Maybe too hard a question!?

ukangel · 05-02-2012, 07:16 AM

I've only been playing this game a few short months, but already I'm hooked. Not just in OOTP ,but baseball in general. I can't fill my head with enough information about the game , its players and facts and figures (stats), I just can't get enough of them. I've tried to impliment what little i've learned into my first ML season and I'm doing reasonably well, so far (amazingly!). But what I want to know is this..... is there a formula for winning . Obviously, I don't expect the team of brilliant brains who put OOTP together to come out and say, "oh yea you just do this, that and the other and you win every time!!" No what I want to know is ... does the effort I put into , team selection,stats for left or right handed batter, when to bring in a relief, closer and on and on make a difference to winning or losing, or does just picking a relatively good side and 'simming' achieve the same results? I mean it can take me an hour to play each game using pbp,but am I wasting my time, when I could be achieving the same results by 'simming' ??
Now I don't want those that know the answer, (or even those that think they do), to be annoyed by my questions, its just that i've haven't seen anyone post it before and like I say I am new to the game and loving it.
I don't want to know what any formula is to winning, that would spoil it for everyone obviously... just whether a specific 'way' of playing achieves the best results or is all just random mathmatic formula.
Thanks

JohnHoward · 05-02-2012, 07:42 AM

I think it just really depends on what you want out of the game and how much you enjoy the different aspects of it. I play out every game and I generally win. I enjoy putting together a club and matching players to roles. I like using the bench and managing the bullpen. I get more from the game by playing it out but I have done it that way for 44 years, since I started playing APBA and All-Star Baseball when I was 8 years old. Clicking the mouse is not quite the same as rolling the dice and flicking the spinners, but it is more than good enough for me.

As far as winning, you can go long-term or short-term. I like to build organizations and dynasties, so for me each iteration is a minimum 15-20 season commitment, playing out every game. The standards are fairly well known: good pitching, good defense, better hitters than the other teams, productive farm system, smart drafting and trading, no ridiculously bad financial moves, and you are on your way. It is not "how" to win that makes the difference, it is the discipline to stick to the basics and the patience to out-wait bad luck that gets you to glory.

Tycobbler · 05-02-2012, 07:49 AM

Well said Mr. Howard

ukangel · 05-02-2012, 08:07 AM

Thanks John, I guess I'm just trying to ascertain, whether there are two ways to play OOTP, namely by 'simming' or by 'play by play'.... and still achieve the same results. Does the extra time and effort put in, (which gives me greater satisfaction), also result in a better end result,game-wise, or could I achieve just as much by cutting corners.
You've answered a good part of my query thankyou, maybe I need to just shut up and play the game and stop trying to analyze it so much !!

The Wolf · 05-02-2012, 09:01 AM

I have found that I win more games playing them out than by simming them, and that I end up with a better organization if I manage it all myself, but it seems that the trick to being happiest with OOTP lies is doing the parts of the game that you enjoy yourself and letting the AI do the parts that you don't.

RchW · 05-02-2012, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Wolf

I have found that I win more games playing them out than by simming them, and that I end up with a better organization if I manage it all myself, but it seems that the trick to being happiest with OOTP lies is doing the parts of the game that you enjoy yourself and letting the AI do the parts that you don't.

The bold is bang on for me. I sim mostly.

I also like finding and keeping super sub type IF and OF guys that can come in and play for a month in case of an injury.

MizzouRah · 05-02-2012, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Wolf

I have found that I win more games playing them out than by simming them, and that I end up with a better organization if I manage it all myself, but it seems that the trick to being happiest with OOTP lies is doing the parts of the game that you enjoy yourself and letting the AI do the parts that you don't.

haha.. I'm the opposite.. I win more when I sim.

ukangel · 05-02-2012, 09:22 AM

Thanks guys, your thoughts and wisdom are much appreciated. I think the answer I'm looking for is keep on doing what I do now and don't look to cut corners to be a successful team manager. Jeez bit like real life hmmm!!

cavebutter · 05-02-2012, 10:35 AM

Just wanted to throw my two cents in. I think of it in terms of the micro-game and the macro-game. I've been largely simming and building dynasties since OOTP 6. I think of this as the macro game. I'm thinking and acting organizationally over the long haul. I don't play out many games at all, but sim one day at a time and pay attention to all teams in my organization and keep tabs on all levels of the competition. It takes me about 6-10 hours of gameplay to sim a season this way, give or take.

I play the micro-game less often. Playing out every game allows me to know my 40-man roster more thoroughly than playing the macro game. And it's often more exciting. It takes me much, much, longer to get through a season this way, and, to be honest, I don't really have the patience to keep it up for an entire season, let alone multiple seasons.

Obviously, there's no right or wrong way to play; it's about what you enjoy. As far as success goes, I'm often playing above .500 within two or three seasons no matter how bad the team I take over is.

The Wolf · 05-02-2012, 12:04 PM

If you win more simming than you can playing you might want to study up on managerial skills.

