It still doesn't feel right...

HRBaker · 07-05-2023, 11:21 PM

In July, half of the MLB season is over, three of my PT teams all with OVR's averaging between 96 and 98, all playing less than .500, one in Gold, one in Silver, and one in Iron, with the only hope for improvement as F2P teams is to get lucky and pull a card that can play in Diamond.

Don't misunderstand me - I'm NOT suggesting I should be playing in a higher level than I am. Being F2P and not spending 24/7 on the computer is a sure sign that I shouldn't be at the top.

What I am feeling uncomfortable about is that 90% of the teams in Iron and above are ALREADY averaging OVR's in the 90s. Is the last half of the season simply going to release top-tier 100s which will sell for 6 and 7 figure prices? Will most players like me end up in Iron or below with Rosters of Perfects and Diamonds?

I went back to look at PT23 and it appears Bronze teams in v24 are already stronger than Bronze teams in v23 - and that's comparing 4 months of v24 with 16 months of v23...

Just doesn't feel right. I will always believe that cards should be released in a pyramid fashion. Lot of Irons and Bronze to start out the season, slowly releasing Silvers --- then Golds --- then Diamonds --- and finally Perfects. Iron Level simply shouldn't be all Diamonds and Perfects by the All-Star game.

OK. Off my soap box since no one is listening anyway. I'll plug it out until it's over is some fantasy belief that something will change.

Ty Cobb · 07-05-2023, 11:53 PM

I feel your pain, and agree wholeheartedly.

bailey · 07-06-2023, 11:07 AM

I feel your pain, but I don't agree. If you won't change your strategy what hope is there?

BTW, you do realize there is an iron card, Jeff Mathis OVR 50, that people are willing to pay north of 50K for. Isn't that what you wanted? Low OVR yet playable at high levels? Rumor has it that this card is even being played in Perfect League.

HRBaker · 07-06-2023, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bailey

I feel your pain, but I don't agree. If you won't change your strategy what hope is there?

BTW, you do realize there is an iron card, Jeff Mathis OVR 50, that people are willing to pay north of 50K for. Isn't that what you wanted? Low OVR yet playable at high levels? Rumor has it that this card is even being played in Perfect League.

Not sure the relevance of bringing up Mathis. Are you saying Mathis is a better choice than my combo of Santop and Posey? If so I don't agree.

And I think your missing my point. It's not about me wanting to get to Diamond or Perfect. I said that clearly in my post. It's about what happens when the only cards from Perfect Level to Bronze Level are all 90s and above, and it's only July.

If your an F2P team in July and already have a roster full of Diamonds and Perfects and you can't get above Bronze - whats the incentive to keep playing the game other than the rare chance you might pull a Mantle or Gehrig?

The accelerated release of high-end cards so early in the 12 month cycle pretty much convinces F2P teams from actively managing their team any longer - which results in them being cannon-fodder. Perfect Team now becomes a 5 month experience with a 7 month wait until the next version.

Having said that, if the organization is making a ton of money and is ok with maybe only 30% of the customer base playing out the year, then obviously nothing will change and us FTP players will just have to learn to enjoy our first 5 months.

bailey · 07-06-2023, 04:19 PM

I'm sorry I missed your main point, probably because I don't care what cards are used in bronze level.

But, you are absolutely right about one thing. At some point, all F2P players will achieve the level at which they are cannon fodder.

For me that happens in perfect league and that bothers me. I should quit now. I did quit once, for 7 months, but I came back. That was a mistake.

PunishedF2P · 07-06-2023, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HRBaker

Not sure the relevance of bringing up Mathis. Are you saying Mathis is a better choice than my combo of Santop and Posey? If so I don't agree.

From the comparison you posted, Mathis is clearly the better backup option over Santos - and he's a toss-up with Posey.

LeeD · 07-06-2023, 08:52 PM

If your entire point is that the devs should hold back the Diamonds and Perfects until later in the cycle then I might agree...except that players would hardly be thrilled playing (and paying for) cards that will obviously be made worthless every couple of weeks. That would benefit the whales even more, as they're always willing to break out the wallet.

