It’s
been a while since my last post, I’ve had a few problems and issues
over the last couple of months that needed my attention, But
in that time I have managed to get season 2 of the Bonfire Alliance
solo league underway. Back
in May I discussed my ideas and changes I was going to make for the
forthcoming season which were
mainly centred around the way that defensive flicks are implemented.
The
ideas and changes were made because I wanted to decrease (if I could)
the goal tally without decreasing the amount of goal scoring chances,
because like everyone else on planet Subbuteo the more I played, the
better I became, the more goals I was scoring. I
wanted to reduce the goal tally slightly to make the scorelines a little more
realistic. (A 3-3
draw now again looks exciting but not every match).
So I began the Season with a
string of friendlies to get used to the changes but felt that they
were not working as well as I envisaged. So it was back to the drawing
board.
Originally
I was basically using a
limited version of defensive flicks in the ‘68 rules, but instead
of utilising them when the ball entered the defensive half of the
pitch, my defensive blocks started when the ball entered the
defensive shooting area, but I
kept the “Warn shooting rule”, allowing first time shots with no
reaction from the defence. This
rule was in the ‘68 version but I did notice in the ‘69 version
the “Warn shooting rule”, had quietly disappeared. That alone
seems to be the only difference between the 2 sets of rules, apart
from a few word changes that did nothing to make them less ambiguous,
no wonder casual players from my era implemented them in slightly
differing ways. I like
the “Warn shooting rule” but a lot of goals in my games were
coming from this route, and to compensate my defences were becoming
packed I didn’t want this. It was making defences even more static
than they already were. I could possibly see why the rule had been
dropped in ‘69.
New Regime
After scrapping my changes
before they had taken effect, I was struggling and void of meaningful
ideas.
I
was watching Alan
Crampton of Subbuteo Passion on YouTube, and noticed how he
implemented defensive flicks, simple yet effective, every time a team
took a shot their opponents blocked, but that block was not allowed
to obstruct the shooting player from playing the ball, (Alan’s
rules can be found on the Subbuteo Passion Website), I
tried this method, (It was similar
to my discarded “Covering block” I discussed last May but this gave me an entirely different approach, thanks to Alan Crampton). Yes
it worked, but I didn’t
want every shot with a defender in the way, I wanted the ability to
take a shot unopposed under certain circumstances just like the real
game. So started the head scratching once again, and I have to be
careful these days because the old head is more open to the elements
than it once was,
and splinters are more of a risk than they once were. Then
I hit the nail on the head. If that conjures up a picture of me
knocking nails into my skull or a scene from “Hellraiser”, look
away now.
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A Santiago based heavyweight team painted by Paul Pearson. Courtesy of the Subbuteo Asylum Website.
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The Free Hit
Enter
Stage right “The Free Hit”. I was going to call it the Free Flick
but that’s just going to confuse some folk into thinking I mean a
free kick
of some sort, which I don’t, it’s
just a way of allowing the attack to squeeze off an unopposed shot now
and again to stop me knocking nails into my head. It works like this:
If the attack play the ball
into the shooting area they can shoot immediately unopposed providing
that the attacker taking the shot is closer to the ball than the
nearest defender.
If the attack gain possession
inside the shooting area they have one flick before the defence can
block, again allowing a first time shot.
Finally
any set piece inside the area, the attack can play the ball once (not
including the taking of the set piece), before the defence can react,
yet again allowing the
good old first timer.
So
now defensive blocking occurs before a shot on goal providing the
attack is not entitled to a free hit, in theory the defensive flicks
are not limited to how many that can be used, the only limiting
factor is the free hit rule.
There
are one or two caveats to this, the main one being that
the block is not allowed to end up in the 6 yard box, or contact the
goalkeeper, if it does it’s simply returned to it’s original
position in
essence “A back”. This simply stops a tactic of flicking a
defender into the 6 yard box every time a shot is made, or should I
say it stops
me. A blocking flick that contacts an opponent is a foul, and if
contact with the ball is made I treat that as handball, and
9 times out of 10 that will result in a penalty due to the
implementation of only blocking shots and not allowing the
defender to obstruct
the shooting player. So
far its working for me, The average goals per game has dropped from
well over 4 to under
3.5. First time shots
are still available but not as numerous as they once
were. So I’ve kept my
love of first time shots, reduced the goal tally, and
allowed defences to defend a little further forward than last season.
So I’ve achieved what
I set out to do, and a
little more into the bargain.
Penalties
My trusted method of taking
penalties, ball on the spot, penalty taker anywhere on “D” method
has served me well, but it’s getting a bit easy nowadays, I rarely
miss, so I thought I’d make it a little more difficult. So now the
penalty taker starts his run up from the shooting line, I’m now at
about 80% conversion rate again which is to me at least about right.
Just to add a little spice into the mix if a match requires a penalty
shoot out I use the same method but with a smaller ball. That's the
only time my small balls come out, (What kind of picture am I
painting here, if you read that sentence out of context, anyway I
digress), I refuse to practice taking penalties with them to keep it
as random as I can.
For shoot outs I did try
another method. Ball just outside the shooting area, then the
attacker had 3 flicks from there to get the ball into the shooting
area and get a shot away allowing the goalkeeper to be positioned
after each flick. I quickly abandoned the method not because it
didn’t work, but because it didn’t feel right, maybe I’m just
too old school.
Other Changes, and Maybe Some Useful Info?
Considering I have a set of
BBB solo Goalkeepers I’ve decided this season to make use of them,
I use the two in diving pose, they provide a fairly large target to
beat and work quite well as discussed in an earlier post, I still
think they are a little over priced and any modellers amongst us may
and probably would be able to construct something for a lot cheaper.
