Tips for a beginner

Chriswin4 · 11-03-2020, 10:34 AM

Hi guys,

Just bought the game yesterday as it was on sale for like £7 over here in the UK on steam, and I was wondering what are some tips and tricks you guys can give me to start.

I have a good understanding of baseball in terms of what happens on the field, positions etc but I'm pretty clueless on things beyond that and tend to find the sheer number of players and contracts that need sorting every off-season kind of overwhelming. It would be good if anyone had any tips on the organisation side of things and scouting.

Basically, what are the things I should be doing when I start my game? Thank you very much for your time and apologies if this isn't the right place in the forum for this post.

CBeisbol · 11-03-2020, 10:48 AM

Welcome

Yes. The game can be overwhelming when you're first getting started

Tip 1) start playing and when there's something you don't understand use the manual to try to figure it out

Tip 2) there's a ton of useful information in the New to the Game forum
https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...lay.php?f=3982.
The video tutorials might be especially helpful

Tip 3) when there's something specific you don't understand ask that question and people will be glad to help you.

Two main theories for beginners

1) turn off as much as you can when you start and add as you get comfortable
- you can turn off scouting
- you can assign things like control of your minor leagues to your assistant GM

2) jump in feet first

Which you choose is up to you depending on the kind of person you are

EDIT
This question gets asked a lot
If anyone has a really good answer, or if there's a thread, I'll link it in my signature for future easy access

Chriswin4 · 11-03-2020, 11:17 AM

Thank you for that! I think I'll start and dive in with my assistant taking control of a lot right away. Having been very familiar with football manager, are there any tips for this game, things to look out for in players that are usually good. I know on the show, the better OBP usually led to good things.

CBeisbol · 11-03-2020, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chriswin4

Thank you for that! I think I'll start and dive in with my assistant taking control of a lot right away. Having been very familiar with football manager, are there any tips for this game, things to look out for in players that are usually good. I know on the show, the better OBP usually led to good things.

Players with good contact, power, eye, avoid K, base running and defense are usually good

There's also not a lot of those players and they are hard to get

Otherwise it's a balance. There are about as many ways to build a team as there are OOTP users.

In the User Studies link in my signature is some interesting information. The cheat sheet, and the discussion in that thread, might be of particular use to you.

Hint: wOBA and wRC+ are the best measure of hitting

Chriswin4 · 11-03-2020, 11:29 AM

That's so helpful, thank you so much. Really appreciate how open this forum is about help etc. I'll take a look around and let everyone know how my first season with 20 wins goes

joefromchicago · 11-03-2020, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBeisbol

Welcome

Yes. The game can be overwhelming when you're first getting started

Tip 1) start playing and when there's something you don't understand use the manual to try to figure it out

Tip 2) there's a ton of useful information in the New to the Game forum
https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...lay.php?f=3982.
The video tutorials might be especially helpful

Tip 3) when there's something specific you don't understand ask that question and people will be glad to help you.

Two main theories for beginners

1) turn off as much as you can when you start and add as you get comfortable
- you can turn off scouting
- you can assign things like control of your minor leagues to your assistant GM

2) jump in feet first

Which you choose is up to you depending on the kind of person you are

I agree with all of that. I'll just add that there are a lot of things that you can have the AI do for you. You can have your staff set the lineups and depth charts, set the starting rotation and the bullpen, and you can have the AI run the rookie draft for you. Initially, you might want to turn off financials, trades, and injuries until you become more familiar with the game. Otherwise, dive right in!

CBeisbol · 11-03-2020, 12:40 PM

I added two videos for beginners to the User Studies link in myn signature

A Beginner guide
And one for roster rules

I skimmed them and they looked ok

mytreds · 11-04-2020, 12:36 AM

Play how you like. Read the manual, conveniently tagged in CBs signature. Make mistakes and don’t be afraid to start over. It’s your simulator it’s your world! Have fun!

If you google “OOTP tips” you’ll find a few good threads on good settings to have when you start a save. But it’s always best to tinker yourself to see what you like. Just start a standard MLB save and progress from there

jdolecek49 · 11-04-2020, 10:07 AM

There are so many different ways to play this game, much more than what you can see right off the bat. Decide what you want to do. The possibilities are plenty. I spent the first year just deciding. I come from the 80's so i'm a small ball kind of guy and still seeking but i'm slowly getting there after annoying everyone with so many questions. Some prefer fiction leagues I prefer to recreate 80' Royals from the start. I have started over probably over 50 times because I always want something different. I know a lot about the game but still i'm learning.

Chriswin4 · 11-06-2020, 01:57 PM

Just a brief hello and update, this game is very fun, albeit not friendly to an adult sleep schedule, though I'll just blame the election for some of that.

