Just can't get into it :(

[thevaliantx]

Maybe I'm took picky, I don't know. I've gone through the set up of creating a league, only to stop immediately upon league creation and go back to the main ootp screen. Obviously I'm having a difficult time making a decision on what I want out of OOTP, so rather than write a list of "here's what my ideal league would be like", I though I'd write up some things that I find interesting, in laundry list style:

* no financials (personally, I *could* be okay with a situation where the salary cap is something that Average Joe Schmoe would be happy to make, and if the salary cap were the same, year in and year out, with no 'evolution'. Personally, I feel that money has killed the game of baseball as we know it). I would not be interested in money for draft picks or even playing the game of giving more-than-necessary money to free agents.

* no real major leaguers (the problem I have is that I would have expectations of those players, and if I were to turn off recalc, then they wouldn't be the real major leaguers. So, the only way I could be happy with having them is to have some sort of fantasy draft for a one-shot deal. As far as fantasy drafts go, I imagine that my having a play in things would only taint the league)

* no minors (I have no desire whatsoever to manage the minors, and I don't have the patience to wait for games on end to promote or demote someone). I would be happy with a reserve league.

* 90 games. I just don't have the time, energy or patience to manage 162 games, and I'm not the type to only manage 1 game a series or to just GM the club and rely on the AI to create line ups. The problem I have with 90 games is that I don't know what the numbers should be or HOF criteria. I ran a 90 game Mexican league and was disappointed that no one ever made the HOF. This is something that OOTP should adjust automatically based on number of games in season.

* no evolution of a league. I'm not quite sure whether I'd be happy with a league set up to the major leagues in 1990 (2 divisions in each sub league) or if I would be happier with a wildcard set up

* would LOVE a set up where each new season there is a draft of the greatest players in history, from which one uses to fill holes in both the main roster and reserve rosters.

Any suggestions or otherwise feedback is greatly anticipated and appreciated!!!!

I'm sure there's more, but that's all I can think of at the moment.

[Bluenoser]

You can do all those things, although I'm confused about your not wanting real major leaguers then saying you want the best of all time in the draft.

I play most of my leagues fairly similar to what you've listed.

No finances
Fictional Players
No minors
Custom Schedule
No evolution

You could always import real players for your draft pool each year.

[Tashtego]

thevaliantx, if you "just can't get into it" for yourself, then think of the guys like Lowell O'Spillane. His Major League career consisted of 1 AB in 1945 with the Hartford Hawks.

And he stuck out.

Who's going to give the Lowell O'Spillane's of this world their turn at the plate if we(you) don't?

Try making this about someone else other than yourself. I know you'll do the right thing.

And so does Lowell.

[The Wolf]

Diablo III is out. Maybe you could get into it.

[thevaliantx]

Originally Posted by Tashtego

thevaliantx, if you "just can't get into it" for yourself, then think of the guys like Lowell O'Spillane. His Major League career consisted of 1 AB in 1945 with the Hartford Hawks.

And he stuck out.

Who's going to give the Lowell O'Spillane's of this world their turn at the plate if we(you) don't?

Try making this about someone else other than yourself. I know you'll do the right thing.

And so does Lowell.

You bring up a great point, that sometimes we just need to let ourselves be entertained by our imagination instead of our expectations.

[thevaliantx]

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

You can do all those things, although I'm confused about your not wanting real major leaguers then saying you want the best of all time in the draft.

I play most of my leagues fairly similar to what you've listed.

No finances
Fictional Players
No minors
Custom Schedule
No evolution

You could always import real players for your draft pool each year.

I do struggle with this. On one hand if we are playing historical leagues than we have expectations of what the players will do, and so the mystery is sort of gone. On the other hand it feels wrong to me to re-write history, so to speak, by playing with those players.

I was kind of excited about playing with the all time greats quick start, until I saw that it was just the best players of each team. I would probably really enjoy a 1-season type deal where there is a draft of all the greatest players of all-time.

[rjl518]

Originally Posted by The Wolf

Diablo III is out. Maybe you could get into it.

dont get me started...wolf...thatgame has already taken some of my time away from ootp...im so ashamed!

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by thevaliantx

I do struggle with this. On one hand if we are playing historical leagues than we have expectations of what the players will do, and so the mystery is sort of gone. On the other hand it feels wrong to me to re-write history, so to speak, by playing with those players.

I was kind of excited about playing with the all time greats quick start, until I saw that it was just the best players of each team. I would probably really enjoy a 1-season type deal where there is a draft of all the greatest players of all-time.

Have you given random debut a shot? You won't get only the best players, but you will get a draft league with players from every period in baseball.

I used to worry about players performing year in and year out according to history. Then I realized it was taking all the fun out of the game for me. I'm not sure player seasonal accuracy lends itself to a baseball sim that is centered around playing multiple seasons. It's great for seasonal replays, but lends an unnatural feel to a league moving into its offseason and on to the next season. For this reason, I turn recalc off and leave player development on(I do lower talant change randomness).

If you have trouble with the idea of rewriting history, don't think of it as such. If you start in 1951, it's 1951. Your an 8 year old kid that dreams of seeing this youngster named Mantle that everyone is raving about. Will he really be able to replace the great Dimaggio? Meanwhile your dad made you a new toy called a personal computer and found some baseball crazed German guy to create a game for you that simulates the greatest sport on earth.

