Gentlemen, I have been playing MFN for about 7 months now and, in my opinion, there is a serious problem with competitive balance in this game. I don't claim to be one of the top guys here. I am probably in the upper middle class. But I do know that lots of players make the same mistakes over and over (before quitting) and I would like to offer...

3 quick tips to become competitive at MFN...

1. For players, PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES MATTER, especially speed. You will seldom if ever see an effective running back or defensive back who is slower than about 75. Pay attention to strength also for better blocking and tackling. Also, intelligence is important for QBs.

2. Be very selective about who you resign to long term contracts. Players will only give up their shot at free agency if you overpay them. So don't try to pay everyone. Yes, really. A good rule of thumb: only resign players who are 80ish and above (with good physical attributes) and still have a few seasons left. Be selective or you will turn your team into an ugly upside-down cap mess! It's not the end of the world if you lose a decent player or an old star every so often. But you gotta hang on to your young talent.

3. As far as gameplanning goes, this game is about continuity and building up experience running your offensive and defensive schemes. Select 40 offensive and 30 defensive plays that have a bit of everything and stick with them. It's okay to let the computer plan your gameplan -- just uncheck the plays boxes and make it plan around what your team is learning to run. And do your opponent scouting. Dealing with your "weekly" gameplanning this way is quick and easy and works. You will start to see results in 5 or 6 games...

That's it. The basics. Have fun!!

CM

Speaking on #3, agreed! Come up with a strategy, select your plays and stick with 'em. If you flutter around like a butterfly and constantly change up offensive plays....you'll never learn them and you'll get lost in the wilderness. The trick is unearthing the ones which are most effective and then never deviating off of them. Keep chopping/grinding and of course, scout your opponent each week.

Good comments. My only caveats in terms of long term contracts is as follows:

1. Rarely, if ever, sign a RB/FB/WR/TE/DB to a contract that will extend beyond their 10th year of playing. In addition to a slightly improved chance that they will retire and cost you money against the salary cap for the sign bonus you've paid, their important physical attribute, i.e., speed, will decrease to some degree as they age.

2. Don't be afraid to sign OL/interior DL to contracts that extend to their 11th or 12th years of playing as speed is less important for these positions.

3. Most important and obvious, only sign players to long term contracts who possess the qualities which support your game plan and philosophy.

Lastly, NEVER trade high draft choices for aging veterans unless you are absolutely sure doing so will get you to the promised land, i.e., into the playoffs (where, theoretically, anything can happen). This is the fools gold which separates savvy GMs from others.

My biggest advice is dial in your player weights and never worry about the overall rating on base weights. It's all about building a style and getting players with attributes that work in that style. If there's one thing a new owner should do when they start is find a veteran to mentor them and help them with any questions they have because this game has so many things to figure out that it can be tough without guidance. i agree with the draft pick suggestion, always hoard your picks and don't let the vultures come for them :)

Another tip is read anything setherick posts, most of the time I only feel like I understand about 25% of what he posts but that 25% helps.

Are you really that mad at me still?

Lol, you’re not as bad as lellow at least :p

Don't be afraid to stop doing something that should be working but isn't. This isn't the NFL; you might not be able to get a West Coast offense to run like you should (in fact, you probably won't). And that 96-OVR running back might get you 2.4 YPC while that 45-OVR one gets 6.7; play the one that's actually getting the yardage.

The amounts of users I've seen who have kept trying something that clearly isn't working while players who have performed extremely well in limited snaps sit on the bench (or worse, inactive). Be bold, make those tough calls.

Truly believe if somehow people could see how super bowl teams or at least super bowl winners were built and that didnt involve trading draft picks for Veterans then i would think the trading for veterans for draft picks would cease to exist.

Only way i could see it still happening is like 90% of super bowl teams or super bowl winners do that.

Now if 90% dont do that then it may very well stop.

owners that win championships don't do it cause they trade old guys for picks all the time. I think the top owners win cause they put in work. In public leagues newer owners will never have a chance if they don't learn to build a roster from the ground floor. Keeping your draft picks and learning how to build a roster through the draft is the best way to learn mfn just like the real nfl. In my opinion the teams that don't resign stars after season is more of a problem than bad trades. When so many stars enter free agency after a season the rosters get imbalanced very quickly. That's why private leagues are so much harder cause the rarely do you see that in them. As far as trading, i win championships and in some of my leagues i rarely trade at all. If i do it's usually to offload guys i don't have room for or to move up in draft or add later picks. Before calling out people on bad trades we need to remember that everyone is learning and making mistakes. Some faster than others but until you hear the rationale on a trade i tend to veer on the benefit of the doubt. As far as the duplicates and the really bad trades that you do see from time to time, well that's why i don't play public leagues very often cause it's frustrating. My response to cheaters, beat em by 50 :)