Thanks for the report Ian! Amazing one as always, this one looked beautiful especially. Nice to see Mazzarelli fighting so much in a race that he definitely didn't look forward to
Looking forward to The Scope already, and I'm gonna write a blog post once it's released
Not a bad weekend for Fonterra-Genesis I am slightly annoyed that Ronnie ended up behind Schiltz by 21 UCI points
And what's all this buzz about the scope!? Don't think they're the only ones releasing an season review. Speaking of which, get your nominations in before the football match! CXreport Awards nominations in BEFORE THE FOOTBALL GAME!
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
Thanks so much for the kind words!
I've had a lot of fun, and I'm looking forward to season 2. Already have a few new ideas for A Piece of History, too.
Anyway, for those fanatics, such as myself, who are already with their minds at next season: Finishing the season and starting up the season (with sign-ups) will take an estimated 2 weeks. Can't say for sure in advance but I expect to start the new season at around the 4th of May (which would be awesome - star wars day)
What can you do in the mean time?
- Transfers. When sign-ups open, you can propose teams, as well. I will release a list of provisional teams, too, so transfer season will then be officially open. Talk about potential deals with each other here, by pm or in the game thread.
- Season planning. After finishing the season, I will announce the upcoming calendar. You can already plan ahead a bit. Set some goals for your riders, maybe look at what races can be skipped, take a look at the WC course and how your rider can win it.
- Be creative. The cyclo-cross season is over now. Still, the Game Thread shouldn't remain dead for 2 weeks. Be creative and try to post something nice. Maybe your rider has done something on the road? Maybe he's won a MTB race? Maybe he's won Sportsman of the Year in his country?
Congrats on Season 1, real big success! No doubts Season 2 will be even better!
Got a team suggestion ready to go. Got some off-season updates thought up. Looking forwards to having some new blood join, shame i've got dominance on the races
TheManxMissile wrote:
Congrats on Season 1, real big success! No doubts Season 2 will be even better!
Got a team suggestion ready to go. Got some off-season updates thought up. Looking forwards to having some new blood join, shame i've got dominance on the races
US POSTAL!
Anyway really looking forward to sign-ups opening, I've got three new riders planned including Milan Listerijn, and I've planned them out already.
Looking forward to transfers, so far I've got this for my riders:
Lachy, Josiah, Milan: F-G or anywhere else in Oceania
Ronnie: Open for offers
New Riders (if they get in): European/American teams (don't worry TMM it's not actually an American rider )
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
If you are new to this, you can read up on what this all is here. This post officially opens the sign-up window for season 2. Sign-ups will last until Wednesday 29th of April, 18:00 GMT+1 time.
In short: This is a role-playing fantasy game on Cyclo-cross. You create and role-play riders in the professional peloton. Your level of activity and, of course, your personal preference decides your rider's level. Inactivity will weaken your rider, or even force him into retirement. On the other hand, being a regular poster (with quality posts) will get your rider to the very top. It's a system that has worked very well in season 1.
2015 - 2016 Season
We will start season 2 of this game. The game is set in a fantasy world which all the players helped to create. Therefore, it is important you sign-up accordingly. If you enter the game with a young rider, there is no problem. Young riders make the leap to the pros every year. Yet if you want to join the game with an older rider, you will have to account for his absence in season 1. You are free to choose your own rider and his own history, but the history of our fantasy world should be respected.
Players on CX: A New Dawn
During the last weeks of the season, I have asked around a bit, for people's opinions on the game, and also on how time consuming it is. In the spoilers below, you can read their answers:
trekbmc:
Spoiler
When I play it takes me 10-15 minutes for each rider update, maybe 7-8 minutes if I write a short one, it take about 5-10 minutes for tactics and at least 10 minutes of other stuff, but more if you're more active. Although, it's all fun
jandal7:
Spoiler
This game to me is another world, and thats a good thing, you can see everyone in the game as real people, it's so detailed but so simple, depending on how YOU want to play. It's really where the players want to take it, it's not the Man-Game, it's not EPIC. The game, I mean. This is most certainly epic, but nothing like EPIC. Make sense? This is due to quality writing from Ian, which contributed to his award, and us, the players. We shape how it goes. It can be as simple or as in-depth as you want. You can bend the rules of CX with revolutionary tactics, or not send any in and go on autopilot.
