FM24 - Individual player targets and interaction logic

Keep Your Players Hungry with Targets

In Football Manager 2024 (FM24), a crucial feature has been introduced to incentivize players and optimize their performance: individual performance targets. These targets can be various aspects of a player's development, performances on the team or improvements on training. (such as new positions, roles, traits, and average ratings), goals scored, assists provided, clean sheets kept, and overall match performances.

Setting Targets

Setting a target for your players is a new process in Football Manager. The option will be made available when you are praising or critizing a player for their recent performances, during discussions with player who are leaving on loan, in contract negotiations with new players or when a player comes to you with a problem or when he is unhappy. It's important to note that both the player and their agent may want to negotiate these targets, so flexibility is key.

When setting a target, it will be important to keep a close eye on a player's personality, his relationship with you and the context of the current situation. For instance, offering a player a playing time pathway could increase his interest in siging for your club, but you will need to keep your promises as the seasons will progress. During talks about playing pathway you can promise a specific target for the coming season. For example; a player wants to be a regular starter in his third season. In that case you can set a target for the seaons 1 and 2, such as a certain amount of goals. If the player achieves this target, you are expected to honor the agreement by making them a regular starter in the third season.

Tracking Progress

FM24 will see a new target tab added to the home screen. This addition will provide the insight into the player's opinions regarding their advancement. For loan players, any playing time plans or targets are highlighted in purple, distinguishing them from targets specific to your club.

Also, when players arrive on loan at your club they may arrive with targets from their parent clubs. Fulfilling these conditions and targets will help the player meet their own objectives. Your staff can offer advice on when and how to offer targets to players through Staff Meetings or inbox items.

Consequences of Target Outcomes

Once a player meets their target, such as scoring a number of goals, assists or a high rating on training, you can congratulate him. Meeting a target could also mean you need to fulfill a promise made during negotiations to keep the player happy.

If a player, however, fails to meet the set target, you will be notified by your Player Liaison Offers. They will explain how the player has reacted to failing to meet the target and will provide an insight on who is to blame. You'll have to decide how to handle the situation. In cases where multiple players fail, you can discuss contentious issues directly with them, which may relate to game time or issues with loan managers for loaned players.

Players can then react in various ways. They might express confidence in their abilities if they come really close to a target, or they will show you other positive performance metrics, such as assists. And if injuries have played a role in target failure, the player does undertsnad the goal could not be met at that time and hopes you understand as well.

Better Conversations with Interaction Logic Changes

The addition of setting player targets is an effort by Sports Interactive to enhance the game's interaction module and logic behind it. These changes aim to make conversations with players and agents more believable and realistic. As a result the team have included over 2.000 new responses and improved the so called 'string severity system', which allows the AI to make better responses.

Reactions from players will now vary in severity based on context, resulting in more authentic interactions. Additionally, interactions provide clearer reasoning behind player unhappiness and promise requirements, facilitating better communication between managers and players. The overall goal is to create a wider range of realistic reactions, both in verbal and body language, ensuring more constructive conversations.

Improved staff meetings

Staff Meetings in FM24 have also undergone improvements. They are now more customizable and prioritize relevant information. You can skip topics that aren't of interest or relevance to your focus, allowing you to tailor the conversation to your needs. Customizing the delivery of each staff topic is possible, giving you control over the inclusion of subtopics, inbox summaries, or the skipping of certain topics.

Additionally, when considering new signings for your backroom staff, FM24 provides key attributes for the suggested job role and context for their recommendation, making it easier for you to make informed decisions about your staff. These changes enhance your ability to efficiently manage your club and staff.

In summary, Football Manager 2024 introduces individual performance targets to keep players motivated and enhance immersion through improved interaction logic. The ability to set and manage targets, monitor progress, and handle target outcomes ensures that managers can maximize their players' potential while enjoying more realistic conversations and meetings with staff.

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