After 4 seasons with the Tigers I have managed to finally shift that Miggy contract and get a 79 win season, which isn't great

Now I'm sort of familiar with the UI etc, I'm just wondering if there is a way to make scouting more efficient. I watched the tutorial vid in one of your signatures, and followed that to hire the best director, but he doesn't seem to do anything unless I tell him to, I never really get players brought to me, at least not ones that will ever be anything better than 20/80. Is this normal?

11-03-2020, 10:34 AM	#1
Chriswin4 Bat Boy Join Date: Nov 2020 Posts: 4	Tips for a beginner Hi guys, Just bought the game yesterday as it was on sale for like £7 over here in the UK on steam, and I was wondering what are some tips and tricks you guys can give me to start. I have a good understanding of baseball in terms of what happens on the field, positions etc but I'm pretty clueless on things beyond that and tend to find the sheer number of players and contracts that need sorting every off-season kind of overwhelming. It would be good if anyone had any tips on the organisation side of things and scouting. Basically, what are the things I should be doing when I start my game? Thank you very much for your time and apologies if this isn't the right place in the forum for this post.

11-03-2020, 10:48 AM	#2
CBeisbol Banned Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Ban land in 3...2... Posts: 2,943	Welcome Yes. The game can be overwhelming when you're first getting started Tip 1) start playing and when there's something you don't understand use the manual to try to figure it out Tip 2) there's a ton of useful information in the New to the Game forum https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...lay.php?f=3982. The video tutorials might be especially helpful Tip 3) when there's something specific you don't understand ask that question and people will be glad to help you. Two main theories for beginners 1) turn off as much as you can when you start and add as you get comfortable - you can turn off scouting - you can assign things like control of your minor leagues to your assistant GM 2) jump in feet first Which you choose is up to you depending on the kind of person you are EDIT This question gets asked a lot If anyone has a really good answer, or if there's a thread, I'll link it in my signature for future easy access Last edited by CBeisbol; 11-03-2020 at 10:50 AM.

11-04-2020, 12:36 AM	#8
mytreds All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2019 Posts: 1,183	Play how you like. Read the manual, conveniently tagged in CBs signature. Make mistakes and don’t be afraid to start over. It’s your simulator it’s your world! Have fun! If you google “OOTP tips” you’ll find a few good threads on good settings to have when you start a save. But it’s always best to tinker yourself to see what you like. Just start a standard MLB save and progress from there __________________ “Baseball isn’t statistics; it’s Joe DiMaggio rounding second.” “Once, centuries ago, it was the beloved national pastime of the Americas, Wesley. Abandoned by a society that prized fast food and faster games. Lost to impatience.” “ The term ‘WAR’ should be replaced by ‘WAG’. WAR isn’t an actual measurement; it’s just a wild-ass guess” -Bill James RIP National League 1876-2022 Floreat semper vel invita morte. I make custom ballparks.

11-03-2020, 11:17 AM	#3
Chriswin4 Bat Boy Join Date: Nov 2020 Posts: 4	Thank you for that! I think I'll start and dive in with my assistant taking control of a lot right away. Having been very familiar with football manager, are there any tips for this game, things to look out for in players that are usually good. I know on the show, the better OBP usually led to good things.

11-03-2020, 11:29 AM	#5
Chriswin4 Bat Boy Join Date: Nov 2020 Posts: 4	That's so helpful, thank you so much. Really appreciate how open this forum is about help etc. I'll take a look around and let everyone know how my first season with 20 wins goes

11-03-2020, 12:40 PM	#7
CBeisbol Banned Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Ban land in 3...2... Posts: 2,943	I added two videos for beginners to the User Studies link in myn signature A Beginner guide And one for roster rules I skimmed them and they looked ok

11-04-2020, 10:07 AM	#9
jdolecek49 Major Leagues Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Florida Posts: 495	There are so many different ways to play this game, much more than what you can see right off the bat. Decide what you want to do. The possibilities are plenty. I spent the first year just deciding. I come from the 80's so i'm a small ball kind of guy and still seeking but i'm slowly getting there after annoying everyone with so many questions. Some prefer fiction leagues I prefer to recreate 80' Royals from the start. I have started over probably over 50 times because I always want something different. I know a lot about the game but still i'm learning.

11-06-2020, 01:57 PM	#10
Chriswin4 Bat Boy Join Date: Nov 2020 Posts: 4	Just a brief hello and update, this game is very fun, albeit not friendly to an adult sleep schedule, though I'll just blame the election for some of that. After 4 seasons with the Tigers I have managed to finally shift that Miggy contract and get a 79 win season, which isn't great Now I'm sort of familiar with the UI etc, I'm just wondering if there is a way to make scouting more efficient. I watched the tutorial vid in one of your signatures, and followed that to hire the best director, but he doesn't seem to do anything unless I tell him to, I never really get players brought to me, at least not ones that will ever be anything better than 20/80. Is this normal?