7 or 8 of us for a 12 team league?

There are about 7 or 8 of us newbies interested in forming a league. What are our options?
- Strat support at one time had answered a question and said if we have less than 6, they could assign computer generated teams to get it up to 6. Does the same thing apply if we have say 8 for a 12 team league, ie Strat assigns 4 computer generated teams?
- Or alternatively, do we put up a post asking for more teams to join? I see a similar post in announcements.

Thanks for any guidance on this.

First, welcome to the game to you and your mates.

If SOM will get a league from 5 to 6, by adding a bot team, it seems likely they would do the same to fill a 12 team league from 7 or 8.

As you mentioned, your other option is to advertise your league in this forum asking for others to join. State the parameters of the league and get some real folk to join. If you already have 7 or 8 members in the league before you advertise the chances are that the league will fill quickly.

Since you all are learning the online game it might be more fun to compete against yourselves and the bots. That way, unless your league has a brilliant bot, one of you will get the ring.

If you do mystery leagues the bots are beatable but if you do the non-mystery leagues the bots are killers.
Other alternatives that I have seen:
Open a public league but make it only for managers with less than X teams in their history. Maybe 50 or fewer?
One league limited membership to managers with less than a .500 record.
Or open a league and permit owners to own more than one team. So you could have a 12 team league with 6 owners owning 2 teams each.

.......if you do the non-mystery leagues the bots are killers.....

So killer SOM bots do exist! I was jesting as to their possible talent but you apparently have evidence. Please post a league.

Here’s one
https://365.strat-o-matic.com/league/435750

Humans total run differential = +106

Bots = -108

I'd take my chances vs. the cyborgs.

Also, each of you newbies might want to seek out a mentor here on the boards. Many of the vets think we know every thing....and are willing to share.