Somebody sell me on Online Leagues (again)

Sven Draconian · 03-01-2006, 01:50 PM

Its that time of the year again, where I can't stifle my baseball addiction. However, the limits of single player are upsetting, and generally lead to my disinterest in short time.

With that said, Im yet to have a truly good Online league experience. Most leagues I join fold, others are divided into cliques and arn't really accpeting to new GMs. Then of course, there are those that are simply inactive. There are leagues that are 10 seasons in, but if you sim an entire seaosn in two weeks that can happen, but how can that possibly let a GM get a true sense of his team?

Are my experiences unique? I see leagues around that seem to have a full active GM list, but are they the exception? Then there is the consideration, that many Online leagues seem to be solo leagues with human GMs, meaning, no depth to the league in terms of articles and GMs that don't participate.

In short, Im looking for some argument that there are online leagues that do last, and more than a simple handful of them.

spiffamous · 03-01-2006, 01:59 PM

This is almost the exact opposite of my online experience. My main interaction has been with the National Pastime Baseball League. This is actually by second go around with this league...I had to step away for awhile due to time issues.

Honestly, I don't think I could ask for a better online league. The owners seem to all be very dedicated and active...especially when it comes to trading, which I love. I was a complete online league noob when I first joined and quite a few of the GMs were very gracious in helping answer all the questions I had. I personally wouldn't trade online playing for solo play...it's so much better for me.

Anyway...just my perspective.

Matt

Ford Prefect · 03-01-2006, 02:11 PM

Check the Online League Directory

i am sure you will find a good one

from what i know

you can join any SimCentral League they are all good

also ISL, Ashai2,Coperate League are well managed League

i have no first hand expirience but Malstrom and ABL are good once too

the thing with the good leagues is they are mostly full

ukhotstove · 03-01-2006, 02:27 PM

I can relate to everything you have said Sven, but I can also say that if it weren't for online league's I wouldn't have spoken to many a good friend I have made. And when you live in England and there are few people who love baseball then that's a godsend, I've still to find the perfect league but saying that is anything ever perfect but there are many good leagues out there. My favourite league at the moment is the ASBL which is run by some good people and have been made to feel welcome from the first day I joined, as is the case with the PSBL.

jeheinz72 · 03-03-2006, 02:33 PM

It's not really my experience. Check out NPBL, JOBL or the best of them all, TWB if you want a true online league experience.

sporr · 03-03-2006, 03:12 PM

Online leagues are truly a one-of-a-kind experience that is many times more in depth than solo. Of course, as you've found, it all depends on you finding the right one for you. In my opinion, of the seemingly hundreds of leagues out there, there are probably less than 20 (maybe fewer) that I would consider solid for the long run. My suggestion to you would be to do some research before joining a league again. Hang out at the message board, make some posts, get to know league owners. Most leagues love to have an outsider around and those leagues that are hard to get into will often give special consideration to those who are active even though they don't have a team yet. If you can, get on the league mailing lists to get a feel for the style of the league. Some provide most of their sim info by email, others post stories on the message board, others will have a front-page story on the league website every sim. Also, check out the league rules and see if you can find out what special options the league has implemented that may go beyond what OOTP normally offers. I don't think you'll have any problem finding a league that will be enjoyable for years to come, and nothing beats competing with other human beings.

Eckstein 4 Prez · 03-03-2006, 03:34 PM

I have a long history of being a horrible online league owner in every way, and generally actually prefer the control that solo play allows me. That said, the one time I won a world championship (in one of Cooley's leagues) I was walking around on a cloud for days afterward.

rem · 03-03-2006, 04:24 PM

FWIW, I think the current state of OOTP online leagues is not good. I think you should try figure out what's the most important part of an online league for you and then look for a league which offers that.

RBLwebguy · 03-03-2006, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by remangiii

FWIW, I think the current state of OOTP online leagues is not good.

I am curious as to why you think this?

rem · 03-03-2006, 06:12 PM

In short, in most of the leagues I've been in and/or observed the energy level is fairly low both from the commish and the owners. I don't know if this has always been the case, but I know I did not always believe it be this way. I suppose I could be dismissed as disenfranchised, but I've been in a lot of leagues.

