Finally buying the game

rizzos · 11-15-2016, 10:51 PM

So I've known about this game for years, and always thought it's the perfect game for me -- a baseball game with an accurate entire organization to manage. I always had more fun with the GM/President aspects than playing the actual games; and I keep up with the entire organization very closely, and dreaming up my own roster management, so I'm sure I'd love it.
I just never thought I'd have enough time to get really deep into the game, or I'd just cave and spend hours a day. But I guess it might be time for me to finally get around to buying and dive in myself. BUT I have a couple thoughts first...

1) Is there any reason to buy the Steam or one from the site over one or the other? Is it true that updates and mods are only possible with / or easier with / the download off the site here?

2) So the newest roster I can use is the Aug31 dl, and I should update to the newest 17.12. Is that right?
3) But can I begin at the start of the 2017 season? Or do I have to start at the beginning of 2016 season -- other than just sim a whole season which is different. I'd want to start the managing from the END of the 2016 season.
3b) Or do I HAVE to wait until OOTP 18 ... and should I just wait that long? :\
(It's too bad I just missed the World Series special. :\)

mitchkenn · 11-16-2016, 02:09 PM

1. i've never used Steam, i buy direct from OOTP people. Steam has advantages (i hear) if you want to use more than one computer. Updates may take a day longer .... From what i've read, there are more Mods in the non-Steam version, though that is supposed to being worked on.

2. When you buy the game, it comes with the 2016 starting day rosters. When you download the game from the OOTP site, you get the latest version 17.12.75. If you want, you can download the Aug roster set then. It is a quickstart available in the Mods section.

3. Can't start the 2017 season, as the game can't see into the future (at least i don't think it can!). But you can start from ANY season before that with the historical set up 1871 to 2016. Starting in 1919 minor leagues start to appear, but it's not until the mid 30's (i believe) that there are minors for all teams. (that's a historical fact ....) You can always create a fictional league, or import players from various generations into a league. So to answer your 3b question, to get 2017 players etc, yes, you'll have to wait for 18 to appear.

there is a quickstart for beginners .... to help delve into the game with minimal amount of effort. The beauty of this game is you can do just about anything, any confuration you can dream of ..... and this board is full of people willing to help if you get stuck or need advice on some idea. it's simply great game and great people here .... may take a few days to get answers, but someone with the right knowledge base will almost certainly offer help.

If you wait for 18, that's cool, but if you dive into 17 to get started .... have fun and don't be afraid to ask questions. The on-line manual is some help as well.

eriqjaffe · 11-16-2016, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rizzos

1) Is there any reason to buy the Steam or one from the site over one or the other?

I think it's better to buy direct - Steam gives you flexibility to install the game on a bazillion computers, but that's the only real benefit. Buying direct still lets you install the game on two computers simultaneously. Mods are easier to deal with when you have the direct version, and patches aren't forced on you (and you can roll back if needed) when you buy direct. Additionally, a little more money goes to the pockets of the developers which is always a good thing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rizzos

2) So the newest roster I can use is the Aug31 dl, and I should update to the newest 17.12. Is that right?

Basically, yes. The provided installer is always the most current build so you don't have to worry about updating.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rizzos

3) But can I begin at the start of the 2017 season? Or do I have to start at the beginning of 2016 season -- other than just sim a whole season which is different. I'd want to start the managing from the END of the 2016 season.
3b) Or do I HAVE to wait until OOTP 18 ... and should I just wait that long? :\
(It's too bad I just missed the World Series special. :\)

You have to start from the beginning of 2016. There's an off-chance that the community will make a post-season QuickStart but I really wouldn't hold my breath on that.

BigRed75 · 11-17-2016, 09:33 AM

What Kenn and Eriq said - buy direct from OOTP. They get a bit more money, and you get a lot more customization and less frustration.

I'm not exactly sure what the August 31 roster update is - if it has Opening Day rosters and August 31 ratings, or if the game starts with the August 31 rosters (so Andrew Miller is on the Indians, Aroldis Chapman is on the Cubs, etc.).

If it is the latter, you can always play the 2016 season with injuries and transactions off, and play out to the last day of the 2016 World Series. You'll then start the 2016 off season with August 31 rosters. It's not perfect, but it's a lot closer to real life that starting 2017 with 2016 Opening Day rosters or letting the AI make a lot of transactions.

ohiodevil · 11-17-2016, 10:11 AM

The August 30th roster pack starts on opening day 2016, but have all transactions made up through 8/30 and does have updated ratings.

