How do you play the first season of an FOF dynasty?

[Maple Leafs]

One of the things that's always bugged me a bit about FOF games is the starting point. You don't get to hire staff, sign any FAs, or really do much of anything other than trading to get your roster into shape for the first season. Personally, this usually means I just try to get through the first season as fast as I can before I start playing the game for real.

I know there's a good reason for this: if you started in the off-season, the opening day rosters would look completely different than they do in the real world and people would complain. It would be great to have the option of when to start, but that would mean two different roster sets and may be more trouble than it's worth.

So just curious... how does everyone else approach the very first season of a new solo FOF dynasty?

[Peregrine]

Well usually in previous versions I would be playing with an empty cupboard so I'd be getting rid of all my players and starting fresh the second year.

[Icy]

Too late probably but i whish we could choose the starting point in FOF2k7.

Option 1: Start just at the start of the offseason, before the draft in ran. That way we could start as a real GM who takes over a team after a season is over, running the draft, signing FA's, deciding which players to cut, etc.

Option 2: As it is now, starting in the preseason.

that way it would be up to each one what to choose.

[SunDevil]

I agree. It is always nice to have more choices.

[Honolulu Blue]

I always consider myself a late hire and do the best with the horses I've been given. I don't enjoy it any more or less, but I don't consider it "my" team until I start making some changes.

This is a vestige of joystick games where playing the games is most (if not all) the fun.

With the expansion option in past FOFs, the postseason started at a different point. The coaches were already hired, but most other team-improving options were open (though free agency was sometimes limited).

[Ben E Lou]

I *want* to quick-sim 20 seasons before starting, but you can't do that in FOF, so I usually do one of two things:

1. preference draft, make sure i get a stud QB and receivers, quick-sim my way to a strong finish, and take over a new team at the very beginning of the second season
2. quick-sim the first season, and do Empty Cupboard starting in Year 2.

[lighthousekeeper]

If this poll were about TCY, I'd definitely say that I don't care how the team does on the field at all during season 1, since they're not "my recruits" yet. My focus is 100% on recruiting.

[Crim]

If this poll were about TCY, I'd definitely say that I don't care how the team does on the field at all during season 1, since they're not "my recruits" yet. My focus is 100% on recruiting.

What he said.

[Rizon]

I *want* to quick-sim 20 seasons before starting, but you can't do that in FOF, so I usually do one of two things:



I really, REALLY would like that. It bothers me a ton you can't do it. (emphasis for how badly I want this)

As it is, I usually just sim 30 seasons and then "take over". But I'd love something similar to OOTP where you can just set all teams to COMPUTER and sim for several decades.

[If this hasn't been mentioned in a Wish List thread, or if Jim says it cannot be done someone let me know.]