Challenging Ourselves in OOTP

GCheekEnergy · 03-14-2024, 11:50 AM

Hello!

I picked up my first copy of an OOTP game a few months ago ('24) and recently picked up the 2025 version. Today is also the first day I'm posting here in the forums, so I wanted to say hello and that it is nice to meet you all. I'm a big fan of the game already and look forward to playing it for a long time. Ok. Enough of my life story here lol.

The topic: I was curious about how you all personally feel towards challenge in these games. Do you enjoy turning trade difficulty up or playing in challenge mode? Is it more fun for you to play with lower difficulty because it's fun to stomp all over the competition? Do you like a mix of higher/lower difficulty?

It seems to me that playing with lower difficulty and wrecking the league would be cathartic? I know it was in my first playthrough in '24 when I won the WS in my first full playthrough as the Angels. I played with challenge mode off and the trade difficulty exactly in the middle. Being able to say "See Perry Minasian! It's not that hard, is it?" (completely joking), was extremely fun.

Cranking up the difficulty I think changes how I think about the game. It seems to lower the margin of error and forces me to engage with some of the game systems that I glossed over as I learned the game in that Angels playthrough. But I could see myself potentially viewing higher difficulties as exceeding my threshold for nuance in a gaming session, turning my viewpoint of the process into tedium.

I'm curious what you all like to do in this respect. Cheers

snepp · 03-14-2024, 12:00 PM

That's one of the joys of OOTP, you can do (nearly) anything you want.

Every league I create is considerably different. I'll be tedium-free, fasy and easy in one, while another plays slow and every dollar spent needs to be agonized over.

Crickett13 · 03-14-2024, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GCheekEnergy

Hello!

I picked up my first copy of an OOTP game a few months ago ('24) and recently picked up the 2025 version. Today is also the first day I'm posting here in the forums, so I wanted to say hello and that it is nice to meet you all. I'm a big fan of the game already and look forward to playing it for a long time. Ok. Enough of my life story here lol.

The topic: I was curious about how you all personally feel towards challenge in these games. Do you enjoy turning trade difficulty up or playing in challenge mode? Is it more fun for you to play with lower difficulty because it's fun to stomp all over the competition? Do you like a mix of higher/lower difficulty?

It seems to me that playing with lower difficulty and wrecking the league would be cathartic? I know it was in my first playthrough in '24 when I won the WS in my first full playthrough as the Angels. I played with challenge mode off and the trade difficulty exactly in the middle. Being able to say "See Perry Minasian! It's not that hard, is it?" (completely joking), was extremely fun.

Cranking up the difficulty I think changes how I think about the game. It seems to lower the margin of error and forces me to engage with some of the game systems that I glossed over as I learned the game in that Angels playthrough. But I could see myself potentially viewing higher difficulties as exceeding my threshold for nuance in a gaming session, turning my viewpoint of the process into tedium.

I'm curious what you all like to do in this respect. Cheers

For me I turn trading to hard and enable hard mode and play with low scouting. I also limit my scouting and development budgets to 2x the baseline. I find I don't have to self regulate as much (ie turning down obviously unfair trades) this way. But play with the settings and don't be afraid to experiment worst case you start over again and enjoy building a new team. You can also back up your initial league and then restore that backup to a new name so that way your initial league is there so you can experiment and not have to start from scratch

Bluenoser · 03-14-2024, 12:21 PM

You might find this thread interesting - https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=352762

Charlie Hough · 03-14-2024, 12:28 PM

Welcome to the community! It's always good to see new players getting into the game.

Winning is definitely more fun, and I'm highly competitive, even with a baseball sim, so here's how I play:

I use higher trade difficulty, and I use AI talent evaluation settings that put a heavy emphasis on ratings over stats. This creates more of a challenge, and it allows the AI to make much smarter transaction and lineup decisions. Since the ratings drive the sim results, within the overall league totals and probability environment, it makes more sense to emphasize ratings. Otherwise, it's too easy to make good trades with the AI, and it will make a lot of bad decisions with player personnel. But other OOTP users do things differently.

I don't play in challenge mode, though, since I want to use commissioner mode, in case I need to use the editor or settings to fix a problem in the game. But I've rarely had to do that. Usually it's to fix a problem with an AI team.