The game can take as long as you want, a weekly update or two for the less active players, or most days, and multiple posts for the most active. On race day it usually takes 5 minutes to read the report and then however long you want to role-play.
From my personal experience, I started off with a few pack-fillers and a couple of good riders. Now, just with activity, I've taken two wins, a Continental Championships included, and I'm podiuming two different competitions when my riders weren't even considered to be favorites.
Overall this might only take you half an hour a week, or a few hours, but what you put in is what you get out, all the time is worth it. The world, it's seems real. It's amazing.
Shonak:
Spoiler
Uh, it's awesome and everybody should take part in it. And yes, I'm serious. It's stunningly well written and captures in a great form the competition and tension of cycling with the special allure of Cyclo-Cross. The riders are interesting, though we could lack some more proper riders. I think the world itself is pretty well-crafted and it's a fun playground for one's imagination, in that way it really differs from the ManGame or other cycling story games. The races have an own sort of dynamic to read, and are always a joy. Having a top guy in the bunch is important though if you want to be a regular poster. SN showed for example though that by being a regular poster you can get the results too. It works out pretty fine actually.
About the time: Reading a preview takes roughly 1-2 minutes, reading a race between 5-10 minutes (including re-reading certain paragraphs for interviews later or because they are so fantastically written). Sometimes longer when the report is really long and detailed. Writing something is between 10 to 20 minutes, up to half an hour.
matt17br:
Spoiler
What you are doing is really amazing! That's what i mean by damn serious role playing experience.
When I write a post for Matt, I am Matt, the italian cyclocross rider and not Matt the pcm.daily member, and well, I love it. I'd like to write a post per day to describe how Matt feels before and after every race, but unfortunately i don't have enough time and I follow the game as in-depth as I can nonetheless. And why do I do it? Because I don't feel forced to do it, meaning that I like it! That's what the inactive members should understand, and what you should make them understand: that it is a fun game!
I gotta be fair. Before I joined this game I only superficially knew about cyclocross. After the first few reports, you made me watch the higjloghts of every important race, plus I've been to watch the italian championships LIVE! Guess, it's a compliment, and I swear it's true. Congrats, congrats, and congrats again.
The best part is that is not even time consuming. 10 minutes of average a day are enough to follow it closely and 20 when I write a blog post, but I feel like I need to do it. And that’s not just I have fun, but because you DESERVE it.
Smowz:
Spoiler
What appeals about the game is that you use a database that is unknown and that is more about pure roleplaying.
If you still have some questions about this game, ask below, pm me or take a look at the Game Thread and read some of the reports or some of the stunning role-playing posts.
Sign-Up
Sign-up using the below sign-up sheet. Post your sign-up in this thread. Remember that the Game Thread is for role-playing only!
Name: Nationality (region): Date of Birth: Height: * Weight: * Specialty: ** Weakness: ** Biography:
Stats: [Choose between: very low, low, medium, high, very high]
Bike Handling (technical):
Sand:
Uphill:
Cobblestones:
Sprinting:
Explosiveness:
Flat (TT/riding hard):
Power:
Running:
Snow/Ice:
Jumping:
* optional
** choose an ability as a specialty and an ability as a weakness from the list below. Your specialty/weakness may change in the course of the game.
Young riders may not even know their specialty yet, or may have many weaknesses in the beginning.
Abilities (weaknesses between brackets)
Final round
Fast start (slow start)
Intelligent rider (impulsive rider)
All-rounder
Bad weather specialist (bad weather amateur)
Good weather specialist (sweating dude)
Technical genius (technically behind)
Powerhouse
Other... (come up with one yourself)
During the previous season, some U23 riders have come into the attention, too. You can choose to pick one of these riders to continue with. They are free to be filled in, all that they have done is ride one or two U23 races so far, so you can shape them to your creative image! List of U23 riders you can claim:
Nosek Souçek is an interesting prospect in particular after winning the U23 World Championships last season! I expect sign-ups from jandal7 about Listerijn, TheManxMissile on Markson and Goldenerg, Shonak on Stan Van Overberghe.
