How to make game more difficult

Ratbelly · 03-21-2026, 12:59 PM

What things do you guys do to make game more difficult?

Here are some things i do. Looking for other suggestions:

1. Player development has to be 3 million below the highest spending team.
2. Coaches must have good reputation mesh with other coaches and i have to pick between a coaching style, i.e sabermetric or tactician. I also turn coaching cohesion impact to less.
3. Dont hire coaches from other teams.
4. Dont do rule 5 draft or take waiver wire players.
5. Disabled team chemisty. Wonder if i need to disable player morale.
6. Scouting has to be with a 5 million of baseliine
7. Have to keep underperforming stars and fan favorites until at least lsst year of contract.

Any other thought? Does reducing scouting accuracy make the AI less accurate?

It isnt that I win the World Series all the time, just that it doesnt take me generally more than about 2 years to turn a team into a contemder.

Bobfather · 03-21-2026, 01:16 PM

There are now harder settings giving the AI team slight advantages that grow over time/

Ratbelly · 03-21-2026, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobfather

There are now harder settings giving the AI team slight advantages that grow over time/

I am still in 26 waiting for a few issues to get.sorted in 27. Probably should have posted there. Any success with this setting so far?

Bobfather · 03-21-2026, 01:28 PM

I have not used it.
2 of my house rules, any hitter that is less than 100% (rest) must sit, and can only come into the game as a last resort, even if someone has to play out of position.

If the trainer comes out, that player must leave the game. Pitcher can finish the inning or till a relief pitcher is ready/

HafTaLuvIt · 03-21-2026, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobfather

There are now harder settings giving the AI team slight advantages that grow over time/

All easily overcome with money.

Bobfather · 03-21-2026, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HafTaLuvIt

All easily overcome with money.

Sure, but why turn it on then? It kinda defeats the purpose.

HafTaLuvIt · 03-21-2026, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobfather

Sure, but why turn it on then? It kinda defeats the purpose.

Why turn what on? Money?

liberty-ca · 03-21-2026, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HafTaLuvIt

Why turn what on? Money?

No - the harder settings.

kq76 · 03-22-2026, 12:13 AM

You missed the most effective way in my mind: jack up the injury setting as high as you can take without crying. I always have a good laugh in my head when I think of this now banned user who used to advocate only spending your money on starters (batters and pitchers), don't worry about a bench, presumably because he played with the default injury setting.

Another easy one is just don't trade for players that the AI doesn't bring to you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ratbelly

5. Disabled team chemisty. Wonder if i need to disable player morale.

This makes the game harder? I'd think it would make it easier. It's an honest question too as I don't pay that much attention to team chemistry.

WhiskyTango · 03-22-2026, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kq76

You missed the most effective way in my mind: jack up the injury setting as high as you can take without crying. I always have a good laugh in my head when I think of this now banned user who used to advocate only spending your money on starters (batters and pitchers), don't worry about a bench, presumably because he played with the default injury setting.

Another easy one is just don't trade for players that the AI doesn't bring to you.

I do these. Short-term injuries and fatigue are cranked to highest settings, long-term injury to almost none. And vast majority of trading is handled by AGM. AGM also cuts players I haven't protected.

Ratbelly · 03-22-2026, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kq76

You missed the most effective way in my mind: jack up the injury setting as high as you can take without crying. I always have a good laugh in my head when I think of this now banned user who used to advocate only spending your money on starters (batters and pitchers), don't worry about a bench, presumably because he played with the default injury setting.

Another easy one is just don't trade for players that the AI doesn't bring to you.

This makes the game harder? I'd think it would make it easier. It's an honest question too as I don't pay that much attention to team chemistry.

I do play on realistic setting in 26. I do prefer to see injuries highly impact the game world.

HerbD · 03-22-2026, 10:35 PM

If you are dominating the AI then the next step is to try online play with other humans.

williamj_52 · 03-22-2026, 11:05 PM

I like being challenged to put a team together

Ratbelly · 03-23-2026, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HerbD

If you are dominating the AI then the next step is to try online play with other humans.

