All Things Vital Downhill Fantasy

cantstop
Posts
12
Joined
4/29/2024
Location
NSW, NSW AU
Fantasy
7th
5/4/2024 10:44pm Edited Date/Time 5/4/2024 11:06pm

Good luck everyone and thanks Vital for all the hard work that's gone into setting this up. Long time creeper(??) but I've finally made an account for this, definitely builds the excitement.

I've gone the maximum points/$ approach, feels like a big brain move but I guess we'll find out soon.

3
sspomer
Posts
4862
Joined
6/26/2009
Location
Boise, ID US
Fantasy
66th
5/5/2024 7:57am

WHAT A RACE! Fantasy results will be up Sunday afternoon/evening. You'll get a notifications etc. Thanks all for playing!

10
segamethod
Posts
19
Joined
4/26/2024
Location
Anaheim, CA US
Fantasy
15th
5/5/2024 2:28pm

Thanks for the hard work on this! Was fun to try and work out the meta. I almost had it…I think it’s unfortunate that selecting the “best” team (highest pt potential) for this round couldn’t have any of the likely winners from Men’s or Women’s Elite selected to have a shot. 

Seems like you guys were open to making changes to the game based on how this round when. What are your thoughts now that you’ve seen it play out?

4
sspomer
Posts
4862
Joined
6/26/2009
Location
Boise, ID US
Fantasy
66th
5/5/2024 2:43pm

5th place is nuts! way to go!

i'll double-check with our techs, but sometimes there may be multiple results scenarios to get "best team" but only one is presented on the screen. not sure if that's the case with this race, however. if the actual race results were different, top riders elite riders could have been the way to go, too, though. the amount of top elite men not in finals was a really fun/interesting curveball.

regardless, it was a hoot. going forward having higher dollar values for riders could make sense. i had 21 riders on my team. that's a lot. it's fun and helps me get to know the field more, but we'll look things over and i'm always open to hear what you players think.

again, thanks to all! it's felt like being in an actual race getting this rolling.

6
5/5/2024 3:12pm

@sspomer rigged the game... Jk, thanks for all the work that goes into something like this! Figured I'd finish a lot higher but the winning strategy was quantity over accuracy. Onto Poland!

1
owl-x
Posts
383
Joined
3/23/2016
Location
Seattle, WA US
Fantasy
1047th
5/5/2024 3:13pm

I enjoyed have 100% of my team racing on the teevee. When I choose on Wednesday it seems like all my picks get hurt or don’t make the cut. I’ll lose interest after a couple races. 
When I read that only finals mattered I was like wut, but I bet I’ll keep going now that I know my roster is perma protected through Saturday night mulligan technology. 
 

 

1
Eoin
Posts
251
Joined
3/6/2015
Location
FR
Fantasy
42nd
5/5/2024 11:23pm

I like the giant team rosters, but not sure about being able to change them after qualis and semis. Just because suddenly you only have a handful of riders left to choose and the correct move is to buy as many of the top 10 semi finishers as possible.

I feel like we need to have that horrible feeling of your top dog, super strategy falling apart when qualis don't go your way!

5
iceman2058
Posts
1526
Joined
8/1/2009
Location
IL
Fantasy
146th
5/5/2024 11:45pm

Something must have gone wrong because my winning strategy SUCKED! LOL!

SO much fun to have this game rolling now, can't wait to go again for next round.

7
mtbAndy
Posts
67
Joined
6/21/2013
Location
Big Stone Gap, VA US
Fantasy
133rd
5/6/2024 4:48am Edited Date/Time 5/6/2024 5:07am

I'm shocked how many riders are on the best possible team. A stat I think would be interesting to go along with it would be best bang for the buck rider of the race. A quick look at the points looks like Gloria Scarsi at $50k and 120 points would be that pick this week.

Edit after I made a spreadsheet... The best bang for the buck overall and Junior Men's was Daniel Parfitt at $200 per point earned. In Men's Elite Douglas Vieira at $263.16, Women's Elite Mikayla Parton at $300, and Junior Women is Heather Wilson at $417.

8
bulletbass man
Posts
909
Joined
8/18/2018
Location
Collegeville, PA US
Fantasy
169th
5/6/2024 6:16am

Personally I think it’s fun to tinker with the line up as the weekend rolls along.  Just my 2 cents.

