What is eWrestling?
For those of you reading this and saying “Duh, I know what eWrestling is for I have twenty-seven title reigns and am in the Hall of Fame for a dozen other feds.”, put your ego away for a bit and check this out. You may yet learn something.
For those of you who are reading this and have never heard of eWrestling, welcome! You’ll find that diving into this hobby feet first that this can be quite the addictive thing. Except for this habit won’t cause cancer. It will cause you to sound like a geek and will bring the thrill of either victory and the act of creating something.
At the heart of it, eWrestling is either a Roleplaying Game, a Team Creative Writing Exercise, or a bit of both. Most often a bit of both.
The term that we use to describe the players of this game is Handler. This is because we “handle” a wrestler and a host of secondary characters. The Handler writes a roleplay that describes their character in a story about how they are getting ready for their match. The methods to roleplaying are endless and so we will cover that another day.
On the other side of things the Owner or Fed Head writes the show along with staff to make the show look like it’s something that you see on television. Normally in a present tense and in a script fashion. Script fashion being a simple description of the action and who is speaking. like this.
JOSEPH GREER: That was a heck of a suplex!
TOMMY ONIONS: I don’t know. I feel like it could be a better suplex.
Adam Ant picks up George Manchester and delivers a second German suplex, this time bridging up for the cover!
That is a brief example of a Script style that is often used in shows and in roleplays.
The Fed Head decides who wins and who loses after each match and then releases the show for it to be read by the Handlers. Then, he sets up the next card, the Handlers roleplay based on what happened in the last show and what is coming up in the new show, these are graded, the next show written, and then rinse/repeat forever. Often Handlers have the option to send in segments for different things that happen during the show, but sometimes the Fed Head and staff cover that as well.
Let’s for a moment cover what kind of feds there are out there.
Roleplay Fed.
The basic bread and butter. You roleplay for your upcoming match and the better roleplayer wins the match. You have the option to write in a segment to work your story or promote yourself. The better roleplayer is decided by either the Fed Head or between the Fed Head and staff members.Democratic Roleplay Fed
The better roleplayer wins here too, but the winner is decided upon by the entire roster in a mass vote.Angle Fed
This is where roleplays do not play a role in determining who wins and who loses. Roleplaying here determines where you are on the card rather than if you won the match or not. Who wins and who loses is predetermined by the Fed Head and Staff along with the stories that the Handlers will be reacting to. The next card listing is optional here based on if management is looking for more character development in roleplays or more getting ready for the show.Hybrid Fed
This is a mixture of both Roleplay and Angle feds. Roleplays often determine both who wins and where you are on the card with the exception being the titles. These are often angled out so that the better overall roleplay is awarded championship gold instead of a one off match.Match Writer Fed
This is an odd are that I have not personally been involved in. The one example I had seen was that two (or more) people wrote a match for the show. The winning match would be decided upon by either management or by the entire roster to be used in the show. You were kind of forced to write “good matches” as a one sided burial by your guy would likely not make the cut.Real Fed
This can either be Roleplay, Angle, or Hybrid. The main difference here is that a wrestler is chosen from a roster of real wrestlers that you see on television. There is an advantage in that you may know all about the character in question, but this also limits you. It’s important to note that the previous examples you are to create a character from scratch. Here, that is not an option.Video Game Fed
This can be any of the above. The main difference here is that a character is made and matches are recorded using a video game to simulate results. These are often edited together with different software and with fresh commentary recorded. A number of different wrestling video games are used to create these shows, but most often I see the WWE 2K series being used.Live Video Game Fed
I personally have not been a part of any of these feds as it requires each player to be able to own the game in question. This is where for a “show”, the Handlers just sign on and face each other in matches to determine who wins.
I think that about covers the number of types of eFederations that you’ll run into. If you see another, be sure to let me know.
Types of Roleplays
There are as many types of roleplays as there are roleplayers. Well, while it’s true that many Handlers can be spotted by their writing style (or lack thereof), roleplays can be broken down to the following.
