Game Overview
Swamp League is a fantasy game where you draft and manage a team of political figures. Instead of touchdowns or goals, your players score points based on real news coverage. The more your players are in the headlines, the more points you earn. It's that simple. And that absurd.
The Core Concept
We scan major news outlets every 12 hours looking for mentions of political figures. When your player appears in an article from AP, Reuters, Politico, The Hill, NPR, Fox News, ABC News, Washington Post, or CBS News - you score points!
Why?
MAGA has a tendency for infighting, firing, and backstabbing. We're just keeping score. Draft the figures you think will make the most news - for better or worse.
Scoring System
Points are awarded based on news mentions from selected news sources. Our system scans articles and attributes mentions to the correct players.
| Action | Points | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Article Mention | +1 | Player's name appears anywhere in the article body |
| Headline Bonus | +2 | Player's name appears in the article headline (in addition to base mention) |
| Headline Total | = 3 | A headline mention earns 3 total points (1 base + 2 bonus) |
Approved News Sources
- Associated Press (AP) - Wire service, widely syndicated
- Reuters - International wire service
- Politico - Politics-focused coverage
- The Hill - Capitol Hill news
- NPR - National Public Radio
- Fox News - Cable news network
- ABC News - Broadcast network
- Washington Post - Major newspaper
- CBS News - Broadcast network
Scoring Examples
Example 1: An AP article titled "Congress debates new bill" mentions your player in paragraph 4.
Result: +1 point (body mention only)
Example 2: A Politico headline reads "Marco Rubio announces major policy shift"
Result: +3 points (1 body + 2 headline bonus)
Example 3: Your player is mentioned in 5 different articles today - 2 headlines, 3 body mentions.
Result: +9 points (2×3 for headlines + 3×1 for body mentions)
Player Positions
Players are categorized by their role in politics. Each position has different characteristics and news coverage patterns.
CAB Cabinet
Cabinet secretaries and top administration officials. High-profile picks with consistent coverage.
ELEC Elected Officials
Senators, Representatives, and Governors. Coverage varies by controversy level.
ADV Advisors
White House advisors and key staffers. Often in the news during policy debates.
MED Media Figures
Political commentators and media personalities with political influence.
OLI Oligarchs
Tech moguls and business leaders involved in politics. Boom-or-bust potential.
FAM Family Members
Political family members in the public eye. Sleeper picks that can surprise.
LEG Legal
Lawyers, judges, and legal figures. Hot during investigations and court cases.
COMM Communications
Press secretaries, spokespeople, and communications directors who deliver the message.
Roster Management
Each team has 8 roster slots: one required Cabinet slot, one required Elected slot, and six FLEX slots for all other positions.
Roster Structure (8 Players)
| Slot | Requirement | Description |
|---|---|---|
| CAB1 | Cabinet Only | Must be filled by a CAB position player |
| ELEC1 | Elected Only | Must be filled by an ELEC position player |
| FLEX 1-6 | Non-CAB/ELEC | Can be filled by ADV, MED, OLI, FAM, LEG, or COMM players (not CAB or ELEC) |
Roster Rules
- All players score: Every player on your roster earns points. There's no "bench" in the traditional sense - all 8 players contribute to your score.
- Free agents: You can add available players (not on any team in your league) at any time during the season.
- Dropping players: You can drop players to make room for free agent pickups.
- Position eligibility: CAB players fill the CAB1 slot, ELEC players fill the ELEC1 slot, and all other positions (ADV, MED, OLI, FAM, LEG, COMM) fill the FLEX slots.
Waiver Wire
Keep an eye on breaking news. If a political figure suddenly becomes central to a major story, they might be available as a free agent. Quick pickups of trending players can swing matchups.
The Draft
Leagues begin with a snake draft where teams take turns selecting players to build their initial roster.
Snake Draft Format
In a snake draft, the pick order reverses each round:
Round 1: Team 1 → Team 2 → Team 3 → Team 4
Round 2: Team 4 → Team 3 → Team 2 → Team 1
Round 3: Team 1 → Team 2 → Team 3 → Team 4
...and so on
This format ensures fairness - teams picking later in round 1 get earlier picks in round 2.
Draft Rounds
The draft consists of 8 rounds (one for each roster slot). Each team will draft exactly 8 players.
Draft Strategy Tips
- Research recent news: Check who's been making headlines before the draft.
- Balance your roster: Don't draft all Cabinet members - diversify across positions.
- Consider upside: Later rounds are great for high-ceiling sleepers.
- Watch the board: If other teams are loading up on one position, you might find value elsewhere.
- Remember requirements: You MUST have at least 1 CAB and 1 ELEC player for your required slots.
Season Structure
Swamp League seasons are fast-paced with alternating 3-day and 4-day matchups. In an 8-team league, the regular season is 7 matchups (everyone plays everyone once) plus playoffs - completing in about 5 weeks.
Season Timeline
League Formation
Create or join a league, wait for all teams to join.
Draft Day
Commissioner starts the draft. All teams select their 8 players. Season begins the following Monday.
