Suggestions: Game/League Setup Options

[emcgman]

Make it so you can `Re-Sim' or `Replay' a game, month or season, without having to start a new game, so you can compare and better learn the effects of various strategy settings. Also, it would be cool to compare the results.

emcgman

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by Biggio509

Suggestion:

Adv. A leagues and A leagues. Adv. rookie and rookie leagues.

I want to follow up on the above suggestion.

SUGGESTION

OOTP should use the same level of minor league classification levels as actually exist (AAA,AA, High A, Low A, Short Season A, Rookie Advanced, and Rookie)

REASON

Biggio509, in post #59, described some good reasons as to why the A and Rookie levels should be split into two separate levels as they are in reality. I wish to offer a few additional reasons.

The A classification in real life has been split into separate "High A" (a.k.a. "Advanced A") and "Low A" (a.k.a. "A") levels for at least 15 years. They are treated as entirely different classes, which is why there are 30 affiliates in High A and 30 in Low A. Also, a player moved from Low A to High A is considered to have been promoted. Given this, the game really should offer two distinct and separate A levels as in the real world.

The Rookie classification in real life has been split into separate "Rookie Advanced" and "Rookie" for at least 10 years. There's also another very important distinction which makes these two entirely different classification levels: Rookie Advanced is the lowest level of minors which still acts and functions like a real minor league.

What I mean by that is that Rookie Advanced leagues have clubs which are located in and represent specific towns, have their own dedicated ballparks, charge admission, report attendance, and collect ticket revenue.

Rookie leagues, such as the Arizona League or Gulf Coast League, do NOT do any of these things. Rookie league teams play in the spring training stadiums of their major league parent club, and thus do not truly represent a town nor have their own dedicated ballparks. Also, Rookie teams do not charge admission nor do they report attendance. The major league parent clubs are entirely responsible for shouldering all the costs associated with running a Rookie team.

In essence, Rookie level leagues are more like instructional or exhibition leagues than anything else.

Given these differences, there really should be separate Rookie Advanced and Rookie classification levels in OOTP.

Thus, in total, there should be seven levels of minor league classification, with the top six representing normal minor leagues, and the lowest classification representing something which is an instructional type of league:

AAA
AA
High A (a.k.a. Advanced A)
Low A (a.k.a. A)
Short Season A
Rookie Advanced
Rookie

Another advantage to having six regular levels of minor leagues is that it matches up well to the post-1946 era when there were also six levels of minors (though they were named differently): AAA, AA, A, B, C, and D (there were no equivalent to the Rookie-type instructional leagues operating at the time).

PRIORITY

Medium/High.

[Le Grande Orange]

Suggestion

Recreate more of the major league player assignment rules used in the past through the use of RULE SETS.

Reason

The way many of the key rule areas work have changed considerably over the years. The amateur draft, the Rule 5 draft, options, free agency, trading, etc., have all undergone many revisions which change how a GM does his job. And since being the role of a club GM is a key part of the game, then recreating these different rule eras would add both to the realism and challenge of playing the game, as well as giving players more ways to customize their leagues.

Priority

HIGH.



The Proposal in Detail

Being a club General Manager is a key part of playing OOTP. The rules which a GM has to operate under has a great impact on how difficult that job is.

OOTP should recreate as many of the current rules which affect a GM as is possible. That means things like the fourth option year, a stay of less than 20 days in the minors not counting as an option, a minimum stay of 10 days in the minors when optioned down (except when replacing an injured player), not being able to re-sign a player released after Aug. 31 until May 15 of the following season, the 10-and-5 rule, etc., these should all be incorporated into the game since they directly affect how a GM would do his job.

But these rules were also quite different in earlier years, changing the challenges a GM faced, sometimes substantially. Let's look at some examples.

Options — From 1921-30, a player only had two option years. Only having two options years on a player obviously adds some challenge to a GM managing his roster. From 1953-64, between July 31 and the end of the minor league season (including any playoffs), players could not be optioned to nor recalled from the minor leagues (except to replace an injured player). Think of the challenges that poses: for August and part of September, you can't move players to or from the minors. That means you have to make your decisions as to which minor league players you want on the major league roster for those five or six weeks by July 31st. This naturally adds a lot of challenge to being a GM.

Trading — At present, the only time a trade requires a waiver is between July 31 and the end of the regular season; the rest of the time a trade is waiver-free. From 1953-85 trades within a league operated the same, but interleague trades were restricted. In the off-season and before the trade deadline, interleague trades required the player to clear waivers inside his league before he could be traded to the other league. After the trade deadline, the player had to clear waivers in both leagues before he could be sent to the other league. This of course made trading much more difficult, since it meant there were far less teams available with which a GM could trade. Think of the challenges that would pose.

