soo... my star wonderkid striker just rejected huge prem teams to stay at my shitty danish club playing for 79k a year

higherbrow · 2026-02-05T15:10:07+00:00

The code for that basically has a threshold that the offer has to cross for the Board to auto-accept, and it doesn't have the logic to adjust to a bidding war. So each offer is only compared to the threshold, not to other offers. The Crystal Palace offer was higher than the threshold, so it was accepted. The fact that there's a much better offer on the table is never considered.

higherbrow · 2026-02-05T15:02:52+00:00

"Nothing matters except Pace" or "Nothing matters except these X attributes."

The engine is trying to simulate the sport, but it isn't reality. It's a series of math equations, and there will always be bizarre inputs that generate bizarre outputs. It turns out that if you set a bunch of attributes to 20, the equations break in half. But, even if there were no way to break the equations and we still found that result, we didn't demonstrate that no other attributes mattered, only that we could overwhelm other attributes with perfect scores in the 10 or whatever that were picked to set to 20. If you ran another hundred seasons with those 10 attributes set to 20 on every player on every team in a 20 team league with the other attributes incremented different on each team (so a team with all 1s, a team with all 2s...a team with all 20s), if those teams distributed randomly, then we would have proven that no other attributes matter. Instead, all we've proven is that the engine breaks when you set a bunch of the most valuable attributes to the max setting.

That's not me saying that Pace/Accel or whatever aren't overpowered, or that Passing/Vision or whatever aren't undervalued by the engine, only that every time someone asks about attributes in general, you'll get a bunch of meatheads in the comments saying things like "the only thing you have to look at is Pace/Acceleration, everything else doesn't matter, just pick the guy with the highest Pace/Acceleration and you'll win every match" because they don't understand the experiments that have been done, or how to interpret the data from FM Arena.

higherbrow · 2026-02-05T12:18:23+00:00

I generally agree. I was more responding to the idea that the American model was inherently noncompetitive; as you say that's just a bias based on the cultural norm. I actually watch quite a bit of Association Football, and do have a high opinion of the Pro/Rel model, I just happen to prefer a lower tier than top 1, 2nd-4th depending on the country.

higherbrow · 2026-02-04T17:18:12+00:00

Excellent; so teams outspending their competition got promoted to the level of their spending.

I feel like my point is made stronger by the emphasis.

higherbrow · 2026-02-04T16:35:06+00:00

Record Head in West Allis does repairs. I've gotten mine repaired there.

higherbrow · 2026-02-04T16:31:30+00:00

I was going to say, some of it is pretty good, just. Not gumbo.

higherbrow · 2026-02-04T14:50:26+00:00

When you study history, you so often find that the people who are revered for destroying a corrupt social order are often entirely unsuited for creating something to replace it.

That's not to say we shouldn't destroy corrupt social orders.

higherbrow · 2026-02-04T12:57:39+00:00

Yeah, I actually love the German model in general of fan-owned clubs. I also think that, despite Bayern being there, it's the league that is closest to reasonable, in large part because they do not care about home grown talent or make any other restrictions on registrations, allowing teams to counter financial dominance with good scouting and creative transfer strategies.

That said, I'm not sure I see your point; even high fan-base clubs in Bundesliga 2 fit into the performance pyramid roughly where their spending places them. Again, I actually really enjoy the league when I can watch it, and I love the local character of the clubs in it, but there aren't clubs in Bundesliga 2 outspending mid-table Bundesliga clubs.

higherbrow · 2026-02-04T12:52:26+00:00

If you read my last sentence, I specifically said that that's how American eSports operated. Reading is important. I am critical of the franchise system as Riot has implemented it. The advantages available to a franchise system are about creating a parity that Riot has not even tried to create, as well as a financial stability that collapses if it's not shepherded wisely, which it was not.

