Ideas flowing already

[gallas]

As the 1st thread of this section, I wanted to let everyone know what's on the horizon as season 2 draws near it's close and we prepare for season 3. In many cases, we've already outlived our projected life expectancy in that many figured we'd fizzle out, whereas we've only become an even bigger operation then we intended to. And of course we owe that to all of you members. Without you, there'd be no XWA. Or at least it wouldn't have gotten as big as it is today. For the 2009 season, there are going to be some changes to how things are done. Not drastic changes, just needed. 1st and foremost there will be the elimination of Super Heavyweights. "Big Man" caws will be made Heavyweights as so other weightclasses can compete better against them. Now that doesn't mean your guy can't be listed as a Super, the caw just won't be fighting as won. If someone ends up with a dominant caw in 2009, we want it to be because they put in the work to make a solid, balanced caw, not because he's "bigger" then everyone else.

The next noticeable change will in a DRASTIC overhaul of the X-Gen Division. As we all know, Fighting Styles are dead in 2009. The Ability feature will offer up unparalleled depth and individuality amongst characters, as you'll literally be able to build a unique character for the 1st time ever in the series. As such, comes the ability to mix them up to make some unique character types. For the X-Gen Division, the requirement will be similar to this season. To be an eligible character, you must have one of 3 abilities in your arsenal:

Springboard
Outside Dives
Object

If you have at least one of these abilities, you can compete for the X-Gen Title. And if by chance you have 2 or even all 3? You're pretty much in a better position to be a top contender in the division. Priority for contention will ride on not only your participation IN THE DIVISION, but the number of abilities you have. Someone who has 2 X-Gen abilities will naturally have a better chance of winning the title then someone with only 1, but that's just in-game. The main factor is that you have to compete against OTHER X-Gen characters in X-Gen match types to raise up the ranks. If you have a X-Gen Character, but chose not to use them against others in the division, that's your choice. But you also choose to be at the bottom of the barrel in the Division, as those who compete in it will be rewarded title chances.

And speaking of divisions, we talk next of what I think will be the most improved division, that Tag Team Division. With the new Tag Team gameplay mechanics, it'll no longer be a chore being a tag team anymore. BUT, don't think that you're just going to make a tag team and immediately get in the spotlight. In order to be consider for contention, YOU NEED TO BE ACTIVE. Period. And for the existing teams, Seniority will be the story of the Tag Team Division. Is it fair? Yes it is. Because we have a select few members who have carried the division on their own this year while it's practically been on life support. These guys get 1st dibs at any and all major Team Events and matches. Why? Because they earned it. If you want to do the same, you'll need to do what they did. Be on with your team, be active and be CONSISTENT. We want a total commitment to the Tag Team Division in 2009.

We're also brainstorming a revision of the Pure Division of XWA. What kind of revision? We're still thinking that one out, but it's something we again feel needs to be done to bring some added heat and competition to the division. For the most part we're going to be leaving the Female Titles as is, because they don't require much tickering with. As always, as more info is revealed, we'll either add to or amend ideas as we go along, but as it stands this is the blueprint of what we have planned for next season.

Feel free to add feedback.

[Trouble*]

Will there be a list of XWA wrestlers who are aloud to use the 'Resiliency' perk? I don't think any of my boys fit the bill, but it'd be nice to know who to avoid come season 3.

[gallas]

We've already decided that Resiliency will be afforded only to the Combatant Xtraordinares. They are the cream of the crop in XWA, so if they choose to use the ability they can. So in 2009 there would be only 4 active characters on roster allowed to use the ability. Kayn, Ashley Diamond and the male and female who win the award for 2008. And for every year afterwards, the Xtraordinares will be the only characters who will be able use it henceforth.

[punch]

Makes sense actually. They're the characters who best represent XWA, so they should have an extra edge over the rest. Not saying that they still wouldn't be able to get thrashed though, lol. The Onyx Title is supposed to be the Female version of the Pure Title. Will this revision of the Pure Division take effect into the Onyx Title as well?

[gallas]

Yes. This re-visioning of Pure Rules is of the entire match type. We want to make it more MMA/BattlArts style. Something that caters to the Shoot Style of Wrestling. We're just trying to hammer out what the rules and conditions of victory will be. It'll be a hacked match type of course, and chances are we'll be renaming the division as a whole, but it will be the successor to Pure Rules just as Pure Rules is the successor to Pro Rules which was created in VWE and innovated in LXW. It's a gradual evolution of this particular match type that we hope will draw in more competition and make for more brutal battles for both males and females.

[hc]

What's the plan on bringing in new members? Or do we even really need new members actually?

[gallas]

The answer to that one is quite simple. No, we don't. As it stands we're still packed with characters, and only but a handful will be departing after this season. The only priority we'll have as far as new members is filling the spots of those who may or may not leave after this season. But we've already got a stacked enough pool of talent that we don't need to go out and recruit like we did at the end of season 1. 3X and I both have our prospects as far as people we're looking to bring into the fold, as well as some of our members doing some scouting of their own. (Especially since ICWL is now defunct, and we have a member here who was one of the vocal leaders of the fed, so he's already been talking to a few of the folks he thinks would be able to hit the ground running in XWA.) We don't need to expand as much as we did last year, 2009 will pretty much be about increasing the prestige of what we already have.

[hc]

That's what I was thinking. Build more from within, and recruit from outside as needed. What about existing members wanting to bring in new characters?

[gallas]

We're going to be very, Verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry selective in that process. Meaning that only if an existing member is looking to scrap an existing character for a new one will we allow it, unless they can convince us that their new character will not hinder their activity with their established one. To many times have I seen people bring in new characters and fall off with their older ones, or bring in new characters and not even use them. That's wasting a spot on roster for someone who can do more with a solo account then someone with multiple accounts, as well as taking up space of our memory cards. So for the most part it'll only be in the event of a handler replacing a character as opposed to bringing in a new one.

[punch]

Character Over-Saturation = FAIL

[hc]

What about your match booking idea for Overload. Are their going to be any revisions for that? I think it's a great idea that could have made some interesting angles had you PS2 not died on you.

[gallas]

It'll be back, but I'm not going to use it as much as I 1st intended to. I don't want to have to keep on holding people's hands to lead them into solid storylines. We want people to get together and make there own angles in 2009, not pick some of the more seasoned handlers brains. However, in Storyline Central, what I do plan on doing in 2009 is something different. I won't reveal it here because chances are if I do some bastid will rip off my idea, but in Storyline Central, which is only viewable by members, I'll post this new idea and run with it from there.

[hc]

Cool. That's all I got for now. I'm sure some other questions will pop up in my head later, lol.

[gallas]

That's what this is here for. There will be an official Q&A thread stickied later on after Thr33x gets on and posts what some of the 2009 ideas he's come up with, but most of our tweaks will be regarding the actual gameplay of 2009. Forum wise I think we're in good shape as far as the rules and allowed content. However, do expect when the game comes out for a RADICAL change in the moveset guidelines, seeing as to my knowledge they've lifted the restrictions of moves from weight classes. I'll personally be keeping tabs on this because if they have, we're going to need to overhaul the rules of movesets in XWA. We're not going to restrict moves, we're just going to try and keep things as realistic as possible. A big man can do a moonsault, yes. But there's no way in the hell that a Light Heavyweight should be doing a Military Press. That kinda stuff is what we'll mainly be looking at.

[kimmy]

What sort of changes are going to happen to the Diamond Division as a whole ??