Playing in God-Mode-- The Lightning Round

[knockahoma]

I thought I'd share a fun way to play OOTP in God-mode for those of us who feel one team just ain't enough. It's our universe and we'll by God-mode play it our way.

Often, I start out with the 1974 season because that was the first year I really followed baseball thru newspaper and APBA baseball cards. So, I know the players intimately.

* I set all teams to be controlled by me.

* I set the AI to 30% ratings, 70% stat for current season (This setting has always given me great results for single seasons. I don't get guys with 550 ABs hitting .187. Since I make all roster decisions, the AI doesn't need to know what happened two years ago, or even last year. Knockahoma knows all.

* I don't use minors, though you could. I use reserve roster.

* I go thru each team and set the opening day rosters, making sure I have at least 4 true middle infielders. One of my pet peeves is having a 2B play SS all season and make 51 errors in 122 chances. the god Knockahoma will not put up with such sinful managerial decisions.

* Here's where Knockahoma shows his love to the OOTP managers. He allows them to auto-set his staff and lineup-- with a few exceptions here and there.

Actually, the AI's opinion is crucial to God-mode, the Lightning Round. When Knocky sees that the Dodgers manager has put catcher Steve Yeager ahead of Joe Ferguson, using Fergy only sparingly, Knocky has every right to punish the Dodgers for their lack of faith in Joe-- by trading Joe, maybe to St.Louis, as happened in real life, or maybe somewhere else where Joe fits in well. Of course, LA should get good compensation. But, the AI's lineup selections gives the All-Creative Knocky trading ideas. By the way: No free agency for my leagues. You started in LA and you'll LIKE it, until Knocky says you don't.

* Knocky has favorite players and he absolutely curses players like Billy Grabarkewitz, the 2B-SS who always commits 40 errors in OOTP. Billy might get a chance to make the 25 man roster, but 6 errors in 10 games gets him sent to Reserve.

* The season begins. I start simming a week at a time. Usually, every two or three days, an injury stops the sim (injuries on low for lack of players and Knocky's patience). Knockahoma watches the world mostly from the Team Transaction screen. For one thing, he can see in an instant how many ABs or IP a player has and his BA, or ERA. Knockahoma slaps the injured player on IR and selects the player on reserve squad who best fits the team.

* As the season progresses, Knocky makes changes. No longer the Cubs Ray Burris be allowed to plug along with a 7.22 ERA. He's either moved to the bullpen or Reserve. Maybe Knocky will trade him. Another pitcher gets the 4th starting slot. And if Knocky's all-seeing eye spots an OF with 150 ABs and a .187 BA, Knocky may take action. Perhaps he'll send down a sprained ankle.

* Knocky leaves the AI batting lineups alone. For expediency, Knocky will accept what the baseball scientists say, that batting order makes little difference in number of runs scored over a season. If the idea serves Knocky's comfort, so be it.

You see, the god Knocky is all about realistic numbers. He cares not which team wins, only that the run for the pennnant makes sense by the numbers.

* Since 1974 has limited players for some teams and injuries can leave a hole (such as 3 OFs on a team), Knockahoma goes looking around the league for players.

* Knocky also notices that certain catchers have started every game in April. This goes against the natural law that Knocky has set up with regard to what the OOTP body can do. If Knocky must over-come a slave-driving AI manager, he will. If George Mitterwald is playing too many games in Knocky's opinion, Mitterwald will be struck with a plague of boils for three or four days, just long enough to get Steve Swisher some bat time.

Literally, you can play an entire season of God-Mode in a few hours. The AI is hand-cuffed to whatever reality Knocky believes should be. Meanwhile, Knocky still gets to watch all the stories develop.

It is good to be a god.