Auto Base Running: Runners never lead off

[echotripper76]

Re: Auto Base Running: Runners never lead off

The CPU controlled player never takes an extra step. This is a problem and I am not sure why people are saying, "it's fine"

While I have not seen the CPU take an "extra" step this year, it is important to note that, starting with last year (MLB 14) all base runners take a one step lead automatically. Every year prior, base runners would have to be prompted to take even one. I used to very much enjoy the cat and mouse game of increasing and decreasing my lead per pitch, per situation. With some of the elite runners I would extend this by two steps. Starting last year, the first step is already taken. So the CPU is already taking a lead. Another step, while realistic with a handful of runners, is risky...

I don't know what went into the decision to change this, but after several threads and posts on this last year were answered by developers confirming the default lead is a one-step, I quit taking an extra one unless I really felt I could get back to the bag. In the end, the one step got the job done most times anyway.

[bcruise]

Re: Auto Base Running: Runners never lead off

I upvoted, but man, I do NOT want them to over-correct this. It's such a fine line in this game between getting picked off and getting back safely, and that line is usually the extra step. Last year the CPU took that extra step way too often, and was easy pickoff bait because of it. 1 of 27 outs a team gets in a game vs. a play that isn't even tracked in a box score.

I consider erring on the side of safety to be better for game balance on this issue - especially since the CPU is still fully capable of swiping bases with the default lead.

Here's the highest voted report on this I could find:

http://theshownation.com/bug_reports/11011

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: Auto Base Running: Runners never lead off

I upvoted, but man, I do NOT want them to over-correct this. It's such a fine line in this game between getting picked off and getting back safely, and that line is usually the extra step. Last year the CPU took that extra step way too often, and was easy pickoff bait because of it. 1 of 27 outs a team gets in a game vs. a play that isn't even tracked in a box score.

I consider erring on the side of safety to be better for game balance on this issue - especially since the CPU is still fully capable of swiping bases with the default lead.

Here's the highest voted report on this I could find:

http://theshownation.com/bug_reports/11011

Agreed.

The CPU steals right now. I steal right now. Everything seems ok so far even though I haven't actually tested steal rates and ratios yet. But it passes the eyeball test.

I'd rather they leave it alone then to ever let it resemble what it was last year.

[My993C2]

Re: Auto Base Running: Runners never lead off

I upvoted, but man, I do NOT want them to over-correct this. It's such a fine line in this game between getting picked off and getting back safely, and that line is usually the extra step. Last year the CPU took that extra step way too often, and was easy pickoff bait because of it. 1 of 27 outs a team gets in a game vs. a play that isn't even tracked in a box score.

I consider erring on the side of safety to be better for game balance on this issue - especially since the CPU is still fully capable of swiping bases with the default lead.

Here's the highest voted report on this I could find:

http://theshownation.com/bug_reports/11011

I up voted the defect you referenced as the two defects are the same problem that I would like to see fixed versus ripping features out of the game as they have done. If memory serves me correct picks off worked fine in MLB 13. I was able to pick off the CPU and they picked me off (they seemed to get me more than I got them, but I could still get them). Then in MLB 14 it was all buggered up and it's even worse now that they decided to remove the feature completely from the game.

[2ndBase]

Re: Auto Base Running: Runners never lead off

It is a fine line but this has always been an opportunity for improvement for the show. There is huge potential for a greater cat and mouse game with the lead off/pick off feature. It's been stale the last couple of years. Would love it if cpu base runners would try to draw a throw or try to time the user controlled pitcher.

[Knight165]

Re: Auto Base Running: Runners never lead off

If they just had the CPU throw pickoffs more...w/o the extra step....I think I'd be fine with that(as long as they COULD get picked off occasionally with just the "regular" lead.

M.K.
Knight165

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: Auto Base Running: Runners never lead off

If they just had the CPU throw pickoffs more...w/o the extra step....I think I'd be fine with that(as long as they COULD get picked off occasionally with just the "regular" lead.