Promo
This is often short and to the point, all business here. Often taking place in the ring at a house show. Where is this house show and why? Worry about your own self! This type of roleplay you will see with mainly trash talk to the opponent or someone else.Script
This is sort of like the typical format of shows as listed above. This is often more of a blend between promo and character development in different proportions. While promos are often fairly short, these have the potential to become quite long. This also means that they have the potential to become quite boring if not done well enough.Novel
This is as if you were reading a book that just happened to star the wrestler in question. I have found so far that these tend have trash talk as kind of an afterthought if at all. These also normally run a bit on the longer side, but that’s not always the case.Character Development
Can be similar to one of the above, but deliberately contains no trash talk about an opponent, but furthers the story of the wrestler involved.
Styles of Shows
As there are different types of eFeds and ways to roleplay, there are different ways to present results.
As Seen On TV or Play by Play
This is the most common method that I have seen to do shows. The action is presented in a sort of real time action to describe out each blow as they come and have a commentary team talking about the action just like they do on televised wrestling today.Summary
This often doesn’t have much in the way of commentary and really covers the high points of the match to allow you to fill in the rest of the details with your imagination. Can be short, but I’ve seen some lengthy summaries that also step into play by play, but without the commentary.Video
As mentioned above in the fed of this variety. This can be done with both in game commentary and with custom recorded.Commentary-Summy Sammich
I like to call this CLAW style based on the first fed I saw doing this. The Commentary team introduces the match, the match is summarized, and then the commentary return to review the match before talking about the next match.Novel
Just like the roleplay method, this is like reading a written novel about wrestling and more.
Here is a list of different eFederations that will be all too happy to bring you in and help you out if you’re new to eWrestling. If you’re an old hand, I’m sure these places will also welcome you. Just know that this hobby can bring down the best of us. Check to make sure that the eFed is open before you apply.
Riot Star Wrestling
http://efedzone.com/fed/1
Valkyrie Wrestling
http://valkyriewrestling.com
Ultimate Online Wrestling
http://efedzone.com/fed/115
Starstruck Championship Wrestling
http://forum.scwefed.com/index.php?
Syndicate Wrestling & Tradition
http://s7.zetaboards.com/S_W_A_T/index/
Defiance Wrestling
http://defiancewrestling.com/
Frontier Grappling Arts
http://fgaonline.blogspot.com/
WrestleUTA
http://wrestleuta.com/
International Brutal Wrestling
http://s15.zetaboards.com/IBWrestling/index/
Imperial Wrestling Federation
http://iwf2013.proboards.com
Strike Towers
http://www.striketowers.com/
Full Intensity Wrestling
http://z4.invisionfree.com/FIWII/index.php?act=idx
Xtreme Hardcore Wrestling
http://xhwarena.proboards.com/
Professional RPG Wrestling
http://s10.zetaboards.com/PRW/index/
Wrestling Championship Federation
http://wcfwrestling.com/
Pure Class Wrestling
http://wcfwrestling.com/
Supreme Championship Wrestling
http://www.supremecw.com/index2.htm
Old School Wrestling
http://weareosw.com/
Xtreme Wrestling Alliance
http://www.xwabattlezone.com/XWA/
Ladies All Star Wrestling
http://www.lawefed.com/
Elite Answers Wrestling
http://eawrestling.com/
Online Championship Wrestling
http://www.ocwfed.com/
Extreme Hardcore Wrestling Federation
http://ehwfv2.proboards.com/
Blazenwing Wrestling Federation
http://thebwf.proboards.com/
X-treme Wrestling Federation
http://xwf99.com/
Chaotic Pro Wrestling
http://marcusfilth.proboards.com/
Femme Fatale Wrestling
http://ffw.freesmfhosting.com/#
4 Corners Wrestling
http://4cwrestling.com/
Alternative Xperience Wrestling
http://w11.zetaboards.com/AXW/index/
Carnage Wrestling
http://www.carnagewrestling.com/
World Wrestling Xistence
http://wwxonline.com
NBW (initials meaning unconfirmed)
http://thenbw.com/16/
Asylum Underground Wrestling
http://www.asylumefed.co/index
Shrouded Enigma Entertainment
http://shroudedenigmaentertainment.jcink.net/index.php?act=idx
Slaughterhouse: Combat Evolved
http://slaughterhouse.vip/
European Wrestling Foundation