Nunyer · 05-02-2012, 12:49 PM

I generally have two separate leagues going at once... My primary season is usually fictional and I do play-by-play in one pitch mode for most games. My current game is almost half way through the 4th season and I've probably only simmed 15-20% of the total games, mostly spring training. In the leagues where I manage most games manually, I tend to simplify the minor leagues to reduce a little of the time commitment. I find that three levels of minors will suffice and allow for player development without pulling me too far away from the day-to-day stuff with the big club.

The secondary season is the sim-only season, where I typically run the full five levels of minors and sim the results in monthly chunks... This is pretty much the general manager only role. The sim league is always my change of pace game... when I get a little rundown with the daily manager stuff... a few hours is usually plenty to plow through a season.

As far as tips for winning, I tend to always rebuild right away... even if I get handed a decent team out of the gate... so I immediately trade away anybody over the age of 30 years old that can be reasonably replaced by somebody already in my system. I don't worry too much about winning right away. I try to turn each 30+ year old veteran into at least one decent prospect, maybe two decent prospects if they are a really good player. Then I draft college aged players that should be able to contribute in the near term. If 50% of these prospects/draft picks develop by year 3 or 4... I'm usually sitting pretty for the long haul. I can be competitive and have a decent slush fund sitting around to sign the occasional big name free agent to push for a title.

Groucho Marx · 05-02-2012, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ukangel

Thanks John, I guess I'm just trying to ascertain, whether there are two ways to play OOTP, namely by 'simming' or by 'play by play'.... and still achieve the same results. Does the extra time and effort put in, (which gives me greater satisfaction), also result in a better end result,game-wise, or could I achieve just as much by cutting corners.
You've answered a good part of my query thankyou, maybe I need to just shut up and play the game and stop trying to analyze it so much !!

I don't have as much experience as a lot of the others here but, I find I win more when I take the time to play them out. The AI doesn't seem to make substitutions or put on plays the way I do.

OutS|der · 05-02-2012, 01:25 PM

cheating helps

The Wolf · 05-02-2012, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutS|der

cheating helps

Well, yeah, but where's the challenge in that?

jhart05 · 05-02-2012, 01:40 PM

I don't know if it's a "hard" question, there are just so many different ways to answer this question, that if you asked 20 long time baseball people you would probably get 20 different answers.

wiggins · 05-02-2012, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnHoward

I think it just really depends on what you want out of the game and how much you enjoy the different aspects of it. I play out every game and I generally win. I enjoy putting together a club and matching players to roles. I like using the bench and managing the bullpen. I get more from the game by playing it out but I have done it that way for 44 years, since I started playing APBA and All-Star Baseball when I was 8 years old. Clicking the mouse is not quite the same as rolling the dice and flicking the spinners, but it is more than good enough for me.

As far as winning, you can go long-term or short-term. I like to build organizations and dynasties, so for me each iteration is a minimum 15-20 season commitment, playing out every game. The standards are fairly well known: good pitching, good defense, better hitters than the other teams, productive farm system, smart drafting and trading, no ridiculously bad financial moves, and you are on your way. It is not "how" to win that makes the difference, it is the discipline to stick to the basics and the patience to out-wait bad luck that gets you to glory.

Ethan Allen All Star Baseball. I always remember that Rocky Colavito's HR (1) was almost as big as Ruth's. I played that for years and years, Great memories!!!

jasonntn · 05-02-2012, 02:51 PM

I sim the first 5 innings of every game taking over in the 6th to minimize any strategic decisions the AI can make. I have always had trouble with the AI not managing the team the way I like. So this is a compromise to save a little time and still be in control of most in-game decisions. I would think most people could win a few more games playing it out than simming.

ukangel · 05-02-2012, 05:00 PM

A big thank-you to all that have replied or may still reply even, to my initial query. You all have incredible knowledge of the game and I am deeply grateful for your advice and personal preferences

05-02-2012, 07:16 AM	#1
ukangel Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 21	Maybe too hard a question!? I've only been playing this game a few short months, but already I'm hooked. Not just in OOTP ,but baseball in general. I can't fill my head with enough information about the game , its players and facts and figures (stats), I just can't get enough of them. I've tried to impliment what little i've learned into my first ML season and I'm doing reasonably well, so far (amazingly!). But what I want to know is this..... is there a formula for winning . Obviously, I don't expect the team of brilliant brains who put OOTP together to come out and say, "oh yea you just do this, that and the other and you win every time!!" No what I want to know is ... does the effort I put into , team selection,stats for left or right handed batter, when to bring in a relief, closer and on and on make a difference to winning or losing, or does just picking a relatively good side and 'simming' achieve the same results? I mean it can take me an hour to play each game using pbp,but am I wasting my time, when I could be achieving the same results by 'simming' ?? Now I don't want those that know the answer, (or even those that think they do), to be annoyed by my questions, its just that i've haven't seen anyone post it before and like I say I am new to the game and loving it. I don't want to know what any formula is to winning, that would spoil it for everyone obviously... just whether a specific 'way' of playing achieves the best results or is all just random mathmatic formula. Thanks

