So, let's say I wanna give FOF9 another try...

[QuikSand]

Explain to me like I'm a five year old, or a golden retriever:

-I'm fine with the default NFL setup of 32 teams with familiar cities and names
-I'd prefer fictional players to real ones, but could live with the latter if need be
-I'd mildly prefer to see nice team graphics, etc, but again, could live without
-I'd like to benefit from the various buffs and cosmetics developed by you all

How would I best go about giving this game another legit shot?

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

-I'm fine with the default NFL setup of 32 teams with familiar cities and names

Go here -- C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Front Office Football Nine\default_data (I'm assuming your game is in that folder)

1. Go to a file called default_teams.csv (if you want more info on that file, read the default_teams.txt file next to it)
2. In Column A, you'll see LEAGUE. You'll see 32 rows that say 32_8_18. Each row represents a team, but the team names are probably not what you want. Put the team names you DO want in there.
3. Below the 32 row of 32_8_18, there are 32 rows of 32_8_17 and 32 rows of 32_8_16. The order of these should be the same, so just paste the team names you entered in a couple times.
4. Go to a file called league_info.csv
5. In Column A, you'll see SCHEDULE. Find the three row that say 32_8_18, 32_8_17, and 32_8_16. In Column J, change AC to AFC, and in Column L, change NC to NFC. In Column AC, change Front Office Bowl to Super Bowl.
6. You're ready to start a game! Open FOF9 (you probably need to restart if it's already open) and click NEW GAME.
7. Enter the name you want the game to have. Default is probably "Universe 1" which is fine.

-I'd prefer fictional players to real ones, but could live with the latter if need be

8. Make sure "Use Front Office Football Player File" is unchecked. Ignore the pulldown since that only applies if it is checked. Hit Continue.
9. Make sure "Use Your Own Player File Set" is unchecked. Hit Continue.
10. Choose your league structure. I'm assuming you want 32 teams, and you can choose if you want 16, 17, or 18 games. Hit Continue.
11. Choose preference draft or 53-round draft. I'm violating the "5-year-old" rule by assuming you know what this it. Hit Continue.

Originally Posted by QuikSand

-I'm fine with the default NFL setup of 32 teams with familiar cities and names

12. Make sure "Use Default Team Assignments" is checked. Hit Continue.
13. You have an options here to "Use Historic Quarterbacks" if you want. It adds to the fictional player file one QB from each team. Hit Continue.
14. You have options here for X-Factor, scouting, and economics. Make choices and hit continue.
15. Some more options to choose from, then hit continue. These options can be changed later in the game, too. Hit continue.
16. Wait a bit, then choose your team. Hit continue.
17. Do your preference or 53-round draft.

That gets you playing the game, at least. There are logos you can find that would for sure be nice. You can have face images, and there may be something out there that would work for fictional players, but I'm not sure. There are also NFL Logos out there that can replace the Solecismic logo.

When you find team logos, go here -- C:\Users\agage\AppData\Local\Solecismic Software\Front Office Football Nine\saved_games and find the folder with the game you created. Then open the "logos" folder and paste them there. You're probably not also agage, so you will need to change that part.

When you find NFL logos, go here -- C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Front Office Football Nine\artwork and replace the Solecismic150, Solecismic195, and Solecismic314 files with the NFL logos.

There may be other pretty pretty things, but that's the extent of what I do in this area.

[QuikSand]

many thanks

[Passacaglia]

Sure thing. I hope it sticks, FOF9 could use a larger community of people who actually play it!