Question for NFBC regulars

[Driver Love]

I am a long time roto/fantasy player who has been very slow to get up with the times with technology. I have long had my own system with rankings and lists on paper highlighted with my own personal preferences based on my own pre season scouting, work philosophies, etc and have drafted in this "old school" way for years marking players off as the draft goes.

Obviously I am well behind the times given the fact the majority of serious fantasy players are using a computer, tablet or even phone via draft software. My fear in transitioning into this has always been that I would miss something due to my lack of computer skills. Do most people use similar draft software and simply evaluate their players in their own manner? Is there anything anyone would recommend? Is there a way to practice using the software? I recognize this is a pretty embarrassing question to ask given how savvy most here are. I want to embrace competing in more leagues/contests and realize to do that it would be much easier to get comfortable with drafting with my info being electronic and not hand written/printed/highlighted where I have to re do it for every draft.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

[edelman24]

Driver not everyone uses draft software or a computer there are quite a few NFBC regulars that still use paper and highlighters, as everyone has their own unique ways of doing things. It all comes down to what you are comfortable with, I have used draft software in the past but in the end I prefer to see everything on one sheet of paper and use excel to develop my spreadsheet. I wouldn't concern yourself with changing if you are comfortable with what you do now, the key to succeeding is being comfortable and confident during the draft if you are worried about screwing something up since you are not computer savoy you should probably avoid it or spend some time practicing on some smaller stakes leagues first before transitioning. Hope that helps.

Mike

[BK METS]

Agree with Mike. I still use a big list that I rank myself along with a highlighter and marker. There is no set way to draft successfully. It's all about your own comfort level. I have also tried the software and failed miserably.

[Quahogs]

Mike has good advice.

If I may add, no piece of technology can assist you when you are on the clock and the seconds are ticking down. Whatever draft software may spit out ultimately was the result of the users input preferences anyway. If you have that order front and center in the form of handwritten notes then that is as good as any draft software you'd be using.

My recommendation though would be to organize your notes and thoughts utilizing excel. It keeps everything ordered and is easily edited with the latest info. From that file you can print out a clean list/sheet of your players every time you draft.

[Captain Hook]

Another "old school" list drafter here - and like the other guys said and YOU do already make my own list.

It is not just that a list - especially just one, possibly two pages - helps concentrate the information in a more viewable space but it doesn't require looking away, making a click or click just to read something you can already have right in front of you.

Besides you can't see the reactions at the table when you are looking at a screen - and there is value in that whether it is a draft or an auction

Does not mean there is not GREAT value in putting together information and lists on a computer but I wouldn't draft with one

[Bama]

I never use a computer during the draft either. Just mark names off a printed excel list of players by position and a calculator for the auctions. Ill say its about 50/50 for the paper/ computer guys.

[Deadheadz]

Strategy differences and player values aside, I find good spreadsheet software such as Excel or OpenOffice (which is free to use and reads/writes to excel format) allows you to at least save the time in having to enter the same data repeatedly.

Create one master document which you can update and tweak but for each draft you make a working copy of that master document which gives you the ability to make major changes during the course of that draft without changing your master document.

If you're really savvy with Excel (which I am not) you can even link the documents so that certain changes you want in the master document will automatically be changed in each working document as well.

I find that I don't have the ability to trust "draft software" as much as I need to to be able to pay for it and use it. Many will use it but I don't remember any one brand which most say is the best. For those who are old school, I think it would take away a significant amount of the fun of draft prep.

As much as I rely on electronic devices, I would never go into a live event without all my lists on paper as well.

[DOUGHBOYS]

Pencil and paper guy. Never use the computer except to draft.
There is a third type beside the computer and pencil and paper guy.
Rick Thomas is a 'sharpie and cardboard' guy.

[Glenneration X]

I think the key is to use whatever makes you feel comfortable at the table. I've seen drafters sit there with two laptops, a trio of smartphones, and headphones linking them to sports channels for the latest breaking news. Many others are still paper and pencil guys or as Doughy pointed out with Rick Thomas, one of the NFBC's finest, a cardboard and magic marker guy. Still others like Massotto show up with nothing in hand besides a Rhino schedule of the girls on tap for that night and just try to peek over the shoulders of those drafting next to them.

The thing is to NOT be trying to figure out your software or your cheat sheets or whatever you've brought while trying to decide on your choice in the 15th round. Your total focus should be on making that choice, not watching the seconds tick down while trying to load up your list of available 3rd basemen on Excel.

Be comfortable, relax, and have fun. That's what it's all about.

[Baseball Furies]

I think the key is to use whatever makes you feel comfortable at the table. I've seen drafters sit there with two laptops, a trio of smartphones, and headphones linking them to sports channels for the latest breaking news. Many others are still paper and pencil guys or as Doughy pointed out with Rick Thomas, one of the NFBC's finest, a cardboard and magic marker guy. Still others like Massotto show up with nothing in hand besides a Rhino schedule of the girls on tap for that night and just try to peek over the shoulders of those drafting next to them.

The thing is to NOT be trying to figure out your software or your cheat sheets or whatever you've brought while trying to decide on your choice in the 15th round. Your total focus should be on making that choice, not watching the seconds tick down while trying to load up your list of available 3rd basemen on Excel.

Be comfortable, relax, and have fun. That's what it's all about.

Now that was funny, Lowy! I may in fact just employ this strategy come draft time in the Platinum if I end up seated next to you. Will save me a lot of time and energy.

And in answer to the question posed, I would just recommend doing what I do for these drafts since I'm old school when it comes to utilizing draft software and a computer at the draft table: Go out and purchase all of the fantasy baseball magazines you can along with Shandler's Forecaster and a large set of darts. When it comes around to your turn, just toss and pick. Works like a charm for me.

[orangemen90]

at the end of the day.. each person is a decision maker.. and each person on this thread will always attempt to make that ability more difficult... see its competition....so its all about personal decision making and self esteem....data and lists are everywhere... so all picks in any draft are by themselves not random....so controlling your competitor is the most important... see live its all show,,,

online this site is doing DC drafts .... 8 hours /pick... but each league has its own folks that will try to control time... not possible,,,, see it has been written many times...each of us has our own circle of influence.... the writers on this thread can only be on your circle of concern... same at a draft... ah.. who to trust in your very own circle.... your self of course...

[DOUGHBOYS]

Was that Dennis Rodman?

[cfolson]

A magazine and a chair. That's all I need.

[CA Dreamin]

If that is all it takes to have fun and win, then I think you have something. You should write a book!

[Edwards Kings]

It ain't the tools, it is the craftsman.