More challenging

[drewst18]

I don't know if it is the roster file I am playing with but is this game extremely easy or am I just getting lucky?

I have played 2 games and kinda got bored with both. I am finding the AI is severely broken when it comes to cap management. I will look and teams will have 15 guys under contract and under like 2 million in cap room.

I am pretty new to the game so it could be settings I am playing with, but I am seeming to struggle at drafting but resigning and signing FA is pretty easy when the cpu can't seem to manage their cap.

Besides playing multiplayer, does any one have any tips to increase the difficulty?

Also I should mention I am playing with the 2012 roster file.

[Julio Riddols]

House rules are one way, like not allowing yourself to trade or sign any FA but your own.

Another way is to turn injuries to 0, because that makes it easier for the A.I. to field a decent team even if they suck at managing the cap.

What I do is all of the above, and it seems to keep me working hard to field a playoff squad, although I generally have very little trouble, most likely due to experience. We're all still holding out hope that Jim might continue his work on the game and address the issues that it still has, but until that happens, if ever, the best way to have a good time is to join a multiplayer league.

[RedKingGold]

You're also better off going with game-generated rosters over user-generated because the talent distribution is more in line with what the AI understands.

[aston217]

I think it's pretty hard to make it hard in SP. As you say, it's the FA market. I think Julio's idea of not signing any free agents (except say rookies?) would make it pretty good. Or giving yourself a huge cap hit every year.

Give MP a shot though. It's a whooooole 'nother ballgame, and that's where the game's excellent models shine through. It is not easy to accumulate talent, and you'll have to work all your GMing chops to manage a tip-top roster.

[Nemesis]

Handicapping yourself with a huge cap penalty is always a good way to do it.

Try 40% and work your way up from there.

You can do this by signing a FA punter with a min salary and the bonus for 40% of what your available cap is, then cut him.

So if your salary cap is $100,000,000. Sign the punter in Free Agency 1:Stage 2 for min salary, and $40,000,000 bonus. Then immediately cut him. Now you don't have alot of cap to work with. (Credit to QuikSand for coming up with this *i think*)