Some of this will be rehased from Chris is Me, Andy A, and a couple other brilliant posters in this thread, but I feel like adding my reasoning to a couple of these points.
1. Make the Sally Port and Drawbridge semi-transparent
I know the "wood" aesthetic was part of the game's aesthetic, and that the vision challenges are technically interesting. However, I feel the consequences outweigh the benefits. Seeing drive teams miss balls, commit fouls, and general struggle across blind spots does not make for a great spectator experience. Further still, it makes the referees' job harder in determining crossings. A visual design similar to the Portcullis would have been sufficient in conveying the medieval theme, while also allowing enough vision not to hamper the game.
2. Make the batter dividers semi-visible
Ironically, the batter dividers are quite the opposite of the sally port and drawbridge. If they had a colored edge or other means of identifying their position, it would have greatly assisted drive teams without any real consequence elsewhere.
3. Add a dedicated scorekeeper
While this isn't strictly a GDC issue, it does tie in. Refs shouldn't have to pull double duty as scorekeepers
4. Clarify the secret passage rules
I wouldn't necessarily change anything about the actual functionality regarding the secret passage, but raise your hand if you understood how the secret passage functioned the first time you read the game manual. How about the second time? It took most everyone a while, and there were plenty of teams that didn't really understand its function at the events (particularly when it comes to passing balls in and out of each passage). I believe I saw a suggestion during build season to change the portion of the secret passage that touches the neutral zone to "secret entrance." A change similar to that could have provided additional clarity.
5. Change the game from "tower defense" to "tower assault"
Once again, a semantic change to the rules that would have provided a lot of clarity regarding FMS graphics, whos courtyard is whos, etc.
6. Have the breach/capture serve as tie-breakers during qualifications.
In the case of a tie, if one alliance garnered a breach or capture while the other alliance did not, that alliance is named the winner. It's only a tie if both alliances had the same amount of additional ranking points.
7. Allow the referees to keep notes on matches/allow announcers to relay which penalties were committed
This was the most infuriating and confusing change on the year. I honestly don't understand it at all.
And now for some weird ideas to try at your off-season (FMS permitting):
1. Allow alliances to opt not to place a defense in a location, in exchange for additional tower strength on their tower. Any defense skipped already counts as damaged (both for point and breach purposes). Replace the missing defense with a flat panel* to prevent damage to the outerworks.
*Or the low bar panel without the low bar inserted
2. Add in 2 "flaming boulders" (orange balls) to the center of the field at the beginning of the match. These boulders are either worth 5 points each time they're score, and/or end up doing 2 damage to the tower they're scored in.
3. Add in a "hot goal" in autonomous (basically like 2014). Allow the low goal to be hot for extra fun.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MooreteP
I think it was called DAWGMA.
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I'll have you know that 1712 never once committed a DOGMA penalty, TYVM.
