The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

[KingV2k3]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

Also, the game has always had notoriously fast outfield coverage, which at default will cut into you doubles...

Here's a copy / paste of A&S sliders that affect that:

Fielder Run Speed - 4
Fielder Reaction - 6 (+1)
Fielder Arm Strength - 4

The outfield will react to the ball, but not be able to run it down as quickly leading to doubles...

And they won't have pinpoint control over the throws, esp. to third when you're beating out a triple or be as likely to make that perfect throw to the plate...

Something to think about / put in the mix...

I'd tend to keep the hitting and pitching at default (except stamina) and then take a look at the globals that the slider guys are using...

I don't think they're as affected by this DD interface...

They look consistent with the way the game has ALWAYS played...

[dmankey1]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

I'm getting frustrated with DD. I've played 8-10 games so far and I've won once...and that was against the Marlins and I play with the Rangers. I have had 3 games that I've had a 4+ run lead going into the 8th and have lost. I don't play any differently in the last 2 innings then I do the first 7. In all 3 of these games I get promoted to All Star pitching at the start of the 8th and by the end of the game I've been demoted back to Veteran+ with a loss because I give up 5 or 6 runs in 2 innings! I'll start my next game, allow a few runs through 7 innings then get promoted again and the downgrade process starts again. Meanwhile, on the hitting side, I'm not very good at hitting. I've remained somewhere in Rookie+ through all the games and my runs have averaged 3 a game with my high being 9 runs (my only win) and low being 1. I'm going to keep at it and just try to improve my pitching when I transition to the bullpen cause that seems to be when the switch is flipped and everything goes bad. I'm also going to stick with zone hitting and stop switching it back forth because it's obviously not helping me get more hits. Anyone else experiencing these woes?

[RogueHominid]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

Also, the game has always had notoriously fast outfield coverage, which at default will cut into you doubles...

Here's a copy / paste of A&S sliders that affect that:

Fielder Run Speed - 4
Fielder Reaction - 6 (+1)
Fielder Arm Strength - 4

The outfield will react to the ball, but not be able to run it down as quickly leading to doubles...

And they won't have pinpoint control over the throws, esp. to third when you're beating out a triple or be as likely to make that perfect throw to the plate...

Something to think about / put in the mix...

I'd tend to keep the hitting and pitching at default (except stamina) and then take a look at the globals that the slider guys are using...

I don't think they're as affected by this DD interface...

They look consistent with the way the game has ALWAYS played...

So funny you mention this, because I debated editing my earlier post to note that I felt surprised by how many balls OF cut down during ST. I can't tell you how many times I cursed out loud or made some expression of wonder at the fact that a ball I drilled into the gap or really deep got run down.

This confirms my sense that a small but highly relevant factor is CPU fielder range.

This also confirms my sense after messing with A&S's QC set that his global, non-pitching related edits would be useful because they address core, legacy gameplay issues that are not affected by DD or QC but nevertheless affect the results one gets in those modes.

I believe I will make those small adjustments permanent in m DD profile.

BTW, for those interested, A&S has a nice QC set for use without DD. Just a small plug.

Thanks for the feedback. This was extremely useful.

[RogueHominid]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

I'm getting frustrated with DD. I've played 8-10 games so far and I've won once...and that was against the Marlins and I play with the Rangers. I have had 3 games that I've had a 4+ run lead going into the 8th and have lost. I don't play any differently in the last 2 innings then I do the first 7. In all 3 of these games I get promoted to All Star pitching at the start of the 8th and by the end of the game I've been demoted back to Veteran+ with a loss because I give up 5 or 6 runs in 2 innings! I'll start my next game, allow a few runs through 7 innings then get promoted again and the downgrade process starts again. Meanwhile, on the hitting side, I'm not very good at hitting. I've remained somewhere in Rookie+ through all the games and my runs have averaged 3 a game with my high being 9 runs (my only win) and low being 1. I'm going to keep at it and just try to improve my pitching when I transition to the bullpen cause that seems to be when the switch is flipped and everything goes bad. I'm also going to stick with zone hitting and stop switching it back forth because it's obviously not helping me get more hits. Anyone else experiencing these woes?

I think the system is a bit too volatile in its reactions to short-term success or failure, but on the whole, I think it tends to find the sweet spot and produce great results.

I will say on the issue of pitching, the transition to the pen is absolutely critical. It's one of the major lessons I learned in Spring Training: far better to make the move a third of an inning early than a third of an inning late. About half the time that things got straight ugly for me with pitching it had to do with me trying to gut out an extra inning with my starter (before I upped stamina to adjust for QC).

[KBLover]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

I haven't played enough to come to a final opinion or anything close to that when it comes to DD. But if I were were giving advice to a sim oriented Show-noob, I may just tell that person to start off on AS or HOF, and see if you can struggle your way through the learning curve.

Yeah, as much as I like the concept of DD, the stark difference you noted I think will end up frustrating me more than anything with how the lower difficulties play.

I agree with that suggestion. AS was like WTF before working with it and learning it. HoF on Timing is the next frontier for me, but it rubs me the wrong way, but I LOVE the overall pitcher approach *sigh* lol. If you could start on HoF and let the game tweak it...oh if only...

