Struggling for motivation to play
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@GoldenGamingKM_PSN said in Struggling for motivation to play:
I only play for a few hours at most each day because of work and family. Y'all with "nothing to do" at this point have played for several hours a day (or more) and wonder why the feeling of burnout is taking over. (Not all in this thread, but several of you.)
Working as much as I do definitely helps with actually having things to do and complete. Sip the [censored] drank; don't guzzle and expect to feel well about it.
Way too much truth in that post to square with most of the chronic complainers. I would only add that if you purchase this game and don't enjoy actually playing baseball, then no degree of other features is going to matter one bit.
And take it from me, working hard to raise a family is about the best thing a person can do! Retirement comes before you know it, and you have a ton of great memories to keep you going.
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For me it’s less about burnout from playing the game too much. It’s terrible gameplay, hitting mechanics, cpu pitching, excessive line outs, dolphin dives by common fielders getting worse year after year.
I love baseball and with this game going in the wrong direction the last few years it indirectly affects my love of baseball. That’s why I get frustrated. It could be so much better but it’s not for one reason or another. People excusing subpar gameplay is a huge reason why they continue to skate by without addressing the growing problems.
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I took several weeks off. As I generally like mini seasons, I am giving the newish one a try.
I liked the gold one from two years ago as well so this one could be interesting.But it is showing just how terribly wrong things are right now.
I played on all star 99% of the time the last year. This year I play on veteran or rookie and even then I do SIGNIFICANTLY worse than on all star last year on either mode.
So this new mini season, in 5 games I have scored 7 runs. ON ROOKIE. Two of those were free extra inning runners. I am the same hitter I was last year, I can go back into 2024 and hit just fine.
The cairo team and its team of common pitchers? Well since I use timing/directional the fact they are common is irrelavant, they might as well be diamonds without outlier. They pitch EXACTLY the same. Dot, dot, dot, bal, bal, ball, dot. The pitches they throw over the plate are almost always changes of speed, like a cutter after 5 4 seamers.
High strike fastballs this year on timing are almost never hit well. Pop ups, sometimes even whiffs ON ROOKIE. Anything low is probably a double play ball. yes, these are lower hitters but even lower pitchers which should counteract that but it does not.
I just wish we could have 2023 programs and gameplay back, with 2025's card art, collections, and lack of expiring cards. I dont buy that power creep/using lower cards is the reason for gameplay issues, because 88s should hit 88 pitchers the same way 97s should hit 97 pitchers. I can buy less HRs to an extent but it shouldnt be like this.
And I should be able to play the same difficulty with the same hitting style and expect similar results.
And this is from someone who spent 0% of his time willingly in a created stadium, shield woods, or the other minor league joke stadium (I do play Coors a decent amount because I like XBHs and the stadium itself) and only plays vs CPU for the inevitable easter egg mission.
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@Teak2112_MLBTS The CPU is way too overpowered this year, way more pitches on the black (you gotta be patient, they will throw pitches down the middle) and expert fielding. I also think that Veteran plays better than Rookie …
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Amen, and thank you for this post. I agree with everything you said. The fact people use excuses like lower overalls is bs plain and simple. They fundamentally changed the game to make the grind slower plain and simple. The result is a game that feels like work, unrewarding, and designed to make you break down and spend money to get ahead. Super frustrating to say the least.
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Geez, I just looked and realized that the 2nd inning ends next Friday. I don't even have 100K XP yet. I won't even make it to Ozzie Smith at this rate.
I think they have overcorrected again (classic SDS). Last year people complained that everything was too easy and quick. So they added back in power creep, lessened XP gains for gameplay, put most XP rewards into programs, and then made the programs themselves more of a grind to get through. Oh, and then they took away the best custom stadiums to grind those stats at.
- I don't want to get 50 TB with 2B - I don't even have a second baseman on my Cardinal Squad.