RBLwebguy · 03-03-2006, 07:20 PM

I think leagues go thru peaks and valleys and a league is successful if you have the right make up of GMs. I have been in and run/co-run 3 great leagues and seen my share of various levels of activity. I try and give it a solid effort but like anyone get discouraged if things slow down a little. I am not sure if people are out of it because they are awaiting a new product or not, but that may boom leagues again. But with that will come a lot, and I mean a lot of short term leagues.

jaykno14 · 03-04-2006, 03:09 PM

Does anyone have good info on a more realistic type of league. I would like to find a league where there isn't as much trading. I am not into the swing a deal every three weeks type of league. I tend to lose interest very quickly.

WTHawkins · 03-04-2006, 03:29 PM

I can understand how some may feel it is difficult to find online leagues that retain a consistant level of activity but I am in leagues I consider very active but as was said above every league hits its valley's where it can occasionally slow down in activity. The key thing to look for is how well the league can bounce back, which is usually determined by the how well the owners are committed to making it enjoyable for all participants. I believe the most important issue is as long as most owners in a league are taking care of their rosters and exporting then that league is doing well. Most owners don't always have time to write a article or post about some sort of off topic subject. With that said, I do believe there are plenty of solid leagues out there (some better than others) but when looking for a league do a background check and a little bit of homework on it, that way you can make sure you find a online league that best suits you.

Recte44 · 03-06-2006, 07:36 AM

SD- I hear this lament all the time. Why would one bother with an online league if there was no involvement of all owners? That's why I started the MBBA and that's why it is one of the best leagues out there today. I encourage you to check it out. Sounds like something that you're looking for.

03-01-2006, 01:50 PM	#1
Sven Draconian Major Leagues Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 432	Somebody sell me on Online Leagues (again) Its that time of the year again, where I can't stifle my baseball addiction. However, the limits of single player are upsetting, and generally lead to my disinterest in short time. With that said, Im yet to have a truly good Online league experience. Most leagues I join fold, others are divided into cliques and arn't really accpeting to new GMs. Then of course, there are those that are simply inactive. There are leagues that are 10 seasons in, but if you sim an entire seaosn in two weeks that can happen, but how can that possibly let a GM get a true sense of his team? Are my experiences unique? I see leagues around that seem to have a full active GM list, but are they the exception? Then there is the consideration, that many Online leagues seem to be solo leagues with human GMs, meaning, no depth to the league in terms of articles and GMs that don't participate. In short, Im looking for some argument that there are online leagues that do last, and more than a simple handful of them.

03-01-2006, 02:11 PM	#3
Ford Prefect Major Leagues Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hamburg Posts: 470	Check the Online League Directory i am sure you will find a good one from what i know you can join any SimCentral League they are all good also ISL, Ashai2,Coperate League are well managed League i have no first hand expirience but Malstrom and ABL are good once too the thing with the good leagues is they are mostly full __________________ I would pay 50 Dollars for BM 2006, if everybody does. Lets campain for higher but equal pricing, support a good product

03-01-2006, 02:27 PM	#4
ukhotstove Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: North of England Gods Country Posts: 7,175	I can relate to everything you have said Sven, but I can also say that if it weren't for online league's I wouldn't have spoken to many a good friend I have made. And when you live in England and there are few people who love baseball then that's a godsend, I've still to find the perfect league but saying that is anything ever perfect but there are many good leagues out there. My favourite league at the moment is the ASBL which is run by some good people and have been made to feel welcome from the first day I joined, as is the case with the PSBL. __________________ Detroit Diesel Dynasty San Antonio Calzones of Laredo Dynasty

03-03-2006, 02:33 PM	#5
jeheinz72 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 2,164	It's not really my experience. Check out NPBL, JOBL or the best of them all, TWB if you want a true online league experience. __________________ Join The Dugout!

03-03-2006, 03:34 PM	#7
Eckstein 4 Prez Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: The OC Posts: 6,358	I have a long history of being a horrible online league owner in every way, and generally actually prefer the control that solo play allows me. That said, the one time I won a world championship (in one of Cooley's leagues) I was walking around on a cloud for days afterward. __________________ Looking for an insomnia cure? Check out my dynasty thread, The Dawn of American Professional Base Ball, 1871.