Regular Season
Head-to-head matchups every 3-4 days. For an 8-team league, that's 7 matchups so everyone plays everyone once.
Playoffs
Top 4 teams compete in semi-finals and championship matchups. Someone wins.
Matchup Schedule
Matchups alternate between 3-day and 4-day periods for faster, more exciting gameplay:
| Pattern | Days | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Odd Matchups (1, 3, 5...) | 3 days | Monday - Wednesday |
| Even Matchups (2, 4, 6...) | 4 days | Thursday - Sunday |
How Matchups Work
- Points accumulate from news mentions during the matchup period
- At the matchup's end, the team with more total points wins
- Wins and losses determine playoff seeding
- Top 4 teams make playoffs (semi-finals + championship)
Scoring Updates
News is scanned every 12 hours. Points from articles are attributed to the day the article was published. Your matchup score is the sum of all your players' points during that matchup's date range.
Strategy Guide
Some observations from those who have played before.
Draft Strategy
- Tier-based drafting: Group players into tiers. Take the best available player in the highest tier, regardless of position.
- Secure your requirements early: Don't wait until late rounds for your CAB and ELEC requirements - the best ones go fast.
- Controversy = Points: Players involved in ongoing investigations, hearings, or scandals tend to stay in the news.
- Don't chase last week's points: News cycles move fast. Focus on who will be relevant, not who was.
In-Season Management
- Monitor breaking news: Major political developments can make certain players surge. Be ready to add them.
- Play the news cycle: Congressional hearings, court dates, and policy announcements are predictable events that drive coverage.
- Don't be too loyal: If a player goes quiet, don't be afraid to drop them for a hot free agent.
- Stack events: If you know a Senate confirmation hearing is coming, make sure you have relevant players rostered.
The Golden Rule
In Swamp League, all publicity is good publicity. It doesn't matter if your player is praised or criticized - mentions are mentions. Sometimes the most controversial figures score the most points.
Matchup Strategy
- Check your opponent's roster: Know who you're up against.
- Play the odds: Consistent performers beat boom-or-bust players over a full season.
- Monitor point projections: Use recent performance as a guide, but remember news is unpredictable.
Analytics & Tools
Tools are provided. Whether they help is another matter.
Team Analytics Dashboard
Every team has access to a comprehensive analytics dashboard that shows:
- Points History: A visual chart of your team's daily point totals over time, helping you spot trends and identify which days your roster performs best.
- Top Performers: See which players on your roster are earning the most points and carrying the team.
- Most Volatile Players: Identify players with inconsistent performance using the Coefficient of Variation (CV) metric. High volatility players can be boom-or-bust picks.
- Performance Metrics: Track each player's mentions, headline appearances, and point contributions.
Matchup Moves Advisor
The Matchup Moves Advisor analyzes your roster during active matchups and suggests moves. It tries to help.
Gap Analysis
See exactly how many points you're ahead or behind your opponent, and get an estimate of how many more points you need to secure the win.
Hot/Cold Roster View
See which of your players are performing above or below their season average during THIS matchup. Hot players are outperforming; cold players might need to be swapped.
Hot Free Agents
Discover free agents who are scoring well in the current matchup. Perfect for finding a quick pickup to push you over the top.
Swap Simulations
The advisor suggests up to 5 potential roster moves, showing the projected point gain for each swap. It also warns you about dropping valuable long-term players.
How Performance Labels Work
Players are labeled based on how their matchup performance compares to their season average:
- Hot (50%+ above average) - On fire this matchup
- Above Avg (10-50% above) - Performing well
- On Pace (within 10%) - Meeting expectations
- Cold (10-30% below) - Underperforming
- Ice Cold (30%+ below) - Consider a swap
Email Digests
Stay informed even when you're away from the app. After each news scan, you'll receive an email digest with:
- Points earned by your rostered players since the last update
- League-wide top performers
- Current matchup status (winning, losing, or tied)
- Hot free agents you might want to pick up
- On the last day of close matchups: a direct link to the Matchup Moves Advisor
Frequently Asked Questions
How often are points updated?
We scan news sources every 12 hours. Points are updated after each scan, typically around midnight and noon.
Why isn't Donald Trump available to draft?
The President is excluded from the player pool because they would dominate mentions and make the game pointless. Every article about politics mentions the President.
Can I trade players with other teams?
Trading is not currently available. Focus on the waiver wire for roster improvements.
What happens if there's a tie in a weekly matchup?
Ties are recorded as ties. Both teams get half a win in the standings.
Can I be in multiple leagues?
Yes! You can join or create as many leagues as you want. Each league is independent.
How are playoffs determined?
The top teams by win-loss record make the playoffs. Tiebreakers are determined by total points scored during the season.
What if a player leaves politics or their position changes?
Players remain in the game as long as they're being mentioned in news. If someone retires or fades from the spotlight, they'll naturally score fewer points.
Is this real money gambling?
No. Swamp League is free to play and purely for entertainment. No real money is wagered. What consenting adults do with side bets is none of our business.
That's It
You now know what we know.