HD is a complicated game and not entirely intuitive for new players and players trying to grow there skill set. If you want to improve your skill-set, the two best things you can do are read a user guide and/or get a mentor. In this post, I’d like to direct you to the best sources for guides. For specific questions about your team, see the current list of mentors (also pinned) or join the HD discord.

User Guides

New Player Guide (Cubcub113) – If you are new to the game, this is absolutely the first (and second and third) thing you should read. This covers basic fundamentals (which will GREATLY improve your game to start) through building a strategy for winning at this game. This post also does a good job incorporating the most pertinent information in the 3^rd and 4^th guides I listed.

https://www.whatifsports.com/forums/Posts.aspx?topicID=526595&TopicsPage=0

D1 Rebuild Guide (texashick, ie me) – This guide assumes you are familiar with the fundamentals discussed in the above post and layers on (much) more strategy for the nuances of the game. It’s more aimed at D1 (especially the recruiting sections) but concepts can be broadly applied anywhere.

https://www.whatifsports.com/forums/Posts.aspx?topicID=530292

HD 3.0 release guide (Chapehillne) – The game has gone through 2 major game engine overhauls. The most recent is generally referred to on the message boards as 2.0 to 3.0. This guide describes the changes at that time as well as doing a great job covering the fundamentals of how the game works.

https://www.whatifsports.com/forums/Posts.aspx?topicID=495608

2.0 D2/D3 guide (AEJones) – This is the most important post ever made about this game. All three of the above guides reference it. However, it is written prior to the last major game overall (2.0) which means some of it is still very relevant and some no longer applicable. Since it would be difficult for new users to distinguish what is and isn’t relevant, Id recommend the others first but any list of guides that didn’t include this would be incomplete.

https://www.whatifsports.com/forums/Posts.aspx?topicID=453763

Will send ticket for this to be pinned. Also considering adding a section for specific topics but figured Id start with this.

Just want to thank each of these creators for their hard work for putting these guides together. My first team was a complete rebuild and has gone from 3-24 in season one to 24-4 in season four, largely thanks to tips and tricks in these guides. Much appreciated from this newbie!

Posted by JayGarneau on 1/17/2022 9:48:00 PM (view original):
Just want to thank each of these creators for their hard work for putting these guides together. My first team was a complete rebuild and has gone from 3-24 in season one to 24-4 in season four, largely thanks to tips and tricks in these guides. Much appreciated from this newbie!

Thanks! That's great to hear. This is a really enjoyable game if you get over the first understanding hurdle. Congrats on the first NT trip and win, hope you have many more

awesome getting this pinned! this should be a good resource for folks, nice job

Thanks texas!

is there carryover of recruiting efforts from the first and second signing periods? Do you get any more money?

Posted by Klord on 2/26/2022 6:24:00 PM (view original):
is there carryover of recruiting efforts from the first and second signing periods? Do you get any more money?

yes, no. if you are the coach of the first and second signing periods, which is the normal case, then 100% of your effort carries over into the second session. and typically, you get no additional money or AP in the second session. here are the exceptions to the above:

- if you cut a player you did not recruit during RS2, you get full resources for that player

- if a player quits due to a broken promise, then you get half resources for RS2 (10 AP + half the money)

- if an early entry declares for the draft, then you get full resources for the player

- in all 3 of the above cases, you get no extra money for extra openings after 6 - so if you have 6 openings heading into RS2 - then a guy quits because you broke a promise - then you still only get 6 openings of resources, not 6.5

- for new coaches to a school, there are different rules. all remaining RS1 effort is reduced by approximately 2/3rds, and a 'new coach reduction' line is entered on the recruit history tab to indicate this has occurred. also, all new coaches get full money for all the open spots they have, up to the 6 maximum. so if you see a school was just taken over, with 5 openings, that coach has a full 5 openings of AP (120) and money, just like you'd have if you started RS1 with 5 openings.