diff --git a/diceplayer/dice/dice_handler.py b/diceplayer/dice/dice_handler.py
index d2bf3ee..2842e77 100644
--- a/diceplayer/dice/dice_handler.py
+++ b/diceplayer/dice/dice_handler.py
@@ -3,4 +3,6 @@ from diceplayer.state.state_model import StateModel
 
 class DiceHandler:
     @staticmethod
-    def run(state: StateModel, current_cycle: int) -> StateModel: ...
\ No newline at end of file
+    def run(state: StateModel, current_cycle: int) -> StateModel:
+        print(f"Running Dice - {current_cycle}")
+        return state
diff --git a/diceplayer/optimization/optimization_handler.py b/diceplayer/optimization/optimization_handler.py
index 0960315..9d0d86a 100644
--- a/diceplayer/optimization/optimization_handler.py
+++ b/diceplayer/optimization/optimization_handler.py
@@ -4,7 +4,9 @@ from diceplayer.state.state_model import StateModel
 
 class OptimizationHandler:
     @staticmethod
-    def run(state: StateModel, current_cycle: int) -> StateModel: ...
+    def run(state: StateModel, current_cycle: int) -> StateModel:
+        print(f"Running Optimization - {current_cycle}")
+        return state
 
     @staticmethod
     def _fetch_current_routine(state: StateModel, current_cycle: int) -> RoutineType:
diff --git a/diceplayer/player.py b/diceplayer/player.py
index 57acf72..b2ce936 100644
--- a/diceplayer/player.py
+++ b/diceplayer/player.py
@@ -19,13 +19,16 @@ class Player:
         self._state_handler = StateHandler(config.simulation_dir)
 
     def play(self, **flags: Unpack[PlayerFlags]):
-        if not flags["continuation"]:
+        continuation = flags.get("continuation", False)
+        force = flags.get("force", False)
+
+        state: StateModel = self._state_handler.get(self.config, force=force)
+        if not continuation and state is not None:
             logger.info(
                 "Continuation flag is not set. Starting a new simulation and deleting any existing state."
             )
             self._state_handler.delete()
-
-        state = self._state_handler.get(self.config, force=flags["force"])
+            state = self._state_handler.get(self.config, force=force)
 
         if state is None:
             state = StateModel.from_config(self.config)
@@ -37,7 +40,7 @@ class Player:
                 f"Starting cycle {state.current_cycle + 1} of {self.config.max_cyc}."
             )
 
-            step_directory = self.config.simulation_dir / f"{state.current_cycle::02d}"
+            step_directory = self.config.simulation_dir / f"{state.current_cycle:02d}"
             if not step_directory.exists():
                 step_directory.mkdir(parents=True)