Additional Sign-Up
Enter a team in the following format:
Name: Nationality: Budget: Low / Medium / High
Transfers will take place in the next two weeks, approximately. Transfers can be discussed here or through pm.
What Now?
A little help to get you organised. Follow these steps and you can't do wrong! But try to enjoy the game, most of all!
For new players: go through all the steps. For players coming out of season 1, follow steps 4, 6 and 7.
Step 1
Read the opening post (and extra information on the different types of races in the second post) of this thread. Any questions? PM me or ask below. Step 2
If you're interested, sign-up using the above sign-up sheet. Your application will either be accepted (through this forum), denied, or you will be asked to change it a bit. Step 3
When accepted: Welcome to the world of cyclo-cross! You can wait a bit for Step 4, or read up on the past season in the Game Thread. Step 4
This week, the season gets finished off. First with a season overview by a fictional cyclo-cross blog/magazine (The Scope). After that follows a football match report with CX riders from the game, to finish off the season with a bit of fun!
The football match finishes season 1 completely. Moving on to the next step. Step 5
You can (note that this is just a guide, you don't have to do this) introduce your character in the Game Thread. Please read the opening post of the Game Thread carefully, first. Step 6
In the next two weeks, season 2 will slowly start up. The calendar will be revealed, so you can start planning your goals. The transfer season will kick in, so you can enter your rider in a particular team. You can post about your rider's adventures in the off-season in the Game Thread. Step 7
In approximately two weeks, the new season will begin. Thanks for playing, and welcome!
New Prospects for Season 2015 - 2016
Lastly, here are some new features for the upcoming season. Give me your opinion on the first one in particular. Lots of advantages to that, but the only disadvantage could be that a new players in the next season couldn't boast any top 5 in a World Cup from his rider if he wants to sign-up, new. (though there are many other U23 races, but only a small summary on the World Cup ones seems enough to me) So let me know what you think about that.
World Cup Races will have U23 results (top 10s or top 5s), thus allowing for a limited U23 database, to further explore the fantasy world and open doors for new players, read the next feature to find out more.
A player can express his interest in this game and join in at any point in the season. He can do this by sign-up his rider, who will then be added to the U23 pool of riders. If he wishes, he can even ride a few races with the professionals. this rider can then make the leap to the professionals in the next sign-up window for season 3.
(optional:) Result from Women Cycling at World Cup races, to give an extra touch to the game and the fantasy world. Might actually turn into an interesting side-project to follow from afar.
I tried to plan in overlapping races, for lesser riders, but decided against it eventually. Instead, I have come up with an alternative. Find out about this new feature in a few days.
List of pre-set tactics you can use (still working on that). Of course, you can always send in tactics like you're used to, but you can use these tactics, too, if you want.
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
@jandal7: Yes, as stated in the post opening the sign-up window: I expect a post from you, Shonak & TMM about Listerijn, Van Overberghe and Goldenberg & Markson respectively.
Name: Milan Listerijn
Nationality (region): New Zealand (Actually Flanders, Belgium)
Date of Birth: 23/12/1997
Height: 173
Weight: 66
Specialty: Jack-of-all-trades: Enjoys the good, the bad and the downright ugly + ? + ?
Weakness: Racing in Belgium: It's not a major issue, but as a 17-year-old the boos and slurs hurt from those who once named you the prodigal son + ?
Biography: Growing up in Flanders, CX was all young Milan wanted to do. He's a quiet, determined character but like all good Belgians is a truly friendly and humorous guy once you get to know him.
After a few good performances he finally made his worldwide breakthrough when, at 15, he found himself following a 17-year-old Francis Vague for dear life in an icy Junior World Championships. He ended up finishing just 25 seconds down, and a full 53 seconds ahead of third.