I went through and played the 2016 season (using the default rosters) and made the daily transactions (injuries, trades, releases, waivers, signed extensions, drafted players, etc...)....let me say it sounds more fun than it really was, lot of tedious work. Only problem some may have it that stats won't be correct and you may not get the same 6 teams in the playoffs. Mine had Seattle and Arizona in the World Series, while Baltimore and San Francisco missed the playoffs.

rizzos · 11-17-2016, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRed75

I'm not exactly sure what the August 31 roster update is - if it has Opening Day rosters and August 31 ratings, or if the game starts with the August 31 rosters (so Andrew Miller is on the Indians, Aroldis Chapman is on the Cubs, etc.).

If it is the latter, you can always play the 2016 season with injuries and transactions off, and play out to the last day of the 2016 World Series. You'll then start the 2016 off season with August 31 rosters. It's not perfect, but it's a lot closer to real life that starting 2017 with 2016 Opening Day rosters or letting the AI make a lot of transactions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ohiodevil

The August 30th roster pack starts on opening day 2016, but have all transactions made up through 8/30 and does have updated ratings.

OK, so yeah this is more what I wanted to do. Begin playing in 2017, even though it would be a different 2016 stats/standings/outcomes--but with those current rosters, and no new transactions/injuries occurring.

But then, could I auto-sim and just start playing at the end of the 2016 season?

aaaand I wasn't sure if the eSellerate version was actually direct or not. Knowing it is, and devs get more from it, I'll definitely buy that way instead

ohiodevil · 11-17-2016, 04:37 PM

You could auto sim 2016, but there will be transactions made by the AI unless you turn them off.

rizzos · 11-17-2016, 04:48 PM

OK cool. So it sounds like I want to get the newest roster, turn transactions and injuries off, and auto-sim 2016 through the WS. Then I'll be at the 2016-17 offseason, with rosters updated to that pack, before I begin my management.

Lukas Berger · 11-17-2016, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rizzos

OK cool. So it sounds like I want to get the newest roster, turn transactions and injuries off, and auto-sim 2016 through the WS. Then I'll be at the 2016-17 offseason, with rosters updated to that pack, before I begin my management.

That should work.

BigRed75 · 11-18-2016, 04:53 AM

The best way I've found to do that is to turn injuries off, then set all teams to human controlled. That takes the AI out of the picture. Then don't make any moves until November 3, set all teams to AI controlled, then pick a team to control yourself.

I would probably backup before you picked a team. That way, if you wanted to play again with a different team, you could just restore from the backup and start again.

As I said, it'll be August 30 rosters, but that's better for what you want than April 7 rosters...

11-15-2016, 10:51 PM	#1
rizzos Bat Boy Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 11	Might finally buy the game --- but questions first! So I've known about this game for years, and always thought it's the perfect game for me -- a baseball game with an accurate entire organization to manage. I always had more fun with the GM/President aspects than playing the actual games; and I keep up with the entire organization very closely, and dreaming up my own roster management, so I'm sure I'd love it. I just never thought I'd have enough time to get really deep into the game, or I'd just cave and spend hours a day. But I guess it might be time for me to finally get around to buying and dive in myself. BUT I have a couple thoughts first... 1) Is there any reason to buy the Steam or one from the site over one or the other? Is it true that updates and mods are only possible with / or easier with / the download off the site here? 2) So the newest roster I can use is the Aug31 dl, and I should update to the newest 17.12. Is that right? 3) But can I begin at the start of the 2017 season? Or do I have to start at the beginning of 2016 season -- other than just sim a whole season which is different. I'd want to start the managing from the END of the 2016 season. 3b) Or do I HAVE to wait until OOTP 18 ... and should I just wait that long? :\ (It's too bad I just missed the World Series special. :\) Last edited by rizzos; 11-16-2016 at 03:26 AM. Reason: title

