Creating Custom Cards :: Official Avalon Hill Rules

summary of the article etc, note inconsistencies, problems, where tables can and should be extended and point to opiotnal rules, caps where used in original doc, worksheets? auto spreadsheets

 

:: Strategy Cards

In beginning the professional football game, the first step is in TYPE SETTING and each year, the strategy cards must be reset. The reason is that these cards are used more often than others and wear out very quickly, and if any rule changes are made - new plays etc, they can be quickly incorporated. Here is a listing of the cards and how they must appear at present. THEY MUST BE INCLUDED.

Images to come :-

Quick Pass, Short Pass, Long Pass, Play Action Pass, Screen Pass

Quarterback Run, Quarterback Flop, Quarterback Sneak, End Around

No Strategy, Pass Defense, Prevent Defense, Pass Blitz Defense

Run Defense - No Key, Run Defense - Key Back 1, Key Back 2 and Key Back 3

Inside Left Run, Inside Right Run, Sweep Left Run, Sweep Right run, Draw Play

Running Back 1, Back 2, and Back 3

Right End, Left End, Flanker

Double Coverage, Double Coverage x 2, Triple Coverage

 

:: Big Plays

The Big Play Defense

In establishing the cards, do the BIG PLAY defense cards first. Any team that wins NINE or more games gets a reading which enables it to 'x' number of big plays per game - pet the 5th edition rules. As a rule, the Super Bowl team gets a rating of Home-4 and Road-4, unless it was a wild card team and then it must be subdued. This is a common sense measurement and is designed to explain why teams, such as Minnesota in 1987, were able to get through a so-so season to near the Super Bowl. Stats alone do not always explain, and these teams simply came up with big plays at the right time. For clarification, rate no more than 10 or 12 teams using this criteria

Big Play Ratings

Team
Ranking 		Big Plays
@ Home		 Big Plays
@ Road
     
1 4 4
2 4 3
3 3 3
4 3 2
5 2 2
6 2 1
7 1 1
8 1 1
9 1 1
10 1 0
11 1 0
12 1 0

 

 

:: Fumble Ratings

On the Team Depth Chart, I also put the TEAM FUMBLE DATA - under two different categories, Fumbles Lost and Defensive Fumble Adjustment. TEAM FUMBLES is arrived at by comparing the number of fumbles lost by the team, translated on the this table. The same goes for adjustment except DEFENSIVE fumbles recovered is used - the former uses OFFENSIVE fumbles. As an example if Team-A lost 18 fumbles and its defense recovered 13, the ratings would be Fumbles Lost: 1-29, Def Fum. Adj. +0

Fumble Ratings

# Fumbles Offense Defense
     
5 1-16 -8
6 1-17 -7
7 1-18 -6
8 1-19 -5
9 1-20 -4
10 1-21 -3
11 1-22 -2
12 1-23 -1
13 1-24 0
14 1-25 +1
15 1-26 +2
16 1-27 +3
17 1-28 +4
18 1-29 +5
19 1-30 +6
20 1-31 +7
21 1-32 +8
22 1-33 +9
23 1-34 +10
24 1-35 +11
25 1-36 +12
26 1-37 +13
27 1-38 +14
28 1-39 +15
29 1-40 +16
30 1-41 +17
31 1-42 +18
32 1-43 +19

 

 

:: Depth Charts / Rosters

The NFL Cast

Probably the most difficult step is determining who the players are - and their respective positions. Unlike baseball, the NFL does not give roster information [note: it does now] , but it can be obtained from three sources 1) USA TODAY, 2) Pro Football Weekly and 3) College-Pro Football Newsweekly. Example of each are contained on this page. I use a Depth Chart sheet for each team and a sample is on the following page. In each category I write down the name of the man, place an "X" if he is a starter, and how often he was used. Usage on offense if the total number of passes caught or rushes tried (or passes for quarterbacks) and on defense, the use is best defined by sacks and tackles (if available).

Often, I am forced to go through the weekly transactions list of the SPORTING NEWS to get changes, and obtain first names. This is a very lengthy process and is the reason why we get letters saying we left out a DB or LB- with the amount that go through the revolving doors it is not surprising, but the intent is to get as many regulars as we can.

