Perfect Team 2.0 discussion

[zrog2000]

I'm not sure if everyone has caught all of these new features, so I wanted to point them out here.

For OOTP 20, Perfect Team mode will return with more cards (over 3,200 total) and more features, including exciting tournaments (coming in April), collection missions (coming April / May), an improved auction house, more achievements, an additional league level (6 in total) and all the new strategy and AI improvements of the core game. Build your very own Perfect Team and battle the best OOTP managers in the world!

For one, I'm really glad there is an additional league level because it seems like there needs to be one because the difference between diamond and perfect is too high.

Second, collection missions!!!

https://www.ootpdevelopments.com/newsletters/nl0245/

[DonkeyKongSr]

Added support to have players in lineup backup other positions, and substitute in starting lineups for them


This year we have introduced several new strategic options, such as an opener and a follower as MLB teams continue to seek every possible advantage to winning in 2019. We have also improved the simulation engine and AI to handle and counter these new options and also make the smartest strategic decisions possible at any time during the game.

[SodoMojo]

Everything on that list I'm looking forward to,especially a deeper pool of cards.

It does feel like that last line should read: "Build your very own Perfect Team and battle the biggest spending OOTP managers in the world!" as I worry about any pay to win type of setting but hopefully the tournaments are set up with that in mind and it at least is at the subconscious forefront while they design stuff. Another league level sounds like it could alleviate that slightly. (Bronze/Silver/Gold/Platinum??/Diamond/Perfect)

Either way I'm super optimistic and looking forward to OOTP 20. Been playing since 14 and this version I'm looking forward to the most by far.

[cavacom]

I'm most excited about tournaments but I'm very happy about the additional level.

[DonkeyKongSr]

Originally Posted by SodoMojo

Another league level sounds like it could alleviate that slightly. (Bronze/Silver/Gold/Platinum??/Diamond/Perfect)

You missed that there is a new level, Iron, at the bottom of the tiers (it's not listed on that newsletter, but Markus mentioned it). And it's going to be a minimum 4 up/4 down promotion/relegation system, which will help move teams around better. No more whales getting stuck because they get upset in the LCS.

[OMGPuppies]

They could take some tips from how Hearthstone is run.

[mcdog512]

Tourney's and collections sound like fun. Tourney's more so.

[Kushiel]

We'll have a grand time!

[sharpk23]

I don't have access to the game right now (at work). What is the current total # of cards in the game? I think it says it on the collection page. Wondering how many cards there are currently compared to the over 3,200 they will have

[mcdog512]

It also sounded like the highest performing teams in the entry league will get seeded somewhere between Iron and Gold so that should help some also. I'm pretty sure that was in Markus post.

[Dunzie]

Originally Posted by sharpk23

I don't have access to the game right now (at work). What is the current total # of cards in the game? I think it says it on the collection page. Wondering how many cards there are currently compared to the over 3,200 they will have

I believe it is 2,511...

[chazzycat]

what is a "follower"?

[stl jason]

Originally Posted by mcdog512

It also sounded like the highest performing teams in the entry league will get seeded somewhere between Iron and Gold so that should help some also. I'm pretty sure that was in Markus post.

correct... sounds like what they wanted to implement in v19, but since it was decided sort of last-minute and there was some push-back, they didn't... from Markus' post:

"After the launch on March 22 (which is a Friday) teams will spend 3 days in the Entry Pool. On the first promotion / relegation round on Monday, March 25, we will populate the first three levels, based on team performance in the Entry Pool (minimum 30 games, teams with less than 30 games go to the Iron level automatically). After that, it's business as usual and the levels will fill up over the next 3 weeks."

[zrog2000]

Originally Posted by chazzycat

what is a "follower"?

The pitchers that replace openers.

[DonkeyKongSr]

Originally Posted by chazzycat

what is a "follower"?

It depends. Mostly with the opener strategy, it's 1 guy pitches the 1st, then the follower (a true SP) pitches 2-3 times through the lineup. There's also a "bullpen day" strategy where the 2nd pitcher is just a long reliever and you send nothing but relievers out there all game.

[stl jason]

Originally Posted by chazzycat

what is a "follower"?

Originally Posted by zrog2000

The pitchers that replace openers.

what basically in old-school terms... a team that uses a reliver/closer as their starter to pitch the first inning (or two)... that starter is referred to as the "opener"... then the normal starter is brought in but instead of being called a reliever, he is referred to as the "follower"

it's like new math for baseball kids these days, can't leave weird enough alone

[chazzycat]

thanks guys. I understand the whole "opener" thing, I just hadn't realized there is a term for the SP who comes in after.

[DonkeyKongSr]

Anyway, the new settings and AI are very welcome because the opener strategy has several problems in OOTP 19:

1) If the pitching team uses a RP as an opener, the game automatically makes your opener pitch like a SP, going for the long-haul rather than going for a 1 inning, all-out performance. So, true RP get a Stuff penalty and get rocked during their starts.

2) If the pitching team uses a SP as an opener, set with a low pitch limit to take them out quickly, they still pitch like a SP and don't get to take advantage of the Stuff bonus that the bullpen gets. Also, I beleive they still fatigue like a SP and not a RP (i.e. they can only open every 4th or 5th day at 100%)

3) For the hitting team, there's no settings available that allow the AI to recognize an opener is not the true starter and thus you get these starting rotations that are all one-handedness followed by a bullpen of the other handedness dominating a lineup that was setup with the intention of playing more than 1 inning vs. the opener's handedness. Basically, the opener strategy can be used to trick the teams into putting out a suboptimal lineup. Match your stadium to that strategy and you can be really tough to beat at home.

[zrog2000]

I'm afraid that I'm never going to trust AI to handle facing openers correctly and that's probably going to drive me nuts.

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by DonkeyKongSr

For the hitting team, there's no settings available that allow the AI to recognize an opener is not the true starter and thus you get these starting rotations that are all one-handedness followed by a bullpen of the other handedness dominating a lineup that was setup with the intention of playing more than 1 inning vs. the opener's handedness. Basically, the opener strategy can be used to trick the teams into putting out a suboptimal lineup. Match your stadium to that strategy and you can be really tough to beat at home.

Great, another loophole for people to exploit.