Option for Variance in Initial Ratings

[jcard]

One option that I would like to see added to the game is to enable initial player ratings (in non-historical games, at least) to reflect the probabilistic nature of projection systems such as ZIPS or PECOTA used in forecasting player statistics. I'm sure many if not most of you know that when these systems give a single projected statistical line for a player, it is not in fact a prediction but (generally) the 50th percentile projected performance for that player- half of the forecast for the player is below this level and half of it is above that level. Similarly, there is an expectation that one out of ten times the player will perform at his 10th or lower percentile projection, a one-fourth expectation that he will perform at his 75th or higher percentile projection, etc. I don't expect the game to use the actual forecasts for each player, but an option to vary the initial player projection with realistic probabilities around the baseline that as of now serves as the basis for the player in every newly created game (in, for example, the current MLB Quickstart) is something that I think is feasible (I believe that some similar games do have this feature) and would add intriguing variety to playing the game.

[jpeters1734]

i agree completely. that's basically how football manager does it.