Free to Play Blues - A Comment on LE Cards

Lowlyworm1 · 02-11-2023, 03:15 PM

So, indulge me as I'm going to do some minor complaining. I was kind of excited about the format of PTCS as perfect cards were excluded. I put together what I thought was a great team led by my 99 Vandermeer who I had just won in a tournament. My optimism was quickly doused when I saw my opponent was rocking SEVEN limited edition cards, including two 99 LE's that made Vandermeer look like a gold. I've thought about this for the last hour and come to this conclusion. As a FTP player, I'm not sure I can ever compete with the upper echelon teams primarily because of the LE cards. I actually like the idea and have pulled four LEs myself including a perfect, albeit one that I've not found a use for (Hoyt Wilhelm in case you're wondering). The problem is that they are so far above their listed card value, that the whales simply buy them up and dominate these tournaments (thus willing more OP cards). I play every day and win plenty of packs to open everyday, but it's not realistic that I'd have more than a dozen LE cards that I suspect my opponent had (I'm sure he had several perfects that weren't eligible).

My realistic hope is that OOTP makes the LE cards at least closer in value to tournament cards that FTP players can actually win with skill.

My unrealistic hope is that the buying of points just goes away. I know this won't happen, but I can dream. I'd pay $100 for the base game. It's not even about money...I just feel buying points to build up your team seems lame (seems like cheating too) and defeats the competitive aspects of the game.

While I prefer OOTP to anything I can play on Xbox, I primarily only play MLB the Show for now BECAUSE I feel I can have as good of a roster as someone who buys their version of points. I stopped playing NBA2k and Madden because I learned I couldn't compete without buying points.

Anyway, my realistic desire is to get rid of the truly OP cards. MLB the Show is a decent model for this and I'm sure they still rake in cash from whales wanted to complete the missions faster.

My least favorite moment of this season was the Topps cards. They were beautiful and cool for sure, but much too powerful. I remember typing in chat that it would cost literally millions of points to complete all cards. Someone shot back that needing every card to get the toppers wasn't going to happen. It did. The very next day, less than 24 hours later, I entered an OOTP era tourney that I always did well in. The other team started Ohtani in game one. It was the last time I played that tournament.

End rant!

Ty Cobb · 02-15-2023, 09:22 PM

There seems to be an obsession that only winning at Perfect level matters. There are about 23000 teams right now in PT, according to the Universe screen. Of those, less than 1,000 are in Diamond and Perfect combined. Make it to Diamond and you're in the top 5% of all teams.

LeeD · 02-16-2023, 09:00 AM

PeL is the top of the mountain. Sure, it's nice to build a 100-game winner in Gold, but see above. FTP is a tough climb that requires dedication, work, and reasonable luck in pulling cards, but adding these LE's makes that climb even more difficult, as does the inclusion of cards like the double-duty 58 Babe. I'd also add the limited-time Platinum Series to this, as many of the early cards are still de rigueur at an increased cost for those who weren't in on the ground floor (although PS4 helped by replacing some of those meta tournament cards with shiny new ones which were still available until last week).

jd200600 · 02-16-2023, 10:30 AM

I hear you OP, but I also agree with the poster above that said that Diamond is a great level to reach. I understand that I will never reach PeL. Once I did that, it made it easier to justify that Diamond is a good level.

I have a team that I put some money into, and one FTP team, this year. They both just bounce between Gold and Diamond level (which is my biggest frustration r that requires a different rant).

I know next year I am going to go FTP only as there is a certain point where even if you put money into the game, you fall behind if you do not have time to spam tourneys all day/increase your spending. You catch up with FTP at some point, even if it takes another month or two. By the time we hit August/September, all things balance out level wise.

I love the idea of PT, but you just have accept it for what it is.

