What determines the International Amateur Tiebreaker?

Snoregasm2 · 06-02-2021, 06:13 AM

I created a new game after the latest patch, and decided to expand the league by two teams in 2022. I played one of the expansion franchises, with Las Vegas being the other.

Roll on 1 July, and I see a 5 start international amateur. I insta offer $5m, which in past patches they accept 100% of the time. However, I got notified 2 days later that Las Vegas had also offered $5m and he preferred them. It also happened with my back-up option and the Phillies. I have a similar record to Las Vegas and a bigger market.

Does anyone know how the tiebreaker works now? Will you always lose out to the AI? If so, it will ruin the immersion slightly, as I will need to use Commissioner mode.

andyhdz · 06-02-2021, 11:55 AM

Nothing fancy I'm afraid. I'm pretty sure it's whoever offers $5 mil first. I bid that much on the first day of amateur intl FA day and never lost. So much so that I now have a house rule and can only bid once ever other year so I don't overpower myself but I've been noticing that now not ever year will you have superpowered Intl FAs every single year like you used to in the past.

Matt Arnold · 06-02-2021, 12:05 PM

It was fixed in one of the recent patches so that all IAFA have essentially an ordering they care about. If you are offering them a deal and there's a text line like "they really like your team", it means you have a really good chance at winning if everyone offers the same deal.

From the latest patch notes:
- Fixed situations where international FA were not applying the correct “tiebreak” between teams who offer identical contracts

andyhdz · 06-02-2021, 12:22 PM

that's great to hear an the fact that you aren't guaranteed 60 or higher rated players every year makes for a great improvement.

Snoregasm2 · 06-02-2021, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Arnold

It was fixed in one of the recent patches so that all IAFA have essentially an ordering they care about. If you are offering them a deal and there's a text line like "they really like your team", it means you have a really good chance at winning if everyone offers the same deal.

From the latest patch notes:
- Fixed situations where international FA were not applying the correct “tiebreak” between teams who offer identical contracts

Thank you. Is that to say that they'll factor in team record, history, market size etc., so it will generally favour better teams (assuming, say, each of you, the Yankees and Dodgers offer $5m)?

Fuji · 06-05-2021, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Arnold

It was fixed in one of the recent patches so that all IAFA have essentially an ordering they care about. If you are offering them a deal and there's a text line like "they really like your team", it means you have a really good chance at winning if everyone offers the same deal.

From the latest patch notes:
- Fixed situations where international FA were not applying the correct “tiebreak” between teams who offer identical contracts

And what - pray tell - is the basis for this "ordering they care about"? I have encountered the same issue as the OP. I offered $5 million for the IAFA I preferred on the first day possible. I was told a couple days later that they preferred another team. Why would this be the case? My team is the defending World Champion, is leading their division, has a Big market size, and has a (max) $36 million development budget. The team they preferred had a losing season last year, is in 2nd place in their division this year, has an Above Average market size, and only spent $12 million on player development. By what rights would they choose the other team? It seems to be essentially random - how else could I make my team more "attractive" to IAFA's? This is a serious issue, as unlike with other FA's, there is a max bid of $5 million on default rules which cannot be exceeded.

Is this how this feature is really intended to operate? IAFA's are just randomly set to hate your team for factors outside your control? I certainly hope not, because this really takes away the fun from signing IAFA's in the first place, and is definitely not how it has worked for several past versions of OOTP (I've been playing every version since OOTP18).

andyhdz · 06-08-2021, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuji

And what - pray tell - is the basis for this "ordering they care about"? I have encountered the same issue as the OP. I offered $5 million for the IAFA I preferred on the first day possible. I was told a couple days later that they preferred another team. Why would this be the case? My team is the defending World Champion, is leading their division, has a Big market size, and has a (max) $36 million development budget. The team they preferred had a losing season last year, is in 2nd place in their division this year, has an Above Average market size, and only spent $12 million on player development. By what rights would they choose the other team? It seems to be essentially random - how else could I make my team more "attractive" to IAFA's? This is a serious issue, as unlike with other FA's, there is a max bid of $5 million on default rules which cannot be exceeded.

Is this how this feature is really intended to operate? IAFA's are just randomly set to hate your team for factors outside your control? I certainly hope not, because this really takes away the fun from signing IAFA's in the first place, and is definitely not how it has worked for several past versions of OOTP (I've been playing every version since OOTP18).

There are prettier girls in the other team's city than yours. Do you really think 16 year olds care about anything else? My point is many of these things are random already. Sure I wish it was built more on a complex scouting system where the guy liked that fact that you had visited him and his mom in his village X number of times and established a relationship with him already but we don't have that. I'd rather have that then automatically be given the guy if I max bid on day one. If you don't like it just make him yours in the editor.

