FML ICARUS FC

Top Tips for Day 1
Ok, so you’ve signed up to Football Manager Live, got your subscription ready, downloaded the client and have logged in for the first time. What to do next?As with starting any other game for the first time, it can be a little daunting to start with. You’re not sure what to do first, where to go and how to do it. Well good thing you’re reading this article then as you’ll soon be one step ahead of the rest and armed with all the knowledge you’ll need to make sure you get it right.N.B. There will also be a quick start guide to FML available here on the website very soon. This will go through step by step what to do on the first day and explain what all the different bits and pieces referenced in this article mean. This article is more about tips on how to start well, rather than instructions on how to do it.Before the gameworld startsHold on, time to rewind a little. While you’re waiting for your gameworld to launch for the first time, there’s no need to twiddle your thumbs. You can start thinking about what sort of team you want to build straight away.
Do some homework before you start. These are real players you’re using here, so do some scouting. If you have played any of the recent FM titles, make a list of those superstar wonder-kids that always turn out amazing. FML is using the latest database so they might not always be accurate but it’s definitely a good start.
Think about your search filters! If you want to find the best of the best, think about what attributes the players you are looking for might want to have. Do you want your strikers to be pacy or have a great work-rate? Having an idea of what you want to look for before hand, means that you can might be able to find that perfect player before he’s snapped up by someone else! There is a skill system in FML which helps define what sort of manager you want to be. Do you want to specialize in coaching? Do you want to be a master scout, a financier, a tactical mastermind or even a physio? One of the first things you’ll do is select some starting skills which will give you a boost in the area you want to concentrate on. If you’ve decided this before hand you won’t have to spend ages worrying about which to choose.Starting for the first timeWhen you first log into the game you’ll be greeted by your welcome message and then a big fat flashing red button in the top let hand corner asking you to use the setup assistant. This is a good place to start, as it walks you through step by step on how to set up your team. Go straight through all the team colours and pitch dimensions stuff, you can always change this later but you’ll want to get picking your players asap! This is also the stage where you can choose those starting skills I’ve already talked about. Use auto-select wisely! Many managers might want to handpick their squad but this can be very time consuming. What’s recommended is to auto-select a base squad and then use the remaining money to get those two or three stars you had picked out before hand. Don’t get star-struck; you have limited funds at the beginning so use it wisely. N.B. Auto-select can take a while to complete while it scouts the database for the sort of players you have asked for. You might want to go and make a cup of tea! Keep your wages as low as you can! The lower they are the more daily profit you’ll make and the sooner you’ll be able to afford the big names.Playing GamesYou’ll want to test your players as soon as possible and start playing some matches; this is a football game after all! A quick way to start this is using the match finder. Set up the search parameters for the sort of match you want to play and it’ll match you up with a similar team! You can also challenge managers directly. Start playing matches as soon as you can. Your players will be unfit and lacking in match practice initially, so getting some matches under your belt before you play some competitive matches is key!Chat Rooms and ModeratorsDon’t forget to introduce yourself in the chat rooms. You’ll find FML a much more fulfilling experience if you get to know the people you’re playing with. You can tell who your mods are by seeing them highlighted in blue in the chat rooms. There’s a help chat room for a reason! If you’re struggling and don’t know what to do, ask! Someone will always be happy to help you out!Just remember, come to the game with an open mind, make sure you have lots of time to explore whatever you need to know on your first day and don't expect the game to be exactly like the traditional FM series! This is Football Manager Live.