And in my case, I clicked England, and then I clicked Arsenal.




So check out the stats on Fabregas. And sorry if the size it a bit too small. So it says that he's 23, all his stats are at 97, and his price stands at 20,481,250.

You should know that all players, when brought using the scout, is around double the price. So, the price I'm estimating for Fabregas is 40,962,500. However, this would probably be lower, but still, always assume double of the original price. But then there's a problem.

Nasri, is also 23, everything is above 90, but his value is 14,062,750. So, there is a high possibility that your scout will bring you Nasri instead of Fabregas. So what do you do? Calculate Nasri's prices too. Double his price means it would be at 28,125,500. Now, go to scout.

Here is the screenshot:


So, I after selecting England, I select the age as "Between 20 and 24 years" since Cesc is 23. Then, I set the minimum price at 30,000,000. Why? Because otherwise, Nasri might be the one arriving at my team. He double price was 28,125,500. I just make that into 30,000,000, eliminating ANY chances of him arriving. And then, I set the maximum price at 40,962,500. That's double the value of Cesc's real price. Then, there's the usual. Select Midfielder as the position, and set everything at above 90. Click search.


So, the next week, go to scout, and it would say "Go to transfer list" or something similar haha. You click that, and there you go. Fabregas is on the list, ready to be bought. And you do.

I'm hoping this gives you a general idea of how scouting should be done. Any questions, ask in the comments section :D

Thanks for reading. And next stop, Advanced Tactics.

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Ashjau's OFM Guide Part 3

3: Training Players, Player Levels, Fatigue and Morale


This section mainly focuses on how to make to maintain your squad well enough to face opponents, and to improve the abilities of some players. So, I will divide it into two sections.




a: Training and Player Levels


Training players is probably one of the most important things you need to do in OFM. Young players, will, and need to improve. And that will contribute to the actual quality of your whole squad over time.


However, a big mistake some managers tend to commit is, selling their better older players. Let's take Xavi for example, in Barcelona. Yes, you can get a hefty price for him if you sell, maybe around 40 million? His stats stand at 98-98-98, and thats very impressive by all means. However, imagine you sell him, and the rest of the old players, so that your squad consists of young, trainable players.

You, will be in trouble when you play against better opponents. You will also find it hard to train the better youngsters because they should always be included in the line-up playing better opponents. That means reduced time for training, and you should realize that you won't get a +3 in training every single time.

However, from my experience, players train if they are 28 and below. 29 and above, they won't train. So, the best thing you can do, is set out a plan, and train your players accordingly.

Also, upgrading your stadium's training facilities are a great help in being able to get your players to train faster. However, this options is only available for ticket holders.


b: Squad Fatigue and Morale


Seeing too many players with high fatigue and very low morale? Well, yeah, that's a problem, even if your team's total value equals to 500 million and more. Because a team with high morale and lower fatigue, can easily beat you. So, how do you ensure your squad is fit enough?

1: Rotate players. Don't make the same starting 11 play over and over again. Increases their fatigue, and reduces the morale of players who never make it to the starting 11.

2: Hire the Physiotherapist, Psychiatrist, and the Fitness Trainer. They will keep your squad motivated and fit enough. You'll see the difference between when you hire them, and when you don't. However, I think it's a tough decision for free users when hiring staff, but for ticket holders, there's nothing to worry about.

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Thursday, September 23, 2010

Ashjau's OFM Guide Part 2

This is an extract from the guide I posted on the DEPL message on facebook. However, it is now easier for everybody to access since I am posting it on my blog.


Oh number 6 should be Advanced Tactics, not Tactics since that is number 2. Okay, onto

2: Tactics

There are two categories available in the tactics menu, which are

a: The Style of Play

and

b: Overall Match Tactics


a: The Style of Play

Basically, another name for this is how aggressively you decide to play the game. There are 4 types you can choose from.

Fair: You don't play aggressively at all. Fatigue will be lower, chances of bookings and suspensions go almost to none, and players are highly unlikely to get injured.

Normal: This is very balanced. You don't play too aggressively or too softly either. Of course, fatigue will occur, there are some chances of bookings and suspensions, but the likeliness of players getting injured is low.

Hard: This is an aggressive style of play. Very commonly used, and I have been using this all my time on OFM. Fatigue will occur more than the Normal Style, high chance of getting booked and suspended, and high chance of players getting injured as well. Also, the duration of suspensions and injuries will be higher with this style.