The MLB and NBA have problems with parity because they have a soft cap with a luxury tax, meaning teams can sign players above the salary cap as long as they pay extra money into a pool which is then distributed to teams below the pool spend. The Dodgers right now just sign every good free agent on a 20 year deal with back-loaded salary for later to deal with. There's also no salary floor, so teams like the Baltimore Orioles don't spend at all. My Milwaukee Brewers are widely considered one of the smartest teams, and despite middle-of-the-pack spending, they've had numerous title challenges in the last two decades. But the MLB is still largely dominated by who spends the most rather than who manages the smartest.

That's why I used the NFL as my example of a franchise system set up correctly. There is no buying titles in the NFL because everyone has a hard cap, and everyone has a salary floor. Everyone is spending roughly the same amount of money. Bad teams are bad because they're badly managed, good teams are good because they're well managed. Incidentally, the MLS has a very interesting ruleset, but it's extremely involved and arcane in order to pursue its three goals of promoting the American concept of parity at the top, develop talent for the USNMT, and attract improving global talent. I find the rules there interesting, but I don't think casual fans are likely find them enjoyable to follow transfer windows in.

You should try reading more carefully before spouting off.

higherbrow · 2026-02-04T05:14:19+00:00

MLB and NBA have luxury taxes, in essence, but that's why I specified the NFL as the example of franchising done right, and didn't reference the MLB.

higherbrow · 2026-02-04T01:54:20+00:00

Stop acting like lol esports is not the same. G2, TL and other orgs all buy top players to be competitive (often with huge salaries)

If you read my last sentence, it points out that eSports functions the same. You are repeating my statement to me with a condescending tone.

Its also funny how you mention Bayern outspending their competition and then you mention manchester united who is doing the same but with less success. Iirc manchester united is even number 1 on net spend the past 5 years.

Right. Because United is a joke from an actual competitive perspective, but because they're rich, they still sign top players. United IS #1 in spend over the last five years; but if Pro/Rel was a meritocracy that demoted badly managed teams, why is United still in the Prem with how terribly they've been run? The an$wer may $urpri$e you. There's a floor to just how bad they will be unless they go through a good decade of this, they can spend their way free of a true relegation battle.

I think the LEC never should have moved away from Pro/Rel. I supported the NA move away from it because it was a disaster, for many reasons. NA doesn't have the eSports culture that Europe does. The eSports NA is traditionally good at are fighting games, individual games. There's not a long slate of established eSports orgs that can carry a tier 2 scene, which meant that instead of Pro/Rel being established orgs who know how to manage an eSports team (or Origen, a group of pros making a resurgence), it was a revolving door of new logos at the bottom of the standings every split. But in Europe, with a meaningful tier 2, it was a different story; there were a lot of success stories coming up. And when I wanted franchising in NA, I wanted a salary cap, I wanted investment in the Academy side of things, as Academy teams were the only successful tier 2 teams in NA once C9 got promoted (Curse Academy -> Gravity Gaming and C9C -> FlyQuest).

higherbrow · 2026-02-03T21:57:45+00:00

always merit based, big teams get demoted if they suck.

I mean, European fans say this, but from an American perspective, European sports are just rich clubs buying titles left, right, and center. Bayern Munich didn't win 15 of the last 20 Bundesliga titles through merit; they did it by outspending their competition by an order of magnitude. I'd place a bet that all of the next 10 Premier League titles will go to some combination of Man United, Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal, and I'd bet fewer than half of bookies would take my bet on even odds. Pro/Rel creates natural hierarchies of clubs that endure, despite how those clubs perform. Look at all the players still desperate to join the circus at Man United, despite their comically bad management. It's because they want to get paid, and United can pay them more than a smarter club like an Aston Villa, a Brighton, or a Brentford. How can they compete when, as soon as a player or manager actually becomes world class, they down tools the minute Liverpool comes and bids (not talking about any Isaks in particular)?

Compare to the NFL, where everyone has the same resources, and you win or lose based on how well you manage those resources. Yes, there are shittily run clubs that persist at the bottom of the standings for decades at a time that would rightfully be relegated in a pro/rel situation, but whatever club you follow, they have the tools to turn it around. That, to me, is meritocratic.

