2 questions (newby)

[irabowman]

1. When it comes to drafting what should you be looking for so that you might come out with at least 2-3 players that will after training can be developed at least to 70's. Higher would be sweeter but anything is better than 30-40 range for 1st & 2nd rd picks. I also interview players with the most red and blue numbers.

2nd. I am down to 1.3 million salary cap. When dealing with free agents I been trying to bid like 1-2 million less in wages and then give a signing bonus of like 500K - 1 Mill more in signing bonus. Also since I started game with all talent in like 20-40 range other than Grahm TE who is 98. I have not went after no big player and been trying to just build a solid team of like 50-60 scores. Granted I am still losing lol. So what do most of you do to make sure you stay good shape with budget?


Ty, IraB.

[aston217]

1. 2-3 Top 5 picks? :) Drafting is kind of an inexact science, but still a science. There's a lot to learn about it. Poke around...or join a MP league and learn through osmosis.

2. Cap management, now there's a science! I don't know, I guess I'd start with not extending guys who are asking more than they are worth. A bunch of 40 rated dudes each making $3-4M adds up pretty quickly. But if you're maximizing, you will probably always be pretty close to the salary cap.

The best way to learn is to read around here, and watch what other people are doing in an MP setting. There's a lot of layers to this game! Happy learning!

[irabowman]

Anyone else with any help, I am still lost as to what too look for when drafting. hate having 3rd pick 1 year get a RB with a 82 max. Next year drafted 13th went WR he was 34. This year tried for a WR again 42 max and I picked 5th. There has to be a few clues that improve 1st and 2nd rd picks. I understand in NFL they are going be bust, but 3 drafts and I have only had 1 good player drafted.

Also have a 3rd question, under game help it says teams might be very interested in a draft pick. How do you see if anyone might want your 1st rd pick?

[drayjones007]

make sure you have a coach who specializes in a particular position on your staff and make sure you do the pre draft interview...your coach will let you know if the potential pick is over rated, under rated , or as scouted...sometimes, he'll say he cant get a good read....you get 12 interviews before each draft. use them

[irabowman]

I have been. I have noticed though that after playing 5 games every one starts with different stats 2 of the 3 started with decent stats, I seem to be doing better if it starts with more realistic stats. 2 of the 3 games Manning, Rodgers, Brees, Brady and seems there was 1 more that was 80 or higher. In the other 3 games I only started with 1 or 2 of these guys above 80. Weird is all I can say.

[wustin]

I have been. I have noticed though that after playing 5 games every one starts with different stats 2 of the 3 started with decent stats, I seem to be doing better if it starts with more realistic stats. 2 of the 3 games Manning, Rodgers, Brees, Brady and seems there was 1 more that was 80 or higher. In the other 3 games I only started with 1 or 2 of these guys above 80. Weird is all I can say.

There are stat changes for everyone after the second week of pre-season. That's when the volatility rating becomes a factor.

As for drafting, it's going to take a while...you're also not going to hit every year in the first round and get a guy with potential in the 70s-80s.

Here's some threads to help you.

Some Combine Benchmarks (and Drafting Thoughts) - Front Office Football Central (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=72313&highlight=combine)
What are the important combines for each position group? - Front Office Football Central (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=89290)

I started playing a few months ago, and the first thing I did was searched the heck out of this forum for guides and stuff before asking anything.

[Ben E Lou]

In these two questions, you've hit on two of them primary (if not THE top two) items of concern when it comes to becoming a better FOF player. And here's the thing: there is a *reason* that people have played this game for so long--and especially this particular version. I think most people would consider me an "expert" at FOF, and I rarely draft "at least 2-3 players" in a single draft who will make it into the 70s.

This game is hard and it will take some time to improve. The board can help, but there aren't a lot of short cuts to learning how to draft and learning when to keep a player and when to cut bait on his salary. Learning those things takes time. And it should; if it didn't, it would be far too easy to become an "expert" at FOF, dominate, and get bored with it.

That said, a few general tips...

DRAFTING
1. If you have good scouts, you can pay more attention to the blue bars and draft guys who have high ones.
2. If your scouts are mediocre or worse, you'll need to focus heavily on combines and just about ignore bars at first.
3. Read this thread: What are the important combines for each position group? - Front Office Football Central (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=89290)

CAP MANAGEMENT
1. Don't get sentimental. If a player is getting old, his performance is dropping, but he still wants premium money, cut him.
2. Don't keep a bunch of former-draftee 7th-year players around as backups unless they're willing to play for the veteran minimum.
3. Every single season you should check *every* single contract to see if you can get a favorable renegotiation--or if the player is making too much and should be released.
4. I agree with the advice to join a multi-player league and watch what the better players do.

[stevew]

I have been. I have noticed though that after playing 5 games every one starts with different stats 2 of the 3 started with decent stats, I seem to be doing better if it starts with more realistic stats. 2 of the 3 games Manning, Rodgers, Brees, Brady and seems there was 1 more that was 80 or higher. In the other 3 games I only started with 1 or 2 of these guys above 80. Weird is all I can say.

That's X-Factor, every league that you start is going to be slightly different. If you want it to stay the same(or similar?), turn off full X-Factor.

[irabowman]

Thanks guys, those threads helped give a better understanding. I very much appreciate it.

[Sharkn20]

Thanks guys, those threads helped give a better understanding. I very much appreciate it.

In the OSFL we are in play-offs right now and will turn into the off-season soon, is a good moment to start to learn MP Football and how to Draft or play better in Free Agency... It was my first MP league and nowadays is my favourite one, don´t miss this turn!

OSFL League Forum - Sim Gaming Network (http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=30)

[aston217]

One thing to be cautious of in the MalcPow thread (Combine Benchmarks) is it was made for the last version of the game, so things like "masked pairs" don't (I think?) really apply any more. Don't let it confuse you!

Ben's new thread is probably a more useful primer for the new game. There's a lot that goes into drafting -- I think probably most of us are still trying to figure it out!

[WilleB]

1. 2-3 Top 5 picks? :) Drafting is kind of an inexact science, but still a science. There's a lot to learn about it. Poke around...or join a MP league and learn through osmosis.

2. Cap management, now there's a science! I don't know, I guess I'd start with not extending guys who are asking more than they are worth. A bunch of 40 rated dudes each making $3-4M adds up pretty quickly. But if you're maximizing, you will probably always be pretty close to the salary cap.

The best way to learn is to read around here, and watch what other people are doing in an MP setting. There's a lot of layers to this game! Happy learning!

You will learn triple time in MP leagues. Bring plenty of H20!