03-01-2006, 01:59 PM	#2
spiffamous Minors (Double A) Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 135	This is almost the exact opposite of my online experience. My main interaction has been with the National Pastime Baseball League. This is actually by second go around with this league...I had to step away for awhile due to time issues. Honestly, I don't think I could ask for a better online league. The owners seem to all be very dedicated and active...especially when it comes to trading, which I love. I was a complete online league noob when I first joined and quite a few of the GMs were very gracious in helping answer all the questions I had. I personally wouldn't trade online playing for solo play...it's so much better for me. Anyway...just my perspective. Matt

03-03-2006, 03:12 PM	#6
sporr Global Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Muscatine, IA Posts: 8,277	Online leagues are truly a one-of-a-kind experience that is many times more in depth than solo. Of course, as you've found, it all depends on you finding the right one for you. In my opinion, of the seemingly hundreds of leagues out there, there are probably less than 20 (maybe fewer) that I would consider solid for the long run. My suggestion to you would be to do some research before joining a league again. Hang out at the message board, make some posts, get to know league owners. Most leagues love to have an outsider around and those leagues that are hard to get into will often give special consideration to those who are active even though they don't have a team yet. If you can, get on the league mailing lists to get a feel for the style of the league. Some provide most of their sim info by email, others post stories on the message board, others will have a front-page story on the league website every sim. Also, check out the league rules and see if you can find out what special options the league has implemented that may go beyond what OOTP normally offers. I don't think you'll have any problem finding a league that will be enjoyable for years to come, and nothing beats competing with other human beings.

03-03-2006, 04:24 PM	#8
rem Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: College Park, Md. Posts: 5,024	FWIW, I think the current state of OOTP online leagues is not good. I think you should try figure out what's the most important part of an online league for you and then look for a league which offers that. __________________ OTBA: Washington Filibusters CLBR: Minnesota Twins 2005 Winner of LL's Pick the Loser Contest! - 15-0

03-03-2006, 06:12 PM	#10
rem Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: College Park, Md. Posts: 5,024	In short, in most of the leagues I've been in and/or observed the energy level is fairly low both from the commish and the owners. I don't know if this has always been the case, but I know I did not always believe it be this way. I suppose I could be dismissed as disenfranchised, but I've been in a lot of leagues. __________________ OTBA: Washington Filibusters CLBR: Minnesota Twins 2005 Winner of LL's Pick the Loser Contest! - 15-0

03-03-2006, 07:20 PM	#11
RBLwebguy Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Canuckistan Posts: 5,162	I think leagues go thru peaks and valleys and a league is successful if you have the right make up of GMs. I have been in and run/co-run 3 great leagues and seen my share of various levels of activity. I try and give it a solid effort but like anyone get discouraged if things slow down a little. I am not sure if people are out of it because they are awaiting a new product or not, but that may boom leagues again. But with that will come a lot, and I mean a lot of short term leagues.

03-04-2006, 03:09 PM	#12
jaykno14 Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 453	Does anyone have good info on a more realistic type of league. I would like to find a league where there isn't as much trading. I am not into the swing a deal every three weeks type of league. I tend to lose interest very quickly. __________________ Current Dynasty: A New Kind of Brew My Past Dynasties Around the World My Nationals Dynasty Rejuvinating the Great Red Machine<--#70 Dynasty of 2005! Building a small market team-The Milwaukee Brewers dynasty thread Arizona Dynasty

03-04-2006, 03:29 PM	#13
WTHawkins Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 31	I can understand how some may feel it is difficult to find online leagues that retain a consistant level of activity but I am in leagues I consider very active but as was said above every league hits its valley's where it can occasionally slow down in activity. The key thing to look for is how well the league can bounce back, which is usually determined by the how well the owners are committed to making it enjoyable for all participants. I believe the most important issue is as long as most owners in a league are taking care of their rosters and exporting then that league is doing well. Most owners don't always have time to write a article or post about some sort of off topic subject. With that said, I do believe there are plenty of solid leagues out there (some better than others) but when looking for a league do a background check and a little bit of homework on it, that way you can make sure you find a online league that best suits you. __________________ Will Hawkins UK Wildcats Basketball 7 Championships: 1948, '49, '51, '58, '78, '96, '98

03-06-2006, 07:36 AM	#14
Recte44 Global Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Oconomowoc, WI Posts: 2,818	SD- I hear this lament all the time. Why would one bother with an online league if there was no involvement of all owners? That's why I started the MBBA and that's why it is one of the best leagues out there today. I encourage you to check it out. Sounds like something that you're looking for. __________________ Matt Rectenwald Commissioner, GM: Las Vegas Hustlers, The Brewster Baseball Association- fictional league (JOIN NOW)