Change Log
Track all updates, new features, and improvements to Franchise Tycoon: Gridiron
Newfeature
Improvedimprovement
Fixedfix
Balancebalance
v0.7.7Coach Desires & Promotions
2026-02-01- NewCoach Desires System - coaches now have preferences (Ambitious, Winning Culture, Good Roster, Big Market, Stability) that affect negotiations
- NewTeam Attractiveness Score - when hiring, see how attractive your team is to coaches based on win %, roster talent, market size, facilities, and promotion opportunity
- NewDynamic salary demands - attractive teams get discounts, rebuilding teams pay premiums. Coaches want to join winners!
- NewPromote/Reassign coaches - on My Team page, click "Reassign" to move coaches to different positions. Promotions boost morale (+15), demotions reduce it (-10)
- NewCoach avatars - all 30 free agent coaches now have AI-generated portrait avatars
- ImprovedCoach marketplace now shows all coaches in a flat list sorted by overall rating (use tabs to filter by position)
- FixedBlind bidding now opens negotiation modal to adjust salary/position/years before submitting bid
v0.7.6Fatigue System Rebalance
2026-01-30- BalanceSimplified fatigue to 3 clear tiers: 0-29 (no penalty), 30-59 (-4 OVR), 60-89 (-8 OVR), 90+ (-12 OVR)
- BalanceTraining Facility now creates meaningful tier spread: L5 teams end season at 0 penalty, L3 at -4, L1 at -8
- NewBye week now provides +20 bonus fatigue recovery on top of your weekly activity
- ImprovedUpdated fatigue tooltips on player modal and How to Play guide
v0.7.5Relocation Page Improvements
2026-01-29- NewHover tooltips on all city metrics explaining what Population, Media Market, Football Passion, Wealth Index, and Tax Rate mean for your franchise
- NewExisting team indicator - cities with teams show the team abbreviation badge and competition warning
- NewYou can now relocate to cities with existing teams (market competition) - preview shows warning about sharing the market
- FixedMexico cities now correctly categorized as Latin America (was incorrectly South America)
- ImprovedAdded Wealth Index to city cards for consistency with preview comparison table
v0.7.4Contract Incentives & Season Systems
2026-01-29- NewContract incentive evaluation - performance bonuses (rushing yards, TDs, etc.) now evaluated and paid at season end
- NewPlayer aging - players now properly age 1 year at end of each season
- NewFA trade restriction - players cannot be traded for 6 weeks after signing as free agent
- FixedChampionship bonus detection - revenue true-up now correctly identifies championship winners for playoff bonuses
- FixedFA motivation weights - player motivations now properly influence team selection (chemistry, fanBase factors)
v0.7.3Stamina-Based Fatigue System
2026-01-29- NewStamina-based fatigue - high-stamina players recover faster from fatigue (up to 50% bonus recovery)
- NewTeam average fatigue display with tooltip on My Team page
- NewFatigue info tooltip in Player Detail Modal explaining fatigue effects
- NewClickable player/coach cards on Rising Stars page - click to view full details
- ImprovedMotivation tooltip added showing player personality impacts
- ImprovedMorale documentation and tooltips throughout the site
- ImprovedHow to Play guide updated with Fatigue System section
v0.7.2Test Framework & Bug Fixes
2026-01-28- NewVitest test framework with 219 automated tests covering economy, player development, game simulation
- FixedInjuries now process correctly during scheduled game simulations
- FixedAI owner strategy normalized to uppercase for consistent behavior
v0.7.1Scouting & Draft Board Fixes
2026-01-28- FixedWatchlist now displays correctly in draft room during regular season
- NewAdd "+ Board" button on scouting page watchlist - quickly add watchlist prospects to your draft board
v0.7.0Coach XP Progression System
2026-01-28- NewCoaches now earn XP from team performance: wins (15 XP), losses (3 XP), playoff wins (40 XP), championships (100 XP)
- NewCoach potential and development rate visible on coach cards (POT/DEV) and in Coach Detail Modal
- NewHidden gems: ~1% of coaches have "Legendary" potential - a 70 OVR position coach can develop into a 99 OVR elite HC
- NewPyramid distribution: Elite developers (5%) are rare, most coaches are Average (50%)
- BalanceCoaches 60+ experience age decline (-0.5 OVR per year, accelerating)
- ImprovedHow to Play guide updated with full Coach Progression section
v0.6.26Avatar Pool & Season Automation
2026-01-20- NewCentralized avatar pool - 600 AI-generated avatars automatically assigned to drafted players
