It's finally done... The single state league(s) I started in OOTP15

[ra7c7er]

I started creating this world in OOTP15 but the steam crashing issue made the game unplayable so I was chomping at the bit to get started with it again in. It's OOTP16 now but I'm finally done creating my little slice of custom OOTP

I've ended up creating a 9 league 68 team world in Illinois. I've given every league custom financials (admittedly I need to tweak a bit) and custom settings. I didn't change player creation though and since I've made all the leagues indy leagues it gets pretty interesting.

I struggled with the milestone numbers and eventually had to just settle on cutting everything in half (since I play 80 game seasons). I'm not super happy that some of the milestones will never be reached but eh. I don't have a draft in any league so the game just auto generates FA players. Running out of FA players when not using a draft should be fixed with with new update so that shouldn't be a problem anymore. Thanks Mattfor creating a fix and Thanks Questdog for helping me when I was originally fighting the issue..

I was going to post this in the dynasty forum but decided I just wanted to play and enjoy it and not have to worry about posting. I did however write nearly 40 pages of backstory going all the way back to 1946. The backstory starts with returning servicemen wanting to play baseball. My girlfriend says I need to make it a actual book. So since I'm not going to write a dynasty I thought I'd share it here. Maybe I'll post up tweaks I make down the road and why. Anyway, here's the leagues and teams and a small blurb about the creation of each league.

Prairie State Baseball League (Rep. 10) - The highest level league in the state. Sub-leagues are Northern League and Southern League. Divisions are separated by region using Springfield as a center point. Springfield itself could have been in any region. Bellville is city I live in and is the team I'm going to try and work up to when creating the game and starting from the bottom.


Chicago Baseball Union (Rep 7) - Teams in and around Chicago. I took some liberties calling a couple teams "city teams" but I wanted it to be more centralized teams in one sub-league and suburban cities in the other. Chicago Baseball Union is a play on the Chicago Democratic Union historically one of the most corrupt political machines in the country.


Metro East Baseball Association (Rep 6) - From the St. Louis, MO, Metro East. Leagues are separated by location and city size. Similar to the CBU the Metro East League is more centralized and larger city teams with the Rural League smaller outlying cites.


Great River Road League (Rep 5) - My girlfriend actually came up with the idea for this one. All of these teams are listed on the homepage of the greatriverroad-illinois.org as the must visit cities. They perfectly lent themselves to a 8 team league.


Northern Illinois Baseball League (Rep 4) and Southern Illinois Baseball League (Rep 3) - These are separate leagues but originally they were one league with the Fox River Valley teams in one sub-league and the Metro Lakeland teams in the other. I wanted to add more teams to the world so I split them and added another four teams each. The Fox river valley is in the north eastern part of Illinois. Metro Lakeland was a idea a state university professor had to bring more commercial, industrial, and tourism to parts of southern Illinois. Both of the leagues should have higher league reputation and financials then the GRRL but since these leagues were originally one league with a rep of 4. I decided not to change the GRRL financials.

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Forgottonia Independent Baseball League (Rep 2) - Another political based league. These teams are based in Western Illinois in what people from that area consider forgotten Illinois. You can read about it here. This league only has 4 teams because I used several teams that would have been in this league in other leagues.


Okaw Farmers Co-op League (Rep 1) - This league is from the eastern central part of the state in Amish country. It's exactly what it states. Its based on the four cities were the Okaw Farmers Co-op grain terminals are located.


Little Egypt Parks League (Rep 0) - Little Egypt is a "common name" for Southern Illinois. Common but I've lived in southern Illinois nearly my entire life and didn't know that till last year when I was originally creating this world. All of the teams are state parks. For the new owner goals I gave them locations of the nearest town. This was the first league I created in OOTP15 and one of these teams will be where I start my GM and Manager career.


So that's it. What I've been working on for a year now. It may not be perfect but I sure enjoy it. Custom rules, custom financials, custom Uniforms and logos Thanks to all who created for the nickname project and thanks to anyone who's ideas I read on these forums and used in my game I doubt I could name you all. This game is pretty amazing.

[ra7c7er]

A couple things.

I tried to give as many teams historically or modern culturally accurate nicknames while staying in the nickname project. I don't have a color picker program so the color file names are a must. If you live or have lived in or around any of the cities in my game and know a name that would fit let me know. I may not change the name but options are good to have.

I would consider making a quickstart but I'd have to change a few things first and working out some new financial structures will take me longer now that I am at a point where i am more happy playing then creating. Also most of you would rather have a amateur draft and I don't use them So I'd have to set that up.

I used all indy leagues as a personal preference. Admittedly the world would probably work better if the PSBL was a ML league but I like that Indy leagues don't create high caliber players. That's part of the issue with milestones though. As it's tough to get good numbers that are hard to reach but attainable. The minute you lower something 4-5 players with roll over the original milestone mark. Plus there is tons of between league trading which is always interesting. You never know when a 2 star minimum salary guy is going to blow away your incumbent 5 star 10x salary veteran.

I have to ask again since I've never gotten an answer. Does anyone know why a league reputation of 0 is an option?

