So what is the point of requesting a scouting report?

[kjb023]

Seems like it just gives me information that I already know...

[pgjocki]

It updates the information to give you a more current reflection.

Imagine that your scouts prepare a report at the beginning of the season for each player in the world. Those reports are generic in nature and in most cases are inline with the OSA reports.

When you ask for a report you are tasking your team to get a more specific look - at least that is how I treat it.

[kjb023]

Originally Posted by pgjocki

It updates the information to give you a more current reflection.

Imagine that your scouts prepare a report at the beginning of the season for each player in the world. Those reports are generic in nature and in most cases are inline with the OSA reports.

When you ask for a report you are tasking your team to get a more specific look - at least that is how I treat it.

But they don't actually change anything, though. The scouting report has the same information that's on any given player's profile page.

[absurddoctor]

With the default settings for how often your scout updates their reports, it is probably not much use. You can set that to be less frequent though, and if you do that asking for specific scouting reports would be much more useful.

It might also be useful for taking a look at international players other team's scouts find, but I've never tried doing that.

[Sweed]

My scouting is set for every 2 months so yeah not going to see huge changes on already scouted players.

I play out all of my games so check news daily and when there is a "team x discovered player y" I usually get a report on them.

[BIG17EASY]

I have seen small, but noticeable changes when requesting scouting reports on players in the amateur draft.

[NoOne]

there are good situations for it...

e.g. when youmake a trade in the offseason, it's very wise to update ratings before pulling trigger. during that long-period off, players change more often, i believe. at the very least, if not elevated, the amount of time between reports is much longer, so still a good idea.

during the season, it probably doesn't help much. probably more important to use on the 'young' or 'old' etc.

the offseason is when someone typically gets fat, so it makes sense if they make that time period a bit more volatile through TCR and/or effects of work ethic etc etc wahtever else applies..

i do monthly reports, but in offseason it's day 1, then jan 1st then preseason and ST, then monthly? something to that effect. crazy stuff happens between jan 1st and ST.

[jpeters1734]

how many players did you request on before making that assessment? It is true that if your reports update every month or two, you're not going to see a big jump. My league updates at the start and end of the season only, so it's useful to use if you want to see how a player looks before calling him up in june, for example

[kjb023]

Originally Posted by jpeters1734

how many players did you request on before making that assessment? It is true that if your reports update every month or two, you're not going to see a big jump. My league updates at the start and end of the season only, so it's useful to use if you want to see how a player looks before calling him up in june, for example

I think I was unclear in what I was talking about with the scouting reports. What I mean is, when I right-click on a player and click "Request Scouting Report," when the report comes in a few days later it just describes all the same ratings I can see on the Player Profile. For example, if somebody has a good power potential rating on their profile, the scouting report I request on them will say something like "Player has plus raw power and has the chance to be a run producer." I'm wondering why I would need the scouting report then, instead of just looking at the guy's profile.

[jpeters1734]

no, you were clear. those scouting reports in game are updated based on your settings. if you have infrequent updates, i can be worth it to request one

[NoOne]

a large change can occur in just 1 day. it just isn't likely, but also another good reason to request a report for the most up-to-date info possible. why make a decision with less?

*some situations may not allow the time for it. obviously excluded

for the record, i don't bother often. but i also do most of my trading day 1 of offseason or day one of ST etc.. so i have a fresh report 99% of the time. i have no habit of doing it, which is the reason for the other 1% when i don't.

[snepp]

I have report updates set to "Rare", so a there will often be very long gaps between scouting updates. Requesting reports is vital before making an important trade or signing a significant contract.

I've bit myself in the behind on multiple occasions by not doing my diligence and signing a guy with an 8-month old scouting report.

[jpeters1734]

Do you often dig up 6 year old threads?