Quote:
Originally Posted by cmdrsam3
Was wondering if I can pick your head boss. Not really a hockey fan. Got the game because I like sports management games. Hockey was one of those sports I could not get into. I think because I don't understand the strategy's behind it. I'm trying. Played the east sides hockey version, liked the options, again did not understand it at all.
time on ice for the lines. I see here you have set it up 15 percent on all four lines. Do you change it? if so why?
With me not being so much of a fan, I really don't understand who are the top lines on the other team. what do you look for when you know you have a top line, or lines from other teams? Plus or minus stats look deceiving.
Forechecking, when you set this up do the dmen use those same settings or do they fluctuate with the lines as they come in.
I probably have tons more but lets starts with these if you don't mind.
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I don't mind at all - and thank you for choosing me to ask.
1)
Hockey was one of those sports I could not get into. I think because I don't understand the strategy's behind it. I'm trying. Hockey is about movement, just like soccer. The defensive part is blocking the oppositions movement towards your goal and get it going towards the enemy goal instead. The offense is about setting up the players in positions that maximize their skills and abilities to score in the 6' X4' net. The tongue in cheek comment is to do this more times than your opposition in the regulation time
2)
time on ice for the lines. I see here you have set it up 15 percent on all four lines. Do you change it? if so why? This is my default T.O.I. - you will see MANY variations of this and it has to do with three basic tenets of hockey
a) Your most skilled players you want on the ice for the most time, now usually its your offensive players that get this extended ice time, but with the Panthers having trouble scoring I'm actually giving my best defensive players (Line #4) the most ice time. Now you can move these players to line #1 but the AI will use your TOI in regards to the "freshest" line and this is where line "mismatches" can occur. L1 vs L3 is a poor choice against the oppositions top line with your third line least skilled players.
b) Stamina is going to determine how long or how much time the player can handle before his performance degrades. The usual time for a hockey shift is 30-40 seconds, double shifting is exactly that, 60 to 80 seconds and any forward player will be gassed after skating that long. Thats where the players stamina and recovery time come into play and where the TOI matters. If I select a forward line for 15 mins its means that for the game the AI will send that line out around every two minutes and the TOI at the end of the game will approximate 15 minutes. Now your special teams time will affect this and also affect how your defensive players are used for regular shifts.
c) Defensive skating - this is important and your players stamina is something to consider as the defense stays out around around 60 to 90 seconds and sometimes as long as two minutes. The ability to get the defensemen tired and stuck in their end will usually result in a goal for you. The usual TOI can go up to 25 minutes for your best defensive pairing - but I like to have six defensemen that can do 20 minutes each so they can all pitch in on special teams. This keeps there being too much of a dropoff in performance if one of the defensemen gets injured during the game.
3)
With me not being so much of a fan, I really don't understand who are the top lines on the other team. what do you look for when you know you have a top line, or lines from other teams? Plus or minus stats look deceiving. If you click on the blue name of the opposition team (Edmonton Oilers are my next opponent) then follow the three screens below to see how the team lines and TOI are set up - but remember the AI will adapt to your strategies too!
4)
Forechecking is exclusively a forward function.. your forwards are venturing into the offensive zones to try and get the puck carrier to turn over the puck and catch the other team going the wrong way... Skating, Defensive read, and Pokechecking are good attributes for forechecking. (see screen 4)
There is a ton of things to cover in this game and feel free to ask in the forums too. I will look up some good websites to educate you on the basics of hockey and get back to you via private message. Or if anyone reading knows some feel free to post it here!