Hoping for OOTP 26 and Beyond

[jhcardinals]

Hi folks,

I've been frustrated with the last couple of releases and I thought I'd put that fuel into at least some suggestions on what would make my playing experience better. Of course not all of these are original and some have been kicked around by the community for years, but thought why not just put it out there. Everyone plays the game differently, and maybe some of these are total non-issues for the entire player base. I've included some bugs I've had numerous times over the years that just continue to crop up whether they've been in patch notes or that I've personally reported. Kept it mostly to actionable gameplay and online league stuff. I can go into further detail on any of these. Please let me know if any of these features are already in the game.

Big Picture:

Working interactive AFL for online leagues, winter (LIDOM, Caribbean series) and instructs leagues

Japan

Functional tournaments that involve teams from existing leagues

Rule 5 Draft Overhaul

Relief pitcher usage improvements and manager customization with more strict usage parameters

Free Agent preferences that go beyond manager personality and reputation

Minor League development/morale monitoring, emails from scout/manager saying to promote x prospect for good performance beyond the monthly update and reports tab

More player interactions, like promises (beyond contract promises) and buying out FA years

MiLB FA and ST invite overhaul, ST general overhaul

Ask for improved stadium or new section, walls moved back, etc.

Easier addition of minor league levels like short-season A without causing a power outage or dead-ball level stats

Streamlined waypoint-oriented offseason experience

Better interactions between 2 unaffiliated associations through the posting system

Proper online league integration to single player additions, like owner goals discussion, buying independent league players, etc.

PTBNL lists

Minor Improvements:

Trade AI tweaks and AI untouchables, leverage beyond just time remaining and happiness

Randomizing personalities in the creation wizard

Unloyal/Greedy players less willing to sign long term deals pre-arb and wanting deals comparable to elsewhere around the league

FA players less willing to just accept 2 team options and almost considering them as if they were fully guaranteed years

Arbitration players unwilling to accept 1 year deals unless their number is reached

Better ways to look at past performance, awards. Multi-manager leaderboards.

Owner/Fan response to roster moves beyond the interest

Rudimentary Int'l Draft option (until it flares up in the next CBA talks)

Allow rescheduling of tournaments and creation with a wizard mid-game, allowing for forcing start on a particular day

Scouting Director Top 100 prospects

Development budget breakdown

Fictional players develop into more splits-heavy profiles beyond arm slot that the scout may notice pre-development

Moving back to a more DIPS-centric model, I'm not convinced PBABIP is trying to do much more than fudge the numbers when they don't have to be

Designate minor league spot starter (or preference order)

Create organizational depth chart so 1 injury doesn't snowball into 5+ minutes of moving a guy from AA to AAA and down the line entering them all in manually on each screen

Scripted PH/PR use

MLB Draft PPI (ROY, MVP)

Competitive balance picks

Talented MiLB FA do not sign back as easily (it's really like a reserve clause in current form)

Online commissioner auditing page

Standing online league trade offers

In-game looking for group online leagues

Hoping the Dev Lab 2.0 addresses the numerous issues with the current form

QoL Changes:

Full waiver list widget available in manager office or team home screen

Adjustable ticket price/budget widget available in manager office or THS

THS, Meet the Team, Finances widgets available in manager office

Widget for handling injuries and replacing with most suitable candidate where the sim is uninterrupted

Trading screen does not remove player's side when second team is switched (option)

Stable coach generation that doesn't require maintenance (quotas/spots), smart-randomize coach attributes

Allow contract extension rules that are common in online leagues (percentage increases, no one year greater, frontloading/backloading, vesting and multi-year options)

Pennant Chase divisional, bye odds

Team needs just allows the ovr/pot league setting when adding

Player movement on empty depth chart space defaults to "if starter tired"

Rerun preseason predictions on demand right before the season (once rosters are set) without deleting the file

Ability to move milb player off IL momentarily into a full roster

Manager interaction to keep on a coach in a position he has red control on

Have AI set teach roles if they aren't at the beginning of a season

Automated waiver/DFA days based on the start and end of a sim

Bug Fixes:

Remove private news involving player for other online GMs (reveals sensitive info)

100% retention players not carrying through team options

Functional IAFA system in online leagues

Fix R5 players being returned to their own teams when tournaments are in the game

Fix "compensation" showing on voided team options and occasionally on non-tendered players

Fix int'l players becoming R5 eligible immediately (honestly, a button that even catches false positives but removes all under x service time would be great) if too many are created or a int'l draft is run. Sometimes it's on an unsupported idea, sometimes it's a bizarre quirk, but a quick fix button regardless would be appreciated

Post with easy to understand recommended resolutions and help. A ton of mac-specific crashes seem to be due to resolution issues. It's terrifying to click coaches from places like the search menu (crash). Or use the right-click menu multiple times in succession (lock). Or throw players into the void on the transactions screen. Or for seemingly no reason at all get a strange overlap glitch. I could be wrong on the cause but I've had success fixing those issues with spamming the escape or control buttons or just dragging the edge of the window until I get some app feedback.