[Orcin]

I can't answer your question (sorry) but I am impressed with your league. Originally from Illinois myself, and these city names bring back memories. Well done!

[ra7c7er]

Originally Posted by Orcin

I can't answer your question (sorry) but I am impressed with your league. Originally from Illinois myself, and these city names bring back memories. Well done!

Thanks. Glad it brings back memories. Good ones I hope. I know there are a few that have lived or currently live in Illinois on the forums but since I didn't put Illinois in the title I'm sure not as many will take a look.

[jaysdailydose]

You have my interest as well. I would put it in the dynasty report forum as well, since people are interested.

You aren't required to maintain a pace in there, man, post when you want. Just come join us!

[cavebutter]

Your league looks great! Question- did you modify the world file so that all players are from Illinois?

[italyprof]

Great work. You inspire me to return to a project that kept crashing as well, or where something or other was always wrong - an association starting with two northeastern leagues (NY and a New England league), expanding to include southeastern and Great Lakes leagues, then the plains and southweast and finally two western leagues. A real continental baseball association, with regional and occupational team names. Doing other things for now, but great to know that a project of this kind of vision, enthusiasm and ambition can be realized. Good luck with it and enjoy.

[ra7c7er]

Originally Posted by cavebutter

Your league looks great! Question- did you modify the world file so that all players are from Illinois?

No, I didn't. You can make all the players from Illinois using the settings in Advanced league creation.

If you set the league region to either a state or a region of the US and then change the player nationalities to 100% American you'll only get players from that state or region. I'd like to see OOTP add states and regions to the "nations" list. If they would, In my case, I would have been able to have "International" players from outside Illinois but still within the US. I could have modified the nations file to get exactly what I wanted but I don't like messing with that stuff for the sake of something small.

Originally Posted by jaysdailydose

You have my interest as well. I would put it in the dynasty report forum as well, since people are interested.

You aren't required to maintain a pace in there, man, post when you want. Just come join us!

I'll consider it. Maybe I'll just post up, slowly, what I have made already. I'm really not that good of a writer. I used to be decent but not anymore.

Originally Posted by italyprof

Great work. You inspire me to return to a project that kept crashing as well, or where something or other was always wrong - an association starting with two northeastern leagues (NY and a New England league), expanding to include southeastern and Great Lakes leagues, then the plains and southweast and finally two western leagues. A real continental baseball association, with regional and occupational team names. Doing other things for now, but great to know that a project of this kind of vision, enthusiasm and ambition can be realized. Good luck with it and enjoy.

Sounds awesome. Hope to see your leagues come alive at some point. My original idea back with OOTP15 was to have 3-4 leagues in Illinois and the idea of independent baseball being profitable, fun to play, and fun to watch would slowly spread to other states. Eventually covering all 50 states. My computer can't handle something that large though.

[ra7c7er]

I just spend nearly 5 hours researching ballpark names for the teams. Here they are. With a key to explain the name a bit. Obviously all of these are fictional but some are based on real things and 3 of them are real baseball fields. All of the "sponsors" are business that operate or did operate in the city.

Key
Landmark (city parks, locations, etc) or event - 1
Historic ballpark - 2
Historic baseball related - 3
Fictional - 4
Sponsored (historic) - 5
Sponsored (modern) - 6
City nicknamed - 7
(2*) - stadium exists today
(5/6) - Historic company still exists
(1/4) - Landmark exists but a ballpark at the location does not

PSBL---------------------------------
Aurora Silver Sox - Stolp Island Ballpark (1/4)
Belleville Checkers - Belleville Athletic Field (2)
Bloomington Roses - The Rose Garden (4)
Carbondale Riot - Ballpark on the Strip (1/4)
Campaign Scholars - Illinois Field (2*)
Chicago Dukes - Dexter Park (2)
Decatur Dynamo - Arthur Daniels Midland Stadium (6)
Effingham Pride - The Field at Mid America Motorworks (6)
Granite City Steeldogs - Granite City Steel Field (5)
Greenville Newsies - Greenville Advocate Grounds (5/6)
Marion Kernels - Ballpark of Southern Illinois (4)
Mt. Vernon Xtreme - King City Park (7)
Peoria Showboats - Hagerty Brothers Field (5/6)
Rock Island Arsenal - Arsenal Ballpark (6)
Rockford Railers - Illinois Railway Yard (6)
Springfield Capitals - Capitol Hill (4)

CBU----------------------------------
Chicago Heights Power - Dixie-Lincoln Ballpark (1/4)
Cicero Samuri - Hawthorne Works Baseball Complex (5)
Evanston Barons - Skevanston Stadium (7)
Joliet Jokers - Pilcher Park Field (1)
Naperville Ninjas - Centennial Park Field (1)
Oak Park Owls - Greenline Wheels Park (6)
Waukegan Wizards - Midwest Generation Lakefront Stadium (6)
Wheaton Green Hawks - Wheaton Park District Ballpark at Cosley Zoo (1/4)

