[tessl]

I usually use the first live roster update after opening day and I try to find a NL team which is poor and has been botched by the front office. This year that will probably be San Diego although since they moved the fences in at Petco I might use a different ballpark - maybe Turner Field or Sun Life which are more pitcher friendly. I like to build around pitching and speed. In manage mode difficulty doesn't matter so I leave it on veteran. I'm not really a Padres fan but I like a challenge and that is a challenge.

Once I start my franchise the first thing I do is look at the attributes of my players. Sometimes a good cpu generated player will drop onto the roster. Then I make extensive use of the search feature to find players which fit my needs and the attributes I value in pitchers and position players. Before I make too many trades - using self imposed strict trade restrictions - I play a few games to see what gameplay is like. The ease or difficulty of stealing can fluctuate from year to year so I play a few games to figure that out and then make a deal or two to acquire speed. The game in the past has been programed with some decent players who are D potential. Those players because of their low potential tend to be relatively easy to trade for so in positions of need I look to acquire guys like that to fill in until I can sign or draft a more long term solution.

Then I look at scouts and replace as needed. I wait until after the first season to replace those coaches who need to be replaced. Of course this is based upon franchise mode from last season and there could be other things depending on what the Show 17 adds or changes regarding franchise.

Good thread, thanks to the op for starting it. It is always interesting to see how others play the mode.