What are you working on thread

[bcruise]

Re: What are you working on thread

20% done with Conquest Extreme after maybe 3 hours of playing. I was expecting it to be almost impossible, but thus far I've been hitting the cover off the ball, even on Hall of Fame and Legend. The rewards from the first Conquest are definitely enough to complete the 12 missions to take certain strongholds in a given number of turns. Not sure what happens after that, since that only puts you at 60% completion. Anyone finish it already and know the answer? I'm guessing some nonsense exchanges and maybe some new stat challenges?

A few tips for those looking to take on Conquest Extreme, based on my limited exposure:

-You can't get to certain strongholds without stealing fans, and you'll want to maximize your thefts by playing a CPU opponent on Legend (I suggest the Marlins because their team is barely MLB-quality)
-Work the count - the CPU will be hitting the corners pretty consistently on Hall of Fame and Legend, but they'll also miss the zone often enough that you'll be able to work some outs. Every baserunner is very important with the short games and high difficulty
-Don't be afraid to run out a new reliever out every few outs. They tire so quickly and hitting your spots is so much harder than the other difficulties that having them as fresh as can be is big. If you're doing this with a lead, it'll also help you hit the "holds" requirement for the April stat missions

Great advice all around - as someone who plays on HOF-Legend in offline all of this same stuff is effective there and in high-difficulty DD games. Risk management is everything - you have to be willing to pitch around and even walk guys in order to not leave a mistake pitch out over the plate to get hammered.

I especially like the bit about using multiple relievers in an inning - especially the 3rd. If you think of the game as being balanced towards being 3 innings stamina wise, it means that each out is basically an inning's worth of stamina. So, if you try to run your closer out there for the start of the 3rd with a lead, it's more like you're trying to make him pitch 3 innings instead of just one, and yes - he's probably going to get tired. What I'm doing is going to my setup man Benoit for at least the first out (longer if he gets it without incident), then to Kimbrel for the last two outs, especially if runners get on base.

As for my progress...40% on Extreme which got me the 86 OVR Cepeda. That's probably the last one I do until I get a really elite team (81 Team OVR now) because beating the Dodgers twice in a row on Legend is not easy. I can probably do the Orioles one because it wouldn't be tough in terms of difficulty, the problem is that it's a slog through about 5 teams and I don't want to take any chances losing simmed games late in a run. Yankees and Red Sox will just be painful.

I'm happy getting to that Cepeda and calling it good on Ex Conquest for now.

[BigOscar]

Re: What are you working on thread

I'm up to 45% and I'd echo the sentiments above, except instead of playing the Marlins on legendary it's often better to beat the team who you are aiming to takeover, as it will lower their bases numbers and potentially give you an easier game later.

Also, Billy Hamilton and that FB Bonafacio on the bench is a must for a cheeky steal for a run if you get a man on with less than 2 outs. (Bonafacio can play anywhere so is the perfect bench guy) I've won at least 5 legend games with double steals with Billy. A single run on legend is huge.

As for what happens at 60%, you then have to complete entire divisions in quick time, then finally you have to complete the entire map in 12 turns, which sounds horrendous!

[bcruise]

Re: What are you working on thread

I'm up to 45% and I'd echo the sentiments above, except instead of playing the Marlins on legendary it's often better to beat the team who you are aiming to takeover, as it will lower their bases numbers and potentially give you an easier game later.

Also, Billy Hamilton and that FB Bonafacio on the bench is a must for a cheeky steal for a run if you get a man on with less than 2 outs. (Bonafacio can play anywhere so is the perfect bench guy) I've won at least 5 legend games with double steals with Billy. A single run on legend is huge.

As for what happens at 60%, you then have to complete entire divisions in quick time, then finally you have to complete the entire map in 12 turns, which sounds horrendous!

Ugh...that definitely cements my decision about standing pat on 40% until I get a better team. Hershiser at 60% doesn't even seem that worth it to go after, honestly. Thanks for the info.

[Nickstank]

Re: What are you working on thread

As for my progress...40% on Extreme which got me the 86 OVR Cepeda. That's probably the last one I do until I get a really elite team (81 Team OVR now) because beating the Dodgers twice in a row on Legend is not easy. I can probably do the Orioles one because it wouldn't be tough in terms of difficulty, the problem is that it's a slog through about 5 teams and I don't want to take any chances losing simmed games late in a run. Yankees and Red Sox will just be painful.

I'm happy getting to that Cepeda and calling it good on Ex Conquest for now.

That's exactly what I feared. I haven't attempted to go East yet, but it looks like a nightmare. Getting to Miami, Boston and New York is probably going to be insane. I wonder how many consecutive games I'll have to win on a high difficulty just to get to the East coast. Then I'll probably only get one shot at the target team to complete the challenge before I run out of turns. It's been smooth sailing so far, but I think it's about to get waaaaaaay harder. I wish Hershiser was the 40% reward because he's the only reason I'm doing this haha

[Nickstank]

Re: What are you working on thread

I'm up to 45% and I'd echo the sentiments above, except instead of playing the Marlins on legendary it's often better to beat the team who you are aiming to takeover, as it will lower their bases numbers and potentially give you an easier game later.

Also, Billy Hamilton and that FB Bonafacio on the bench is a must for a cheeky steal for a run if you get a man on with less than 2 outs. (Bonafacio can play anywhere so is the perfect bench guy) I've won at least 5 legend games with double steals with Billy. A single run on legend is huge.

