Manager Mode - Difficulty Setting

tdneu · 06-28-2004, 01:51 AM

Does anyone know what the Difficulty setting when creating a new Manager career actually influences? Does a higher setting like Hall of Famer just make all the potential GM's more "difficult" to work for, or does it actually affect gameplay elements (like player performance).

After simming 80 years for historical data, I created a new manager at the most difficult setting (Hall of Famer). Although I consider myself pretty knowledgeable (been playing since OOTP4), five years into my "career" I notice a lot of my players underperforming relative to their previous performance, particularly pitchers. For instance, I'll trade for a guy who has pitched very well in past seasons for another team, only to have him continually lit up like someone just up from AAA. I'm wondering if this is just bad luck, or if the Difficulty setting actually influences the abilities of the players I am managing.

Thanks for any input.

Steve Kuffrey · 06-28-2004, 01:53 AM

I believe that if you'll do a search that you'll find some posts on this topic.

tdneu · 06-28-2004, 02:54 AM

Not meaning to be a pest, but I did review a number of other posts on this subject, and I was still unclear afterwards. Some OOTP'ers say that it only affects "external" things like GM mood, free agent money, trade difficulty. etc., while others swear it alters player performance (the so-called "cheating AI"). Which is correct (or is it both)?

Thanks...

sporr · 06-28-2004, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdneu

Not meaning to be a pest, but I did review a number of other posts on this subject, and I was still unclear afterwards. Some OOTP'ers say that it only affects "external" things like GM mood, free agent money, trade difficulty. etc., while others swear it alters player performance (the so-called "cheating AI"). Which is correct (or is it both)?

Thanks...

Difficulty setting does affect player performance in addition to other external things that you mentioned.

ctorg · 06-28-2004, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sporr

Difficulty setting does affect player performance in addition to other external things that you mentioned.

I believe Markus actually confirmed this. It's the main reason I don't use manager mode anymore.

Sweed · 06-28-2004, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctorg

I believe Markus actually confirmed this. It's the main reason I don't use manager mode anymore.

IIRC Markus also comfirmed that if you used the "middle" setting, don't have the game open so I'm not sure if it's called normal or what that it gives no advantage or disadvantage. Anyone else recall this?

When I first started with v5 I started on all-star (hard) level. This is one level above the normal. I did this before we knew of the difference it created in player performance. I know this can't be changed in game but can it be changed this way? Retire my current manager. My understanding is this turns off manager mode. Then restart a manager career and then select the normal mode of play. Can this be done and still continue with my current dyanasty?
This would also let me put my picture in the game. When v5 came out I didn't know that there was only one chance to put the picture in the game so I could kill two birds with one stone

Thanks

ctorg · 06-28-2004, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweed

IIRC Markus also comfirmed that if you used the "middle" setting, don't have the game open so I'm not sure if it's called normal or what that it gives no advantage or disadvantage. Anyone else recall this?

When I first started with v5 I started on all-star (hard) level. This is one level above the normal. I did this before we knew of the difference it created in player performance. I know this can't be changed in game but can it be changed this way? Retire my current manager. My understanding is this turns off manager mode. Then restart a manager career and then select the normal mode of play. Can this be done and still continue with my current dyanasty?
This would also let me put my picture in the game. When v5 came out I didn't know that there was only one chance to put the picture in the game so I could kill two birds with one stone

Thanks

Yes, you are right, and yes that works.

I still don't use manager mode, since I found the "normal" setting to be too easy. Even if I started with a bad team, it didn't take long to make them good. On top of that, I thought manager mode could be a lot deeper. It lost its charm after I'd seen everything it could do, which wasn't much. It's a good beginning, but needs more to keep me interested. Kind of like ITP.

Sweed · 06-28-2004, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctorg

Yes, you are right, and yes that works.

I still don't use manager mode, since I found the "normal" setting to be too easy. Even if I started with a bad team, it didn't take long to make them good. On top of that, I thought manager mode could be a lot deeper. It lost its charm after I'd seen everything it could do, which wasn't much. It's a good beginning, but needs more to keep me interested. Kind of like ITP.

Thanks for the reply. I have been thinking of doing this to get in the picture and becuase I do end up with some players that I think should be hitting just a little better. But then I don't want the game to become too easy either so I have been hesitant.

I also wonder if I'm reading your message right with regards to difficulty.
Are you saying playing without manager mode is harder than with manager mode turned on to normal? Interesting, I wonder why?

And better than manager mode at all-star (hard) since you don't get the player penalties (lack of better word)?

akw4572 · 06-28-2004, 03:12 PM

Markus could make the harder settings make you be like Dusty Baker, and you are forced to leave all your talented pitchers in for 135 pitches, and they get hurt.

That way, even if you had all the talent in the world, you'd still end up not winning it all.

ctorg · 06-28-2004, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweed

Thanks for the reply. I have been thinking of doing this to get in the picture and becuase I do end up with some players that I think should be hitting just a little better. But then I don't want the game to become too easy either so I have been hesitant.

I also wonder if I'm reading your message right with regards to difficulty.
Are you saying playing without manager mode is harder than with manager mode turned on to normal? Interesting, I wonder why?

And better than manager mode at all-star (hard) since you don't get the player penalties (lack of better word)?

