Stadiums - Again

[NawlinsFan]

Has anyone had issues with the stadium configurations when starting a generic game based universe? I started a 32/8/16 league and the only thing I did was update team names, created my info file with the CAP and let the game generate players. Even so the stadium configurations were altered. As I see it using the base game data shouldn't do this. Am I wrong?


Have to laugh - both New York teams are in the right location but one in a dome the other open air. It's an immersion thing for me and I am sure bothers me more than others but damn, it shouldn't be doing this.

[Gallifrey]

This is being correctly read for sure. I read the overview.txt file and it states which files are read and help create the custom universes.

I incorrectly posted earlier that I thought the game was missing something, but it was just me missing details that the game supplied files explain.

[NawlinsFan]

Originally Posted by Gallifrey

This is being incorrectly read for sure. I just ran a couple of tests, and it isn't reading in the data correctly from the team_info.csv

Have you reported this to customer support?

No, wanted to make sure it just wasn't just me.

Thanks.

[Gallifrey]

There may be something we are missing in our edits... but I think it is 'going elsewhere' for the data, which is what happens I think when the csv doesn't resolve what is needed.

Note which files are read in a custom universe as explained in overview.txt

[NawlinsFan]

Originally Posted by Gallifrey

There may be something we are missing in our edits... but I think it is 'going elsewhere' for the data, which is what happens I think when the csv doesn't resolve what is needed.

I keep going back over it and just can't find anything. I agree with you and it is likely something very simple, but damn.

[NawlinsFan]

Ok, ran 3 default 2023 starts - stadiums were all good.

I then ran 3 2002 32_8_16 starts using the xxx_info file. Each time the stadiums were scrambled.

I did not alter the files for the 2002 universe other then creating the info file so I have no clue.



A secondary issue I have had over and over again as well is if I choose to place players on teams for an alternate universe my roster is empty. I must choose a preference or ful;l draft to populate the roster.

[Ben E Lou]

I have no clue about Stadiums. Haven’t messed with them and don’t know that I ever will. But I am currently writing and testing code to create full fictional player universes. You’re definitely doing something wrong there. I followed the directions in the text files and the players are going on the rosters exactly as I am expecting them to.

[NawlinsFan]

Originally Posted by Ben E Lou

I have no clue about Stadiums. Haven’t messed with them and don’t know that I ever will. But I am currently writing and testing code to create full fictional player universes. You’re definitely doing something wrong there. I followed the directions in the text files and the players are going on the rosters exactly as I am expecting them to.

Appreciate that Ben but as mentioned in this last run all I did was create the xxxx_info file and it did the same. The info file is simple - league format, start year, CAP and salaries. ????


I again just ran one for a 2002 and a 2023 start using the a corresponding info file and got the exact same issues noted above. I don't know. Sent some info to customer servcie (Jim) but realize this is not likely to be a high pri.

[Ben E Lou]

So you didn’t edit the player file at all and NONE of them populated on teams? (I presume you did remember to make a copy of it with the xxxx name, right?)

[NawlinsFan]

Originally Posted by Ben E Lou

So you didn’t edit the player file at all and NONE of them populated on teams? (I presume you did remember to make a copy of it with the xxxx name, right?)

Nope, no player, QB or coach file. Without them the game generates what it needs. If I choose the preference and/or full draft eveything is fine. If I choose to put them on the roster mine is empty but the other team rosters are complete.


This is a repeat of my earlier thread when I updated the stadium data and all associated files for a 1970 start. I want to think its all me but damn if it doesn't point to something else.

[Rofar1]

As far as I can tell, the stadiums types and conditions are completely random.

[Gallifrey]

After some careful reading through the text files that are there to help us with the customization of the game I have found that the stadium 'issue' isn't actually a bug or game issue.
The game is functioning just as the help files state.

They explain what each csv affects, and the custom data doesn't read from the team_info.csv file.

If you take the team_info.csv and change stadium data for the supplied 2023 player file, it will read to what you change it too.

