It's hard for me to want to go with more expensive and complicated games after buying Back-to-Basics baseball from Downey Games. For $15 you get a FAC deck that eliminates the need for chart look ups, and it is diceless. Plays fast, clean, gives good results, and you get access to a website that has every season from 1871 to 2014. The players are rated with letter grades, and they can be printed out on 2 sheets per team, one for Pitchers and one for the Position players. I am still a Strat-O-Matic guy at heart, but I love the easy and simplicity of play that BTB Baseball gives you for such a small footprint and price. I haven't played many of the big name baseball sims that are available due to budgetary reasons, but I still want to try games like Pine Tar baseball, APBA, Payoff Pitch, etc.
My goodness. When they first introduced the game with the "vortex" cards (I think that's what they called them), it was very simple to understand and play. A great introductory game for kids to play with a grown-up. I have no idea what this is supposed to be now, but I can't see a kid instinctively picking this up. There are many better, less expensive (even free) options out there.
I bought this game some time ago, 5-6 years ago I think. I even went for the subscription service which IIRC was six teams of my choice per month. This game just didn't click for me. I didn't really like the color coded arrowhead ratings. It's fun factor just wasn't there for me. Then they added a fielding matrix a la Sherco. (Now THERE'S a game.) Another turn off was I got a crap ton of teams thinking I was getting the batter splits version but they are the basic one column version. I probably didn't read the descriptions on the web site correctly. If I want single column I've got Strat or APBA basic for that. Now the real turn off of what you've demo'd here clearly shows that the new 4-24 game and cards are not backward compatible with earlier 3-18 version teams. So now I essentially own dozens of teams of obsolete player cards. No bueno.
They did the same thing to me. I ordered 2 teams with spilts and they sent the basic single column cards. I know I read my order correctly and I paid extra for the splits. IMO Baseball Classics is way overpriced and the pitch by pitch version of the game seems gimmicky, who is going to play a full game that way? I play Dynasty League which is also pricey, but it’s well established in the baseball gaming community, more so than Classics, and well worth it.
I don’t play sims enough to spring $$$$ for this game, though it does look like fun, and I like how you can pick/choose teams from the past 120 seasons…could come up with some really cool leagues.
Want to know the detail like drafting of teams online using ballpark effects I can’t order those Kurt ability to have rare plays accurate field rating to differentiate a Ricky Henderson vs Acuna in stealing. They don’t talk about that. They are expensive and prime membership for 97 and cloud membership for 395 whow. Like I am asking for in my request Kurt can you do this with these memberships? What is the difference between these two? Thanks Kurt.
On the Advanced Individual Fielding, what constitutes a tough play? And if the square has a position listed does that mean it was only an error if hit to the position player?
I noticed that too. It doesn't look like it uses split data either. That seems odd. Especially given the price point. Certainly a competitive disadvantage just on that.
I actually love the pitch by pitch option. Not that I would play a whole game with it, but like Kurt alluded to perhaps late innings and/or key at-bats or situations it adds some awesome realism. Like the potential of having a strike 'em out throw 'em out double play. I simulated a pitch by pitch at-bat with 1970 Pete Rose and his team mate 1970 Jim Merritt. The count got to 1-2 and Pete fouled off several pitches until he got to 3-2 and then singled. A very real like Pete Rose AB. So I plan to use pitch by pitch like I mentioned in the extra high drama situations.
Waaay too expensive, and the website is a nightmare! Seems to me they duplicated Sherco in certain areas. Overall, this game is so clunky, it klanks in the night.
I'm good with team fielding over individual, because sometimes more than one player can make a play on the same ball. My only beef with this game is the font and color. My old eyes would have a really tough time reading the results in red. I can read all the stats on the right side much better.
I got this in deluxe version ...I don't play the pre play simulator ..not a big fan.. I do the team fielding error check ...play time 30-40 mins ..enjoy this more than strat ..So Kurt , what would you say are your 3 favorite baseball sim board games ? 🤔
@@DeViLzzz2006 Game prices are crazy for most sims now. I'm mostly a Strat guy, but they want $60 for a season, but don't have the good goddamn sense to offer all the seasons, so you can't even get the ones you want! Annoying as hell, and I got sick of it so I tried Back-to-Basics Baseball from Downey Games and haven't looked back. $15 bucks, all seasons available for free from 1871 to 2014 from a website you get access to after purchase, and the FAC deck eliminates chart lookups. My only gripe is the players are rated for stats with letter grades and you have to fill them in on the scoresheet every game to keep from having to check the team sheet every time you have to check a rating, but I can live with it. Great game.
The term "clunky" comes to mind when looking at how this game is played. I do hope that some players enjoy this game, nonetheless.
It's hard for me to want to go with more expensive and complicated games after buying Back-to-Basics baseball from Downey Games. For $15 you get a FAC deck that eliminates the need for chart look ups, and it is diceless. Plays fast, clean, gives good results, and you get access to a website that has every season from 1871 to 2014. The players are rated with letter grades, and they can be printed out on 2 sheets per team, one for Pitchers and one for the Position players. I am still a Strat-O-Matic guy at heart, but I love the easy and simplicity of play that BTB Baseball gives you for such a small footprint and price.
