I've always wanted to join a league

[Yaz1961]

I've always wanted to join a league but I have no idea how. Can someone fill me in on how an online league works?

Thanx
David

[satchel]

Leagues have websites, where they post the league "reports" (standings, statistics, and team and player pages) and have a forum. This website is also the source of "league files" which you download in order to install and update the league.

You put a copy of the online league's "league file" into your game on your computer. The league "sims" about three times a week, during which they play a set of ballgames (usually from 7-15 games per sim). After every sim, you download the latest league file, make your changes to your team on your own copy of the game, and then "export" your team file, which sends a copy of your moves and changes to the Commissioner, which he imports into his own copy of the game, before he sims again.

[Yaz1961]

So, basically in an online league, you are just playing as a manager. You don't actually play the game at all?

[satchel]

Originally Posted by Yaz1961

So, basically in an online league, you are just playing as a manager. You don't actually play the game at all?

That's right.

[progen]

After playing online for six years, here are some suggestions:

1. Look at the various leagues listed on the forums and pay special attention to what the website looks like. An active commish will have a good website which includes the most recent standings, stats, recent articles relating to trades, injuries, etc., and the OOTP reports section is current. This is a good way to see how dedicated the commish is to the league.

2. Look at the league forums. This will tell you how dedicated and active the members are. For example, look at the recent trades section. Numerous posts(trades) will generally mean that the league is active. Also, any "team reports" and posts in general for questions, rule clarifications, etc. The more, the better active and committed the GM's are to the league.

3. Keep an eye on "turnover". Every league has it, but there are some on here that it's almost comical with the turnover they have. Example, the league is called ABC league. Type that in the "search" tool and see how often they've posted for new GM's.

4. Don't get into a league that has 4, 5, 6, or more openings unless obviously it is a new or fairly new league. One to three, then I'm Ok with, any more than that, forget it. You generally can't trade with AI teams, so don't waste your time. And with all the people playing online, why do they have that many openings anyway? Read the forums consistently and you'll get a feel for those "solid" leagues and those that won't be around by Labor Day.

5. Start out with one league and get your feet wet. The offseason is a lot of fun and takes up more of your time then the regular season does. If it's a modern league, when your comfortable, add a second and join perhaps a historical league or a fictional league. To be active in a league and do it right, it's really good to get to know not only your team, but the rest of the league. Remember, the commissioner's spend a lot of time running these leagues, and it's tough to have "half hearted" GM's that are spread too thin because they're in so many leagues.

6. Apply. Do this by email or on the website. Then simply go to the main website page and download the "league file." The commish can help you with this if you have questions.

7. Go into the game, highlight your name, put in the password given to you by the commish and you're on your way. Not as intimidating as you may think and it is a lot of fun and very challenging. Good luck!

[pbar25]

Originally Posted by Yaz1961

So, basically in an online league, you are just playing as a manager. You don't actually play the game at all?

while you don't get to sim anything, it still gives you the feel of playing the game.

There is an option to Hide Scores on the game calendar that will hide all of the results after you update your file following a Sim by a league commissioner.

That way you can immediately go to the Scores/Schedule page and cycle back to the last time you viewed the file. From there you can click on Game Replay for each game and watch them as if they were live.

Online leagues are definitely challenging and worth the time. The excitement that builds in between sims is something that's hard to duplicate within a single-player environment.

View league settings & rules completely before asking to join a league - so that you know you will like the setup. Do not leave leagues over semantics that you could have known before. Fly by night owners that swoop in, dismantle teams, and then disappear certainly do not help the overall cause for fun.

all points made by progen were great

[phillosopherp]

Originally Posted by pbar25

There is an option to Hide Scores on the game calendar that will hide all of the results after you update your file following a Sim by a league commissioner.

That way you can immediately go to the Scores/Schedule page and cycle back to the last time you viewed the file. From there you can click on Game Replay for each game and watch them as if they were live.

Really? How do you do that... I have never seen that option and went looking for it when I read this and still don't see it anywhere. Please tell me how to do this as I think it would be awesome to be able to not see the scores until I "watch" them played.

[RonCo]

Online leagues are the best.