So, I'm playing on the PC. Not sure how much it differs from Association mode on the current gen consoles but it's pretty broken.
Player roles make no sense, as usual, and they turn back on in the offseason if you try to turn them off. I understand that it's supposed to help deter the stacked teams I'm about to describe but it's frustrating when my second round pick is complaining about his Prospect role 5 games into the season or I pay a veteran an extra million or two to accept a limited role and have a shot at a title, yet they still get upset immediately.
The computer is idiotic in trading/free agency/overall team management.
I find that I have to purposely try to limit my rebuilding because it's just way too easy to stack your team within a season. By the second offseason with the superstar packed free agent market, you might as well have cheat codes in because the computer is no competition when it comes to signing free agents.
I've been trying to implement "rules" for myself to keep the game more realistic and challenging:
1. Don't take advantage of the computer in trades. I've been doing this for a while but I want to start paying more attention to the other team's cap also so I'm not able to dump unwanted salaries at will.
2. Draft wherever the balls may fall. No stockpiling 1sts or trading up. I may do it if I'm just jumping up a spot or two but it's way too easy to take advantage of if you don't regulate yourself.
3. Don't sign superstars in free agency or at least severely limit it. I'm thinking about capping my signings at 80 (or at least low 80s) overall. This makes you have to build through the draft, develop talent, and place more value on role players/lesser stars/veterans. Way too easy to get Melo, Kobe, and Lebron on the Bucks when it's just not realistic. An extra mil or two per season and a player option will get you any player you want.
4. I never take advantage of the first season's higher profile free agents (i.e. Stephen Jackson, Caron Butler, Ben Gordon, etc.). Side note: I will point out that I recently discovered Tyshawn Taylor to be a fantastic backup PG/SG, especially when he breaks into the 72-75 range after a season or two. Huge impact off the bench for cheap.
I think it's still very possible to have a pretty good team within a season or two using these rules but it at least makes you focus more on creating a balanced roster and work harder/smarter to get good players.
Any other ideas that you use or could use to make Association mode more realistic and challenging?
Player roles make no sense, as usual, and they turn back on in the offseason if you try to turn them off. I understand that it's supposed to help deter the stacked teams I'm about to describe but it's frustrating when my second round pick is complaining about his Prospect role 5 games into the season or I pay a veteran an extra million or two to accept a limited role and have a shot at a title, yet they still get upset immediately.
The computer is idiotic in trading/free agency/overall team management.
I find that I have to purposely try to limit my rebuilding because it's just way too easy to stack your team within a season. By the second offseason with the superstar packed free agent market, you might as well have cheat codes in because the computer is no competition when it comes to signing free agents.
I've been trying to implement "rules" for myself to keep the game more realistic and challenging:
1. Don't take advantage of the computer in trades. I've been doing this for a while but I want to start paying more attention to the other team's cap also so I'm not able to dump unwanted salaries at will.
2. Draft wherever the balls may fall. No stockpiling 1sts or trading up. I may do it if I'm just jumping up a spot or two but it's way too easy to take advantage of if you don't regulate yourself.
3. Don't sign superstars in free agency or at least severely limit it. I'm thinking about capping my signings at 80 (or at least low 80s) overall. This makes you have to build through the draft, develop talent, and place more value on role players/lesser stars/veterans. Way too easy to get Melo, Kobe, and Lebron on the Bucks when it's just not realistic. An extra mil or two per season and a player option will get you any player you want.
4. I never take advantage of the first season's higher profile free agents (i.e. Stephen Jackson, Caron Butler, Ben Gordon, etc.). Side note: I will point out that I recently discovered Tyshawn Taylor to be a fantastic backup PG/SG, especially when he breaks into the 72-75 range after a season or two. Huge impact off the bench for cheap.
I think it's still very possible to have a pretty good team within a season or two using these rules but it at least makes you focus more on creating a balanced roster and work harder/smarter to get good players.
Any other ideas that you use or could use to make Association mode more realistic and challenging?
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