Hard Mode-Complete Cheating?

HalfManHalfAmazing · 04-15-2003, 11:45 PM

I have what amounts to a VERY good team and the team just loses. It would be like assembling the Yankees and seeing them become cellar dwellars. Check out my team:

Pitching Lineup: 2 4.5 star prospects, 2 4 star veterans, 1 3.5 star journeyman(76-50 career record)
Relief: 4 4.5 star veterans, 4 and 3.5 star veterans.
Closer: 5 stars (144 saves in 9 big league seasons 1.36 career WHIP)

C-4.5 star young player (Not a prospect per se, but he has blue stars)
1st-2.5 star journeyman (Fred McGriff basically. High power, hits for average)
2nd-1.5 star journeyman plays good D
3rd-4 star veteran
SS-Platooned by 3.5 star veteran and 5 star up and coming prospect
LF-4.5 star stud veteran (22 hrs before July 1st)
CF-4.5 star stud veteran (18 hrs before July 1st)
RF-5 star up and comer [blue stars] (7 in hits and power at age 25)

Is that a team that should be playing .475 ball? ESPECIALLY in the NL Central? I would think not, but because the game is on hard it's screwing me over. I've won world series on average difficulty with teams that were much more flawed.

The Houston team at the top of the division has about 1/3rd of my talent and they are playing .617 ball.

If there is something you can think of that I might have turned off (That would cause my team not to play to its full potential) I would appreciate it.

dbacks · 04-16-2003, 12:06 AM

I have a team just like that. The reason I finish dead last is just becuase the other teams are EVEN better than I. It's like I am the current ML all-star team, and the other teams in my division are all equivalent to like the Cooperstown Legends.

pallison14 · 04-16-2003, 12:06 AM

As they stay, stuff happens.

I was in a similar boat managing the Cubs. Thought I'd breeze to 100 wins and a playoff birth.. Buzz, ended up winning about 85 games, and missed the NLC title by 2 games (and was well out of the wildcar race).

A lot of guys didn't perform as expected that year, but the following season they came around and I won 95 games.

Looking for real life examples? Check out Anaheim. Sure didn't look like a World Series contender to me when the season started last year..

-p

dbacks · 04-16-2003, 12:07 AM

I really don't know what to suggest, even though I have had the same problem in the past. That ended quickly, though.

Shorty · 04-16-2003, 12:08 AM

Defense.. and your middle infield offensively probably isn't too hot..

dbacks · 04-16-2003, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pallison14
As they stay

As they say...

Quote:

Originally posted by pallison14
I was in a similar boat managing the Cubs. Thought I'd breeze to 100 wins and a playoff birth.. Buzz, ended up winning about 85 games, and missed the NLC title by 2 games (and was well out of the wildcar race).

Still not bad for the Cubbies.

dbacks · 04-16-2003, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shorty
Defense..

Exactly. I just found out that my 36 year old veteran who I drafted, and has played only for me has terrible defense. This guy will easily make it into the HOF, has 3000 hits and 500 hr's, but I just found out (how stupid of me to not notice this sooner) that he had a B rating at 3B, and a .833 %!!! He made over 85 errors last friggin season! That most certainly can't help.

Bears5122 · 04-16-2003, 03:06 AM

I'm not sure if you missed the post a couple days ago but Markus said that player performance is effected on higher levels. This means that you will need a hall of fame team to win on the higher levels. A guy who should hit 40 homeruns will only hit 30, etc. So you are right about the cheating, although some wouldn't call it that. But the computer is given an advantage on hard level, which is stupid in my opinion.

nzsprts · 04-16-2003, 08:52 AM

I was wondering the same thing. Schilling is piling up the K's for me, but gives up a ton of solo homeruns ... and it is nearly impossible to keep his ERA under 4.00.

My question is this ... I do not mind the challenge, but would it be more reaslistic, as far as player performance is concerned to play on average rather than hard? Are there any opinions out there???/

pallison14 · 04-16-2003, 11:58 AM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by dbacks
[B]As they say...

Thunk yuo fer pionting out my tyop.

-p

Treches · 04-16-2003, 12:04 PM

I wouldn't put much emphasis on the star thing, but rely on the ratings. I for one rarely agree with the overall stars the AI gives the players.

rogmax11 · 04-16-2003, 12:20 PM

Are we talking Manager Mode here? I cant imagine any conceivable value to having variable difficulty levels that are tied to player production. Ratings, yes. Fog-of-information obscurity, sure. Mega-AI with ruthless game logic and intensity, bring it on!

But squashing player performance--on one team but not globally? I think not.

