Computer-Managed Team Trading

[casey9]

I have a suggestion to eliminate the "sack and pillage" trading that goes on between computer-managed teams and low-down humans, such as myself (nine-to-one trade for a top-flight pitcher and a 30+ point payroll reduction).

First a little background: the online version of this game is a gathering of people from all over to compete against one another. The home version is usually played alone or with a couple of friends against computer-managed teams. The online version usually has only a couple of computer-managed teams, and they are usually marking time until a low-down human comes along to take control. Finally, computer-managed teams will not be paying for the service, like us low-down humans.

You probably have put many hours into the trading AI, but no matter how good, trial-and-error humans will find the weakness and then exploit it. Therefore my suggestion is to eliminate trading with computer-managed teams in the online version. Period. Your AI effort can be focused on making computer-managed teams the best budget managers, farm system developers, and free agent bidders. That way the team will remain attractive to potential human (a.k.a. paying) players.

To test the attractiveness of this idea, please create some beta-leagues with and without computer-managed trading, and see which ones flourish.

Good luck and great work so far!

[baccheus]

Without a doubt, anyone who joins a league in progress inheirits an already pillaged team. Most notable in the teams that I picked up is that my AAA is staffed by over-the-hill types and that I am seriosly in the red.

My quickest solution was of course to swap for a few prospects still available on the remaining computer teams.

Some suggestions to make the computers better at dealing;

1. Make all teams keep a minimum number in AAA. I notice that real managers keep far fewer players: just real back-ups and prospects. Thats much better on the budget but unrealisic. Also, the computer is happy to trade for marginal players until its up to the max. Thats one reason that it will take a 9 for 1 deal.

2. Make the computer much more long-run oriented. Have it value potential and low cost much more. An make it stingier overall.

3. Have the computer become insulted like real players. After a couple of rejected offers, it should turn off to that player. Maybe even become a little softer with the player's closest rivals.

4. Make a more structured interface for proposing trades to real managers. The computer is more rewarding to play with because it does not get insulted and it will always tell you what it wants. Make easier to deal with people as you make it harder to deal with the computer.

5. Enhance the player search function to find good players who are sitting on the bench or in AAA -- and include only player-managed teams. This will help generate more inter-player interaction.