Scouting and AI

[webhop]

With scouting on, are the computer teams forced to use possibly inaccurate scouting ratings when making evaluations or does the computer use the true talent and potential ratings to make evaluations?

[cody8200]

They have the same handicap you do (not seeing true ratings) if scouting is turned on.

[endgame]

The AI is impacted by the use of its scouts.

[Pdubya64]

This is one area that took some time for me to get my head around. Essentially, you need to realize that with Scouting on, you see everything through the eyes (skill set) and personal bias (tools emphasis, etc.) of your team's Head Scout. Not too hard to grasp. But here is the kicker- the exact same parameters apply to every other team and their Head Scout.

So, hypothetically, if your Head Scout was a perfect+ evaluator across the board, he would still have some randomness with regard to players due to his scouting style bias. Most of us never get all that close to this anyway, but it's worth noting that when you are in negotiations with other teams for a trade or have a player on the block, consider that their Head Scout may over or under value a player, whether yours or theirs. It cuts both ways, sometimes you get a great deal, other times you scratch your head wondering why teams don't pounce on what you deem a steal for a player you don't have room/need for and want to move in a trade.

It is a major reason why at times the AI seems goofy, but I think this is mostly due to the effects of each Head Scout in your league. Personally, I wouldn't want it too predictable.

[endgame]

I'll add this unofficial, but often tested, comment. The AI, while using a fog of war, is using one a bit unlike the human player. Some of that has to do with the coding under the hood. There are decisions the AI still has to make 'semi-smartly' regardless of how much we want to limit it in other areas, so one adjustment also begats another.

That being said, there is the overall setting for scouting accuracy in the league setup. This can dramatically affect YOUR scouts, but I haven't become convinced it has equal impact on the AI fog. I think his limitation is a bit more static and impacted in any larger sense only by the scout skills. If you want to affect your experience, the accuracy level is the best way to do that, followed closely by your scout's skills which, by the way, do take time and experience to fully realize their superior assessment talent.

[Pdubya64]

Ah, nice addition there endgame. I remember a year or two ago being shocked and dismayed when I fired my Nationals head scout for a better one and many of my players attributes had "suddenly" changed! Takes some getting used to, but I actually kind of like it that way. No sure things in Baseball you know...