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Newbie : Still can't win
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| Guido Mukk |
Posted on 09-03-2009 23:15
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15830
Joined: 08-02-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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also help button..is P letter in keyboard..game pause..if you dont as fast enought ..put P ..make your moves ..commands and P again..helpful |
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| sherer |
Posted on 09-03-2009 23:19
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Amateur
Posts: 19
Joined: 28-02-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Guido Mukk wrote:
also help button..is P letter in keyboard..game pause..if you dont as fast enought ..put P ..make your moves ..commands and P again..helpful
thanks for the info. I use the pause a lot to setup stuff and then restart the game.
the go thing makes more sense now, I think it was just taking some time to kick in from my team mate who was observing and then me moving onto Contador to get him to counter attack. |
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| Gentleman |
Posted on 10-03-2009 09:55
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Free Agent
Posts: 138
Joined: 12-02-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Observe used to be a lot more useful.
I used to use the observe button a lot back in the older games, where you could eventually spot the day-form of a rider. If, say, an Evans had a bad day (-5), I didn't need to keep an eye on him as he'd probably end up in one or another pack rather than keeping up with the leaders.
Observing competitors early on.
In the PCM 08, there is no such thing in a career-game, so the only things you can spot are his bars, which is somewhat handy, but not really a great help unless you're certain the guy's not going to attack. Which is either in a long breakaway where you've been pedaling for a while, or you're with him in the pack.
But since I would still like to see how other riders are doing, I decided to spread my riders across the pack in order to observe all the contenders for the race; that way I'll have all level 5 observations from all important riders and only need to do a short monitor near the end of the stage. I won't need to do it all last-minute and lose the ability to counter an attack from a different rider.
And that's my biggest problem; I want to be able to anticipate attacks, so whenever I believe it is time for attacks to commence, I stop monitoring with any riders who are capable of counter-attacking or following. The manual explains why you can't attack while observing, but Mithrandir already explained it 
Though being smart doesn't help.
The problem here is that after a while the observation 'wears off'. If you'd achieved a level 5 observation and stop, it turns out that it drops back to a level 2 or 3 observation if you're 50 km further and wanted to see how his bars are now. So I stopped doing these observations altogether as I hardly consider them useful anymore. You can't pre-observe him before he starts attacking and when you're in the final stages you certainly don't want to start observing at a level 1 base anymore because you lack the capability to counter other contenders, while your observed rider might simply keep still.
The Bodyguard.
The best advice boils down to: Just keep an eye on your own riders and make sure that, at all times, the leader (and perhaps sprinter) is being protected by at least 1 team mate. It helps a lot in recovery and reduces energy bar sapping, plus the protected rider usually has a little extra left near the end of the stage. Don't underestimate the power of protection, as all leaders do the same in the races.
That should explain the reason why other leaders often have more yellow bar left than you The so-called energy-gel also helps in reducing eating your bars during attacks, so remember to keep that in handy. It also helps keeping your energy bars at bay when you're counter attacking, so it is really useful to use in the last 5 or 10 km of a mountain stage. Either you spurt away from the other contenders using your energy gel, or you can counter attack others with remarkably less strength sapping.
Edited by Gentleman on 10-03-2009 09:55
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| sherer |
Posted on 10-03-2009 10:25
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Amateur
Posts: 19
Joined: 28-02-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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thanks to everyone for the advice so far. I was actyally thinking this morning in some ways it's good that I haven't won everything as what would be the point of the game.
Am getting there slowly and managed third in Paris - Nice, it would have been second but I pushed Contador too much and he fell off. Did the same with Levi and he fell off too. Have now learnt not to do that again 
Will keep at it and see how it goes but at least the problem I had with previous version of this game are solved and I can actually play it now, could never get into some of the older ones.
The only other question I have now is with the training. I know when I look at my team I can see what they are assigned to and I have amended some as they have more potential in other areas. There is also a drop down menu to assign rider to a trainer, do I need to do that with all the riders or just leave as it is ?