I wouldn't say I am dominating, just quick to rebuild. That doesn't mean I win the world series every year.. Just looking for other settings that might make the game more challenging.

Unfortunately I have next to zero interest doing multiplayer leagues. I play on my time.

20_range · 03-24-2026, 05:14 PM

Some pretty simple house rules that I use
1. Im not allowed to make 5 for 1 or 4 for 1 trades
2. I don't make trades between spring training and July 1st - if a star gets injured early in the season, I have to fake it with depth for a couple months. This one is mainly for realism, no good players are traded in April or May
3. If I win the pennant, my league boycotts trading with me, I can only make trades with teams in the other league. If I win two in a row, everyone boycotts my team

20_range · 03-24-2026, 05:14 PM

Makes the game much more fun to have restrictions

Ratbelly · 03-24-2026, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 20_range

Some pretty simple house rules that I use
1. Im not allowed to make 5 for 1 or 4 for 1 trades
2. I don't make trades between spring training and July 1st - if a star gets injured early in the season, I have to fake it with depth for a couple months. This one is mainly for realism, no good players are traded in April or May
3. If I win the pennant, my league boycotts trading with me, I can only make trades with teams in the other league. If I win two in a row, everyone boycotts my team

Yeah, you can overwhelm the computer with prospects or blocked players and essentially get the guy you want. And I do only do trades at the deadline or within the month of the deadline. The other house rule i do is if i trade for a veteran at the deadline the prospect or at least the best prospect has to be within 5 potential of his current. I do hard mode trading so if i trade for a 55 at the deadline the prospect has to be a 50 potential.

03-21-2026, 12:59 PM	#1
Ratbelly Minors (Double A) Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 180	How to make game more difficult What things do you guys do to make game more difficult? Here are some things i do. Looking for other suggestions: 1. Player development has to be 3 million below the highest spending team. 2. Coaches must have good reputation mesh with other coaches and i have to pick between a coaching style, i.e sabermetric or tactician. I also turn coaching cohesion impact to less. 3. Dont hire coaches from other teams. 4. Dont do rule 5 draft or take waiver wire players. 5. Disabled team chemisty. Wonder if i need to disable player morale. 6. Scouting has to be with a 5 million of baseliine 7. Have to keep underperforming stars and fan favorites until at least lsst year of contract. Any other thought? Does reducing scouting accuracy make the AI less accurate? It isnt that I win the World Series all the time, just that it doesnt take me generally more than about 2 years to turn a team into a contemder. __________________ Last edited by Ratbelly; 03-21-2026 at 01:05 PM.

03-21-2026, 01:16 PM	#2
Bobfather All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Boston Ma. Posts: 1,965	There are now harder settings giving the AI team slight advantages that grow over time/ __________________ I play out every game—one pitch mode.

03-21-2026, 01:28 PM	#4
Bobfather All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Boston Ma. Posts: 1,965	I have not used it. 2 of my house rules, any hitter that is less than 100% (rest) must sit, and can only come into the game as a last resort, even if someone has to play out of position. If the trainer comes out, that player must leave the game. Pitcher can finish the inning or till a relief pitcher is ready/ __________________ I play out every game—one pitch mode.

03-22-2026, 10:35 PM	#12
HerbD All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Indiana Posts: 983	If you are dominating the AI then the next step is to try online play with other humans. __________________

03-22-2026, 11:05 PM	#13
williamj_52 Minors (Single A) Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: Sungai Petani Kedah , Malaysia Posts: 72	Ootp 27 I like being challenged to put a team together

03-24-2026, 05:14 PM	#15
20_range All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2022 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 1,618	Some pretty simple house rules that I use 1. Im not allowed to make 5 for 1 or 4 for 1 trades 2. I don't make trades between spring training and July 1st - if a star gets injured early in the season, I have to fake it with depth for a couple months. This one is mainly for realism, no good players are traded in April or May 3. If I win the pennant, my league boycotts trading with me, I can only make trades with teams in the other league. If I win two in a row, everyone boycotts my team __________________ I do logo requests @20_range on discord for easier discussions