If your point is that it's wrong to need Diamonds and Perfects to compete even at Bronze then I disagree. I started a new FTP team nine days ago and completed the Live Series over the first night. That gets anyone the following:

Posey, Dick Allen, Stennett, Caminiti, Reese, your choice of several Diamond leftfielders, DiMaggio or Cedeno, J.D. Drew, plus Klein and Moises Alou at DH. Pitching-wise, it's Santana, Drysdale, Cone, Carpenter, and Tanana backed by a pen of Lucas, Romo, and Foulke plus any of the remaining Diamond starters.

So you've got your Diamond (and two Perfect) roster by completing the very first mission set, and that is totally self-funding at this point unless you manage not to draw ANY salable cards with the pack rewards that accompany the missions. I actually closed out the Live Series with 75,000 points in hand and have moved on to complete Topps Bunt 1 (which adds Perfect Mookie Betts and a couple more Diamonds) plus Perfect Robin Roberts and Perfect George Davis. I'm working on Perfect Mickey Lolich now.

None of this has cost me any actual cash. I haven't even subscribed to PT Plus for this team. I'm in Rookie League, just finishing the All Star Break, have 160 missions completed, and a roster of four Perfects, 18 Diamonds, and four Golds.

Is this team ready for Diamond League? Of course not. It's a good start but will require lots more work to acquire better cards, which is what PT is all about regardless of when those cards are released or what the OVR is.

Ty Cobb · 07-11-2023, 05:25 PM

"I'm sorry I missed your main point, probably because I don't care what cards are used in bronze level"

That kind of tenderness is hard to find in life.

LeeD · 07-12-2023, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ty Cobb

"I'm sorry I missed your main point, probably because I don't care what cards are used in bronze level"

That kind of tenderness is hard to find in life.

Everyone should experience Bronze Level once, but only once on the way up to Silver.

Fabtron7 · 07-12-2023, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HRBaker

Not sure the relevance of bringing up Mathis. Are you saying Mathis is a better choice than my combo of Santop and Posey? If so I don't agree.

Mathis is for sure the best of those three cards, and it's not close.

Arlie Rahn · 07-12-2023, 04:22 PM

Has anyone gotten definitive information that playing a 100+ fielding/catcher ability catcher is a massive advantage over one in the 80s or even 70s? I've won 64-team perfect draft tourneys with Bennett (73, 81 ability) and other perfect draft ones with Gibson (84, 80 ability) and even gold Mike Piazza (67, 77).

Maybe it's different on the high diamond levels with the bigger sample, but in tournaments I'm dubious that a lighter hitting 100 fielding catcher is better than a 70-80 rated guy with much better hitting.

bailey · 07-12-2023, 06:27 PM

I suppose sample sizes are too small for a definitive answer, but

1) last week's Perfect League Champion used Mathis.

2) in tournaments, I'm not running out to buy Mathis because it would take a very long time to win back that 75K+. (I'd expect to win 5 more packs a week compared to what I win now without it).

3) I'm doing remarkably well in a gold league with Dickey/Romo.

07-05-2023, 11:21 PM	#1
HRBaker Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 2,369	It still doesn't feel right... In July, half of the MLB season is over, three of my PT teams all with OVR's averaging between 96 and 98, all playing less than .500, one in Gold, one in Silver, and one in Iron, with the only hope for improvement as F2P teams is to get lucky and pull a card that can play in Diamond. Don't misunderstand me - I'm NOT suggesting I should be playing in a higher level than I am. Being F2P and not spending 24/7 on the computer is a sure sign that I shouldn't be at the top. What I am feeling uncomfortable about is that 90% of the teams in Iron and above are ALREADY averaging OVR's in the 90s. Is the last half of the season simply going to release top-tier 100s which will sell for 6 and 7 figure prices? Will most players like me end up in Iron or below with Rosters of Perfects and Diamonds? I went back to look at PT23 and it appears Bronze teams in v24 are already stronger than Bronze teams in v23 - and that's comparing 4 months of v24 with 16 months of v23... Just doesn't feel right. I will always believe that cards should be released in a pyramid fashion. Lot of Irons and Bronze to start out the season, slowly releasing Silvers --- then Golds --- then Diamonds --- and finally Perfects. Iron Level simply shouldn't be all Diamonds and Perfects by the All-Star game. OK. Off my soap box since no one is listening anyway. I'll plug it out until it's over is some fantasy belief that something will change. __________________ *HRB* Last edited by HRBaker; 07-06-2023 at 12:35 PM.