Also why is there a Giro 06 , 07 and 08 schedule it just seems to make things more complicated
Thanks again for all the help so far anyway. Got top 20 in Milan - San Remo with Gusev but he only had 75 fitness and don't think that was enough for the win |
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| Gentleman |
Posted on 10-03-2009 10:43
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Free Agent
Posts: 138
Joined: 12-02-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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As for Training, there are more schedules since some riders want to aim for a Giro + Vuelta win, while others want a Giro + Paris-Nice win. Both focus on the Giro, yet they also want to win another race. So these schedules prepare you for different secondary goals.
Menchov can win the Tour de France (Normal difficulty) with a bit of luck on a 70-75-75 training schedule (first week has no mountains, so he doesn't have to be in great form, 70 is plenty) and then he can still compete in the Vuelta. So I picked a Vuelta 2-schedule for him, as he nearly-peaks in the Tour, while peaking in the Vuelta.
You do need to assign a trainer to each rider, otherwise they don't get trained by a trainer and that's a bit sad as you do pay the trainers for training riders
As for winning - I have my problems as well. I tend to wait a bit too long and can't get to the burned out riders at the front  It's all a matter of tactics and anticipation.
Another piece of advice, keep an eye on the fatigue bar. It fills up pretty fast and there's practically nothing you can do to clear it. So if I aim for the Tour or the Vuelta, I pick a training schedule like Vuelta 2, where the rider gets minimal training before July in order to keep his fatigue as low as possible. Otherwise he's done in before he gets to his goal
I always underestimate these fatigue bars as they always fill up too fast, or at least too fast for me |
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| sherer |
Posted on 10-03-2009 11:07
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Amateur
Posts: 19
Joined: 28-02-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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thanks for the info on training. I did use the search function on here and the Cyanide forum first to get some advice there. It does seem they have changed the interface on here from one that worked to one that isn't as good any more.
Looks like a need to hire a few more trainers then as I only have two and i read in another post too many riders and the trainer can't work. Will sort that tonight. Have been told to check it once a month but only set it up about 2 weeks ago in the game.
Think I just need to play it more and work out what is best for me and what works and what doesn't. It is my first career and if i win all the races straight off it won't help me play the game long term so a bit of learning is good.
Got a few races coming up and running down to the start of the Giro so will see how my first Grand Tour goes, still not sure who to go for as leader of that and don't want to burn out my helpers I need for the tour.
Did see on play.com the 09 version is out later this year so got to look forward to |
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| Gentleman |
Posted on 10-03-2009 13:13
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Free Agent
Posts: 138
Joined: 12-02-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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I know the feeling
It is my 4th career in PCM 08, but I haven't finished any of the previous 3. They all ended prematurely due to my inexperience and burning up the wrong riders, or making wrong decisions. Only now, at my 4th try I finally seem to get the hang of things and get wins on a regular base, without being able to dominate the game. 2nd place in the Giro, 2nd in the Tour, 2nd in the Vuelta - I guess I'm not good enough to win just yet
I do get my monthly win though and I won a couple of green and polka jerseys in other races.
Still, as one guide said, it helps to pinpoint a few goals and build the season around it. But whereas the guide hints at a few goals, I think you need more; 5-7 goals is my preference. For instance, having a decent sprinter (75/76 sprint) in a 70-75 form in the early season can get you a bunch of wins, as even the 80 sprint people aren't even near decent form and can't keep up with you. Your sprinter is worn out, but with 6 months of rest and a couple of leisure camps he should be able to participate in the final season again
Having a hill/climber with 75 training and 10-15 races in Paris-Nice gives you a good chance to win, and you can still use him in peak form in the Giro. Don't expect the guy back until next season though, but you have a fairly good rider in top-form for the Giro.