In otherwords, if you start in 51, just think of it as playing the 1951 MLB Quickstart that shipped with the game. If any of the players don't live up to their potential, you can simply blame Cubbyfan(joking)

[The Wolf]

Originally Posted by rjl518

dont get me started...wolf...thatgame has already taken some of my time away from ootp...im so ashamed!

Don't feel alone! I think it's great.

[thevaliantx]

Originally Posted by David Watts

Have you given random debut a shot? You won't get only the best players, but you will get a draft league with players from every period in baseball.

I used to worry about players performing year in and year out according to history. Then I realized it was taking all the fun out of the game for me. I'm not sure player seasonal accuracy lends itself to a baseball sim that is centered around playing multiple seasons. It's great for seasonal replays, but lends an unnatural feel to a league moving into its offseason and on to the next season. For this reason, I turn recalc off and leave player development on(I do lower talant change randomness).

If you have trouble with the idea of rewriting history, don't think of it as such. If you start in 1951, it's 1951. Your an 8 year old kid that dreams of seeing this youngster named Mantle that everyone is raving about. Will he really be able to replace the great Dimaggio? Meanwhile your dad made you a new toy called a personal computer and found some baseball crazed German guy to create a game for you that simulates the greatest sport on earth.

In otherwords, if you start in 51, just think of it as playing the 1951 MLB Quickstart that shipped with the game. If any of the players don't live up to their potential, you can simply blame Cubbyfan(joking)

If you don't mind my asking, how do get 'random debut' working? That sounds VERY interesting!!!!

Since you mentioned 1951 I'm wondering if there is a website that shows the names of the greatest rookies and their respective rookie years.

I've got a feel'n, I'm high on believ'n.

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by thevaliantx

If you don't mind my asking, how do get 'random debut' working? That sounds VERY interesting!!!!

Since you mentioned 1951 I'm wondering if there is a website that shows the names of the greatest rookies and their respective rookie years.

I've got a feel'n, I'm high on believ'n.

When you start a historical league, there is a box you check for random debut.

[Mariner and Giants Fan]

Originally Posted by The Wolf

Diablo III is out. Maybe you could get into it.

I am playing both at the same time! Having three monitors really supports my gaming addiction, much to my wife's consternation

[DoubleBacon]

It's always possible OOTP is just not your cup of tea. That's the way it is with me and Skyrim. The game get's near perfect reviews but I can't stand it. I see no point in the damn game. I just wonder around the world doing basically nothing. It's kinda like my real life. Only I don't usually wear a helmet and carry a sword. Except on Wednesday's.

[Mariner and Giants Fan]

Originally Posted by DoubleBacon

It's always possible OOTP is just not your cup of tea. That's the way it is with me and Skyrim. The game get's near perfect reviews but I can't stand it. I see no point in the damn game. I just wonder around around the world doing basically nothing. It's kinda like my real life. Only I don't usually wear a helmet and carry a sword. Except on Wednesday's.

Haha, I feel the same way about Skyrim. I do not see the appeal at all.

[The Wolf]

Skyrim's a fantasy sandbox. My neighbor plays it a lot and he totally avoids the built-in storyline while doing so. He says the overall goal of the game is to make players figure out exactly what goals they want to have in the game. That's too metaphysical for my taste. Give me Diablo III any day.

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by The Wolf

Give me Diablo III any day.

Kill --> Reward. Even I can understand it.

I confess to being a bit distracted by this new release myself.

[thevaliantx]

Originally Posted by DoubleBacon

It's always possible OOTP is just not your cup of tea. That's the way it is with me and Skyrim. The game get's near perfect reviews but I can't stand it. I see no point in the damn game. I just wonder around the world doing basically nothing. It's kinda like my real life. Only I don't usually wear a helmet and carry a sword. Except on Wednesday's.

I refuse to believe that's what it is. I remember really enjoying playing OOTP three or four years ago. I don't know, maybe there's just too many options in OOTP13? Each quickstart option has things that are appealing, and some that are not so appealing. Maybe I'm denial.

[The Wolf]

Originally Posted by Orcin

Kill --> Reward. Even I can understand it.

I confess to being a bit distracted by this new release myself.

Exactly! Positive feedback on the spot!

[DoubleBacon]

Originally Posted by thevaliantx

I refuse to believe that's what it is. I remember really enjoying playing OOTP three or four years ago. I don't know, maybe there's just too many options in OOTP13? Each quickstart option has things that are appealing, and some that are not so appealing. Maybe I'm denial.

I made the game easy for me. All the micro-managing was too time consuming for me and frankly not very fun. So all I do is manage my MLB team and play games. I play out each and every game and that's where the real fun has been for me. Other then transactions made by me I could care less what happens in my minor league systems. The draft, rule 5, story lines, historical players, custom leagues and so forth has no appeal to me right now. I just wanna see if I can manage the Reds to a playoff spot in 2012 is all.

Maybe later the depth of the game will become more intriguing to me as I learn more. But right now, a super easy Baseball Mogul type of format is working just fine for me.

[thevaliantx]

That makes TWO Reds fans. (just started 2012 season, controlling trades and major league promotions / demotions but leaving control of everything else to the computer).