The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

[RogueHominid]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

Like to know how many walks you are getting and giving up per game. Also how many pitches per game on both sides.

OK. I can definitely get BB stats. Pitches per game could be tricky, as I've not counted those each game and I'm not sure if they're recorded in the box scores that you can access after you've played a game.

I can, however, definitely answer questions about innings pitched per start and pitcher fatigue, which gets at the meta-issue associated with pitch counts. I have good things to say on that score.

[KingV2k3]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

I'm coming close to the end of a new 25-game data set using PHI in franchise mode with DD, QC, and default sliders in the post-patch era.

Before I make my post containing stats, I would like to know which stats in particular folks are interested in. My findings have surprised the heck out of me, and I'm excited to share what I've found in the game at default with DD and QC, but I'd like to tailor my response to the needs of the community as much as possible.

tdogg's breakdown was perfect, so that's a great place to start...

Also appreciated his impressions, esp. numbers 1 / 2 / 5, which lead me to believe that some degree of slider adjustment may be needed with DD...

For instance:

1) Reducing Fielder Run Speed to 4 should open up the doubles

2) Dropping Consistency to 4 should help reduce strikes slightly, without creating an "imbalance" by dropping Control, which works in consort with Contact

5) Looks like 4 does the trick for Foul Frequency

Dwenny's walk and total pitch count request could give insight into Stamina settings as well...

GREAT info, all around!

Thanks y'all...

[tdogg097]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

tdogg's breakdown was perfect, so that's a great place to start...

Also appreciated his impressions, esp. numbers 1 / 2 / 5, which lead me to believe that some degree of slider adjustment may be needed with DD...

For instance:

1) Reducing Fielder Run Speed to 4 should open up the doubles

2) Dropping Consistency to 4 should help reduce strikes slightly, without creating an "imbalance" by dropping Control, which works in consort with Contact

5) Looks like 4 does the trick for Foul Frequency

Dwenny's walk and total pitch count request could give insight into Stamina settings as well...

GREAT info, all around!

Thanks y'all...

One step ahead of you. These stats were not a product of default sliders. I made the following adjustments before starting.


USER/CPU (Same)


Foul Freq-4
Starter Stam-6
Rel Stam-4
Pitch Control-4
Pitch Consist-4
CPU Strike Freq-4
CPU Pickoff-4
Pitch Speed-6
Fielder Run Speed-4
Fielder Reaction-6
Arm Strength-4
Baserunner Speed-4
Steal Ability-6
Steal Freq-6
Wind-4


My only concern with tweaking the fielding sliders is that my XBH are rights on the money with those sliders. I don't want to make adjustments and then have my stats get out of whack. There are hits where I say that looks like a double and then the fielder gets there but those happen on both sides. It's more about the CPU hitting too many grounders thru the hole and not enough gap shots. If I made any other adjustment it would be to CPU solid hits.


Here are my pitch stats, I couldn't find a solid reference to compare against MLB averages.


User Pitches Per Game: 138
User Pitches Per Inning: 15.95


CPU Pitches Per Game: 133
CPU Pitches Per Inning: 15.55


Admittedly, I'm an over aggressive hitter which is why the CPU total is probably low. When their starter is in my goal is 15 pitches per inning which often leads to more. But as soon as the reliever comes in I start swinging too much.

[tdogg097]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

Oh, one other thing I was going to mention in my impressions/gripes section was that there weren't any blowouts. Then I promptly got destroyed in game 7 of the NLCS 10-4.

[KingV2k3]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

Ah thanks, tdogg for posting your sliders...

Obviously, it makes a huge difference to look at your stats into that context...

If you do make any further adjustment(s), please keep us posted!

GREAT info!

Also:

Instead of going above default for solid hits, how about going TO default (5) for Fielder Reaction?

Might open up the doubles AND minimize those pitcher v. line drive reactions, which are already kind of "amped up" as it is...

EDIT:

OR, your Solid Hits hunch may be right on the $$$:

http://www.operationsports.com/forum...base-hits.html

Might be the "lazy fly ball" versus line drive thing that would be a Solid Hits issue and lead to more gap shots, etc.

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

Ah thanks, tdogg for posting your sliders...

Obviously, it makes a huge difference to look at your stats into that context...

If you do make any further adjustment(s), please keep us posted!

GREAT info!

Also:

Instead of going above default for solid hits, how about going TO default (5) for Fielder Reaction?

Might open up the doubles AND minimize those pitcher v. line drive reactions, which are already kind of "amped up" as it is...

EDIT:

OR, your Solid Hits hunch may be right on the $$$:

http://www.operationsports.com/forum...base-hits.html

Might be the "lazy fly ball" versus line drive thing that would be a Solid Hits issue and lead to more gap shots, etc.

This is why sliders are tricky business and also why I avoid them unless it's absolutely necessary.

Tdogg is hitting .263 and pitching to a .243 average.

Raising Solid Hits alone on both sides- while probably increasing doubles - could increase that.

