They are a user competition that allows you to show you're the GM that can get the best performance out of a selected team. We choose the team then play at home and report our stats here in the Recording thread. The stats are now kept right here at TBL, just click on the 'Challenge Stats' navigational buton in the header!
The top three winners will go into the TBL Hall of Fame among other fabulous cyberprizes and recognitions, including an addition to your forum posts that decalres you as a top-three GM in a Challenge.
For new users, here's a fuller description of what the Challenges are all about then you can check the rest of these Announce threads for how to get involved yourself and learn how to set up your game according to Challenge rules and record your stats.
We decide on a team to take over to rebuild, our last was St. Louis. We all then start games as GM of St. Louis and play a year in EHM according to our Challenge rules; every 20 games we post the stats our St. Louis team has posted for that set of games and pain and/or brag on the Forum about our moves and what's happened with our teams over that set of games.
We then will carry our teams onto a second year so we can sign free agents and see how our deadline deals work out etc. The points for winning a Second Season Challenge also take into account whose team stats have improved most from the stats they put up in the first season. Each Challenge and Year of a Challenge are scored separately. We're hoping to eventually get enough people playing to do a three year set.
The stats are entered into our recording site so everyone playing can see how their team matched up and we havev a points sustem to determine who 'wins' the Challenge. Winners get notices in the profiles and a place in our Hall of Fame.
So the beauty of it is that you don't need anything more than time to play a year's worth in the game in our deadlines which are pretty generous and then access to our Forum to report your stats and tell the tale of your team. They are a lot of fun and a great way to learn because you can follow along with any of the Challenge Chat threads and see what other people have done with their teams. Since everyone is working with the same starting players under the same rules you can also see how you match up.
I took Washington and Montreal to the Stanley Cup in their first Challenge year, we didn't have a second year for Washington but my Montreal team also won the Cup in their second season too Mr Green As you can see from the Hall of Fame link though; I actually missed the top three even with the Cup win in my first season and only took 2nd in the overall Challenge scoring for the second season so the competition is tough!
Here's what we're making everyone do before they can get their Challenge team.
1. Download a recording tool from the Miscelaneous' Downloads Section. We've created these sheets and they will help you make recording easier. The Chart you can print out and fill in. The Spreadsheet will allow you to enter your stats and it will output the information you need to post in the recording thread auto-magically. And they make you more popular with the ladies!
2. Read the instructions page included in the Chart or as the first page of the Spreadsheet (you may have to use the navigation tabs to access it) so you know where to find your stats and how to record/report them. Whichever version you choose, in the instructions there is a paragraph that begins with +>+>+> and ends with a sentance in obnoxious bold type. Send Admin Calv a message telling him you want to be added to the recording for the Challenge and in that PM tell him the last two words of that paragraph that starts with the +>+>+> as your 'password' to enter the Challenge. We just want to know you know how to set up your Challenge game and where to find the stats you need to record.
3. READ EVERY WORD OF EVERY ANNOUNCE THREAD. Now... I know that there's a ton of information about rules and setup and reporting.
It is all very important though and you will be held responsible for all the information posted here. The fourth of the Announce threads includes information for you about the scoring system we'll be using for the Challenges as well as multiple season Challenge instructions.4. At the top of your first Recording Thread post (Games 1-20) You also have to add something like the following: "I've read the rules and setup my team following the instructions and will follow the playing and recording rules."
Adding the above text to your first stat reporting post tells the other Challenge players that you have read and will play by the rules or accept the consequences. Nobody has any excuses and everyone is responsible for their part of the game. Keep in mind the Challenge forum is no-edit so if you record wrong we'll know.
Next read the 'Challenge Setup and Gameplay' thread to get going with your team; that includes the details regarding settings you need to use in EHM for your Challenge Team.
Take it a step at a time and you'll be okay. If you have any questions ask them in the 'Challenge Questions/Feedback' thread.