Anyone dropped off the manager mode? Some suggestion...

Long_Long_Name · 03-08-2003, 05:16 PM

I don't think I'll use this mode a lot, I just started a historical league (1990 Expos

) and I won't be using the manager mode. I think it still needs a lot of work. Here are a few suggestions:

Manager mode, really?
You make trades, you sign free agents, you draft. Are you sure that's not GM mode? Something needs to be done about that in my opinion.

Can't I get a break?
After winning the championship, I wanted to take a week off to take care of my upcoming child. I therefore turned down a great offer from a "Good Man" to come back with that team. However, I found out that I HAD to sign a contract, and only 3 crappy teams were offering me their services. I wish you didn't HAVE to manage every year.

Personal life
Does the personal life really matter? I haven't used that mode enough, but it looks to me like it's just aesthetic, that it was implied just so that 14-year old kids (and I do have a particular one in mind

) could say "Kewl dude, got myself a wife!". Does it affect anything? Does pressing the "Divorce!" button really change anything except for the fact that 2 lines will disappear just over it? If not, I think it's a waste of Markus' precious time.

Children and the Chinese baby effect
Another thing about the personal life: the son playing baseball thing is a bit unrealistic if you want my opinion. What are the odds that a random person might become a pro baseball player? Not big. It also creates something I call the Chinese baby effect, which means that when you find out you have a daughter you blurt out a couple of words Markus wouldn't use in the play-by-play.

$1 or $1,000,000, who cares?
I believe some incentives should be included as far as salaries are concerned. You have the choice between a "Good Man" at 600k per year or a "Horror" at a million, you'll obviously take the "Good Man". I wish something could be done about that.

I might add some later, but this is what I was thinking at the moment

PCline26 · 03-08-2003, 05:20 PM

Nice post, I've got a few gripes with Manager Mode, but they don't really matter. I've never had a son to experience the personal life engine yet, however I'd like one. As for the money, an improvement for this would to allow you to save money and purchase things. I know it kind of takes away from the baseball aspect, but I'm sure more people would make decisions around money to accomplish a goal...such as...to buy a team?

J P Falcon · 03-08-2003, 06:25 PM

I think the managers mode is a large step in the right direction and just like any new feature, could use a few tweaks here and there...here's a couple of thoughts....

Your first year in managers mode is really out of your hands because it starts on opening day...therefore, you are saddled with the team you chose, without much imput...I took Milwaukee and though I had 30+ million in the bank for free agents, I couldn't do much about it because the free agency period was already over.. I had to settle for the leftovers, namely Finley and Rodgers and hope they would improve my starting pitching a bit (they didn't)....trade wise, my middle reliever Vizcaino was the only player on my entire roster that teams were interested in...not even my alleged prospects drew a sniff....I did get Ohka from Montreal for Vizcaino though...my point is that the first contract you sign for is a bit limiting, and if the game cannot begin with spring training then perhaps an initial 2 year contract could be given to allow you one off season to make the changes you want...after that contract is over, then all bets are off...

If you find yourself winning with your team, an added challenge would be for the owner to now want you to do the same, but at a reduced payroll.....after winning a world series for an owner, he may come back the following year and say something like "Good Job! For this year, I want us back in the playoffs and I want our payroll reduced by 10 million.....now you have the challenge of reducing payroll while maintaining a high league position....

Anyway, the managers mode a a great concept and I hope to see it evolve further.....

Long_Long_Name · 03-08-2003, 06:34 PM

I agree that it's a great concept --- I just don't think it's really good the way it is right now. I can see a huge potential for it though, and I like the idea (I had the same idea for my online league a few months ago).

babe_ruth · 03-08-2003, 06:41 PM

the only thing that i don't like about the manager mode is how many options are turned off.

and i believe that steve said that this feature didn't take long to make happen, it isn't something that markus wasted time on. having it in the game doesn't take anything away from ootp. if you don't want to play with it on, you can, and you can still have fun.

its not like the game was coded solely around manager mode, and you are required to use it.

if you don't like it, don't use it.

Falcon52 · 03-08-2003, 06:41 PM

I haven't had a chance to try it yet, but does manager mode take into account starting off with crappy teams?