- New2-week preseason phase with auto-fill rosters from FA pool
- NewDraft class auto-generates when transitioning to regular season
- NewDraft boards auto-cleanup when season starts
- ImprovedSeason snapshots created automatically at season end
v0.6.25Draft Room Improvements
2026-01-17- NewDraft timer with visual countdown and auto-start
- NewAutopick preferences: choose auto_best, auto_scout, or auto_need
- New"My Picks" tab shows all players your team drafted with pick details
- New"Your Draft Board" sort option with board highlighting
- NewSort by Overall, Position, Talent (TLT), or School
- FixedFixed draft season calculation for scouting and progression tracking
v0.6.24Position Flexibility & Stats Fixes
2026-01-16- NewExpanded position change options for better roster flexibility
- ImprovedFullback (FB) no longer required - optional roster position
- FixedPlayer stats now correctly filter by current season
- FixedDashboard payouts filter by current season number
- FixedTest leagues excluded from admin endpoints and public stats
v0.6.23Cap & Free Agency Fixes
2026-01-14- FixedCap projection only counts pending FA bids, not accepted ones
- FixedRookie cap reserves cleared after draft completes
- FixedInclude preseason in first-come-first-serve FA mode
- FixedReset team standings and player health when transitioning to preseason
v0.6.22Future Draft Pick Fee Commitment System
2026-01-13- NewAnti-abandonment mechanism: Teams trading away future draft picks must prepay that season's operating fees
- NewSeason Pool system - prepaid fees stored separately for each future season (S2, S3, etc.)
- NewPicks sub-tab in Special/Picks - view only your draft picks without special teams players
- NewPrepaid Season Fees display showing total committed per season with "✓ Prepaid" status
- NewPhysical measurements added to draft prospects: height, weight, hand size, arm length with position-specific ranges
- New300 unique AI-generated avatars for all draft prospects
- FixedFixed scouting facility level not properly affecting draft prospect info visibility
- FixedFixed contract teamId not updating when trades are executed
- ImprovedTerms of Service updated with draft pick trading commitment clause (Section 6)
v0.6.21Draft Scouting Page
2026-01-13- NewNew Scouting page - create personal draft board rankings that persist between sessions
- NewThree views: Big Board (drag-and-drop rankings), By Position, and Watchlist
- NewStar any prospect to add them to your watchlist for quick access
- NewProspect detail sidebar shows scouting report, combine data, interview notes, and traits
- ImprovedScouting data visibility based on facility level (L1-L5) - upgrade to see more combine data and better interview insights
v0.6.20Stadium Seat Bug Fix
2026-01-13- FixedFixed bug where adding stadium seats would reset other seat types to 0
- FixedRestored stadium data for 4 affected teams (Pittsburgh, Nashville, Chicago, London)
- ImprovedStadium upgrade endpoints now preserve all default values when modifying
v0.6.19Storyline Notifications & Player Status
2026-01-12- NewStoryline notification bell - yellow icon shows pending decisions that need attention
- NewUrgent storylines show red pulsing badge with time remaining
- NewClick storyline in dropdown to auto-open decision modal on dashboard
- NewPlayer modal header now shows Morale and Fatigue with colored progress bars
- ImprovedMobile navigation now includes Rising Stars and How to Play guide
- ImprovedCode quality: Added status enums and centralized error messages across API
v0.6.18Dead Cap Tracking & Contract Economics
2026-01-11- NewDead cap tracking system - releases and trades now create tracked dead cap obligations
- NewDead cap = 50% of remaining contract value, spread evenly across remaining years
- NewRelease Confirmation Modal - see dead cap consequences before releasing players
- NewTrade proposals now show dead cap per player and total dead cap for each team
- NewCap Planner shows actual dead cap from past releases/trades (not hypothetical)
- BalanceSigning bonus capped at 50% of year 1 salary - prevents exploit contracts
- BalanceSigning bonuses now go to platform revenue (not pool) - creates real cost for front-loaded deals
- ImprovedCap relief analysis updated to use 50% dead cap formula
v0.6.17Depth Chart, Position Change & Team Management
2026-01-11- NewDepth Chart tab on My Team - view and reorder starters with up/down arrows
- NewPosition Change system - convert players to new positions (RB↔FB, WR↔TE, OL swaps, etc.)
