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Too easy to play - Too difficult to simulate
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| Moldef |
Posted on 12-01-2019 12:04
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Junior Rider
Posts: 25
Joined: 05-07-2012
PCM$: 300.00
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So I love pretty much everything about the new PCM. The management system has improved loads from the earlier versions that I played and the racing options are great too. I started a new career with a Continental Team and packed it full with young and promising players.
There's one problem though. The game is way too easy. I play on Extreme difficulty and I win about 50% of all stages (only pure mountain stages are difficult since my best mountain riders have 71-72) despite my stats being usually at best equal or quite a bit lower than my opponents. I can win almost any sprint with a 70-72 sprinter vs. 75-78 sprinters (unfortunatey I rarely meet great WCT riders). Now ofc I could just choose to not run a sprinttrain, to sprint earlier so that I'm powered out or to just simply not follow in the hills/mountains when I need to... but that seems very annoying and counter-intuitive. I love realism and I don't want to crush my opponents but unless I'm actively sabotaging myself that's kinda what's happening.
So I figured alright, let's just quick-simulate some stages to at least not win all the time. But that's the other problem. Quick simming seems waaaaaay too difficult. Even if my riders are among the 3-star favorites and in peak condition, they usually finish at best 10-20th. I had a hilly puncher with 75 hills, 72 sprint in a 2.1 race - far above any competition. I set him as leader for a hilly stage, ride for stage, gave him teammates etc. etc. and he came in 21st, even eating some seconds on the other "favorites" with 67 hilly stats. Likewise, I brought my peak condition sprinter to a race with "meh" sprinters. I got rank 1,2 and 4 with my 76, 71 and 69 sprinter in stage 1 and then decided to simulate stage 2. Result was 15th, behind sprinters with 68 in sprint.
Again, I love the game but this is beginning to be a huge problem. I don't actually know what I want out of this post. I guess I just felt like sharing and wonder if other people have experienced similar issues or if there's any decent solutions to this? :/ |
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| purepasd |
Posted on 12-01-2019 12:49
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Domestique
Posts: 541
Joined: 23-01-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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I agree with you, and would like an option for harder difficulty as well. I don't find sprints as easy as you, but i do find myself winning too much on extreme. Especially on downhill finishes, though rather because it seems hard to get the AI to compete in this scenario. I believe this has always been a problem in PCM, though it got a bit better. Simulation is not an option for me, I feel like I am missing a part of the story then. So, yeah, a more realistic difficulty would be the way to go. Unfortuneately I don't know if there is a way in the current version, and I have asked here before without receiving an answer. Hopefully someone can give os an answer.  |
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 12-01-2019 13:29
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Team Leader
Posts: 7406
Joined: 14-07-2015
PCM$: 599.00
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That is simply because you simulate on Extreeme settings giving the opponents a +XX bonus.
If you want to sim on a realistic level turn it down to normal and up again to Ext when you "play" - it is mad but the only way.
There is also ways to make Extreeme a lot harder, like give yourself only 5 or 10 options to pause ect ect - it is really only up to you how hard you want it.
That was just an example there is many ways - i tend to get quite realistic results as long as im not pausing every second.
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| Moldef |
Posted on 12-01-2019 13:46
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Junior Rider
Posts: 25
Joined: 05-07-2012
PCM$: 300.00
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@Tamijo: Ooooh, so the diffculty setting plays a role when simulating? Dang that's good to know  Thanks a lot! I'll immediately tone it down to normal/hard, hopefully that will help! I suppose there's no cure for the game being too easy unless I go into the editor and make my riders worse than they already are xD
@purepasd: Yea, I kinda don't wanna simulate everything but it also feels really awkward to sabotage yourself in most races just to keep them competitive. I think I also signed up for too many 2.x races, so next year I'll only do 1.1 and better races. Hopefully that will help |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 02-01-2025 15:22
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Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 12-01-2019 14:00
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Team Leader
Posts: 7406
Joined: 14-07-2015
PCM$: 599.00
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No sure about the difficulty (anymore) did some fast diggin and turns out some think it has no effect.
May be that the answer to your question is this:
https://pcmdaily....d_id=49300
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| Yellow Jersey |
Posted on 12-01-2019 14:27
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2809
Joined: 16-04-2013
PCM$: 900.00
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On my side what I can tip you is to get Lachis Editor if you feel extreme is too easy, and there create a new dificulty level. I've had the exact same "issue" and it took away so much of the game's fun so I understand you completely.