Mantush · 06-08-2021, 12:33 PM

I’ve observed this a few times, so I don’t know if it goes into it at all, but I noticed that an IFA SS did not want to sign with me. Makes sense given I had a top 5 SS on a long term deal and my top prospect was also a SS. Another case was with a catcher— similar situation, several really good C prospects in my system already.

Matt Arnold · 06-08-2021, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyhdz

There are prettier girls in the other team's city than yours. Do you really think 16 year olds care about anything else? My point is many of these things are random already. Sure I wish it was built more on a complex scouting system where the guy liked that fact that you had visited him and his mom in his village X number of times and established a relationship with him already but we don't have that. I'd rather have that then automatically be given the guy if I max bid on day one. If you don't like it just make him yours in the editor.

The game somewhat simulates that in when the players are generated, the more loyalty to you they have, the higher your scouting accuracy for them will be by default. So if you have had more looks at them, then they're more likely to sign with you.

Down the road, I would love to generate them a few years ahead of time, like we now do for draft prospects. And then in that way, you could certainly have a system where the more you scout them, the more they like you and you can try to influence them more that way. But that would be a longer term vision of handling IAFA in a future version.

skbvib · 07-19-2021, 09:14 PM

In previous versions (and until a recent patch) IAFA was a crapshoot - if you invested in scouting, you would hit maybe 1 out of 3 or 4 signings into a significant player.

No, I have a Legendary level Intl scout, healthy budget, and all I might get are 2* potential players who, after I offer $5m on day 1, choose another team anyway (even after saying they like the team).

Why not just blow it up and randomize ALL IAFA signings? It has the exact same effect.

Fix it - put it back to where its a useful strategy to invest in or just get rid of it...right now its a complete waste of time.

Love the game, hate this "patch"

ezpkns34 · 07-19-2021, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skbvib

In previous versions (and until a recent patch) IAFA was a crapshoot - if you invested in scouting, you would hit maybe 1 out of 3 or 4 signings into a significant player.

No, I have a Legendary level Intl scout, healthy budget, and all I might get are 2* potential players who, after I offer $5m on day 1, choose another team anyway (even after saying they like the team).

Why not just blow it up and randomize ALL IAFA signings? It has the exact same effect.

Fix it - put it back to where its a useful strategy to invest in or just get rid of it...right now its a complete waste of time.

Love the game, hate this "patch"

I'm not sure there are many real life issues and topics that I'm so heated over as you are about OOTP IAFAs

andyhdz · 07-20-2021, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skbvib

In previous versions (and until a recent patch) IAFA was a crapshoot - if you invested in scouting, you would hit maybe 1 out of 3 or 4 signings into a significant player.

No, I have a Legendary level Intl scout, healthy budget, and all I might get are 2* potential players who, after I offer $5m on day 1, choose another team anyway (even after saying they like the team).

Why not just blow it up and randomize ALL IAFA signings? It has the exact same effect.

Fix it - put it back to where its a useful strategy to invest in or just get rid of it...right now its a complete waste of time.

Love the game, hate this "patch"

it's very subtle but when you negotiate with them they will tell you whether they love your team or are just lukewarm about you. that helps you plan your bid.

Art Deco · 10-29-2021, 11:00 AM

Seems like the pendulum has swung too far from it being too easy to sign a top July 2 IFA, now it seems too hard.

One theoretical workaround is to put the player on your team via the editor but the problem here is that you have to at least put them on your DSL team as there isn't any way to assign them to your international complex. So have you 15 and 16 year olds playing against 18-19 year olds which would likely stunt their development.

So barring some sort of middle ground solution on the July 2 FAs, it would be great if we could at least use the editor to put players into the international complex. Any reason why we're not able to?

Rain King · 10-29-2021, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art Deco

Seems like the pendulum has swung too far from it being too easy to sign a top July 2 IFA, now it seems too hard.

How so?

tejdog1 · 10-31-2021, 06:03 PM

I have NEVER hit on my #1 IFA target since this change went into effect. Not one time. Doesn't matter if they "really like my organization" or not.

Not. One. Time.

Rain King · 10-31-2021, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tejdog1

I have NEVER hit on my #1 IFA target since this change went into effect. Not one time. Doesn't matter if they "really like my organization" or not.

Not. One. Time.

How many seasons have you played? I do not see any other similar complaints happening on the forums.

andyhdz · 11-01-2021, 05:05 PM

Again, it's not hard at all. Look at what they tell you when you first open up the negotiation screen. If they say they love your team you'll probably get them if you max bid. If they are just saying "yeah thanks I'll play for this much" then not so much.

Ike Fehr · 06-19-2022, 04:40 PM

I have my International Amateurs set for allowing more than $5,000,000 and notice that players are asking for over $5,000,000 from me but accept as little as $1,100,000 when I tried offering them 3 or 4 million. I can understand how players have preferences as to where they go but there is no way players would take that much less in real life just so they could to go to a team they prefer. Cash is KING!