Individual Cards

In an effort to cut down production costs and also time in getting the cards ready, there is no reason to offer as many players as in the past. Football is unlike baseball where every batter faces a singular pitcher - in football it is more often an offense versus a defense with strategy involved. Therefore, each team should have the following individual players rated:

This makes each roster contain 45 individual player cards and that is certainly a sufficient number. In making such a plan known, it will also cut down on the number of complaints that you did not include Josef Stalin [strange exmple!] who played 2 games at free safety in October. On the roster or depth sheet, as I write in the players, I add two notations - an X for Interceptions, and an S for sacks. As an example, if John Doe had four interceptions and made 2 sacks, then next to his name I would write in, "X4, S2". This speeds up the process when rating cards as two areas are dependent on inidivudal interceptions and sacks

The final typesetting step is to print a starting lineup depth chart, and use samples from other editions as the guideline. On the card, make sure that you include each teams FUMBLES LOST and DEF.FUM.ADJ - which is one of the first steps you did. BIG PLAY rating could also be included, as you desire, instead of being done on a separate card as I have done in the past. The choice is yours to make.

 

:: Quarterbacks

Quarterbacks have three sections to their cards, and each is handled separately. First, PASSING which details Quick, Short and Long. Use the ACTUAL percentage completed as the guideline and rate THREE quarterbacks on each team. There is some judgement value to be made - as an example, a known short passer such as Dan Fouts will have his exact percentage for Quick and Short passes, but the long can be reduced by several numbers. This is only obtained through first hand knowledge and if you lack that knowledge, figure out the average yards per completion for passers - dividing yards passed for by completions. This gives an overview of who throws downfield and who does not.

Percentage intercepted is the actual, applied to the chart, and the numbers that fall outside of Complete and Intercept are given to Incomplete. Pass Rush, at the bottom of the card, contains a reading on SACK, RUNS and INCOMPLETE. Begin with the SACK table and get the percentage of time that the teams QB was sacked. Divide sacks by sacks + passes attempted for the team. Apply the percent to the table and write in the rating. The RUN begins where the sacks end and always goes to an ending of 30. Next, using the completion percentage again write in the rating from 31 to ?, and any remaining numbers to 48 will be incomplete.

In doing quarterbacks, you rate them A, B or C - at the top of the card - which is based on usage. A is the primary starter who goes every game. B is the backup who plays when A is hurt or far ahead, and C is the guy in the wings. Sometimes teams use two quarterbacks an equal amount of time, and each would be an A. When a team does have an A,B and C - bend the stats a little to make sure that A has better numbers than does either B or C. Quarterback Rushing is the same as with running backs, and is explained in the rushing section

Completions - Passing

Completion % Quick Short Long
       
14 1-15 1-7 1-4
16 1-16 1-8 1-5
19 1-18 1-9 1-6
22 1-19 1-11 1-7
25 1-20 1-12 1-8
28 1-21 1-13 1-10
31 1-23 1-15 1-10
34 1-24 1-16 1-11
37 1-26 1-18 1-12
40 1-27 1-19 1-13
43 1-30 1-21 1-14
46 1-31 1-23 1-15
49 1-32 1-24 1-16
52 1-33 1-25 1-17
55 1-34 1-26 1-18
57 1-35 1-27 1-19
60 1-36 1-28 1-20
62 1-37 1-29 1-21
63 1-38 1-30 1-22
64 1-39 1-31 1-22
66 1-40 1-32 1-23
Above 1-41 1-33 1-23

 

 

Interceptions - Passing

Int % Quick Short Long
       
0-1     48
2-3   48 47-48
3-4   48 46-48
5-6 48 47-48 45-48
7-8 48 46-48 44-48
9 48 46-48 43-48
10 47-48 45-48 42-48
11 47-48 45-48 41-48
12 47-48 44-48 40-48
13 47-48 44-48 39-48
14 46-48 43-48 38-48
15 46-48 42-48 37-48
Above 45-48 42-48 36-48

 

 

Pass Rush - Sacks

Sack % Sack
   
1 1-5
2 1-6
3 1-7
4 1-8
5 1-9
6 1-10
7 1-11
8 1-12
9 1-13
10 1-14
11 1-15
12 1-16
13 1-17
14 1-18
15 1-19
16 1-20
17 1-21
18 1-22
19 1-23
20 1-24

 

 