I haven't played many of the big name baseball sims that are available due to budgetary reasons, but I still want to try games like Pine Tar baseball, APBA, Payoff Pitch, etc.
Back-to-Basics is fantastic!
I want to like this game. I like the cards. Just seems to me they make the game more confusing that it has to be and why so many changes all the time?
The basic one column cards remind me of Milton Bradly MLB with the b&w cards.
I have the original one column card. The team came with 20, if memory serves me.
My goodness. When they first introduced the game with the "vortex" cards (I think that's what they called them), it was very simple to understand and play. A great introductory game for kids to play with a grown-up. I have no idea what this is supposed to be now, but I can't see a kid instinctively picking this up. There are many better, less expensive (even free) options out there.
I bought this game some time ago, 5-6 years ago I think. I even went for the subscription service which IIRC was six teams of my choice per month. This game just didn't click for me. I didn't really like the color coded arrowhead ratings. It's fun factor just wasn't there for me. Then they added a fielding matrix a la Sherco. (Now THERE'S a game.)
Another turn off was I got a crap ton of teams thinking I was getting the batter splits version but they are the basic one column version. I probably didn't read the descriptions on the web site correctly. If I want single column I've got Strat or APBA basic for that.
Now the real turn off of what you've demo'd here clearly shows that the new 4-24 game and cards are not backward compatible with earlier 3-18 version teams. So now I essentially own dozens of teams of obsolete player cards. No bueno.
They did the same thing to me. I ordered 2 teams with spilts and they sent the basic single column cards. I know I read my order correctly and I paid extra for the splits. IMO Baseball Classics is way overpriced and the pitch by pitch version of the game seems gimmicky, who is going to play a full game that way? I play Dynasty League which is also pricey, but it’s well established in the baseball gaming community, more so than Classics, and well worth it.
I don’t play sims enough to spring $$$$ for this game, though it does look like fun, and I like how you can pick/choose teams from the past 120 seasons…could come up with some really cool leagues.
Also realistic injuries for players and team rosters to expand to 40 plus
Want to know the detail like drafting of teams online using ballpark effects I can’t order those Kurt ability to have rare plays accurate field rating to differentiate a Ricky Henderson vs Acuna in stealing. They don’t talk about that. They are expensive and prime membership for 97 and cloud membership for 395 whow. Like I am asking for in my request Kurt can you do this with these memberships? What is the difference between these two? Thanks Kurt.
Jeepers, too complicated for me now. Thanks for showing it off Kurt
On the Advanced Individual Fielding, what constitutes a tough play? And if the square has a position listed does that mean it was only an error if hit to the position player?
The color scheme for the results is essentially from the SI baseball game.
Good point
I noticed that too. It doesn't look like it uses split data either. That seems odd. Especially given the price point. Certainly a competitive disadvantage just on that.
Need tutorial and cost
Seems too complicated to determine results. Pitch-by-pitch??? Too much work. regardless of price, which is better? APBA or Baseball Classics?
I actually love the pitch by pitch option. Not that I would play a whole game with it, but like Kurt alluded to perhaps late innings and/or key at-bats or situations it adds some awesome realism. Like the potential of having a strike 'em out throw 'em out double play. I simulated a pitch by pitch at-bat with 1970 Pete Rose and his team mate 1970 Jim Merritt. The count got to 1-2 and Pete fouled off several pitches until he got to 3-2 and then singled. A very real like Pete Rose AB. So I plan to use pitch by pitch like I mentioned in the extra high drama situations.
Interesting game. Thanks for sharing Kurt.
Nice hoodie.
Waaay too expensive, and the website is a nightmare! Seems to me they duplicated Sherco in certain areas. Overall, this game is so clunky, it klanks in the night.
I'm good with team fielding over individual, because sometimes more than one player can make a play on the same ball. My only beef with this game is the font and color. My old eyes would have a really tough time reading the results in red. I can read all the stats on the right side much better.
I got this in deluxe version ...I don't play the pre play simulator ..not a big fan.. I do the team fielding error check ...play time 30-40 mins ..enjoy this more than strat ..So Kurt , what would you say are your 3 favorite baseball sim board games ? 🤔
How many sides is the wooden Die? What if your color blind trying to play this game? Thank you
6 sides ....3 for pitcher ...3 for batter
Don't know what current pricing is like but in the past, very expensive. As you say, don't get a lot of players per team.
It is insanely expensive. Heck even the PDF option is costly.
@@DeViLzzz2006 Game prices are crazy for most sims now. I'm mostly a Strat guy, but they want $60 for a season, but don't have the good goddamn sense to offer all the seasons, so you can't even get the ones you want! Annoying as hell, and I got sick of it so I tried Back-to-Basics Baseball from Downey Games and haven't looked back. $15 bucks, all seasons available for free from 1871 to 2014 from a website you get access to after purchase, and the FAC deck eliminates chart lookups. My only gripe is the players are rated for stats with letter grades and you have to fill them in on the scoresheet every game to keep from having to check the team sheet every time you have to check a rating, but I can live with it. Great game.
What do you want to bet next year they introduce a fifth die?
Wish I was smarter, this game is too much for me………
Might be for me, too