The Unwritten Rules of Franchise Ball
Over its 10+ years, Franchise Ball has developed a tight-knit community, one that is typically welcoming to all. Just like any online community, there are certain ground rules set in place to ensure that everybody has a great time. Most of the time, these ground rules are learned through experience on the website.
In an ever-changing online environment, these ground rules are one of the few things that remain consistent, despite most of them never being made official. Over time, these rules have built the framework of the community, and to some, knowing and abiding by these rules is an easy way to gain respect and trust from other managers.
How can these rules have so much control over the community, despite not being official website rules? This is what many call the "unwritten rules" of Franchise Ball.
Unwritten rules in sports are inevitable… and often controversial. Some unwritten rules are designed to show respect to opposing teams. Some are made to show respect to the sport itself. Others are questionable.
Franchise Ball has no shortage of these rules, and after talking to the community, there seem to be 4 rules that take precedence over all others.
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Rule #1: Do not bid on an active team unless you’re prepared to be hit with bids as well.
Seems self-explanatory, right? Although some consider this rule more as common sense, when put into practice it leads to an overall avoidance of bidding on active teams at all. Lots of active teams prefer to remain neutral when it comes to bidding, so as to not ruffle any feathers. The general understanding between a lot of managers is "You don't mess with me, I don't mess with you."
Despite a large portion of managers accepting this unwritten rule, there are lots who prefer to not adhere to it. The most common rebuttal to the rule is "Bidding is a part of the game." Often, what separates good managers from great ones is how much time they commit to their team and to the website. With managers who can't commit large amounts of time to scouting, the easiest and most logical route to finding good players is directly through the best teams.
Rule #2: If you want a player on an active team, always try to offer a trade FIRST.
The Anchorage Aces' manager put it best, stating, "You should always start by offering a trade or talking about one instead of bidding. If you start with bids, expect to get more than a few in return."
This unwritten rule is generally understood by managers as a sign of respect. How often is the rule actually followed? According to the community, not very often.
Most managers deal with obstacles such as limited free agent signings and limited trades, emphasizing the importance of bidding when it comes to building a team. With bidding being the most essential tool to acquire talent, the majority of managers prefer to cut to the chase and utilize it, rather than entering into a lengthy trade negotiation that, most of the time, doesn't result in a deal.
Rule #3: If the website glitches and randomly releases someone else’s player, and you sign said player out of free agency, you should give that player back upon request.
This one's a bit complicated. Sometimes, when executing a trade, a glitch may occur where a player can be randomly released from a team's roster. Unless you're paying close attention, it can be really easy to miss.
The manager of the St. Johns Deadly Sins strongly believes in this unwritten rule, saying, "...that should really be a main one. No one deserves to lose players from a glitch."
Although some view situations like these to be opportunities to show compassion to other managers, others don't think they should have to miss out on the talent. After all, it's not anybody's fault that the glitch happened, especially not the team that signed the player out of free agency.
One could argue that there is no right or wrong answer, and that it all boils down to the choice between compassion and indifference.
Rule #4: Do not use a second team to farm players for your main team.
Although the website does not allow you to make trades between your own teams, managers often use middle-man trading as a way around this. Although middle-man trading is technically allowed, the majority of managers view this as cheating.
On the other hand, managers often still attempt to do this. One could believe that despite middle-man trading being frowned upon, it's smart and ultimately could give your team an advantage over your rivals.
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Unwritten rules are unwritten for a reason. It's hard to enforce rules that are mostly based on respect and morals. Some managers like them. Some don't. A lot, especially newer managers, don't even know they exist. Despite being unofficial, these rules can drastically change your experience with the community due to their influence.
The Midland Roughnecks' manager puts it simply.
"Most are dumb," he said. "But some of them shape how people view you, and those can affect your relations in the long run. So don't be an asshole... and you'll be fine."
Other managers recognize that not everyone cares about the unwritten rules.
"I don't expect the unwritten rules to be followed super tightly all the time," the Anchorage Aces manager said. "...but at the same time, I like that they are there and that the invested members of the community choose to follow them."
Whether you agree or disagree with them, one thing remains true: Unwritten rules in Franchise Ball will likely always exist in some capacity.
"The thing about unwritten rules are, you can't really get rid of something that isn't already written," the Oakland Obzen manager said, "I think it's a natural way of the game... They'll be here for good."
Written and published by Los Angeles Hot Rods.