Pass Rush - Completions

Com % Com
   
43 31-38
44 31-39
45 31-39
46 31-39
47 31-39
48 31-40
49 31-40
50 31-40
51 31-40
52 31-40
53 31-41
54 31-41
55 31-41
56 31-41
57 31-41
58 31-42
59 31-42
60 31-42
61 31-42
62 31-42
63 31-43
64 31-43
65 31-43
66 31-43
Above 31-44

 

 

:: Wide Receivers / Tight Ends

Pass receivers are rated for use such as running backs but remember that 30 receptions is equal to 130 or so rushing attempts. Make sure that each team has starters with either a 0 or 1 rating. This is, again, a judgemental factor. Receiving is like rushing, find the closest fit chart and use the numbers. The L column has the LONGEST at number 1 and is then worked down the line until it agrees that table, such as in rushing

Receivers are rated for blocking. TIGHT ENDS [3] will get ratings from +4 [an all-pro] to +3 and +2 and in some cases, +1. NONE LOWER. Wideouts go from +2 down to -3, based on your own personal judgement. In blocking ratings, you cannot do very much wrong, and if in doubt, play safe, rating from +1 to -1. If a receiver also ran the ball, include a rushing column for him.

Receiving Column - note clearly an error for 7 yd avg!

Avg.
Catch		 --- Quick --- Short --- Long
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
                                                                               
3   8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -3                                                    
4   9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2                                                    
5   10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1                                                    
6   11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0                                                    
7   6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 0 0   12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 5 5 5 5   24 22 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
8   L 10 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 0 0   L 12 11 9 8 7 6 5 5 5 5 5   26 24 22 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
9   L 10 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1   L 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 5 5   28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 20 20 20
10   L 10 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2   L 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 5   30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 20
11   L 10 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2   L 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5   32 30 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 20
12   L 12 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3   L 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6   34 32 31 28 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 20
13   L 13 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3   L 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7   36 33 31 28 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 20
14   L 14 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4   L 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8   38 36 33 29 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 20
15   L 15 9 9 8 8 2 1 0 -1 -2 5   L 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9   40 38 35 30 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 20
16   L 16 9 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5   L 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10   42 40 35 31 27 25 24 23 22 21 20 20
17   L 17 12 9 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 5   L 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   44 41 36 31 27 25 24 23 22 21 20 20
18   L 18 12 10 9 9 8 8 7 7 6 6   L 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   46 43 37 33 30 25 24 23 22 21 20 20
19   L 19 12 10 10 9 9 8 8 7 7 6   L 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13   48 45 38 33 30 27 24 23 22 21 20 20
20   L 19 12 11 10 10 9 9 8 8 7 7   L 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14   50 48 43 37 32 28 25 23 22 21 20 20
21   L 19 12 11 11 10 10 9 9 8 8 7   L 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14   52 50 45 41 35 30 27 26 25 23 21 20
22   L 19 12 12 11 11 10 10 9 9 8 8   L 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15   54 50 46 41 35 30 27 26 25 23 22 21
23   L 19 13 12 12 11 11 10 10 9 9 8   L 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16   56 50 46 43 38 33 29 27 25 23 22 21
24   L 19 13 13 12 12 11 11 10 10 9 9   L 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17   58 52 47 43 38 34 29 27 26 25 24 22
25   L 19 14 13 13 12 12 11 11 10 10 9   L 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18   60 58 54 45 41 36 32 28 27 26 24 23
26   L 19 14 14 13 13 12 12 11 11 10 10   L 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19   62 60 56 53 50 45 39 34 29 27 25 23
27   L 19 15 14 14 13 13 12 12 11 11 10   L 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20   64 60 57 51 45 40 34 30 28 26 25 24
28   L 19 15 15 14 14 13 13 12 12 11 11   L 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21   66 62 58 53 46 42 36 31 29 27 26 25

 

 

:: Running Backs

Rushing is based on the Average Yards per Rush, and all running backs and receivers are rated with a GAME USE RATING which can vary from 0 to 4, based on how many times he ran or caught the ball. This is a judgement value but is not hard to do. If a player is a workhorse rusher or receiver, he gets a 0. Used often, nets a 1, Rating 2 is one of those that gets only some action, while a 3 gets limited duty and 4 is seldom used. The idea is to restrict use of seldom used players who have gangbuster stats [If any questions, read the rules on page 7 which tells about this]

In rushing ratings, find the table that closely corresponds to the runner's per rush average, and apply that table as the player card. Use the N and SG column as on the chart, but LG has to be varied depending on the rushers longest gain. His LONG gain goes in under number 1, and then arbitrarily work the numbers down until they hit a shown number on the table. How you reduce the numbers is not important but space them out. Running backs also get a pass catch segment - and the pass catch section details that, and also a BLOCKING value rating which can vary from +3 to -2. Fullbacks are usually +2 or _3, and good blocking running backs 0 or +1. Speed burners, those little guys are normally -1 or -2.

