Scouts or no Scouts?

BillyMadison · 06-28-2004, 11:36 AM

Do you guys play with Scouts/Coaches or not?

What is more realistic?

THanks

Riverdome · 06-28-2004, 11:37 AM

I'm my own scout so I always play with scouts off. Scouts put fog up the ratings and since I'm not a consistent winner I don't think I need the extra "challenge"

LivnLegend · 06-28-2004, 12:06 PM

I have not used scouts/coaches since OOTP3. I did not like them back then and I just got used to playing with that option turned off.

Ben E Lou · 06-28-2004, 12:07 PM

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but isn't playing with "no scouts" actually playing with everyone's scout on "average"--meaning that there's still potential scout error?

Riverdome · 06-28-2004, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyDog

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but isn't playing with "no scouts" actually playing with everyone's scout on "average"--meaning that there's still potential scout error?

I guess that's one way to look at it. I always figured that the ratings displayed were close to accurate but not 100%. That' sbasicly the same as everyone using an average scout.

What bugged me more about scouts was having to hire a new one then watching all my prospects ratings change because the new guy was better/worse than the old one. I never knew exactly what to believe so I just turned them off and strated making my own guesses.

Kemp · 06-28-2004, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyDog

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but isn't playing with "no scouts" actually playing with everyone's scout on "average"--meaning that there's still potential scout error?

Acckkk!!! This question has been around for quite a while. I actually did a lot of testing of this and I'm willing to say that, despite nothing in the manual about this, "no scouts" means that you are seeing ACTUAL RATINGS.

There is no "average" scout that every team is using. You're seeing the actual numbers (rounded, obviously).

jbmagic · 06-28-2004, 12:59 PM

well there is a "set to average scout" in league setting. That will set all scouts to an average scouting skills.

but that is for people that play with coach on and want all teams to use average scouts...

Mds7361 · 06-28-2004, 01:05 PM

I play with them off because it is to easy to sign the best scout and coaches and get an advantage on the A.I.

Kaline · 06-28-2004, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mds7361

I play with them off because it is to easy to sign the best scout and coaches and get an advantage on the A.I.

What he said.

MizzouRah · 06-28-2004, 09:06 PM

I don't use them this time around.

Todd

Big Willis 16 · 06-28-2004, 09:27 PM

I turn them off, it's too much of a hassle.

Maybe not a hassle, I just get real frustrated when I screw my team over enough to wear I can't sign a coach when I need one.

The Interloper · 06-29-2004, 10:51 AM

I never use scouts anymore, now that you can change the way you see ratings. I can confirm that if you turn off scouts, you are seeing actual ratings. I've tested it a lot.

ctorg · 06-29-2004, 11:14 AM

No scouts for me. I thought they were cool at first, but have since stopped using them. I'm not exactly sure why, I just kind of stopped enjoying seeing fuzzy numbers.

Cooker · 06-29-2004, 11:23 AM

I play with scouts (and coaches) "on" simply because I don't like turning things off unless there seems to be a good reason to do so.

It might be a hassle to have to re-hire scouts and coaches every few years but I like the challenge of having to do that. Anything that makes the game harder is a good thing, IMHO.

jrzalman · 06-29-2004, 12:09 PM

<i>Anything that makes the game harder is a good thing, IMHO.</i>

This is why I use scouts in my solo league. I hire an "average" scout for my team and let the AI teams hire whomever they want. This gives the AI a nice advantage and makes the game more difficult.

Mds7361 · 06-29-2004, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cooker

I play with scouts (and coaches) "on" simply because I don't like turning things off unless there seems to be a good reason to do so.

It might be a hassle to have to re-hire scouts and coaches every few years but I like the challenge of having to do that. Anything that makes the game harder is a good thing, IMHO.

I think that it makes the game easier because you can offer 1 million or so to the top coaches and scouts and get an advantage on the A.I.

gmo · 06-29-2004, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mds7361

I think that it makes the game easier because you can offer 1 million or so to the top coaches and scouts and get an advantage on the A.I.

I have been bringing this up -
that I switch to computer control during the coach/scout signing period - because I've only done it once so far, and it would be nice to hear more confirmation that nothing screwy occurs while the team is out of my hands. It seems to allow for the fuzziness of not seeing the actual ratings (which I personal want) but with the AI penchant for not just bidding high for the best coaches/scout (since it is easy to load up on the best ones).

tomolak · 06-29-2004, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mds7361

I think that it makes the game easier because you can offer 1 million or so to the top coaches and scouts and get an advantage on the A.I.

I wish it could be that easy in my solo league. I've been outbid by the AI teams in the first day of the scout/coach signings two years in a row. In the first year when I needed to hire new scounts/coaches, I offered up to 1.5 times their asking price and 1 more year; no one signed with me. In the next year, I offered up to 1 million and 1 more year but found that the AI teams nailed them down at the price of 1.2 million or so.

Right now, I have a "decent" hitting coach, an "average" pitching coach, a scout with "decent" hitting skill and "good" pitching skill, as well as 3 minor league manager whose pitching/hitting skills are legendary/outstanding, ok/decent, inexperienced/good.

And I figure I probably need to bid up to 1.5 million for the person I want, and that would probably cost me 9 million for all the 6 positions. That's a lot of money and I don't know if it's worth it. But I think it's fun.

