My Final HC09 Sliders

[picker19]

For those of you who read my earlier thread on sliders, you know that based on extensive research, I've determined that the sliders are indeed broken. However, I finally came up with a slider set that works really well for me. Don't ask why, but the CPU sliders impact the Human gameplay. They're not perfect, but they've given the best games since this game came out. For me, the issue was always my defense was too good. With these sliders, my defense is suddenly vulnerable and I have to carefully plan my play calling, plus the running game is much better (although the human run game will always be better than most CPU run games). I've played three difference franchises with these sliders over a total of 10 years, and they have made the game more of a challenge for me (finally).

Both Offenses = 40 for all sliders
Human D = 40, 40, 20, 40, 40
CPU D = 20 for all sliders
Both Special Teams = 50, 50, 90, 90, 20
Penalty Sliders = Default

[Mike3207]

Quote: Originally Posted by picker19

I've played three difference franchises with these sliders over a total of 10 years, and they have made the game more of a challenge for me (finally).

What sort of scores do you see with these sliders, and what record have your teams had?

[picker19]

Game results have been varied. For instance, as the Bears with a power run offense and Cover 2 D, I had a 14-13 loss to the Steelers, I whipped the Browns 41-14, I lost in a shootout with the Seahawks 35-31 and I barely beat the Jaguars with a last minute hail mary. I've had two seasons of 7-9 and 10-6, both missing the playoffs.

As far as stats go, they're all over the place, which is good. It's still fairly easy to pass (I average 60+% in completions) but the run game is fair and my D is no longer unstoppable with a million INTs and several sacks.

The bottom line is that there are certain flaws to the game that can't be fixed with the sliders, because they are broken. I've noticed that the Human gamplay will always have an advantage. But these sliders have made the Human D more vulnerable, which is what I always thought to be the issue -- the Human D is too good. So, to date, these sliders have made my D finally vulnerable, especially if they don't have a good handle on the playbook. So, I finally have to respect the run on certain teams and fear the pass.

Also, I noticed that whoever is losing in the 3rd qtr., the losing team comes out firing on all cylinders. For instance, against the 49ers, I was up 31-0 at half time, and then the game ended at 31-28. They had me on my heels, and I suddenly couldn't score on them.

[Mike3207]

I've seen a lot of turnovers my first 2 games with this slider set on both sides -is that to be expected?

[picker19]

It depends...if you run plays with little to no play knowledge (or bad players), then yes, you will turn the ball over a lot. Recently in a new franchise, my starting QB got injured, and my back up had to play two games. He threw 6 interceptions. When my starter came back, in two games, he threw only 2. Same thing happened with my RBs. And the same happens to the CPU. In the end, the game has way too many INTs in general, which is why I turned both sliders down to 20. It was way worse when I had them up higher.

Once you build your team up and get their play knowledge up and get better coaching skills, it's better, as it should be.

Hope you're enjoying them. They are far from perfect, but the only ones I've found that give me some challenge and enjoyment.

[Mike3207]

I notice the slider numbers are different between the last post of your previous slider thread and the first post of this one. Is it human defense at 20 or cpu defense at 20?

[picker19]

Yeah, there was a typo that I corrected. All CPU D sliders should be set to 20. The Human D sliders should be 40, 40, 20, 40, 40. Keeping the INT slider set to 20 for both has kept the INTs to be more reasonable.

Just so you know, I started a Redskins franchise with these sliders. My record so far has been 6-10, then 11-5 (lost in Division playoffs), and now in my third season I'm off to a 1-3 start. So far, these sliders have kept me on my toes, obviously depending on who I'm playing.

[picker19]

So, I just finished my third season with the Redskins. I went 6-10, which is amazing, considering it was my third season, I had great coaches, and a damn good roster. This makes me excited, because it seems my sliders are providing a good challenge (along with my house rules). So for my Redskins franchise, I went 6-10, 11-5, and then back to 6-10. I had an approval of 25, yet of all owners, he wanted me to stay, which is amazing.

After using these sliders for almost 15 seasons across three different franchises, I think I'm finally signing off on my sliders and house rules and will no longer be changing anything after 3.5 years of frustrating trial and error. So, again, here are my sliders and house rules:

SLIDERS

Both Offenses: All 40
Human D: 40, 40, 20, 40, 40
CPU D: All 20
Both Special Teams: 50, 50, 90, 90, 20
Penalties: Default

HOUSE RULES

1. Each week, I use one day to rest instead of practice (so my guys don't get a high play knowledge as quickly)
2. I only develop my staff once a year after the draft
3. I avoid the Ozzie Jones and Jack English drafts
4. During the draft, coach signings, individual scouting, etc., I do not reload if I make an unfavorable selection...I stick with my poor choice
5. When developing my staff, I focus on skill development first, I only allow one special skill a year for each coach, if they have the points, and I avoid the Performance skill unless there are no other skills open to purchase with available points
6. When beginning a career, I always create a new coach and focus that coach on one position specialty (depending on the team I'm running...if I'm going to play a vertical pass attack, I'll have a WR/TE coach; if I'm going to do a 3-4 aggressive D, I'll have a LB coach) and build up their skill development for that position as far as can and pick only one special skill that matches that position
7. I never choose the Ambition skill
8. When starting a new career, I build a playbook that's specific to the style I want to play with that team, regardless of play knowledge...this is to keep play knowledge low at first, because play knowledge is one of the top 3 reasons your team ends up kicking ***