http://efedzone.com/fed/127
Ascension Wrestling Federation
http://xhf09.proboards.com/board/72/ascension-wrestling-federation
Tragic Gaijin Kingdom
http://xhf09.proboards.com/board/122/tragic-gaijin-kingdom
Sakura Shoujo Stampede
http://xhf09.proboards.com/board/141/sakura-shoujo-stampede
Firestorm Wrestling Alliance
http://xhf09.proboards.com/board/154/firestorm-wrestling-alliance
Totally Insane Wrestling
http://xhf09.proboards.com/board/176/totally-insane-wrestling
Anonymous Xtreme Wrestling
http://xhf09.proboards.com/board/184/anonymous-xtreme-wrestling
Greatest Underappreciated Network Stars
http://xhf09.proboards.com/board/198/greatest-underappreciated-network-stars
Legion of Wrestling Gods
http://xhf09.proboards.com/board/212/legion-wrestling-gods
Hardcore Championship Wrestling
http://www.hcw-ent.com/
Neo Championship Wrestling
http://neochampionwrestling.proboards.com/
New Blood Wrestling
http://newbloodwrestling.boards.net/
World Wrestling Xistence
http://wwxonline.com/
Xcellent Championship Wrestling http://efedzone.com/fed/96
Woah I had never heard of this but it sounds like fun! That is a pretty impressive list of federations, that is awesome this has so much support from players. This is a really nice "labor of love" type post - you clearly are super into this subject and have taken the time to share a thorough introduction with us. You rock!
Much love - Carl "Totally Not A Bot" Gnash
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Have you ever made use of tabletop role-playing games which are grounded in the world of wrestling? There are some really good ones which might provide you a different experience, but one just as intense.
(Most of these work in a more traditional everyone gaming together sort of environment, whether that be online via Google Hangouts or Roll20, what one can always make modifications for play by post.)
Piledrivers & Powerbombs
This game concentrates on a mix of somewhat traditional task-driven gameplay using a standard poker deck as the randomizer and a very GM-less broader structure which makes good use of collaboration.
Contenders
Completely GM-less now, again we have a card-based resolution mechanic but the game itself is driven by the central characters and their pursuit of both redemption and excellence. Much grittier than most wrestling games, which makes sense – this is centered around boxing – but with minimal changes it's certainly applicable and well worth the money.
Eternal Contenders
Ironically from the same game designer is the previous two, Eternal Contenders extends the mechanics and gameplay experience of the original Contenders into what might be best described as "the best fighting game role-playing game ever created." If you liked the crazy, over-the-top storylines of the WWE in its mad heyday, this would be the game for you.
Red Streets, Blue Mats
Two Hour Wargames has an entire lineage of man-to-man fighting tabletop games going all the way back to their original gladiatorial game, Red Sand, Blue Sky. RSBM is much less a role-playing game than other entries on this list but goes harder into the turn by turn conflict between combatants. This leaves a lot of room for role-playing out the results and there is an entire career simulation mode.
I probably have at least three or four more games in my collection which could be quite applicable but start getting a little strange to suggest because they become less and less traditionally structured, but if you're into e-wrestling federations, you owe it to yourself to check out some of the other forms of play which are available in the space.
I have Squared Circle the RPG and have wanted this one card game version of wrestling since I was a child. I rarely get the chance to sit down and game with friends anymore.
Well, that's the reason that we have built online RPG play solutions – like Roll20 and Tabletop Simulator, which largely means that you can play games with your friends – even if your friends don't live anywhere near you.
Which is a thing of wonder and joy, given my particular inclination in friends groups.
You still end up with the same problem you always had, trying to schedule around everyone's lives since everyone's an adult now – but at least it means that all the bits are easier to set up and clean up, and no one gets stuck buying all the Coke and pizza.
Yeah, My friends and I play D&D on Fantasy Grounds. We used to use Roll20 though. It's great for being able to play with friends that are far away. It's still hard to schedule it around adult lives but we make it happen.