KurtBevacqua · 06-29-2004, 04:33 PM

I like the concept of using scouts, but never liked the way the game implemented it. You can't resign the guys. I think it would be cool if the game took retired players and recycled them into the scouting/coaching pool and actually had them grow into a career of their own. Then have a true GM mode where you can hire even your own manager from the coaching pool as these guys evolve.

tomolak · 06-29-2004, 04:54 PM

Yes, I think it is very cool if OOTP can turn retired players into scouts/coaches. Actually, when Greg Maddux retired in my solo league, I even looked into the scout/coach pool to see if he's there and was a bit disappointed as I didn't find him. As far as I know, the reputations of the scouts/coaches do grow like a GM. ( I have a minor league manager whose reputation of developing hitters grows from excellent to outstanding.) So I think it's doable to turn a player's career into a scout or a coach.

On the other hand, while re-signing the scouts/coaches is more realistic, I think it would be less fun for the game. My experience tells me that their asking prices are greatly less than what teams are willing to bid on them. So if you have a top scout/coach and are allowed to re-sign them, you can just re-sign him year after year until he retires.

06-28-2004, 11:36 AM	#1
BillyMadison Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 103	Scouts or no Scouts? Do you guys play with Scouts/Coaches or not? What is more realistic? THanks

06-28-2004, 11:37 AM	#2
Riverdome All Star Reserve Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 964	I'm my own scout so I always play with scouts off. Scouts put fog up the ratings and since I'm not a consistent winner I don't think I need the extra "challenge" __________________ I was at the first OOTP Conference, where were you?..........

06-28-2004, 12:06 PM	#3
LivnLegend Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: 100% pure adrenaline! Posts: 5,624	I have not used scouts/coaches since OOTP3. I did not like them back then and I just got used to playing with that option turned off. __________________ Excess ain't rebellion. You're drinking what they're selling.

06-28-2004, 09:27 PM	#11
Big Willis 16 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,616	I turn them off, it's too much of a hassle. Maybe not a hassle, I just get real frustrated when I screw my team over enough to wear I can't sign a coach when I need one. __________________ A wise man once said "shutup and drink your beer!"

06-29-2004, 11:14 AM	#13
ctorg Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 9,848	No scouts for me. I thought they were cool at first, but have since stopped using them. I'm not exactly sure why, I just kind of stopped enjoying seeing fuzzy numbers. __________________ My music "When the trees blow back and forth, that's what makes the wind." - Steven Wright Fjord emena pancreas thorax fornicate marmalade morpheme proteolysis smaxa cabana offal srue vitriol grope hallelujah lentils

06-28-2004, 12:07 PM	#4
Ben E Lou Front Office Football Central Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Souf Cackilacky Posts: 1,762	Correct me if I'm wrong here, but isn't playing with "no scouts" actually playing with everyone's scout on "average"--meaning that there's still potential scout error?

06-28-2004, 12:59 PM	#7
jbmagic Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 3,417	well there is a "set to average scout" in league setting. That will set all scouts to an average scouting skills. but that is for people that play with coach on and want all teams to use average scouts...

06-28-2004, 01:05 PM	#8
Mds7361 Minors (Single A) Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 72	I play with them off because it is to easy to sign the best scout and coaches and get an advantage on the A.I.

06-28-2004, 09:06 PM	#10
MizzouRah Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Troy, Mo Posts: 6,266	I don't use them this time around. Todd

06-29-2004, 10:51 AM	#12
The Interloper Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: The dark recesses of the human mind Posts: 147	I never use scouts anymore, now that you can change the way you see ratings. I can confirm that if you turn off scouts, you are seeing actual ratings. I've tested it a lot.

06-29-2004, 11:23 AM	#14
Cooker All Star Reserve Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 592	I play with scouts (and coaches) "on" simply because I don't like turning things off unless there seems to be a good reason to do so. It might be a hassle to have to re-hire scouts and coaches every few years but I like the challenge of having to do that. Anything that makes the game harder is a good thing, IMHO.

06-29-2004, 12:09 PM	#15
jrzalman Bat Boy Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 17	<i>Anything that makes the game harder is a good thing, IMHO.</i> This is why I use scouts in my solo league. I hire an "average" scout for my team and let the AI teams hire whomever they want. This gives the AI a nice advantage and makes the game more difficult.

06-29-2004, 04:33 PM	#19
KurtBevacqua Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 2,968	I like the concept of using scouts, but never liked the way the game implemented it. You can't resign the guys. I think it would be cool if the game took retired players and recycled them into the scouting/coaching pool and actually had them grow into a career of their own. Then have a true GM mode where you can hire even your own manager from the coaching pool as these guys evolve. __________________ "The type and formula of most schemes of philanthropy or humanitarianism is this: A and B put their heads together to decide what C shall be made to do for D. The radical vice of all these schemes, from a sociological point of view, is that C is not allowed a voice in the matter, and his position, character, and interests, as well as the ultimate effects on society through C's interests, are entirely overlooked. I call C the Forgotten Man" - William Graham Sumner

06-29-2004, 04:54 PM	#20
tomolak Minors (Double A) Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 104	Yes, I think it is very cool if OOTP can turn retired players into scouts/coaches. Actually, when Greg Maddux retired in my solo league, I even looked into the scout/coach pool to see if he's there and was a bit disappointed as I didn't find him. As far as I know, the reputations of the scouts/coaches do grow like a GM. ( I have a minor league manager whose reputation of developing hitters grows from excellent to outstanding.) So I think it's doable to turn a player's career into a scout or a coach. On the other hand, while re-signing the scouts/coaches is more realistic, I think it would be less fun for the game. My experience tells me that their asking prices are greatly less than what teams are willing to bid on them. So if you have a top scout/coach and are allowed to re-sign them, you can just re-sign him year after year until he retires.