Padgoi's MLB The Show 18 Legend Sliders - Zone Batting/ Meter Pitching

[Padgoi]

I imagine most of you have seen my sliders posted here on an annual basis since around 2013. This year is no exception. As I mentioned many years ago, I tend to find any difficulty under Legend simply not as challenging as I would like it to be. I like the CPU to play smart, urgent baseball. I like the CPU to try to nip corners with the occasional mistake, not to throw batting practice. I want the CPU to act as if you're playing another user who's trying to win a game. I've always felt the lower difficulty levels simply don't play urgently and efficiently. With that, I bring you my annual Legend sliders.

As I do every year, these sliders are designed for REALISM. I understand this is on Legend difficulty and the CPU tends to get boosts on higher difficulty levels. These sliders are designed for a competitive atmosphere while maintaining realism. If you want to go 130-32, these sliders aren't for you. If you want to fight and claw your way to the top of the division with a chance of not making the playoffs, you've come to the right place.

These sliders were designed to be used with Zone Button Hitting and Meter Pitching. I imagine they could be used with Analog pitching, but I don't play with it, therefore I will only tune them for use with the Meter. So here we go...

As this is volume 1, I left certain sliders at default if I haven't sufficiently tested yet.

Padgoi's MLB The Show 18 Legend Sliders - Volume 17 as of 5/31/2018 based on patch 1.10

Batting & Baserunning
Hitting Difficulty - Legend
Hitting Interface - Zone
Input Type - Buttons
Analog Type - Flick (doesn't matter, this isn't analog hitting)
Plate Coverage Indicator - Off
PCI Appearance - Dynamic (User Choice)
Camera Shift - On
Hitting View - Retro (User Choice)
In Play View Offense - Dynamic (User Choice)
Ball Trail - Off
Guess Pitch - Off
Baserunning Decisions - Assist

Advanced:
Baserunning Interface - Default
Sliding Decisions - Assist
Runner Windows - On

Pitching
Pitching Difficulty - Legend
Pitching Interface - Meter
Pulse Meter Display - Default (doesn't matter, this doesn't use Pulse pitching)
Pitch Feedback - On
Pitching View - Broadcast (User Choice)
Pitching Ball Marker - Off
Pitch Confidence - On

Advanced:
Pitch Delay - Normal (User Choice)
API - Default

Fielding
Throwing Interface - Button Accuracy
RTTS Throwing Interface - Buttons (I don't play RTTS)
Throwing Meter - On
Throwing Difficulty - Hall of Fame (this is not Legend because Legend throwing difficulty yields too many errors due to the very small yellow area on the meter)
Fielding Decision - Assist
Throwing Decision - Off
In Play View Defense - Broadcast (User Choice)
Throw Cancelling - On
One Button Dive/ Jump - Off (User Choice)

Advanced
Catch Position Indicator - On
Defensive Shift - Auto

General
Strike Zone - Off
Hot Zones - Off
Warm Up Relievers - On
Dynamic Difficulty Updates - Progress (doesn't matter, this isn't dynamic difficulty)
Tutorial Tips - Off
Batting Tips - Locked
Baserunning Tips - Locked
Pitching Tips - Locked
Fielding Tips - Locked
Post Game Auto Save - Off (User Choice)

Advanced
Scorebar Display - On
Pitch Select Display - On
Swing/ Pitch Info - On
Balks - Off (CPU can't balk so why should we be able to?)
Umpire Accuracy - Personalized (User Choice)
Umpire Close Plays - On (User Choice)
Check Swing Appeals - On (User Choice)
Injuries - On
Ejections - On
Vibration - Off (User Choice)
Game Log Order - Default (User Choice)

Sliders:
Dynamic Difficulty Sensitivity - 5
Human Contact - 4
Human Power - 5
Human Timing - 4
Human Foul Frequency - 3
Human Solid Hits - 3
Human Starter Stamina - 5
Human Reliever Stamina - 5
Human Pitcher Control - 3
Human Pitcher Consistency - 3
CPU Contact - 4
CPU Power - 5
CPU Timing - 5
CPU Foul Frequency - 3
CPU Solid Hits - 3
CPU Starter Stamina - 5
CPU Reliever Stamina - 5
CPU Pitcher Control - 5
CPU Pitcher Consistency - 5
CPU Strike Frequency - 5
CPU Manager Hook - 5
CPU Pickoffs - 3
Fastball Pitch Speed - 7
Offspeed Pitch Speed - 7
Fielding Errors Infield - 7
Fielding Errors Outfield - 6
Throwing Errors Infield - 5
Throwing Errors Outfield - 5
Fielder Run Speed - 3
Fielder Reaction - 3
Fielder Arm Strength Infield - 5
Fielder Arm Strength Outfield - 5
Baserunner Speed - 5
Baserunner Steal Ability - 6
Baserunner Steal Frequency - 5
Wind - 5
Injury Frequency - 5
Trade Frequency - 5

[WarEagle1212]

Re: Padgoi's MLB The Show 18 Legend Sliders - Zone Batting/ Meter Pitching

I will preface my comment by saying HOF is as high a level as I've played so far this year. But I've been waiting for your slider set to come out. Last year I alternated between yours and Mike's and enjoyed both.