Disabled List — Before 1941, there was no disabled list at all. From 1941-48, there was a DL but it was quite limited, allowing only two players to be placed on it and lasted 60 days (which was lowered to 30 days in 1949). From 1973-80, the regular DL allowed for three players and lasted 21 days; there was also a supplemental DL which allowed one non-pitcher to be placed on it for 15 days; and there was a 60 day emergency DL on which any number of players could be placed. Think of the challenges faced by a GM when the DL only allowed a limited number of players to be placed on it, or when there was no DL at all.

Outrighting — Currently, once a major league player clears waivers, he can be sent outright to the minor leagues. If the club decides it wants or needs that player again, he can be reacquired simply by purchasing his contract from the minor league team. But before 1965, a player sent outright to the minors could not be reacquired until after he had gone through the Rule 5 draft. This meant that once a player was outrighted he couldn't be acquired by the same team again until after the season; think of the challenge that poses for a GM handling the roster.

Rule 5 Draft — From 1931-64, the years of experience and number of players which could be selected varied by minor league level. At the AAA level, only one player with 4 or more years of service could be selected from a given club; at the AA level, it was only one player with 3 or more years of service; for the remaining levels, there was no limit on the number of players with 2 or more years of service could be selected from a given club. In 1965 the draft became completely unrestricted and any player not on a major league club's 40-man roster could be selected. In 1967 a player couldn't be selected until he had at least 2 years of service, and in 1969 it became at least 3 years of service. Think of how these different rules would affect what a GM would do during the draft.


Now, to allow all of the above mentioned scenarios to be individually selectable as options would be enormously complicated, since it would mean a bewildering number of choices to the user as well as presenting a vast number of potential combinations the AI would have to accommodate. This would simply not be practicable. To make the use of these older rules more manageable I propose the use of RULE SETS.

A rule set would be a group of rules designed to be used together as a group, with a set mimicking the rules in place during a given time period in the major leagues. By combining rules into sets, it considerably reduces the number of combinations to be tested and coded, and it prevents rules from different eras being used together (which would almost certainly cause issues). Rule sets also allow for fairly specific historical period recreations.

How many rule sets would there be in total to reflect fairly accurately the history of the majors? I estimate about two dozen or so, depending on how precisely one wants to mimic the years in which the rules changed in reality. Note that not all rule sets are completely different from each other; in some cases there are only small changes between one rule set and another.

As an example, here's what the free agency era would look like if recreated as rule sets, with notes about what changed from the previous rule set:

1976-80: Free agency introduced, with the process being quite different than it is now. Threshold for a player to be able to refuse a minor league assignment reduced to 5 years from 8. Players could demand a trade.
1981-85: Free agency process altered, allowing for professional players to be used as compensation. Disabled list rules revised. Off-season waiver-free interleague trading period increased in length.
1986-90: Free agency altered again, with the process becoming very similar to the current system. Amateur draft rules substantially changed. Trade deadline moved to July 31 from June 15. Restrictions against interleague trading removed. Arbitration eligibility increased to 3 years from 2 years.
1991-96: Disabled list rules revised again. Arbitration changed to allow "Super 2" eligibility.
1997-02: Restrictions against repeat free agency loosened.
2003-06: Order of drafting in amateur draft changed so that picks no longer alternated by league.
2007: Minor changes to free agency process. Free agent compensation revised. Rules regarding amateur draft and Rule 5 draft altered. Right to demand a trade eliminated. Contract tender date moved to Dec. 12 from Dec. 20.

The user would then select the rule set that most interested them, e.g. they might pick the "1976-80" rule set or the "1991-96" rule set, etc.

As can be seen from the list, some rule sets offer substantial differences between them while others only modest or minor differences. But each set offers a different environment in which a league could operate, and that's the important feature, since different environments means different challenges to a GM.

[fhomess]

Suggestion:
Not sure if this has been posted or not, but I'd like to setup my league with no trading deadline.

Reason:
Specifically, this is nice for online leagues where all trades are manually entered into the game anyway. I can see some people liking this for solo leagues, too, though. There's no need to pass players through waivers in an online league setting where the commish enters all the trades. All of that gets handled outside of the game and then to require waivers in game causes a problem with leagues trying to process late season trades.

Priority:
High - While it's not strictly a bug, it has created some major problems for me in my online league because the league file isn't respecting the deadline correctly. Turning it off would seem to be the easiest solution.

[Who Killed Kenny?]

Suggestion:
Do away with all minor league types and let us edit the level and level name manually.

Reason:
I completely agree that we should the ability to have more minor league levels. But what is in a name? Why must the highest level be called AAA or the lowest Rookie? Instead I think giving us control to name the level as something meaningful to us would be better. That way we could have 7 levels, for example, labeled A, B, C, Four, Five, Monkey, Spider-Pig.

