Hope this isn't a jinx

David Watts · 09-11-2025, 09:35 AM

I didn't buy the game this year when it first came out. Wasn't in the mood to go through all the starting and stopping I went through with 24 and 25 due to glitches being corrected through out the year. My intentions were to wait to purchase till the post season sale. Well, I couldn't hold out that long and I think I ended up purchasing OOTP26 in late May or early June.

Have to say this version is a great one. I play random debut almost exclusively. I started a league a few days after my purchase and I'm glad to report I'm still playing that same league. Just started the leagues 23rd season last night. I now have 3 members in my leagues Hall of Fame and have a 41 year old Mel Ott trying to reach 700 career home runs.

The addition of the 200+ Negro League players that are now available for use with random debut leagues is by far one of the best additions to the game in years. Just spectacular. The fact that volunteers made this happen only goes to show how great this community is. I do think some of the pitchers may need to be tweaked down a little, to make them a little less dominant, but just a little and who knows maybe I'm completely full of beans. Just love having them available as it add so much to the game.

I was really scared when I learned that there was a huge change to random debut this version. In the past if one set the minimum barrier to 1901, it meant no players would enter the league that played prior to 1901, period(except for the inaugural draft bug). That changed this year and the game will now import players that played prior to 1901, as long as they played in 1901 in real life. So far, I'm not disliking this change. In fact, I'm enjoying it. Cool thing is, even if I do end up disliking the change, all I have to do is move my minimum back to say 1911 or 12 and it will work pretty much the same as the old method.

I still think the game is importing way fewer modern day players than it did in the past for random debut and would love to hear from other random debut players if they agree or if I'm nuts. Not a complaint at all, just an observation.

Probably enough rambling for now, but since I'm someone that at times probably gets under the developers skin as well as that of fellow forum menber's when I have complaints, I felt it was probably a good time to let them know how happy I am with this version. I think it was only natural to be a little worried when the Great One announced his retirement last year, but it really does appear the game is great hands.

Bill Veeck · 09-11-2025, 12:22 PM

This is great to hear. Thanks for posting. Random debut is such a cool feature. Glad to hear it's working well.

09-11-2025, 09:35 AM	#1
David Watts Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Looking for a place called Leehofooks Posts: 10,213 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	Hope this isn't a jinx I didn't buy the game this year when it first came out. Wasn't in the mood to go through all the starting and stopping I went through with 24 and 25 due to glitches being corrected through out the year. My intentions were to wait to purchase till the post season sale. Well, I couldn't hold out that long and I think I ended up purchasing OOTP26 in late May or early June. Have to say this version is a great one. I play random debut almost exclusively. I started a league a few days after my purchase and I'm glad to report I'm still playing that same league. Just started the leagues 23rd season last night. I now have 3 members in my leagues Hall of Fame and have a 41 year old Mel Ott trying to reach 700 career home runs. The addition of the 200+ Negro League players that are now available for use with random debut leagues is by far one of the best additions to the game in years. Just spectacular. The fact that volunteers made this happen only goes to show how great this community is. I do think some of the pitchers may need to be tweaked down a little, to make them a little less dominant, but just a little and who knows maybe I'm completely full of beans. Just love having them available as it add so much to the game. I was really scared when I learned that there was a huge change to random debut this version. In the past if one set the minimum barrier to 1901, it meant no players would enter the league that played prior to 1901, period(except for the inaugural draft bug). That changed this year and the game will now import players that played prior to 1901, as long as they played in 1901 in real life. So far, I'm not disliking this change. In fact, I'm enjoying it. Cool thing is, even if I do end up disliking the change, all I have to do is move my minimum back to say 1911 or 12 and it will work pretty much the same as the old method. I still think the game is importing way fewer modern day players than it did in the past for random debut and would love to hear from other random debut players if they agree or if I'm nuts. Not a complaint at all, just an observation. Probably enough rambling for now, but since I'm someone that at times probably gets under the developers skin as well as that of fellow forum menber's when I have complaints, I felt it was probably a good time to let them know how happy I am with this version. I think it was only natural to be a little worried when the Great One announced his retirement last year, but it really does appear the game is great hands. Last edited by David Watts; 09-11-2025 at 09:39 AM.

09-11-2025, 12:22 PM	#2
Bill Veeck Minors (Single A) Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 65	This is great to hear. Thanks for posting. Random debut is such a cool feature. Glad to hear it's working well.