See this thread also:https://pcmdaily.com/forum/viewthread...d_id=50043 and if you still have any doubt feel free 
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| Moldef |
Posted on 12-01-2019 16:15
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Junior Rider
Posts: 25
Joined: 05-07-2012
PCM$: 300.00
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@Tamijo: Yea, I tried it out a few times on normal difficulty and got a promising top 5 finish with a good rider once, but the other three stages that I simulated were top 15-25 finishes with riders that should definitely be capable of winning the stage. So yea, not sure if it has an effect or not. I'll try it out a few more times to see if it might make a difference.
@Yellow Jersey: That does indeed sound very promising. I'll grab Lachi's Editor and then prob tinker around with the difficulty until I feel satisfied Thanks a lot for that! |
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| Ripley |
Posted on 13-01-2019 08:32
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3341
Joined: 25-11-2014
PCM$: 300.00
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Another thing you could try which would at least help in the first few seasons of a career - start with a weaker team. My goto move is to pick the weakest team available.
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| Moldef |
Posted on 13-01-2019 10:55
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Junior Rider
Posts: 25
Joined: 05-07-2012
PCM$: 300.00
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Yea that's kinda what I did :/ None of my riders had a stat above 72 at the start of the season (aside from Moreno with 76 in hills) and the best average was 70 (aside from Moreno again).
The problem is that as long as my rider is in form and has a SP value of ~72, I can basically win any sprint unless it's against 79+ riders which I rarely see in 1.x or 2.x races. Hilly stages are fairly easy as well since I feel like they play out just like a sprint race. Favorites don't really attack, they just up their effort at around 20-30km but at that point it's pretty easy to just build your own sprinttrain and win the same way as a sprint stage as long as you have one hilly rider with 67+ sprint.
The only stages that are different and actually feel like a challenge are mountain finishes, but there's not enough of these in the game I feel like. Even half the stages classified as mountain ones have the mountain in the middle of the stage, which means even my 60 MO riders from JPN have no problem getting over them since the peloton is usually not pacing at that point.
I'll try out upping the difficulty through lachi's editor today. That seems promising |
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| Ripley |
Posted on 13-01-2019 12:23
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3341
Joined: 25-11-2014
PCM$: 300.00
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I wouldn't call that weak, to be honest. The worst team in PCM 17 has riders with AVGs between 58 and 63. You really struggle in the first season, but of course you'll replace the riders with better guys for the same wage as soon as you can, and start getting better results immediately and so it only holds you back for a while. Upping the difficulty after that or in your situation should help, but of course it can't fully make up for the AI weaknesses.
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 13-01-2019 16:51
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 3322
Joined: 02-11-2010
PCM$: 300.00
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Moldef wrote:
Even half the stages classified as mountain ones have the mountain in the middle of the stage, which means even my 60 MO riders from JPN have no problem getting over them since the peloton is usually not pacing at that point.
I think the lack of mountains in the lower level races probably reflects reality. Once you get to World Tour you will have more tough mountain races.
I agree with Tamijo that finding ways to limit your ability to take advantage of the AI improves the experience. Haven't played career in PCM18, so not sure if it makes a difference, but in older versions I never used the dot.
Not sure you will get ever get good results out of simulation. |
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| purepasd |
Posted on 03-02-2019 21:06
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Domestique
Posts: 541
Joined: 23-01-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Yellow Jersey wrote:
On my side what I can tip you is to get Lachis Editor if you feel extreme is too easy, and there create a new dificulty level. I've had the exact same "issue" and it took away so much of the game's fun so I understand you completely.
See this thread also: https://pcmdaily.com/forum/viewthread...d_id=50043 and if you still have any doubt feel free
Can someone help me?
When trying to change the difficulty coefficient, i open the local.cdb and change the numbers. I save and quit. However, when opening the same file to check, the original numbers are unchanged. Tried 'save as' aswell. I have no clue as to why it won't save my changes. |
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| Yellow Jersey |
Posted on 03-02-2019 21:51
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2809
Joined: 16-04-2013
PCM$: 900.00
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That did drive me crazy too at times. I'm not sure of the answer, but I only got it to work with the Lachis editor, Fast Editor didn't work for some reason.