After labeling the level we want, we can give it a numeric "skill" level, where 1 is the highest. In my example A would have a "skill" level of 1 and Spider-Pig would be 7. The players would be promoted and demoted according to that level.

In the news and messages, promotions and demotions would mention the level name. "Homer Simpson was demoted to the Springfield Isotopes of Spider-Pig level Moe's Tavern League."

For all those looking to extend their minor leagues this would be a helpful way to give them that power without having to keep hardcoding league types every time it is requested.

Priority:
Low

[RchW]

Suggestion

Tie the data\config\engine file to individual leagues, not globally as it currently works.


Reason

In order to get proper statistical output of non-league total results such as double plays or stealing success one must adjust the config\engine file. Because this is a global adjustment it affects other leagues that may be configured differently. It seems only logical to group all functions that may affect league results and statistical output into that league file.


Priority

Fairly high IMHO

[redsoxford]

Suggestion

Add an 'interleague with during season' and 'final playoff against' option to a league.

Reason

To allow more customisation at a sub-league level - at the moment the only way a subleague can vary is at the DH field. It should be possible to set up the AL and NL as separate leagues and have separate financials, modifiers, rules, etc, but still have them linked via interleague during the season and that their respective champions play-off at the end of the season.

Priority

Medium-High

[theasfl]

Suggestion:
Allow for the user to manually schedule the playoffs.

Reason:
Theres plenty of clamor for more customizability to the playoffs all within reason. I'd like to see a check box for manually setting up the playoffs. Then the amount of teams is entered with the number of games in each round. Perhaps a box for byes if needed. The game would then know who's eliminated every round and subsequently move on to the next round with the user determining the matchups if need be (or the option to if needn't be).

Priority:
High. This has been needed for a long time, v2007 was a huge step in the right direction, but this is ultimately the only (or at least perhaps the easiest) way to please everyone. The ability to select the number of teams in the playoffs and the subsequent format can only please the customer.

[theasfl]

Suggestion:
I assume someone's hit on promotion/relegation (via checkbox and not manually) and I'd like the ability to have playoffs between teams on the verge of being demoted, between teams on the verge of being promoted and/or against each other. The ability to schedule exhibition games once the season's over may be a round-about way to accomplish it.

Reason:
Added customization. Ease for the user.

Priority:
Medium-Low. I think the ability to schedule exhibition games once the season's end (which to the best of my knowledge isn't possible without a winter league of some kind) would help the user in more than one desire, but clearly this isn't going to take precedence over some other things.

[theasfl]

Suggestion:
Allow for customized tournaments with teams from separate full-time leagues. [aka a Champions League]

Reason:
I think many fans desire to have special tournaments between the top teams in leagues, such as the NPBL and MLB or the NPBL, MLB and more or whatever fictional concoction someone wants to make up. All that would be necessary is the ability to select the number of teams and format (straight tournament with series length, round-robin/mini-league play then series play, etc.), the ability to schedule the games (which is already there) tacked on to the game's recording stats leaders and results.

Priority:
Low. Its possible in a way as is and shouldn't take precedence over other items.

[theasfl]

Suggestion:
World Cup/World Baseball Classic

Reason:
Its now a real life occurance and it would meld together the universe concept that has become the essence of the last two versions of OOTP. It could be tacked on to my previous suggestion, but as a checkbox with the option to use national teams.

Priority:
Medium-Low. As it happens in real life it should get some thought.

[voxpoptart]

Suggestion
Instead of a vague, unexplained "Balanced" versus "Unbalanced" schedule - which in multiple attempts, I've never gotten anyone on the forum to talk about in more detail - allow a user to specify how many games each team will play
1. Against each division rival
2. Against each other league rival
3. Against each inter-league rival
with the game simply telling the player how many total games that will come to.

Reason
Flexibility, and not having to make schedule decisions blindly.

Priority
Medium.

[voxpoptart]

Suggestion
In leagues with Inter-Sub-League play, allow an odd number of teams per Sub-League ... as long as the player's chosen schedule (see my above post) would allow, at all times, for at least one ongoing Inter-Sub-League series so that no team has to take a vacation.

Reason
I doubt I'm the only person who wishes the Major Leagues' 30 teams were in six 5-team divisions, as basic fairness would demand. There's no mathematical reason it can't happen -- just Bud Selig's obstinacy -- so I bet someone would enjoy letting it happen in their own OOTP league. I originally tried such a setup myself, causing the game to crash, although in the end I'm happier with just 24 teams in four divisions.

Priority
Medium-to-Low.

[Le Grande Orange]

Suggestion

The option to use the split-season format should moved to the Schedule Options section of the Options tab. Also, the ability to select the specific first half closing date and second half opening date should be added.

Reason

Moving the split-season option to the Schedule Options section makes sense, especially when combined with the ability to select the exact dates on which the first half ends and the second half begins.

