Return of the Desert Island Draft?

[Capt. Factorial]

Every once in a while we see a lament about the doldrums of the offseason (TDOS, though "doldrums" was never meant to be part of that acronym). Every so often somebody brings up the old Desert Island Drafts that we used to do. It turns out that although we used to hold one most every offseason, we haven't done one since 2020. (We ran two quite extensive drafts in the Shelter-In-Place times and I think we may have burned ourselves out a bit!)

So...the question is, is anybody up for another? I'd be willing to step up and run the thing if so.

Since we would kind of be getting a late start (I would think we might want to hold off until after the NBA draft comes and goes, but I'd be flexible on that) I think we'd do best to have a somewhat abbreviated draft - not run the thing to 30 items a person, but rather something more in the 10-15 range.

We also have to find a topic. We've already pretty much saturated ourselves on movies and songs and albums (and maybe books?) so we might want to try something else, or add a new twist, or seeing as there are possibly enough newbies around we could go for an old standby and still cover new ground.

If you're interested, chime in! Please add any suggestions for *what* we could be drafting so we can get some ideas, I don't really want to play drafttator here.

 

[Padrino]

I'm in. And I'd suggest some kind of food-related draft. Not sure in what specific vein, but there's been some interesting food conversations I've noted in the Lounge in the last few years.

 

[Löwenherz]

I’m in depending on the topic.

Always down for movies or albums.

We haven’t done a video games one in more than a decade. Might be worth revisiting.

We have a good number of wrestling fans here - maybe something along those lines is in order.

I don’t know that we’ve ever done a straight books/novels draft. I think there was an authors draft, but that’s different.

Last time we did “make a roster of former and current Sacramento Kings” we had to duplicate Richmond, Webber, and Cousins just so whoever got one of them didn’t dominate. Maybe enough talent has come onto the team in the last decade to make that unnecessary.

Make a band/movie drafts were fun, as were the Villain/Hero drafts.

And we promised to have a Hot Dudes draft to balance the Hot Babes one, but never delivered.

 

[Sluggah]

Down

 

[Capt. Factorial]

I don’t know that we’ve ever done a straight books/novels draft. I think there was an authors draft, but that’s different.

Hmm. I figured that had happened but perhaps it hasn't.

Another avenue I think we haven't gone down is "music videos". Yes, in song/album drafts we have often posted them, but more as a supplement as an actual drafted item.

 

[whitechocolate]

I'm down. For a category, I suggest foods that start with the letter Q.

 

[Padrino]

Hmm. I figured that had happened but perhaps it hasn't.

Another avenue I think we haven't gone down is "music videos". Yes, in song/album drafts we have often posted them, but more as a supplement as an actual drafted item.

Books/novels would be something I'd love to participate in, if that's on the table. I think restricting the draft to fiction would be useful, as well.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

OK, interest level right now is five...I'll give it a day or two, maybe a few more suggestions come up, and then I'll throw a poll to see what people are most interested in drafting, see if we can get 8-10 to play

 

[Löwenherz]

I'm down. For a category, I suggest foods that start with the letter Q.

 

[QWERTYLICIOUS]

Every once in a while we see a lament about the doldrums of the offseason (TDOS, though "doldrums" was never meant to be part of that acronym). Every so often somebody brings up the old Desert Island Drafts that we used to do. It turns out that although we used to hold one most every offseason, we haven't done one since 2020. (We ran two quite extensive drafts in the Shelter-In-Place times and I think we may have burned ourselves out a bit!)

So...the question is, is anybody up for another? I'd be willing to step up and run the thing if so.

Since we would kind of be getting a late start (I would think we might want to hold off until after the NBA draft comes and goes, but I'd be flexible on that) I think we'd do best to have a somewhat abbreviated draft - not run the thing to 30 items a person, but rather something more in the 10-15 range.

We also have to find a topic. We've already pretty much saturated ourselves on movies and songs and albums (and maybe books?) so we might want to try something else, or add a new twist, or seeing as there are possibly enough newbies around we could go for an old standby and still cover new ground.

If you're interested, chime in! Please add any suggestions for *what* we could be drafting so we can get some ideas, I don't really want to play drafttator here.

