Advice/Suggestions for playing historical

jmknpk2 · 11-20-2017, 11:53 AM

Many years ago I tried playing in historical mode, but reverted to playing in fictional game universes.

The main reason was because I quickly learned/realized that I had a choice to allow my historical game universe to diverge from reality. To various degrees based upon settings. When things deviated far enough, it seems history was almost entirely lost and I ended up with a fictional league other than mostly names. Might as well start with fiction.

Or, I could play out something very near real life history. Which ended up seeming boring. History has already played out.

I created leagues from different historical times to reviewed the real-life statistics.
And played fiction when I wanted to have meaningful impact.

The other part I never felt completely comfortable with, is that I felt I had an unfair advantage over the AI when I know a player's full real-life career history while said player is just a rookie. I'm not sure if the AI took advantage of this information.

I'd like to try again with a historical league. I'm seeking advice and suggestions about how best to set things up so that I feel I have some control, with a reasonable ability to change history or make an impact. While still having a league resulting in something very similar to history. It is certainly a matter of balance and personal preference. I'd like help guiding me to a balance I like.

My current thoughts are:
Have rookies start on their real life historical rookie teams.
Have auto-calc and other options set up so that the league and player statistics match historical reality as close as possible (other than trades and lineup/pitching moves I make).
Figure out some way to remove any advantage I have over the AI knowing history before it happens.

Not sure yet, what other settings I might focus on.

Romagoth · 11-20-2017, 12:50 PM

Make sure to set it up where players enter the league directly to their real-life team (i.e., Mickey Mantle would enter the Yankees system instead of being a free agent from the beginning).

dpd376 · 11-23-2017, 02:19 PM

It really doesn't matter if you know the real players future (unless you're using recalc). The ratings are the ratings, AI or player.

I have a historical league where I tried to mirror NFL history to some degree. It mostly has worked out and it's really fun.

I used Spritze's DB to do it so 18 yr-olds go to their career-best team and changed the franchise tags to direct players to the right team (for example Yankees were the franchise tag for the Chicago Bears from 1925 to 1939 and were dominant.

The Game · 11-23-2017, 08:50 PM

In my current historical league i have FA after 10 seasons, arb after 5. Rookies are imported as FA, this way they are open to sign with highest bidder. i will implement draft in 1965ish? No color barrier. While some may call is fictional i care more about compiling stats and winning with players i can acquire. It will be nice if i can still draft players that debuted with whichever team i am with at the time. it's interesting to see some players like Ozzie, Aparicio & Maranville basically suck while some like Rice, Bobby Bonds, Baylor and others be better then IRL.

jmknpk2 · 11-23-2017, 10:44 PM

I plan on starting in the 1902 season. I think I'll keep the reserve clause until the real life switch to free agency. I might never reach that point in this universe anyway.

I also am allowing negro players. I will do my best to get Satchel Page and Josh Gibson.

11-20-2017, 11:53 AM	#1
jmknpk2 All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 982	Advice/Suggestions for playing historical Many years ago I tried playing in historical mode, but reverted to playing in fictional game universes. The main reason was because I quickly learned/realized that I had a choice to allow my historical game universe to diverge from reality. To various degrees based upon settings. When things deviated far enough, it seems history was almost entirely lost and I ended up with a fictional league other than mostly names. Might as well start with fiction. Or, I could play out something very near real life history. Which ended up seeming boring. History has already played out. I created leagues from different historical times to reviewed the real-life statistics. And played fiction when I wanted to have meaningful impact. The other part I never felt completely comfortable with, is that I felt I had an unfair advantage over the AI when I know a player's full real-life career history while said player is just a rookie. I'm not sure if the AI took advantage of this information. I'd like to try again with a historical league. I'm seeking advice and suggestions about how best to set things up so that I feel I have some control, with a reasonable ability to change history or make an impact. While still having a league resulting in something very similar to history. It is certainly a matter of balance and personal preference. I'd like help guiding me to a balance I like. My current thoughts are: Have rookies start on their real life historical rookie teams. Have auto-calc and other options set up so that the league and player statistics match historical reality as close as possible (other than trades and lineup/pitching moves I make). Figure out some way to remove any advantage I have over the AI knowing history before it happens. Not sure yet, what other settings I might focus on. Last edited by jmknpk2; 11-20-2017 at 01:21 PM.

11-23-2017, 02:19 PM	#3
dpd376 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 104	It really doesn't matter if you know the real players future (unless you're using recalc). The ratings are the ratings, AI or player. I have a historical league where I tried to mirror NFL history to some degree. It mostly has worked out and it's really fun. I used Spritze's DB to do it so 18 yr-olds go to their career-best team and changed the franchise tags to direct players to the right team (for example Yankees were the franchise tag for the Chicago Bears from 1925 to 1939 and were dominant. __________________ "I hate astroturf, but I love the game astroturf produces." Bill James

11-23-2017, 08:50 PM	#4
The Game Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Inside The Game Posts: 30,937	In my current historical league i have FA after 10 seasons, arb after 5. Rookies are imported as FA, this way they are open to sign with highest bidder. i will implement draft in 1965ish? No color barrier. While some may call is fictional i care more about compiling stats and winning with players i can acquire. It will be nice if i can still draft players that debuted with whichever team i am with at the time. it's interesting to see some players like Ozzie, Aparicio & Maranville basically suck while some like Rice, Bobby Bonds, Baylor and others be better then IRL. __________________ Go today don't wait for tomorrow It isn't promised, all the time you get borrowed Don't live your life for other people Don't bottle your emotions till they crack and fill a couple just sorrows Take your mind and refocus go get a paper write your goals out Throw your middle fingers to all your haters "Stay Strong"

11-20-2017, 12:50 PM	#2
Romagoth Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 365	Make sure to set it up where players enter the league directly to their real-life team (i.e., Mickey Mantle would enter the Yankees system instead of being a free agent from the beginning).

11-23-2017, 10:44 PM	#5
jmknpk2 All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 982	I plan on starting in the 1902 season. I think I'll keep the reserve clause until the real life switch to free agency. I might never reach that point in this universe anyway. I also am allowing negro players. I will do my best to get Satchel Page and Josh Gibson.