Are feeder leagues necessary anymore with the new draft class creation?

[Sweed]

After listening to the new road to release and how the created players will have 4 years of stats to look at (at least that's the way I took it) are feeders needed anymore? Yes, it's cool to know those players came through actually playing out games but it also adds to league save size. Not a big deal with today's HD but if one can have just as good a class(or mabye better?) without why use them?

I may be in the minority but I have used feeders since they were added. Now I have to wonder with the new draft class creation as HS or College freshmen, along with JC players too if these created classes will be the better option?

I import my game into each new version and am wondering if I'd be better off to delete my feeders in the first off season and go to game created draft classes? Will these created classes have players with more realistic stats, IE star players with dominate stats? Instead of my star feeder players having good- league leader type stats but not dominating stats.

Also if I delete my feeders does the game instantly create a full 4 years of amateur players in all three levels of HS, JC, and College?

To be clear I'm not advocating feeders being removed from OOTP, I may still keep mine dependent on any answers I may get

Be interested in thoughts from Matt or testers.

Thanks.

[Matt Arnold]

I mean, feeders have never been "necessary", depending on your criteria.

But overall, in many ways, the changes to the whole system will make the default non-feeders setup feel more "feeder-y" (while at the same time letting those who like feeders also have an improved setup with explicit draft classes). There are still some differences - as mentioned, the game-created players tend to have larger range of stats, and we still do create all the stats for the season at once for game-created players, as opposed to feeders actually playing out the games.

As for the technical details, when you delete a league, all the players will get released by default to the FA pool, so to avoid a mass influx of players, you'll need to delete the players first. But once your feeders are gone, the next time the league looks for releasing its draft pool, then it will create a completely new batch of players, including underclassmen for future seasons.

[jimmysthebestcop]

Just think of all that sim speed you will gain by not using feeders anymore.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by Matt Arnold

I mean, feeders have never been "necessary", depending on your criteria.

But overall, in many ways, the changes to the whole system will make the default non-feeders setup feel more "feeder-y" (while at the same time letting those who like feeders also have an improved setup with explicit draft classes). There are still some differences - as mentioned, the game-created players tend to have larger range of stats, and we still do create all the stats for the season at once for game-created players, as opposed to feeders actually playing out the games.

As for the technical details, when you delete a league, all the players will get released by default to the FA pool, so to avoid a mass influx of players, you'll need to delete the players first. But once your feeders are gone, the next time the league looks for releasing its draft pool, then it will create a completely new batch of players, including underclassmen for future seasons.

Thanks so much Matt for the detailed answer. I am aware of deleting players before league but still good that you mention it as a reminder for me and also for anyone else coming into the thread.

With this answer I'm definitely leaning towards using the new model. I'll just import, make a backup, and give it a try. I can then always go back if choose.

Originally Posted by jimmysthebestcop

Just think of all that sim speed you will gain by not using feeders anymore.

No doubt sim speed will improve but the way I play it isn't an issue. IE one day at a time playing out all of my games, finish day, rinse repeat.

I do wonder how much the league file will shrink? They announced new improvements, I think?, that will already mean smaller files size. Add to that my game won't be playing and saving all of that data from 4 feeder leagues and I would think it will make quite a difference. Much smaller file to backup and upload to the cloud

[jimmysthebestcop]

Even 1 day at a time is noticeable. With challenge mode you can't sim more then 7 days. And even with a top end desktop it was unbearable using feeders for just mlb. Not to mention if you add Indys and internationals.

I much rather have full Indy and full international leagues then any feeders. Made the universe feel better. I can never go back to just mlb universe.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by jimmysthebestcop

Even 1 day at a time is noticeable. With challenge mode you can't sim more then 7 days. And even with a top end desktop it was unbearable using feeders for just mlb. Not to mention if you add Indys and internationals.

I much rather have full Indy and full international leagues then any feeders. Made the universe feel better. I can never go back to just mlb universe.

Can only go by my experience and that is...

Play my game, exit boxscore > scores screen > finish day > game proceeds to next day in 1-2 seconds (?) not even sure it takes that long.

I then have hotkeys for
Standings>news> MLB home, MLB transactions set to waiver wire> my shortlists> BNN page> Game home screen
I go through the first four hot key screens every time and most times I just a take a quick tour through all of them. Back to score screen and ready to play my next game.

Different style than you for sure, and that's ok.

I backup my game only updating files that changed and, with no feeders that should be quicker. I think with claimed reduced file sizes in v21, and smaller file in general without feeders, I'm going to like the faster upload to the could for safe keeping.

