Sparring

[chaddid]

I just don't understand sparring, I've had nearly 100 sparring matches and I've had exactly 1 trait found. What is the point of sparring? It's just to find traits? Is there some sort of points gained for doing sparring? Just my opinion, but the whole sparring part of the game should be reworked a bit. Sparring is to learn, if I have a fighter with 11 sparring matches, vs both students and pros, shouldn't he be learning something? Why keep students then if they only get better when they get a year older. I guess I just don't understand what the point is of students and sparring.

[Aggroblakh]

Hi,

Sparring is mostly a bonus feature to allow the player to experiment with his fighters. Making it unlock traits was done to give the player more of an incentive to do it. I have been playing with the idea of tying it to improvement in stats, but for now it's basically a sandbox mode (especially with the added ability to import fighters from other users).

[chaddid]

Do you have any desire to improve upon sparring? Because if you are going for a game that leans towards realisim, sparring is a pretty big part of combat sports. I just think sparring should do a little more for both parties involved. It should improve some stats and traits for both fighters. Right now I just don't understand why there are students. What is the point of these guys? I just cut everyone that doesn't have good starting traits, I mean, what's the point of having some sap around if you won't ever train him as a professional? I just wish students coming in would also get better and would have the abilitiy to spar and make that fighter better too.

[Aggroblakh]

Hi,

The idea was that students were basically a pool from where you choose fighters to train, and that students constantly coming in would force you to re-evaluate their skills vs. the skills of your current fighters. It's also part of why Sparring is in the game, so you can tinker with your fighters and students to determine who you see becoming a champion and who you feel is worth your time to train.

That being said, I'm thinking of adding some kind of stat increase tied to sparring, probably determined by your fighter's style or something. The reason there currently isn't any stat growth in Sparring is because fighters can spar every few days. On top of regular training, I felt that the game might become too easy. I might make the stat boost from Sparring temporary or something, like Training Camp gains. I'll have to think more about it.

Thanks for playing!

[nybrogue]

Is it possible to gain or discover traits outside of sparring?

Second the opinion of students gaining stats overall. Even if it was a very small and randomized amount, some improvement just seems more realistic if they're showing up at the gym all the time. Maybe at the end of each year a general small boost, with the stats increased somewhat influenced by their fighting style.

[chaddid]

Yes, the whole gym, students and sparring as they currently are, in my opinion, just don't work or make sense. Once I have my fighters I want to train as professionals, I see, currently, no reason to have students. New students coming in won't have better traits then my professional fighters. I have no idea what sparring is doing, I keep a record of who everyone is sparring, right now, I have 210 sparring matches and I've unlocked 1 hidden trait. Sparring is a complete waste of time. Sparring should maybe not unlock traits at a higher rate, but it should give some points towards fighter, including the students, in all their attributes. Sparring is a training tool to help guys stay sharp and to learn things. Right now, it really means nothing.

[Hellduck]

So far I've unlocked 2 traits for one, for some reason my counterpouncher got smothering clinch, and granite chin, though clinching really isn't a part of his style as far as I know, so maybe having the traits more likely for certain boxing styles. A boxer as an example isn't likely to need agression and be willing to trade hits with anyone. Though forgive me if I'm wrong.

It would probably be nice if you added some way for the professionals the students spar has an effect on their stat gains, if you implement stat increases from sparring. As in if your professional spars a student, the student should get an increased stat increase gain, depending on how superior the professional is, to signify the fact that they're learning.

Also maybe having a "general" training regiment where students can be more specialized before you sign them, as have a general training for speed which causes all a stat increase in speed for all the students that appear, causing them to slowly, "very slowly" improve in said stat, or well balanced to "MUCH slower" increase in all stats, or perhaps increasing the cap a bit and give trainers an effect on professional fighters, and having the current equipment based training to be part of the general training for all students at the gym( On the assumption that the students would be using the same equipment as the professionals, and just not be trained by the trainers.)

At the same time I've been wondering why trainers only have an effect on training camps, it's an oddity since I believe hired trainers should constantly be training the boxers, and not just when out on camps, likewise, why would weight control only happen if the fighter is in the training camp? A boxer can just as well lose weight in the gym as at a training camp, realisticly that is.

Anyway, fun game so far, though basicly these are all my gripes about it.

It would also be nice if you could skip fights that aren't yours, instead of having to sim through them, though it's not a biggie. Oh and is there a reason why I can't use my own fighters as undercards for a fight where another of my fighters is the main card? Or have multiple fighters in the same event as undercards? (Though I have limited myself to only having fighters of one weight class at the moment, which might be the cause, but I have to ask.)

Oh and sorry for stealing the post, my thoughts just ran out of me as I was asking about sparring.

[Key]

I've unlocked maybe 3 times out of thousands of sparring matches, all of those have been a students first 3 or 4 spars. After that, they never seem to get traits so I'm really brutal on cutting my students if they don't pick up a trait/ aren't elite

[Hellduck]

I basicly just spar with my 4 professionals and ditch students, so far.

[Aggroblakh]

Hi,

I've gotten back from vacation and have begun implementing your suggestions. I've already improved the odds of discovering traits, and I'll be adding in sparring gains soon! The update should be out in a day or two. Thanks for the input!

[Key]

Originally posted by Aggroblakh:

Hi,

I've gotten back from vacation and have begun implementing your suggestions. I've already improved the odds of discovering traits, and I'll be adding in sparring gains soon! The update should be out in a day or two. Thanks for the input!

Sounds awesome, and a bit fairer as most of the good computer fighters have traits.

Are the traits still going to be random or more appropiate for the fighter style?

[Aggroblakh]

It's still random to some extent, just weighted in favour of your fighter's style. There's still a chance a Slugger might get the Heavy Jab trait or something, I just made it more likely he'll get one that matches his style.

[Hellduck]

Good stuff!

[chaddid]

Nice! Thanks!

[chaddid]

I've now done 27 sparring sessions since new update without a trait found, that's now 127 sparring sessions and 1 trait found. At least with the new way that fighters get some attribute points from sparring, they aren't a complete waste of time.

[Key]

Originally posted by chaddid:

I've now done 27 sparring sessions since new update without a trait found, that's now 127 sparring sessions and 1 trait found. At least with the new way that fighters get some attribute points from sparring, they aren't a complete waste of time.

The chances are hugely increased now, even for established fighters. I even have fighter with two traits, both suitable to the fighters style

Sparring is a long process but definitely a rewarding one now. Stick at it.