Rushing Yardage Table

    Normal Column   Short Gain   Long Gain
Rush Avg   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
                                                                               
1.0   S 6 5 3 2 1 0 -1 -1 -2 -3 -5   10 9 8 7 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6   10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
1.1   S 6 5 3 2 1 0 0 -1 -2 -3 -4   10 10 9 8 7 6 6 6 6 6 6 6   11 11 11 11 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
1.2   S 6 5 4 2 1 0 0 -1 -2 -3 -4   10 10 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 6 6 6   12 12 12 11 11 11 11 10 10 10 10 10
1.3   S 6 5 4 3 1 0 0 -1 -2 -3 -4   10 10 9 9 8 8 7 6 6 6 6 6   13 13 12 12 12 11 11 11 10 10 10 10
1.4   S 6 5 4 3 2 0 0 -1 -2 -3 -4   10 10 9 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 6 6   14 14 13 13 12 12 11 11 10 10 10 10
1.5   S 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4   10 10 9 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 6 6   14 14 13 13 12 12 11 11 11 10 10 10
1.6   S 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -1 -3 -4   10 10 9 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 6 6   15 15 14 14 13 13 12 12 11 11 10 10
1.7   S 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -1 -3 -3   10 10 9 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 6 6   15 15 14 14 13 13 12 12 11 11 10 10
1.8   S 7 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -1 -3 -3   10 10 9 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 6 6   16 15 14 14 13 13 12 12 11 11 11 10
1.9   S 7 6 4 3 2 1 0 0 -1 -3 -3   10 10 9 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 6 6   17 15 14 14 13 13 12 12 11 11 11 10
2.0   S 7 6 5 3 2 1 0 0 -1 -3 -3   10 10 9 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 6 6   17 16 15 14 13 13 12 12 11 11 11 10
2.1   S 7 6 5 4 2 1 0 1 -1 -3 -3   10 10 9 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 6 6   17 16 15 15 14 14 13 12 11 11 11 10
2.2   S 7 6 5 4 3 1 0 0 -1 -3 -3   10 10 9 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 6 6   17 16 15 15 14 14 13 13 12 11 11 10
2.3   S 7 6 5 4 3 2 0 0 -1 -3 -3   10 10 9 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 6 6   17 16 15 15 14 14 13 13 12 11 11 10
2.4   S 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -2   10 10 9 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 6 6   17 16 15 15 14 14 136 13 12 11 11 10
2.5   S 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -3   10 10 9 9 8 8 7 7 7 6 6 6   17 16 15 15 14 14 13 13 12 11 11 11
2.6   S 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -2   11 10 10 9 9 8 8 7 7 7 7 6   18 17 16 15 14 14 13 13 12 11 11 11
2.7   S 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -1 -2   12 11 10 10 9 9 8 8 8 7 7 7   18 17 16 15 15 14 13 13 13 12 12 12
2.8   S 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 -1 -2   12 11 11 10 9 9 9 9 8 8 8 8   18 17 16 15 15 14 13 13 13 12 12 12
2.9   S 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 0 -1 -2   12 11 11 11 10 10 9 9 8 8 8 8   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 13 13 12 12 12
3.0   S 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 0 -1 -2   12 11 11 11 10 10 10 10 9 9 9 9   19 18 17 16 15 14 14 13 13 13 12 12
3.1   S 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 0 -1 -1   12 11 11 11 10 10 10 10 9 9 9 9   20 19 18 17 16 15 15 13 13 13 12 12
3.2   S 8 7 5 4 3 2 1 1 0 -1 -1   12 11 11 11 10 10 10 10 9 9 9 9   20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 13 13 12 12
3.3   S 8 7 6 4 3 2 1 1 0 -1 -1   12 11 11 11 10 10 10 10 9 9 9 9   20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 13 13 12 12
3.4