I've attempted to do some background research on this in the forums but haven't found a concrete answer.

I know International Scouting determines how many IFAs you'll see, but is it International or Advanced scouting that determines projections for IFAs?

IFA.

IFA.  My IFA is usually near 20M and my ADV is zero.  So when seeing an IFA, I will copy/paste his projections in the event I win him, which I will slam into his player card notes, for future reference on what he should become.  His projecteds will change to reflect what your ADV tells you he will projects too once he is on your team.

Why do you need to know his projections after you've signed him?

I do the same thing, mostly to track how close the prospect comes to hitting his initial projections.  

This could be a stupid question but does the same apply to HS and College scouting?  Thus if I had 20 in each of those and 0 in ADV scouting, I would get projections for HS and College for the draft but wouldn't get anything for Free Agents or if I was looking to trade.

The ratings you see for the hs/college would be almost spot on. I would copy those ratings into a spread sheet, because once they are drafted and on your team , and you have zero advanced scouting... Then those projected ratings are useless

Posted by wishlist3677 on 6/12/2012 7:06:00 AM (view original):
This could be a stupid question but does the same apply to HS and College scouting?  Thus if I had 20 in each of those and 0 in ADV scouting, I would get projections for HS and College for the draft but wouldn't get anything for Free Agents or if I was looking to trade.

Yes.  Your HS and College budgets affect the projections you see for them before they sign.  After they sign, you see them with your ADV scouting budget.

So here's a newb question then.  Why budget anything for ADV scouting when you can manipulate the system by copying/pasting projections from the other scouting departments?  Keep in mind, I just got my 1st franchise in HBD and we have one slot left to fill.  Pretty soon, I will be setting my franchise budget for the first time and I'm intensely curious about how to get it right.  So if there's little to no value in ADV scouting, I don't want to be the doofus allocating $10 million to it.

I think working with a low (or zero budget) is something more likely to happen to with experienced owners. As a rookie, I wouldn't think going low budget would be a great idea. You can get there in a few seasons if you want.

ADV affects the projections of every player.   If you intend to trade(and I'd say "DON'T" in your first season), you'll be lost when trading prospects. 

Posted by selvendar on 6/12/2012 11:25:00 AM (view original):
So here's a newb question then.  Why budget anything for ADV scouting when you can manipulate the system by copying/pasting projections from the other scouting departments?  Keep in mind, I just got my 1st franchise in HBD and we have one slot left to fill.  Pretty soon, I will be setting my franchise budget for the first time and I'm intensely curious about how to get it right.  So if there's little to no value in ADV scouting, I don't want to be the doofus allocating $10 million to it.

You wouldn't be able to see draft scouting projections from players already in the world, only for new players who come in via the draft or IFA from this season forward.

Plus, you're not guaranteed of seeing some drafted or IFA players, even if you had a max $20m budget.  So there's always going to be some "holes" of players you'll never see projections on.

Once you have a few seasons of experience, you'll learn how to be able to "predict" projections with a $0m ADV budget.  Until then, you're running a risk.

Posted by MikeT23 on 6/12/2012 11:49:00 AM (view original):
ADV affects the projections of every player.   If you intend to trade(and I'd say "DON'T" in your first season), you'll be lost when trading prospects. 

As someone who has just completed a first season -- THIS IS INCREDIBLY GREAT ADVICE THAT I WISH I HAD FOLLOWED! Sign FA's, study your minors and promote from within, but TRADING SHOULD NOT BE SOMETHING A 1ST TIME PLAYER DOES (this is like your fathers advice, he means it and wishes you would follow it, but invariably you do not and think later "damn the old man was right!")

Ok, good deal.  Thanks for the fast responses and clarification.  I appreciate it, thanks!

re:noob

but for a new owner, does it really help to have anything other than 20mil in ADV?   I think with all the learning resources now available an owner should get to 0 ADV as soon as possible.

its easier to not make any trades in season 1 than it is to waste the money while getting your ADV to zero. spend money on training and medical
read the help section
read the forums
ask questions
the amount of information owners are willing to share is impressive and very cool!