Ideas like this have been floating around in diff forms for a long time, but I thought organizing them into what would make MY experience more immersive might generate some new discussion.
1. Enable automatic evolution of the league... it would be a great advantage to me if the game would have a switch on this option to allow the player (me) to accept or deny what the game was about to do. I play the game season by season usually in commissioner mode and in some leagues, I would like to agree or disagree with the action about to be taken. Another option would be to pose the change to the team owners and let them (and me) vote on it. Maybe in commissioner mode the option could be confirmed by me and in manager mode it would go to a vote.
Agree in principle. I'd add that maybe the composition of items allowed in league evolution could also be put to a vote, to include items that could not be negotiated later. One one hand, I like the idea of preserving the ability to override anything. On the other, for a truly immersive game, seems to me there should be areas I simply have to with, mandated by 'others' and out of my control.
2. Any change initiated by the game should also be editable by the player... for example; the league will expand by 2 teams in Milwaukee and Los Angeles... give me the option to make that Portland and Seattle if I want. Also let me edit the team nicknames. I know I can do this "after-the-fact" but sometimes the double-change screws up the recorded storyline.
Again, I don't object to the idea I am able to modify proposed changes. However, in an immersive world- unless I have declared myself god above gods -even changing that change should call for a vote and be approved by my 'peers.'
3. I really REALLY want more "meat" at the Winter Meetings !!! All of the above should be initiated and executed at that meeting, and media stories should cover what happens.
A great aspiration of mine, to finally develop real interaction and dialogue with other owners, not unlike signing negotiations, but with more narrative available, and even choices similar to some of today's storylines. A bit off the subject, but would really like to see this eventually in the everyday trade dialogue with GMs and/or owners.
4. I think a series of stories should be added.... Right now, certain performances or game outcomes trigger a story. I think storylines should be added for the BA leader, K leader, Win leader, SB leader - etc. to create some ongoing "flow"... Ex. "John Parker leads the CBL with a .368 BA...." and a week later "Parker continues to lead the league with a .355 BA..." and a month later; "1B John Parker holds onto the CBL BA lead, currently batting .333 but Jason Taylor is now chasing him with a .320 BA...". This concept would be similar to the "hitting streak" storylines currently in the game.
Actually, cody and I have recently discussed this, and hope to be lobbying Andreas to gain access to or find a way to translate the existing tokens in pbp and news for affordable use in storylines. Absolutely essential that storylines allow us the ability to highlight statistics and be statistics-driven. After all, it's baseball. Aren't the stats often the story?
5. We still need some kind of story for the all-star game. Even if it's the same story each year with the current games results, it's one game that needs a little attention. The playoff series games should be written up as well, but the AS game would be a nice start.
Every event needs a story, headline, or at least a one liner that is able to sum up what's happened. Game is sadly lacking in shining the spotlight on what teams strive to achieve. Some progress has been made on the great triumph, winning it all, but even that still has the potential to be anti-climactic. Still, I think we're versions away from the substantive highlights that are called for, but like you've said, you start somewhere.
I know there was a 6th item I wanted to talk about but right now I can't think of it... 5 is probably enough to instigate a few comments anyway
6.