What i mean is, if you're managing a terrible team, chances are it'll take a few seasons to become competitive. Is this taken into account, or are you fired if you don't make the playoffs each year?

babe_ruth · 03-08-2003, 06:45 PM

there is a goal that your owner sets out for you at the start of every season. the first season is usually play .500 ball. after the team gets better, he says make the postseason, and eventually tells you to win it all.

its not written in stone though. if he tells you to make the postseason, and you miss it by a few games, you aren't automatically fired. you might be given another chance.

Steve Kuffrey · 03-08-2003, 06:55 PM

Thanks for the ideas and input, I feel like this is an area of the game that will grow and develop with time.

kirk · 03-08-2003, 07:21 PM

As far as the chances the son of someone in baseball becomes a pro himself, I'd say if you look around MLB it's pretty good. You could find a player on about every team. Of course I'm sure it's a lot more likely to happen in the game, but it should be more common than 1 in a million because these kids would be around baseball people and receive exceptional training while growing up.

Mrexbaseball · 03-08-2003, 07:23 PM

what does your manager salary even matter in manager mode?

J P Falcon · 03-08-2003, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Falcon52
I haven't had a chance to try it yet, but does manager mode take into account starting off with crappy teams?

What i mean is, if you're managing a terrible team, chances are it'll take a few seasons to become competitive. Is this taken into account, or are you fired if you don't make the playoffs each year?

That was my point using the Milwaukee example...I really stunk up the joint with that team and I was fired after 1 season...as my alter-ego manager said in the private message section.."I really sucked!"..

....anyway trying to make Milwaukee a .500 team after only one season, without the free agency period, made it one tough challenge, which I failed at....the three teams that offered me a job afterwards were:

Tampa Bay - no surprise there, they were just as bad as my team.

Cincinnati - were 27 games out but still ahead of me...

St. Louis - this was a surprise as they finished 3 games behind Pittsburgh for the Division title...

TwinsFan · 03-08-2003, 07:32 PM

What is the difference in the skill level in manager mode? So far ive tried "average" and "HOF" and I havent beeen able to tell any difference.

Sweed · 03-08-2003, 08:22 PM

I look at it this way, is it perfect? No of course not but then it is a good idea and has to start somewhere. I use it and like the idea if I don't perform I'll be gone really makes it more intense when you're in a one run game and you know your job may be on the line

or

if you're losing.

Can you imagine though what this will be like two or three years down the road when Markus has had more time to work on it? Just like ootp itself I can only believe this is going to get better and better.

Bears5122 · 03-08-2003, 08:30 PM

Remember that challenge system they had in last years version? It would give you a set amount of points for your season and I believe you could get put on the website for a perfect score or something.

Well how about keeping track of managers careers? Maybe after every seaoson it would send in your results to the OOTP site and they could post a ranking system based on salary, results, etc.

PoisonMaddux · 03-08-2003, 08:38 PM

hehe..cool idea Bears

thats much more incentive than a $1M "contract" that means nothing to me

Long_Long_Name · 03-09-2003, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by babe_ruth
the only thing that i don't like about the manager mode is how many options are turned off.

and i believe that steve said that this feature didn't take long to make happen, it isn't something that markus wasted time on. having it in the game doesn't take anything away from ootp. if you don't want to play with it on, you can, and you can still have fun.

its not like the game was coded solely around manager mode, and you are required to use it.

if you don't like it, don't use it.

That's the kind of mentality that won't make things advance very much you know...

babe_ruth · 03-09-2003, 02:36 PM

oh i see. so calling it a waste of markus' time is something that will advance manager mode?

makes sense to me....

Long_Long_Name · 03-09-2003, 02:44 PM

Well I don't know, maybe creating this thread with a few suggestions was just done to bash the game, who knows?

huskers82 · 03-09-2003, 02:59 PM

I know someone already mentioned this, but I think you could really make some improvement in manager mode if you limits in spending. Most owners is today's baseball still want to turn a profit, and therefore try to limit their teams payroll to a certain amount. It would be nice to have this feature in the game. The owner could say something to the effect of "I was turn a $10 million profit, so keep the payroll at $60." If you fail the meet the objective, you could be fired or limited in the next offseason in free agency with little or no money to spend. Also, if your at the trade deadline and your in contention for a playoff spot, the owner can allow you to increase the payroll to acquire a player (assuming you have an owner who wants to win). It would be good if the owners had financial ratings also. Like certain owners might be willing to spend more, while others want to turn a profit without caring if they win or lose. I know these probally won't be in any future patches, but maybe in next year's version they could be.