- NewPosition change preview shows projected overall with weighted attribute breakdown
- NewPlayer Morale Factors - see what affects each player's morale based on their motivation
- NewCoach Marketplace sorting - sort by OVR, Age, or Salary (ascending/descending)
- ImprovedPosition change uses proper weighted overall formula matching rest of game
- ImprovedDepth order now affects which players start in games
v0.6.16Full Position Archetype System
2026-01-10- NewArchetypes now cover ALL positions: QB (Pocket/Dual-Threat), RB (Power/Speed), WR (Deep/Possession), TE (Blocking/Receiving)
- NewDT archetypes: Run Stuffer vs Pass Rusher with distinct stat priorities
- NewMLB archetypes: Run Stuffer vs Coverage with different attribute boosts
- NewCB archetypes: Press-Man vs Zone with appropriate rating adjustments
- NewDraft prospects now generated with archetype-based ratings (key stats boosted +8-17, off-archetype reduced)
- ImprovedTraining XP now prioritizes archetype-specific attributes for all positions
- FixedFixed free agency personality display - was showing red bars with no figures
v0.6.15Archetype-Specific Overall Ratings
2026-01-10- NewOverall ratings now reflect player archetypes - coverage LBs valued for coverage, not just tackling
- BalanceZone Coverage OLB formula: zoneCov 24%, speed 16%, manCov 14%, playRec 12%
- BalanceMan Coverage OLB formula: manCov 24%, speed 16%, zoneCov 14%, playRec 12%
- BalanceBall Hawk FS formula: zoneCov 24%, playRec 18%, speed 16%, awareness 12%
- BalanceSpeed Rusher DE formula: speed 20%, accel 16%, pursuit 14%, passRush 14%
- Improved261 players recalculated - coverage OLBs saw +3-8 overall boost
v0.6.14Archetype-Aware Training System
2026-01-10- NewSpeed rusher DEs (speedRush 80+ or speed 82+) now prioritize speed and acceleration training
- NewCoverage OLBs (manCoverage 75+) now prioritize man coverage in their training
- NewBall hawk FSs (zoneCoverage 80+) prioritize zone coverage and play recognition
- NewCoverage SSs (zoneCoverage 78+) get zone coverage boost while maintaining tackle priority
- ImprovedPlayers develop toward their natural archetype - a speed rusher will improve speed faster
v0.6.13Personality Trait Development System
2026-01-10- NewPlayer development now heavily influenced by personality traits (Work Ethic + Coachability)
- BalanceElite (HW+C): 7.74x XP multiplier, hits 92 OVR by year 3-4, 5-8 year prime
- BalanceSingle Positive: 2.2x multiplier, hits 90-91 OVR, short 1-3 year prime
- BalanceAverage: 1.0x multiplier, tops out at 84-87 OVR
- BalanceOne Negative (Lazy OR Uncoachable): 0.42x multiplier, tops out at 80-84 OVR
- BalanceBust (Lazy + Uncoachable): 0x multiplier - no development at all, immediate decline
- ImprovedElite players dominate for years; single positives peak briefly - makes trait scouting critical
v0.6.12Weekly Activity System
2026-01-10- FixedWeekly activity selection now correctly affects player development - previously all activities gave the same XP
- NewTrain: +20% XP, focuses on Speed/Strength/Acceleration, low fatigue recovery
- NewPractice: Standard XP, develops position-specific skills (QB: throw accuracy, RB: carrying, WR: routes, etc.)