02-11-2023, 03:15 PM	#1
Lowlyworm1 Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Oct 2020 Posts: 30 Blog Entries: 1	Free to Play Blues - A Comment on LE Cards So, indulge me as I'm going to do some minor complaining. I was kind of excited about the format of PTCS as perfect cards were excluded. I put together what I thought was a great team led by my 99 Vandermeer who I had just won in a tournament. My optimism was quickly doused when I saw my opponent was rocking SEVEN limited edition cards, including two 99 LE's that made Vandermeer look like a gold. I've thought about this for the last hour and come to this conclusion. As a FTP player, I'm not sure I can ever compete with the upper echelon teams primarily because of the LE cards. I actually like the idea and have pulled four LEs myself including a perfect, albeit one that I've not found a use for (Hoyt Wilhelm in case you're wondering). The problem is that they are so far above their listed card value, that the whales simply buy them up and dominate these tournaments (thus willing more OP cards). I play every day and win plenty of packs to open everyday, but it's not realistic that I'd have more than a dozen LE cards that I suspect my opponent had (I'm sure he had several perfects that weren't eligible). My realistic hope is that OOTP makes the LE cards at least closer in value to tournament cards that FTP players can actually win with skill. My unrealistic hope is that the buying of points just goes away. I know this won't happen, but I can dream. I'd pay $100 for the base game. It's not even about money...I just feel buying points to build up your team seems lame (seems like cheating too) and defeats the competitive aspects of the game. While I prefer OOTP to anything I can play on Xbox, I primarily only play MLB the Show for now BECAUSE I feel I can have as good of a roster as someone who buys their version of points. I stopped playing NBA2k and Madden because I learned I couldn't compete without buying points. Anyway, my realistic desire is to get rid of the truly OP cards. MLB the Show is a decent model for this and I'm sure they still rake in cash from whales wanted to complete the missions faster. My least favorite moment of this season was the Topps cards. They were beautiful and cool for sure, but much too powerful. I remember typing in chat that it would cost literally millions of points to complete all cards. Someone shot back that needing every card to get the toppers wasn't going to happen. It did. The very next day, less than 24 hours later, I entered an OOTP era tourney that I always did well in. The other team started Ohtani in game one. It was the last time I played that tournament. End rant!

02-15-2023, 09:22 PM	#2
Ty Cobb Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Grayling, MI Posts: 4,280 Blog Entries: 108	There seems to be an obsession that only winning at Perfect level matters. There are about 23000 teams right now in PT, according to the Universe screen. Of those, less than 1,000 are in Diamond and Perfect combined. Make it to Diamond and you're in the top 5% of all teams. __________________ "It is not heresy, and I will not recant!"—Michael Rayner “Chicken wings are basically trash. The only reason to eat them is if some *** stole the rest of the chicken."—JJ Sefton “Meet me down the line on Gypsy Friday"—Townes van Zandt "Tell Cersei. I want her to know it was me."—Olenna Tyrell

02-16-2023, 09:00 AM	#3
LeeD All Star Reserve Join Date: Jan 2022 Posts: 513	PeL is the top of the mountain. Sure, it's nice to build a 100-game winner in Gold, but see above. FTP is a tough climb that requires dedication, work, and reasonable luck in pulling cards, but adding these LE's makes that climb even more difficult, as does the inclusion of cards like the double-duty 58 Babe. I'd also add the limited-time Platinum Series to this, as many of the early cards are still de rigueur at an increased cost for those who weren't in on the ground floor (although PS4 helped by replacing some of those meta tournament cards with shiny new ones which were still available until last week).

02-16-2023, 10:30 AM	#4
jd200600 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 135	I hear you OP, but I also agree with the poster above that said that Diamond is a great level to reach. I understand that I will never reach PeL. Once I did that, it made it easier to justify that Diamond is a good level. I have a team that I put some money into, and one FTP team, this year. They both just bounce between Gold and Diamond level (which is my biggest frustration r that requires a different rant). I know next year I am going to go FTP only as there is a certain point where even if you put money into the game, you fall behind if you do not have time to spam tourneys all day/increase your spending. You catch up with FTP at some point, even if it takes another month or two. By the time we hit August/September, all things balance out level wise. I love the idea of PT, but you just have accept it for what it is.