Inspiration

bestbrother · 03-29-2016, 09:56 AM

What inspires you to play OOTP? What keeps you motivated and interested in your league or game?

I struggle to have any longevity in the games I play. The solo management side of running a team seems to complex for me and I constantly miss out on things, which hampers my efforts to be a success and as such ruins my immersion.

Then when I setup a fictional league and sim that, although at the start I have alot of interest, by the time ive simmed 10 years, I feel flat and have lost touch with the league and teams.

This isnt a slight on the game, this is more an insight in trying to get more enjoyment out of it by opening up to those on here who have fantastic careers/leagues (as seen in the Dynasty section) and get every ounce of fun from the game that they should.

Is there a way for example I can be a MLB manager and offset alot of the clubs duties to the AI? I mean id like to pick my lineup, sign players and do the contract aspect. But maybe for the AI to run my minor league system, do my drafts or at least push me in the right direction with a pick... do all the niggly stuff that can be overwhelming to someone who follows the sport but dosent have that day to day influence from it.

Any help appreciated

catcherjul · 03-29-2016, 10:04 AM

For me, its all the prospect that are coming! I play spectator/commissioner mode in my longtime fictional league that I started year 2000 (in the game)

I'm now in 2051, I started this league with version 15.

I sim week by week, look at all the stories, emerging players, emerging team, trade, signing, feeder league performances...etc

My league is real for me

Bluenoser · 03-29-2016, 10:11 AM

Fan/Spectator mode works for me. Being a GM and/or Manager of a professional sports franchise has never been a real desire of mine. Sure, like most fans I've sat on the couch and second guessed the moves made by the GM/Manager of my favourite team. I've yelled "dummy" at the TV screen, "I could have done better than that." However I don't really care to try and never really have.

I create a league and follow it like I follow real life baseball. Pick a couple of favourite teams, follow a bunch of favourite players, etc etc. Just like I do everyday for real sports.

I like to play out 1 day at a time, read box scores, read game recaps (these have been HUGE for my immersion). I really enjoy reading the logs for walk off wins. I watch 3 or 4 games a week, but mostly just read about them afterwards.

I don't mess with settings a lot once created, but I like to have my leagues swing through strong pitching eras then strong hitting eras, so I adjust PCM's and let it happen gradually over time. Other than that I let the league/world evolve and immerse myself in it's history as it happens.

David Watts · 03-29-2016, 11:06 AM

Spectator mode is my main way of play also. I pick a game per day and watch it play out. I use short play by play/instant, so I can get through a game rather quickly. Sometimes I follow a single team. Other times I pick games to watch based on the pitching matchups, team hot or cold streaks, pennant race, etc. If I see a guy has a hitting streak I might watch all his games until it stops. As your league grows a history, watch for players nearing milestones. Are there a couple of teams in your league that always seem to cause each other grief? I had a team in my 50+ year old random debut league that made the post season a few times, but never once won a championship. This alone kept me interested year after year.

My main advice is to slow things down. Even if you only have time to sim, take some time to absorb what's going on in your league. One thing I started doing to get through more seasons and build history is to sim the first 2-3 months of the season and then start watching a game per day. Afterall, the pennant race is what drives baseball.

shipfb21 · 03-29-2016, 11:51 AM

the best advice i can give is to take ur time. dont feel as if u have to rush through a season. take ur time, experience what is going on in ur world. check out the minors, create notes about different players, teams, n stories that are happening in ur world. check out the league history. take a trip to ur hall of fame, if u have one. there are so many ways to get lost in the immersion of the game. b creative n take ur time n experience everything each day, month, or season brings. b4 u know it, ull b 7 seasons in and completely entrenched in ur world.

bestbrother · 03-30-2016, 04:04 AM

Thanks all, I think slowing it down is the way to go. Ive been so keen to try and make a league with a history and backstory, that by the time there is one, ive no real idea of the actual history and who/why and how it was created.

Now for the rigmarole of deciding on what fictional league to create! Ideas can destroy a man.

italyprof · 03-30-2016, 05:56 AM

bestbrother, I have a similar experience to yours. Sometimes I have got 10+ years, playing through a part of the season game by game and then simming the rest to get to the draft and see what changes I can make in my team.

I do eventually feel that flat sense - great phrase, gets right to the heart of it by the way, thanks.

Mostly I like constructing teams and leagues. It becomes a habit. Design is more fun to me than playing through the league. But I like the idea of building a world and a history, so need to work on patience.

The Game · 03-30-2016, 01:59 PM

For me it's recreating baseball in my world.
My EBL vs MLB league was orig started around 1988 on other PC games like Tony Larussa & Hardball, i can do things on OOTP that I could never do before.

My ABF which I will sim until 2000 is about creating history of a league til 2000. While it's mostly fictional I import historical players and make clones of historical players often. i am in 1960 and some of the best players in the league are Chuck Berry = Ernie Banks, Jerry Lee Lewis = Frank Robinson & Johnny Cash = Eddie Mathews.
I tend to lose interest in modern leagues and hardly ever play the 2016 QS unless i do a fantasy draft.

risp2out · 03-30-2016, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Watts

My main advice is to slow things down.

^^^^This!