There's an issue that crops up with milb players reaching the ML roster from ST on OD every year. I think the only issue remaining here is milb FA that are out of options cannot be optioned if they remain on the roster until OD.

ML minimum (auto) players released midseason owed salary in full.

Can take players making any money in R5, guarantee their salary, and saddle the victim team with the contract at any point.

Player arrows available when overriding team strategy settings

Send scouting reports and contract reactions to the correct online GMs

Draft order decided by playoff order option as it is in real life, as well as teams that missed the playoffs all picking before teams that make the playoffs

Draft lottery randomness fix

Do not overwrite fixing house rules violations like multiple team options or vesting options when importing

TWP doesn't default to SP, and is usable as PH/RP

Fix modifiers for tournaments, it shouldn't be necessary to divide the league totals into the correct # of games to avoid football scores

Allow for custom playoffs in tournaments with no preceding season. Allow for seeding to be assigned, and allow the 1 seed to have home advantage throughout.

Statistical accuracy improvements (something is wrong with those wRAA and defensive run metrics, I should run an analysis to support this claim but it's just not worth it). The BsR/ZR calculation certainly has some issues as it can fluctuate between users within an online league (especially if OOTP has been left running for longer).

Pipe Dream

Online league integration within the game

Live in-game drafts for online leagues

[tward13]

Now that's a list. Love it

[LD84]

Thoughtful and well laid out with no criticism beyond 'I've been frustrated with the last couple of releases'


I cannot wait to see the forums resident OOTPD sycophants rip it apart.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by LD84

Thoughtful and well laid out with no criticism beyond 'I've been frustrated with the last couple of releases'


I cannot wait to see the forums resident OOTPD sycophants rip it apart.

And this added exactly what to the conversation?

[swoboda]

Some good points but .....70 + items on that list??


Maybe assigning "high priority" to a few would be helpful?

[Lukas Berger]

This is a very good list and definitely hits on a lot of the things on our list to add/improve/fix.

The thing is, there's probably about 10 years worth of work here, at a conservative estimate. So it's not likely that all of this will make it into the game any time soon, but some of it definitely will over time.

[Mike D]

Originally Posted by Sweed

And this added exactly what to the conversation?

same amount as this.

[Rain King]

Originally Posted by Mike D

same amount as this.

I disagree. I appreciate when someone gets called out for being an ass.

Regarding the OP list, I think there are a lot very good ideas there. Some of the bug type stuff could probably use further detail in separate posts in the bug forum if haven't been specifically reported previously.

[dishnet34]

Originally Posted by Rain King

Regarding the OP list, I think there are a lot very good ideas there. Some of the bug type stuff could probably use further detail in separate posts in the bug forum if haven't been specifically reported previously.

I agree as well; there are some good ideas here.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by LD84

Thoughtful and well laid out with no criticism beyond 'I've been frustrated with the last couple of releases'


I cannot wait to see the forums resident OOTPD sycophants rip it apart.

Originally Posted by Sweed

And this added exactly what to the conversation?

Originally Posted by Mike D

same amount as this.

Thanks for supporting a guy that tried to take a positive thread and critic of the game and make it negative. He's literally complaining about a group of people he thinks will complain, and be insulting at the same time. Right now he is the "pot" and the "kettle" he was worried about? Well, it hasn't showed up.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by Rain King

I disagree. I appreciate when someone gets called out for being an ass.

Regarding the OP list, I think there are a lot very good ideas there. Some of the bug type stuff could probably use further detail in separate posts in the bug forum if haven't been specifically reported previously.

Originally Posted by dishnet34

I agree as well; there are some good ideas here.

Absolutely agree with both of you and Lukas.

Originally Posted by Lukas Berger

This is a very good list and definitely hits on a lot of the things on our list to add/improve/fix.

The thing is, there's probably about 10 years worth of work here, at a conservative estimate. So it's not likely that all of this will make it into the game any time soon, but some of it definitely will over time.

Sums it up quite nicely.

[jhcardinals]

Originally Posted by swoboda

Some good points but .....70 + items on that list??


Maybe assigning "high priority" to a few would be helpful?

I think that's certainly a fair point, but I don't think that's a question for specifically me to answer. Without a frame of reference or expected development time, I couldn't really give you a thoughtful enough response (and these all scratch different itches). I don't want to go up on my soapbox as 1 person--I will go to bat for every one of these things to change, but it's not my decision. I like playing around with tournaments, but I doubt that's remotely high priority with the player base. I think a real kickass release feature would be to bring back Japan and revamp the posting system (though I could also see that fanning flames).

Originally Posted by Sweed

And this added exactly what to the conversation?

Originally Posted by Sweed

Thanks for supporting a guy that tried to take a positive thread and critic of the game and make it negative. He's literally complaining about a group of people he thinks will complain, and be insulting at the same time. Right now he is the "pot" and the "kettle" he was worried about? Well, it hasn't showed up.

