[Tib]

Thanks for the comment, UngratefulDead. I started out playing every game and meticulously writing down the outcomes of every at bat. Then I realized I was spending more time on my stats than on the story; the exact opposite of my original goal. Besides, my own decisions at the plate had me in a horrific slump!

If this was going to be any kind of worthwhile story, Dave would have to make the majors. Judging by my management of his career so far, he was on the fast track back to Palookaville. Doesn't make for a very good book. So I started simming one week at a time. I read on the forums that the computer does a better job of getting you hits when you leave it alone, so that's what I did. It worked, too, until Dave got hurt. But you get the point.

So now I sim a week at a time and fill in the blanks with story elements. For example: when I sim, I go to the bar and bid on equipment weekly. I try to get advice from everyone (I drink and even try to get a little some-some once in a while to improve my mood). That behavior just isn't Dave, but it's how you have to play the game, so I do it. In the story, eye increases via drinking advice and mood increases via sexual intercourse are represented by other things, like Dave's conversation with Kearse on the bus. That was a bar encounter. The extra BP in Pounding Sand was actually more scheduled batting practice workouts at the gym. If you know ITP and read between the lines, you can pick up the times I've had to change something.

Hope that answers your question.