Gastric ReFlux · 04-16-2003, 12:53 PM

I was disturbed too when Markus said that the difficulty level of manager mode has some small effect on player performance. It's probably not any great amount, but I believe this infringes on the rights of these digital players.

NYJuggalo45 · 04-16-2003, 12:54 PM

Bears, if you read it correctly, Markus said it "SLIGHTLY affected player performance, think of it as players wanting to perform their best for you"...so I think your exaggerating a bit

Erithtotl · 04-16-2003, 01:16 PM

I did a random draft (let the AI pick) in a fictional league on VERY HARD difficulty, and in like 8 seasons have won the World Series 6 times and made the playoffs every year. I had one 3 star pitcher win 2 cy-young awards playing in a neutral park, and have won a few MVPs as well (I would have won more but there's a crazy-good outfielder on another team who hits like .340/45/150 every year.)

I suppose there could be some performance adjustments going on, but I haven't really noticed it.

Psicosis · 04-16-2003, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bears5122
I'm not sure if you missed the post a couple days ago but Markus said that player performance is effected on higher levels. This means that you will need a hall of fame team to win on the higher levels. A guy who should hit 40 homeruns will only hit 30, etc. So you are right about the cheating, although some wouldn't call it that. But the computer is given an advantage on hard level, which is stupid in my opinion.

Sure, let's take a comment and stretch it out of proportion...

Bears5122 · 04-16-2003, 03:35 PM

I'm not taking the comment out of proportion. I suggest you guys try playing on that level and see what happens to your players. Watch Pedro Martinez with an ERA over 4 and Todd Helton hit .270. There have been countless people complain how unrealistic their stats are on the harder levels. Maybe he thinks it's a slight difference but when players are performing nowhere near the level they should, it's not really a sim anymore.

bulldog55 · 04-16-2003, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HalfManHalfAmazing
Pitching Lineup: 2 4.5 star prospects

C-4.5 star young player (Not a prospect per se, but he has blue stars)
1st-2.5 star journeyman (Fred McGriff basically. High power, hits for average)
2nd-1.5 star journeyman plays good D
SS-Platooned by 3.5 star veteran and 5 star up and coming prospect
RF-5 star up and comer [blue stars] (7 in hits and power at age 25)

You have a lot of prospects in that lineup. Blue stars don't mean a thing when it comes to current performance.

Your second baseman is horrible.

A 2.5-star journeyman isn't all that great. Fred McGriff consistently crashes in 2003 every time I play as the Dodgers.

You have two prospects in your rotation. Prospects don't always do well in rotations, especially if there's more than one of them.

That team ain't the Yankees.

eraddeus · 04-16-2003, 05:56 PM

About Curt Schilling: In real life, he consistently gives up solo shots too. It's how he pitches. Last year, he gave up 29 HRs and the year before, 37.

HalfManHalfAmazing · 04-16-2003, 09:16 PM

Quote:

That team ain't the Yankees.

But it certainly could be the A's. How often do you see them finishing last? The AL West is a LOT stronger than the NL Central too.

04-15-2003, 11:45 PM	#1
HalfManHalfAmazing Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Denver,CO Posts: 37	Hard Mode-Complete Cheating? I have what amounts to a VERY good team and the team just loses. It would be like assembling the Yankees and seeing them become cellar dwellars. Check out my team: Pitching Lineup: 2 4.5 star prospects, 2 4 star veterans, 1 3.5 star journeyman(76-50 career record) Relief: 4 4.5 star veterans, 4 and 3.5 star veterans. Closer: 5 stars (144 saves in 9 big league seasons 1.36 career WHIP) C-4.5 star young player (Not a prospect per se, but he has blue stars) 1st-2.5 star journeyman (Fred McGriff basically. High power, hits for average) 2nd-1.5 star journeyman plays good D 3rd-4 star veteran SS-Platooned by 3.5 star veteran and 5 star up and coming prospect LF-4.5 star stud veteran (22 hrs before July 1st) CF-4.5 star stud veteran (18 hrs before July 1st) RF-5 star up and comer [blue stars] (7 in hits and power at age 25) Is that a team that should be playing .475 ball? ESPECIALLY in the NL Central? I would think not, but because the game is on hard it's screwing me over. I've won world series on average difficulty with teams that were much more flawed. The Houston team at the top of the division has about 1/3rd of my talent and they are playing .617 ball. If there is something you can think of that I might have turned off (That would cause my team not to play to its full potential) I would appreciate it.

