perfecting The God mode "Franchise"

knockahoma · 12-31-2008, 08:59 AM

I think I finally found the perfect OOTP way to play for me.

My league is the historical 74 season. I've locked the AI from any roster changes. However, I let the AI make the decisions with the 25 men it has. Since the GM part of baseball games has always been the draw for me (i.e., trades, re-signing, free agents, etc.), this works perfectly. And having so much control makes every roster move just as realistic as I think it should be.

Using Gambo's file, I ask the AI to set up all organizations with an AI setting of 40,30,20,10--- as Gambo suggests. After the AI's initial suggestion for the major league rosters, I then go in and make some adjustments prior to opening day. For example, I usually make sure there are 4 players who are legitimate middle-infielders on the roster. I also give each team 3 catchers. This seems to help stop the goofy AI theory that putting a catcher at SS in the 10th inning is a good move, or maybe moving the SS to catcher. I go with 10 pitchers and a 4 man rotation. Seems to be working out wonderfully for my tastes.

Before the season began I made one more change. I've found that setting the AI to 30 percent based on ratings and 70 percent to stats for CURRENT season really gives me much better AI for some reason. It's quite surprising. This might work since all the AI worries about is who's slumping NOW, and whether they have so much more natural talent than their backup to warrant sticking with them 1/2 , or 2/3, or the entire season.

Occasionally, I'll see a team turn a 35 year old 3B into a 2B. If it happened in real life, as when the Sox were stacked at the hot corner and shifted Ron Santo over to 2B, that's fine. But if the computer decides to make Sal Bando a second sacker late in his career.... well, that cracks the illusion wall for me. And so, I edit out the AI's zany little experiment and edit out Sal' 2b experience. Now, he's a pure 3B again and the crack in the world seals up nicely.

Another thing that works for me. With roster rules on, I've had a couple of decent starting pitchers on various teams having poor years. Now, I don't think the Reds would send Woody Fryman through wavers for three bad months work on the mound. Scouting still thinks highly of him. I don't think they'd release him. Trade him and give him a new start? Hmmmm... maybe. Or maybe, send him to the bullpen a while.

Of course, I allow the AI to make up the lineups and pitching rotations for teams. But the AI just puts too much faith that the 1-11 pitcher with the 6.33 ERA will have a great finish. I don't think most managers are quite that patient-- especially if they're in a race. But, the guy might do some good in the bullpen while the swing-starter goes from 20% starts to 100%.

So, I go in and edit Woody Fryman's endurance number from 147 to 55. Then I hit the AI sort. Woody is nicely placed into middle reliever role. The young 20% starter with the good record has now won the full-time job. And at any time, I can go back and edit Woody into a starter should he actually shock everybody and regain form in late August, or something.

To me, this has been a helluva lot of fun. And these edits aren't cheating, as I'm not a fan of one team, but of the season itself.

It's late July now. And with the off-season coming up, I was hoping for some info I failed to find in the manual.

I have two options right after the world series. I can evaluate the teams myself and release and sign, which is probably what I'll do. But, I'm wondering how the arbitration stuff will work while I'm in commission/God-mode?

Are there any mine-fields I'm walking into by keeping the AI from making roster moves once the world series is done? And any other thoughts on this form of playing is welcome.

Thanks in advance for any replies and I do plan on reporting the "dynasty" results.

kehowey · 06-20-2010, 05:22 PM

70% current stats might over-evaluate a bench warmer who has had a run of luck. I think the default (40-40-15-5) is close to where it should be. I have my trade settings at very low/hard/neutral. Less than this, it is too easy to rip off the computer. Also the computer managed teams are less likely to rip each other off. I have talent randomness set at 25 since I think the default of 100 gives me too many surprises.

Case250 · 06-27-2010, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kehowey

I have talent randomness set at 25 since I think the default of 100 gives me too many surprises.

Where is the "talent randomness" option located. I have not noticed it in the game setup

12-31-2008, 08:59 AM	#1
knockahoma All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 792	perfecting The God mode "Franchise" I think I finally found the perfect OOTP way to play for me. My league is the historical 74 season. I've locked the AI from any roster changes. However, I let the AI make the decisions with the 25 men it has. Since the GM part of baseball games has always been the draw for me (i.e., trades, re-signing, free agents, etc.), this works perfectly. And having so much control makes every roster move just as realistic as I think it should be. Using Gambo's file, I ask the AI to set up all organizations with an AI setting of 40,30,20,10--- as Gambo suggests. After the AI's initial suggestion for the major league rosters, I then go in and make some adjustments prior to opening day. For example, I usually make sure there are 4 players who are legitimate middle-infielders on the roster. I also give each team 3 catchers. This seems to help stop the goofy AI theory that putting a catcher at SS in the 10th inning is a good move, or maybe moving the SS to catcher. I go with 10 pitchers and a 4 man rotation. Seems to be working out wonderfully for my tastes. Before the season began I made one more change. I've found that setting the AI to 30 percent based on ratings and 70 percent to stats for CURRENT season really gives me much better AI for some reason. It's quite surprising. This might work since all the AI worries about is who's slumping NOW, and whether they have so much more natural talent than their backup to warrant sticking with them 1/2 , or 2/3, or the entire season. Occasionally, I'll see a team turn a 35 year old 3B into a 2B. If it happened in real life, as when the Sox were stacked at the hot corner and shifted Ron Santo over to 2B, that's fine. But if the computer decides to make Sal Bando a second sacker late in his career.... well, that cracks the illusion wall for me. And so, I edit out the AI's zany little experiment and edit out Sal' 2b experience. Now, he's a pure 3B again and the crack in the world seals up nicely. Another thing that works for me. With roster rules on, I've had a couple of decent starting pitchers on various teams having poor years. Now, I don't think the Reds would send Woody Fryman through wavers for three bad months work on the mound. Scouting still thinks highly of him. I don't think they'd release him. Trade him and give him a new start? Hmmmm... maybe. Or maybe, send him to the bullpen a while. Of course, I allow the AI to make up the lineups and pitching rotations for teams. But the AI just puts too much faith that the 1-11 pitcher with the 6.33 ERA will have a great finish. I don't think most managers are quite that patient-- especially if they're in a race. But, the guy might do some good in the bullpen while the swing-starter goes from 20% starts to 100%. So, I go in and edit Woody Fryman's endurance number from 147 to 55. Then I hit the AI sort. Woody is nicely placed into middle reliever role. The young 20% starter with the good record has now won the full-time job. And at any time, I can go back and edit Woody into a starter should he actually shock everybody and regain form in late August, or something. To me, this has been a helluva lot of fun. And these edits aren't cheating, as I'm not a fan of one team, but of the season itself. It's late July now. And with the off-season coming up, I was hoping for some info I failed to find in the manual. I have two options right after the world series. I can evaluate the teams myself and release and sign, which is probably what I'll do. But, I'm wondering how the arbitration stuff will work while I'm in commission/God-mode? Are there any mine-fields I'm walking into by keeping the AI from making roster moves once the world series is done? And any other thoughts on this form of playing is welcome. Thanks in advance for any replies and I do plan on reporting the "dynasty" results. Last edited by knockahoma; 12-31-2008 at 09:00 AM.

06-20-2010, 05:22 PM	#2
kehowey Major Leagues Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: michigan Posts: 327	70% current stats might over-evaluate a bench warmer who has had a run of luck. I think the default (40-40-15-5) is close to where it should be. I have my trade settings at very low/hard/neutral. Less than this, it is too easy to rip off the computer. Also the computer managed teams are less likely to rip each other off. I have talent randomness set at 25 since I think the default of 100 gives me too many surprises.