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| purepasd |
Posted on 03-02-2019 22:07
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Domestique
Posts: 541
Joined: 23-01-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Yellow Jersey wrote:
That did drive me crazy too at times. I'm not sure of the answer, but I only got it to work with the Lachis editor, Fast Editor didn't work for some reason.
Yep, it worked! Thanks YJ |
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| Patb095 |
Posted on 19-02-2019 00:10
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Under 23
Posts: 55
Joined: 02-10-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Tamijo wrote:
That is simply because you simulate on Extreeme settings giving the opponents a +XX bonus.
If you want to sim on a realistic level turn it down to normal and up again to Ext when you "play" - it is mad but the only way.
There is also ways to make Extreeme a lot harder, like give yourself only 5 or 10 options to pause ect ect - it is really only up to you how hard you want it.
That was just an example there is many ways - i tend to get quite realistic results as long as im not pausing every second.
Exactly, I never pause unless the phone is ringing or anything not related to the game is bothering me. I think pause kill the gameplay. I usually play on normal and this is forcing me to make choices as the sport director in real race. The should be improving the controls of this game and allowing more automatic order like presseting a train before the race so you’d only have to call on it when needed. A little bit like when you play a hockey game , it is more intuitive and you don’t pause ever time you block a pass or switch from goalie to players... it should be flowing more...
Pat B
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| TiemenD |
Posted on 08-03-2019 10:18
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Stagiare
Posts: 239
Joined: 06-01-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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I play on full automatic mode but I'll probably switch and control the cyclists myself in my new career. I'm wondering if you don't use energy gel's, and use attack (and not just ride on dot) (= trying to use the same commands the AI uses & not try not to exploit the AI) if I should go with "Normal" or if Normal is still to easy even if I go by these rules |
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| Angus Osborne |
Posted on 08-03-2019 23:50
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Under 23
Posts: 65
Joined: 09-06-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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TiemenD wrote:
I play on full automatic mode but I'll probably switch and control the cyclists myself in my new career. I'm wondering if you don't use energy gel's, and use attack (and not just ride on dot) (= trying to use the same commands the AI uses & not try not to exploit the AI) if I should go with "Normal" or if Normal is still to easy even if I go by these rules
I'm curious to try this too. The problem is that is very, very hard to force yourself to do something when you know there's a better alternative |
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 09-03-2019 06:20
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Team Leader
Posts: 7406
Joined: 14-07-2015
PCM$: 599.00
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Angus Osborne wrote:
TiemenD wrote:
I play on full automatic mode but I'll probably switch and control the cyclists myself in my new career. I'm wondering if you don't use energy gel's, and use attack (and not just ride on dot) (= trying to use the same commands the AI uses & not try not to exploit the AI) if I should go with "Normal" or if Normal is still to easy even if I go by these rules
I'm curious to try this too. The problem is that is very, very hard to force yourself to do something when you know there's a better alternative
1/I use gels the few times i remember too, the effect is not extreme so do not matter that much.
2/I use attack many many times - that is an important part of the fun
3/Impossiable to say if normal is better that hard for you, so start with normal and if you win too easy go hard and if you win to easy go extreeme.
What has made 2018 easier i guess is that building long trains overpower you compared to AI, so if you know how to use them correct you will be overpowered on lower levels.
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| AkaiOne |
Posted on 09-03-2019 07:43
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Amateur
Posts: 5
Joined: 25-03-2018
PCM$: 200.00
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The issue for me isn't that it's either too hard or too easy in 3d races, it's just that it is almost never realistic, no matter how you play
When you got LBL finishing with a 30+ riders sprint even though you attacked in La Roche aux Faucons or Saint-Nicolas with your best rider who's also a race favorite using your energy gel... I mean wtf
And almost every stage that finishes on flat or downhill finishes on sprint
Also Paris Roubaix almost always finishing with a 15 men sprint, because of way too short cobble sectors....
I love the management part tho except for a very few things |
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| TiemenD |
Posted on 12-03-2019 15:37
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Stagiare
Posts: 239
Joined: 06-01-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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To answer my own question, it seems that normal is the difficulty setting to go (for me at least) when I'm trying to play as "fair" as possible, using the commands the AI uses (no use of dot when AI doesn't use dot, no abnormal use of trains, ...) |
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