03-29-2016, 09:56 AM	#1
bestbrother Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 371	Inspiration What inspires you to play OOTP? What keeps you motivated and interested in your league or game? I struggle to have any longevity in the games I play. The solo management side of running a team seems to complex for me and I constantly miss out on things, which hampers my efforts to be a success and as such ruins my immersion. Then when I setup a fictional league and sim that, although at the start I have alot of interest, by the time ive simmed 10 years, I feel flat and have lost touch with the league and teams. This isnt a slight on the game, this is more an insight in trying to get more enjoyment out of it by opening up to those on here who have fantastic careers/leagues (as seen in the Dynasty section) and get every ounce of fun from the game that they should. Is there a way for example I can be a MLB manager and offset alot of the clubs duties to the AI? I mean id like to pick my lineup, sign players and do the contract aspect. But maybe for the AI to run my minor league system, do my drafts or at least push me in the right direction with a pick... do all the niggly stuff that can be overwhelming to someone who follows the sport but dosent have that day to day influence from it. Any help appreciated

03-30-2016, 01:59 PM	#8
The Game Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Inside The Game Posts: 30,937	For me it's recreating baseball in my world. My EBL vs MLB league was orig started around 1988 on other PC games like Tony Larussa & Hardball, i can do things on OOTP that I could never do before. My ABF which I will sim until 2000 is about creating history of a league til 2000. While it's mostly fictional I import historical players and make clones of historical players often. i am in 1960 and some of the best players in the league are Chuck Berry = Ernie Banks, Jerry Lee Lewis = Frank Robinson & Johnny Cash = Eddie Mathews. I tend to lose interest in modern leagues and hardly ever play the 2016 QS unless i do a fantasy draft. __________________ Go today don't wait for tomorrow It isn't promised, all the time you get borrowed Don't live your life for other people Don't bottle your emotions till they crack and fill a couple just sorrows Take your mind and refocus go get a paper write your goals out Throw your middle fingers to all your haters "Stay Strong"

03-29-2016, 10:04 AM	#2
catcherjul Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Montréal Posts: 311	For me, its all the prospect that are coming! I play spectator/commissioner mode in my longtime fictional league that I started year 2000 (in the game) I'm now in 2051, I started this league with version 15. I sim week by week, look at all the stories, emerging players, emerging team, trade, signing, feeder league performances...etc My league is real for me

03-29-2016, 10:11 AM	#3
Bluenoser Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In The Moment Posts: 14,496	Fan/Spectator mode works for me. Being a GM and/or Manager of a professional sports franchise has never been a real desire of mine. Sure, like most fans I've sat on the couch and second guessed the moves made by the GM/Manager of my favourite team. I've yelled "dummy" at the TV screen, "I could have done better than that." However I don't really care to try and never really have. I create a league and follow it like I follow real life baseball. Pick a couple of favourite teams, follow a bunch of favourite players, etc etc. Just like I do everyday for real sports. I like to play out 1 day at a time, read box scores, read game recaps (these have been HUGE for my immersion). I really enjoy reading the logs for walk off wins. I watch 3 or 4 games a week, but mostly just read about them afterwards. I don't mess with settings a lot once created, but I like to have my leagues swing through strong pitching eras then strong hitting eras, so I adjust PCM's and let it happen gradually over time. Other than that I let the league/world evolve and immerse myself in it's history as it happens.

03-29-2016, 11:06 AM	#4
David Watts Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Looking for a place called Leehofooks Posts: 10,161 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	Spectator mode is my main way of play also. I pick a game per day and watch it play out. I use short play by play/instant, so I can get through a game rather quickly. Sometimes I follow a single team. Other times I pick games to watch based on the pitching matchups, team hot or cold streaks, pennant race, etc. If I see a guy has a hitting streak I might watch all his games until it stops. As your league grows a history, watch for players nearing milestones. Are there a couple of teams in your league that always seem to cause each other grief? I had a team in my 50+ year old random debut league that made the post season a few times, but never once won a championship. This alone kept me interested year after year. My main advice is to slow things down. Even if you only have time to sim, take some time to absorb what's going on in your league. One thing I started doing to get through more seasons and build history is to sim the first 2-3 months of the season and then start watching a game per day. Afterall, the pennant race is what drives baseball.

03-29-2016, 11:51 AM	#5
shipfb21 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 117	the best advice i can give is to take ur time. dont feel as if u have to rush through a season. take ur time, experience what is going on in ur world. check out the minors, create notes about different players, teams, n stories that are happening in ur world. check out the league history. take a trip to ur hall of fame, if u have one. there are so many ways to get lost in the immersion of the game. b creative n take ur time n experience everything each day, month, or season brings. b4 u know it, ull b 7 seasons in and completely entrenched in ur world.

03-30-2016, 04:04 AM	#6
bestbrother Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 371	Thanks all, I think slowing it down is the way to go. Ive been so keen to try and make a league with a history and backstory, that by the time there is one, ive no real idea of the actual history and who/why and how it was created. Now for the rigmarole of deciding on what fictional league to create! Ideas can destroy a man.

03-30-2016, 05:56 AM	#7
italyprof All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,032	bestbrother, I have a similar experience to yours. Sometimes I have got 10+ years, playing through a part of the season game by game and then simming the rest to get to the draft and see what changes I can make in my team. I do eventually feel that flat sense - great phrase, gets right to the heart of it by the way, thanks. Mostly I like constructing teams and leagues. It becomes a habit. Design is more fun to me than playing through the league. But I like the idea of building a world and a history, so need to work on patience.