Fictional Lg Issues: Immediate Dynasty Team That Routinely Wins 110-125 Games

DaddyO · 05-30-2007, 08:18 PM

I decided to (again) try a fictional league on Memorial Day. But I don't feel much like continuing it. The same thing happened that always seems to happen. One team immediately institutes a dynasty for the first decade and routinely wins 110-125 games (or even more!). In the first ten years, they will win 7 or 8 overall championships. And this has happened to me repeatedly. I have not changed any of the game's default PCMs. Is anyone else experiencing this? This phenomenon sort of destroys the realism factor for me.

RchW · 05-30-2007, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaddyO

I decided to (again) try a fictional league on Memorial Day. But I don't feel much like continuing it. The same thing happened that always seems to happen. One team immediately institutes a dynasty for the first decade and routinely wins 110-125 games (or even more!). In the first ten years, they will win 7 or 8 overall championships. And this has happened to me repeatedly. I have not changed any of the game's default PCMs. Is anyone else experiencing this? This phenomenon sort of destroys the realism factor for me.

Is it your team?

Either way, I like having dynastic type teams. It sets up a rivalry situation especially if your team is strong too. In my fictional league I have had the best regular season team for the last 12 seasons but only won the WS twice. My nemesis, the Minnesota Twins have beaten me 5 or 6 times. They have the best pitcher ever IMO and he beats us every time it matters

CatKnight · 05-31-2007, 02:44 AM

Dynasties are okay, but right off the bat is too much.

Daddy, that hasn't happened to me. Indeed, usually my first year or two in fictional leagues result in near ties before one or two gain enough of a qualitative advantage on their rivals.

When you set up the league, do you do an inaugural draft? That helps spread things out a bit. Otherwise it's all a crap shoot and you could very well have an instant dynasty. If you (as a player) don't like handling inaugural drafts (and I don't), then just don't take over a team until after it's over around January 2.

ctorg · 05-31-2007, 08:48 AM

Are you starting with a draft? If so, make sure it is serpentine. That should give some balance to the league.

I actually like having dynasties as well. I purposely set up a league where one team has a size-20 market size and no other team has above 10. The size-20 team has won 30 championships in the 103 seasons of the league (started in 1901, currently mid-2004), but they haven't won one in about 20 years (they won something like 14 in a row at one point, back in the 1910s-1920s). I imagine their fans all longing for past glory that now eludes them.

DaddyO · 05-31-2007, 02:42 PM

Actually, I am only simming as Commissioner at this point, and I am not doing an inaugural draft. Is it possible the draft bit is part of my problem?

You see, it's not just that it's a dynasty. It's that one team is consistently winning 110 to even 125 games for several years running.

Eugene Church · 05-31-2007, 05:03 PM

I just ran a 30-year test league, using default quickstart game with 6 leagues.

No dynasties in this test league.

The most titles were 5 and the most playoff appearences were 16.

ovccsteve · 05-31-2007, 05:30 PM

I picked up a team after the amateur draft once and immediately grew them into a dynasty. Even after I quit that team, they stayed on top for ten years. It seems that the equalizing factors that come into play after the first year make it really hard to overcome an initial dynasty.

I think the key would be to equalize the teams as much as possible at the start, and the serpentine draft would be the best place to start.

voxpoptart · 06-06-2007, 02:11 AM

Those of you with A.I. mega-dynasties that you don't want: do your leagues involve salary caps and revenue sharing? If not, try them out.

If they do, I don't know what to suggest.

In terms of forming invincible dynasties with your own teams - well, I found that an issue in my original (OOTP4 to OOTP6.5) fictional league, although I don't know if my new OOTP2007 league will force that issue. Three strategies I use to ward off a little too much superiority vs the A.I.:

* Never make a trade unless you're convinced it makes sense for your trading partner. Sometimes this means I'll toss in more than the computer GM requires of me; sometimes I'll simply pass on a deal that's good for me but seems stupid for them.

* Be on the lookout for when good A.I. teams are leaving gaping holes in their lineup/rotation, slip into their GM's shoes (Commissioner Mode), and try to make a trade or a midseason F.A. signing for them ... one not involving your own team.

* Switch teams every few years, choosing unpromising clubs to turn around.

Curtis · 07-09-2007, 12:35 AM

I'm with RichW on this. I spent six seasons in a Strat-O-Matic league that had twenty AI teams and six to ten human players. In those six seasons I finished with 115-122 wins and finished first in the NL regular season every year. The other guys in the league thought it was great; it gave them someone to hate and write nasty stories about. Like Rich, I only won one World Series, losing three times to my AL arch nemesis.