05-02-2012, 07:42 AM	#2
JohnHoward All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 624	I think it just really depends on what you want out of the game and how much you enjoy the different aspects of it. I play out every game and I generally win. I enjoy putting together a club and matching players to roles. I like using the bench and managing the bullpen. I get more from the game by playing it out but I have done it that way for 44 years, since I started playing APBA and All-Star Baseball when I was 8 years old. Clicking the mouse is not quite the same as rolling the dice and flicking the spinners, but it is more than good enough for me. As far as winning, you can go long-term or short-term. I like to build organizations and dynasties, so for me each iteration is a minimum 15-20 season commitment, playing out every game. The standards are fairly well known: good pitching, good defense, better hitters than the other teams, productive farm system, smart drafting and trading, no ridiculously bad financial moves, and you are on your way. It is not "how" to win that makes the difference, it is the discipline to stick to the basics and the patience to out-wait bad luck that gets you to glory.

05-02-2012, 07:49 AM	#3
Tycobbler Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: 20 minutes from Comerica Park Posts: 2,031	Well said Mr. Howard

05-02-2012, 08:07 AM	#4
ukangel Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 21	Thanks John, I guess I'm just trying to ascertain, whether there are two ways to play OOTP, namely by 'simming' or by 'play by play'.... and still achieve the same results. Does the extra time and effort put in, (which gives me greater satisfaction), also result in a better end result,game-wise, or could I achieve just as much by cutting corners. You've answered a good part of my query thankyou, maybe I need to just shut up and play the game and stop trying to analyze it so much !!

05-02-2012, 09:22 AM	#8
ukangel Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 21	Thanks guys, your thoughts and wisdom are much appreciated. I think the answer I'm looking for is keep on doing what I do now and don't look to cut corners to be a successful team manager. Jeez bit like real life hmmm!!

05-02-2012, 10:35 AM	#9
cavebutter All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,163	Just wanted to throw my two cents in. I think of it in terms of the micro-game and the macro-game. I've been largely simming and building dynasties since OOTP 6. I think of this as the macro game. I'm thinking and acting organizationally over the long haul. I don't play out many games at all, but sim one day at a time and pay attention to all teams in my organization and keep tabs on all levels of the competition. It takes me about 6-10 hours of gameplay to sim a season this way, give or take. I play the micro-game less often. Playing out every game allows me to know my 40-man roster more thoroughly than playing the macro game. And it's often more exciting. It takes me much, much, longer to get through a season this way, and, to be honest, I don't really have the patience to keep it up for an entire season, let alone multiple seasons. Obviously, there's no right or wrong way to play; it's about what you enjoy. As far as success goes, I'm often playing above .500 within two or three seasons no matter how bad the team I take over is.

05-02-2012, 12:49 PM	#11
Nunyer All Star Reserve Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Baseball Ned Flanders stares into your soul... Posts: 594	I generally have two separate leagues going at once... My primary season is usually fictional and I do play-by-play in one pitch mode for most games. My current game is almost half way through the 4th season and I've probably only simmed 15-20% of the total games, mostly spring training. In the leagues where I manage most games manually, I tend to simplify the minor leagues to reduce a little of the time commitment. I find that three levels of minors will suffice and allow for player development without pulling me too far away from the day-to-day stuff with the big club. The secondary season is the sim-only season, where I typically run the full five levels of minors and sim the results in monthly chunks... This is pretty much the general manager only role. The sim league is always my change of pace game... when I get a little rundown with the daily manager stuff... a few hours is usually plenty to plow through a season. As far as tips for winning, I tend to always rebuild right away... even if I get handed a decent team out of the gate... so I immediately trade away anybody over the age of 30 years old that can be reasonably replaced by somebody already in my system. I don't worry too much about winning right away. I try to turn each 30+ year old veteran into at least one decent prospect, maybe two decent prospects if they are a really good player. Then I draft college aged players that should be able to contribute in the near term. If 50% of these prospects/draft picks develop by year 3 or 4... I'm usually sitting pretty for the long haul. I can be competitive and have a decent slush fund sitting around to sign the occasional big name free agent to push for a title.

05-02-2012, 01:25 PM	#13
OutS\|der Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: In A Van Down By The River Posts: 2,778 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	cheating helps

05-02-2012, 01:40 PM	#15
jhart05 Major Leagues Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 315	I don't know if it's a "hard" question, there are just so many different ways to answer this question, that if you asked 20 long time baseball people you would probably get 20 different answers.

05-02-2012, 02:51 PM	#17
jasonntn Bat Boy Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 7	I sim the first 5 innings of every game taking over in the 6th to minimize any strategic decisions the AI can make. I have always had trouble with the AI not managing the team the way I like. So this is a compromise to save a little time and still be in control of most in-game decisions. I would think most people could win a few more games playing it out than simming.

05-02-2012, 05:00 PM	#18
ukangel Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 21	A big thank-you to all that have replied or may still reply even, to my initial query. You all have incredible knowledge of the game and I am deeply grateful for your advice and personal preferences