Jump to content
Sports Interactive Community

*OFFICIAL* CMS Challenge #2 -2004: The Lord of the Rings CMS Challenge by HD

Raptor

By Raptor,
in FM Stories

Recommended Posts

Raptor

Raptor

Posted
  • Author
Posted

After an 11-8 victory in the second round, HD's entry is our new Official Challenge.

Phase 1 – The Shire

This is the initial stage of the Challenge. Choose any team from the top division in England or Scotland and stay there for two seasons enjoying good times.

Phase 2 – The Road to Rivendell

The decision to leave the Shire is a surprising one, and must be made during your third or fourth season (any time after the season update at the end of season 2) at the club from Phase 1. The road to Rivendell is fraught with danger, and is not a journey you ever planned to take. In game terms this involves dropping down at least two divisions to a poor team (flexible on this, basically not a “big†side that’s been relegated since the game started, a rich side, or a team looking in a good position to be promoted.)

Complete Phase 2 by reaching “Rivendell†– the top division - with this team.

Phase 3 – Rivendell

Rivendell is a peaceful place. This phase is similar to Phase 1 and requires only two complete relegation-free seasons in the top flight. The timeframe for moving at the end is the same as for Phase 1.

Phase 4 – The Fellowship of the Ring

Eventually you must leave Rivendell and proceed towards Mordor. Find a job at a club in a European league (France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Norway, Portugal or Sweden) at no higher than the Third Tier of football. (e.g. Second Division in Sweden, Serie C1 in Italy, National in France) (and for bonus lambas points preferably lower!) Lead this club to the top flight, the Fellowship must then split.

At this stage you, the challenger have a choice to make – will you follow the path of Frodo and Sam and make your way to Mordor, or go with Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli to face the challenges of Helm’s Deep and Minas Tirith?

Phase 5a – Frodo & Sam

This part of the challenge relates to our noble hobbits’ journey from the time they leave the Fellowship behind to the time they reach the long stair to Shelob’s lair. Without their guides Frodo and Sam become disoriented – you too will feel this as you move to a league you have never managed in before (or if you’re sad enough to have tried them all, one you’ve not used much). This can be any league, you can set it up at the start, though my instinct is to suggest an Eastern European league. Do ensure you go in no higher than the second tier. Your first task is to create your “Gollum†– do this by repeatedly fining a player until he hates you. This player must be selected in every match, barring injury and suspension. Phase 5a is complete when you again reach the top flight in your new country.

Phase 5b – Legolas, Aragorn & Gimli

The equivalent journey for our three friends takes them from the shores of the river to their arrival at Helm’s Deep. The key elements involve tracking an enemy, reviving a friend, beating a retreat. Take a club in England or Scotland (whichever you DIDN’T use in Phase 1) who have a rival in a higher division. Firstly achieve promotion to their division and secondly reach the top flight before them (or if they are a top flight club, finish above them in the top flight). This completes Phase 5b

Phase 6a – Shelob

Having reached the top flight you encounter a nasty challenge – survival. Stay up and you complete Phase 6a, go down and Shelob has killed you. You should sell or release your “Gollum†at the start of this Phase.

Phase 6b – Helm’s Deep

This is not the toughest challenge you will face, but still the odds are against you. Given the nature of the division, and the story of Helm’s Deep any players signed after the end of Phase 5b cannot be used until the final ten games of the next season. Complete the Phase by surviving, if this is your first season up, or finishing with more points than in your best season in the top flight to date if not.

Phase 7a – Crossing Mordor

Despite gaining some familiarity with your new surroundings, there are still dangers and challenges to face. Complete Phase 7a by qualifying for Europe with your team. If you do this easily it is clear you prefer the movie version of LOTR to the books.

Phase 7b – The Paths of the Dead

You now face a tough path, you must leave your current team, but remain in the country, dropping to the lowest league division (Third Division in either country) and persuade the “dead†to play. In other words you can only use current squad members or players acquired on free transfers. To qualify as “dead†the player must not have played a competitive game in the preceding season. These restrictions apply until you rejoin the Riders of Rohan and meet up with the people of Gondor at Minas Tirith – the top division!

Phase 8a – Mount Doom

This is the hardest part of your challenge, you must win the UEFA Champions League (or UEFA Cup if you’re a pussy), but first you must resign your “Gollumâ€, whatever the cost. This need not be immediate, but your European triumph will only count if he has played every competitive game in that season, barring injury and suspension. If he is injured or suspended for the final it doesn’t count.

Phase 8b – Minas Tirith

Signing restrictions are off and your simple challenge is to win a European trophy with the club you are at, preferably the Champions League.

Phase 9 – The Scourging of the Shire

Whether you followed path a or b you must now return to the Shire. If your team from Phase 1 has fallen out of the top flight you can return there, else take control of another “big†team which is no longer in the top division and complete the challenge by winning a domestic title. For a definition of “big†use common sense, or consult myself at the relevant time.