Dynasties can be cool, if looked at properly.

05-30-2007, 08:18 PM	#1
DaddyO Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 244	Fictional Lg Issues: Immediate Dynasty Team That Routinely Wins 110-125 Games I decided to (again) try a fictional league on Memorial Day. But I don't feel much like continuing it. The same thing happened that always seems to happen. One team immediately institutes a dynasty for the first decade and routinely wins 110-125 games (or even more!). In the first ten years, they will win 7 or 8 overall championships. And this has happened to me repeatedly. I have not changed any of the game's default PCMs. Is anyone else experiencing this? This phenomenon sort of destroys the realism factor for me. __________________ Signature? I don't need no stinkin' signature!

05-31-2007, 08:48 AM	#4
ctorg Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 9,848	Are you starting with a draft? If so, make sure it is serpentine. That should give some balance to the league. I actually like having dynasties as well. I purposely set up a league where one team has a size-20 market size and no other team has above 10. The size-20 team has won 30 championships in the 103 seasons of the league (started in 1901, currently mid-2004), but they haven't won one in about 20 years (they won something like 14 in a row at one point, back in the 1910s-1920s). I imagine their fans all longing for past glory that now eludes them. __________________ My music "When the trees blow back and forth, that's what makes the wind." - Steven Wright Fjord emena pancreas thorax fornicate marmalade morpheme proteolysis smaxa cabana offal srue vitriol grope hallelujah lentils

05-31-2007, 02:42 PM	#5
DaddyO Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 244	Actually, I am only simming as Commissioner at this point, and I am not doing an inaugural draft. Is it possible the draft bit is part of my problem? You see, it's not just that it's a dynasty. It's that one team is consistently winning 110 to even 125 games for several years running. __________________ Signature? I don't need no stinkin' signature!

06-06-2007, 02:11 AM	#8
voxpoptart Major Leagues Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 387	Those of you with A.I. mega-dynasties that you don't want: do your leagues involve salary caps and revenue sharing? If not, try them out. If they do, I don't know what to suggest. In terms of forming invincible dynasties with your own teams - well, I found that an issue in my original (OOTP4 to OOTP6.5) fictional league, although I don't know if my new OOTP2007 league will force that issue. Three strategies I use to ward off a little too much superiority vs the A.I.: * Never make a trade unless you're convinced it makes sense for your trading partner. Sometimes this means I'll toss in more than the computer GM requires of me; sometimes I'll simply pass on a deal that's good for me but seems stupid for them. * Be on the lookout for when good A.I. teams are leaving gaping holes in their lineup/rotation, slip into their GM's shoes (Commissioner Mode), and try to make a trade or a midseason F.A. signing for them ... one not involving your own team. * Switch teams every few years, choosing unpromising clubs to turn around. Last edited by voxpoptart; 06-06-2007 at 02:14 AM. Reason: grammar

05-31-2007, 02:44 AM	#3
CatKnight All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 1,199	Dynasties are okay, but right off the bat is too much. Daddy, that hasn't happened to me. Indeed, usually my first year or two in fictional leagues result in near ties before one or two gain enough of a qualitative advantage on their rivals. When you set up the league, do you do an inaugural draft? That helps spread things out a bit. Otherwise it's all a crap shoot and you could very well have an instant dynasty. If you (as a player) don't like handling inaugural drafts (and I don't), then just don't take over a team until after it's over around January 2.

05-31-2007, 05:03 PM	#6
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 36,047	I just ran a 30-year test league, using default quickstart game with 6 leagues. No dynasties in this test league. The most titles were 5 and the most playoff appearences were 16.

05-31-2007, 05:30 PM	#7
ovccsteve All Star Reserve Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sanford, NC Posts: 571	I picked up a team after the amateur draft once and immediately grew them into a dynasty. Even after I quit that team, they stayed on top for ten years. It seems that the equalizing factors that come into play after the first year make it really hard to overcome an initial dynasty. I think the key would be to equalize the teams as much as possible at the start, and the serpentine draft would be the best place to start.

07-09-2007, 12:35 AM	#9
Curtis Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Watertown, New York Posts: 4,567	I'm with RichW on this. I spent six seasons in a Strat-O-Matic league that had twenty AI teams and six to ten human players. In those six seasons I finished with 115-122 wins and finished first in the NL regular season every year. The other guys in the league thought it was great; it gave them someone to hate and write nasty stories about. Like Rich, I only won one World Series, losing three times to my AL arch nemesis. Dynasties can be cool, if looked at properly.