So far on HOF default I have been happy with hitting and number of runs scored (avg about 5 per game), hitting the ball in the gaps for XBs to all fields, but I can't hit many HRs. 2 HRs in about 7-8 games. I know, small sample size but I'm worried about the jump to Legend in this regard. Do you feel like HUM power is acceptable?

Also baserunner speed seems way too fast to me. Anyway, I'm headed home to plug these in and play a game or 2 on Legend. Thanks

[Padgoi]

Re: Padgoi's MLB The Show 18 Legend Sliders - Zone Batting/ Meter Pitching

I think the latest patch 1.04 really made pitches more floaty so I've uploaded volume 2 to the vault and am editing the original post with a few changes.

As for the above question, thanks for using my sliders. I am currently happy with power the way I have it configured in my sliders. I've had games with no jacks, I've had games with up to 4. I think you're gonna be ok with these my man.

Let me know what you think of volume 2.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[WarEagle1212]

Re: Padgoi's MLB The Show 18 Legend Sliders - Zone Batting/ Meter Pitching

Played my first legend game using volume 2 sliders. A's at Orioles (me). So I was worried about power. The first pitch I see from Kendall Graveman I hit out of the park with Tim Beckham. 388 foot HR to left center. haha. Then hit one out with Chris Davis in the 2nd inning. I struck out 7 A's in 6 innings with Dylan Bundy. Gave up 2 runs thru 6. But then my bullpen fell apart in the 7th and 8th innings giving up 6 runs and the 2 homers is all I could muster on offense and I lost 8-2.

I struggled with the pitch speed at 8 I think. Also I hate the strike zone camera(used the show 15 camera for the A's/Orioles game) from an aesthetics standpoint but I hit so much better. So I started another game Brewers at Mets (me). Played 1 inning with pitch speed at 5 and strike zone camera and had 4 hits in the first inning. I'm gonna tinker with the pitch speed but overall I like the sliders. Gotta play some more games!!

[Padgoi]

Re: Padgoi's MLB The Show 18 Legend Sliders - Zone Batting/ Meter Pitching

Played my first legend game using volume 2 sliders. A's at Orioles (me). So I was worried about power. The first pitch I see from Kendall Graveman I hit out of the park with Tim Beckham. 388 foot HR to left center. haha. Then hit one out with Chris Davis in the 2nd inning. I struck out 7 A's in 6 innings with Dylan Bundy. Gave up 2 runs thru 6. But then my bullpen fell apart in the 7th and 8th innings giving up 6 runs and the 2 homers is all I could muster on offense and I lost 8-2.

I struggled with the pitch speed at 8 I think. Also I hate the strike zone camera(used the show 15 camera for the A's/Orioles game) from an aesthetics standpoint but I hit so much better. So I started another game Brewers at Mets (me). Played 1 inning with pitch speed at 5 and strike zone camera and had 4 hits in the first inning. I'm gonna tinker with the pitch speed but overall I like the sliders. Gotta play some more games!!

Lowering pitch speed to 5 is going to elicit too much offense. I'd lower it no more than one notch, to 7. You still want strikeouts and offense to be realistic. Pitch speed keeps it realistic.

[themoneyteam1212]

Re: Padgoi's MLB The Show 18 Legend Sliders - Zone Batting/ Meter Pitching

Have everything the same except I use classic pitching. I’m three games I’m seeing nkt ebough hits or runs scored without homeruns. Most all runs are scored via the homerun

[WarEagle1212]

Re: Padgoi's MLB The Show 18 Legend Sliders - Zone Batting/ Meter Pitching

Lowering pitch speed to 5 is going to elicit too much offense. I'd lower it no more than one notch, to 7. You still want strikeouts and offense to be realistic. Pitch speed keeps it realistic.

Makes sense. I'm gonna increase pitch speed in smaller increments. Will try it on 6 in my next game then increase.