- I don't want to get 15 XBH with Orioles - I only have 3 orioles >= 80 overall
- I don't want to get 15 XBH with SS
- I don't want to get 50 TB with Yankees (81 Judge, 82 Chisholm and 87 Boggs are the main hitters that I have)
- I don't want to get 20 XBH with Angels (82 Christian Moore and 85 Soler)
- I don't want to get 15 HR with Brewers (Contreras with 64/71 power is my best option)
These are just a few of the stat missions for the April Spotlight programs. All of those missions are going to require multiple playing sessions over at least a couple of days for me to complete especially since I am not hitting a large number of HRs and XBHs so far. .
Those are just the April Spotlight programs, then you add in all the other themed programs and player programs and it is just a bit much.
I told myself that I was not going to worry much about completing all of the programs this year and concentrate on my Cardinals squad and that is what I have done so far, but I still want to feel like missions would be achievable in a reasonable timeframe if I decide I want to do one.
I also realize that people who put in 2 to 3 times more game time than me might not feel overwhelmed in the least and that it is all a matter of perspective and playing time.
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Yeah I want to how they can get all these programs done in an hour or two when it's a 15 hr mission or 15 xbh mission. I'm around 465k Xp and likely won't even see a wheel spin this time because xp gain are way way WAY too low...1800-2200 for REGULAR game and 500-1000 for 3 Inning game....there just isn't enough gameplay xp to go with the gate xp you get with programs and conquest and it takes the motivation away
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Once the Live Series is complete, I might start enjoying the game more. However, there’s just obviously way fewer of the higher end LS diamonds being pulled this year and they cost way too much. I actually have Ohtani and Trout already, but it’s annoying to see so many more cards this year going for basically $100-200 worth of stubs. I’ve opened a bunch of packs this season and not much good has dropped for a month. Progression in the XP path is too slow with so little gameplay XP being awarded. I’ve played a ton it feels like every day and I’m still only at around 350k or so. I started with the 30k head start and have done the programs and a mini seasons. Not an online player. Getting tedious.
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@ShadowJake77_XBL said in Struggling for motivation to play:
Yeah I want to how they can get all these programs done in an hour or two
I do kind of shake my head when they spit out those estimated times to complete these programs during their live streams. I have played 157 or so 3 inning games (all conquest) and the My Legacy mission for HRS shows I have about 50-60 HRs total so far and they want 25% of that amount for one weekly mission limited to players from 1 team?
I'm just not good enough to do that in short order.
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@Dolenz_PSN said in Struggling for motivation to play:
- I don't want to get 50 TB with 2B - I don't even have a second baseman on my Cardinal Squad.
- I don't want to get 15 XBH with Orioles - I only have 3 orioles >= 80 overall
- I don't want to get 15 XBH with SS
- I don't want to get 50 TB with Yankees (81 Judge, 82 Chisholm and 87 Boggs are the main hitters that I have)
- I don't want to get 20 XBH with Angels (82 Christian Moore and 85 Soler)
- I don't want to get 15 HR with Brewers (Contreras with 64/71 power is my best option)
These are just a few of the stat missions for the April Spotlight programs. All of those missions are going to require multiple playing sessions over at least a couple of days for me to complete especially since I am not hitting a large number of HRs and XBHs so far. .
Those are just the April Spotlight programs, then you add in all the other themed programs and player programs and it is just a bit much.
I disagree a bit with your take here, as all of those are optional and I assume are meant to be a replacement if you dont use the program's cards. You need to complete 2 of the stat missions and there is usually two easy ones like get 3 SBs with a CF (alongside the 99/99 CF in the program) or hit 3 HR with a 1B
edit: but even that said, stuff like 20 XBH with Angels and 15 HR with brews is absurd at this point in time. Especially with how the game plays.
I just dont understand why these programs are only 3 cards when they ignore so many actually printed Topps Now cards. At least they have been giving teams with less legends their cards, but compare to what they used to do in 22-23 and its a very sad decline. So its not big grind, but its also less motivating to do the grind for a 3 card program, and now we even have 1 card programs
The XP situation in inning 2 does look atrocious. Everything seems to give less. What was wrong with inning 1's xp?
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In inning 1 I got 5 wheel spins with one online game because I completed a bunch of missions at the same time. I think there is like 1/3 of the xp int he online path now. And the wheel rewards are [censored] this year anyway.
