My recruiting house rules

[Seeker7]

After finding it way too easy to take a 1 star school to the top in relatively few seasons, I decided to create some house rules. I'm sharing here because using these house rules has made the game much much more challenging for me and every game matter. Its pretty simple:

1 star school: 1 star players from anywhere. 2 star IN STATE players only.

1.5 star school: 1 star players from anywhere. 2 star IN PIPELINE players only.

2 star school: 2 star players from anywhere. 3 star IN STATE players only.

2.5 star school: 2 star players from anywhere. 3 star IN PIPELINE players only.

3 star school: 3 star players from anywhere. 4 star IN STATE players only.

3.5 star school: 3 star players from anywhere. 4 star IN PIPLINE players only.

4 star school: 4 star players from anywhere. 5 star IN PIPELINE players only.

4.5 and 5 star school: Any players.


I started in 1 star Arkansas State. Season 2 was at 2 stars, Season 3 was at 2.5 stars, Season 3 was rough as default players moved on and for season 4 was back down to 2 stars. Season 5 back up to 2.5 stars. If I can ever get to 3 stars, then I can finally go after an in state 4 star recruit (great role playing element here....big time in state recruit picks Arkansas State over Arkansas!).

Every game matters. Every player matters. Scouting and finding gems is essential. Managing player development is essential. Getting to 2.5 star program was huge, as I could now start loading up on 3 star recruits from my pipeline, which will set us up for future success. Alot of up and down seasons. Alot of underclassmen passing upper classman. Building up individual school catagory ratings (coach stability, etc) is huge. Pipeline of your assistants is important.

As for playing games, I'm using Armor and Shield's All American Sliders. For each game, I go into each game and then start supersimming a quarter at a time. If at the end of a halftime I am tied or losing I jump into the game. If I'm not losing or tied at the end of halftime, then I supersim the 3rd quarter. I always play the 4th quarter. Exception to this is if it is an important game then I play the whole game. I play this way as team building is the most fun thing for me and I don't want to spend days in RL going through a single season.


I would highly recommend this method as I am having much more fun than before!

[Instant C1a55ic]

Quote: Originally Posted by Seeker7

After finding it way too easy to take a 1 star school to the top in relatively few seasons, I decided to create some house rules. I'm sharing here because using these house rules has made the game much much more challenging for me and every game matter. Its pretty simple: 1 star school: 1 star players from anywhere. 2 star IN STATE players only. 1.5 star school: 1 star players from anywhere. 2 star IN PIPELINE players only. 2 star school: 2 star players from anywhere. 3 star IN STATE players only. 2.5 star school: 2 star players from anywhere. 3 star IN PIPELINE players only. 3 star school: 3 star players from anywhere. 4 star IN STATE players only. 3.5 star school: 3 star players from anywhere. 4 star IN PIPLINE players only. 4 star school: 4 star players from anywhere. 5 star IN PIPELINE players only. 4.5 and 5 star school: Any players. I started in 1 star Arkansas State. Season 2 was at 2 stars, Season 3 was at 2.5 stars, Season 3 was rough as default players moved on and for season 4 was back down to 2 stars. Season 5 back up to 2.5 stars. If I can ever get to 3 stars, then I can finally go after an in state 4 star recruit (great role playing element here....big time in state recruit picks Arkansas State over Arkansas!). Every game matters. Every player matters. Scouting and finding gems is essential. Managing player development is essential. Getting to 2.5 star program was huge, as I could now start loading up on 3 star recruits from my pipeline, which will set us up for future success. Alot of up and down seasons. Alot of underclassmen passing upper classman. Building up individual school catagory ratings (coach stability, etc) is huge. Pipeline of your assistants is important. As for playing games, I'm using Armor and Shield's All American Sliders. For each game, I go into each game and then start supersimming a quarter at a time. If at the end of a halftime I am tied or losing I jump into the game. If I'm not losing or tied at the end of halftime, then I supersim the 3rd quarter. I always play the 4th quarter. Exception to this is if it is an important game then I play the whole game. I play this way as team building is the most fun thing for me and I don't want to spend days in RL going through a single season. I would highly recommend this method as I am having much more fun than before!

How do you approach gem players that would put you over the star limit?

Sent from my SM-F946U using Operation Sports mobile app

[Seeker7]

Not sure I understand your question. If a 3 star recruit scouts as a gem he is still a 3 star recruit on my board. In fact, finding gems is essential to building a stronger team.

These recruiting rules won't appeal to everyone I get that. I'm a glutton for punishment I guess! But slogging my way to the top over many many seasons, tons of work, and a little luck makes getting to the top that much more rewarding (and realistic!).

[Instant C1a55ic]

Quote: Originally Posted by Seeker7

Not sure I understand your question. If a 3 star recruit scouts as a gem he is still a 3 star recruit on my board. In fact, finding gems is essential to building a stronger team. These recruiting rules won't appeal to everyone I get that. I'm a glutton for punishment I guess! But slogging my way to the top over many many seasons, tons of work, and a little luck makes getting to the top that much more rewarding (and realistic!).

Gem players typically are higher than what they project. so essentially, if you are sticking to a 2 star max, and find a 2 star gem, he would be a 3+.

Curious if you would take him or not with the limitations.

Sent from my SM-F946U using Operation Sports mobile app

[Seeker7]

Quote: Originally Posted by Instant C1a55ic

Gem players typically are higher than what they project. so essentially, if you are sticking to a 2 star max, and find a 2 star gem, he would be a 3+. Curious if you would take him or not with the limitations. Sent from my SM-F946U using Operation Sports mobile app

Yes I take him. Limitations are pre-scouting. Doing a bunch of scouting to find gems comes at a cost so it balances out. Plus 1 stars with gems don't exist that I have found, and 2 stars that end up gems are very rare. Scouting takes on more importance once you get to being able to recruit 3 star players. I like this as it again reinforces realism. Small schools with small recruiting budgets won't do as much scouting, but as you grow and become more prestigous then scouting increases and increases in importance.

[Instant C1a55ic]

Quote: Originally Posted by Seeker7

Yes I take him. Limitations are pre-scouting. Doing a bunch of scouting to find gems comes at a cost so it balances out. Plus 1 stars with gems don't exist that I have found, and 2 stars that end up gems are very rare. Scouting takes on more importance once you get to being able to recruit 3 star players. I like this as it again reinforces realism. Small schools with small recruiting budgets won't do as much scouting, but as you grow and become more prestigous then scouting increases and increases in importance.

Awesome, thanks for the explanation.

I may try this approach. I just wasn't sure if you considered gems cheating in a sense, as you are exceeding the star limitation.

Sent from my SM-F946U using Operation Sports mobile app