Best Way to Enjoy Dynasty

[nbafan20]

What is the best way to enjoy the Dynasty mode in nba live 07? In a way that is challenging, yet fun...

Should you play every game? Sim every game? Or sim some and play some?

Do a fantasy draft?

Use certain players?

Make trades/Don't make trades?

How do you suggest I play Dynasty mode?

[tee-pane]

My definition of fun with a dynasty (i only have 2004, 08) is to try simulating a real NBA franchise. To be as real as you could with trades and signings, try turning a bad team into a franchise team. Fantasy drafts could be fun too but i like to be real. To give yourself a challenge choose young teams with bad records like Thunder, Bobcats...

[Andrew]

It's pretty subjective, but I usually like to adhere to some sense of realism. I'll make my own trades and for my NBA Live 06 Dynasty I brought back Shawn Kemp (albeit with ratings lowered to reflect his performance towards the end of his NBA career) and went to the trouble of signing him within Dynasty Mode (thus having to make him an offer he'd accept and then deal with that being on the books) but I avoid fantasy drafts and it's better when you're not making a trade every other game.

Dynasty Mode is your own NBA reality so there's no harm in making trades but I would suggest being selective in that regard and not trading too often, that way you can kind of build your team's "identity" and I think it's more fun/challenging to have a roster that can get the job done with your playing style but isn't just a bunch of stars you've managed to pry away from the CPU in exchange for having a lousy bench that rarely plays. As for how many games you play/sim, that depends on how much free time you have. You can always use sim intervention and jump in at the fourth quarter or even at halftime if you'd like to have a hand in the outcome and play 12 minute quarters, but don't have the time or patience to play 82 12 minute quarter games (and then the Playoffs on top of that).

[bobcatjoe]

get young guys and bring them along its fun to develop them and do lots of trades

[brimstone_tya]

For me, I started with the current nba roster, a mixture of veterans and young guys can help. Making trades is one of the best things I enjoy most in the franchise. Excitement of whether the other team accepts the deal or rejects it. But too much trades during the season might affect a player's feeling about roster stability. He might opt out of his contract even if you offer him maximum money for his new contract. Just hope no one gets him in free agency so you'll be able to acquire him again.

The draft is also great esp if you're drafting early, you got lots of options to get the best guy available. Get young guys with excellent potential.

Though having an ideal team will take some time, patience will be key.

[BigYoda]

I usually put a very strict set of rules on myself I establish at the start of each dynasty. For example in a recent dynasty I made myself the following set of rules.

1) Season Play: I may only play 5 regular season games. (So the big ones I need to establish my position, against my favourite opponents or jump in for the 4th quarter when it looks like the team will lose a match we need to win)
2) Playoff Play: Only play 3 playoff games. (This is tough when you know you can win but it creates drama and difficult decisions.)
3) Reload. I allow myself one guilt free reload per season. Sometimes I have made a horrid trade that I want to take back. Occasionally your fave player breaks his nose and will be out for 14 weeks or in round one of the playoffs while your team had the best record in the NBA you are swept by the 8th seed. (I bet DAL wished they had a reload vs GS). Bad things happen but I let myself undo one. I don't use this lightly because something worse can always happen.
4) Trade limits. May only initiate one trade per season. Must be inseason. May only trade for rookies. May also agree to trades proposed by the computer. (Other times I have banned 2-1 and 3-2 trades cause it is just too easy to rip off the computer on these.)

Putting rules on yourself may seem bizarre but it is a lot of fun. It makes the game a big challenge and stops you just poaching the best player from each team. I would feel 0 satisfaction winning with a lineup of Howard, Bosh, James, Bryant and Paul that some people seem to routinely assemble.

I have played games where I didn't do any trades at all, just improved through the draft, free agency and training. I did one like that with Detroit and it was my second most successful dynasty ever, winning multiple championships.

One thing I have never managed is to stick to is the salary cap. I have tried probably 3-4 times to make a team that sticks to the salary cap (Seattle was my most successful and even won a championship while under the cap) but it is just so horrid not being able to resign your veterans that have helped you for years and won championships with or your draftees that you have spent 4 years developing. Has anyone ever stuck to the cap?