An overview of Franchise Mode:
Getting Started
(As the regular season approaches, this board is filled in with Prize Cards and Playoff Packs).
(1) You can buy your teams with confidence. Once you have skin in the game, you have nothing else to do but watch and enjoy.
(2) Before the game begins, we use a roulette wheel to select the packs in play, and the prize cards. We show the results, while the regular season is being prepared.
(3) IMPORTANT: All of our pack openings happen live on camera, but we don't show you the individual cards until the regular season - cards are discretely organized by division. This is for greater good, do not worry, you will understand, we promise.
Regular Season
(1) The regular season is played one division at a time. Half of the teams in each division make the playoffs. The team that scores the MOST points and the team that scores the FEWEST points advance to the playoffs.
(2) Scoring: 1 point per standard card. 7 points for an autographed card. 10 points if you win a positional prize card. Remember, 1/2 the teams make the playoffs, you either need the most points in your division or the fewest; this evens the playing field for teams with fewer cards per card set.
(3) Connecting Four Positions: If three teams in a division have the same position showing as their top card (QB, RB, WR, TE, OL or any DEF position), and the fourth team pulls that same position, then that team wins the Prize Card associated with that position. DEF is the easiest prize card to win, so those prizes are good. OL is insanely difficult to win, and the prize cards are incredible (think 1/1s and rookie autographed cards from the best players in the game).
(4) The teams that don't make the playoffs still earn cards during the playoffs AND if your team pulls an autographed card, they are revived and enter whichever round of the playoffs the autographed card was pulled.
Playoffs
There are 4 rounds to the playoffs, plus a final 'Defend the Throne' round. Unlike the regular season all divisions play the playoffs at the same time. Scoring is the same as the regular season: 1 point per normal card. 3 points for an autographed card. 5 points if you win a positional prize card.
(1) Wildcard: The wildcard round is sudden death, first team to hit a card advances. Exception: If an autograph card is pulled from the same pack, that team wins. Packs: Spin 1, then OT packs as necessary.
(2) Divisional: In each matchup the team with the most points after the packs are opened wins. (not sudden death). Packs: Spin 1, Spin 2, then OT packs as necessary.
(3) Conference Championships: In each matchup the team with the most points after the packs are opened wins. (not sudden death). Packs: Spin 1, Spin 2, Spin 3, then OT packs as necessary.
(4) Championship: In each matchup the team with the most points after the packs are opened wins. (not sudden death). Packs: Spin 1, Spin 2, Spin 3, then OT packs as necessary.
(5) Defend the Throne: To win the Champion's Card the winner must defend their throne. Here one pack is opened. If it contains an autographed card, that team is revived and plays another championship round against the original winner. Packs: Spin 4, and if there is an autographed card, Spin 1, Spin 2, and Spin 3 and OT packs as necessary. NOTE: If an autographed card is pulled that is from the winning player's team, the entire playoffs are played again, starting with the wildcard round, but here there is no defend the throne.
ORDER OF OT PACKS: OT, OT, OT, SPIN 1, OT, OT, OT, Spin 3, OT, SPIN 2, OT, OT, SPIN 3, OT, SPIN 1, SPIN 4, SPIN 2, SPIN 4 (repeating).
Note: We do not slab cards during gameplay, but we are generous with slabbing when its over. Cards are shipped USPS the next day, or on Monday if the game takes place on a Saturday.