M.K.
Knight165

I'd be ok with that.

[Bobhead]

Re: Auto Base Running: Runners never lead off

I upvoted, but man, I do NOT want them to over-correct this. It's such a fine line in this game between getting picked off and getting back safely, and that line is usually the extra step. Last year the CPU took that extra step way too often, and was easy pickoff bait because of it. 1 of 27 outs a team gets in a game vs. a play that isn't even tracked in a box score.

I consider erring on the side of safety to be better for game balance on this issue - especially since the CPU is still fully capable of swiping bases with the default lead.

Here's the highest voted report on this I could find:

http://theshownation.com/bug_reports/11011

This is one of the problems with the whole "automatic default lead" system that SCEA has chosen to go with.

I dont think we will ever get any true balance here until the system is ditched. It makes much more sense for the default lead to be the minimum (ie: NOT enough to steal a base with, and not enough to put you at risk for a pickoff).

A system that allows non-basestealers to take a default lead with 100% impunity, be immune to a pickoff, and then steal a base is frankly, not a good system.

[therewillbechud]

Re: Auto Base Running: Runners never lead off

It's not a great system, but let's not fool ourselves, stolen base percentage being right is a far more important balance issue. As is the ability to just watch until a guy inches out his lead and pick him off with a great success rate (as was possible in the past). Both of these add and take runs off the board, respectively. It sucks that you can't really pick a guy off, but it's the far lesser of any of the evils if the system can't be "perfect".

It's generally a mechanic I ignored as much as possible in the past anyways. Too easy to exploit the AI and pick them off, the CPU would get you picked off at an insane rate last year if you use auto base running and weren't micro managing it. So all in all, an improvement.

[buggs1a]

Re: Auto Base Running: Runners never lead off

Auto baserunning sucks this year. Runners routinely round third and are thrown out by a mile.

[cusefan74]

Re: Auto Base Running: Runners never lead off

Auto baserunning sucks this year. Runners routinely round third and are thrown out by a mile.

I have not had any problems with that. Actually it's been working pretty good.

[Knight165]

Re: Auto Base Running: Runners never lead off

I have not had any problems with that. Actually it's been working pretty good.

I agree.....I think the baserunning is the best it's ever in the series so far.
I see players taking the extra base on throws home .....and a little more aggressive than the familiar station to station of years past.

I haven't tooled with the sliders yet...but I'm sure if there is something to the outs at home...a combo of reaction....arm strength....baserunner speed could remedy it....but I haven't seen it yet.

M.K.
Knight165

[My993C2]

Re: Auto Base Running: Runners never lead off

I'm just hope they could bring back the pick offs back into the game whether it's by bringing back the extra step or perhaps just lowering the threshold of the lead when the sliding animations are shown along with the occasional successful pick off. In my game this evening I threw over to the bag at least a dozen times (with slow and fast base runners) and the base runner got back standing up every time.

[Bobhead]

Re: Auto Base Running: Runners never lead off

I agree.....I think the baserunning is the best it's ever in the series so far.
I see players taking the extra base on throws home .....and a little more aggressive than the familiar station to station of years past.

I haven't tooled with the sliders yet...but I'm sure if there is something to the outs at home...a combo of reaction....arm strength....baserunner speed could remedy it....but I haven't seen it yet.

M.K.
Knight165

I don't know about auto baserunning, but I routinely throw the CPU out at home by a mile.

I'd assume auto baserunning runs on the same engine as CPU opponents?

Because the CPU definitely seems to be overly aggressive on the basepaths.

That was a problem last year, too.

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: Auto Base Running: Runners never lead off

I don't know about auto baserunning, but I routinely throw the CPU out at home by a mile.

I'd assume auto baserunning runs on the same engine as CPU opponents?

Because the CPU definitely seems to be overly aggressive on the basepaths.

That was a problem last year, too.

I don't know about that.

The game has been way too station-to-station the last few years.

Keep in mind I use Auto pretty much everything so me gunning out runners is impossible.