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. The regular season uses a double round-robin format - every team plays every other team twice (once in a 3-day matchup, once in a 4-day matchup). In an 8-team league, that's 14 matchups plus playoffs.
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. Double round-robin means you face every opponent twice over the season.
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)
News Scanning & Scoring
We scan major news sources twice daily:
- Noon scan: Updates live scores during active matchups
- 11:30 PM scan: Final scan before midnight matchup finalization
Points are attributed based on when we discover the article, not when it was published. This is important because news aggregators have a 24-48 hour delay in indexing articles. By scoring based on discovery time, your matchup scores are locked in at finalization - no points can change retroactively.
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.
Patronage Strategy
- Buy low before playoffs: Target struggling teams mid-season. They need Dark Money; you need talent for your playoff push.
- Sell high when eliminated: Out of contention? Your players are worth more to contenders than to you. Time to liquidate.
- Create bidding wars: Don't accept the first offer. List players when multiple teams need them and let them drive up the price.
- Keep your ante reserve: Always maintain at least 20 DM for Grift pool antes. Bid on players aggressively, but don't leave yourself unable to participate in betting.
- Watch the escrow: Your bid is locked until you're outbid or the auction ends. Don't overcommit and leave yourself short for betting.
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
The Grift
The Grift is Swamp League's parimutuel betting system using Dark Money. Each matchup period, two position pools open up. Pick the player you think will score the most points in that position, and split the pot with other winners.
Dark Money Overview
Every team starts with 400 Dark Money. Your balance carries through the entire season. Win it through shrewd betting, accumulate it through Patronage trades, or lose it all on bad gambles.
How Position Pools Work
Each matchup period, two positions are randomly selected (e.g., Cabinet and Media). For each position, you'll see:
- Top 4 Players: The four highest-scoring players in that position over the last 14 days
- The Field: Everyone else in that position combined
Pick who you think will score the most points during this matchup period. If your pick wins (or ties for the win), you split the pot with other winners.
Pool 1
One randomly selected position (e.g., CAB). Pick from Top 4 or The Field.
Pool 2
A different randomly selected position (e.g., MED). Same rules apply.
Betting Rules
| Rule | Amount |
|---|---|
| Minimum bet per pool | 10 DM |
| Maximum bet per pool | 100 DM |
| Ante per pool (if you don't bet) | 10 DM |
| Must keep reserved for next matchup ante | 20 DM |
The Ante
If you don't place a bet on a pool, you pay a 10 DM ante for that pool. This seeds the pot for those who did bet.
- Bet on both pools: No ante owed
- Bet on one pool: 10 DM ante for the other pool
- Bet on neither: 20 DM total ante (10 per pool)
Timing
Matchup Starts
Position pools are created. Betting window opens. You can see the Top 4 players and current pot sizes.
24 Hours Later
Betting window closes. Antes collected from anyone who didn't bet. Bets are locked.
Matchup Ends
Pools settle. The highest-scoring player in each position wins that pool. Winnings distributed.
Payouts
When a pool settles, the total pot (all bets + antes for that pool) is split among winners proportionally to their bet amount.
Example: Pool 1 (Cabinet) has a 200 DM pot. You bet 40 DM on Pam Bondi. Another player bet 60 DM on Pam Bondi. Pam Bondi scores the most points.
- Total winning bets: 100 DM (40 + 60)
- Your share: 40% of 200 DM = 80 DM (profit of 40 DM)
- Other winner's share: 60% of 200 DM = 120 DM (profit of 60 DM)
Ties
If multiple players tie for the highest score, all bets on any tied player win. The pot is still split proportionally among all winning bets.
The Field Wins
If a player NOT in the Top 4 scores the most points, "The Field" wins. Anyone who bet on The Field splits the pot.
Same Pools, All Leagues
The two positions selected each matchup period are the same across all leagues. This prevents the positions from being gamed and lets you compare results with friends in other leagues.
Strategy Tips
- Follow the news: If you know a Cabinet member has a hearing this week, they might outscore the favorites.
- The Field is underrated: Sometimes a lesser-known player blows up. The Field often has good odds.
- Bet size matters: Larger bets mean larger share of the pot if you win. But they also mean larger losses.
- Check the pot: A pool with lots of ante money (from non-bettors) and few bets on your pick is valuable.
- Don't skip both pools: Paying 20 DM in ante with no chance to win is just giving money away.
Patronage
Patronage is the player auction system. Need Dark Money? Sell one of your players to the highest bidder.
How Patronage Works
- List a Player: Put any rostered player up for auction with a minimum bid (default 10 DM)
- 24-Hour Auction: Other teams in your league can bid. Each bid must beat the current high bid
- Escrow: Bids are held in escrow - you can't spend money you've committed to a bid
- Settlement: At noon the next day, the auction closes. Highest bidder gets the player, seller gets the DM
- No Bids? If nobody bids, the player returns to your roster. No harm done.
The Fire Sale
Out of playoff contention? Your season isn't over - it's liquidation time. Playoff-bound teams need talent, and you have players they want. The best strategy is to wait until multiple contenders are bidding against each other, then watch the price climb.
In cash leagues (the site doesn't handle real money, but your commissioner is free to), a well-timed fire sale can turn a losing season into a profitable one. Walk away with a healthy Dark Money balance even if you never made the playoffs.
Example: You find a good free agent ELEC player, so you auction off the player on your roster with a 50 DM minimum. Two teams bid it up to 85 DM. At noon, you receive 85 DM and the winning bidder gets the player added to their roster. You turn your players into cash
The Dark Money Leaderboard
Track your league's standings on the Dark Money Leaderboard in The Grift tab. Build your balance through smart bets and savvy Patronage deals. The richest don't always have the best record - but they played the game.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often are points updated?
We scan news sources twice daily - at noon for live scoring updates, and at 11:30 PM to capture the day's final articles before matchups finalize at midnight. Points are based on when we discover articles, so your matchup score is locked in at finalization.
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.