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+---- Thread: *The Value of Contracts (/showthread.php?tid=24658)
*The Value of Contracts - Swanty - 08-03-2020
(reposting in here at billybolo53s suggestion)
In my very limited time in the league so far (2 weeks and counting), I've seen a few mentions that the majority of ISFL players take minimum contracts, and that you get paid more in the DSFL than the big leagues. This seems to be because it's quite easy to make enough to buy the best equipment elsewhere (media, twitter, wiki etc).
As a result, there's not much contract negotiation that goes on as they aren't a big part of players' income, often not even necessary. Some would argue that this is how it should be, as we should never disincentivize the creation of the great content that we all love. But it's a sure thing that it removes a key part of the NFL experience: the excitement of free agency and negotiating your contract.
I think there may be a way we could have both. What if your base salary was the only fixed dollar amount you get, with all other sources (media, twitter, wiki etc) rewarding you with a flat % of whatever your base is? For example, writing a 1,000 word article might pay you 50% of whatever your player's base salary is. That might be in the region of $500k for rookies but could be something like $5m for the top players.
That way, you're still incentivised to create content but you can effectively multiply your earnings even further by pushing for as much contract money as possible.
Depending on how far the league wants to go with it, you could also put a seasonal cap on other earnings of, say, 10x your base. That would mean that only those with top end contracts, or those with medium contracts but who earn a lot from media, could afford the best possible equipment each year.
Some examples of how this could work:
- Unassigned rookies receive a base of $1m per season, with the most dedicated able to make an extra $10m per season elsewhere. With this, they'd be able to afford training every week and maybe some low-tier equipment
- DSFL players receive a base of $2m per season, with some able to make $20m extra. They could afford the best weekly training and some decent equipment.
- ISFL players receive anywhere from $3m+ per season. Those who max out on media (10x for $30m per season) could probably afford the best equipment and would be happy with a lower deal, but even those at the top end (eg $10m-15m contracts) would still need to put in a decent amount of media work every season to get max TPE, but the ride would be a lot smoother.
- incentivises all ISFL players to push for as much contract money as possible to make their media/twitter efforts more powerful
- makes progression through the ranks more meaningful as your earnings cap is a multiple of your salary
- makes the top tiers of equipment attainable only after a few seasons
- the seasonal cap allows for a more steady stream of regular content rather than one massive media article that pays for equipment across many seasons
RE: The Value of Contracts - mithrandir - 08-03-2020
I don't think we should ever de-incentivize league earnings through media or graphics. I like that any player can be a max earner if they work hard enough.
RE: The Value of Contracts - Attopax - 08-03-2020
My only concern with this approach is that it it could hurt retention. If media and other income sources are based on percent of salary, there would be a disparate impact on new players. New players would have to work multiples harder to make the same strides as anyone else.
While that is kind of your point, I think it would dissuade many new players from sticking around long term. New players already can struggle with media posts that are league-related, etc. because they have no idea what the history of the league is. Or perhaps they don't have any other Sim league experience and are still very overwhelmed at the basics and the rules of the ISFL. Regardless, I don't think we want to create an atmosphere that max earning requires new players to become a slave to the grind.
When push comes to shove, we are community. To be honest, I'd rather rookies spend their time on discord interacting with their teammates and other members of the league than pound away on their keyboard all week, every week just so they can earn Tier 6 equipment next year.