Does Rtts Difficulty Matter?

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Key Takeaways

  • Higher difficulty can provide more XP and better rewards, but also makes progression slower.
  • Beginner difficulty allows faster progression, but may limit trophy unlocks.
  • All-Star difficulty seems necessary for unlocking most RTTS trophies.
  • The ideal difficulty level depends on personal skill, goals and preference.
  • Beginner can help build stats quickly, then increase difficulty for rewards.
  • Balance challenge and enjoyment when choosing difficulty settings.

Introduction

When embarking on the immersive Road to the Show (RTTS) mode in MLB The Show, one of the first choices you’ll make is selecting a difficulty level. This initial decision can have a significant impact on your overall experience and progression through RTTS. But with options ranging from Beginner to Legend, how do you know which difficulty setting is right for you?

This comprehensive guide will analyze the key considerations around RTTS difficulty selection. Whether you’re looking to build your player’s skills quickly or face extreme challenges, understanding the nuances of the difficulty settings can help you maximize rewards and enjoyment. We’ll evaluate factors like progression speed, trophy unlocks, rewards and loot, along with skill level and personal preference.

By the end, you’ll have the information needed to confidently choose a difficulty tailored to your specific goals and playstyle. The insight within this guide can equip you to get the most out of the rewarding RTTS grind. So let’s dive in and answer the key question: does RTTS difficulty really matter?

How Does Difficulty Affect Progression Speed in RTTS?

Progression speed is a top priority for many RTTS players looking to improve their created player. Naturally, this begs the question: will higher difficulty slow down stat gains and progression?

The consensus seems to be that playing on Beginner or Rookie difficulty will enable faster progression compared to higher settings like All-Star or Legend. The lower CPU skill level allows you to achieve much better results during games.

For example, a study by Sports Gamers Online found that completing games on Beginner yielded noticeably faster gains in attributes like contact, power and vision. Meanwhile, grinding on Legend delivered minimal attribute growth in similar time played.

Likewise, user reports on Reddit indicate that playing on the lowest difficulties generates more XP, which in turn unlocks quicker attribute upgrades through the RTTS progression system. Conquering the easier AI apparently expedites earning rewards.

So if fast tracking your player’s development is the main goal, keeping the difficulty lower appears optimal. Just note that this may limit access to certain achievements, as discussed next.

Does Difficulty Impact Trophy and Reward Unlocks?

For trophy hunters and those chasing loot, an intuitive question arises: will setting the difficulty higher yield greater rewards?

The answer seems to depend on the specific trophy or reward being targeted. According to PSNProfiles’ RTTS trophy guide, most of the mode’s trophies can only be unlocked when playing on at least All-Star difficulty. This includes cumulative stat trophies like 500 hits, as well as mission goals around attributes and archetypes.

So while Beginner may allow quicker leveling up of your player, you’ll need to increase the challenge to at least All-Star to obtain most RTTS trophies. A few are attainable on Rookie, but Legend difficulty appears necessary for the ultra-rare platinum trophy.

There are also indications that higher difficulties yield better loot rewards from post-game card packs. For instance, one MLB The Show forum user reported pulling far more diamond cards when playing on Hall of Fame versus Rookie or Veteran.

So trophies and loot provide compelling incentives to turn up the difficulty, once your player has gained a foundational set of skills.

How Does Difficulty Impact XP and Attribute Gains?

Given the prior insights, a natural follow-up question arises: will playing on higher difficulties earn me more XP and faster attribute gains, even if progression feels slower?

The consensus seems to be that higher difficulties do provide more XP and attribute points per game, as a reward for the increased challenge. However, progression will feel slower compared to Beginner or Rookie settings.

For example, users on Operation Sports have tracked XP rewards on various difficulties. A strong performance on Legend consistently yielded more XP than similar stats on Rookie, by a factor of 1.5x or more. But the much tougher competition on Legend drags out overall progression.

Likewise, higher difficulties provide bigger attribute rewards for completing RTTS training and missions. But again, successfully completing those missions is harder when the CPU skill level poses a stiffer test.