Extreme: The most aggressive style of play available. In my experience, I have used it only a very few exceptional times, mostly for tactical reasons. Fatigue will be VERY high, use it for 2 matches, a lot of players will be already on yellow status. Bookings and suspensions are guaranteed, and the chances of injuries are also very VERY high. The duration of suspensions and injuries will be very long, mind that.


b: Overall Match Tactics


Long Ball: This is a very defensive type of tactic, where you will be supplying to the forwards all the time. In dhivehi, this is what you would call bodu boalha if I am not mistaken.

Passing Game: This is usually an offensive tactic, and can be deployed defensively as well. But it depends on which formation you use it with. A match winner.

Play Wide: An offensive tactic. Possible the most offensive along with passing game in my opinion. Can be used by teams with better squads with offensive formations.

Counterattack: I don't think that a detailed explanation should be given here. This is probably the most defensive formation there is. Pushing from the back while the opponents had a failed attempt at goal. Turn it into an opportunity, and score. Works well with defensive formations.

Shoot on site: Another more defensive formation. However, it can also be made offensive with more midfielders than forwards since everybody would be trying to have a shot on goal. Works well with defensive formations AND offensive formations as well. However, keep in mind that advanced tactics play a big role.

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Ashjau's OFM Guide

This is an extract from the guide I posted on the DEPL message on facebook. However, it is now easier for everybody to access since I am posting it on my blog.


A New Manager's guide to success on DEPL
By: Ashjau (DEPL Moderator)


Since a lot of people have been asking me for help since the beginning of the league, and since most people are new, I decided to write a little guide to help all of you out. I will be covering the following aspects of OFM and give you some tips from my experience from the last league.

1: Formation
2: Tactics
3: Training Players, Player Levels, Fatigue and Morale
4: Training Camps and Secret Training
5: Finance and Transfers
6: Tactics
7: OFM Tactics
8: Season Tickets
9: Staff
10: DEPL, Disciplinary Committee, Suggestions




1: Formation Guide:

There are currently 12 types of formations available for managers to use, and every formation may have a varied types, like A or B. Every formation differs from one another, and you can use any formation you choose fit for that particular match up. I will go through each formation one by one. Please do remember though that these are my personal opinions, and your views on these formations might differ.

a: 3-2-5

3-2-5 is basically a very offensive formation, for teams with forwards who are on average better than their midfielders. In other situations, you may find yourself with a midfield of lower rated players than another team with a very good midfield. In this case, if you need to just supply the ball to the forward line, and keep on attacking instead of moving the ball around in the midfield, this formation can be very useful. You can use it well with the long ball tactic in most cases.

b: 3-3-4

3-3-4 is also a very offensive formation. It is very similar to the 3-2-5 in one sense, but adds an extra player into the middle, and so reduces the number of players on the front lines. The same situation can apply to 3-3-4 like how it applied to 3-2-5. However, be warned that these formations can be easily broken with players who have good midfielders. In that case, you would have to depend on your tactics and advanced tactics as well.

c: 3-5-2

3-5-2 is a very effective defensive formation. Very similar to the 4-5-1 formation, but instead of 4 defenders, you have 3 and 2 forwards. 3-5-2 can also be employed very effectively as an offensive formation. The tactics you would want to apply to this formation depends on you, but last league, I have used this tactic about 2 times against Real Madrid, used by Abu who had a way better team than mine. I won all encounters with nice scores. However, note that it's not just the formation which played an important role here, but your tactics and advanced tactics do a lot. A good manager can easily break the most defensive formations.

d: 4-2-4

Very similar to 3-2-5, however, you have more defenders here. I have seen this formation employed by Sajeeu in the last league, and he has used it quite effectively against some teams with the long ball tactic. However, again, your advanced tactics and the tactics of your opponent also plays a big role in the deciding factor.

e: 4-3-3

Possibly the most offensive formation among all the available ones. Usually, the best teams can have good results by using this one. I highly recommend them to use it. However, for teams who are weaker, don't use this one against big teams if you are unsure about tactics which can 100% beat the opponent. In most cases, big teams can beat teams using 4-3-3 who are weaker pretty easily. However, if you are using it against a team on the same level as you, its a pretty good formation to use, and with the passing game or play wide tactics, you have a pretty good chance of winning.

f: 4-4-2

To me, 4-4-2 is the most balanced formation, where there is a good amount of defenders, midfielders and forwards. You can probably use almost all tactics with this formation because there is a good balance here. However, tactics should vary with opponents since you never know what their advanced tactics would be like. Very good to use against teams who are too defensive, like the 4-5-1 formation. Again, that is only if you know what you are doing. I recommend trying this formation for offensive, defensive and balanced situations.