07-05-2023, 11:53 PM	#2
Ty Cobb Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Grayling, MI Posts: 4,595	I feel your pain, and agree wholeheartedly. __________________ "You could not live with your own failure. Where did that bring you? Back to me." Thanos

07-11-2023, 05:25 PM	#8
Ty Cobb Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Grayling, MI Posts: 4,595	"I'm sorry I missed your main point, probably because I don't care what cards are used in bronze level" That kind of tenderness is hard to find in life. __________________ "You could not live with your own failure. Where did that bring you? Back to me." Thanos

07-12-2023, 04:22 PM	#11
Arlie Rahn All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 564	Has anyone gotten definitive information that playing a 100+ fielding/catcher ability catcher is a massive advantage over one in the 80s or even 70s? I've won 64-team perfect draft tourneys with Bennett (73, 81 ability) and other perfect draft ones with Gibson (84, 80 ability) and even gold Mike Piazza (67, 77). Maybe it's different on the high diamond levels with the bigger sample, but in tournaments I'm dubious that a lighter hitting 100 fielding catcher is better than a 70-80 rated guy with much better hitting. __________________ Developer of Bowl Bound College Football http://www.greydogsoftware.com

07-06-2023, 11:07 AM	#3
bailey Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 3,368	I feel your pain, but I don't agree. If you won't change your strategy what hope is there? BTW, you do realize there is an iron card, Jeff Mathis OVR 50, that people are willing to pay north of 50K for. Isn't that what you wanted? Low OVR yet playable at high levels? Rumor has it that this card is even being played in Perfect League.

07-06-2023, 04:19 PM	#5
bailey Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 3,368	I'm sorry I missed your main point, probably because I don't care what cards are used in bronze level. But, you are absolutely right about one thing. At some point, all F2P players will achieve the level at which they are cannon fodder. For me that happens in perfect league and that bothers me. I should quit now. I did quit once, for 7 months, but I came back. That was a mistake.

07-06-2023, 08:52 PM	#7
LeeD All Star Reserve Join Date: Jan 2022 Posts: 821	If your entire point is that the devs should hold back the Diamonds and Perfects until later in the cycle then I might agree...except that players would hardly be thrilled playing (and paying for) cards that will obviously be made worthless every couple of weeks. That would benefit the whales even more, as they're always willing to break out the wallet. If your point is that it's wrong to need Diamonds and Perfects to compete even at Bronze then I disagree. I started a new FTP team nine days ago and completed the Live Series over the first night. That gets anyone the following: Posey, Dick Allen, Stennett, Caminiti, Reese, your choice of several Diamond leftfielders, DiMaggio or Cedeno, J.D. Drew, plus Klein and Moises Alou at DH. Pitching-wise, it's Santana, Drysdale, Cone, Carpenter, and Tanana backed by a pen of Lucas, Romo, and Foulke plus any of the remaining Diamond starters. So you've got your Diamond (and two Perfect) roster by completing the very first mission set, and that is totally self-funding at this point unless you manage not to draw ANY salable cards with the pack rewards that accompany the missions. I actually closed out the Live Series with 75,000 points in hand and have moved on to complete Topps Bunt 1 (which adds Perfect Mookie Betts and a couple more Diamonds) plus Perfect Robin Roberts and Perfect George Davis. I'm working on Perfect Mickey Lolich now. None of this has cost me any actual cash. I haven't even subscribed to PT Plus for this team. I'm in Rookie League, just finishing the All Star Break, have 160 missions completed, and a roster of four Perfects, 18 Diamonds, and four Golds. Is this team ready for Diamond League? Of course not. It's a good start but will require lots more work to acquire better cards, which is what PT is all about regardless of when those cards are released or what the OVR is.

07-12-2023, 06:27 PM	#12
bailey Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 3,368	I suppose sample sizes are too small for a definitive answer, but 1) last week's Perfect League Champion used Mathis. 2) in tournaments, I'm not running out to buy Mathis because it would take a very long time to win back that 75K+. (I'd expect to win 5 more packs a week compared to what I win now without it). 3) I'm doing remarkably well in a gold league with Dickey/Romo.