That apart I have them so I’m utilising them.
I did notice after trawling
the internet for something totally unrelated, a site called “The
Subbuteo Asylum”, they amongst other things offer a few 3D printed
items one of which I found most interesting, If you still play with
the Set N goals they do a pair of plastic bases that allow the old
set N’s to be just slotted in so that the base can be attached to
the playing board (if you’re lucky enough to have one) and the
goals can be just slotted into place, and removed for easy storage
after the final whistle. They also are open to enquiries so maybe if
someone enquires about a similar set for the smaller NN goals they
may consider it you never know.
They also offer hand painted
teams to order with distinct types. First up is Paul Lloyd who paints
Topspins to order as I’m sure most of you are aware, and there’s
a guy Paul Pearson who is painting Santiago and 2K4 figures to order, looking at the examples of both guy’s endeavours on the site they
look extremely well painted. I have a few Topspins painted by Paul
Lloyd and I’m very impressed. Mark Parker from Santiago also offers
this service again very impressed with his efforts as well, but
unfortunately at the time of writing Mark is not offering the painted
service at the moment, So if you’re after Santiago hand painted
items Paul Pearson may be your man, (I've included a picture of his work above). How good his work is I can only
say from looking at the images on the Subbuteo Asylum Website but if
you’re interested get in touch with them. Just to make it clear
though I have no affiliation with any of people or websites mentioned
it’s purely my honest opinion, for what it’s worth.
Keep on Flicking
Ian
Great read Ian. I too use the defensive flick rules from the Advanced 68 rules but as per those rules these are allowed as soon as the ball is in the attacking half and they have had one contact with the ball in the half.
ReplyDeleteThen just a maximum of 3 defensive flicks allowed unless the attack pass the ball backwards, a save is made or loss of possession which would all result in the 3 defensive flicks being replenished. If the 3 are used up then it means you could potentially have a shot on goal with no defender in the way.
I found the Table Football Monthly July 2020 episode really helpful to visually see this explained by Keith. Which is in this link for those that haven't seen it, the Advanced 68 Rules demo starts at the 47:26 mark for those that haven't seen it. https://youtu.be/skZOp60ZVlU
One change I made is defensive flicks couldn't block the attacker getting to the ball they could just be made in front of the ball/to block the potential pass route or shot path.
So far this has been working and my goal games rarely end up with more than 3 goals in them with only the odd game being 4 so far and many 1 or 2. However this might change overtime.
Other rules I have added are all connected around the spare flicking keeper use. If the ball stops in the 6 yard box I have this as change of possession and flicking keeper can play the ball out. Also, been experimenting with if the attack kick the ball into the opposition box but no attacker is over the shooting line then the defence can choose to use their flicking keeper to come out and play a one time flick at the ball. He must be flicked from the 6 yard box. However, unless it hits a player on the defending team or goes out of play then it's still the attacking teams ball and my spare keeper loss of possession comes into play. See below. This all trys to mimic in football when the ball is over hit the keeper might come out to clear the ball 'sweeper' keeper.
My loss of possession rule using the flicking keeper. So instead of the rule I think from either 68 or the 70's handbooks that came with the sets which says if the flicking keeper loses possession then the opposition is allowed 3 flicks before he can be replaced by the keeper on a stick.
The rule I have implemented is if he loses possession then you have to flick him back to 6 yard box. Once he is back into 6 yard box he can be replaced by your 'saving' keeper but only after opposition have had another flick.
Essentially these keeper flicks are alternating to opposition flicks replacing any usual defensive flicks.
Attacking team can shoot from anywhere in opposition half until above is achieved.
This mimics keeper making mistake and being caught out while trying to get back to the goals. Creating those Beckam moments like he did against Wimbledon.
If at anytime the attacking team loose possession the opportunity to shoot from anywhere is over.
These rules with the spare keeper have created some very exciting moments both solo play and when I tried it out in 2 player games with my friend. Been a great disussion on this in the Subbuteo Alive and Flicking Facebook group too.
Love the penalty rule ideas of where the player must start from. I have been using the 5 points along the shooting line rule from the 70s handbook as more of a challenge than from the spot and player next to the ball especially in solo. Really like your idea as will still mimic real football with the ball being on the penalty spot but made challenging as player is coming from a distance so will give this a try.
On the topic of bespoke handpainted teams you those painters yoy mentioned are great I also highly recommend a guy called Alan Porter they are 2K4 and you can either have them on Image 2 or Raptor bases. Loved his teams and customer service so much I now have a collection of 50+ teams from him. Yes I have a problem 😂
Thanks for your detailed comment Phil. It's always a pleasure to read how others adapt or include rules to suit their own brand of solo games. I especially like your adaptions made around the flicking goalkeeper, and I totally concur that it could work within a 2 player game as well as solo, unlike some of the adaptations we make to accommodate our solo play.
ReplyDeleteI too find solo rules work in progress, it becomes a natural progression to our own enjoyment, and that's what it's all about I'm sure you agree.
I've tried numerous methods when a shoot-out is required, and I've still settled on the good old penalty, whether my method would work with the wider flatter bases I have no idea, as I only play with Heavyweights, like all things solo you have to find a method that suits yourself, you have no one else to please but yourself, thus giving you free rein, or the ability to cherry pick other ideas from other players, and even expand on them to suit yourself.
I must admit I have never heard of Alan Porter, so thanks for sharing. Again thank you for taking the time to comment, there are some interesting ideas in there, which may well help others who find themselves void of inspiration.
Many thanks
Ian