So with how important preferences are evident by the beta I figured it might make sense to not make them "random" and "lucky", previously in the current system location was absolute #1 or #2 factor along with baseline prestige, heck sometimes location was more important than baseline in schools like Colorado, LSU, Texas, Minnesota Miami all being lower baseline big 6 jobs but really good because of their location and then schools like Arkansas, Ohio State, Purdue, Louisville, Kentucky, NC State, Cincy all being higher baseline jobs that really aren't desirable because of their location. I think the beta has done a good job in making distance a factor but not the #1/#2 factor in recruiting and so important in recruit gen, it would be interesting to see the jobs that are popular a year from the updates because I think jobs that are solely dependent on location might not be as good as before. However now, the beta has introduced something just as luck based and random as recruit generation(location) that is clearly the number 1 factor: Preferences.
Playing preference : Wants to play or Nothing
- this one is solid this can be modified based on a decision to offer playing time or not.
Distance preference : Nothing, Far or Near
- not terrible, its realistic as long as it isn't so bad every recruit wants to play on the opposite coast I don't see a huge problem, most players either play local or are elite and travel to elite schools.
Success : Nothing, Wants success, wants rebuild
- this one is a little odd to me, isn't this what prestige is basically for? And who the hell "wants" a rebuild in basketball recruiting, I don't see recruits lining up to go to Grambling state and be known for turning them around, seems like a way to almost "give recruits to lower successful schools
Fix - I'd rather eliminate it and not completely nerf prestige like they seem to have done in the beta
Style : fast tempo, nothing, perimeter oriented, paint offense, strong defense
- definitely one of the worst, completely stupid I understand a player wanting to go somewhere that matches up with them but then inheriting teams sucks because their play style might not match your, the recruits might not be able to run your style, and heck even at my long term job my style changes considerably, I have strong offenses that vary from uptempo bombs from 3 to slowdown low post heavy offense, I do not like this one at all.
Fix - dear god please get rid of this one
Offensive : Nothing, fastbreak, motion, flex or triangle
- Not a fan of this either, its luck based on what offense you run I understand and like how juco's have this, but just having the small boost in IQ when they come in for one offense is enough, not game changing or anything, now you have to hope the recruits near you are generated to like the offense you run or no preference here at all or be disadvantaged because of generation.
Fix - eliminate it, its a bad one
Defensive : Nothing, zone, press, man to man
Conference : Nothing, Strong Conference
- well here is you're power conference reward, one preference, at least its a good one nothing wrong with it
Loyalty : Wants a loyal coach, Nothing
- it's not tied to you're actual coach loyalty which is kinda stupid, seems to be just the number of seasons you've been at a school
"Fix" - I don't really see anything wrong with this outside the fact it's not the same as coach loyalty it has and will cause confusion, just tie it to coach loyalty
So now we are left with Playing preference, Distance, Conference, and Loyalty. Now we can add in some severly missed out on categories that make sense and are based on coach decisions, not lucky generation
Academic success: wants high academic prestige, does not care, wants a "party school"
- can't believe this one was missed out, very simple just take the GPA from the current group of players on a team average it and give them a letter grade, ex 3.4 average GPA is B+ consider "high" academic prestige anything over a B- and have them be more impactful the higher it is so a A+ and B would both be considered high academic prestige but A+ school receives a VG preference and B gets a G preference. Adds strategy to the SH now its not just put the minimum and hope they pass, and directly related to the coaching decisions made. Also sometimes you get recruits like Ben Simmons who don't neccessarily come to play school and just wants to coast through his short time there, not really punishing good schools, but keep it if you want realism don't add it if you don't want the randomization of recruit generation to have a bigger impact
Coach Reputation: wants reputable coach, no preference
- again how was this missed out? tie it to coach reputation letter grade, now coaches have to be even more careful offering promises and cutting players as the more you do it the more you risk newer recruits not wanting to play for you.
so now we have 6 preferences with playing preference, distance, conference, loyalty, academics, and success. I feel making preferences more dependant on the coaches "consistent" actions make preferences better and not a new way where more luck is added to the recruit generation factor,