I typically play career historical games, although I've done a few career fictionals. But I also manage all of my teams' games in one-pitch mode (one payoff pitch per at bat), so it can get really frustrating if you're managing a losing team. Over the past couple of versions of OOTP, I've preferred to find historical teams that were around .500 in the standings, and I try to see if I can win the division, win a pennant, or even get to the World Series with them. I've had my best OOTP experiences by doing this, especially with historical minors enabled, as some of these teams had some good AAA players that could help the cause. I've won some World Series, pennants and divisions with a number of these teams, and it's a great way to create a challenge while still giving yourself a good chance to win.

If I'm going to manage a losing team that will take years to improve, then I might manage some of the team's games but simulate certain weeks or even months, if the team is doing poorly and I'm not having fun through all the losing. But you can still focus on making trades, drafting rookies, watching the daily waiver wire, managing your rosters and minors, and doing all the things to help build up your organization. Then, when the team is really ready to compete, you can take over more of the individual game management and play out entire seasons, if you prefer to play that way.

GCheekEnergy · 03-14-2024, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

You might find this thread interesting - https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=352762

Thank you kindly! I love reading this sort of thing, especially as a new player. With all the different options, it has been somewhat overwhelming to get a handle on how to use them to create cohesive sim plans for the future.

BTW.... thank you all for the answers here. It's great to hear how others use the game systems to create interesting challenges.

Canary85 · 03-14-2024, 12:48 PM

i crank up trade difficulty, make it so ai highly favors prospects... i do not initiate trades, just complete them if something the ai sends that i like. then i turn off IAFA and scouting discoveries. also make it so ai favors ratings 100% over stats since that is what i do. only handicap is that i play on low injury.

dodgerblue88 · 03-14-2024, 01:36 PM

I sim out all my games and play relatively slow, I get through a season in about 3 months. Fictional only

AI Ratings Weight: 40/30/20/10
Max Trade Difficulty, slightly favor prospects
Injuries: Very High
Fatigue: High
Scouting: Very Low (20-80 scale)
Talent Change Randomness: 135

I find the game provides a good challenge with the above settings, but I am considering cranking up TCR a bit and changing the rating scale to 2-8 to give a greater fog of war.

progen · 03-14-2024, 02:30 PM

Welcome. Here's some interesting reading for you that has some different perspectives on playing the game. I refer to these now and then.

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=330753 - More related to a rebuild.

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...layer+strategy - This is rather long but comes straight from one of the developers, Matt Arnold. Explains a lot about the game.

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=350341 - If you want to tackle an expansion team. My favorite way to play.

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=316759 - Excellent post on managing your minors.

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...=317611&page=2 - Making the game harder!

So many different ways to play this game and different strategy suggestions as well. Have fun!

jpeters1734 · 03-14-2024, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by progen

Welcome. Here's some interesting reading for you that has some different perspectives on playing the game. I refer to these now and then.

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=330753 - More related to a rebuild.

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...layer+strategy - This is rather long but comes straight from one of the developers, Matt Arnold. Explains a lot about the game.

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=350341 - If you want to tackle and expansion team. My favorite way to play.

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=316759 - Excellent post on managing your minors.

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...=317611&page=2 - Making the game harder!

So many different ways to play this game and different strategy suggestions as well. Have fun!

Great list!!

GCheekEnergy · 03-14-2024, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by progen

Welcome. Here's some interesting reading for you that has some different perspectives on playing the game. I refer to these now and then.

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=330753 - More related to a rebuild.

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...layer+strategy - This is rather long but comes straight from one of the developers, Matt Arnold. Explains a lot about the game.

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=350341 - If you want to tackle and expansion team. My favorite way to play.

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=316759 - Excellent post on managing your minors.

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...=317611&page=2 - Making the game harder!

So many different ways to play this game and different strategy suggestions as well. Have fun!

Yesssssss..... Thank you!!! I'm excited to read through it all.

03-14-2024, 11:50 AM	#1
GCheekEnergy Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2024 Location: West Texas Posts: 6	Challenging Ourselves in OOTP Hello! I picked up my first copy of an OOTP game a few months ago ('24) and recently picked up the 2025 version. Today is also the first day I'm posting here in the forums, so I wanted to say hello and that it is nice to meet you all. I'm a big fan of the game already and look forward to playing it for a long time. Ok. Enough of my life story here lol. The topic: I was curious about how you all personally feel towards challenge in these games. Do you enjoy turning trade difficulty up or playing in challenge mode? Is it more fun for you to play with lower difficulty because it's fun to stomp all over the competition? Do you like a mix of higher/lower difficulty? It seems to me that playing with lower difficulty and wrecking the league would be cathartic? I know it was in my first playthrough in '24 when I won the WS in my first full playthrough as the Angels. I played with challenge mode off and the trade difficulty exactly in the middle. Being able to say "See Perry Minasian! It's not that hard, is it?" (completely joking), was extremely fun. Cranking up the difficulty I think changes how I think about the game. It seems to lower the margin of error and forces me to engage with some of the game systems that I glossed over as I learned the game in that Angels playthrough. But I could see myself potentially viewing higher difficulties as exceeding my threshold for nuance in a gaming session, turning my viewpoint of the process into tedium. I'm curious what you all like to do in this respect. Cheers

