WCCF: 05-06 Update! -- Commentary (III)

Linkage

Linkages in 05-06 work under a similar system as before.
Group links continue to consist of 5 levels, the best being an "auto white" link.
Special links also continue to exist with minor additions.

However, a big change has occurred with the inter-group relationships!
The following lists the new group-link table for 05-06:

The changes can be summarised as follows:

1. Spider-web thick-white teams have been made impossible.
   (A-A, B-B, C-C, D-D and E-E have all been downgraded to A)
   
2. The 12 link groups have been put into 6 "best-combo" pairs.
   namely: A-F, B-C, D-J, E-H, G-I, K-L
   
3. On the reverse, many poor group-to-group relationships have been upgraded
   The following has been upgraded into an auto-thin-link:
   A-C, D-E, D-I, F-L, G-K, G-L, H-K, J-J, L-L

I see the change as a positive move to reinforce the essence of the game.
Managers should not only have to think which players play well together,
but also think carefully *where* good player combinations should exist with your team's formation / style!

Special Styles

Based on my own impression, it seems special styles have been discussed more and more on the Japanese bulletin boards. When I played my games under various special styles in Japan, I did not feel much of a handicap in favour of special styles. However, one thing to be sure, the effect of special styles on the real-time simulation seems evident. Player movements and combination plays seem much more style-specific.

Let me say that even if special styles aren't effective, they are at least interesting and entertaining. ^_^