I think the confusion here is he thought the first message was directed at the thread. I'd guess the intention was just a lighthearted jab rather than an attack, and the bait was taken.

Originally Posted by Lukas Berger

This is a very good list and definitely hits on a lot of the things on our list to add/improve/fix.

The thing is, there's probably about 10 years worth of work here, at a conservative estimate. So it's not likely that all of this will make it into the game any time soon, but some of it definitely will over time.

Thanks for the response, I understand. I did try to list actionable items that branch from fundamental aspects of the game. The "black box" aspect of the game is a blessing and a curse. It'd be fairly hard to lose me as a customer, but I think we all want a better game and enough of an upgrade to justify the price tag annually. I'm not saying things like the tutorial weren't difficult to develop or didn't improve the community, but that's no goodwill to me. Making changes that will save me hours of micro-management scrolling or ability to sim solo with the perfect dashboard to deal with any action item does.

Small note: It was special to get Otani, Balentein, Abe, Despaigne, Mori, Seiya, etc. Don't count out the rest of the world appeal.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by jhcardinals

I think the confusion here is he thought the first message was directed at the thread. I'd guess the intention was just a lighthearted jab rather than an attack, and the bait was taken.

On this point I'm going to have to disagree. I'm not going to go any deeper into it to explain why.

You made a well thought out list and good conversation has followed. I think that's a good place to leave it

[BaseballMan]

Originally Posted by swoboda

Some good points but .....70 + items on that list??


Maybe assigning "high priority" to a few would be helpful?

But what is high priority might depend on a member's expectations for the game.
I doubt if jhcardinals was expecting everything to be in the game or put in right way.
However it can open discussions for each suggestion.
I've read people complaining that ootp as come as far as it can.
Judging by this list that doesn't appear to be the case.
It gives the ootp team more to improve or consider putting in the game.
Thats just one member's list.
Maybe have a vote on all suggestions and then the ootp team could look and see what is possible soon and what would have to wait.
We can consider something a priority but if its not possible at this time then
it would have to wait but at least the team would know its something they need to get to if they can.

[NaZolad]

How about fixing some things that have been wrong with the game for years now? Why does the game never create a DSL team for expansion teams? Why is AI so weak that a child can fleece it? Hard Mode doesn't help. It only slows it down. On a lesser note, how about adding a force start option for a stopper? These things could probably be accomplished with a patch.

[jhcardinals]

Now that the full changelist is out, I suppose it's a good time for an update. These are the features I'm most optimistic about in no particular order with the caveat that I haven't put any time in yet. Maybe will put out another update once I've sat with the game for enough time.

Offseason start

Improved (dev lab) outcome logic in general

Added tracking for players accumulated gains/losses that can be directly attributed to the slider configuration you have assigned. It will roughly track the slidersÂ’ impact on the playerÂ’s talent improvements/regression, overall improvements, aging, and more. This should make your management of a playerÂ’s effort through the development sliders feel more tangible with better feedback.

Added Prospect Promotion Incentive picks

Updated minor league AI roster management, to be more aggressive at releasing blocking players, and to pay more attention to minor league placement for top talents

Updated internal engine with many adjustments - stealing rates, bunting rates, error rates, much much more

At least average scouting accuracy is now required to see specific attributes of a playerÂ’s personality

Improved Simulation Speed

[BaseballMan]

Originally Posted by Lukas Berger

This is a very good list and definitely hits on a lot of the things on our list to add/improve/fix.

The thing is, there's probably about 10 years worth of work here, at a conservative estimate. So it's not likely that all of this will make it into the game any time soon, but some of it definitely will over time.

Thats ok.
When people start to question whether ootp has reached its peak or will still be around, that list shows that there is plenty to work on.
As long as there is an new ootp version, i won't mind if it takes 10 years.

I would like to see some improvement to the simulated Hall Of Fame and Awards selections.
Would also like to be able to create all the managers i use at once.
Right now their age is limited by the current year of the sim.
Would like to be able to have all the managers i will use at the begining.
Makes it easier than having to create the new managers every year.

[textilemonster]

Originally Posted by BaseballMan

I would like to see some improvement to the simulated Hall Of Fame and Awards selections.

A few people have made threads about wanting the Winter Meetings to have more content, and since whatever the Veterans Committee is called now meets and announces during Winter Meetings, that would be an awesome thing to add if they do the Hall of Fame revamp I dream of but will probably never happen.
But simply being able to induct managers AS MANAGERS would be nice.

[LansdowneSt]

Originally Posted by textilemonster

A few people have made threads about wanting the Winter Meetings to have more content, and since whatever the Veterans Committee is called now meets and announces during Winter Meetings, that would be an awesome thing to add if they do the Hall of Fame revamp I dream of but will probably never happen.
But simply being able to induct managers AS MANAGERS would be nice.

I've said it before and will too push for it again:

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=341957

[textilemonster]

Originally Posted by LansdowneSt

I've said it before and will too push for it again:

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=341957

Sometimes I wonder if you're me and I just don't know it.