Post by homeruncc on Aug 24, 2014 18:10:34 GMT -5
Hello Everyone. It has been a while since I last posted but I have good reason to now. While my IWA managerial career is on life support, I am still very active in the world of imaginary wrestling. A while back I came across a new online wrestling game that is exactly what the IWA would be if it was online. Now as you know the IWA does nothing to make their game better so it is doubtful that it would ever be put online.
The game I am talking about is Masters of the Mat. It has been in Beta testing for over 2 years and has now gone LIVE! Now is the time to join in on the fun. There has only been two days of play so far. Here is the site address: www.mastersofthemat.com/
This post is not to take you away from the IWA. It is to give you a FREE Daily and Weekly option for more wrestling. I am listing some comparisons below. Please take the time to try out Masters of the Mat. It is absolutely free to play. You can play this game everyday and not have to pay a dime. You do not have to spend money to be competitive. Someone who “pays to play” will not have an advantage over you. But if you choose, you can buy action points that will allow you to own your own leagues, buy luxuries for your wrestlers, etc.
If the IWA was to put their game online, this is what it should be. And honestly, if I was to buy the IWA, this is pretty much what I would turn it into. An online version of the best Play-by-mail game in history. I know you all have wanted it. Now you have it.
Manager – Once you have registered a login name and password you will create your manager. You will give him a name, a picture and list how often he interferes in his wrestler’s matches. (Yes your manager can interfere in a match and help your wrestler win.)
Wrestlers – You are allowed to manage between 1 and 10 active wrestlers at one time on each server. You will give your wrestler a name, picture, fighting style, a finisher and a few other things. This will bring your wrestler to life. You will also be able to make tag teams from your roster of wrestlers. So if you manage two wrestlers, you can also make them a tag team. If not, you can choose to have one of your wrestlers team up with another manager’s wrestler. Each wrestler may only be in one tag team at a time.
Leagues (Federations) – Once you have created your wrestler(s), you will have him join a Federation (same as an IWA league). Each federation has a Federation Champion and Tag Team Champions, TV Champion and TV Tag Team Champions and a Commissioner Champion and Tag Team Champions. A fed can have up to 40 singles wrestlers and 20 tag teams.
You can also create your own federation. You can make the name, logo, belt pictures, and so much more. You can invite wrestlers to join. You can even sign wrestlers to a contract.
Matches – For the Daily server, cards are run every single day. Once you have joined a fed, you can challenge other wrestlers in under card matches. Once you have been in the fed for one cycle, the next day your wrestler will be put in a Main Card match. You will be awarded ranking points for wins and losses so you can move up the rankings to get a shot at the federation champions.
Cost – You can play this game for free. Your wrestler will receive one action point per day. With this action point you can choose to do one of the following: Challenge, Trash talk, Sneak Attack, Interview or Match Promo. If you choose, you can buy Tokens and then with the Tokens, you can turn them into actions. Once you do this, you will be able to do 3 actions per day per wrestler. So you could make a Challenge, Sneak Attack and do some Trash Talk in the same day. You don have to but you could.
Strats – Ahh, the most important thing. How do I win at this game? MOTM’s Hold Values are 100 times better than the IWA. We all know that Johnny B. Jr. determines the hold values. He does give you some made up patterns like the 28/27 drop following the 29/26 drop. Of course he likes to screw around with you too and throw in a 27/27 drop. Then he plays favorites on the bottom 5 letting guys running tag team strats nail high strats with their tag team guys.