Long_Long_Name · 03-09-2003, 03:03 PM

I think this is a good idea... that way you can aoid people who hire all FAs, play a season, then move on to another city and do the same. Plunderers...

03-08-2003, 05:16 PM	#1
Long_Long_Name Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Montréal Posts: 7,065	Anyone dropped off the manager mode? Some suggestion... I don't think I'll use this mode a lot, I just started a historical league (1990 Expos ) and I won't be using the manager mode. I think it still needs a lot of work. Here are a few suggestions: Manager mode, really? You make trades, you sign free agents, you draft. Are you sure that's not GM mode? Something needs to be done about that in my opinion. Can't I get a break? After winning the championship, I wanted to take a week off to take care of my upcoming child. I therefore turned down a great offer from a "Good Man" to come back with that team. However, I found out that I HAD to sign a contract, and only 3 crappy teams were offering me their services. I wish you didn't HAVE to manage every year. Personal life Does the personal life really matter? I haven't used that mode enough, but it looks to me like it's just aesthetic, that it was implied just so that 14-year old kids (and I do have a particular one in mind ) could say "Kewl dude, got myself a wife!". Does it affect anything? Does pressing the "Divorce!" button really change anything except for the fact that 2 lines will disappear just over it? If not, I think it's a waste of Markus' precious time. Children and the Chinese baby effect Another thing about the personal life: the son playing baseball thing is a bit unrealistic if you want my opinion. What are the odds that a random person might become a pro baseball player? Not big. It also creates something I call the Chinese baby effect, which means that when you find out you have a daughter you blurt out a couple of words Markus wouldn't use in the play-by-play. $1 or $1,000,000, who cares? I believe some incentives should be included as far as salaries are concerned. You have the choice between a "Good Man" at 600k per year or a "Horror" at a million, you'll obviously take the "Good Man". I wish something could be done about that. I might add some later, but this is what I was thinking at the moment __________________ Beta Baseball. Join it!

03-08-2003, 06:34 PM	#4
Long_Long_Name Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Montréal Posts: 7,065	I agree that it's a great concept --- I just don't think it's really good the way it is right now. I can see a huge potential for it though, and I like the idea (I had the same idea for my online league a few months ago). __________________ Beta Baseball. Join it!

03-08-2003, 06:55 PM	#8
Steve Kuffrey Administrator Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: S.E. TN - Georgia born and raised Posts: 17,036	Thanks for the ideas and input, I feel like this is an area of the game that will grow and develop with time. __________________ Steve Kuffrey DABS Atlanta Braves - 2008 Eastern Division Champ *DBLC Atlanta Braves - 2011, 2014 East Division Champ, 2012, 2013 NL Wildcard Baseball Maelstrom-Montreal Expos-2013 Tourney winner, 2014 WC Team Sparky's League - Tampa Bay D'Rays Epicenter Baseball League - Astros 2014 The CBL Rewind - Phillies '95

03-08-2003, 07:32 PM	#12
TwinsFan Minors (Double A) Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Some planet in outer space Posts: 199	What is the difference in the skill level in manager mode? So far ive tried "average" and "HOF" and I havent beeen able to tell any difference. __________________ OOTP 22 OOTP 21 OOTP 20

03-08-2003, 08:38 PM	#15
PoisonMaddux Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 156	hehe..cool idea Bears thats much more incentive than a $1M "contract" that means nothing to me __________________ Atlanta Braves in 2003!

03-08-2003, 05:20 PM	#2
PCline26 All Star Reserve Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: NC Posts: 658	Nice post, I've got a few gripes with Manager Mode, but they don't really matter. I've never had a son to experience the personal life engine yet, however I'd like one. As for the money, an improvement for this would to allow you to save money and purchase things. I know it kind of takes away from the baseball aspect, but I'm sure more people would make decisions around money to accomplish a goal...such as...to buy a team?