4
Mwood
Posts
102
Joined
8/19/2009
Location
Bay Area, CA US
Fantasy
2898th
5/6/2024 10:56am Edited Date/Time 5/6/2024 11:03am

The fantasy stat under the poster info in the forums is RAD! Spomer still got it baby!\

Edit: While slightly ashamed of my position, I actually enjoyed this fantasy league.

3
sspomer
Posts
4862
Joined
6/26/2009
Location
Boise, ID US
Fantasy
66th
5/6/2024 4:11pm Edited Date/Time 5/6/2024 6:15pm
sethimus wrote:

how can i see what others had chosen?

https://www.vitalmtb.com/fantasy/standings?season=All&round=3506 (found up in the pull down at the top of the page under "standings", then filter by the specific round) - list of results and you can hit "show team" to see everyone's picks. this is only available after the round is complete, however. no scanning other players' teams while a round is open.

and how many people had their fantasy get hosed by luke meier-smith DSQ and austin dooley DNF haha? not sure if it's been mentioned, but i guess it's a newer rule, if a rider makes the finals and at least crosses the line, they're guaranteed minimum points (so 30 for elite men). if luke went back up where he left the course, he would have earned points (for himself and us in fantasy LOL). mille johnset got 11th and got 50 points, same as monika hrastnik in 10th with 50 points. not sure what the time limit is to finish, but if dooley could have nursed or walked his bike down fast enough, he would have got points too.

we gotta start leaning on riders to finish their runs for the sake of our teams LOL

4
BGoldstone
Posts
268
Joined
7/24/2013
Location
CA
Fantasy
27th
5/7/2024 12:48am
sethimus wrote:

how can i see what others had chosen?

sspomer wrote:
https://www.vitalmtb.com/fantasy/standings?season=All&round=3506 (found up in the pull down at the top of the page under "standings", then filter by the specific round) - list of results and...

https://www.vitalmtb.com/fantasy/standings?season=All&round=3506 (found up in the pull down at the top of the page under "standings", then filter by the specific round) - list of results and you can hit "show team" to see everyone's picks. this is only available after the round is complete, however. no scanning other players' teams while a round is open.

and how many people had their fantasy get hosed by luke meier-smith DSQ and austin dooley DNF haha? not sure if it's been mentioned, but i guess it's a newer rule, if a rider makes the finals and at least crosses the line, they're guaranteed minimum points (so 30 for elite men). if luke went back up where he left the course, he would have earned points (for himself and us in fantasy LOL). mille johnset got 11th and got 50 points, same as monika hrastnik in 10th with 50 points. not sure what the time limit is to finish, but if dooley could have nursed or walked his bike down fast enough, he would have got points too.

we gotta start leaning on riders to finish their runs for the sake of our teams LOL

I had both Austin and Luke

Kale123
Posts
23
Joined
2/23/2022
Location
Brisbane, QLD AU
Fantasy
127th
5/7/2024 2:23am Edited Date/Time 5/7/2024 2:24am
sethimus wrote:

how can i see what others had chosen?

sspomer wrote:
https://www.vitalmtb.com/fantasy/standings?season=All&round=3506 (found up in the pull down at the top of the page under "standings", then filter by the specific round) - list of results and...

https://www.vitalmtb.com/fantasy/standings?season=All&round=3506 (found up in the pull down at the top of the page under "standings", then filter by the specific round) - list of results and you can hit "show team" to see everyone's picks. this is only available after the round is complete, however. no scanning other players' teams while a round is open.

and how many people had their fantasy get hosed by luke meier-smith DSQ and austin dooley DNF haha? not sure if it's been mentioned, but i guess it's a newer rule, if a rider makes the finals and at least crosses the line, they're guaranteed minimum points (so 30 for elite men). if luke went back up where he left the course, he would have earned points (for himself and us in fantasy LOL). mille johnset got 11th and got 50 points, same as monika hrastnik in 10th with 50 points. not sure what the time limit is to finish, but if dooley could have nursed or walked his bike down fast enough, he would have got points too.

we gotta start leaning on riders to finish their runs for the sake of our teams LOL

BGoldstone wrote:

I had both Austin and Luke

I had Austin, Luke, Henry Kerr, erice van lueven Silly

4
bnflynn
Posts
36
Joined
11/11/2020
Location
Mukilteo, WA US
Fantasy
67th
5/7/2024 3:32am
sspomer wrote:
https://www.vitalmtb.com/fantasy/standings?season=All&round=3506 (found up in the pull down at the top of the page under "standings", then filter by the specific round) - list of results and...