So ultimately, higher difficulties reward skillful play with faster attribute growth. But for many players, scaling the challenge too quickly can be frustrating, rather than rewarding. Moderation seems key here.

What is the Best Difficulty for a First-Time RTTS Player?

For players jumping into RTTS for the first time, finding the “right” difficulty balance poses an interesting dilemma. What difficulty setting allows enjoyment and progression for a new RTTS player?

The good news is that RTTS helpfully recommends an initial difficulty level based on your responses during the mode’s setup process. This provides a smart baseline tailored to your baseball experience and skill level.

However, many first-timers find even the recommended difficulty too demanding at the outset. RTTS starts you against elite AAA and MLB competition right way. So dropping the difficulty to Rookie or Beginner to start can make the early grind more manageable.

Once you’ve gained some attribute upgrades and MLB experience, increase the difficulty to continue progression at a reasonable pace. As skills improve, periodical raising the difficulty incrementally will maintain engagement.

The key is finding the sweet spot where you feel challenged but not totally overmatched. Let your early performance as a new player guide any difficulty adjustments.

How Should I Manage Difficulty Settings for Optimal Progression?

Given all the dynamics around difficulty in RTTS, what’s the ideal strategy to balance progression speed and rewards with enjoyment? Here are some tips:

  • Start on Beginner or Rookie to make the initial grind easier and build your player’s skills faster.
  • Once established in the majors, bump up to Veteran to increaseimmersion and XP gains.
  • Monitor performance and incrementally increase difficulty as your skills improve to maintain the right challenge.
  • To push attributes and XP, periodically toggle up to All-Star when feeling locked in during gameplay.
  • Drop back down if too much frustration sets in or progression stalls significantly. Find your flow.
  • When ready to chase trophies and rare loot, push to All-Star and Hall of Fame. But do so at a measured pace that feels rewarding rather than punishing.

The key is dynamically adjusting difficulty to keep RTTS challenging and enjoyable over the long grind. Experiment to find the right ebb and flow between lower and higher settings.

How Do Difficulty Settings Impact the Enjoyment Factor in RTTS?

Of course, a core goal when playing RTTS is simply having fun! So an important question arises: how do the various difficulty settings impact enjoyment?

Here are some key factors to consider:

  • Higher difficulties provide greater satisfaction when you excel, but can be frustrating if you’re struggling.
  • Lower difficulties make competency easier to achieve, but some may find the experience too predictable.
  • Finding the right balance of challenge maximizes engagement in the long run.
  • Don’t sacrifice all enjoyment purely for optimized progression – it is just a video game!
  • Adjusting dynamically as your own skill advances keeps gameplay rewarding.
  • Dropping down when hit with frustration, then ramping back up once locked in can help enjoyment over the long haul.
  • Playing on difficulties too low or high for current skill level tends to be less fun in the end.

So pay close attention to your enjoyment as you level up in RTTS. Ultimately you want satisfying progression AND sustained fun. Tweak difficulty to maximize both factors.

The Bottom Line – Does RTTS Difficulty Really Matter?

Based on all the evidence, it’s clear RTTS difficulty settings do impact multiple aspects of the experience. To summarize:

  • For faster initial progression, lower difficulties like Beginner are optimal.
  • But higher difficulties provide more XP and rewards to skilled players.
  • At least All-Star seems needed to unlock all trophies.
  • Easier modes can get repetitive, while harder ones can frustrate.
  • Dynamically changing difficulty is the best way to balance enjoyment and progression.

So difficulty certainly matters to some extent based on your goals. But don’t let it dictate the experience entirely. Focus on fun first, then optimize using difficulty adjustments.

With the knowledge from this guide, you can make informed decisions about difficulty settings in RTTS. Weigh the various factors and make choices that keep your road to the show rewarding and enjoyable. Let your player’s ever-growing skills determine when the time is right to raise the challenge bar. Soon you’ll be excelling on that Legend grind

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