Posted by MikeT23 on 5/27/2017 4:24:00 PM (view original):
1. 500+ open spots is a bad look. "Nobody plays this damn game."
2. You're completely ignoring that good D3 teams are going to be crap D2 teams. "Sucks to be you, #24 ranked D3."
So, you're willing to screw over 300ish users(30 per world with good D3 that will be crap competing against D2) to save "historical records" and ensure Joe Schmoe gets Fitchburg St because that's his alma mater? No thanks.
The look is the same regardless of how the divisions are split. 500 empty teams is 500 empty teams, whether it's one giant division or two.
Good D3 teams will be good D2 teams, if given the same resources. They're not going to drop just because. I know you don't believe this, but the game actually is essentially the same at all three levels, the sets work the same, the ratings work the same... it's just a matter of scale, and how good the competition is. How good the completion is depends mostly on experience and locale of the user, assuming resources would be equalized. My guess is, you'd see lots of current D3 teams and conferences competing on equal footing within a few seasons. There could be a transition period of a few seasons where they equalize resources and red light restrictions before combination.
As I said from the outset, this is just for fun discussion. It won't happen, even though I fully believe it should. If I'm developing a college basketball simulation right now, there is 0% chance there would be a D3, and only a small chance of a D2. Neither is necessary, or particularly interesting. Hardly anyone is drawn to a college basketball simulation to coach Carnegie Mellon. The only reason to have a single lower division in a game like this is to give trial and newer players a place to learn the mechanics before they have to compete with entrenched dynasties. The idea of stratifying to milk more dollars out of users is a wash at best for WIS when their incentive structure gets gamed by people the way it does. If they were going for a total re-boot, I'd totally say just eliminate D3 (and maybe D2) entirely.