If you load a custom set, you get what the set is designed to supply... players (and future drafts), coaches, league start year with cap and you can move teams and change their color schemes via the defaut_teams.csv.

It is great that we can create all this custom data, and I for one will not let stadiums knock that down a notch for me.

For instance, when I tested my 1965 file and simmed 30 years, almost every team had built new stadiums. So I just glanced at that and went to make sure my drafts looked good.

[NawlinsFan]

Originally Posted by Gallifrey

After some careful reading through the text files that are there to help us with the customization of the game I have found that the stadium 'issue' isn't actually a bug or game issue.
The game is functioning just as the help files state.

They explain what each csv affects, and the custom data doesn't read from the team_info.csv file.

If you take the team_info.csv and change stadium data for the supplied 2023 player file, it will read to what you change it too.

If you load a custom set, you get what the set is designed to supply... players (and future drafts), coaches, league start year with cap and you can move teams and change their color schemes via the defaut_teams.csv.

It is great that we can create all this custom data, and I for one will not let stadiums knock that down a notch for me.

For instance, when I tested my 1965 file and simmed 30 years, almost every team had built new stadiums. So I just glanced at that and went to make sure my drafts looked good.

I'm going to dig through those again but I have constructed unique files with the required data and had the same issue. I don't know, will just keep at it until I figure it out.

[Gallifrey]

It hit me last night that the game kept giving me the results it should, and I was looking for something that I should have gathered from the files that I would not see.

Look at the overview.txt file as it tells what everything does, and then you can go to those files help txt files and they make it clear.

It was one of those delayed light bulb over the head moments.

[NawlinsFan]

Originally Posted by Gallifrey

It hit me last night that the game kept giving me the results it should, and I was looking for something that I should have gathered from the files that I would not see.

Look at the overview.txt file as it tells what everything does, and then you can go to those files help txt files and they make it clear.

It was one of those delayed light bulb over the head moments.

I will but as you know this is from the team_info file:

team_info.csv

Information used to create teams when starting a new league, and a default configuration is chosen related to a specific season. This replaces the Default Teams table for those leagues.


So the stadium data in this file "should" be read when creating a new league.


Ok, I'm off to read.

[beatle]

How do you add future draft picks to a file? I was just wondering. Sounds like you are adding them to the CSV player file, but not sure of the process.

[Gallifrey]

Originally Posted by beatle

How do you add future draft picks to a file? I was just wondering. Sounds like you are adding them to the CSV player file, but not sure of the process.

Look in the custom_example folder for the custom_player_file_overview.txt file.
Look at the supplied example_players.csv.

If you are starting with the default 2023 roster, you will create the 2024+ drafts by adding players like you see in the example.

One file will contain all future drafts this way. Note the help file mentions the game always looks here for players first when creating a draft class. If nothing there, it creates the class. If you have one player, it takes that player and creates the rest.

Very cool feature.

* Back up your default files first.

[beatle]

Thanks, I will look into that now.

[beatle]

Looking into the file you mentioned, I see the key to loading draft players in the file is the Base Year tab at the end of the file. That file start is 1998 and you have players scheduled for 1999, 2000, 2001 and so forth. Is that correct?

The 2023 player file does not have the base year tab in it compared to the custom file. Do you need to add that tab the file to add future draft players?

[Gallifrey]

Originally Posted by beatle

Looking into the file you mentioned, I see the key to loading draft players in the file is the Base Year tab at the end of the file. That file start is 1998 and you have players scheduled for 1999, 2000, 2001 and so forth. Is that correct?

The 2023 player file does not have the base year tab in it compared to the custom file. Do you need to add that tab the file to add future draft players?

I am no expert in this, but has since day one messed around with all this, so take my suggestions with a grain of salt! I took my lumps and mistakes and did learn one thing... the examples did have the answers, I just needed to slow down and look it over.

You bring up an interesting question. I have not actually tried the 2023 to 2024 to the future structure, I went straight to the starting point of the past using the custom files.