Notes

Minimum number of divisions needed is 8 when attempting the “Frodo†challenge (e.g. 3x Scotland, 3x France, 2x Poland) or 10 for “Aragorn†(eg 4x England, 3x Scotland, 3x France.) Obviously you will want to take your own specs into account when deciding on additional leagues/divisions and database size.

What would be really cool would be 2 people doing this as a net game, one as Aragorn, one as Frodo. This would require a minimum of 12 divisions (eg 4x Scotland, 3x England, 3x France, 2x Poland.)

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • Replies 186
  • Created
  • Last Reply
Raptor

Raptor

Posted
Posted

After an 11-8 victory in the second round, HD's entry is our new Official Challenge.

Phase 1 – The Shire

This is the initial stage of the Challenge. Choose any team from the top division in England or Scotland and stay there for two seasons enjoying good times.

Phase 2 – The Road to Rivendell

The decision to leave the Shire is a surprising one, and must be made during your third or fourth season (any time after the season update at the end of season 2) at the club from Phase 1. The road to Rivendell is fraught with danger, and is not a journey you ever planned to take. In game terms this involves dropping down at least two divisions to a poor team (flexible on this, basically not a “big†side that’s been relegated since the game started, a rich side, or a team looking in a good position to be promoted.)

Complete Phase 2 by reaching “Rivendell†– the top division - with this team.

Phase 3 – Rivendell

Rivendell is a peaceful place. This phase is similar to Phase 1 and requires only two complete relegation-free seasons in the top flight. The timeframe for moving at the end is the same as for Phase 1.

Phase 4 – The Fellowship of the Ring

Eventually you must leave Rivendell and proceed towards Mordor. Find a job at a club in a European league (France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Norway, Portugal or Sweden) at no higher than the Third Tier of football. (e.g. Second Division in Sweden, Serie C1 in Italy, National in France) (and for bonus lambas points preferably lower!) Lead this club to the top flight, the Fellowship must then split.

At this stage you, the challenger have a choice to make – will you follow the path of Frodo and Sam and make your way to Mordor, or go with Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli to face the challenges of Helm’s Deep and Minas Tirith?

Phase 5a – Frodo & Sam

This part of the challenge relates to our noble hobbits’ journey from the time they leave the Fellowship behind to the time they reach the long stair to Shelob’s lair. Without their guides Frodo and Sam become disoriented – you too will feel this as you move to a league you have never managed in before (or if you’re sad enough to have tried them all, one you’ve not used much). This can be any league, you can set it up at the start, though my instinct is to suggest an Eastern European league. Do ensure you go in no higher than the second tier. Your first task is to create your “Gollum†– do this by repeatedly fining a player until he hates you. This player must be selected in every match, barring injury and suspension. Phase 5a is complete when you again reach the top flight in your new country.

Phase 5b – Legolas, Aragorn & Gimli

The equivalent journey for our three friends takes them from the shores of the river to their arrival at Helm’s Deep. The key elements involve tracking an enemy, reviving a friend, beating a retreat. Take a club in England or Scotland (whichever you DIDN’T use in Phase 1) who have a rival in a higher division. Firstly achieve promotion to their division and secondly reach the top flight before them (or if they are a top flight club, finish above them in the top flight). This completes Phase 5b

Phase 6a – Shelob

Having reached the top flight you encounter a nasty challenge – survival. Stay up and you complete Phase 6a, go down and Shelob has killed you. You should sell or release your “Gollum†at the start of this Phase.

Phase 6b – Helm’s Deep

This is not the toughest challenge you will face, but still the odds are against you. Given the nature of the division, and the story of Helm’s Deep any players signed after the end of Phase 5b cannot be used until the final ten games of the next season. Complete the Phase by surviving, if this is your first season up, or finishing with more points than in your best season in the top flight to date if not.

Phase 7a – Crossing Mordor

Despite gaining some familiarity with your new surroundings, there are still dangers and challenges to face. Complete Phase 7a by qualifying for Europe with your team. If you do this easily it is clear you prefer the movie version of LOTR to the books.

Phase 7b – The Paths of the Dead

You now face a tough path, you must leave your current team, but remain in the country, dropping to the lowest league division (Third Division in either country) and persuade the “dead†to play. In other words you can only use current squad members or players acquired on free transfers. To qualify as “dead†the player must not have played a competitive game in the preceding season. These restrictions apply until you rejoin the Riders of Rohan and meet up with the people of Gondor at Minas Tirith – the top division!

Phase 8a – Mount Doom

This is the hardest part of your challenge, you must win the UEFA Champions League (or UEFA Cup if you’re a pussy), but first you must resign your “Gollumâ€, whatever the cost. This need not be immediate, but your European triumph will only count if he has played every competitive game in that season, barring injury and suspension. If he is injured or suspended for the final it doesn’t count.

