Even by cheating I can win at this game. How do you win?

[Jake1959]

After 3 straight losing seasons with my favorite team I edited all the player ratings to a minimum of 18 in every category. Team record went from 12-18-2 to 34-42-6 - Not much improvement (16-14-4) for such high ratings and was shut out 16 times!. Although, the GAA did drop to 2.21, scoring was still very low, even with all 18s or better.

In the next season I jump at mid-season to take over the #1 Edmonton team who was 30-10-2. Making almost no changes to lines or tactics they went 20-20-2 in the second half!

Final test was to save a copy of the current season and play the same team twice - once computer controlled and once human controlled. Result: Computer team was 44-28-10 (won the cup) Human controlled 29-40-13 and missed the playoffs.

The fix is in. I think the AI "fixes" the game if Human controlled to make it difficult to win even if you have the top players. If you don't believe that can you tell me how to win?

[Jake1959]

I meant can't win at this game

[pucku33]

I'm in first in my first-season league. Can squash the human difficult problems away with that.

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...k-dynasty.html

[Jake1959]

I was actually hoping to hear that was the case. So, how can a team were every player has jacked up Ratings (think, take you favorite team and add 4 points to every single category for every single player) still finish < .500? Maybe the player editing doesn't work?

Tactics don't seem to do much either. Setting the team to Def. they actually score far more goals then having it set to Very Off.

[Jake1959]

...also, how much of the season have you played? I frequently achieve 1st early in the season, but fade away pretty badly after that. Once went from first to finishing the season 1-16-3 for the final 20 games!

What are your tactics? What do you think is the key to winning?

[pucku33]

Originally Posted by Jake1959

...also, how much of the season have you played? I frequently achieve 1st early in the season, but fade away pretty badly after that. Once went from first to finishing the season 1-16-3 for the final 20 games!

What are your tactics? What do you think is the key to winning?

We're a little over halfway through the season. My tactics are offensive first line, normal 2nd, defensive third and fourth is all over the place.

My top end players are not scoring as much, but my third line players are rock stars. Also both goalies doing well.

[Jake1959]

Playing the 2015/2016 season this is my sub .500 team. How is it possible with this lineup?

Parise, Granlund, Pominville
Callahan, Elias Lindholm, Shaw
Saad, McDavid, Condra
Brusuier, Phillips, Brodziak

Sutter, Seabrook, Spurgeon, Brodin, Harris, Gardiner

Harding and keumper. (Harding GAA is 2.46, so clearly not scoring enough)

[pucku33]

Not sure what to tell you. I mix and match my lines quiet a bit, you try that? Think I've tried 6 different Top line LW's with very little success. my 3rd line RW is my leading scorer, bumped him to 1st line LW and he was terrible, moved down to 2nd line and he was average, but third line for some reason he is a scoring machine.

Also I would look into ice time as well, not sure how big of a factor that is, I use 19, 16, 14, 11 to get it a little more evened out.

I wouldn't mess with defensive lines if that isn't an issue though.

Good luck!

[Duranium]

Originally Posted by Jake1959

Playing the 2015/2016 season this is my sub .500 team. How is it possible with this lineup?

Parise, Granlund, Pominville
Callahan, Elias Lindholm, Shaw
Saad, McDavid, Condra
Brusuier, Phillips, Brodziak

Sutter, Seabrook, Spurgeon, Brodin, Harris, Gardiner

Harding and keumper. (Harding GAA is 2.46, so clearly not scoring enough)

this is the reason why Seb's working on a new match engine (next patch) - it´s just like lottery way too often - my loaded Whalers team got swept by a Leafs team full of 6.0-6.5ers with a 5.0 goalie today and i really mean it...somthing like 5-0,2-0,7-1 and 3-0 iirc.
I´m not overly critical on V.1 of the game but it takes out the fun a bit when your not be able to carefully build your franchise over 10-15 years

[AEWHistory]

I don't mind a ME that takes into account the intricacies of the game, but I understand peoples' complaints. For example, I'd like to see a well-balanced team of, say, 6's beat a team with a bunch of 7's that aren't balanced. After all, every team should need a mix of size, speed, scoring touch, setup men, stay at home defensemen, etc. And don't forget goons! Having a Dave Schultz should challenge even some of the highest bravery stats (maybe augment that with a "do you fear death or getting your legs broken" stat; especially for HM hockey!)

