New Feature: Transfers

Some of you may already have noticed that over the weekend a few new option were switched on. After a few week of coding, arguing and threatening Sky Net (our rebuilt FFL Computer) we have started to introduce the first new feature in the new Fantasy Film League: Transfers.

For those of you who listen to the podcast you’ll know this has been in the works for some time and while it’s a feature we will have available from the beginning of the 2011 game it was something we had always planned on putting into this year’s game.

Basically we now have the option to swap out members of you cast. Not happy with your director choice? Fire him. Your actor’s made your money and now is not releasing anything else? Let him go. You can claim “creative differences” or “scheduling conflicts” or whatever but get someone else in to make you loads of fufflebucks.

So how does it work? When you log into you page now you’ll see that you have been given two free transfers. Currently you can only swap your directors but the ability to switch on actors will be coming soon. We did the directors first as it’s easier to implement and test (Mr Smith has this whole coding philosophy we have to obey).

The rules of changing director (and actors) are the same and are as follows:

You can only make one transfer a week (This will change in the 2011 game)
Your cast member is swapped out and you keep any fufflebucks they have earned you so far this year.
This cast member will now no longer earn you fufflebucks. If they release a new film or win an award this will not be counted toward your score.
You do not get back the fufflebucks you spent to get them in your cast.The replacement will cost you (in fufflebucks) their price from this years pricelist.
You can only perform a transfer if you have earned enough fufflebucks to buy the cast member. The replacement cast member will start scoring for you from the next week (usually updated on the weekends). The fufflebucks used to buy your new cast member will not be deducted until the next scoring update.

So that’s about it really. As you can see it will give you some really interested tactical options and you can pick when (and indeed if) you want to use your transfers. So as this is a new option for you to play with we will be closely monitoring the statistical data on transfers and we can provide some tips and trick later but currently if you want to swap out a cast member we can think of two main reasons:

Damage Control. They were a bad choice. You thought they’d release like 10 films and they’ve done nothing. They’re just sitting there in your cast list taunting you with a big fat “$0” next to their name. Get rid of them and get a sure earner in instead.
They’ve served their purpose. They’ve worked hard for you. Did the big blockbuster and the surprisingly well received indie film and they’ve made you a fortune. Now it’s time for them to “rest” use some of your well earned fufflebucks to buy another sure thing. But be careful: If your original choice is up for the Oscar then you will not earn the bonus as he’s left your film.

So there you have it. The last point to mention is of course you don’t have to use your transfers if you don’t want to. In the 2011 game we will put in a feature that allows you to see which films are “original” and which films have been “adapted” .

If you have any questions or comments on the transfer system then please emails me and the usual address.

Mr Birch

mr.birch@fantasyfilmleague.com