[jake44np]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

I'm getting frustrated with DD. I've played 8-10 games so far and I've won once...and that was against the Marlins and I play with the Rangers. I have had 3 games that I've had a 4+ run lead going into the 8th and have lost. I don't play any differently in the last 2 innings then I do the first 7. In all 3 of these games I get promoted to All Star pitching at the start of the 8th and by the end of the game I've been demoted back to Veteran+ with a loss because I give up 5 or 6 runs in 2 innings! I'll start my next game, allow a few runs through 7 innings then get promoted again and the downgrade process starts again. Meanwhile, on the hitting side, I'm not very good at hitting. I've remained somewhere in Rookie+ through all the games and my runs have averaged 3 a game with my high being 9 runs (my only win) and low being 1. I'm going to keep at it and just try to improve my pitching when I transition to the bullpen cause that seems to be when the switch is flipped and everything goes bad. I'm also going to stick with zone hitting and stop switching it back forth because it's obviously not helping me get more hits. Anyone else experiencing these woes?

I am seeing the opposite. I am the Reds and I am 10-2.

[KingV2k3]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

I will say on the issue of pitching, the transition to the pen is absolutely critical. It's one of the major lessons I learned in Spring Training: far better to make the move a third of an inning early than a third of an inning late. About half the time that things got straight ugly for me with pitching it had to do with me trying to gut out an extra inning with my starter (before I upped stamina to adjust for QC).

This.

Also:

Historically, this title loves it some lefty v. lefty and righty v. righty strategy employed with regard to relief pitching and pinch hitting...

[dmankey1]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

I think the system is a bit too volatile in its reactions to short-term success or failure, but on the whole, I think it tends to find the sweet spot and produce great results.

I will say on the issue of pitching, the transition to the pen is absolutely critical. It's one of the major lessons I learned in Spring Training: far better to make the move a third of an inning early than a third of an inning late. About half the time that things got straight ugly for me with pitching it had to do with me trying to gut out an extra inning with my starter (before I upped stamina to adjust for QC).

I may try upping the stamina also. So I guess you're saying it's better to pull the starting pitcher a little sooner?

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[Mabster]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

Also, the game has always had notoriously fast outfield coverage, which at default will cut into you doubles...

Here's a copy / paste of A&S sliders that affect that:

Fielder Run Speed - 4
Fielder Reaction - 6 (+1)
Fielder Arm Strength - 4

I've done this already in my RTTS as well. Was hoping we wouldn't have to this year.

[Jgainsey]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

I've done this already in my RTTS as well. Was hoping we wouldn't have to this year.

The outfielders are still too fast out of the box, but they did a much better job in that aspect this year.

Which in a way is really saying something, because there have been previous versions of the game where fielder speed and/or reaction was basically arcade like.

One thing that is really encouraging is the balance between the way outfielders handle balls that should lead to 1st to 3rd or 2nd to home plate base running situations. Sliders have always gone a long way in this department, but it still left a little to the desired last year, even with the best slider adjustments.

Also, I have stolen many doubles so far this year where I hit a long single that the CF has to cover a decent bit of ground to stay in front of. If it looks like his momentum may carry him and extra step or so, you can totally try for 2nd if you have an above average runner. It's an exciting play, and I love being able to pull it off with a guy like Jason Heyward, who I see doing something like that all the time IRL.

You still have to be smart about these situations, but the opportunities are there in a much more realistic manner. Where as before, I almost felt like I was getting one over on the game.

[RogueHominid]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

I may try upping the stamina also. So I guess you're saying it's better to pull the starting pitcher a little sooner?

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I think so, and if you notice, the CPU is pretty quick to pull the trigger if it's late in a game and the starter gives up a couple of hits.

My worst games pitching are always the ones where I could have gone to the pen after 5 1/3 with a starter who is laboring, or where I try to eek out 8 innings running on fumes when I got a quality start and could have gone to my setup men.

The tell that you've held your starter in too long in this game anyway is that it all falls apart super fast and the runs rack up in huge numbers really quickly. It's almost like a switch goes off that says "you're done." Hard to explain, but if you find yourself in a situation where your starter gives up 2 runs in 6 innings and then gives up 3-4 in the 7th, that's what I mean.

[KingV2k3]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

One of the things that may / seems to be adding to starter fatigue is the foul rate in quick count games...

I've seen that commented on a few times...

If you're seeing that in the "played" part of the game then:

Might want to bump that starter fatigue up to 6 (where I've had it for years anyway) and drop fouls to 4, to keep the pitch counts from going nutz due to fouls...

Like the globals, there appears to be a few one click adjustments for "legacy (type) issues" while keeping the core hitting and pitching "user influenced" sliders at default...

[canes2008]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

Yah so there is a beginner level I only started playing the show last year


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[HighCmpPct]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

Well been trying out this DD and QC thing, and I'm really enjoying it through my first 10 games. I was trying my best to hold off until the ps4 version dropped but I couldn't wait anymore so I'm playing with the Dodgers and saving my Yankees for the ps4 edition.

After 10 games I'm still on veteran+ hitting surprisingly and all-star though I guarantee I won't be on all-star pitching for long. I can't seem to sustain a long enough offensive push to advance to all-star hitting yet even though I'm 8-2 3rd in the league in walks with a .746 OPS.

My stats however are seriously comparable to the real life team however and my walls on both sides on the ball are almost dead on the real life totals which has never happened before. A bit too much of my runs have come via HR I feel but that has changed a bit the last couple games and I'm having a great time so what the hell.

P.s. on a related note, and I swear this kind of thing usually never bothers me but does anyone else think Puig's speed could use a slight bump? Everything else about his game feels right, his arm is spot on and I'm so glad they didn't give him crazy juiced hitting ratings just thought his speed might be a little low. I know it's my game and I should do what increases my enjoyment but just looking for some feedback from my fellow members.

[KMRblue1027]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

I think it has more to do with the low FPS on Vita but I had to tweak the Human timing slider up to 7 and now the dynamic difficulty working flawlessly.