When Do You Give Up On A League or Team?

[cephasjames]

If I'm playing a world that has a set structure that never changes I don't give up on it. I may take a break from it for awhile, but I always come back.

The only time I give up on a world is if I have created a world that evolves according to a plan and something goes wrong (I miss a part of the plan, the file gets corrupted, etc.) over and over again. If I back it up I can go back to where it was but then the history that took place no longer exists and I get saddened by that. Or, if I don't back it up I have to restart. In both cases I will eventually lose my patience and hang it up, meaning I just delete the world and walk away.

My biggest want for this game now is the ability to create my own history (via xml files) where the game will simply follow that and make all of the changes for me (kind of what the game does with real MLB history now).

[cephasjames]

Originally Posted by soxfan34

How many of you guys actually play your games out as opposed to simming? I tend to get much more engaged if I manage the team, particularly if it's fictional, as you get to learn the players.

I very rarely sim games. I did for iOOTP, but I really like the big picture that plays out over years of play. I do commissioner mode only.

[Nunyer]

I also play out most games. If the playoff picture is already decided, then occasionally I'll sim some games in September... I'll also sometimes sim through spring training if I don't have any pressing position battles to worry about... But generally speaking, I get pulled into things a lot more when I play the game manager role as well.

[D-BacksJosh]

Originally Posted by Fyrestorm3

When I first started OOTP, I played out games. I felt like it took too long, so I started simming more often (I'd only play maybe 1 or 2 games a week). Gradually, this turned into total simulation, acting as simply the GM and letting the AI manage all the on-field matters. While I still like this approach, for the speed at which you can get through a season, I have to say that playing out the games is better by far.

I recently switched back to playing out every game, and my god, I had forgotten what it was like to feel a true connection with your players. All those seasons I had simmed, trading a whole bunch in the offseason, giving up fan favorites in the name of making the team better, taking a "what have you done for me lately" attitude when re-signing guys... I used to THINK that I was connected to my players, but I never realized how removed from the team I actually was.

Previously, it was nothing. I made deals left and right. The league was full of guys who played on my team for a year and then got traded. I felt no loyalty to them, and because of that, I was always able to improve the team and took so many different franchises to so many championships that, as I pointed out above, I would get bored with the league. Now, I'm sitting at just over .500 for the third straight season, but I wouldn't give up this core of guys for the world. I try to make a deadline deal for that SP we so desperately need, and I look at the list of guys I could trade... and I don't want to trade them. They're no longer just numbers in a chart; I know these guys. Sure, they're not REAL, but I still feel like I'm connected with them. I believe in them, and I know that when I finally do win a championship with them, it's going to be so much more special because of it.

Exactly. To me simming is purely a result of impatience, wanting to know the results of the season ASAP year after year. I find much more value in the day to day aspects of the game, much like real baseball.

[fuzzy_patters]

For those who think that playing out the games takes too long, I play with very fast text speed and short pbp. I can get through a game in under five minutes usually. It doesn't take long to get through a season at that speed, and you still get the connection to your players because you have seen them hit walk-off homers and kill your team with errors. You have still lived and died with them.

[Nunyer]

That is how I play, very fast text speed and usually one-pitch mode as well. I also tend to play while doing something else... like watching actual MLB baseball on the tube. Like real baseball, there aren't usually a ton of do or die decisions to make for most of the game. Guys either reach base or they don't. Although there have been more then a few times over the 12 years of my current franchise where I've feel asleep at the wheel and lost track of a starters pitch count... or neglected to pinch hit for my lefty slugger who is awful against LOOGY's...

[Mancandy]

Originally Posted by Fyrestorm3

The only time I become disinterested in a league is when my team wins too much. Three championships in a row? Bored now. I see your kind of position as a challenge - I'd be absolutely determined to turn the team into a contender.

I also can never bring myself to switch teams in a league. I get too emotionally attached to my players to consider doing that. I'd rather start over with a fresh league.

I agree with this completely. The only time I lose interest is when I'm no longer challenged. As much as I want a championship every year, I enjoy it more when they're few and far between. And I enjoy being a terrible team and getting high draft picks, then watching them develop into my new stars, as much as anything.

But I did try something new for the first time this year. When I got bored with a team, I took over an expansion team in the same league. Unfortunately the game's expansion procedure differs so much from reality(it's a 2-3 year process, they participate in two drafts and have minor league teams going for a season or two, whereas it's all instant in OOTP) that by the time I figured out all the proper workarounds to get it to happen the way it should, I'd lost interest. I'm still sitting at the expansion draft and may revisit that game at some point. To me, that's definitely preferable to taking over another established team in the league.

Originally Posted by Fyrestorm3

When I first started OOTP, I played out games. I felt like it took too long, so I started simming more often (I'd only play maybe 1 or 2 games a week). Gradually, this turned into total simulation, acting as simply the GM and letting the AI manage all the on-field matters. While I still like this approach, for the speed at which you can get through a season, I have to say that playing out the games is better by far.

