I've tried to figure these things out for myself and I just keep deleting leagues after wasting hours on them so I figured an expert would be able to help me.
Regular game
1)What does enabling storylines do?
You should do it if you are looking for more interactive experience. You will see stories throughout the year that effect your players (maybe they get suspended or improve their game or have a baby, etc). They are typically off the field storylines about your team or other players from around the league.
2)What does it really mean to have AI scout on ratings vs evaluation?
AI scouting on evaluation means it looks at stats. ratings me4ans it looks at players' ratings.
3)Does it make a difference if any coach in my organization favors ability vs tools (which I still don't get)
I'll let someone else handle this one.
4) Why does the maximum cash allowed seem really low. Managing the Pirates I'll need to build up some money if I ever want to sign anyone
Sounds like the real Pirates Setting it low means that you won't have as much money to play with but neither will the really large market teams. Those teams will make much more money than a small market team and thus be easier to win one without this limit.
Historical game
1)What does automatically controll in game engine mean?
I believe this was made for gamers that want an accurate recreation of an exact single season.
2)Is there a way to have a pitcher, on original import, who started 32 games last year, not end up with a stamina of 2 or 3 and bullpen only in a new game. I want to start Babe Adams not relegate him to the Pen like the real life Pirates did in 25.
You could edit his stamina rating after the import. Other than that, not that I know of.
3) In the AAA menu you have an option to automatically import players to their real teams. In the ML menu it also has this option but says you have to disable the draft. I want players to go to their teams but also want a draft so my minor leagues don't run out of players. Can I do it?
Not sure on this.
4) If I choose to go with real life stats and not the OOTP development engine will players develop toward their potential within a given season before being reset the next?
They will play all season long like the stats they received in real life that year.
I apologize if these seem like obvious questions but I haven't played since OOTP8 due to time constraints (e.g. children) and I'm tired of trying to figure this out myself. Plus the mental fog of fibromyalgia doesn't help with the whole mental thing.
Thanks to anyone who can help me!!!