I feel good about everything else so far

[WarEagle1212]

Re: Padgoi's MLB The Show 18 Legend Sliders - Zone Batting/ Meter Pitching

Have everything the same except I use classic pitching. I’m three games I’m seeing nkt ebough hits or runs scored without homeruns. Most all runs are scored via the homerun

What's the advantage in your mind to using classic pitching vs the others as far as gameplay or realism or both? Just wondering cause I've never tried it

[themoneyteam1212]

Re: Padgoi's MLB The Show 18 Legend Sliders - Zone Batting/ Meter Pitching

Classic pitching the ratings off the pitcher matter more

[wisdom less13]

Re: Padgoi's MLB The Show 18 Legend Sliders - Zone Batting/ Meter Pitching

What's the advantage in your mind to using classic pitching vs the others as far as gameplay or realism or both? Just wondering cause I've never tried it

Classic is more ratings based. Holding X determines how much effort you put into a pitch. Throws fastballs harder, and makes movement more pronounced. Comes at the cost of control. Tap for more control, hold for harder/more movement. It's what I use. I leave control and consistency at 5 with it. Legend usually has me miss more over the plater. Provides a challenge, and I'm not good with meters...

[Padgoi]

Re: Padgoi's MLB The Show 18 Legend Sliders - Zone Batting/ Meter Pitching

Version 3 of my Legend Sliders have been uploaded to the vault and the OP has been updated. There were quite a few changes in this version, primarily because since the latest patch, I'm finding offense entirely too easy. How easy? I just blasted Clayton Kershaw around for 7 hits and 3 runs . . . in 2 innings. How easy? I blasted Julio Teheran around for 11 runs and 14 hits in 5 innings. How easy? I blasted Stephen Strasburg around for 4 hits and 3 runs in 1.2 innings. My eyes are getting used to the pitch speed and it's been getting too easy.

These sliders really focused on making hitting result indicative of contact type. I was able to get entirely too many hits on pitches in which my PCI wasn't even on. I was able to foul pitches off that my timing and PCI were way off. My goal for these sliders is so that when you're ON a pitch, you KNOW it. When you're not, you KNOW it. When you are off, you MISS. Like REAL baseball. I'm tired of fighting pitch after pitch off when my PCI isn't even on the ball. SDS improved the hitting a lot this year, so hitting is a LOT easier than last year.

In my last game with these updated sliders, through 4 innings against Syndergaard, I had 4 hits and two runs. One run was on a 447 foot jack by Judge. The other was on a single, double and RBI ground out. I had 4 strikeouts and a walk.

Keep in mind, if you are looking for EASY sliders, these are NOT the place to be. I've been playing this game a LONG time and I am VERY patient in my plate approach. If you're a free swinger, you're going to struggle, I guarantee it. These sliders are SIMULATION style sliders. If you're patient and swing at good pitches, you will get rewarded. If you are unable to discern a strike from a ball or you have slow reflexes, these won't be for you. I've tested about 18 hours in the last 3 days and I will continue to test to get a realistic set of sliders that elicit realistic offense, strikeouts, walks, and type of offense (not just home runs).

Please let me know what you guys think of this latest version 3. Thanks.

[Padgoi]

Re: Padgoi's MLB The Show 18 Legend Sliders - Zone Batting/ Meter Pitching

Have everything the same except I use classic pitching. I’m three games I’m seeing nkt ebough hits or runs scored without homeruns. Most all runs are scored via the homerun

Again, these sliders, while they should be ok with classic pitching, are only tested with meter pitching and zone hitting. I am seeing very realistic offense types, especially with version 3 of the sliders that I just updated. Please try the latest version and let me know what you think.

[69Yanks]

Re: Padgoi's MLB The Show 18 Legend Sliders - Zone Batting/ Meter Pitching

Thanks for the sliders. I find the pitch speed too slow on HOF even at 10. I'm 61 and still have no issues with being blown away by a fastball on HOF. I use classic button hitting which likely helps. Legend is the way to go and thanks for challenging us with these sliders. If not challenge, it is a boring game.

[Padgoi]

Re: Padgoi's MLB The Show 18 Legend Sliders - Zone Batting/ Meter Pitching

I've uploaded the box score for my game last night with version 3 of the sliders and I am pleased. Both team had 5 hits, but keep in mind, I had Severino going (rated an 86) and the Cubs had Lester going (85 rating), both aces. I toned down errors one notch because on default, the infielders seem to boot routine grounders at an alarming rate. I'll continue testing but I'm liking these so far. If anyone else is using version 3, please post your results.

[PDibby23]

Re: Padgoi's MLB The Show 18 Legend Sliders - Zone Batting/ Meter Pitching

Unfortunately even on legend I’m finding the game way too easy. Whatever they did to make it playable for the casual gamer has ruined it for me. I hate that I feel this way. I come hon everyday excited to play then just crush balls that are all too easy to see and hit and I miss the challenge of struggling to win games. Ive been up 8 and 10 runs in my first few franchise games on legend with pitch speed maxed with the As. The game has problems if that’s what legend is.