As for what happens at 60%, you then have to complete entire divisions in quick time, then finally you have to complete the entire map in 12 turns, which sounds horrendous!

Great point on the bench guys. That's why I have Byron Buxton, but I'll look at Bonifacio now as well! As for the rest of Conquest after 60%, it looks like I'll be passing. Not worth the stress when I just want Orel Hershiser, and it sounds like it's going to be hard enough to get him. Are there any of the strongholds that are particularly difficult and frustrating to get to in the initial missions? I'm trying to figure out how many games I'd need to win to even get to New York, Boston or Miami.

[bcruise]

Re: What are you working on thread

All-Star Billy Williams is mine:



Think it cost around 25k total in stubs to get the hats-jerseys needed. This was the first time i really dipped into my stub bank, and I still had the 10k from my pre-order bonus to use.

I have not spent one cent other than the cost of the MVP edition.

[NDAlum]

Re: What are you working on thread

Good stuff bcruise

Hopped into some BR today and had a 10-0 start...then I gave up a few long balls and had my run ended at 10-2. The rewards would've been Stanton...really choked away an 80k opportunity!

My take away from some online is that I really enjoy the game...I just wanted fielding to have more urgency and the PCI placement not to randomly move.

[BigOscar]

Re: What are you working on thread

I'm up to 33 homers with Griffey, his is the Immortal that I've really gone for and have all the trade ins done so when I get this done I'll have the Breakout and just need to wait for the final program. Reckon it will be a very long time before they release them though.

[mikeq672]

Re: What are you working on thread

Just took out Yankees in 2 turns and then moved to take out Boston and did it in 3, which is a turn earlier than needed. Wondering if I can manage to get down to Baltimore and take them out in 4 on this same little run.

[Nickstank]

Re: What are you working on thread

Just took out Yankees in 2 turns and then moved to take out Boston and did it in 3, which is a turn earlier than needed. Wondering if I can manage to get down to Baltimore and take them out in 4 on this same little run.

I may try to follow in your footsteps! Any pieces of advice for making such an efficient run?

[Dolenz]

Re: What are you working on thread

I should post here more often. My next game after posting this not only did I get my Home Run by of all people Harold Baines. Then once that happened both Edmonds and Martinez decided join in and hit one.

And Torre finally decided it was time not just for a single and a double but also a HR.

Next up. MLB stats. I am most worried about the triple.

Okay, maybe there is something to this. I said I was worried about the triple for the ML stats. So in my first game attempting this, Ian Desmond hit a leadoff triple in the top of the 1st. Erased that concern quickly.

[dougdfc]

Re: What are you working on thread

These guys that have counting stats like Joe Torre's 15 Doubles or Buddy Bell's 25 Doubles last year are a nightmare. It's a 3 true outcome situation at that point. A single, a home run, or an out. NEVER EVER a double.

[BigOscar]

Re: What are you working on thread

These guys that have counting stats like Joe Torre's 15 Doubles or Buddy Bell's 25 Doubles last year are a nightmare. It's a 3 true outcome situation at that point. A single, a home run, or an out. NEVER EVER a double.

This game is obsessed with making you hit doubles. Soooo many missions that need you to accumulate them.

[FloorGeneral]

Re: What are you working on thread

These guys that have counting stats like Joe Torre's 15 Doubles or Buddy Bell's 25 Doubles last year are a nightmare. It's a 3 true outcome situation at that point. A single, a home run, or an out. NEVER EVER a double.

This game is obsessed with making you hit doubles. Soooo many missions that need you to accumulate them.

The original Torre card that you need 2H, 1DBL, 1R with? Yeah, lucky it's digital cause if it were real I'd burn it. I've had him in my lineup for quite a while, and I can't get the whole combo. I bat him 8th, and had a double (lucky little bloop to RF that the fielder was lackadaisical with) and run in his first at-bat in a game last night. Went hitless the rest of the game. Had a game today, he's 0-3 with 2GIDP, then comes up in the 8th and laces one to the gap. Gonna just hit-and-run whenever he comes up with a man on 1st. Every time he comes up I can't help but curse.

I finally got the 2B & 3B with Jackie. Got the CF to dive at a liner that skipped past him for a 3B after sneaking a ball inside the 3B line to leadoff the game

I got Utley's 2H, 1HR, 2RBI done in my 3rd game with him, in my first 2ABs of said game. Having issues with the AS OF stats for Doby. I can get hits with both Gonzalez and Edmonds, but the HRs just aren't coming. Have I think 6 with Edmonds, and only one with Gonzalez. Might have to just play Joyce and see if he can give me some juice.

[Nickstank]

Re: What are you working on thread

Having issues with the AS OF stats for Doby. I can get hits with both Gonzalez and Edmonds, but the HRs just aren't coming. Have I think 6 with Edmonds, and only one with Gonzalez. Might have to just play Joyce and see if he can give me some juice.

I don't think Gonzo's stats count towards the Doby career arc. Isn't he a Breakout player, or at least something other than an All Star? I'm using Richie Ashburn, Matt Joyce and now Edmonds. Joyce and Edmonds rake for me, and Ashburn gets on base a lot in front of them. I think outside of those three, there may not be another All Star OF you can get right now without completing a collection or another career arc. Someone correct me if I'm wrong!