g: 4-5-1

I have to talk more about this formation since a lot of people use it. Is it a defensive formation? Yes, it is, but I think that it is more of an offensive formation than a defensive one because there are 5 midfielders ready to attack. Can be used with several tactics, and can have very good results. Last league, I barely used it since I never did really play defensively, but this league, I have used it once, in the match against Manchester United. It was an easy win of 6-1. However, do note that even Samih used the 4-5-1 in the match against me, so it does actually depend on your advanced tactics if you are going to win. Works very well against formations which are too offensive like the 4-3-3 or 4-2-4 since your midfield would dominate. However, there are many managers who know how to counter the 4-5-1 with 4-3-3 tactic, and by all means it is not that hard if you have a good squad. Works best if you have good midfielders, and if you decide to play defensively. Many have asked me how to break a 4-5-1 tactic. I won't tell you :P

h: 5-2-3

I have never really used this formation before. However, it comes to me as more of a defensive formation rather than one very offensive. However, I think it can work very well if you are planning on counter-attacking or long balls, since most of what you are doing would be defending and trying to send the ball to your forwards. Suggested for weaker teams. However, of all the times I have seen managers use this formation with bad tactics, they have suffered terrible defeats. So use it wisely at the best moment.

i: 5-3-2

Read up on my 5-2-3 formation. This is just another version where, you basically have added more midfielders. However, I have to note that this is one of the most defensive formations in OFM at your disposal. You can use it very effectively against teams you have no hope of winning against. However, I would recommend 3-5-2 or 4-5-1 as better defensive formations. Where you have no hope though, try with good tactics, you can actually pull off pretty good upsets.

j: 5-4-1

A way better formation than 5-3-2, and can work as well as the 4-5-1 in my experience. I have seen people successfully use this against the most offensive formations. Also, this is amongst the best defensive formations on OFM I have farby seen. However, again, you should only use it with the best tactics. Then you can use it in the best way possible. Also, trying this one against people who play too defensively also sometimes work very well.

k: 6-3-1

All I have to say is, when you run out of ideas, have lost all hope, and fear your opponent to the extent you're gonna wet yourself and have nightmares, then you use this. Officially THE most defensive formation there is while 4-3-3 is the most offensive one.

l: 3-4-3

I forgot about this formation, should have been "c" but nevermind that. I think this is the most offensive formation after 4-3-3. However, in return for losing one defender, you add in a midfielder. Can be used effectively with the same tactic you use with 4-3-3, but with some changes to the advanced tactics if you want. Can be used against defensive tactics just like 4-3-3, but you still will find it hard to beat people who are playing way too defensively. But not that it is impossible, it is very much possible.

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Thursday, September 9, 2010

Response to Passion Magazine: Why Men Cheat.




Heard of the magazine? Its some new lifestyle magazine which was released VERY recently. And there was an article which supposedly would find reasons why men cheat on women. I found that article to be pure bullshit. And for good reason too.


First of all, I had the feeling that the writer was not writing, but ranting. Ranting about men, to the extent that if I were an alien species reading it, I would think that men are evil demonic creatures bent on using women for their own evil needs. However, this is not surprising. Why? Because a lot of female writers who write about such issues, or even ones who write on their blogs about their own experiences are just ranting. There is absolutely no serious thinking done, but instead, its more of something like "I hate all men. They lie and cheat....(several rants later) and this is why men cheat".


One thing I know for sure is, those women or girls are epic failures. Why? Because they couldn't recognize that for relationships to be successful, success comes from both sides, and if that dual success does exist, most men wouldn't cheat. Let's move on to some of the reasons I can think for this, easy but sometimes confusing question.


I just bought a Pentium 3 computer. I love this computer. It has everything I wanted. Of course, there are others around, but I would stick with this one. However, a couple of weeks later, I felt that, this computer has slowed down, or IS slowing down. It doesn't fuction as it used to when I first bought it. But still, usage is good. Then, I tried out this new Core i7 back at a friend's house. It was awesome. Way better than the old Pentium 3. So, why exactly am I still using the Pentium 3? I could have been satisfied if it was consistent, but it's not, and I would now prefer the better Core i7. -takes out bat, smashes the Pentium 3 into smithereens, and buys a new Core i7-

You see where I am heading with that little story? There are several things to be noted here. First of all, people, men, women...aliens....they all do get bored. But that doesn't mean that the boredom should always stay. There is prevention, and there is even a cure. However, when a woman fails to recognize this and thinks everything is fine, or, that the man can never possibly go for another person, she should really slap herself and think again. Why? Because she is getting dumped, all too soon, and I will be there, silently laughing to myself while taking down notes.