However, that would be young Milan's last race in red, yellow and black, as the next day he was off, in still unexplained reasons his family moved to New Zealand. This moment still causes conspiracy theories to this day, but now he's back, and after a stellar end of U-23 season, including 4th place on the Cauberg and victories in Trondheim and Dunkerque, and he's already making th e jump to the pros. Watch out world.
Stats: [Choose between: very low, low, medium, high, very high]
Bike Handling (technical): high
Sand: very high
Uphill: high
Cobblestones: medium
Sprinting: medium
Explosiveness: very high
Flat (TT/riding hard): high
Power: medium
Running: high
Snow/Ice: very high
Jumping: high
* optional
** choose an ability as a specialty and an ability as a weakness from the list below. Your specialty/weakness may change in the course of the game.
Young riders may not even know their specialty yet, or may have many weaknesses in the beginning.
Name: Felix Urnschriber
Nationality (region): Germany
Date of Birth: 15/4/1995
Height: 180
Weight: 79
Specialty: Fearless, determined, bat-sh*t crazy, insane, lucky, has a death wish, all are apt ways to describe Felix. Very fast start too
Weakness: Fearless, determined, bat-sh*t crazy, insane lucky, has a death wish, all are apt ways to describe Felix
Biography: Growing up fast, he scared his parents with daredevil stunts, and despite many 'what I want to be when I grow up' changes he ended up being a crosser.
Very fast start, very little fear, this man was a fan favorite in the first half of last year's U-23 season before an injury ruled him out of the mid-to-end of season.
Stats: [Choose between: very low, low, medium, high, very high]
Bike Handling (technical): very high
Sand: medium
Uphill: medium
Cobblestones: medium
Sprinting: low
Explosiveness: very high
Flat (TT/riding hard): high
Power: low
Running: low
Snow/Ice: high
Jumping: medium
* optional
** choose an ability as a specialty and an ability as a weakness from the list below. Your specialty/weakness may change in the course of the game.
Young riders may not even know their specialty yet, or may have many weaknesses in the beginning.
Name: Jesus Archigyrakios
Nationality (region): Greece
Date of Birth: 7/7/1993
Height: 190
Weight: 81
Specialty: Loyal to a fault. Will do anything to make the race hard. Very powerful
Weakness: Not actually, y'know, that good after 3 laps
Biography: Growing up Greek Jesus had a lot to do, from beautiful scenery and exploring to practicing his one true love, CycloCross.
He's determined and ready to try and impress in the elites after a average U-23 season saw him get noticed after some stellar late-season performances for his leaders.
Stats: [Choose between: very low, low, medium, high, very high]
Bike Handling (technical): medium
Sand: medium
Uphill: medium
Cobblestones: medium
Sprinting: very low
Explosiveness: low
Flat (TT/riding hard): very high
Power: high
Running: high
Snow/Ice: medium
Jumping: low
* optional
** choose an ability as a specialty and an ability as a weakness from the list below. Your specialty/weakness may change in the course of the game.
Young riders may not even know their specialty yet, or may have many weaknesses in the beginning.
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
@jandal7: Listerijn is accepted, but he is too young. Born in December 1997, he would only turn 18 part into the season. He needs to be at least 18 at the start of the season.
So either December 1996 or somewhere in the first half of 1997.
Other riders in waiting room. There aren't as many spaces as at the start of the game (then we needed an entire peloton, now we've already got over 50 riders). So it will depend on the number of other sign-ups!
Wow, firstly for new players, I really recommend you join, it's a lot of fun to play and very realistic, if you want to see the realism of it just read the game thread.
As for the suggested changes Ian, they sound like quite a good idea to increase interest and realism, because in real life U23 riders don't always just show up, going through the U23 program makes a lot of sense.