A good tip for getting trainers is to see how much you can spend. Take your money, divide it over the season and see how much you have left. Anticipate the rider salaries, the staff salaries and look for an average in prize money. It's easy to go broke if you assign 6 mythical trainers and 5 mythical scouts when you're also spending a lot of money on the riders without having so much money to spend. Yeah, that was my first try at a career
Now I've decided on 2-3 mythical trainers, each training 5-6 riders. They should develop my young riders and riders with a lot of progress stars, then an international one doing the leaders who hardly develop anymore. The rest goes on local ones, as those trainers don't ask much money and the riders he trains generally don't improve much anymore as they're either old, or have few progress stars. It doesn't matter much how many riders he trains, as I don't expect any progress in the first place anyway. In average, it adds to 5 trainers. |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 23-12-2024 15:29
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| Waghlon |
Posted on 10-03-2009 13:21
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7694
Joined: 18-08-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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The money part is what kills all my careers. I had an Agritubel save in 2011 where i ran out of money in June due to hiring Ivan Basso (who in his defence won me the Giro). But if you can sum all the advise you could give about PCM08 down to one line it would be "the season is won on January the 1st".
THE THOMAS VOECKLER PROPHET OF PCM DAILY
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| sherer |
Posted on 17-03-2009 10:01
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Amateur
Posts: 19
Joined: 28-02-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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not had access to the net for a few days but just wanted to say thanks to everyone for all the help with this. I've managed two stage wins with Contador and also a second overall in a one day race plus a few top 20s and top 10s in the classics. Still having troubling finishing in the final group on the classics but I am getting there.
One top tip that might help others is in the classics you can't just leave the rider on 50 for the whole stage as he ends up getting dropped, you need to put a rider on higher than that to stay in the main bunch, or at least that is what I have found.
Really enjoying the game now I can actually finish higher up and even managed to break myself on the final climb and stay away on the decent until the finish |
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| Guido Mukk |
Posted on 17-03-2009 10:35
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15830
Joined: 08-02-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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sherer wrote:
not had access to the net for a few days but just wanted to say thanks to everyone for all the help with this. I've managed two stage wins with Contador and also a second overall in a one day race plus a few top 20s and top 10s in the classics. Still having troubling finishing in the final group on the classics but I am getting there.
One top tip that might help others is in the classics you can't just leave the rider on 50 for the whole stage as he ends up getting dropped, you need to put a rider on higher than that to stay in the main bunch, or at least that is what I have found.
Really enjoying the game now I can actually finish higher up and even managed to break myself on the final climb and stay away on the decent until the finish
Welcome to the family..game is real sucker ..you are addict now |
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| Gentleman |
Posted on 17-03-2009 19:25
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Free Agent
Posts: 138
Joined: 12-02-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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sherer wrote:
Still having troubling finishing in the final group on the classics but I am getting there.
You simply won't finish in the final group in cobble classics if you're not having at least a 77 for cobbles Just so you know. 73-75 might give you a following group though And that's often only when you're in peak form, so don't feel too disappointed if you're not winning.
Hilly classics is a whole different story ...
I've never won a cobble classic so far  Always that damn Cancellara or Boonen that outruns me ... |
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| sherer |
Posted on 18-03-2009 11:40
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Amateur
Posts: 19
Joined: 28-02-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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still learning as I made a total mistake last night but then so did the whole peleton. Was leading an event with Contador and on a mountain stage there was a breakaway. As usual I was waiting for the whole race to come together on the final climb and try and attack then which has been working for me so far. The breakway had about 10 mins on the peleton and none of the other teams seemed to be trying to pull it back in. Only worked out too late that they had now taken the lead in the race and tried has hard as I could to chase them down but they were too far in front. The race ended up being won by 8 mins by people who i hadn't heard of and all the favs in the peleton only made just made the top 10.
Shame my breaks never work out like that but learnt I really need to keep on eye on these more rather than expect it to all come together |
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| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 18-03-2009 11:49
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4790
Joined: 06-12-2006
PCM$: 200.00
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Sherer, like in real life, if you have the yellow, then you have to defend it.
Put 2/3 guys up front relaying at between 45-50 and this won't happen next time.
And if you play long enough and get into the right breaks, you'll have days where the break stays away.
Edited by fenian_1234 on 18-03-2009 11:49
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| sherer |
Posted on 18-03-2009 12:24
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Amateur
Posts: 19
Joined: 28-02-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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yes learnt that one the hard way and threw away a good result there. Did seem strange that none of the other teams chased it down either but will note that for future.
Getting better anyway just need to keep up the practicing, if i won all the races straight off it would be no fun at all |
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