Modified "stats.txt" and "era_modifiers.txt"

[Seviien]

Hi Folks!

I don't post here all that often, but some of you might remember me from back in the OOTP 2006 days when I put out settings to make player development more natural. I was also on the 2007 beta team where I helped with player development. This year during beta I focused on a few other things, among them the in-game database of .txt files. I made a new "financials.txt" file that Markus included as default in v9, but I also made a new "era_stats.txt" and "era_modifiers.txt" file.

They didn't make it into the game as "official" but I wanted to make them available to anyone who might want to use them. They're targeted largely at people who play out longer sims and enable both LTM and PCM recalc. I strongly suggest using both of these files together. I promise you will like the results!

To use these files just go into your OOTP data folder and find the folder named "database." Add a " - default" suffix to the files that you will be replacing, and then just copy the new txt file into that folder.



First up is "era_stats.txt"

What changes did you make?
1. I converted everything to a per AB basis, then took 5 year rolling averages, and multiplied out by 100,000 AB per season.
2. I set the 2008 HR level equal to the maximum 5 year HR rate achieved prior to 1980 and straight-lined to that level from 1980 levels.

How does this file "improve" game play when LTM recalc is enabled?
1. Changes in league stat totals occur more gradually. There is no real jumpiness from season to season.
2. Years like 1987 don't make the stats in OOTP get all whacky
3. The steroid HR binge gets muted. Single season HR leaders in the modern era will typically hit around 40 and occasionally some will hit 50 per season. The all time leader in my tests from 1901 to 2009 usually hits around 60 in a single season.




Now for "era_modifiers.txt"

What changes did you make?
1. I used Galron's custom database that normalizes everything to a 700 run environment
2. I tracked 3-year traunches of players over the course of their careers rather than basing everything off a rolling 15 year peoriod. For example: in my file, the PCMs for 1980 are built of just the careers of players who entered the MLB between 1983 and 1985. In the default file, the 1980 PCMs are based off of the stats EVERYBODY put up between 1980 and 1995.

How does this file "improve" gameplay when PCM recalc is enabled?
1. The underlying range of stat inputs more closely captures reality.
2. Using a constant-run environment allows the LTMs to more accurately shape the stat outputs.


Enjoy!

[kagnew35]

Not comfortable handling files, sevien, so do i just do it like this? default.stats.text and default.era modifiers.txt amd delete originals?

[OldFatGuy]

Usually not a good idea to delete originals. Click on the originals name so the edit box comes up and add a "2" or "bak" at the end of the name, then put the new ones in their place would be my advice.

[tchalifour]

I usually make a new folder in my Database folder and call it "Mods" or something, then copy the original files into it, then rename the copies "DEFAULT_era_stats.txt", etc.

Keeps everything nice and tidy should something happen or I tweak something.

[SittingDuck]

Originally Posted by OldFatGuy

Usually not a good idea to delete originals. Click on the originals name so the edit box comes up and add a "2" or "bak" at the end of the name, then put the new ones in their place would be my advice.

file.txt.bak

+1 - good advice. Can always delete that 'bak' and the file reverts to original extension.

Seviien, how do those files play with mlb historicals? I like the premise of them.

[Ghetto Anthony]

haha. Well I deleted the originals on accident and immediatley hit myself for being an idiot.

Can some kind soul upload the defaults for me so I don't have to uninstall and reinstall the whole game...?

[OldFatGuy]

Here ya go.

[StyxNCa]

Unfortunately, not being tech lingo savvy, I don't understand what these different files will do. These tech people are like doctors and lawyers, talk in a language I don't understand.

[Ghetto Anthony]

Originally Posted by OldFatGuy

Here ya go.

Much obliged.

[dcpcarmona]

here ya go

[Seviien]

Originally Posted by StyxNCa

Unfortunately, not being tech lingo savvy, I don't understand what these different files will do. These tech people are like doctors and lawyers, talk in a language I don't understand.

unless you're primary focus is replay, and you really, really care about stuff like a ridiculous number of HR getting hit in 1987...

these two files give you better numbers than the defaults when you do long-term sims.

and they make sure that fictional leagues don't get a barry bonds, mark mcgwire, or sammy sosa.

[StyxNCa]

Originally Posted by Seviien

unless you're primary focus is replay, and you really, really care about stuff like a ridiculous number of HR getting hit in 1987...

these two files give you better numbers than the defaults when you do long-term sims.

and they make sure that fictional leagues don't get a barry bonds, mark mcgwire, or sammy sosa.

That would be a 50-50 thing for me then. I only play 1 real season at a time, I don't do the long term thing, but I do have a fictional league as well that I started back in OOTP6. I reckon since I have the real season already set up I could save the original files and use yours for the fictional league, then use the original again when I need to create another new season.

[No Pepper]

Originally Posted by SittingDuck

Seviien, how do those files play with mlb historicals? I like the premise of them.

I second this question. I really enjoy these types of modifications, thank you for all the work you've done Seviien, including your fictional universe!

[Seviien]

Originally Posted by No Pepper

I second this question. I really enjoy these types of modifications, thank you for all the work you've done Seviien, including your fictional universe!

first, thank you

second, sorry. i didn't see the original question.

the short answer is that if you like the results you get when you enable 3-5 year recalcs for indivudal player ratings, then you'll like the results you get when using my era_stats.txt with your mlb historical league. if you want to do so and the modification i made to HR in the modern era really bugs you, I can put out another file without any such adjustment.

as far as actual testing, a couple well-respected folks took a nearly identical era_stats.txt file that I made for a spin with OOTP8, and they were positive on the results.

I don't think the era_modifiers.txt file will do anything with the mlb historical leagues since my understanding is that it applies only to fictional players whom the game creates.

[SittingDuck]

Originally Posted by Seviien

How does this file "improve" game play when LTM recalc is enabled?

2. Years like 1987 don't make the stats in OOTP get all whacky

Don't you mean 1997?

At any rate, I am looking forward to giving this a whirl.

[Seviien]

actually, on a MLB-wide HR/AB basis, 1987 is much stranger than 1997 when you compare it to the years immediately preceding and following it. In real life 1987, though, no one person hit a pile of HR, so it's less memorable.

[SittingDuck]

Anyhow, just getting back to this, but since I'm a few years into my historical recalc league (1967), I want to employ these now. So I'll post back with feedback. Looking for something good here!

[ashantewarrier]

I just want you to know that I performed a test sim from 1901 to 2008 and the numbers generated were realistic and acceptable. My all-time homerun leader was at 756 but his season best was 51 HR's! Only 5 players are past the 600 career HR record. WIth the default era &stats files I was getting some crazy HR numbers.

[SittingDuck]

Totally agree. I ran a sim for '62 non-recalc, and McCovey smacked 62 dingers. I then reran the test with some tweaks to rules and finances (trying to set up a long running league) and Koufax (with the historical totals modified from those files) then pitched for the Triple Crown. SB numbers were awesome, as were IP and so forth. I did not see one stat that looked out of whack.

Needless to say I was ecstatic.

These are, IMO, necessary files for guys who want that smooth progression from era to era.

[Seviien]

Glad you guys are enjoying them. I'd probably have to undo my late 1990s edit if these files are ever to be included as defaults... but endorsements like this certainly help.