Tiered Sliders to Enhance Team Talent Gap

[Sixburgher]

I've started doing something that I'm just curious if anyone else does or has considered. Generally just looking for feedback.

I've come up with a few slider sets that I will use based on the tier of my opponent. One of the biggest issues with the game is the team ratings falling pretty closely in line with one another. Obviously this affects the sim engine, but I'm strictly referencing user vs. CPU in this instance.

I'm running a test NC State dynasty, and I just wasn't seeing much variation in my games vs lower rated teams, and my matchups against top-tier teams.

So, basically I have ranked each team in the FBS and placed them into one of nine tiers. (NC State is in tier 3, labeled "Fringe Contenders".) If I am playing a team rated in the same tier, I use my standard slider set. If I play a team in a tier below me, I use my slider set for teams I'm one tier above, vice versa for teams in a tier above me, etc.

The slider sets aren't all that different with just a tier of separation, but the difference between tier 3, and tier 9 (which I have labeled "FCS Level") is pretty significant, and it really makes bad teams feel bad. On the flipside, if I'm a lower tier team playing a team in tier 1 (Georgia, Texas, Alabama and Oregon), the sliders really make it where I essentially have no chance to win (as is the case in real life).

I just wondered if others use this strategy; this is my way of adapting since I can't edit ratings to create a wider spread in player attributes. Also, if anyone is interested in my tier rankings, let me know and I can post them!

[GordoJ]

I LOVE this idea! Really intrigued by this.

I'm loving this game, truly, but probably my biggest complaint is there is no or very little feel of separation between the great teams and the middling teams. That's...frustrating. This is college ball, not the NFL. The difference in talent is immense. I should not be having the same outcomes as OSU playing Northwestern as I do playing Oregon (I'm being hyperbolic, but it's just not the separation that it should be). It's like the game is wired to always be tight-ish, which may be more fun on a game to game bais, but certainly is not more realistic.

I'm very curious to hear more about this and see results from games played!