OTOH, yes, an artificially constructed team with no weaknesses really should have no problems pulling in at least a winning record. It is hard to defend the ME when what you describe happens.

[Jake1959]

That is what I think should happen. I set all my tactics to mid-level settings - nothing special and just let my stacked team play. They should on talent alone win 2 of 3. The team, all 20 players, average Ability score is 7.85 That's 4th line and #2 goalie included. How are they #29 in the league for scoring? Makes no sense.

[Duranium]

Originally Posted by AEWHistory

I don't mind a ME that takes into account the intricacies of the game, but I understand peoples' complaints. For example, I'd like to see a well-balanced team of, say, 6's beat a team with a bunch of 7's that aren't balanced. After all, every team should need a mix of size, speed, scoring touch, setup men, stay at home defensemen, etc.

That's exactly what i did with the Whale:

First 2 lines pretty much score/pass/sandpaper

Propp - Stastny - Real Cloutier
Goulet - Trottier - Foligno
B.Sutter - R.Wilson - D.Sutter
plus: G.Carbonneau, C.Patterson, L.DeBlois

M.Howe - Ray Bourque
R.Ramage - K.Morrow
K.Lowe - R.Langway

M.Liut - D.Beaupre


and this team has all and gets badly torched by a midget level team

[Jake1959]

Whoa! That is a stacked team. Would probaly have lost no more then 10 games a year in real life. Huh...

[Jake1959]

Hmmmm... Looking at my stats I see that 4 Defenseman in the top 9 for total shots and have about a 7% scoring rate, while I have some forwards in spots 10-15 with rates 7% -15%, averaging about 11% Maybe the D is too Offensive and absorbing too many of the shots per game so the higher % forwards aren't getting their chances. Need D that passes more shoots less or have much greater scoring %

[Duranium]

Originally Posted by Jake1959

Whoa! That is a stacked team. Would probaly have lost no more then 10 games a year in real life. Huh...

Also a proof that trade balancing is needed - amassed this team/roster within 2 seasons

[howeandhowe]

I've found out that when a team contacts you about a trade you can get them to give up a lot of good draft picks for even a crappy player. Please don't fix this!

[rocksbury]

Okay first of all let me tell you editing stats makes a substantial difference.
Secondly I play this game and NHL 14 as the leafs every year since I could play a video game and every year I make the finals, whether it be simulating or playing. It could be your lines or your style of play.

Tactics don't seem to endorse many changes but the players on your payroll do. If you have a tendency of using an offensive strategy with an offensive lineup like T.O you run the league in points and goals scored if you play a tight aggressive game with St.Louis you don't score all that often but manage to boost your Goalies stats.

For the longest time I thought Tactics did nothing until I started to really tweak the lineups then I have 2-5 players with 90+ points a goalie with 35+ wins and a record of .700

[Jake1959]

Lots of good thoughts from you guys. Suter got hurt and I benched 2 of my "shooting" defenseman. Took my high % scorers that shoot a lot and split them up. Bam! Scoring jumped right up and we went on a 9-0-1 streak. You can check in the Edit tab, Attributes, Pass/Shoot tendency for how often a player will shoot + "Get Open" for total shots tendency. If this guy has a low scoring % he may be sucking chances away from your good scorers.

[Irr11]

I win by robbing other managers with trades, because it's so easy. But how do you edit player ratings??

[dave1927p]

show me a good team, and I'll show you a good goalie.