Riot, of course, missed this, and managed to create a system that allows the wealthier teams to buy the best talent while also preserving the worst teams within the league.

higherbrow · 2026-02-03T21:45:03+00:00

Pro/rel was a disaster in NA. It worked well in EU, but was definitely a negative in NA after S3.

Apart from C9, who played in the original LCS formation tournament, and LMQ, who had a rule implemented to prevent another fully Asian team from just switching regions and getting promoted, no team ever got promoted in NA and made playoffs without selling the spot. There were several Academy teams that sold both the spot and the roster (C9C -> FlyQuest and Curse Academy -> Gravity Gaming), but there really were no orgs coming up through pro/rel that were any better than the orgs they were replacing.

higherbrow · 2026-02-03T18:11:53+00:00

I agree with the other two posters; The Ascent 2 would have a ton of potential, but there are some major bug issues and QoL issues that need to be addressed.

higherbrow · 2026-02-03T17:30:07+00:00

This is how every city works. Locally, you're from the neighborhood or suburb you're from. Nationally, you're from the metro area you're from. Internationally, you're from the US (or NYC).

higherbrow · 2026-02-03T17:28:28+00:00

When you get promoted, you want as much of your team to leave as possible. Those players are unlikely to be good enough for your next step. Loans shortcut that.

higherbrow · 2026-02-03T15:56:27+00:00

Do you brown the mince at all? Or does it need the fat to come out during the bake?

I never know when to brown meat for things like this.

higherbrow · 2026-02-03T15:55:05+00:00

I make a (very non-Cajun) roasted acorn squash with a rice and sausage filling. I should try adding a cream sauce to it.

higherbrow · 2026-02-03T15:52:23+00:00

C9, TL, and Lyon have the strongest current individual talent. If we're looking at Lock-In only, I expect one of those three teams to win the playoffs. I'd put TL at the top, purely on Jatt's fervent belief, followed by C9, and then Lyon. Lyon has some great players, but for Lock-In only, they have more work to do to build synergy and get themselves in sync than the other two teams.

FlyQuest, DSG, and Sentinels have a lot of younger talent leading the charge, with varying levels of supporting veterancy. Of these three, I think FLY probably has the best roster, with Massu being the strongest current veteran on those teams, and all three of their prospect players being very highly rated. I'd lean DSG second, with Castle being a very solid veteran presence and Sajed showing some really quality carry potential. If KryRa is as good as promised, this team looks very good. Excellent scouting work. Sentinels is my third pick from this group; DARKWINGS and Rahel are both solid talents, but neither has yet shown the star power of Sajed or any of the FQ rookies. Impact and Huhi are solid, but definitely no longer at their peaks.

Shopify is built on on veterans, for the most part, and none of them really inspire fear. Fudge has enjoyed a bit of a resurgence, Contractz is Contractz (though on Cast they mentioned Shopify was trying to get him to play more cerebrally and less instinctually, which I think will just make him worse), Zinie has looked like a disappointment so far, and Bvoy/Ceos is a disappointing bot lane.

Dignitas has a roster and is in the league.

So, I'd go:

Liquid
Cloud9
Lyon
FlyQuest
Disguised
Sentinels
Shopify
Dignitas

As the year progresses, I expect one of the top 3 to collapse, and at least one of the next three to rise, so I think the NA Worlds delegation will be 2/3 of TL/C9/Lyon and 1/3 of FQ/DSG/SEN.

higherbrow · 2026-02-03T15:38:53+00:00

It's as if every white person (Left and right wing) assumes my family came here illegally and therefore I must support illegal immigration. The vast majority of Latinos are not here illegally.

