Buy 26’ now or wait for a few months of patches?

BURNS81 · 03-29-2025, 10:50 AM

This is always my issue I want to play now but the game gets patched so frequently I feel the need to start my seasons over. What do you guys normally do? Thanks.

Sweed · 03-29-2025, 11:10 AM

Import and play from day 1 of official release.

Pelican · 03-29-2025, 01:08 PM

I agree with Sweed. You can play through the various patches without any problem. The game as released is stable. Stable does not mean perfect. Patches refine the product further, often in subtle ways.

A bigger issue for some is when to transfer your existing ongoing sims from 25 to 26. I have heard multiple theories on this. Most dynasty players prefer to wait until offseason, since there can be a change in ratings, based on the new edition of the game. In the offseason, there will be changes anyway, so the ones due to the new edition are indistinguishable. It could be unnerving to have ratings changes across the board in the midst of a pennant race.

Sweed · 03-29-2025, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pelican

I agree with Sweed. You can play through the various patches without any problem. The game as released is stable. Stable does not mean perfect. Patches refine the product further, often in subtle ways.

A bigger issue for some is when to transfer your existing ongoing sims from 25 to 26. I have heard multiple theories on this. Most dynasty players prefer to wait until offseason, since there can be a change in ratings, based on the new edition of the game. In the offseason, there will be changes anyway, so the ones due to the new edition are indistinguishable. It could be unnerving to have ratings changes across the board in the midst of a pennant race.

I used to import at any time of the season and the game would play fine. As OOTP has added more and become more complex I have gone to importing my game the day after the World Series (the day before offseason starts). That may mean if it's close to release time for a new version I stop playing and wait for that new version. This year was like that going from v25 to v26. My v25 season ended aroung mid Feb. and I didn't play again until v26 released and I could import.

In addition to ratings there will be tweaks/improvements/ or complete changes in how the AI determines values of skills, finances etc. On import the
AI will "massage" all of the previous version's data into the new version with all of it's new/tweaked under the hood coding. It is best (maybe "safer" is a better word?) to import the day before offseason, then advance a day, and let the AI "do it's thing" as the year rolls over into the new version. A "fresh start" with the new code. At least that is the theory and I agree with it.

Other's milage may vary.

PSUColonel · 03-29-2025, 11:46 PM

Well this waiver wire issue is probably a good reason to wait.

OutS|der · 03-30-2025, 12:00 AM

It all depends on how you play.

If you're bringing over a save that you've spent years on then it's always best to wait as there is aways some issue that will destroy your long term save, be it waiver wire issues or lack of development past a set age. Issues like this need time to be found and fixed.

Sweed · 03-30-2025, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutS|der

It all depends on how you play.

If you're bringing over a save that you've spent years on then it's always best to wait as there is aways some issue that will destroy your long term save, be it waiver wire issues or lack of development past a set age. Issues like this need time to be found and fixed.

Just wanted say this is not true for everyone. I've imported the same game from v4 to v26. The only time I restarted was in the total rewrite of 2006, the first year Sega/SI/Football Manger published the game. On import the game did not assign CF'ers a position. To be fair my name was drawn out of the board's user pool to participate in an early beta release.

I buy from Steam now, but when I bought direct and got the 3 day early release I did not import and start playing. I would use those days to look through the new game, build some views, and play through a few 3d games to provide feedback if I saw something wrong. Other than that it's been day 1 patch for me with no issues that destroyed my long term save.

Your mileage obviously varies.

md5423 · 03-30-2025, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSUColonel

Well this waiver wire issue is probably a good reason to wait.

What is the waiver wire issue? Does it affect all games?

03-29-2025, 10:50 AM	#1
BURNS81 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 187	Buy 26’ now or wait for a few months of patches? This is always my issue I want to play now but the game gets patched so frequently I feel the need to start my seasons over. What do you guys normally do? Thanks. Last edited by BURNS81; 03-29-2025 at 10:53 AM.

03-29-2025, 01:08 PM	#3
Pelican Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Wilmington, Delaware Posts: 2,886	I agree with Sweed. You can play through the various patches without any problem. The game as released is stable. Stable does not mean perfect. Patches refine the product further, often in subtle ways. A bigger issue for some is when to transfer your existing ongoing sims from 25 to 26. I have heard multiple theories on this. Most dynasty players prefer to wait until offseason, since there can be a change in ratings, based on the new edition of the game. In the offseason, there will be changes anyway, so the ones due to the new edition are indistinguishable. It could be unnerving to have ratings changes across the board in the midst of a pennant race. __________________ Pelican OOTP 2020-? ”Hard to believe, Harry.”

03-29-2025, 11:46 PM	#5
PSUColonel Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 13,094	Well this waiver wire issue is probably a good reason to wait.

03-30-2025, 12:00 AM	#6
OutS\|der Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: In A Van Down By The River Posts: 2,670 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	It all depends on how you play. If you're bringing over a save that you've spent years on then it's always best to wait as there is aways some issue that will destroy your long term save, be it waiver wire issues or lack of development past a set age. Issues like this need time to be found and fixed.