03-14-2024, 12:28 PM	#5
Charlie Hough Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 3,640	Welcome to the community! It's always good to see new players getting into the game. Winning is definitely more fun, and I'm highly competitive, even with a baseball sim, so here's how I play: I use higher trade difficulty, and I use AI talent evaluation settings that put a heavy emphasis on ratings over stats. This creates more of a challenge, and it allows the AI to make much smarter transaction and lineup decisions. Since the ratings drive the sim results, within the overall league totals and probability environment, it makes more sense to emphasize ratings. Otherwise, it's too easy to make good trades with the AI, and it will make a lot of bad decisions with player personnel. But other OOTP users do things differently. I don't play in challenge mode, though, since I want to use commissioner mode, in case I need to use the editor or settings to fix a problem in the game. But I've rarely had to do that. Usually it's to fix a problem with an AI team. I typically play career historical games, although I've done a few career fictionals. But I also manage all of my teams' games in one-pitch mode (one payoff pitch per at bat), so it can get really frustrating if you're managing a losing team. Over the past couple of versions of OOTP, I've preferred to find historical teams that were around .500 in the standings, and I try to see if I can win the division, win a pennant, or even get to the World Series with them. I've had my best OOTP experiences by doing this, especially with historical minors enabled, as some of these teams had some good AAA players that could help the cause. I've won some World Series, pennants and divisions with a number of these teams, and it's a great way to create a challenge while still giving yourself a good chance to win. If I'm going to manage a losing team that will take years to improve, then I might manage some of the team's games but simulate certain weeks or even months, if the team is doing poorly and I'm not having fun through all the losing. But you can still focus on making trades, drafting rookies, watching the daily waiver wire, managing your rosters and minors, and doing all the things to help build up your organization. Then, when the team is really ready to compete, you can take over more of the individual game management and play out entire seasons, if you prefer to play that way. Last edited by Charlie Hough; 03-14-2024 at 12:30 PM.

03-14-2024, 02:30 PM	#9
progen All Star Starter Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,530 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	Welcome. Here's some interesting reading for you that has some different perspectives on playing the game. I refer to these now and then. https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=330753 - More related to a rebuild. https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...layer+strategy - This is rather long but comes straight from one of the developers, Matt Arnold. Explains a lot about the game. https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=350341 - If you want to tackle an expansion team. My favorite way to play. https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=316759 - Excellent post on managing your minors. https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...=317611&page=2 - Making the game harder! So many different ways to play this game and different strategy suggestions as well. Have fun! Last edited by progen; 03-14-2024 at 03:06 PM.

03-14-2024, 12:00 PM	#2
snepp All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,459	That's one of the joys of OOTP, you can do (nearly) anything you want. Every league I create is considerably different. I'll be tedium-free, fasy and easy in one, while another plays slow and every dollar spent needs to be agonized over.

03-14-2024, 12:21 PM	#4
Bluenoser Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In The Moment Posts: 14,076	You might find this thread interesting - https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=352762

03-14-2024, 12:48 PM	#7
Canary85 Minors (Single A) Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 54	i crank up trade difficulty, make it so ai highly favors prospects... i do not initiate trades, just complete them if something the ai sends that i like. then i turn off IAFA and scouting discoveries. also make it so ai favors ratings 100% over stats since that is what i do. only handicap is that i play on low injury.

03-14-2024, 01:36 PM	#8
dodgerblue88 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Whittier, CA Posts: 196	I sim out all my games and play relatively slow, I get through a season in about 3 months. Fictional only AI Ratings Weight: 40/30/20/10 Max Trade Difficulty, slightly favor prospects Injuries: Very High Fatigue: High Scouting: Very Low (20-80 scale) Talent Change Randomness: 135 I find the game provides a good challenge with the above settings, but I am considering cranking up TCR a bit and changing the rating scale to 2-8 to give a greater fog of war.