And, as discussed, a few of my riders are going so I'm making a new one here:
Name: Ferdi Kloet
Nationality (region): Netherlands (South Holland)
Date of Birth: 14/5/1987
Height: * 188cm
Weight: * 88kg
Specialty: ** Sprinting (+ Acceleration) + Final Round
Weakness: ** Climbing + Sand
Biography: Ferdi was born in Rotterdam, in the South Holland region of the Netherlands and he discovered cycling at a young age, he raced a bit of cyclo-cross and road, but was often beaten in sprints and there were no hills to be seen, so the sprints were what decided races, he began track to improve his sprinting ability and instantly loved it, rising through the amateur ranks and into the pros, he had quite a few reasonable performances, 6th in the Kieran at the 2012 World Champs, 5th in the sprint in 2013, but he was always a touch off the top level.
In December, 2013, he chanced upon Rasterhoff, a cyclo-cross race, it ended in a fast sprint, he realised that maybe it was time for him to come back to cyclo-cross or the road, knowing that many of the riders who beat him often raced road, he headed to CX, he began practising CX alongside his track training, before giving up the velodrome at the end of the year and fully focusing on cyclo cross, he spent 2015 doing cyclo-cross training and he now feels happy to make the step across to Cyclo Cross.
Stats: [Choose between: very low, low, medium, high, very high]
Bike Handling (technical): high
Sand: very low
Uphill: very low
Cobblestones: medium
Sprinting: very high
Explosiveness: very high
Flat (TT/riding hard): medium
Power: medium
Running: medium
Snow/Ice: low
Jumping: high
Nationality (region): Brooklyn, NY, USA
Date of Birth: 6/6/1996 (would make him 18 for Contis we had, but 19 to start new season)
Height: *
Weight: *
Specialty: Sprint Finish
Weakness: Impuslive Rider
Biography: Fred stumbled into CX via High School. He wasn't good at the normal sports but was good at endurance events. Eventually this lead him to CX at Age 16. Two years later and the highly talented Fred was winning a Continental Champhionship. Talent like this doesn't get the luxury of slow growth and Markson was being head-hunted immediately. Luckily TMM Sports Management is here to steer the young New Yorker to great things.
Stats: [Choose between: very low, low, medium, high, very high]
Bike Handling (technical): Medium
Sand: Low
Uphill: Medium
Cobblestones: Low
Sprinting: High
Explosiveness: High
Flat (TT/riding hard): Low
Power: Medium
Running: Low
Snow/Ice: Very Low
Jumping: Low
Name: Eddie Goldenberg
Spoiler
Nationality (region): Las Vegas, NV USA
Date of Birth: 2/2/1993 (22 to start new season)
Height: *
Weight: *
Specialty: All-round
Weakness: Bad Weather
Biography: Eddie was exposed to CX quite early on, the Las Vegas event being a big one on the US National calendar. He picked it up and has been racing CX for almost 10years already. He's the most traditional style CX rider to come out of the US ever and that is his strength on the National Calendar, being able to jump what no-one else can and transition between bike and run effortlessly. 3rd at Continentals wasn't what he wanted by it opened the door to bigger things. Now he's got to take his raw talent and hone it at the top levels of racing.
Stats: [Choose between: very low, low, medium, high, very high]
Bike Handling (technical): High
Sand: High
Uphill: Low
Cobblestones: Low
Sprinting: Low
Explosiveness: Low
Flat (TT/riding hard): Medium
Power: Medium
Running: Very High
Snow/Ice: Very Low
Jumping: Very High
Name: Blue Bell CX
Nationality: USA
Budget: Low
There's Markson and Goldenberg for you, plus a possible American team that may or may not sign-up the three americans, have to wait and see
The U23 thing is for you. Just having some at Contis and Worlds worked really well for creating some riders to just take over. I'm not bothered either way on it. Really not interested in the Womens idea () for the time being.
Ian Butler wrote:
Ferdi has been accepted interesting lad. Though if he wants to ride for prizes, he'll have to work on his hill, sand or cobbles ability, I'd think
At the moment he is training on Ronde van Vlaanderen climbs to improve his hill and cobble ability (new idea for a race! ) yeah, my idea is that he is one of the best sprinters in CX, if he can stay with the front, so that's he'll train for those 3 to improve his ability to stay with the front.
![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
Netherlands (South Holland)
) for the time being.
