All-Time Random Debut Database & Setup instructions for OOTP10

[vesuvius]

I created this for my single player experience and figured I'd make it available to anyone interested. Many folks don't even know it is possible, and it is a fun alternate universe.

Edit/Note - Have not tested it, but these instructions should work for OOTP9 as well.

What this is :
An alternate universe containing every player to ever play in the major leagues, with their debut years mixed up/randomized between 1990 and 2065. Thus you can have Babe Ruth playing against Barry Bonds, etc. (in theory, depending on when they randomly show up in the game).

It is designed for use with a historical game beginning in 2000 (that gives a solid set of players for the 30 MLB teams in the year 2000). As the players are spread out until 2065, that gives many years with which to play the game.

Created using Sandman's randomdebut utility.

The setup instructions below are very important, especially the league totals modifiers. Without them, the statistics can get very crazy and unrealistic.

Of note :
This uses an old version of the Lahman database, as I could not get the utility to work with the newest database included in OOTP10.

Since this requires a modified Lahman database to get working, I've included a link to that modified database (and not just a quick start file) along with easy step by step instructions to set up a league using it.

There is no harm in using this, as the modified database will be stored by you in a separate, unique location, and only used for this particular league.

*** Set up Instructions ***
(I'd print this out and check off each step as you do it. Doesn't take very long, despite the lengthy instructions)

ALSO - these instructions assume you have the league creation wizard running

1. Download the modified randomdebut database (6 meg) to be used with your new game here : http://www.thecblonline.com/lahmanzip/RandomLahman.zip

2. Extract the RandomLahman.zip file to a directory on your hard drive (C:\Lahman_Random\). It has to stay there for as long as you use the league (the league will pull rookies from it), and should only be used for this particular league (unless you want a 2nd league using this alternate universe).

3. Start OOTP10 and Create a New Custom Game -> Historical League

4. On the League Setup screen, (leave things default unless I state to change them)

• A. Select Path to Database -> C:\Lahman_Random\master.csv (or the directory you extracted it to)
• B. Season Year should be set to : 2000
• C. In the next section, use : Real Stats / Remaining Years of Career / 3 Year / 3 Year (pitcher stamina can be either 3 year or career, your choice)

5. Click on Next Step (the Database will load)

6. Click on Next Step again (to get past the teams screen)

7. Select your minor league preferences (I use AAA, AA, A)

8. Click on Next Step (to advance to Step 4 of 6)

• A. Uncheck the top 3 of the 4 options (I leave auto adjust financials enabled)

9. Click on Next Step (to advance to Step 5 of 6)

10. Click on Next Step (to advance to Step 6 of 6)

• A. Enter your manager info
• B. Select your Game Name
• C. Select Commish Mode if you want it.

11. Click on Advanced Mode (NOT next step!)

• A. Click on Game Options (top left)
• B. Disable coaching and/or scouting if you wish.
• C. Set the ratings scales you prefer (I use 1 to 10)

12. Click back on Create Game (top left)

• A. Select Major League 2000 near the bottom of the left menu so you can edit the league
• B. Click on Rules (top middle towards right)
• C. Set the Ammy Draft to March 1st (gives more players on teams in year 1)
• D. Set Draft reveal date to 10 days prior

13. Click on Options (top middle towards right)

• A. Check Hold Draft (inaugural Fantasy Draft)
• B. *** UNCHECK *** automatically adjust league totals modifiers after each season for historical accuracy
• C. *** UNCHECK *** auto adjust date if matching XML schedule found

14. Click on Strategy and Equivalencies (This is VERY important)

• A. Change the league totals Modifiers to the following (the rest should be 1.000 when you start) : (If you don't do this, your stats will be majorly WACK)
• ====================
  • Hits = .950
  • Doubles = 1.120
  • Triples = .840
  • HR = 2.220
  • BB = 1.150
  • HBP = 1.100
  • Strikeouts = 1.750
• ====================
  • Sac Flies = 1.050 (down a little ways from the previous item)
  • Sac Bunts = .900
  • SB Attempts = .760
  • SB Success = 1.035
• ====================
• B. Make sure auto adjust league totals is still not checked...you don't want these modifiers to ever change after setting them.

15. Click on Start Game (lower left)!

16. Pick the team you want to manage (if you haven't) immediately if you want to get in on the initial draft.

17. If you are in commish mode :

• A. You might want to check out the players in the draft, and sort them by age. Some guys import older to give the league a "full feeling" with enough players and age ranges. If there are any superstars who come in as geezers, take this chance to edit them to a younger age.
• B. Go into Global Setup -> Player and Picture Options, and change the talent change randomness from 100 to something lower. 100 will destroy a bunch of guys development. I prefer something around 20.

18. Have fun!

[kagnew35]

Thanks for the set, lot of work. Set up my league and in 1st year ammy draft, seem to have all fictional players. What did I do wrong?