OK, interest level right now is five...I'll give it a day or two, maybe a few more suggestions come up, and then I'll throw a poll to see what people are most interested in drafting, see if we can get 8-10 to play

Conceptually, I really like this idea, and wouldn't mind partaking in the festivities, but I feel like I need to sit back and observe one of these things before doing so, or I might drop a major one...
So, I shall observe how y'all fine folks go about doing this one, and I might partake in the future.

 

[Löwenherz]

Conceptually, I really like this idea, and wouldn't mind partaking in the festivities, but I feel like I need to sit back and observe one of these things before doing so, or I might drop a major one...
So, I shall observe how y'all fine folks go about doing this one, and I might partake in the future.

Ah, don’t be shy. They’re easy enough to pick up and fly right from the start. We got your back.

On another note, a niche topic could be “construct a college athletic conference” inspired by the ongoing odyssey of the PAC 12.

Would only need 6-8 drafters max. Every collegiate sports program would be available. Let’s see who can put together the most entertaining product.

Do you emphasize football, basketball, both, or even neither?

Do you focus on regional rivals or a collection of super teams?

Do you make a point to highlight prestigious academ … haha, sorry just kidding; I couldn’t get through that with a straight face.

Could be cool to play commissioners.

 

[Spike]

View attachment 13588

Quiche obviously goes first overall in this draft.

 

[Löwenherz]

Quiche obviously goes first overall in this draft.

Wow, that means quesadilla is slipping to me with the second pick!

 

[Capt. Factorial]

Quiche obviously goes first overall in this draft.

Somebody has never had a proper quesadilla!

 

[Spike]

Somebody has never had a proper quesadilla!

Spoken from someone who has never had a proper quiche.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

OK, the poll is up! We only get so many slots so I picked and chose - sorry, Löw, that all of your suggestions aren't on there. Let's see where the interest lies!

 

[QWERTYLICIOUS]

If I were to participate in one, I'd be more inclined to participate in a professional wrestling-related or Kings players from 1998/1999 to now-related one. Just sayin'...

With that being said, and seeing that I've never participated in one before, I'm most likely sitting it out this year so I can observe. BUT...If I find one in future years that sparks my interest, I'll throw my name into the mix.

 

[SLAB]

Wrestling and I’m in!

 

[QWERTYLICIOUS]

Wrestling and I’m in!

We should draft a "roster" of wrestlers we would like to see the SLABster step into the squared circle against at some point throughout his professional wrestling career.

If THAT is the draft, then I'm for sure in!!! I don't need to sit back and observe for a year in order to figure it out; I've got this!!!

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Should we wind up doing one that's done before, I've seen music fantasy drafts lately that ran on the old rotisserie rules where someone nominates an album and then people bid on it, if everyone has $100 fantasy bucks or whatever. Might make a change of pace or add a wrinkle to something we've done 3 or more times.

I've probably got 5 new bands in my rotation since 2020 though.

 

[Löwenherz]

Should we wind up doing one that's done before, I've seen music fantasy drafts lately that ran on the old rotisserie rules where someone nominates an album and then people bid on it, if everyone has $100 fantasy bucks or whatever. Might make a change of pace or add a wrinkle to something we've done 3 or more times.

I've probably got 5 new bands in my rotation since 2020 though.

A Salary Cap Draft would be a fun way to mix up the older themes we’ve done to death, or just generally.

Edit: although, that might prove challenging to pull off in this format.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Probably have less rounds if you did it, might be fun either way. Up to whoever plays.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

Bumping this to see if we can get somebody to break that poll tie

 

[whitechocolate]

Maybe a tie should go against the more recently used category.

 

[Löwenherz]

Maybe a tie should go against the more recently used category.

I agree. We’ve had at least 3 album drafts, not including the numerous other music related ones, and only 1 video game draft in nearly 20 years.

As the reigning undefeated champion of all video game drafts, I think it’s high time I be forced to defend my title.

Every one who voted for albums also voted for video games except @Sluggah

Maybe they’d be down with video games too. If so, I’m confident we could get 8 or more.

 

[Sluggah]

I am in fact fine with video games (assuming all platforms are included).

 

[Capt. Factorial]

I am in fact fine with video games (assuming all platforms are included).

Yes. I'm assuming that video games is going to win (looks like I can't edit when the poll closes) and I'm drafting up some rules that seem to make sense. Just trying to get ahead of any potential issues.