Phase 8b – Minas Tirith

Signing restrictions are off and your simple challenge is to win a European trophy with the club you are at, preferably the Champions League.

Phase 9 – The Scourging of the Shire

Whether you followed path a or b you must now return to the Shire. If your team from Phase 1 has fallen out of the top flight you can return there, else take control of another “big†team which is no longer in the top division and complete the challenge by winning a domestic title. For a definition of “big†use common sense, or consult myself at the relevant time.

Notes

Minimum number of divisions needed is 8 when attempting the “Frodo†challenge (e.g. 3x Scotland, 3x France, 2x Poland) or 10 for “Aragorn†(eg 4x England, 3x Scotland, 3x France.) Obviously you will want to take your own specs into account when deciding on additional leagues/divisions and database size.

What would be really cool would be 2 people doing this as a net game, one as Aragorn, one as Frodo. This would require a minimum of 12 divisions (eg 4x Scotland, 3x England, 3x France, 2x Poland.)

Link to post
Share on other sites
Oxslow

Oxslow

Posted
Posted

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Phase 6b – Helm’s Deep

This is not the toughest challenge you will face, but still the odds are against you. Given the nature of the division, and the story of Helm’s Deep any players signed after the end of Phase 5b cannot be used until the final ten games of the next season. Complete the Phase by surviving, if this is your first season up, or finishing with more points than in your best season in the top flight to date if not.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Is that the last 10 league games or all compotions?

Link to post
Share on other sites
HD

HD

Posted
Posted

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Oxslow:

Is that the last 10 league games or all compotions?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

League. icon_smile.gif

Link to post
Share on other sites
HD

HD

Posted
Posted

thanks. just to make things easy for me, I'd appreciate it if all new challenge efforts were posted here in bold with a link to the first page. It's easy enough to find them now, but when the board gets busy if i'm not on for a day or two it's easier to find new ones if they're clearly flagged. Cheers. icon_smile.gif

Link to post
Share on other sites
HD

HD

Posted
Posted

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by glamdring:

Well, I reckon I'll definitely give it a go, but when it comes to Tolkeinesque works of literature I am much more a reader than a writer so my story will have to be a lot more simple than Faramir's excellent start icon_smile.gif<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well the good thing is that you're still writing about a football game. I suspect the attempts will fall largely into 2 categories, Tolkienesque efforts and football-type efforts, though of course I don't rule out potential wild-card entries!

Link to post
Share on other sites
glamdring

glamdring

Posted
Posted

I'll make it LoTR based hopefully in terms of characters, just not a lot of background stuff - I'll sit back and enjoy other people's efforts there.

To be honest, I got so carried away initially reading the challenge and considering all the interesting avenues I temporarily forgot it was a story challenge icon_biggrin.gif

Link to post
Share on other sites
Faramir

Faramir

Posted
Posted

glamdring- Thanks for the kind words. Don't worry though- my story will be rooted in reality (sort of, eventually icon_wink.gif )- but this time around it takes some framing for the storyline...

Thanks again Iain for thinking this one up- no matter how it turns out, it is superb concept and I will enjoy my go at it (which generally helps make writing the story easier...)

Link to post
Share on other sites
phnompenhandy

phnompenhandy

Posted
Posted

Guys, i'm totally blown away by your supersonic starts and your talented writing.

I haven't read the epic in 20 years altho I saw the films of course - but my memory isn't fresh enough to make Tolkeinesque allusions or get into the 'world'. i'm also in a CMO clan, so I'll be toddling along waaaay behind.

Link to post
Share on other sites
Raptor

Raptor

Posted
  • Author
Posted

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by andyinkat:

Guys, i'm totally blown away by your supersonic starts and your talented writing.

I haven't read the epic in 20 years altho I saw the films of course - but my memory isn't fresh enough to make Tolkeinesque allusions or get into the 'world'. i'm also in a CMO clan, so I'll be toddling along waaaay behind.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

A Llama, a CMOer, and a CMSer, well done, part of the three bestest communities on the CM Scene icon14.gif

Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest Rivaldinho

Guest Rivaldinho

Posted
Posted

I haven't read any of the LOTR books or watched any of the movies, so I basically know absolutely nothing about it. I might give this a try anyway, as at least the first stage seems easy enough for me. icon_biggrin.gif

BTW, I have challenge planned, but since I don't visit this forum that frequently, I missed the chance to enter the competition. I will very likely not be here in August or December (mandatory military service is evil! icon_mad.gif), so I'll probably just post it as an un-official challenge at some point in case anybody wants to try it. Where would be the appropriate place to do that?

Link to post
Share on other sites
HD

HD

Posted
Posted

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by glamdring:

Are there any rules on international management - i.e. whether we are allowed to manage random international teams who offer us the job?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

You can do what you like internationally, it doesn't count towards the challenge, but it doesn't detract from it either.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...