[vesuvius]

Make sure you chose a historical league, and pointed it to the proper newly downloaded database. It should be easy to tell - when you click on next step after pointing it to the database, it should take a little bit to import the players.

Something in steps 1-4 was probably wrong. You can AIM me at wedgeeric if you have further questions.

[kagnew35]

Rather than aim, try my live chat, more comfortable, see my sig

Hit the musical note icon below room to call me.

[kagnew35]

I just got fired!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In last place in 1st year, 1st time ever been tossed!!!!

But is working well, got Glavine in 1st year ammy draft, to go with Smolts,
Santana, Newcombe

[vesuvius]

Great

[mgom27]

I wish the start date could be 2009 so we can use Real Minor League people and Teams but good file.

[JoeRockHead]

Great Mod! Played my first season and loved it. I really enjoy not knowing who is going to show up in the draft. Thanks for releasing the file!

[jwinbigler]

Thanks for the great set. I've already got a fictional league going that I'm really immersed in, but this is a fun alternative when I need a break from that. I'm thinking of trying it with only 16 teams to concentrate the talent more. If I were to do that, should the league total modifiers stay the same? I may just try it tonight and see what happens.

[vesuvius]

Originally Posted by jwinbigler

Thanks for the great set. I've already got a fictional league going that I'm really immersed in, but this is a fun alternative when I need a break from that. I'm thinking of trying it with only 16 teams to concentrate the talent more. If I were to do that, should the league total modifiers stay the same? I may just try it tonight and see what happens.

You would want to fine tune the league totals modifiers if you did that.

Best bet is to run the 1st season a bunch of times playing with the modifiers until they generate reasonable statistics, and use those going forward.

Good luck!

[ShaneCarson]

Does the random debut database just change the birth years and debut dates for players in the Master.csv file?

[vesuvius]

Originally Posted by ShaneCarson

Does the random debut database just change the birth years and debut dates for players in the Master.csv file?

I didn't create it, so I can't answer it exactly, but - it definitely does significantly more than that. Each individual season's year in the fielding, fieldingOF, batting, and pitching csv files has to have their dates modified to correspond with the new debut year, etc.

[BillyMadison]

This is a really awesome alternative file that I'm going to have some fun with. Thanks.

@jwinbigler - If you come up with good accurate league total modifiers for 16 teams, please post them. I'd like to do the same thing.

[bigMatt]

This is a lot of fun - I abandoned my previous project to dive into this - got Honus Wagner and Hughie Jennings with my first two picks - I'll be a bit punch and judy in year one, although Glenn Davis and Ellis Valentine will make sure the other team doesn't play 8 infielders.

Got the Big Hurt with my first pick in the first year player draft, so at least some power is on the way.

I'm puzzled about one thing. The players each show a 3 year OOTP history that precedes the inaugural draft. When I look at their "real" stats, I see this OOTP history directly mirrors reality.

Here's my question - if I change the ages on a few of the geezers so I can have them in the league longer, how will this affect the player's career arch? Will he A) continue at the point where he entered my game, basically adding years to his career but at his diminished skill set, or, B) will he revert back to his skill set at the younger age? Will he essentially repeat his noted performance all over again?

[bigMatt]

Dola, I would have laid odds the answer was B), but after playing the first season, it looks more like A). The half dozen guys whose ages I moved from mid-30's to mid-20's all played like they were at the end of their careers. Bummer.

[bigMatt]

Found my first duplicate last night. Happened to see the box score of another team and noticed that a pitcher named "Jim Poole" took the loss.

I have a middle reliever named Jim Poole.

I compared "real" stats of the two and they are definitely the same pitcher.

Guessing if it happened with one player in year one, chances are there are or will be others.

[hyde4us11]

I have a question on this setup. Is it possible to edit this setup to play less teams? I'd like to use this idea but with 12-16 teams. If so where do i start?

[vesuvius]

Best bet would be to follow the instructions, and before the draft, edit the league set up down to the # of teams you want.

From that point you'd want to figure out new League Totals modifiers however.

Best way to do this is run a test season, and at the end of the season, click the automatically adjust league totals modifiers checkbox in league setup - that will give you new modifiers that you should use as a base for year 1 (i.e. restart the league setup process in a new league, and substitute those modifers for the ones I provided).

[hyde4us11]

Originally Posted by vesuvius

Best bet would be to follow the instructions, and before the draft, edit the league set up down to the # of teams you want.

From that point you'd want to figure out new League Totals modifiers however.

Best way to do this is run a test season, and at the end of the season, click the automatically adjust league totals modifiers checkbox in league setup - that will give you new modifiers that you should use as a base for year 1 (i.e. restart the league setup process in a new league, and substitute those modifers for the ones I provided).

Awesome, thanks for the quick reply.

[Athletics17]

Where do I put the Lahman file. It said to put it on your hard drive. But where? I might be missing some detail but if you can help me out I would appreciate it. Thanks.