- NewGame Film: -20% XP, focuses on Awareness/Play Recognition, moderate fatigue recovery
- NewRest: -70% XP, major fatigue recovery (18 points), best for high-fatigue teams
v0.6.11PlayStyle & RB Fix
2026-01-10- FixedTeam playstyle now correctly affects run/pass ratio - RUN_HEAVY teams rush ~60%, PASS_HEAVY teams pass ~70%
- FixedRB1 now correctly dominates carries (65-80%) with RB2 as change-of-pace back
- BalanceRB2 gets more receptions than RB1 (third-down back role)
v0.6.10Injury System Fix
2026-01-10- FixedInjuries now occur during game simulation - previously, games were using simplified scoring that bypassed the full injury system
- ImprovedGame simulation now uses the complete simulator with matchup analysis, weather effects, and player injuries
v0.6.9Extended Tooltips
2026-01-10- ImprovedDashboard: Treasury and Cap Space now have tooltips
- ImprovedMy Team mobile: OVR rating now has tooltip on mobile player cards
- ImprovedFacilities: All 4 facility types now have tooltips explaining their benefits
v0.6.8Neutral Tooltip Language
2026-01-10- FixedRemoved opinionated language from tooltips - no stat is labeled as "most important" or "critical"
v0.6.7Info Tooltips Throughout Site
2026-01-10- NewAdded (?) help icons with hover tooltips explaining all player, coach, and team stats
- ImprovedPlayerDetailModal: Tooltips on physical and position-specific attributes
- ImprovedMy Team roster: Tooltips on OVR, position attrs, TLT, and Morale columns
- ImprovedDraft page: Tooltips on all 6 Pro Combine measurements
- ImprovedCoach modals and Dashboard: Tooltips on ratings, Morale, and Chemistry
v0.6.6How to Play Guide Expansion
2026-01-10- ImprovedDetailed Economy section explaining the pool system and share multipliers
- ImprovedAdded Performance, Market, Facility, and Stadium multiplier tables
- ImprovedCash flow strategies explained: Budget, Balanced, and All-In approaches
- ImprovedClarified that home/away games do NOT affect weekly revenue
v0.6.5Trade Player Details & Modal
2026-01-10- NewTrade proposals now show player TLT (talent) rating alongside overall rating
- NewClick player names in trade proposals to open full player details modal
- ImprovedView complete player stats, contract info, and progression from trade screens
v0.6.4Enhanced Trade Proposal Information
2026-01-10- NewTrade proposals now show player age alongside position and overall rating
- NewSalary details visible on trade items (salary per year × years remaining)
- NewCap Impact panel on incoming trades showing Salary In, Salary Out, and Net Change
- NewDepth Chart Context on incoming trades - see your players at each position being traded
- ImprovedPlayers being traded away are marked with ✗ in depth chart view
v0.6.3Trade Block & Admin Broadcast Improvements
2026-01-09- NewTrade Block on Dashboard - see players on trade block with scrollable list
- NewTrade Block Notifications - all 31 teams get in-game message when player added to trade block
- NewAdmin Broadcast Delivery Options - choose In-Game Only, Email Only, or Both
- ImprovedClick trade block players on dashboard to navigate to full trade block
- FixedFixed trade block add/remove - auth token and API URL issues resolved
- FixedFixed "You do not own this player" error on trade block actions
v0.6.2Closed-Loop Economy System
2026-01-09- NewFull closed-loop economy: ALL recurring expenses go into pool and 85% comes back to teams
- NewPool now collects: player salaries, coach salaries, facility maintenance, stadium operations
- NewDistribution based on share multipliers (performance + market + facilities)
- Balance85% of pool distributed to teams weekly, 15% reserved for playoffs
- NewPool share transactions show multiplier and share percentage
- NewTeams see net change (pool share minus expenses) each week
- NewSeason-end REV SHARE: True-up based on final performance - teams get/pay difference from what they should have earned
v0.6.1Backup System & Bug Fixes
2026-01-09- NewComprehensive backup system with 7-backup rolling retention
- NewRestore from backup with dry-run preview mode
- FixedFixed salary double-charging when re-simulating weeks
- FixedRefunded all teams 4x weekly expenses (1,032,584 TYCO total)
- FixedFixed TypeScript errors in player extension and trade systems
- BalanceTrade consolidation premium: 2-for-1 trades require 10% overpay, 3-for-1 require 28%, 4-for-1 require 52%
- FixedFixed high game scores - reduced TD probability (25% to 18% base), FG probability (20% to 12% base)
