I know there is a secret formula you hall-of-famers all try to stick by. But at 25 bucks a pop, Im a little impatient. Any hints on what to spend a lot on, and any areas that don't need much money devoted to it?

I personally like to keep my training, medical, and advanced scouting pretty high before anything else.

You can't go wrong spending on training and medical.

If you're not going to go big after internationals, lower your IFA budget.

If you feel comfortable with projecting a players potential solely by current ratings, age and makeup, lower your advanced scouting budget.

If you have a preference of high-school vs college players in the amateur draft, adjust your HS/College scouting budgets appropriately.

If you're not planning to pursue IFA's, you intend to draft conservatively in the draft, and do not anticipate getting any type A/B comp picks, then you can set your prospect budget at the minimum ($6m).

I'm not a HoF'er, but here's an advanced budget for ya:

0 advanced scouting

5 medical

20 training

15 college/hs scouting

12 International

20 prospect

11 coach

87 salary

I almost always go with 20 Adv. Scouting budget, however I am toying with this idea.

During rebuilding phases, I will keep a $20 mil Adv. Scouting budget, so I can best project prospects.

I will then keep a spreadsheet of all of the prospects that are projecting to play for me in the bigs when I become a contender, and their projections at $20 mil.

Keeping that information handy, I will then lower my adv. scouting as much as possible when I'm ready to contend. Using the spreadsheet, I already know what the most accurate possible projections are, so seeing the numbers with the lower budget will not affect decision-making.

Does this seem viable to anybody besides me?

Quote: Originally posted by mrintegrity on 10/27/2009I almost always go with 20 Adv. Scouting budget, however I am toying with this idea. During rebuilding phases, I will keep a $20 mil Adv. Scouting budget, so I can best project prospects.I will then keep a spreadsheet of all of the prospects that are projecting to play for me in the bigs when I become a contender, and their projections at $20 mil.  Keeping that information handy, I will then lower my adv. scouting as much as possible when I'm ready to contend.  Using the spreadsheet, I already know what the most accurate possible projections are, so seeing the numbers with the lower budget will not affect decision-making.Does this seem viable to anybody besides me?

Absolutely. I'm using a version of this strategy, although I didn't start it until my Adv Scouting budget was already down to 14, so I won't be as accurate as you. I'm definitely headed toward 0 adv scouting and very low prospect payroll and int'l scouting as my teams contend.

I think as you gain experience and confidence you need to use Adv Scouting less and less. Im down to 10 in my leagues, but im heading towards 0. Once you know what your doing, you are your own best scout and can use the money towards other things.

By the way if you have a contender have a high training budget. Injuries on great teams but with little depth are killers. And it helps your veterans decline slower.

When you first start out....it is 10 across the board for budgets, except payroll...so the max it can be will be 14 my first season...correct?

Prospect and maybe coaches can be changed, but Scouting, Training and Medical budgets you are correct, 14 is max.

Quote: Originally posted by spudpicker on 10/28/2009Prospect and maybe coaches can be changed, but Scouting, Training and Medical budgets you are correct, 14 is max.

Coaching budget can indeed be changed as much as you like

Here is my opinions.

I can't handle a medical and training under 15. More than anything I like my training at 20.

More than 15 for college and high school is a waste.

More than 15 for international is a waste.

I see very little reason to have more than 13 in coaching.

If you have a high first round pick you want a 14ish in college and high school. High first round pick can be a franchise player that can bring you a championship, you want to make sure you get one of those if you have a high pick.

I disturbingly agree with plague.

Most of my teams are 16+ in medical/training.

Most of my teams have 12-13 in coaching.

I don't put much in IFA, because the leagues I'm in are IFA-happy and ONE guy could cost you $10-20M, even if he's a borderline ML-er.

Depending on where my team is, college/HS can fluctuate. I'll shift from one to the other based on the team's timetable for contending.

Quote: Originally posted by gbuck39 on 10/28/2009When you first start out....it is 10 across the board for budgets, except payroll...so the max it can be will be 14 my first season...correct?

Why is that? I know there are teams in my league that have 20 mil for some of those things.

It's only for the 1st season. Next season you can put it up by another 4 million until you hit 20. I think they just do that because 10 million is in the middle and you can go in whatever direction you want from there.