Anyone with stat records like him have to weigh out the pros and cons of any further slider adjustments. I personally always err on the side of caution; especially when my stats are as sound as his and double especially after only 20-25 games played.

Not saying he shouldn't, just saying he should be careful.

[RogueHominid]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

Okay, here are some stats. The parameters:

* DD
* QC
* Default sliders, except Pitch Speed, which is 0
* 25 games, in franchise mode, all played in full

Current Skill Levels:

* Veteran Hitting
* HOF Pitching

Record: 16-8
Team ERA: 2.99
Team BA: .255

Hitting:

* 855 AB
* 218 H
* 113 R
* 50 2B
* 6 3B
* 27 HR
* 77 BB
* 200 K
* .315 OBP
* .422 SLG
* AB/HR: 21.353
* BB/PA: .092
* BB/K: .492

Pitching:

* 225.2 IP
* 162 H
* 82 R
* 16 HR
* 98 BB
* 200 K
* 1.15 WHIP

Base Running:

* 24 SB
* 6 CS
* 80% success rate

Fielding:

* 13 ERR
* .986 Field %

Player Stats:

Avg./HR/RBI

Revere: .225 0 3
Rollins: .333 3 13
Utley: .247 4 17
Howard: .243 4 12
Byrd: .301 2 12
Brown: .259 5 14
Ruiz: .250 2 2
Asche: .297 3 15

Mayberry: .237 2 6
Nieves: .292 0 0
Gwynn: .152 1 3
Ruf: .250 1 9
Cedeno: .280 0 1

Record/ERA/K/BB

Lee: 3-2 1.83 31 11
Hamels: 5-0 .50 37 21
Burnett: 1-1 3.86 24 16
Kendrick: 3-1 3.14 18 11
Hernandez 2-1 4.20 23 10

Pettibone: 2-0 5.85 22 11
Diekman: 0-1 3.52 8 3
Lincoln: 0-0 3.60 6 4
De Fratus: 0-1 3.27 13 2
Adams: 0-0 2.84 6 2
Bastardo: 0-1 3.52 8 3
Papelbon: 3 SV 1.42 4 3

Basic Impressions:

The "core" sliders that are typically adjusted to give XBH do not appear to need to be adjusted to yield XBH. My guys are ripping 2B really well early on. Chubby Marlon Byrd leads the team with 8 in 83 AB, followed by Utley with 7 and Howard with 6.

I'm seeing a great variety of hit types, from bombs to slow, creeping HR to line drives to bloopers, to balls right down the line to all manner of foul balls.

I'm really feeling HOF for pitching. I feel confident with my aces and vulnerable with my shaky pen and the bottom of my rotation.

The game is passing the eye test, at least for me, and I feel like all of my games are competitive, save the occasional blowout.

I don't keep track of pitches thrown or strike percentages, as that's not really a concern of mine with the quirky accounting in QC games (often the number of pitches shown on the graphic doesn't match the totals the announcers say in-game). I will say that while my team BB have been low as of late, I've been overly aggressive at the plate, so the walks are there.

I'd be happy to provide additional statistics, so long as they're ones the game keeps itself, or to answer specific questions not covered in the stats and impressions.

I have to say that for me, using DD and QC in combination has made this game the most fun I've ever had with MLBTS. I'm not having to worry about slider balancing, and I'm getting competitive games.

If there are major statistical oddities, feel free to point them out; I'm not always aware of such things. This is just a 25 game sample, though, and I know that certain things will even out over the next 25. I plan on a similar update at 50 games.

[drsonoma]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

Okay, here are some stats. The parameters:

* DD
* QC
* Default sliders, except Pitch Speed, which is 0
* 25 games, in franchise mode, all played in full

Current Skill Levels:

* Veteran Hitting
* HOF Pitching

Record: 16-8
Team ERA: 2.99
Team BA: .255

Hitting:

* 855 AB
* 218 H
* 113 R
* 50 2B
* 6 3B
* 27 HR
* 77 BB
* 200 K
* .315 OBP
* .422 SLG
* AB/HR: 21.353
* BB/PA: .092
* BB/K: .492

Pitching:

* 225.2 IP
* 162 H
* 82 R
* 16 HR
* 98 BB
* 200 K
* 1.15 WHIP

Base Running:

* 24 SB
* 6 CS
* 80% success rate

Fielding:

* 13 ERR
* .986 Field %

Player Stats:

Avg./HR/RBI

Revere: .225 0 3
Rollins: .333 3 13
Utley: .247 4 17
Howard: .243 4 12
Byrd: .301 2 12
Brown: .259 5 14
Ruiz: .250 2 2
Asche: .297 3 15

Mayberry: .237 2 6
Nieves: .292 0 0
Gwynn: .152 1 3
Ruf: .250 1 9
Cedeno: .280 0 1

Record/ERA/K/BB

Lee: 3-2 1.83 31 11
Hamels: 5-0 .50 37 21
Burnett: 1-1 3.86 24 16
Kendrick: 3-1 3.14 18 11
Hernandez 2-1 4.20 23 10

Pettibone: 2-0 5.85 22 11
Diekman: 0-1 3.52 8 3
Lincoln: 0-0 3.60 6 4
De Fratus: 0-1 3.27 13 2
Adams: 0-0 2.84 6 2
Bastardo: 0-1 3.52 8 3
Papelbon: 3 SV 1.42 4 3

Basic Impressions:

The "core" sliders that are typically adjusted to give XBH do not appear to need to be adjusted to yield XBH. My guys are ripping 2B really well early on. Chubby Marlon Byrd leads the team with 8 in 83 AB, followed by Utley with 7 and Howard with 6.