[Mr. Marlin]

Well, I've been using feeders since discovering I like stats only play. And I dislike feeders. Intensely. They are a means to an end that with 21 comes to an end. And I won't miss them!

[PSUColonel]

Originally Posted by Matt Arnold

I mean, feeders have never been "necessary", depending on your criteria.

But overall, in many ways, the changes to the whole system will make the default non-feeders setup feel more "feeder-y" (while at the same time letting those who like feeders also have an improved setup with explicit draft classes). There are still some differences - as mentioned, the game-created players tend to have larger range of stats, and we still do create all the stats for the season at once for game-created players, as opposed to feeders actually playing out the games.

As for the technical details, when you delete a league, all the players will get released by default to the FA pool, so to avoid a mass influx of players, you'll need to delete the players first. But once your feeders are gone, the next time the league looks for releasing its draft pool, then it will create a completely new batch of players, including underclassmen for future seasons.

I love this!! Is there any way to handle international players and posted players in a similar way?

[andyhdz]

Originally Posted by PSUColonel

I love this!! Is there any way to handle international players and posted players in a similar way?

funny I thought of the same thing just this morning.

[stealofhome]

I like to vote for feeder awards and watch players progress as they age. I also like to have the heritage of different leagues (one feeder is known for producing elite pitchers, etc). The players are more alive to me as they progress through the feeder league than if they just show up with stats.

[CarolinaSoxfan]

Originally Posted by Mr. Marlin

Well, I've been using feeders since discovering I like stats only play. And I dislike feeders. Intensely. They are a means to an end that with 21 comes to an end. And I won't miss them!

I am thinking about doing stats only. Do you have all the ratings off? How about the star ratings?

[Dark Horse]

I prefer the feeder leagues. I don`t care about file size or sim times. I like to see the "natural" progression of the players. And I want the stories.

I'm excited for the new draft class feature because I know online leagues tend to not use feeder leagues. At least, with the new feature I can plan for the draft.

[slugga27]

Originally Posted by CarolinaSoxfan

I am thinking about doing stats only. Do you have all the ratings off? How about the star ratings?

Stats-only is the only way I have played for close to ten years. I have everything off except “Other” ratings, because those are extremely difficult to get a feel for through stats.


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[Mr. Marlin]

Originally Posted by CarolinaSoxfan

I am thinking about doing stats only. Do you have all the ratings off? How about the star ratings?

Sometimes on, sometimes off. Stars I mean. The color bars are all off. Defense too. It's more challenging in the way that it's more challenging to walk around your house blindfolded. But the cool thing about it is it makes you really pay attention to the stats and what they mean. And that makes you appreciate real baseball more I think. It also makes you pay more attention to your scouting reports.

Give it a shot for a season or two, see what you think. I tried it in OOTP 14 and never looked back.

[sharknut]

Originally Posted by Matt Arnold

As for the technical details, when you delete a league, all the players will get released by default to the FA pool, so to avoid a mass influx of players, you'll need to delete the players first. But once your feeders are gone, the next time the league looks for releasing its draft pool, then it will create a completely new batch of players, including underclassmen for future seasons.

I have asked this at least a dozen times in multiple threads without getting an answer:

I play historical game-by-game simulation of a players career. I manage the team and control the minor leagues for that team as well. When a season ends, if the minor league team in my system changes affiliation, the game removes ALL the players from my system rather than let me assign them to my other teams.

Will this be fixed, please let me know.

[Matt Arnold]

Originally Posted by sharknut

I have asked this at least a dozen times in multiple threads without getting an answer:

I play historical game-by-game simulation of a players career. I manage the team and control the minor leagues for that team as well. When a season ends, if the minor league team in my system changes affiliation, the game removes ALL the players from my system rather than let me assign them to my other teams.

Will this be fixed, please let me know.

We may be missing a case, but as far as I'm aware, this functionality already exists. If a team changes affiliations all their players will get moved to another minor league team in the system before changing.

[Walsh06]

I was wondering will this fix an issue I have had for the last couple of versions. I like to have my draft just for high schoolers and undrafted players can go to my own "college" league that I have made. However With the default drafts players dont become free agents after the draft and instead go to college in the background for four years. With these changes will it be possible to make undrafted players free agents?

[andyhdz]

this happens although not 100% if you create high school and college feeders. Some high school kids that don't get drafted will go to the college feeder league and play there. But what you want is some sort of hybrid where created players that aren't drafted become real players and go to your college league. Probably can't have it both ways I figure.

[Walsh06]

ya its possible to work around by having a feeder league and then you have to change the eligible for draft rules. It took a bunch of testing in ootp 18 but I eventually got it how I like. It would just be nice if there was a check box for "Make undrafted players free agents" or something like that.