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Yeah I got multiple spins for inning 1 but for inning 2 I’m at 400k so still 100k from the 2nd boss with a week to go. I’ve completed all programs, conquests and mini seasons and still lagging behind overall.
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@Teak2112_MLBTS said in Struggling for motivation to play:
The XP situation in inning 2 does look atrocious. Everything seems to give less. What was wrong with inning 1's xp?
I just started paying attention to this. I played a lot in Inning 1, and I got a bunch of wheel spins. I'm nearing completion of the 2nd Online program, and there are far fewer XPs in there this time. I think I'm only at 350k xps, and I'm wondering if I even make it to the end. For what it's worth, I play a lot... probably too much...
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The lack of high diamonds is clearly rigged and pretty dang dejecting. It’s not motivating to keep pressing on for nothing. Opening pack after packs with no luck. Still missing Witt, Ramirez, Soto, Lindor, Tatis and Ohtani with very little belief I land any of them soon. It’s been weeks and hundreds of free packs.
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I would say 98% chance of double xp this weekend but 2 times [censored] is still [censored]
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@Dinger_Dan19_PSN said in Struggling for motivation to play:
Only because I don’t wanna play ranked now with the weekend league. I wanna push for WS but I’m not trying to go 6-0 on legend. So I’m stuck hoping for good content drops so I can play for a little.
Honestly what I would do is push for WS and then a day or two before weekend classic drops just tank your rating. That way you end up with high division rewards but play lower rated people.
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@TripleH-4481_PSN The only bad thing about the game play is people throwing up and in sinkers (not a pitch that ever gets thrown effectively in baseball) and being able to pull low and away sliders for HR's because they whine about needing "rewarded" for knowing it was there. LMAO if pitches are on the black they shouldn't be getting crushed over and over just because you put your PCI there. Maybe a single sure but not HR's the amount of ppl that complain about "perfect-perfect" outs have never watched a baseball game in their lives.
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Several have mentioned it, but I'm starting to slow as well and the main reason is the inconsistent hitting.
So many perfect / perfect lineouts and fly balls to the warning track only to turn around and hit a ball out of the PCI for a 480 ft HR. Doesn't make any sense. I have hit 100's of good/good balls that barely make it to the OF with hitters with near 100 Power.
And the CPU defense (on ROOKIE) is insane. It's almost impossible to get a bloop hit at Coors Field as the OF catches everything. They're not playing in either...but unless you stripe a line-drive / low fly ball, it's gonna be caught even in the gaps. The gameplay has taken a HUGE step back this year.
I've always completed the Live Series collection...normally by mid-May. No chance of that this year. Ohtani alone is worth $300 in stubs and my pack luck has been absolutely atrocious. Best pull is Lindor (88). All other live series diamonds have been 85/86 and I haven't pulled many of those either.
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@Dolenz_PSN said in Struggling for motivation to play:
- I don't want to get 50 TB with 2B - I don't even have a second baseman on my Cardinal Squad.
- I don't want to get 15 XBH with Orioles - I only have 3 orioles >= 80 overall
- I don't want to get 15 XBH with SS
- I don't want to get 50 TB with Yankees (81 Judge, 82 Chisholm and 87 Boggs are the main hitters that I have)
- I don't want to get 20 XBH with Angels (82 Christian Moore and 85 Soler)
- I don't want to get 15 HR with Brewers (Contreras with 64/71 power is my best option)
Good news, you don't have to do literally any of those things because of the surplus of stars in the program. Just do the moments instead and the PXP and you only need to do I think 1 stat grind for each spotlight...maybe 2
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@Dolenz_PSN to be honest: You are a theme team guy, I respect that … but in order to gain xp, you gotta do stuff . If that doesn‘t give you the fun you want, fine, but you cannot expect to only play our way to get things… focus on the programs (the „May“-program is rather easy, that gives out a lot of xp. And they will probably have Double-PXP, that makes it way easier to complete programs … BUT: The 2nd inning was way harder than the first. I just had my first wheel-spin and I play quite often. In reference: I had like 6-8 1st inning spins and I missed the launch week.
