I think the problem could be drastically reduced if they lessened the effect of baseline prestige.  Not sure if this would be doable, since it'd be different affects for different worlds, but I'd like to see baseline prestige go closer and closer to zero in each subsequent season after the 1st.  So the affect in Wooden would be negligible, but the affects in Tark/Phelan would still carry a little bit of weight.  Just my 2 cents.

Posted by udm_mike on 9/1/2010 12:11:00 PM (view original):
I think the problem could be drastically reduced if they lessened the effect of baseline prestige.  Not sure if this would be doable, since it'd be different affects for different worlds, but I'd like to see baseline prestige go closer and closer to zero in each subsequent season after the 1st.  So the affect in Wooden would be negligible, but the affects in Tark/Phelan would still carry a little bit of weight.  Just my 2 cents.

Lessening it is one thing. Bringing it down close to zero over time is swinging the pendulum too far in the other direction, IMO. A game where Duke and the ACC have zero inherent advantage over Lehigh and the Patriot League is just too far a departure from reality. Might as well get rid of real team names and conferences altogether if you do that. A big part of the appeal of the game to me is climbing the ladder to get better and better jobs. That pretty much goes away if all schools become equal in terms of baseline prestige.

I swear I hear an echo.  I don't think WIS is reading these comments at all.  I, as a player, feel as if I am wasting my time voicing concerns about the current makeup of HD.  I, as a customer, will be down from 8 to 3 teams in a month or so. 

I've cut way back on my teams as well.  I have no seasons remaining and let's be honest, with football season coming up and the fact that I feel like I'm treading water with the two teams I do have it's not exactly hard to walk away over the next five months.  By the end of football season maybe I can realize this game is a waste of time, money and effort and I can use all in another, more rewarding area. 

Posted by elibolender on 9/1/2010 11:34:00 AM (view original):
Maybe it's just me, but I just don't see the point in playing this game if I have to max out in D2 to have fun and can't ever move up to D1 and attempt to compete with the Kentuckys and Dukes of the world.  Call me crazy, but I like coaching at my alma mater and trying to make them a powerhouse.  I just don't think it can happen with the way the cards are stacked against us.  Baseline prestige, recruiting bonus $$$, new recruit generation, etc. are all killing the desire for anyone to take over (or stay at) non Big 6 schools in D1.

making a mid-major a powerhouse SHOULD be hard

I have no problem with it being hard.  I do have a problem making it impossible.

Posted by jetwildcat on 9/1/2010 3:14:00 PM (view original):

Posted by elibolender on 9/1/2010 11:34:00 AM (view original):
Maybe it's just me, but I just don't see the point in playing this game if I have to max out in D2 to have fun and can't ever move up to D1 and attempt to compete with the Kentuckys and Dukes of the world.  Call me crazy, but I like coaching at my alma mater and trying to make them a powerhouse.  I just don't think it can happen with the way the cards are stacked against us.  Baseline prestige, recruiting bonus $$$, new recruit generation, etc. are all killing the desire for anyone to take over (or stay at) non Big 6 schools in D1.

making a mid-major a powerhouse SHOULD be hard

A powerhouse, yes.  Consistently competitive, no.  Being rewarded with the same prestige bumps and dumps as Big 6 schools would help this out.  It is wildly out of balance.

If this recruit generation was to reflect more of real life, then they really need to go look at what is going on in real life.  Butler is now competing for the same players as UNC, Duke, Purdue, and Indiana (not a powerhouse now, but a strong tradition).  That isn't happening in any way, shape, or form on here.  Successful mid-majors are having to hope a top-tier player slips through the cracks so they don't have to wait for their team to be mostly upperclassmen to achieve.