- FixedFixed stadium attendance for small markets - Green Bay now fills 98.8% (was 85%)
- BalanceFan engagement now varies by market size: SMALL markets 98% fill (loyal fans), LARGE markets 89% fill (casual fans)
v0.6.0Player Lounge & Chemistry Improvements
2026-01-09- NewPlayer Lounge facility - improves team chemistry and morale recovery
- NewLounge benefits: chemistry bonus (+2 to +10), morale recovery (+5% to +25%)
- NewDrama queen penalty reduction at L3+ (up to 40% at L5)
- NewExtra chemistry per leader at L4+ (+1 to +2 per leader)
- NewClick chemistry factors to see player names (Drama Queens, Excess Competitors, Leaders)
- NewFilter Roster button to show only players affecting chemistry
- NewInfo tooltips with ? icons explaining player stats on hover
v0.5.0NFL-Style Schedule & Backup System
2026-01-08- NewNFL-style schedule: 6 division games, 4 intra-conference, 4 inter-conference (rotating), 3 standing-based
- NewInter-conference matchups rotate each season (like real NFL)
- NewBye weeks properly enforced during weeks 5-12 (4 teams per week)
- NewGame data backup/restore system for players, games, coaches, teams
- ImprovedSchedule auto-generates correctly at start of each new season
- ImprovedChange Log moved to footer, How to Play link in main navigation
v0.4.0Defensive Archetype Overhaul
2026-01-08- NewDL archetypes now role-based: Power Rusher, Speed Rusher, Run Stopper
- NewLB archetypes now role-based: Run Stopper, Coverage, Blitz
- ImprovedSecondary archetypes updated: CB (Man/Zone/Slot), SS (Run Support/Zone/Hybrid/Blitz), FS (Centerfield/Coverage/Hybrid)
- ImprovedRemoved scheme-based archetypes (4-3/3-4/Multiple/Nickel) for clearer player roles
v0.3.0Player Archetypes & Badges
2026-01-07- NewAdded player archetype badges visible on player cards and detail modals
- NewOffensive archetypes: QB (Pocket Passer, Dual-Threat, Field General, Scrambler, Gunslinger)
- NewRB archetypes: Power Back, Speed Back, Receiving Back, All-Purpose
- NewWR archetypes: Deep Threat, Possession, Slot Receiver, Physical
- NewTE archetypes: Blocking TE, Receiving TE, Hybrid TE
- NewOL archetypes: Pass Protector, Mauler, Technician
v0.2.5Team Messaging & UI Improvements
2026-01-06- NewTeam messaging system - send messages to other teams in your league
- NewNotification bell with unread message count
- NewInbox page with tabs for inbox, sent, and archived messages
- NewInjury badges on roster (OUT, DTD, Suspended)
- NewChemistry panel showing team chemistry factors
- NewScheme compatibility badges for coaches
- ImprovedNavigation reorganized with dropdown menus (Personnel, Stats)
v0.2.4Waitlist & Auction System
2026-01-05- NewWaitlist system for when leagues are full
- NewTeam auctions when owners abandon or go inactive
- NewLeague numbering system (League 1, League 2, etc.)
- NewTeam abandonment tracking with 14-day inactivity detection
v0.2.3Advanced Free Agency
2026-01-04- NewFranchise tag system with 3 tag types (Exclusive, Non-Exclusive, Transition)
- NewRFA tender system with 4 tender levels
- NewBlind bidding system with sealed bid windows
- NewContract incentives (performance, playoff, roster, pro bowl)
v0.2.2Pro Combine & Scouting
2026-01-03- NewPro Combine measurables replace generic concerns
- NewTiered scouting visibility based on Scouting Facility level
- NewColor-coded combine results (green = elite, gray = below average)
- NewInterview feedback quality scales with facility level
- BalanceK/P draft picks capped at round 3 minimum
v0.2.1Coach Interview System
2026-01-02- NewRequest interview permission for coaches under contract
- NewTeams can approve, block, or initiate trade talks
- NewCoach morale system - blocking promotions causes -10 morale
- NewPlayer and coach progression charts
- NewRising Stars page showing fastest improving players
v0.2.0Scouting System & AI Owners
2026-01-01- NewPosition-aware scouting (offensive vs defensive prospects)
- New40 scouts with OFF/DEF ratings
- NewScouting Facility levels (L1-L5) affect accuracy
- NewHC scouting bonus and scout rating bonuses
- NewAI owner profiles: CHEAP, AVERAGE, EXPENSIVE
- BalanceAutodraft penalty (-5% accuracy) for disengaged owners
v0.1.0Initial MVP Launch
2025-12-30- New32-team leagues with full roster simulation
- New17-game season schedule with bye weeks
- NewGame simulation engine with standings
- NewDraft system with prospect scouting
- NewFree agency marketplace
- NewCoach hiring and management
- NewTeam facilities and upgrades
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