03-08-2003, 06:25 PM	#3
J P Falcon Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: NJ Posts: 406	I think the managers mode is a large step in the right direction and just like any new feature, could use a few tweaks here and there...here's a couple of thoughts.... Your first year in managers mode is really out of your hands because it starts on opening day...therefore, you are saddled with the team you chose, without much imput...I took Milwaukee and though I had 30+ million in the bank for free agents, I couldn't do much about it because the free agency period was already over.. I had to settle for the leftovers, namely Finley and Rodgers and hope they would improve my starting pitching a bit (they didn't)....trade wise, my middle reliever Vizcaino was the only player on my entire roster that teams were interested in...not even my alleged prospects drew a sniff....I did get Ohka from Montreal for Vizcaino though...my point is that the first contract you sign for is a bit limiting, and if the game cannot begin with spring training then perhaps an initial 2 year contract could be given to allow you one off season to make the changes you want...after that contract is over, then all bets are off... If you find yourself winning with your team, an added challenge would be for the owner to now want you to do the same, but at a reduced payroll.....after winning a world series for an owner, he may come back the following year and say something like "Good Job! For this year, I want us back in the playoffs and I want our payroll reduced by 10 million.....now you have the challenge of reducing payroll while maintaining a high league position.... Anyway, the managers mode a a great concept and I hope to see it evolve further.....

03-08-2003, 06:41 PM	#5
babe_ruth Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 44	the only thing that i don't like about the manager mode is how many options are turned off. and i believe that steve said that this feature didn't take long to make happen, it isn't something that markus wasted time on. having it in the game doesn't take anything away from ootp. if you don't want to play with it on, you can, and you can still have fun. its not like the game was coded solely around manager mode, and you are required to use it. if you don't like it, don't use it.

03-08-2003, 06:41 PM	#6
Falcon52 All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 615	I haven't had a chance to try it yet, but does manager mode take into account starting off with crappy teams? What i mean is, if you're managing a terrible team, chances are it'll take a few seasons to become competitive. Is this taken into account, or are you fired if you don't make the playoffs each year?

03-08-2003, 06:45 PM	#7
babe_ruth Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 44	there is a goal that your owner sets out for you at the start of every season. the first season is usually play .500 ball. after the team gets better, he says make the postseason, and eventually tells you to win it all. its not written in stone though. if he tells you to make the postseason, and you miss it by a few games, you aren't automatically fired. you might be given another chance.

03-08-2003, 07:21 PM	#9
kirk Bat Boy Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 7	As far as the chances the son of someone in baseball becomes a pro himself, I'd say if you look around MLB it's pretty good. You could find a player on about every team. Of course I'm sure it's a lot more likely to happen in the game, but it should be more common than 1 in a million because these kids would be around baseball people and receive exceptional training while growing up.

03-08-2003, 07:23 PM	#10
Mrexbaseball Major Leagues Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 471 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	what does your manager salary even matter in manager mode?

03-08-2003, 08:30 PM	#14
Bears5122 All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 850	Remember that challenge system they had in last years version? It would give you a set amount of points for your season and I believe you could get put on the website for a perfect score or something. Well how about keeping track of managers careers? Maybe after every seaoson it would send in your results to the OOTP site and they could post a ranking system based on salary, results, etc.

03-09-2003, 02:36 PM	#17
babe_ruth Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 44	oh i see. so calling it a waste of markus' time is something that will advance manager mode? makes sense to me....

03-09-2003, 02:44 PM	#18
Long_Long_Name Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Montréal Posts: 7,065	Well I don't know, maybe creating this thread with a few suggestions was just done to bash the game, who knows? __________________ Beta Baseball. Join it!

03-09-2003, 02:59 PM	#19
huskers82 Bat Boy Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 5	I know someone already mentioned this, but I think you could really make some improvement in manager mode if you limits in spending. Most owners is today's baseball still want to turn a profit, and therefore try to limit their teams payroll to a certain amount. It would be nice to have this feature in the game. The owner could say something to the effect of "I was turn a $10 million profit, so keep the payroll at $60." If you fail the meet the objective, you could be fired or limited in the next offseason in free agency with little or no money to spend. Also, if your at the trade deadline and your in contention for a playoff spot, the owner can allow you to increase the payroll to acquire a player (assuming you have an owner who wants to win). It would be good if the owners had financial ratings also. Like certain owners might be willing to spend more, while others want to turn a profit without caring if they win or lose. I know these probally won't be in any future patches, but maybe in next year's version they could be.

03-09-2003, 03:03 PM	#20
Long_Long_Name Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Montréal Posts: 7,065	I think this is a good idea... that way you can aoid people who hire all FAs, play a season, then move on to another city and do the same. Plunderers... __________________ Beta Baseball. Join it!