Here's what I have right now:

• Non-snaking draft; non-participating third party (TBD, one of the mods if available) to randomize drafting order
• 12-hour time limit (?? 24 seems to make things drag, negotiable ??), if time runs out next player is immediately on the clock and the missed draft pick can be made up any time before player’s next pick regardless of who is on the clock at that time
• At end of draft, other players will rank opponents to determine seeds, then we will do elimination-style voting as usual (any KF.com member can vote regardless of participation in the draft - but can’t be part of the seeding rankings)
• Can draft from any gaming system platform that hooks to a TV/monitor, or is standalone, or arcade, or PC computer (??missing anything??)
• Must name platform with game when drafting
• No restriction on number of times you can choose same platform
• If the same game is released on multiple platforms, picking it on one blocks the others from being taken
• Games must be originally designed as a video game, cannot be simply implementations of real-world games (e.g. chess, solitaire, Risk...)
• Originals only (no reissues; expansion packs that require the original game must be taken with a separate pick after taking the base game, but if new-sale base-level commercial releases include updates/patches you obviously get those)
• Two games with the same name, but fundamentally different games as opposed to reissues) do not block each other (e.g. if ColecoVision released Mr. Bill’s Adventure in 1983 and then Xbox released a completely different Mr. Bill’s Adventure based on the same character in 2021, these are independently draftable)

Please provide any necessary feedback on these rule ideas, point out any important points or roadblocks that I've missed, etc. Thanks!

 

[Löwenherz]

Yes. I'm assuming that video games is going to win (looks like I can't edit when the poll closes) and I'm drafting up some rules that seem to make sense. Just trying to get ahead of any potential issues.

Here's what I have right now:

• Non-snaking draft; non-participating third party (TBD, one of the mods if available) to randomize drafting order
• 12-hour time limit (?? 24 seems to make things drag, negotiable ??), if time runs out next player is immediately on the clock and the missed draft pick can be made up any time before player’s next pick regardless of who is on the clock at that time
• At end of draft, other players will rank opponents to determine seeds, then we will do elimination-style voting as usual (any KF.com member can vote regardless of participation in the draft - but can’t be part of the seeding rankings)
• Can draft from any gaming system platform that hooks to a TV/monitor, or is standalone, or arcade, or PC computer (??missing anything??)
• Must name platform with game when drafting
• No restriction on number of times you can choose same platform
• If the same game is released on multiple platforms, picking it on one blocks the others from being taken
• Games must be originally designed as a video game, cannot be simply implementations of real-world games (e.g. chess, solitaire, Risk...)
• Originals only (no reissues; expansion packs that require the original game must be taken with a separate pick after taking the base game, but if new-sale base-level commercial releases include updates/patches you obviously get those)
• Two games with the same name, but fundamentally different games as opposed to reissues) do not block each other (e.g. if ColecoVision released Mr. Bill’s Adventure in 1983 and then Xbox released a completely different Mr. Bill’s Adventure based on the same character in 2021, these are independently draftable)

Please provide any necessary feedback on these rule ideas, point out any important points or roadblocks that I've missed, etc. Thanks!

There was some debate last time about internet accessibility whether games that depend on internet connections would be eligible. Back during the first draft online gaming was banned from consideration, but things have evolved since then so that maybe we need to make them available.

Full disclosure, I do not play online multiplayer games, so this does not change my drafting in anyway. But regardless, I think it would be good for clarity.

One other thing, we’re sticking with the VF rule of non-snaking drafting?

 

[Capt. Factorial]

There was some debate last time about internet accessibility whether games that depend on internet connections would be eligible. Back during the first draft online gaming was banned from consideration, but things have evolved since then so that maybe we need to make them available.

Full disclosure, I do not play online multiplayer games, so this does not change my drafting in anyway. But regardless, I think it would be good for clarity.

I'm not an online multiplayer either. But with internet being ubiquitous (even on our desert island we probably found a Starlink) I personally have no objection. I would say gaming system or PC games with online modes are kosher; games played via a website count as long as they meet the "originally designed as a video game" criterion.

One other thing, we’re sticking with the VF rule of non-snaking drafting?

I think it's a bit easier, but I'm flexible. I guess I already know I'm not winning this draft so the prospect of picking last doesn't worry me, if others want to snake that's fine.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

Oh, I somehow left out the number of picks. We might not want to go too extravagant here. Not sure what folks think would be right. 10 might feel a bit cramped, 20 seems a bit many, shoot the middle for 15?