06-02-2021, 11:55 AM	#2
andyhdz All Star Starter Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Fresno, CA by way of Texas Posts: 1,754	Nothing fancy I'm afraid. I'm pretty sure it's whoever offers $5 mil first. I bid that much on the first day of amateur intl FA day and never lost. So much so that I now have a house rule and can only bid once ever other year so I don't overpower myself but I've been noticing that now not ever year will you have superpowered Intl FAs every single year like you used to in the past. __________________ *************************************** It's your game. Play it how you like it. ***************************************

06-02-2021, 12:22 PM	#4
andyhdz All Star Starter Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Fresno, CA by way of Texas Posts: 1,754	that's great to hear an the fact that you aren't guaranteed 60 or higher rated players every year makes for a great improvement. __________________ *************************************** It's your game. Play it how you like it. ***************************************

07-19-2021, 09:14 PM	#10
skbvib Bat Boy Join Date: Apr 2019 Posts: 9	IAFA - starting to become a useless feature?? In previous versions (and until a recent patch) IAFA was a crapshoot - if you invested in scouting, you would hit maybe 1 out of 3 or 4 signings into a significant player. No, I have a Legendary level Intl scout, healthy budget, and all I might get are 2* potential players who, after I offer $5m on day 1, choose another team anyway (even after saying they like the team). Why not just blow it up and randomize ALL IAFA signings? It has the exact same effect. Fix it - put it back to where its a useful strategy to invest in or just get rid of it...right now its a complete waste of time. Love the game, hate this "patch"

10-31-2021, 06:03 PM	#15
tejdog1 All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Danbury, CT Posts: 1,647	I have NEVER hit on my #1 IFA target since this change went into effect. Not one time. Doesn't matter if they "really like my organization" or not. Not. One. Time. __________________ It's amazing How you make your face just like a wall How you take your heart and turn it off How I turn my head and lose it all And it's unnerving How just one move puts me by myself There you go just trusting someone else Now I know I put us both through hell ~Matchbox 20, "Leave" Everyone knows it's spelled "TRAID", not trade

11-01-2021, 05:05 PM	#17
andyhdz All Star Starter Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Fresno, CA by way of Texas Posts: 1,754	Again, it's not hard at all. Look at what they tell you when you first open up the negotiation screen. If they say they love your team you'll probably get them if you max bid. If they are just saying "yeah thanks I'll play for this much" then not so much. __________________ *************************************** It's your game. Play it how you like it. ***************************************

06-02-2021, 06:13 AM	#1
Snoregasm2 Bat Boy Join Date: Apr 2021 Posts: 10	What determines the International Amateur Tiebreaker? I created a new game after the latest patch, and decided to expand the league by two teams in 2022. I played one of the expansion franchises, with Las Vegas being the other. Roll on 1 July, and I see a 5 start international amateur. I insta offer $5m, which in past patches they accept 100% of the time. However, I got notified 2 days later that Las Vegas had also offered $5m and he preferred them. It also happened with my back-up option and the Phillies. I have a similar record to Las Vegas and a bigger market. Does anyone know how the tiebreaker works now? Will you always lose out to the AI? If so, it will ruin the immersion slightly, as I will need to use Commissioner mode.

06-02-2021, 12:05 PM	#3
Matt Arnold OOTP Developer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Here and there Posts: 15,812	It was fixed in one of the recent patches so that all IAFA have essentially an ordering they care about. If you are offering them a deal and there's a text line like "they really like your team", it means you have a really good chance at winning if everyone offers the same deal. From the latest patch notes: - Fixed situations where international FA were not applying the correct “tiebreak” between teams who offer identical contracts

06-08-2021, 12:33 PM	#8
Mantush Minors (Double A) Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 147	I’ve observed this a few times, so I don’t know if it goes into it at all, but I noticed that an IFA SS did not want to sign with me. Makes sense given I had a top 5 SS on a long term deal and my top prospect was also a SS. Another case was with a catcher— similar situation, several really good C prospects in my system already.

10-29-2021, 11:00 AM	#13
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,499	Seems like the pendulum has swung too far from it being too easy to sign a top July 2 IFA, now it seems too hard. One theoretical workaround is to put the player on your team via the editor but the problem here is that you have to at least put them on your DSL team as there isn't any way to assign them to your international complex. So have you 15 and 16 year olds playing against 18-19 year olds which would likely stunt their development. So barring some sort of middle ground solution on the July 2 FAs, it would be great if we could at least use the editor to put players into the international complex. Any reason why we're not able to?

06-19-2022, 04:40 PM	#18
Ike Fehr Bat Boy Join Date: Nov 2019 Posts: 8	International Amateurs I have my International Amateurs set for allowing more than $5,000,000 and notice that players are asking for over $5,000,000 from me but accept as little as $1,100,000 when I tried offering them 3 or 4 million. I can understand how players have preferences as to where they go but there is no way players would take that much less in real life just so they could to go to a team they prefer. Cash is KING!