Any issues that make Franchise Mode Unplayable?

[Barzalmode]

Are there any issues that would sour the experience or make it not worth putting in the time for Franchise Mode?

There seems to be some positive buzz around here for offline gameplay. Ok, that's good, but what issues have come to be for '23's Franchise mode?

I want to play an NHL Franchise (not custom) so I'm looking for a reasonable simulation and I like to play all the games.

How are the coaching strategies? Do they make sense? Are some 1st lines still playing CNT and some 4th lines set up as 1st lines?

How are penalties? Will they actually occur?

How are the new PP/PK strategies?

Any off-season/free agent/contract issues?

[KomicJ]

Quote: Originally Posted by Barzalmode

Are there any issues that would sour the experience or make it not worth putting in the time for Franchise Mode? There seems to be some positive buzz around here for offline gameplay. Ok, that's good, but what issues have come to be for '23's Franchise mode? I want to play an NHL Franchise (not custom) so I'm looking for a reasonable simulation and I like to play all the games. How are the coaching strategies? Do they make sense? Are some 1st lines still playing CNT and some 4th lines set up as 1st lines? How are penalties? Will they actually occur? How are the new PP/PK strategies? Any off-season/free agent/contract issues?

Here are some current issues, still to be fixed.

- According to patch notes, the latest patch should fix an issue with offersheet, that allowed teams to sign RFAs without having to pay the appropriate pick compensations in return (didn't even have to own the appropriate pick to make an offer). Haven't been able to test it yet with the new patch, so I don't know how correct patch notes are about that.

- Currently, faceoff deployment is bugged in Franchise mode, where your winger is taking faceoffs instead of your center for special team lines such a 4v5, 4v4, 4v3. And it's not just a matter of inversing both players in the edit lines menu, as saving faceoff deployment both prior to a game or directly in-game doesn't work.

- Finally, and most of all, head coach strategies don't change when firing / replacing your head coach in franchise mode. You're basically stuck with the initial coach strategy scheme all franchise long, as you can see in the video I made below

https://youtu.be/zmuTYfEZMy0


Edit: Oh, and two other things that might apply to Franchise mode.

- They changed the 'True broadcast' camera angle to a much higher / distant camera angle.

- Some user indicate that 1-3-1 powerplay isn't a thing in franchise mode anymore, as the coaches all seem to be limited to 'shooting' or 'overload' since the last patch.

[kinsmen7]

@komicj pretty much covers my list. I haven't had the 1-3-1 PP issue yet, but I've only played 1 game post patch, and wasn't paying a ton of attention to it. All I know is that my PP felt really solid.

I would add that there's a glitch where if a player has signed their ELC, they're going to be on your roster, regardless of whether they should be in the CHL or not. Kinda sucks because in my Ducks franchise, I *have* to have recent draftee's like Pavel Mintyukov in the AHL. This pushed my original roster to the 50 contract mark, which meant that I had to make a trade right off the bat to be able to sign Drew Helleson to my roster. The roster that I'm using has a ton of NCAA/KHL/Euro prospects added, which jumbles it all up a bit, but I'd assume that once I get a year or two into it, it'll settle itself out (I'll just wait until my drafted prospects are NHL ready or 20 year olds before I sign them).

Anyway, in regards to your question, I certainly wouldn't say it's unplayable. There's a few of us in the Franchise thread that have had some decent progress so far, and I personally haven't had anything that absolutely kills my immersion (aside from accidentally deleting my franchise last night...). I've been using a play-around for my PK where I use a couple of centers, or a winger with decent faceoff numbers to *help* fix that bug as best as can be expected.

Biggest thing that I'll say-I'm using a slider set that's a bit of a mish-mash hybrid between AlTito's and PK's, and the game is running fine. When it comes to PP's/PK's, I seem to be getting anywhere between 2-6 a night, depending on how I play. I absolutely recommend finding a slider set that works for you...OOTB settings are *fine*, but the game runs so much better with a good slider set.

I don't know...I guess at the end of the day it depends on what exactly you're looking from for your franchise. The gameplay is much better, the scouting/drafting system is, IMO, the best among sports games right now, and I wouldn't even say that the trade engine is that bad (Let's be honest-there isn't a sports game out there that has a good trade engine...). There are certainly some holes, but all in all, it's still a lot of fun.

[PernellKarl076]

For all you Franchise guys, I’ve been asked that question in the Roster section… When you get to a point where you have generated players, apparently their skating style sliders are all at 0 ? Making them looking stupid when they skate….

I know you can't even edit these players I think 🤔 So it would leave just to see them in action I guess…. Anyone, Bueller, anyone ??

[Barzalmode]

Quote: Originally Posted by KomicJ

- Currently, faceoff deployment is bugged in Franchise mode, where your winger is taking faceoffs instead of your center for special team lines such a 4v5, 4v4, 4v3. And it's not just a matter of inversing both players in the edit lines menu, as saving faceoff deployment both prior to a game or directly in-game doesn't work.

Is this for gameplay or simming or both?

[Barzalmode]

Quote: Originally Posted by PernellKarl076

For all you Franchise guys, I’ve been asked that question in the Roster section… When you get to a point where you have generated players, apparently their skating style sliders are all at 0 ? Making them looking stupid when they skate…. I know you can't even edit these players I think 🤔 So it would leave just to see them in action I guess…. Anyone, Bueller, anyone ??

By generated players you mean Draft Picks, correct? So, the further you progress in Franchise mode the more players will have the "0" style for their skating.

[Barzalmode]

How is player likeness this year?

Is it still where 4 or 5 players on a team have a scan and the rest have weird generic faces?

Is it still to the point where there are twins and triplets on a bench?

[bryta47]

Quote: Originally Posted by Barzalmode

Are there any issues that would sour the experience or make it not worth putting in the time for Franchise Mode?

Besides the fact that EA NHL is a copy pasted, unfinished and bug ridden scam of game with an AAA-game price tag? Probably a few. There usually are.

And don’t let the fact that there’s “positive buzz” about gameplay in here fool you — that simply means all who recognize the scam for what it is has moved on to other things and given up on EA.

I recommend you read thoroughly through the first 20 posts in EA’s own forum to get an understanding about NHL 23. The game seems to be in a worse state than usual.

As always, I wouldn’t recommend supporting EA by buying this game — not even on sale. It’s a horrible and cynical cash crab and we should burn it by fire until some other game company produces the hockey game we deserve.