Not all leagues which use the split-season format split the season exactly in half; some have played more games in either the first or second half. Also, the number of off days between the first and second halves varies; some leagues use a single day, some use several days and play an All-Star Game in between each half; and some leagues have no off days between each half. The options to select the specific first half ending and second half opening dates are needed for this reason.

Priority

High.

(There are a number of small issues relating to the split-season format which OOTP needs to correct, and this is one of them.)


Below is an example of what the Schedule Options section would look like with the additions. There is a check box to enable the split-season format for the league; when enabled, the first half closing date and second half opening date menus become available for use. When the split-season format is not enabled, then those menus are greyed out.

[bgheadjack]

Suggestion:
A greater sense of team and league history, meaning the ability to retire numbers for your team, putting players into your team hall of fame, being able to write a HOF plaque to ensure that you'll always remember what significant contributions your player made (perhaps he won some WS in a dramatic way, or perhaps he just turned around your teams fortunes after a long drought, ala Paul O'Neill).

Detailed record books for the overall league as well as your team are vital. It would be great to be able to see where your player ranks on the all-time and active lists from his player screen (so, for example, you open A-Rod's page and see his career numbers, but you also see that he's (16th) all-time in homers and (4th) on the active list. Baseball-reference.com could be a fantastic template. Go there and click on Barry Bonds and see all the great info.

Last idea - have these numbers, and perhaps even player notes, able to be edited. That way if you want to create a player with 700 homers you can, or if your power goes off and your guy had a 20 K game without it saving, you can fix it.

Reason
One of the things that makes baseball the greatest sport in the world is its deep sense of history and its meaningful stats (they're actually culturally meaningful). Brett Favre just broke the all-time TD record and it was buried in the middle of the sports page. Barry Bonds HR chase dominated all media for months. Baseball is different, and a game needs to respect that.

Monument Park in Yankee Stadium...the retired numbers of Angels greats on the OF wall in Anaheim...this adds such a rich texture that would really take this game to the next level.

Priority
Medium-high.

[Hannibal05]

Suggestion:
Make it easier to download data such as uniforms, logos, minors, ballparks, etc.


Reason:
I'm a casual computer person so trying to find a thread that gives me exact directions on how to download everything I need to make the gaming experience fun is a pain in the ass. This I don't have time for and it pisses me off to the point I didn't even give your game a solid chance after I purchased it. I think I would have enjoyed it very much if I could have enjoyed the total gaming experience. There are tons of threads and things added by gamers that makes it all the more confusing.


Priority:
High, if I see no steps have been taken to make this easier I will no longer purchase your game. I don't mean that as a threat just a statement of fact. I don't want to pay the money to get as frustrated as I did. This may be difficult to see based on your experience with the set up but try to look at it from a casual computer person perspective.

[DesertFox07]

Originally Posted by ctorg

I hope this is the right category for this. It seems like the best to me.

Suggestion
Allow Lahman-style imports for leagues not abbreviated as "AL" or "NL".

Reason
The primary reason is that this would create an awesome new ability to plan out fictional leagues in advance. For instance, one could create a Lahman-like layout of the teams.csv file with different teams and league structures.

There would be some limitations, of course. This could not be expected to account for teams that moved from other leagues, league beginnings and endings, or league designations moving from minor to major or anything like that (although perhaps the game could use a second csv for other league attributes, like rule changes.

This would be a huge boost for those like me who like to sim out histories but want some nuance and team movement in the histories without having to stop constantly and reset it.

A secondary thing this would help with is inclusion of leagues like the Federal League or some pre-1900 major leagues.

Priority
Medium.

I very enthusiastically support this proposal! I think that a challenge for the OOTP mod community can go with this suggestion. That would be to create a tool to export any season (from any OOTP version) into a Lahman style format for importing into OOTP 2007 using this feature. I thought I saw Markus make a call out for something like this, but I think it died a long time ago.

[murmur13]

Suggestion

Add the Japanese baseball (NPB) playoff system.

Reason

For people (like me) that play with an NPB league, it would be excellent to have the current NPB playoff setup. It is as follows:

2nd and 3rd place team play in a 3 game series. Winner of this series faces the 1st place team in the league in a 5 game series. Winner of this series goes to a 7 game Japan Series.

Priority

Medium-high, for realism.

[murmur13]

Suggestion

Ability to setup minor leagues with uneven teams, even if the teams are even in the major league.

Reason

To reflect the NPB, which has a 7-team and 5-team league. There are problems in trying to generate schedules with uneven leagues like this.

Priority

Medium-low.

[murmur13]

Suggestion

Foreign player limits for an entire organization.

Reason

Because that option isn't available, and it can fix some AI problems from having a major league club w/foreign player limits and a minor league club without.

Priority

Low.