https://www.vitalmtb.com/fantasy/standings?season=All&round=3506 (found up in the pull down at the top of the page under "standings", then filter by the specific round) - list of results and you can hit "show team" to see everyone's picks. this is only available after the round is complete, however. no scanning other players' teams while a round is open.

and how many people had their fantasy get hosed by luke meier-smith DSQ and austin dooley DNF haha? not sure if it's been mentioned, but i guess it's a newer rule, if a rider makes the finals and at least crosses the line, they're guaranteed minimum points (so 30 for elite men). if luke went back up where he left the course, he would have earned points (for himself and us in fantasy LOL). mille johnset got 11th and got 50 points, same as monika hrastnik in 10th with 50 points. not sure what the time limit is to finish, but if dooley could have nursed or walked his bike down fast enough, he would have got points too.

we gotta start leaning on riders to finish their runs for the sake of our teams LOL

Honestly, I don't understand why any of these guys would intentionally DNF. Didn't they learn from Brayton how valuable those 30 points could be?

1
Stunnanumma1
Posts
101
Joined
12/29/2019
Location
Chevy Chase, MD US
Fantasy
293rd
5/8/2024 3:50am
sspomer wrote:
https://www.vitalmtb.com/fantasy/standings?season=All&round=3506 (found up in the pull down at the top of the page under "standings", then filter by the specific round) - list of results and...

https://www.vitalmtb.com/fantasy/standings?season=All&round=3506 (found up in the pull down at the top of the page under "standings", then filter by the specific round) - list of results and you can hit "show team" to see everyone's picks. this is only available after the round is complete, however. no scanning other players' teams while a round is open.

and how many people had their fantasy get hosed by luke meier-smith DSQ and austin dooley DNF haha? not sure if it's been mentioned, but i guess it's a newer rule, if a rider makes the finals and at least crosses the line, they're guaranteed minimum points (so 30 for elite men). if luke went back up where he left the course, he would have earned points (for himself and us in fantasy LOL). mille johnset got 11th and got 50 points, same as monika hrastnik in 10th with 50 points. not sure what the time limit is to finish, but if dooley could have nursed or walked his bike down fast enough, he would have got points too.

we gotta start leaning on riders to finish their runs for the sake of our teams LOL

bnflynn wrote:

Honestly, I don't understand why any of these guys would intentionally DNF. Didn't they learn from Brayton how valuable those 30 points could be?

Pretty good point, not to get points.

mtb_James200
Posts
1
Joined
5/13/2024
Location
maumelle, AR US
Fantasy
3123rd
5/15/2024 9:52am
bnflynn wrote:
Since you can change up your team after semis, it seems like there is no reason to build a team until you know who's in the...

Since you can change up your team after semis, it seems like there is no reason to build a team until you know who's in the show. No incentive to pick a complete wildcard. Maybe all rider values go up 10k once semis start, just to incentivize picking someone early?

Not complaining. I'm stoked to have the game to play. Just a thought.

If there is a tie it's settled by whoever got their picks first. Might be a small incentive.

1
LePigPen
Posts
370
Joined
12/23/2020
Location
Harbor City, CA US
Fantasy
151st
5/15/2024 10:13am

Have to admit it makes it more exciting to know that you don't win just by grabbing Loic and Vali and a handful of other good riders, like many did, to where you end up with dozens of winners with the exact same load out.

That said, yeah I need to completely rethink my strategy in order to succeed in this format. When does Poland picks open? I'm excited to start tinkering...

Tanner_Carl
Posts
139
Joined
11/2/2018
Location
Bumfuck, WI US
Fantasy
2166th
5/15/2024 10:15am

vital's fantasy structure blows pinkbike's out of the water

7
djyosh
Posts
33
Joined
10/18/2019
Location
Vancouver CA
Fantasy
512th
5/15/2024 10:24am
LePigPen wrote:
Have to admit it makes it more exciting to know that you don't win just by grabbing Loic and Vali and a handful of other good...

Have to admit it makes it more exciting to know that you don't win just by grabbing Loic and Vali and a handful of other good riders, like many did, to where you end up with dozens of winners with the exact same load out.

That said, yeah I need to completely rethink my strategy in order to succeed in this format. When does Poland picks open? I'm excited to start tinkering...

From the manage team page:

 

"There’s currently no open round. If there was, this is where you would make your picks. Check back a couple days before a race."