MEBA---------------------------------
Collinsville Voodoo - Brooks Catsup Base-Ball Park (5)
East St. Louis Blues - East St. Louis Community Stadium (4)
Edwardsville Navigators - Historic LeClaire Field (2*)
Godfrey Pioneers - Godfrey Ball Park (1)
Jerseyville Gamblers - Dolan Park Field (1)
O'Fallon Sluggers - Family Sports Park Field #3 (1)
Redbud Rhubarbs - Randolph County Baseball Stadium (4)
Waterloo River Rats - Waterloo Highschool Field (1)

NIBL---------------------------------
Batavia Bats - The Cave (4)
Dekalb Huskies - Dekalb Municipal Stadium (4)
Dixon Dux - Borden Field (1)
Elgin Express - Elgin Watch Company Field (5)
Freeport Foxes - Read Park Fields (1)
McHenry Mayhem - Fabrik Industries Stadium (6)
Ottawa Atoms - Radium Memorial Stadium (4)
Pekin Pilots - Merigold Capital Field (7)

SIBL---------------------------------
Anna Mad Hatters - Asylum Grounds (4)
Du Quion Stallions - Du Quion State Fairgrounds Ballpark (1/4)
Eldorado Eclipse - Elder-Reado Field (1/7) *Historic name of the city
Herrin Hydro - Williamson County Stadium (4)
Metropolis Heroes - Metropolis Planet Stadium (6)
Olney Squirrels - Kiwanis-Rotary Park Field (1)
Pinckneyville Phantoms - Pinckneyville Power Ballpark (6)
West Frankfort Friars - Old King Coal Festival Park (1/4)

GRRL---------------------------------
Alton Rivermen - Sportsman's Park (2)
Cairo Crows - Cairo Crowsnest Park (4)
Chester Channel Cats - Muddy River Ballpark (4)
Fulton Rivercats - Rivercats Stadium (4)
Galena North Stars - Galena Vision Ballpark (4)
Moline Machine - Ballpark at John Deere Pavillion (6)
Nauvoo Tribe - Nauvoo State Park Fields (1)
Quincy Gems - QU Stadium (2*)

FIBL---------------------------------
Galesburg Railhawks - BNSF Railway Stadium (6)
Jacksonville Jackals - Bound to Stay Bound Baseball Park (5/6)
Macomb Magic - Potters Park (3)
Monmouth Mammoths - WRAM-AM (1330) Field (6)

OFBL---------------------------------
Arcola Apples - Arcola Silo Field (1/4)
Arthur Athletes - Arthur Silo Field (1/4)
Lovington Biscuits - Lovington Silo Field (1/4)
Sullivan Spuds - Sullivan Silo Field (1/4)

LEPL---------------------------------
Beall Woods Lumberjacks - Beall Woods Baseball Field (1)
Cave-In-Rock Blue Rocks - Cave-In-Rock Baseball Field (1/4)
Giant City Crush - Giant City Park Baseball Field (1/4)
Rend Lake Mudcats - Rend Lake Baseball Field (1)

What do you guys think? Same as before If you can think of anything better let me know these aren't set in stone...yet. I'm also considering changing the name of the Quincy Gems I found out the Gems are a real team. What are the odds I'd pick the exact city and logo for a team that already exists.

[sprague]

Would you post the template of the league sometime for us to check out. Be curious to see the entire setup.
Cheers

[ra7c7er]

Originally Posted by sprague

Would you post the template of the league sometime for us to check out. Be curious to see the entire setup.
Cheers

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/k3oncye6u...Xp-sEtfra?dl=0

This is the quickstart I made. It starts 3 days after the Inaugural draft. The uniforms and logos are there the stadium names are not. I'm still struggling with the financials and trying to get the teams more even. As it is without a draft a couple high budget teams will go through the roof and spend tons more then everyone else in FA. After 10-15 years the playoff teams in the top league basically are the same 6-7 every year with just one or two other teams making an appearance. I can't figure out any competitive balance. I'm not looking for parody but I don't want teams guaranteed to make the playoffs year after year for 20+ years either.

[sprague]

Thanks for posting it. Will look at it later in the week.
Ootp doesn't handle a no draft league well. I suggest a small draft but a very high amount of international free agents. Still mostly come via fa kind of signings but weak teams can still add a few good players via the draft.

[ra7c7er]

Originally Posted by sprague

Thanks for posting it. Will look at it later in the week.
Ootp doesn't handle a no draft league well. I suggest a small draft but a very high amount of international free agents. Still mostly come via fa kind of signings but weak teams can still add a few good players via the draft.

Yeah I'm beginning to think I hit every single custom game limitation when making this world. I really wish the devs would take the time to work on the custom side of the game. It needs it and I believe their are a lot more custom players then the devs and many posters here believe.

If I have a draft teams just draft and release nearly everyone. I originally had a 2 round draft in the top league to try and help the low budget teams but they wouldn't keep anyone. I wish there was a way to set up reserve rosters for the league. Something like 5 pitchers 5 hitters 5 prospects. That way instead of the AI being stupid and filling the reserve roster with all pitcher it follows a standard. That would fix the low reserve roster size issues and fix the sign and release issues since the AI would recognize prospects and their position on the team.