Differences Between All Star and Veteran

[RogueHominid]

Hello, all. I'm wondering if anyone has done extensive testing on the difference between these difficulty levels. Are there marked differences in tendency/strategy, and if so, what are they?

I'm thinking about moving down a level mostly because I still K like it's my job and have a hard time walking, but if those stats aren't easier to get right on veteran, I may just stay at All Star.

BTW, I"m running a test franchise on default All Star with the only adjustment being pitch speed at 0.

Grazie.

[BleacherCreature]

Re: Differences Between All Star and Veteran

BTW, I"m running a test franchise on default All Star with the only adjustment being pitch speed at 0.

I am using the exact same thing, just with reliever stamina and pickoffs at 3 and manager hook at 7.
I really like default with one exception. My starting pitchers are absolute butchers through the first 3 innings. I would love to see a stat in this game to tell me my first inning ERA because I am pretty sure it would be through the roof.
If I can make it out of the 3rd with a starter, and actually keep the score close I have been able to chip away and even win a few games in the 7th inning or later.

And I just noticed I never even answered the question you originally asked.

[RogueHominid]

Re: Differences Between All Star and Veteran

I am using the exact same thing, just with reliever stamina and pickoffs at 3 and manager hook at 7.
I really like default with one exception. My starting pitchers are absolute butchers through the first 3 innings. I would love to see a stat in this game to tell me my first inning ERA because I am pretty sure it would be through the roof.
If I can make it out of the 3rd with a starter, and actually keep the score close I have been able to chip away and even win a few games in the 7th inning or later.

And I just noticed I never even answered the question you originally asked.

I have played a few more games with the pitch speed at 0 and the rest All Star default, and the pitch speed helps tremendously. All the balls and strikes are there in the right proportion out of the gate, and it's just easier to see them with the lower speed.

I was able to force one SP into a 140 pitch game, no joke, and saw increased walk totals (3 in my last game, and it could have been 4-5 if a couple check swings went my way).

I'm just not sure what makes Veteran "easier" than All Star precisely.

Regarding starting pitchers, I do have games where it's just ridiculous how hard I get shelled, but there are also plenty of games where I pitch extremely well, so that part seems balanced to me.

[TripleThreat1973]

Re: Differences Between All Star and Veteran

The confidence thing seems, to me, to be exaggerated. I actually have the opposite situation ... both pitchers generally breeze through the first 2 innings, and before you know it no one can hit either guy and it's 1-1 in the 7th.

Likewise, if you get an early run in, the pitcher will be hittable for a couple of innings before he turns into Roger Clemens with Bret Saberhagen's accuracy.

[BleacherCreature]

Re: Differences Between All Star and Veteran

Threat doyou have confidence on or off?
I started with it on but found the CPU pitcher would overuse whichever pitch had the highest confidence, which was usually a fastball. Although I did use different sliders at the time so it could have my experience with it completely skewed.
Although I remember after turning it off the CPU would mix up its pitches a lot more.
Now that I have gone back to default maybe I will try confidence on again and see how that goes.
I think I read somewhere that all the confidence meter does is turn the visual on and off. I would think it would have more impact than that though, otherwise why bother putting it in? I mean over the course of a game I can kinda tell which pitches are working for me and which ones aren't so the visual aid doesn't really mean much in that sense.
But if it affects a pitcher's performance then I might just give it another go.

[TripleThreat1973]

Re: Differences Between All Star and Veteran

I turned it OFF, but from what I understand turning it off, just turns off the display ... the 'confidence factor' is still there (programming), you just don't "see it".

[BleacherCreature]

Re: Differences Between All Star and Veteran

That just sounds weird, having an option that just turns the visual diaplay of the confidence meter on or off. If that's the case instead of calling it "pitcher confidence on/off" it should read "pitcher confidence meter on/off."
There has to be more to it than that, otherwise there wouldn't be much need for it.
Perhaps there's a developer out there who can answer this?

[TripleThreat1973]

Re: Differences Between All Star and Veteran

That just sounds weird, having an option that just turns the visual diaplay of the confidence meter on or off. If that's the case instead of calling it "pitcher confidence on/off" it should read "pitcher confidence meter on/off."
There has to be more to it than that, otherwise there wouldn't be much need for it.
Perhaps there's a developer out there who can answer this?

I think the idea was so that the user could not see the amount of confidence that the pitcher has in each pitch ... this is important because the AI catcher calls pitches, in part, to the confidence level. So, if the user could see that the pitcher's confidence was, for example, very low on their change-up, then the user would have the unfair advantage of knowing that they probably are not going to call another changeup.

I would like the option of just turning the darn thing off. There's onhly a limited range as to how effective certain pitchers can be, regardless of how their first two innings went. Sure, Tom Browning can throw a no-hitter, and Chris Carpenter can give up 3 home runs in a game .... but they don't do it consistently based upon how their first coupla innings went.

The confidence is a good thing, and it is a realistic aspect to the game, since their are times when pitchers don't have good command or feel with certain pitches and do have to adjust the way they pitch ... it's just that on MLB10, the "effect" is "too much". Freddy Garcia doesn;t turn into Roger Clemens because he retired the first 7 batters of the game. He does on MLB10, and it works in my favor. Like wise, mark Buehrle doesn't turn into a scrub because he gives up a 2-run homer to Ian Kinsler in the first.

I would love to have a confidence meter slider, or some sort of tune like High Heat did.

[ParisB]

Re: Differences Between All Star and Veteran

I think the idea was so that the user could not see the amount of confidence that the pitcher has in each pitch ... this is important because the AI catcher calls pitches, in part, to the confidence level. So, if the user could see that the pitcher's confidence was, for example, very low on their change-up, then the user would have the unfair advantage of knowing that they probably are not going to call another changeup.

I would like the option of just turning the darn thing off. There's onhly a limited range as to how effective certain pitchers can be, regardless of how their first two innings went. Sure, Tom Browning can throw a no-hitter, and Chris Carpenter can give up 3 home runs in a game .... but they don't do it consistently based upon how their first coupla innings went.

The confidence is a good thing, and it is a realistic aspect to the game, since their are times when pitchers don't have good command or feel with certain pitches and do have to adjust the way they pitch ... it's just that on MLB10, the "effect" is "too much". Freddy Garcia doesn;t turn into Roger Clemens because he retired the first 7 batters of the game. He does on MLB10, and it works in my favor. Like wise, mark Buehrle doesn't turn into a scrub because he gives up a 2-run homer to Ian Kinsler in the first.

I would love to have a confidence meter slider, or some sort of tune like High Heat did.

Amen to that. My biggest complaint about the game is just that. The Confidence meter is too fickle. Too often I feel pressured I need to score in the 1st or 2nd inning or basically have no chance. I also hate having to completely struggle with my ace because I give up a homerun.

On top of what you said, I also don't like how i lose confidence in a pitch if I throw an 0-2 ball. I shouldn't have to be punished for throwing an 0-2 slider off the plate or a curveball in the dirt to try and get them to chase. The offspeed pitches lose their confidence way too much, and those are the pitches that get jacked for homeruns.