In Masters of the Mat, there are 100 holds divided into three categories. Hits & Blows, Holds & Grapples and Throws & Slams. These holds have different ranges which you can learn about on the MOTM forum. Your wrestler gets to choose 19 of these holds and place them in different spots on his strategy. Before the card takes place (11:00 pm EST), the server will determine the point values for each hold. It does this by taking into account how many times a hold was picked by all the active wrestlers and if the hold is dormant or volatile. A dormant hold will not move as much as a volatile one. Once this has taken place the game will rank the holds and give them their values. The key is to pick the best possible holds that you think others will not pick. Your hold picking strategy is you picking against other managers and not trying to figure out a random pattern. Btw, I have studied the MOTM holds for over 2 years now and I can promise you that if you put in the time, you will learn how to be a great strat picker in MOTM. But when more and more people learn how to pick strats, the game will get tougher and tougher. If you don’t really have time to study the holds, you can still play and be competitive. You can use the quick pick options that will have the game choose from certain holds. Once you get your wrestler created you will see what I mean. I suggest joining the Daily server now, tracking the holds for a couple of weeks and then you will have an idea of how things work.
In closing, I know you guys are a bunch of IWA Meth Addicts. Hey, I am one to. I will just say this. If the IWA is Crystal Meth, then MOTM is the Blue Crystal Meth from the show Breaking Bad. It is the bomb!
Please take a few minutes to go to the MOTM site and set up a wrestler or ten. If you like the IWA, then you will like Masters of the Mat.
www.mastersofthemat.com/
Some Comparisons between the two games:
IWA Cycles – MOTM Cycles
IWA runs a cycle once every 3 weeks. You can have as many matches as you pay for. You can pay to be in the Battle Royal
MOTM runs a cycle every day on the Daily Server and once a week on the Weekly Server. Your wrestler will have the matches you challenge for, matches that others have challenged your wrestler, any title matches and any specialty matches the commissioner has put you in. Commissioners have a huge list of matches they can do for free, including up to 40 man Battle Royals.
IWA Strats – MOTM Strats
IWA uses a simple pattern while also using random hold drops in those patterns so no one can be 100% sure where the holds are going. It has worked for 20+ years but is closer to a lottery than a strategic game.
MOTM uses a complex formula that cannot be solved because you are playing against other managers. But if you study the holds you will know which holds will move up and which holds will drop. Plus you will learn what other managers are picking and you can build your strategy around that. Again the key is to pick the holds you think will be the least picked holds that have the best chance of being high. It is easier than it sounds.
IWA Cost – MOTM Cost
IWA has a minimum of $5 per league. I would say most spend up to $10 to $20 every three weeks.
MOTM allows you to play and enjoy the game for free. The only reason you would pay is if you want to own your own wrestling federation or buy more actions and luxuries for you wrestlers.
IWA Wrestler Earnings – MOTM Wrestler Earnings
IWA shows wrestlers with money earnings but it is good for absolutely nothing.
MOTM wrestlers earn money in matches, special contest and from wagers. Yes, you can place a wager on your match with your opponent and the winner takes all the money! So if you want to bet $100,000 that your guy can beat my guy…bring it on! You can also buy luxuries with your earnings: Luxury Cars, Yachts, Mansions and Learjets. Each wrestler carries a Bankroll and a Net Worth. Also you can earn money through contracts. Sometimes a commissioner will offer your wrestler a contract and pay your wrestler money to be there.
IWA Fame – MOTM Fame
IWA does not have fame.
MOTM gives wrestlers fame. As your wrestler does Actions like trash talk, he is awarded fame. He also gains fame by winning matches and contests. The more fame he has the more valuable he is to a federation.
IWA Leagues – MOTM Federations (Commissioners)
IWA has commissioners and you all know the time and effort it takes to be one.
MOTM has commissioners as well. As a commissioner you can create your own federation or take over one that is available. You can set up Special Matches every cycle. You can determine who will be the challenger for your commissioner titles each cycle. You can offer contracts to other wrestlers and pay them to join your fed. You will always want the guys with the most fame. Fame is what will make your federation the #1 fed in the game. The main goal of a commissioner is to build the best federation possible. You will do this by getting the wrestlers with the most fame.
Again I ask that you please take a few minutes to go to the MOTM site and set up a wrestler. If you like the IWA, then you will like Masters of the Mat.
www.mastersofthemat.com/