From: JGR@ECLX.PSU.EDU (Jim Reisman)
Subject: INHL NetHockey Survey: (Hockey Players, Please Read)
Organization: Penn State Engineering Computer Lab
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 92 03:15:46 GMT
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.24



  Well Folks, we are progressing down that yellow Brick road
to hockey Nirvanna. Here is a survey I derived from suggestions
after the INHL Exhibition Game. Giv'em a look see.



              INHL NetHockey Survey 

GOAL: 
   To find what additions to the bronco hockey server would 
be supported by a strong majority of potential INHL players.
Changes without broad support probably should be avoided. Changes
that require substantial programing probably should be avoided as
well. (NBR this is NOT.)
   Attempts should be made to avoid rules that lengthen the game,
or disturb the flow of the game considerably.  Hockey should be 
kept informal, with large helpings of trust and the expectation
of good behavior on the part of opposing teams. 

   Email me (or post) your opinions on the following potential changes.
Also, tell me any suggested proposals you can think of.  I will summarize 
the results on rgn.


These are suggested proposals I am FOR implementing:

PROPOSAL A:   Reduce carnage by having 5 vs 5 teams.
Required Mod: None.
Rational:     Comment from players in Exhibition Game was that there
              was too much carnage.  I know from personal experience
              that 5 vs. 5 games are significantly better in this
              regard. Easier to find 10 people as well.
Alternative:  Change damage ships can inflict.
              (I am not for ship changes, since monkeying with ship stats
              often have unseen effects.  People already have a feel
              for current ship stats. Requires tinkering/experimentation.)

PROPOSAL B:   Increase wait time between goals/periods from 30 seconds
              to 40 seconds.
Required Mod: Very small.
Rational:     Allows players to send instructions/adjustments between
              goal/periods. Only adds 2-3 minutes to game.

PROPOSAL C:   Have players within playing field be destructed after
              goals as well. Reenter near home planet. Players off 
              playing field (substitutes) are unaffected.
Required Mod: Small, already implemented for end of periods.
Rational:     Allows time and ship changes necessary for interesting 
              set plays at face off.  (Ex. Two CA centers, two Grunking 
              SC wings and a BB goal would be a nice faceoff set up.) 
              Also, stops the running around sillyness after goals.

PROPOSAL D:   A copy of the stats already kept by the server would be
              saved to a .game_stat file. File would include stats of
              all players since last NEWGAME command.
Required Mod: Small.
Rational:     We got them. Might as well get a copy.

PROPOSAL E:   Player Substitution/Ghostbusting: Gentleman's Agreement.
Required Mod: None.
Rational:       Actually, not a modification. It just states that if a
              team feels one of it's players is ghostbusted/frozen they
              can send on a substitute as long as the situation lasts.
              (i.e. No opposing team permission required.) Likewise, if
              there are no available sunstitutes. The opposing team
              should sit out a player till he revives. No pausing. No
              break in the action. Just requires sportsmanship/trust
              on both sides.
                Players can be substituted as well between goal/periods.
              Substitutes just sit out of bounds and don't interfere.


  The following proposals have also been suggested. I am NOT FOR
implementing these proposals at the present time. Please give me
your opinion of them:

PROPOSAL F:   Designated Goalies who are indestructible while
              in a goalie box.
Required Mod: Significant.
Why against:  Actually I like this proposal alot. However, I must 
              admit that I am unable to get a strong majority of
              people to agree with me. Therefore this change
              probably should not be implemented until further
              consideration.  Also, goalie stats probably won't
              have meaning until this change is implemented.

PROPOSAL G:   Players bounce off boundaries (except for small window
              to allow for substitute players.)
Required Mod: Small.
Why against:  Probably lacking strong majority support. Also, hockey
              players generally don't bounce when they hit a wall, but
              collapse and whimper. :)
Alternative:  Perhaps, inelastic player collision with wall? (i.e. They
              stop.) Unsure about this one.

PROPOSAL H:   Institute a Pause command.
Required Mod: Some work required. Requires designated captains.
Why against:  This was Red Shirt's suggestion. I feel that unnecessary
              pausing has caused INL games to extend into 3-3.5 hr
              dreary affairs. Since each team can have up to three
              substitutes, there is no real reason to have a pause.
              Hockey should be a fast, exciting, informal one hour 
              game. 



AND FINALLY, please answer these questions:

1) Do you think there should be an INHL next Spring, or NetHockey
   Clue Games, or both?


2) If there is an INHL in Spring, which of the following INHL 
   team selection proceedures do you think is best?

A)  A Team Drafting Method:  
        Guarantees even teams, but players would be unable to 
     choose team mates.
 
B)  Team Selection by INHL Commissioner:  
        A trustworthy commisioner ( bav :) ) would split people into
     even teams, taking into consideration playing time compatibility
     and desired team mates. The Commish can't be a nutball however.

C)  Unstructured team selection:
        Guarantees people will play with who they want, but unbalanced
    teams and school team egos will be inevitable.


Tell me what you think.

Jim Reisman
Hockey-ikki
INHL Promoter
Chairman of the Draft Bav for Commish Committee

Newsgroups: rec.games.netrek