CAN YOU RISE TO THE CHALLENGE?

There's something new under the Find Opponent menu - an option called Request Challenge. Choose this option for the first time, and FML’s cocky Challenge Master will introduce himself as the representative of the CPU (Computer Club's) FA. He will state that the CPU FA is superior to the UFFA (the greatest human FA), and explain that his job is to match up UFFA sides with CPU sides.

Now, instead of testing yourself via mere friendlies against CPU teams, the Challenge Master offers you a broader series of competitive match-ups.

THE BASICS

Initially, you are invited to play a few easy, simple Challenges. Once you've worked your way through these, the Challenges increase in difficulty. Even if your team is one of the top teams in your GameWorld, don't get complacent! - the hardest match-ups are very difficult indeed, and you may even find you've taken on more than you can handle!

For winning Challenges, you will get Reward Points to spend in the FML Store. You can see how many RPs a Challenge is worth before you accept it, but almost all are worth several thousand points, so well worth a go if you intend to spend big! Click HERE for details of what your RPs can buy.

Note that if you fail a Challenge you can have another go, but you may well find that you’ll need to improve either/both your squad and your tactics to beat many opponents, so hoping for a lucky one-off win could be a time-consuming strategy!

SPECIFIC CHALLENGES

Challenges fall into four categories, of which the final one is a variant on the first three.

• LEAGUE: Take on CPU clubs in a minileague scenario. Will you come out top of the pack?
• CUP: Join the CPU clubs in a multi-stage knockout and try to defend UFFA's honour!
• ONE-ON-ONE: Pit your wits against a handpicked opponent; who will win the fight to the death?

• TACTICAL BATTLE: Can you deliver the goods against fast sides? Tall sides?? Sides full of technical geniuses??? Take a look at the picture above for an example of the kind of challenge you may face!

WHAT CHALLENGES CAN OFFER YOU

Other than Reward Points, and the glory of defeating CPU FA representatives, there's alot to be got out of the Challenges system; here are just a few examples:

IMPROVE YOUR PERFORMANCES

With Challenges often targetting specific tactical problems, you may find there are weaknesses in your team's setup you were previously unaware of – and adjustments you may make as a result could solve the tactical dilemmas presented by some of your more frustrating human opponents.

FOLLOW A CHALLENGE PATH

Completing one Challenge will lead you onto another at a higher level, as the arrogant Challenge Master tries to get you to slip up. As you get to know the Challenge Master, you will relish beating his teams, as well as seeing how good a CPU side your team are currently capable of beating.

As above, there is a summary of your history in challenges under the Manager menu, where you can see which Challenges you have in progress, as well as take a look at those you have undertaken in the past.

AT YOUR OWN LEISURE 

Within the five-day period before it resolves automatically, you can play an accepted Challenge at any time you wish, so these games won't interfere with official FA matches, and indeed are often good to get your teeth into a times when the GameWorld is more quiet.

NEW USERS

New/restarting managers will love the Challenge system. Having the core characteristics of a friendly, but with an added progressive level of difficulty and great rewards for success, Challenges add a whole new dimension for managers looking to ease their way into life in FML.

Overall, Challenges give you everything to play for – we hope you do your bit in helping to outwit the CPU Clubs!