1
Scrub
Posts
216
Joined
9/3/2009
Location
Elk Grove/Truckee, CA US
Fantasy
118th
5/15/2024 11:12am

Itchin' to re-load the Fantasy list picks for Poland!

2
sspomer
Posts
4862
Joined
6/26/2009
Location
Boise, ID US
Fantasy
66th
5/15/2024 11:41am

we're itching too! it'll prob go live tomorrow (thursday) morning just like fort bill. the "entry list" for riders is in, but it's never fully accurate. once qualifying start list lands, that's when we can button it up and launch.

stoked!

3
Dave_Camp
Posts
369
Joined
8/25/2009
Location
CO US
Fantasy
76th
5/15/2024 12:05pm Edited Date/Time 5/15/2024 12:08pm

I may have made a moneyball spreadsheet.

 

haha I beat spomer last round!  still had Luke Meier Smith, Dooley and Eurice.

2
JustinMD
Posts
2
Joined
1/6/2016
Location
AZ US
Fantasy
1299th
5/16/2024 8:08am Edited Date/Time 5/16/2024 8:10am

So far my biggest complaint is that I can’t set up a team. Meaning that it’s Thursday, the race is this weekend and it’s still unavailable. Just use the list from the last race and edit once qualies start. I would like to setup a team at least a week early. Dig into the web and make changes as needed. If for some reason I can’t get back to make changes I’m not hosed. 
 

PLEASE make it so we don’t have to wait until last minute to make preliminary picks. 

2
Mugen
Posts
136
Joined
3/28/2014
Location
FR
Fantasy
1881st
5/16/2024 9:23am

Agree, I know stuff changes, but just leave the previous round prices and competitors up so we can play around, then once the start list and price changes are validated give us a warning if riders are not there or the team is too expensive (or kick riders out).

 

sspomer
Posts
4862
Joined
6/26/2009
Location
Boise, ID US
Fantasy
66th
5/16/2024 9:27am Edited Date/Time 5/16/2024 9:33am

round is open.

https://www.vitalmtb.com/fantasy/2024/bielsko-biala

there's all day today, tomorrow and saturday to make picks. that's plenty of time. it's going to be like this every round. we don't open until quali start list is posted and the data is entered. the difference between ft bill and poland start lists is significant. sure, most of the hitters are going to be in there on race day between rounds, but there's too much room for error to be adding/deleting/adjusting riders in between and if the list is constantly changing, it's not fair for players who play early and don't realize things have changed.

the difference between entry list and actual quali start lists this week was about 15 riders in total. those are 15 riders you could have picked that aren't even racing (like martin maes, eddie masters, matthew walker). by waiting for quali start list to be published and then game to open, you can't pick riders who aren't dropping in for quali (unless they get hurt).

 

2
BGoldstone
Posts
268
Joined
7/24/2013
Location
CA
Fantasy
27th
5/16/2024 10:03am
sspomer wrote:
round is open. https://www.vitalmtb.com/fantasy/2024/bielsko-biala there's all day today, tomorrow and saturday to make picks. that's plenty of time. it's going to be like this every round...

round is open.

https://www.vitalmtb.com/fantasy/2024/bielsko-biala

there's all day today, tomorrow and saturday to make picks. that's plenty of time. it's going to be like this every round. we don't open until quali start list is posted and the data is entered. the difference between ft bill and poland start lists is significant. sure, most of the hitters are going to be in there on race day between rounds, but there's too much room for error to be adding/deleting/adjusting riders in between and if the list is constantly changing, it's not fair for players who play early and don't realize things have changed.

the difference between entry list and actual quali start lists this week was about 15 riders in total. those are 15 riders you could have picked that aren't even racing (like martin maes, eddie masters, matthew walker). by waiting for quali start list to be published and then game to open, you can't pick riders who aren't dropping in for quali (unless they get hurt).

 

if there is an error with the quali start list will riders be added if they were left off? i can see one junior rider that should be racing but has been left off. they were on the entry list.

sspomer
Posts
4862
Joined
6/26/2009
Location
Boise, ID US
Fantasy
66th
5/16/2024 10:18am

riders can be added if left off b/c of an error. unless the quali list is updated and the update is made known, there's not an obvious way for us to find out. if a rider is left off a list and not in the game, they're not accesible to everyone playing the game, so game remains fair. not and ideal situation, however. who is the rider?

one huge issue with making changes after we've opened picks is that increases to rider costs may cause a player to have exceeded their budget.

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