04-16-2003, 12:06 AM	#3
pallison14 Major Leagues Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 452	As they stay, stuff happens. I was in a similar boat managing the Cubs. Thought I'd breeze to 100 wins and a playoff birth.. Buzz, ended up winning about 85 games, and missed the NLC title by 2 games (and was well out of the wildcar race). A lot of guys didn't perform as expected that year, but the following season they came around and I won 95 games. Looking for real life examples? Check out Anaheim. Sure didn't look like a World Series contender to me when the season started last year.. -p __________________ Commissioner, NGBL - Putting the FUNK in defunct. New York (AL), UBL

04-16-2003, 12:08 AM	#5
Shorty All Star Reserve Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 992	Defense.. and your middle infield offensively probably isn't too hot.. __________________ Here we go Redlegs here we go!

04-16-2003, 11:58 AM	#10
pallison14 Major Leagues Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 452	[QUOTE]Originally posted by dbacks [B]As they *say*... Thunk yuo fer pionting out my tyop. -p __________________ Commissioner, NGBL - Putting the FUNK in defunct. New York (AL), UBL

04-16-2003, 12:04 PM	#11
Treches Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Damned Hell Posts: 2,150	I wouldn't put much emphasis on the star thing, but rely on the ratings. I for one rarely agree with the overall stars the AI gives the players. __________________ The Computer Baseball League

04-16-2003, 12:06 AM	#2
dbacks Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 2,735	I have a team just like that. The reason I finish dead last is just becuase the other teams are EVEN better than I. It's like I am the current ML all-star team, and the other teams in my division are all equivalent to like the Cooperstown Legends.

04-16-2003, 12:07 AM	#4
dbacks Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 2,735	I really don't know what to suggest, even though I have had the same problem in the past. That ended quickly, though.

04-16-2003, 03:06 AM	#8
Bears5122 All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 850	I'm not sure if you missed the post a couple days ago but Markus said that player performance is effected on higher levels. This means that you will need a hall of fame team to win on the higher levels. A guy who should hit 40 homeruns will only hit 30, etc. So you are right about the cheating, although some wouldn't call it that. But the computer is given an advantage on hard level, which is stupid in my opinion.

04-16-2003, 08:52 AM	#9
nzsprts Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Morgantown, WV Posts: 47	I was wondering the same thing. Schilling is piling up the K's for me, but gives up a ton of solo homeruns ... and it is nearly impossible to keep his ERA under 4.00. My question is this ... I do not mind the challenge, but would it be more reaslistic, as far as player performance is concerned to play on average rather than hard? Are there any opinions out there???/

04-16-2003, 12:20 PM	#12
rogmax11 All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 1,320	Are we talking Manager Mode here? I cant imagine any conceivable value to having variable difficulty levels that are tied to player production. Ratings, yes. Fog-of-information obscurity, sure. Mega-AI with ruthless game logic and intensity, bring it on! But squashing player performance--on one team but not globally? I think not.

04-16-2003, 12:53 PM	#13
Gastric ReFlux Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Member #3409 Posts: 8,350	I was disturbed too when Markus said that the difficulty level of manager mode has some small effect on player performance. It's probably not any great amount, but I believe this infringes on the rights of these digital players.

04-16-2003, 12:54 PM	#14
NYJuggalo45 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 2,045	Bears, if you read it correctly, Markus said it "SLIGHTLY affected player performance, think of it as players wanting to perform their best for you"...so I think your exaggerating a bit __________________ This space for rent

04-16-2003, 01:16 PM	#15
Erithtotl Major Leagues Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 330	I did a random draft (let the AI pick) in a fictional league on VERY HARD difficulty, and in like 8 seasons have won the World Series 6 times and made the playoffs every year. I had one 3 star pitcher win 2 cy-young awards playing in a neutral park, and have won a few MVPs as well (I would have won more but there's a crazy-good outfielder on another team who hits like .340/45/150 every year.) I suppose there could be some performance adjustments going on, but I haven't really noticed it.

04-16-2003, 03:35 PM	#17
Bears5122 All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 850	I'm not taking the comment out of proportion. I suggest you guys try playing on that level and see what happens to your players. Watch Pedro Martinez with an ERA over 4 and Todd Helton hit .270. There have been countless people complain how unrealistic their stats are on the harder levels. Maybe he thinks it's a slight difference but when players are performing nowhere near the level they should, it's not really a sim anymore.

04-16-2003, 05:56 PM	#19
eraddeus Minors (Single A) Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Lafayette, LA Posts: 86	About Curt Schilling: In real life, he consistently gives up solo shots too. It's how he pitches. Last year, he gave up 29 HRs and the year before, 37.