Info On How a Stats Only Online League Works

[strzepeksc]

I am trying to understand how a stats only online league works. Are all ratings hidden ? What settings in the game are used ? Thanks for any info in advance

[Tiger Fan]

In the online league I am a member of, all ratings are turned off although I believe some other leagues have the "other ratings" visible so you can see fielding and running skills.

In our league GM's rely on the written scouting reports and stats as well as secondary items like the prospect pipeline and top players reports. I also find I lean heavily on things like the number of pitches a pitcher possesses, is a groundball or flyball guy as well as noticing bumps in velocity as those notes are visible.

I think most in that league find a bit of a learning curve getting to know the players with only stats but once you get a couple of seasons in you start to get a decent idea (or we hope it's a decent idea) of how each player performs.

We have the luxury of a commissioner who does not run a team - and honestly, I see no other way a stats-only league can work properly because the commissioner has the ability to peak behind the curtain and see the ratings.

I am not sure of the exact settings he uses (he keeps that a secret) but I imagine our scouting accuracy is set to average or perhaps even low to give a bit more uncertainty to the proceedings.

Keep past season minor defensive stats is enabled and I would say necessary if you have the other ratings turned off as they are necessary to help gauge defensive talent. Full coaching and scouting system is enabled and out league also hides player personality ratings (although you can get all the basic info from the personality & morale team reports.

It took a little while to get comfortable with it, but I now only enjoy playing stats-only. It makes the draft an awful lot more fun (you can use your scouts draft list to help in online drafts) and a real challenge.

[Syd Thrift]

Those written scouting reports by the way are basically "mad libs" that use a 5 point scale to give you a vague idea of the ratings. I like them but I imagine a true stats-only purist would avoid those screens...

[Tiger Fan]

Originally Posted by Syd Thrift

Those written scouting reports by the way are basically "mad libs" that use a 5 point scale to give you a vague idea of the ratings. I like them but I imagine a true stats-only purist would avoid those screens...

Possibly true, but for an online league there is no way to have them not be viewable - unlike the numerical ratings and stars which can be turned off by the commissioner.

[darkcloud4579]

Originally Posted by strzepeksc

I am trying to understand how a stats only online league works. Are all ratings hidden ? What settings in the game are used ? Thanks for any info in advance

I play with all ratings hidden except for position ratings and future ratings because it feels more realistic that way. But I also play with scouts off entirely.

[strzepeksc]

Well, I have run many on line leagues as a Commish since OOTP3 and looking to change to a stats only league, but it seems that I will need to have the trust of league GM's that I do not cheat somehow if I have a team in the league. I am not sure it is a good change to make!

[darkcloud4579]

Originally Posted by strzepeksc

Well, I have run many on line leagues as a Commish since OOTP3 and looking to change to a stats only league, but it seems that I will need to have the trust of league GM's that I do not cheat somehow if I have a team in the league. I am not sure it is a good change to make!

It doesn't work as well for an online league unless you're going to turn off scouts. It'd be fine if you don't play in the league, but as a playing Commish, stats only isn't worth the squeeze and gives you too unfair an advantage.

Stats only is really an adapation for solo play to make the game a bit harder to fleece the AI, doing it in an online league would reduce the fun quotient considerably, because GMs have less access to good information and thus, it limits their ability to make smart decisions which can make your league a lot less sustainable.