No, the game is the same playing with MM at normal or without it, as far as player performances go. I just started to find MM to be meaningless. It wasn't giving realistic goals that I would expect to have. I'd like it to have more long-term goals like "Reubild the minors" or "Reach the playoffs within 3 years" or something. It's very rudimentary now.

I have no interest in playing with player penalties at all. I simply want to have the AI be more competitive. I don't like it when the difficulty level actually affects the statistical outcomes.

Ben E Lou · 06-28-2004, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctorg

I have no interest in playing with player penalties at all. I simply want to have the AI be more competitive. I don't like it when the difficulty level actually affects the statistical outcomes.

Preach!

643gdp · 06-28-2004, 03:22 PM

It seems to me that a harder mode would be to NOT damage your players' performances. . .but rather to make it more difficult to evaluate players. Maybe your scout is less reliable the harder you make the game, or maybe the other team's scouts get a better read on your players (during trade negotiations) and on free agents and draft picks than yours. Wouldn't that be a better challenge than just making your guys suck?

Capital · 06-28-2004, 03:25 PM

My understanding is that if you don't use manager mode then there is no way to set any difficutly level. I was looking for a difficulty level but never did find one.

ctorg · 06-28-2004, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capital

My understanding is that if you don't use manager mode then there is no way to set any difficutly level. I was looking for a difficulty level but never did find one.

The only thing you can set without MM is trading difficulty. Then again, with MM, if you don't want to affect the stats, the only thing you can set is trading difficulty.

If you want consistent, realistic performances from players, you can only set trading difficulty.

Sweed · 06-28-2004, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctorg

No, the game is the same playing with MM at normal or without it, as far as player performances go. I just started to find MM to be meaningless. It wasn't giving realistic goals that I would expect to have. I'd like it to have more long-term goals like "Reubild the minors" or "Reach the playoffs within 3 years" or something. It's very rudimentary now.

I have no interest in playing with player penalties at all. I simply want to have the AI be more competitive. I don't like it when the difficulty level actually affects the statistical outcomes.

Ok, thanks for the info. I agree with what your saying about the AI and what 643gdp said about how the difficulty should work. Actually when I first got v5 I figured that it did work by making scouting and signing players etc more difficult.

Hopefully with v7 we'll get that MM deepened along with many other new toys

MizzouRah · 06-28-2004, 09:53 PM

Just set it to 'normal' or the 'default' setting and you'll be fine. I like using it just for the fact of keeping my career stats and maybe someday my son will be in the bigs.

If you need to change anything during the season, just get oldtimer's MM on/off mod and toggle it.

Todd

06-28-2004, 01:51 AM	#1
tdneu Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 180	Manager Mode - Difficulty Setting Does anyone know what the Difficulty setting when creating a new Manager career actually influences? Does a higher setting like Hall of Famer just make all the potential GM's more "difficult" to work for, or does it actually affect gameplay elements (like player performance). After simming 80 years for historical data, I created a new manager at the most difficult setting (Hall of Famer). Although I consider myself pretty knowledgeable (been playing since OOTP4), five years into my "career" I notice a lot of my players underperforming relative to their previous performance, particularly pitchers. For instance, I'll trade for a guy who has pitched very well in past seasons for another team, only to have him continually lit up like someone just up from AAA. I'm wondering if this is just bad luck, or if the Difficulty setting actually influences the abilities of the players I am managing. Thanks for any input.

06-28-2004, 01:53 AM	#2
Steve Kuffrey Administrator Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: S.E. TN - Georgia born and raised Posts: 17,023	I believe that if you'll do a search that you'll find some posts on this topic. __________________ 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

06-28-2004, 02:54 AM	#3
tdneu Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 180	Not meaning to be a pest, but I did review a number of other posts on this subject, and I was still unclear afterwards. Some OOTP'ers say that it only affects "external" things like GM mood, free agent money, trade difficulty. etc., while others swear it alters player performance (the so-called "cheating AI"). Which is correct (or is it both)? Thanks...

06-28-2004, 03:12 PM	#9
akw4572 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 2,601	Markus could make the harder settings make you be like Dusty Baker, and you are forced to leave all your talented pitchers in for 135 pitches, and they get hurt. That way, even if you had all the talent in the world, you'd still end up not winning it all.

06-28-2004, 03:22 PM	#12
643gdp Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Dyersburg, TN Posts: 44	It seems to me that a harder mode would be to NOT damage your players' performances. . .but rather to make it more difficult to evaluate players. Maybe your scout is less reliable the harder you make the game, or maybe the other team's scouts get a better read on your players (during trade negotiations) and on free agents and draft picks than yours. Wouldn't that be a better challenge than just making your guys suck?

06-28-2004, 03:25 PM	#13
Capital Minors (Double A) Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 100	My understanding is that if you don't use manager mode then there is no way to set any difficutly level. I was looking for a difficulty level but never did find one.

06-28-2004, 09:53 PM	#16
MizzouRah Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Troy, Mo Posts: 6,252	Just set it to 'normal' or the 'default' setting and you'll be fine. I like using it just for the fact of keeping my career stats and maybe someday my son will be in the bigs. If you need to change anything during the season, just get oldtimer's MM on/off mod and toggle it. Todd