My messing around with this has shown that just as the instructions say, the Base Year of say a 1980 start date needs to be 1980 in the info file and the player/QB files where you want the players to be on rosters at the start. All future draft players get the base of the draft year.

BASE_YEAR - If this field matches the BASE_YEAR in xxxx_info.csv, the player will be part of the initial player database for this universe. Otherwise, the game checks this file each season when draftable players are created, matching BASE_YEAR to the current year to bring in new players. If none, or not enough players are found, the game will create new fictional players.

I would not alter the 2023 supplied files at all in the default_data folder.

I suggest taking that supplied file for players and QB and copying the data into your custom structure in the say 2023_players and 2023_quarterbacks file set with the guys that are in this list as a base year of 2023. Set your 2023_info file correctly. The game will start with these guys where you want them (with the current league structure).

In those files you can add the future with a Base Year the year you want the future guys drafted.

Do read example_players.txt and note this in the fields that will be ignored for your future players: This field is ignored for draftable players.
Will save some time in adding guys.

I would again just stay away from the base files that give a stable universe, and go to custom to do all this altering.

[NawlinsFan]

So "G" lets carry this forward.

I want to create a universe starting in 2002. I do the following -
- the default_treams file is not relevant as I want to begin in a specific year
- I check the league_info file and it is formatted for a 2002 start for a 32_8_16 schedule.
- I check the league_years file and it is formatted for a 2002 start.
- niether the nicknames or colors files are relevant.
- I check the team_info file and it is formatted for a 2002 start.
- I check and the 32_8_16 schedule is provided.

- I create a fictional 2002_players file to begin the season and ensure it is in the default_data folder.
- I opt to allow the game to generate QB's and Coaches.

I open the game and attempt the creation.

- I identify the folder. NFL2002
- I select to use an FOF9 player file

Here theres nothing, I can't change the season start nor does the drop down show a 2002 option.

So first thing here. Yes the info file does state the the 2023 file is the only one supplied but does not indicate that we can not create our own and have the game use it.


Now, part 2. Using this same player file with the required season info file in the custom_examples folder the game is fine and builds the universe with the exception that the stadiums are scrambled.

So I am now digging into why the game is not recognizing the 2002 default start,

Ideas?

[Gallifrey]

I do everything in the custom_examples folder.

I have these files there:
1965_info (league format, start year, cap structure)

1965_players (1965 teams having their players with IDs assigned to those teams. Future draft players with IDs of 0 and their base year the draft year).

1965_coaches (with all those guys there for a 1965 start)

1965_quarterbacks (like players, copying over the historic guys and the 2023 default guys and setting them to base or future for drafts).

My default_teams file is edited in the 28_6_16 section (the format I am using to get the 1976 expansion and 1978 schedule because I like it) and I moved the Cards to St. Louis, made sure the Colts were in Baltimore and made sure the colors matched the older format. Like the Bucs are in their 1976 colors.

I never looked at stadiums here since they are not part of these files.

I get success with all this, any way I twist it as long as I follow the rules of the road so to speak. My draft guys are in the years I want, my base players come in where I want like Bart Starr and Jim Brown.

[NawlinsFan]

I also started a draft file addition for a similar league configuration.

I do agree that using the "custom" folder things seem go as expected, I guess. It's hard on the immersion when a 1970 stadium is a hybrid or has a retracable roof or a legacy place like Lambeau suddenly has a dome.

This is why I tried taking the other route. Create a specfic player file as part of the base game to use the associated base file settings that are configured with the information. As noted the game doesn't recognize it and I need to find out why.

Back to the drawing board.

[NawlinsFan]

For your draft expansion what did you do with info like place of birth, hieght, weight, etc.? I started pulling draft files from a site and can get the basic info but some of those data points are missing. I assume the game will just fill it in but thats why we would end up wit ha 5'9" Reggie White.

[Gallifrey]

All my draft players I get their height, weight, home town and college from Pro Football Reference.