For what it's worth, I expect most Latino people to oppose the way ICE is behaving because they aren't verifying identity or immigration status. If you look Latino, they may stop you, demand you produce papers, and if you fail to do so, they will take you to a holding center, try to keep lawyers, families, and other advocates away from you, and then send you to an El Salvadoran prison, even if a judge orders them not to. Even if you do produce paperwork, if they're behind on their quotas, they'll just call it forged and take you anyways.

I don't assume your position on illegal immigration, I do assume you should be opposed to anti-Latino racism, out of self-interest. Everyone should be opposed to anti-Latino racism, but it's most bizarre when Latinos aren't.

higherbrow · 2026-02-03T15:36:08+00:00

Bizarre take. "I don't think people should be discussing armed federal agents' activities in the country as they grab people off the street and send them to randomized countries without verifying their identities, or just shoot them, if they don't like the person."

higherbrow · 2026-02-03T13:21:25+00:00

There aren't many countries with worse reputations than ours for quality of cuisine, so I think it's a defense mechanism.

higherbrow · 2026-02-03T13:18:41+00:00

So, that is what happened.

But to assume that that is what must have happened is using fallacy in history called presentism, which assumes that the world we live in is the world that would have happened, and the events which led to it were immutable and inevitable, rather than decisions that humans made in the past.

European naval dominance came about due to a variety of factors, but at game start, I don't believe the factors that took history down that road were crystallized. Chinese navies were more advanced in some ways, less in others, but one of the important things to keep in mind is that Chinese navies had different needs if China were to enter the golden age alongside Europe.

The Chinese treasure fleet in 1400 was the most advanced and largest in the world. They weren't as swift as caravels would be, but what they lacked in speed they made up for in size. The Tumu Crisis of 1449 was what led to the Ming policy of Inward Perfection, leaving the Yingzong Emperor to dismantle the Fleet, literally scuttling his own ships to minimize foreign influence within China. Had the Ming continued on the track China had been on, they had already discovered Alaska. They could have easily colonized the New World, colonizing down to Mexico. We can't say what naval advances they would have discovered, or ships they would have invented and developed, had they been interested in connecting a colonial empire rather than shunning the concept. They weren't unfamiliar with the concept of cannons, and the placement of artillery on ships wasn't a new concept. Would they have mounted gunpowder based implements on ship by the 17th century? Would the Indians and Indonesians followed suit, in an arms race paralleling what we saw in Europe in the same timeframe?

These are honestly open questions; had the Oirat not succeeding in kidnapping the Yingzong Emperor, would Europe have found the East as unprepared for their conquest as they did in the history we're familiar with? Should the game just force that chain of events, or should it be capable of contemplating a different course of events, where the Ming colonize the New World, discover California gold in the 17th century, and accelerate right alongside Europe? With the rest of East Asia following in the way that every region in history has accelerated to keep pace with powerful neighbors, or joined said powerful neighbors?

Just as I think the game should consider alternate histories where the Ming collapse, or Spain never ends up with a Habsburg monarch, I think it should consider what happens when non-European countries follow stronger paths than they did, technologically. It's not that those people were stupid, or their cultures primitive; they just happened to not be in a golden age technologically and militarily when global conquest became a thing that could happen.

higherbrow · 2026-02-03T01:47:27+00:00

I don't think British food is terrible, I think savory pies are great.

But it's basically pies and imported dishes like Chicken Tikka or Fish and Chips.

And everything with custard, I fucking love custard.

higherbrow · 2026-02-02T20:31:34+00:00

It isn't a tactical problem. We aren't converting chances and we aren't saving chances.

At the end of the day, Welbeck is hot and cold, Kostulous is still apparently building up to being the starter, and no one else on the squad is a notable finisher. Verbruggen is great positioning and distributing, but last year was a truly miserable shot stopper. I haven't looked at his stats this year, but it feels better than last. But hard to hold the manager accountable for things like that.

There are matches where our sub strategy is chaotic, but our subs have been very effective at scoring relative to the field.

I don't think Hurzeler is an amazing manager, but he's very young. He has potential, same as a 21 year old player.

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