NUTMEG! A Nostalgic Deckbuilding Football Manager · published
In NUTMEG!, your responsibilities don’t end with the playing squad. When you take over your team of choice, a whole host of the club’s key departments are in your hands. How will you deal with the responsibility of both performing well on the pitch while progressing the club in a stable manner off it? Wind up that big computer and dig out that fancy calculator - let’s take a closer look at how you’ll manage the day-to-day running of your football club of choice in NUTMEG!
Money is a great motivator, and that holds true in NUTMEG! Sell players that don’t fit your system, and buy a selection of merchandise for your fans to grab at the next home game - all to fill the coffers. Beware, though: actions have consequence. For example, different items of Merch will sell better depending on the time of year, your fanbase's happiness, as well as your position in the league. Maybe don’t buy all those expensive prestige items to sell as your team languishises in the relegation zone.
Spent wisely? Take this newfound cash to the negotiation table and put pen to paper on signing new players, bolster your backroom staff, or get spades in the soil and sign off on an exciting new stadium development! Bigger stands equals greater chances for income, but do you have the fanbase to make this worthwhile? That depends on the club’s performance, and your relationship with the supporters (more on that in the future!).
Need further investment? Get on the phone and hash out a sponsorship deal! Offers from brands big and small become available when you're higher in the table, all with differing deal lengths and requirements. Some sponsors may offer more money, but this could lead to discontent among your fans or players. Is that a risk you’re willing to take?
While silly financial ‘rules’ are musings of a madman, in NUTMEG!, merchandise remains an integral part of maintaining a healthy cash flow and building a strong football club Don’t be a mug: purchase scarves, shirts, coasters, pennants, and more and let the money roll in… hopefully. Stock these via the merchandise tab on your DOS machine - but beware, for you can only stock a few different items at any one time!
Football isn’t just won on the pitch - but off it too. From scouts identifying key transfer targets to physiotherapists performing miracles in patching up an injured player, a club's backroom staff can make or break a season.
Hire (and fire) staff members who can help propel the club to new heights. Some staff provide benefits to your entire team, while others have specific niches - such as being proficient in training Long Shots or Flick Ons - that can improve individual players, so choose wisely. Additionally, some staff may only become available as you build more facilities and upgrade the stadium.
Hiring a scout is critical to your success. Scouts have two active functions, and one passive function. Like the look of a player in your transfer book, but don't think you can get the deal over the line? Ask a scout to find some information about the player to sweeten the deal. Or perhaps you're playing against a team and really want their star striker? Tell your scout to headhunt them on the pre-match team selection screen! Alongside that, scouts will passively find potential targets that can bolster your squad.
Running a football club is a balancing act. How will you fare with all the cards in your hand? Let us know your early strategies for club management in NUTMEG! in the comments below.
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