I'm seeing a great variety of hit types, from bombs to slow, creeping HR to line drives to bloopers, to balls right down the line to all manner of foul balls.

I'm really feeling HOF for pitching. I feel confident with my aces and vulnerable with my shaky pen and the bottom of my rotation.

The game is passing the eye test, at least for me, and I feel like all of my games are competitive, save the occasional blowout.

I don't keep track of pitches thrown or strike percentages, as that's not really a concern of mine with the quirky accounting in QC games (often the number of pitches shown on the graphic doesn't match the totals the announcers say in-game). I will say that while my team BB have been low as of late, I've been overly aggressive at the plate, so the walks are there.

I'd be happy to provide additional statistics, so long as they're ones the game keeps itself, or to answer specific questions not covered in the stats and impressions.

I have to say that for me, using DD and QC in combination has made this game the most fun I've ever had with MLBTS. I'm not having to worry about slider balancing, and I'm getting competitive games.

If there are major statistical oddities, feel free to point them out; I'm not always aware of such things. This is just a 25 game sample, though, and I know that certain things will even out over the next 25. I plan on a similar update at 50 games.

Good stuff!

I am curious what batting mechanic you use, i.e. zone, timing, etc?

[RogueHominid]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

Good stuff!

I am curious what batting mechanic you use, i.e. zone, timing, etc?

I use classic pitching, timing hitting, auto fielding and throwing, and assisted base running.

Another observational point: I think pitcher stamina is now fine at default for starters and relievers post-patch in QC games. I'll have IP/Start data after I finish the game I'm on, but my sense is that you can basically count on your horses to cruise through 6 and go 8-9 if they're on fire, while middle and end of the rotation guys can cruise through 5 and go 7 or 8 maybe if they're doing really well.

I just finished a 19-game stretch with no days off, and my pen, which I used as judiciously as possible, really needed a day off. Even after the rest day they're not back to full energy, or at least not all of them. My sense with pen guys is that they can come out on consecutive days at less than 20 pitches and that 30 + will net them a day off if you're being smart.

[RogueHominid]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

Here's my innings per start through 26 games:

Lee: 6 2/3
Hamels: 7 1/3
Burnett: 5 2/3
Kendrick: 5 2/3
Hernandez: 6

IDK how those compare to real life, but I've been happy with my starters and feel that I could have pushed them all harder had I not had an early-season 19-game run with no days off. I had to be extra conservative with my guys if I wanted them to have full energy for subsequent starts during that time.

[tdogg097]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

I have to say that for me, using DD and QC in combination has made this game the most fun I've ever had with MLBTS. I'm not having to worry about slider balancing, and I'm getting competitive games.

Stats are stats, in the end this is all that matters. After 25 games with DD this is how I will play the game from here on out.

[Brave22]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

Ok, so I went through 7 pages of this thread and couldnt find an answer...

Is there a way to reset DD back to the beginning?


Playing on AS+ is fine and good for me with my Franchise squad but I'd like to start from square 1 for my RTTS guy being as his attributes are that of a noob.

[DJ]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

Ok, so I went through 7 pages of this thread and couldnt find an answer...

Is there a way to reset DD back to the beginning?


Playing on AS+ is fine and good for me with my Franchise squad but I'd like to start from square 1 for my RTTS guy being as his attributes are that of a noob.

Create a new profile and that should do the trick.

[DJ]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

Dynamic Difficulty is paying immediate dividends for me. I've been swamped at work and just spent 8 days on the road, during which I managed to play one game on my Vita (I have played 95% on the Vita this year). I've been slowly building myself back up this week, and while I'm still Rookie + and Veteran + for hitting and pitching, it's been rewarding to play and have the game adjusts to my ups and downs in a realistic way.

[RogueHominid]

Re: The Dynamic Difficulty Discussion Thread

Dynamic Difficulty is paying immediate dividends for me. I've been swamped at work and just spent 8 days on the road, during which I managed to play one game on my Vita (I have played 95% on the Vita this year). I've been slowly building myself back up this week, and while I'm still Rookie + and Veteran + for hitting and pitching, it's been rewarding to play and have the game adjusts to my ups and downs in a realistic way.

For me, I think the ease/fun factor has sealed the deal. Not to have to worry about sliders at all is liberating. I'm playing more games and second-guessing myself less. I'm getting a great variety of game types, and at least to me, the stat line is looking good. Hamels is the only thing keeping my team ERA so low. After a few more games, my back of the rotation guys are in the 4s and my long-man is in the mid-5s--he's totally getting shelled.