Thanks to kami writing this, and note this is based around the 2011 season of the game, some details mentioned may change - but that will be clearly announced.
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Q: What is the Management Game?
A: The Management Game is, like the name suggests, a fantasy cycling game organized here on PCM.Daily. The main focus is on the management part, as you don't control the riders yourself.
Q: How does the Man-Game work?
A: If you look at the big picture, you can distinguish 4 main parts: The pre-season arrangements, the transfers, the race planner and the season itself.
1. The pre-season arrangements
For new teams, this mostly consists out of creating your team and picking your goals. Creating the team is basically choosing your sponsors and getting a jersey. After that you can start thinking about the orientation of your team (if you don't know it already). On the base of that, you decide 5 goals. E.a. Team Pokerstars decided before the season that their focus would be sprinting, so their goals were mostly flat races, made for sprinters. Others choose their goals pending on their team's nationality, but in the end it's your choice. It's an important one though, as the harder your goals, the higher your budget.
Existing teams will also face renewals on top of this. Here riders they currently own will request their wage for the current season, based on a formula from various factors - negotiation is required to try to get the most value for money, but there can be negative effects to attempts at negotiation, as well as positive.
2. The transfers
Probably the most important step of the game as this is where you assemble your team. After all the renewals are done, and all goals have been decided, the transfer period will start. This period last 2 weeks and during this you can do 3 things to obtain riders; Buy a free agent, buy a rider from another team or loan a rider from another team. For a new team, the first two steps are the most important. For the specific rules, go here.
This way, you build a team to fulfill your goals.
3. Race planner
SportingNonsense will put up files after the transfer period. Now it's time you choose your races. New teams will start in the Continental Division, so they will have a much wider choice of races. There are 2 kind of races; HC races and C1 races. You can choose 12 HC races for the season, out of a list of 20. HC races are more highly contested and give more points. You prioritize this races from 1 to 20, hoping that you'll get your first 12 choices appointed .
After this, you get another file with all races to choose from. The 12 HC races you got are already filled in on this excel sheet. Now you can fill up the remaining race days. In total you get 150 race days, and the more you use, the more points you can get. So try to use them all 150.
If all this is completed, it's time for the final step. You will get a file that lists all your races and all your riders. Now you choose which line-up you send to which race. Sounds simple, but be careful, as your choice can not be changed afterwards.
4. The season
Everyone has send in their line-up, so now it's time to enjoy the game. The races will be ridden by reporters. They will bring up a thread when the race comes near with a preview. In this place you can also discuss the race as it goes on. The reporter controls the 'Control Team'. A team with crappy riders that won't interact with the race. So it's AI vs AI, and if your team fails, blame PCM and not the reporters .
Q: How do i join the game?
A: When the current season ends, SportingNonsense will put up a thread, offering new people to apply for the man-game. The spots may vary, and the accepted will depend on the quality of the applies. So if you want to join the game, you post an apply in this topic. Don't take this lightly, as you will be judged on this whether you can join in or not. Remember, being in the game is a privilege, and you need to convince us that you are worth a spot.
After some time, the applications will be reviewed, and a new topic with the accepted managers will be put up. If you didn't make it, then you'll have another chance the next year.
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