11-16-2016, 02:09 PM	#2
mitchkenn Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Oregon, not by design Posts: 2,872	1. i've never used Steam, i buy direct from OOTP people. Steam has advantages (i hear) if you want to use more than one computer. Updates may take a day longer .... From what i've read, there are more Mods in the non-Steam version, though that is supposed to being worked on. 2. When you buy the game, it comes with the 2016 starting day rosters. When you download the game from the OOTP site, you get the latest version 17.12.75. If you want, you can download the Aug roster set then. It is a quickstart available in the Mods section. 3. Can't start the 2017 season, as the game can't see into the future (at least i don't think it can!). But you can start from ANY season before that with the historical set up 1871 to 2016. Starting in 1919 minor leagues start to appear, but it's not until the mid 30's (i believe) that there are minors for all teams. (that's a historical fact ....) You can always create a fictional league, or import players from various generations into a league. So to answer your 3b question, to get 2017 players etc, yes, you'll have to wait for 18 to appear. there is a quickstart for beginners .... to help delve into the game with minimal amount of effort. The beauty of this game is you can do just about anything, any confuration you can dream of ..... and this board is full of people willing to help if you get stuck or need advice on some idea. it's simply great game and great people here .... may take a few days to get answers, but someone with the right knowledge base will almost certainly offer help. If you wait for 18, that's cool, but if you dive into 17 to get started .... have fun and don't be afraid to ask questions. The on-line manual is some help as well. __________________ "This is my opening farewell " - Jackson Browne “They make a desolation and call it peace.” ― Agha Shahid Ali "Maybe she just has to sing, for the sake of the song - And who do I think that I am to decide that she's wrong." - Townes Van Zandt "I saw a young man leaning on his wooden crutch - He called out to me, 'Don't ask for so much' And a young woman leaning in her darkened door She cried out to me, 'Why not ask for more?' " - Leonard Cohen "Hello darkness, my old Friend ...." - Paul Simon Before Mays, before DiMaggio, there was Oscar Charleston. "All the lies about Babe Ruth are true." - Waite Hoyt Avatar is the late great Townes Van Zandt. rip. Last edited by mitchkenn; 11-16-2016 at 02:17 PM. Reason: add info.

11-17-2016, 09:33 AM	#4
BigRed75 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 2,430	What Kenn and Eriq said - buy direct from OOTP. They get a bit more money, and you get a lot more customization and less frustration. I'm not exactly sure what the August 31 roster update is - if it has Opening Day rosters and August 31 ratings, or if the game starts with the August 31 rosters (so Andrew Miller is on the Indians, Aroldis Chapman is on the Cubs, etc.). If it is the latter, you can always play the 2016 season with injuries and transactions off, and play out to the last day of the 2016 World Series. You'll then start the 2016 off season with August 31 rosters. It's not perfect, but it's a lot closer to real life that starting 2017 with 2016 Opening Day rosters or letting the AI make a lot of transactions. __________________ Mainline team SPTT team Was not a Snag fan...until I saw the fallout once he was gone and realized what a good job he was actually doing. - Ty Cobb

11-17-2016, 10:11 AM	#5
ohiodevil OOTP Roster Team Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Rocky River, Ohio Posts: 2,425	The August 30th roster pack starts on opening day 2016, but have all transactions made up through 8/30 and does have updated ratings. I went through and played the 2016 season (using the default rosters) and made the daily transactions (injuries, trades, releases, waivers, signed extensions, drafted players, etc...)....let me say it sounds more fun than it really was, lot of tedious work. Only problem some may have it that stats won't be correct and you may not get the same 6 teams in the playoffs. Mine had Seattle and Arizona in the World Series, while Baltimore and San Francisco missed the playoffs. Last edited by ohiodevil; 11-17-2016 at 10:15 AM.

11-18-2016, 04:53 AM	#10
BigRed75 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 2,430	The best way I've found to do that is to turn injuries off, then set all teams to human controlled. That takes the AI out of the picture. Then don't make any moves until November 3, set all teams to AI controlled, then pick a team to control yourself. I would probably backup before you picked a team. That way, if you wanted to play again with a different team, you could just restore from the backup and start again. As I said, it'll be August 30 rosters, but that's better for what you want than April 7 rosters... __________________ Mainline team SPTT team Was not a Snag fan...until I saw the fallout once he was gone and realized what a good job he was actually doing. - Ty Cobb

11-17-2016, 04:37 PM	#7
ohiodevil OOTP Roster Team Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Rocky River, Ohio Posts: 2,425	You could auto sim 2016, but there will be transactions made by the AI unless you turn them off.

11-17-2016, 04:48 PM	#8
rizzos Bat Boy Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 11	OK cool. So it sounds like I want to get the newest roster, turn transactions and injuries off, and auto-sim 2016 through the WS. Then I'll be at the 2016-17 offseason, with rosters updated to that pack, before I begin my management.