Old Timer waiting/wanting advice

[SloeyEZ]

Hi everyone, not sure if anyone I knew years ago are still around, but I'm an old Head Coach lover, buying Madden every few years as it makes adjustments to match the glory of Head Coach (Hey, allow me my golden memories/daydreaming i.e. the good ol' days)

I had M16 and once I switched off the QB so that they would scramble was "satisfied" with the coaching mode of M16 by calling the first D play suggested and acting as HC/OC for my team. Not quite Head Coach obviously but, I did end up playing 4 years of CFM offline.

So, that's where I'm coming from. I LOVE the draft and team management, like to call Offense but wish I had a DC to handle defense entirely/automatically, and NEVER control players (Autosimmed kicks and punts) Like I said, enough to finally get me to buy Madden again after a few years of sniveling whining after HC09.

Finally, (yes I'm long-winded, always have been) the advice I'm seeking is more or less when to buy M17 (if even necessary over M16). I've read about the slow sim mode, which seems VERY much like Head Coach? (If not, PLEASE let me know what is really going on in this mode and if you think I'll like it) although I don't think you can call plays during it, which is great on Defense, but I would really like to call my offensive plays. Is this how that mode works?

But what concerns me most and instigated this thread is that I've been reading through the impressions and bugs threads and it seems like there is a LOT more going on this year than normal. I was already pretty much planning on waiting until October when that first BIG patch comes out anyway, but again, it seems like there are far more issues with this Madden that will not be fixed by October/November. (Would anyone suggest sticking with M16? Which I haven't played since last Spring btw.)

Agree? Disagree? Recommendations? Thanks for listening. Thanks for your opinion.

[Hooe]

The mode you're referring to is "Play The Moments". Leveraging a rebuilt super-sim engine, it allows you to play only the critical moments of your franchise games - possessions in the red zone, key 3rd downs, two-minute drills, moments where you need a defensive stop, etc. Think of it like a playable version of NFL Red Zone channel.

Play The Moments provides you with a few different options - play key moments (what I described above), play offense only (all defensive plays are simulated), play defense only (all offensive plays are simulated), and "slow" mode (you watch the CPU play itself; you don't call plays or otherwise interact with the game at all). Finally, you change change the simulation speed and the amount of interaction you want at any time. If you play offense only on fast speed but decide you want to watch the CPU try to mount its final drive against your defense in a close game, you can do that on a whim.

In Madden 17, as far as I know, "coach mode" behaves as it did in the past; basically a QB auto-throw option. I imagine you can use Play The Moments - Offense Only in conjunction with "coach mode" to get an experience analogous to playing as an offensive coordinator in NCAA Football 14.

Other people can tell you otherwise, but for me personally Madden 17 has been the most functional, most complete, least buggy, and most compelling version of Madden yet, especially from a play-calling perspective. I enjoyed M16 thoroughly but haven't had a itch to play it since June (when I first played this year's game at EA PLAY). I say jump in.

[capa]

I am an old-timer as well and I will tell you that although this year has taken a few steps forward, many of the issues still plague the game such as players not having sideline awareness, fumbles recorded as incomplete passes when QB sacked, incomplete passes recorded as fumbles when QB sacked, challenge system is still not right, pass rush can be non-existent, etc. If you look at the slider forum you will see dozens of sets trying to combat some of these issues as well as others to get realistic gameplay on the field.

I am also just a Coach only player and sometimes just cpu vs cpu. I can tell you that the Coach mode is unchanged...you still have to kick and punt, or sim those plays. I will also tell you that it is harder than ever to get a slider set that works well in these modes. The game is designed for head to head and each year there are more noticeable issues with cpu AI and play on the field.

I do not dabble in the hardcore detailed CFM things...so I can't comment on that. But from a gameplay point of view, I think if you are happy with 16 you may want to wait to see what the upcoming patch does for 17. Hopefully it will address a lot of what was mentioned.

C

[numberFour4ever]

It's the best version of the game since Madden 2005.

But it has a long way to go to be as good as Madden 2005. The only real improvement over 2005 are the amazing graphics.

I'm still playing on PC and hoping for better things for '18.

[SloeyEZ]

Thanks, Hooe. I was referring to the bugs in the multiple threads as well as in the official bug thread, but I do understand that bugs can be quite the personal issue and not exist across the board.

Has the sim engine been fixed? You couldn't use it last year because of wild stats and play during autosim. If so, then simming D and playing O in the sim mode you describe sounds enticing.

Yes, finding sliders for "coach mode" is difficult, but I found iiamcb's sliders quite good in creating realistic stats. Unfortunately, I can't find sliders by him this year. If someone has equivalent sliders for not controlling (any) player, I'd love to get a link. How do sliders affect the sim engine? That seems like a whole new can of worms :\ I'd love to be told that sliders don't affect the simengine Hooe?

Thanks again.

[NoleFan]

I too am a coach mode player. I've been back and forth between coach mode and cpu vs. cpu this year since it's back in Madden officially and it's VERY good.

I think for you Sloey, Madden 17 with Play the Moments: Offense Only would be exactly what you're looking for. You'd call all of the plays offensively and defense would be super simmed. Most of special teams as well unless the game deems a particular special teams play as offense. Ha I'd recommend using 'Slow' sim speed to watch defense and special teams in broadcast for more immersion.

I don't like to call any plays because stringing them together to run a system is not my strong suit. I'm more of a team building head coach that provides input into the overall game plan but doesn't want to be down in the weeds with the play calling.

[mrCPUgeek]

My only issue with sim mode on slow, is I wish you could still be "head coach" during that. Say you want to challenge a play or call a time out. Or override a play on a forth down situation, you have no control over that. It injury management during the game. That is why, on defense I went back to regular mode and call the recommended play and let the CPU control my player.


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[NoleFan]

Quote: Originally Posted by mrCPUgeek

My only issue with sim mode on slow, is I wish you could still be "head coach" during that. Say you want to challenge a play or call a time out. Or override a play on a forth down situation, you have no control over that. It injury management during the game. That is why, on defense I went back to regular mode and call the recommended play and let the CPU control my player. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

All valid points!


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