I recently switched back to playing out every game, and my god, I had forgotten what it was like to feel a true connection with your players. All those seasons I had simmed, trading a whole bunch in the offseason, giving up fan favorites in the name of making the team better, taking a "what have you done for me lately" attitude when re-signing guys... I used to THINK that I was connected to my players, but I never realized how removed from the team I actually was.

Previously, it was nothing. I made deals left and right. The league was full of guys who played on my team for a year and then got traded. I felt no loyalty to them, and because of that, I was always able to improve the team and took so many different franchises to so many championships that, as I pointed out above, I would get bored with the league. Now, I'm sitting at just over .500 for the third straight season, but I wouldn't give up this core of guys for the world. I try to make a deadline deal for that SP we so desperately need, and I look at the list of guys I could trade... and I don't want to trade them. They're no longer just numbers in a chart; I know these guys. Sure, they're not REAL, but I still feel like I'm connected with them. I believe in them, and I know that when I finally do win a championship with them, it's going to be so much more special because of it.

Again, this is exactly how I feel. I started out playing as only a GM when I first started playing OOTP, and that's fun. The thing I love about that is you can get a season done in a day. But playing out the games...it makes it so much more REAL. It add context to the numbers. It takes a lot longer to play out a season, but it's so worth it for me.

[Honorable_Pawn]

Originally Posted by soxfan34

I tend to do this as well. Considering writing a dynasty report, solely for the purpose of staying engaged in my own game, whether or not anyone actually reads it.

Unlike some of us, some dynasty writers around here not only get readers but interactive readers no less.




But, seriously, you are right on the money. Although having the Reader is nice the act of taking the time and fleshing out the story brings the action to life.

[mrking81012]

I really enjoy online leagues much more than solo sims now. I don't give up on the league because I want to sim and feel a part of a "community". Usually a 3 sim week of 7 days a sim means I'm not overwhelmed but I still enjoy and feel apart of my team. And it's much harder to trade in my opinion.

For solo sims, I used to play every single game out but I lost interest a half-season in. I might try fuzzy_patters idea some time. Now I sim the games but just on a daily basis so I feel pretty connected. I've always liked the GM actions a bit more anyways.

[pgjocki]

When I get stuck in a league I use a little "what if" thinking to re-engage my interest; mostly be getting upset over career ended injuries or a sudden dismissal of a coach.

So the team isn't performing to your expectations, spice it up and take a different approach. Refocus the team to manufacture runs through small ball, and try and become the best fielding team in the league. I like to set weird goals such as defensive efficiency or stolen bases.

Maybe you could demote "yourself" from SP to RP and not allow yourself back into the starting rotation until you can go 5 outings without giving up an extra base hit.

[The Game]

Originally Posted by pgjocki

When I get stuck in a league I use a little "what if" thinking to re-engage my interest; mostly be getting upset over career ended injuries or a sudden dismissal of a coach.

So the team isn't performing to your expectations, spice it up and take a different approach. Refocus the team to manufacture runs through small ball, and try and become the best fielding team in the league. I like to set weird goals such as defensive efficiency or stolen bases.

Maybe you could demote "yourself" from SP to RP and not allow yourself back into the starting rotation until you can go 5 outings without giving up an extra base hit.

Part of my problem is i am committed to several players. Baines, Ventura, Lance Johnson & Charles Johnson are amoung my all time favorite players. i have been lucky enough to draft a few of them but i have given up a ton of players for ventura. Trying to hang on to them and win with them. I have already traded away every one of my RL friends that debuted with the Fire in 2000.

[Left-handed Badger]

Originally Posted by soxfan34

How many of you guys actually play your games out as opposed to simming? I tend to get much more engaged if I manage the team, particularly if it's fictional, as you get to learn the players.

I prefer to manage. I actually consider the GM duties boring. I go less and less with simming. I tend to build teams in a way that the AI has a hard managing optimally (speed/defense/control and groundball pitching). I dont (and often cant) sit back and wait for homers.

[Ts-Rock]

Originally Posted by soxfan34

How many of you guys actually play your games out as opposed to simming? I tend to get much more engaged if I manage the team, particularly if it's fictional, as you get to learn the players.

I read the box scores, it gives me a feel for how my team is playing strategy wise and is way faster than managing each AB

[Mr. Baseball]

Setting up leagues is fun to a certain degree, but I like sticking with the same one when I'm finished. I've used the same solo league for the past 3-4 years. Stats Only. Play out some games, sim some games, all at my own discretion.

I've always felt like my enjoyment of OOTP is never really maximized unless I start getting connected to a particular league and it's history. People who sim multiple seasons in a week have no idea what they're missing out on.

I purposely limit the amount of games I can progress every week so I don't get burned out with it.