Free Agency System Bad....

[Slugger222]

The Free Agency System needs work.

A. It takes too much real time.

B. The FA bidding should be slowed down. A few hours is not enough time for all 9of the coaches to get a lookat teh FA list.

I don't like the way the free agents dribble onto the screen. Unless I missed something, it does notlook like all fo the FAs are visible at the same time. They kind of dribbel out. So I go out and put a bid on a player, only to find a few hours later, that a better player is a FA.

Will post more objections as I find them..... Need to talk to the wife.

[Phlint]

i disagree. the free agent pool is one area where strategy and extra work pays off. I like it the way it is

[Particleman]

I agree with Phlint, the Free Agent System works well the way it is. I don't think it needs to take any longer, it already takes almost a full day in Fast Sim. And if you can't keep up with that pace, you shouldn't be in a Fast Sim League.

[Slugger222]

I'm on the West Coast, and the scheduling means that I get to look at the game once at 7:00 AM, and then after the sims are completed at 5:00 PM.

In Fast Sim 46, I see only 8 teams drafting, which probably skews things a bit. But that means that some killer teams are going to be created.

There really needs to be some sort of AI that you can turn on before the draft so that teams do not get shut out. I cannot state that enough.

Of the 8 teams drafting, I see alot of bargain hunting going on. I can see 8 killer teams being created, and 22 also rans.

The other 22 are giong to be dissapointed, and many will drop out as active coaches. Not what Clay and CO. want, I'm sure.
(Of course, I'm sure more will stick once they actually have to pay to play.....)

Actually, the scheduling is not bad in the Fast Sim. In this case, I only missed a few hours of FA drafting, because the end of the season / playoffs / start of FA draft is what took place between 7AM and 5 PM. But since the bidding starts at 2:00 PM, what is done to make sure that everyone gets a chance to bid? Do you have to be waiting by your compuer until the beginning of bidding starts in order to make sure that you have a shot at everyone?

It also looks like the draft continues after hours. Some guys have disappeared.

In real life, one day is not much time. Out of 30 players, some are going to have something better to do than sit in front of their computer for 6 hours pouring over a fantasy draft.

The bidding structure itself is good. But you don't want to alienate players by not giving them enough time to get in on it.

[Slugger222]

One other suggestion. To discourage bargain hunting, maybe a minimum bid should be instituted. Perhaps 30% of what the "Agent's" asking price was.

Of course, if more people are active in the bidding (there are only 8 active bidders in Fast SIm 46) that may take out that necessity.

[Farsight]

I like the system for the most part, just one big area of improvement:

SHOW STATS! Currently, I have to click on every name to see stats, because the bidding takes their place... that's clunky... I'd rather have to scroll a bit left<->right to see everything, than have to pop up a window for every player...

[Slugger222]

Another nice feature wuold be a "Signed Contracts" list for the FA draft. That way you can go and check who has signed where with out searching the name - which is kind of clunky.

[Phlint]

why in the world would you want to get rid of bargain hunting??

just because some owners don't choose to be active in the post season why punish those of us who do?

[Particleman]

Perhaps more owners would be able to play the game everyday. If there were several different leagues that ran at different times of the day (4-6 pm, 6-8 pm etc...) but the simulations ran in shorter intervals, like say every 20 minutes. This way ppl could choose a time that they will be able to manage. This would also allow players to manage their team after every sim, since they would no longer have to stick at their computer from 10am to 10 pm (which very few ppl can do). Those who want to play all day still can, by just choosing leagues at different times of the day, one in the morning, one in the afternoon, one in the evening.

Since everyone would be able to manage after every sim in this system, everyone would be able to bargain hunt during free agency.

[Clay Dreslough]

One solution to a lot of these problems will be the addition of new league options. Such as a "medium speed" sim, and also the time-based sims (e.g. 2 hours every night) that have been suggested.

We will also be adding computer AI that bids on Free Agents, to eliminate some of the grotesque bargain hunting that's going on.

Clay

[Slugger222]

One other suggestion I would like to make on Fast Sims......

I really like the 3 days / season format. But think that it should be broken down more evenly. Start each season at the beginning of a day's play of Sims, and time the WS so that it falls at the end of the 3rd day.

Then begin the FA draft with the opening Sim of the next day. And maybe have the FA draft last 2 days in order to allow coaches to draft and trade.

That way, an entire year runs in 4 or 5 day cycles.

This format will give players a chance to take a breath and do some research during the off hours. With 30 teams, and 100 + FAs - not to mention the additions to the minor leagues - a little research time would be good!

[Farsight]

That kind of scheduling sounds excellent to me...

"Hey it's Friday, who won the World Series?" :)

[Slugger222]

And now that I understandthe drafting system better, I have to say that it is pretty good. Actually, just about perfect for the type of game this is.

The only problem with the automatic bidding process is when you are bidding for two players with similar talents.

For example, let's say that you need a stud 2nd baseman, and there are two in the draft. There is no option to, "End Negototiations" if you sign one, and the other is still available. You may end up over extending your budget by signing both.

Of course, you can always trade one once the season starts, which may the only option open to managers, since a "Cancel Negotiations" option may be too difficult, or too confusing to program.

(For example, who then becomes the high bidder and how do you let him know?)

My initial comments about the real time length of the draft stands. One day is really not enough time, especially when that day falls on a weekend. Take the kids to Disney land, or visit the in-laws for the weekend, and you've lost out on your draft!

[kohut]

I wish FA had an option where you can still sign the player if you offer enough right then and there. I dont this to be like on ebay where someone can last minute out bid. If I want a palyer Ill pay the money and sign them then and there not want to have to wait another few horus for the free agency to end or for them to decide whether they wnat to sign or not.

I think the Fast Sim speed is fine. Any slower would be a shame. If you dont have the time because you work an 8 hour day and dont feel you have the time join a 10 games a day league and next month when the season is finished you will have all the time to do the stuff you always wanted in between then.