do you guys find that you can enjoy and compete at a high level without investing money in the game?
also, would you vets recommend using your SP on the attributes or those crazy special attribute things like pocket prescence and wrap up tackles and all that?
It's easier to have fun at lower levels if you catch on with a good owner. Both teams I'm on have coordinators that create strategy threads prior to each game, helps get wrapped up in the game. Lots of off-topic sports chatter on the one team, like most sim leagues that way.
My opinion on SP...
-stamina is really important early in your career; it allows you to be on the field more (more XP) and also to train at a higher intensity on your off day (quicker attribute increase).
-choose two other abilities that you want to be the stand out abilities for your player; my DE is wicked fast, and stronger than most O-Linemen. Add pretty even number of SP to stamina and your two 'hallmark' abilities.
-buy equipment to boost your two 'hallmark' abilities
-use your remaining skill points to increase your secondary abilities (vision is a little more important than I gave it credit for early on).
-choose one of the Special Abilities trees; for every 8-9 points you put into attributes, put one into your skill tree. Those skills are of the most benefit to you when you attributes are higher.
I play with the Kilkenny Sidhe, mostly level 3-6 on the team, PM the owner, or me (ATLFan) I think there are a couple of open spots in back-up roles, seems like a decent crew there.