Well, that's something which can come ordinarily. However, lets move on to the other, more confusing aspects. Some men, I have noticed are a bit primitive, like cavemen. They want to mate more females, and it gives them some sort of....male dominance vibe or whatever you might call it. Yes, all men do have a sense of pride, but in some, this pride, is just too high. And here is when the problem arises. Most of the time, the idiots who go with these sort of men, will be used, manipulated, and what not, and the very idiotic girls will NEVER even know until it is too late. But then, they will be crying or whatever asking themselves "Why did mister X cheat?"

-slap- He was cheating on you the day you found out his name.


Another reason I can come up with is, the problem you would find in women themselves. Being annoying, and a huge burden on a partner, WILL lead men to cheat. So in a way, women are sometimes the big cause, but by all means, they never know this and try to blame it on some unknown cause which would stay unknown until Earth gets hit by a huge meteorite and wipes out the human race. Relationships need compromise, but why can't some women totally get that? Change yourselves for the sake of something even better. But noooo. We are too perfect for that, says this very dumb female human test subject. But seriously, when a man or boy or whatever finds that the women they originally liked have started to annoy or frustrate them, there comes a big reason for them to cheat. Cheating rids of them of this frustration, something more like, a cleansing phase. Believe it or not, this does happen, and you most probably know it too.


So in the end, there ARE reasons, and there are reasons for these reasons as well. People just don't cheat. A man might not go on with Megan Fox even if he had the chance if he's more than happy with his current wife or girlfriend, no matter how much better Megan Fox might look. So, instead of ranting your ass off about how you got hurt or whatever, try to find reasons.

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New layout.

Just managed to find myself a good enough layout, although it took away my banner. Ah well, atleast the name of the blog appears, unlike some other....layouts available on the web. Anyways, I have some interesting stuff coming up today.

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Saturday, September 4, 2010

"I Don't Know Why"


Today I stumbled upon this text on some very random website I found while searching for inspirational quotes. I usually don't really like pasting texts I find randomly, but this one, I thought was made very special by whoever the writer was, and it has a LOT of messages that can be made use of in life. Enjoy!


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10th grade

As I sat there in English class, I stared at the girl next to me. She was my so called "best friend". I stared at her long, silky hair, and wished she was mine. But she didn't notice me like that, and I knew it. After class, she walked up to me and asked me for the notes she had missed the day before and handed them to her. She said "thanks" and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I wanted to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.

11th grade
The phone rang. On the other end, it was her. She was in tears, mumbling on and on about how her love had broke her heart. She asked me to come over because she didn't want to be alone, so I did. As I sat next to her on the sofa, I stared at her soft eyes, wishing she was mine. After 2 hours, one Drew Barrymore movie, and three bags of chips, she decided to go to sleep. She looked at me, said "thanks" and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I want to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.

Senior year
The day before prom she walked to my locker. My date is sick" she said; he's not going to go well, I didn't have a date, and in 7th grade, we made a promise that if neither of us had dates, we would go together just as "best friends". So we did. Prom night, after everything was over, I was standing at her front door step. I stared at her as she smiled at me and stared at me with her crystal eyes. I want her to be mine, but she isn't think of me like that, and I know it. Then she said "I had the best time, thanks!" and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I want to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.

Graduation Day
A day passed, then a week, then a month. Before I could blink, it was graduation day. I watched as her perfect body floated like an angel up on stage to get her diploma. I wanted her to be mine, but she didn't notice me like that, and I knew it. Before everyone went home, she came to me in her smock and hat, and cried as I hugged her. Then she lifted her head from my shoulder and said, "you're my best friend, thanks" and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I want to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.

A Few Years Later
Now I sit in the pews of the church. That girl is getting married now. I watched her say "I do" and drive off to her new life, married to another man. I wanted her to be mine, but she didn't see me like that, and I knew it. But before she drove away, she came to me and said "you came!". She said "thanks" and kissed me on the cheek. I want to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.

Funeral
Years passed, I looked down at the coffin of a girl who used to be my "best friend". At the service, they read a diary entry she had wrote in her high school years. This is what it read: I stare at him wishing he was mine, but he doesn't notice me like that, and I know it. I want to tell him, I want him to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love him but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why. I wish he would tell me he loved me! `I wish I did too...` I thought to my self, and I cried.

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