Madden NFL 17 Draft Champions Update Adds QB Round, Updated Draft Pool & More

[Hooe]

I am not a fan of the "QB Round" whatsoever, and I sincerely hope that that change is only temporary for (presumably) the Draft Champions leg of the Madden tournament scene.

The most unique component and arguably the biggest draw of the experience in Draft Champions is the eponymous draft itself. The draft is only 15 rounds, so each pick the user makes has risk. For example, in the original setup, if a user passed on a mid-80s quarterback for a low-90s offensive lineman (or whatever other position), there was no guarantee he'd see a QB again in the draft. The user thus had to factor that very real risk into his drafting decision. At the same time, however, going with the low 80s QB also had the risk of seeing a higher-rated QB in the draft pool later, which presented a different choice: draft over the low 80s QB and lose out on a player at a different position (especially harmful because the situation where two different QBs play in Madden is rare), or stick with the decent player you already have? That ever-present risk makes the draft in Draft Champions interesting, and it's still fortunately present at the other positions on the field.

The addition of the QB Round reduces the risk a user faces, however. With a high-rated QB always guaranteed in Round 1, that draft pick tension I described above for unquestionably the most important position on the field no longer exists. It hurts the on-field experience as well, as every online opponent will always have a skilled quarterback, thus the variety of team configurations is reduced.

So yeah - in my opinion, Draft Champions is tangibly less interesting on account of this change.

[Mattanite]

Quote: Originally Posted by CM Hooe

I am not a fan of the "QB Round" whatsoever, and I sincerely hope that that change is only temporary for (presumably) the Draft Champions leg of the Madden tournament scene. The most unique component and arguably the biggest draw of the experience in Draft Champions is the eponymous draft itself. The draft is only 15 rounds, so each pick the user makes has risk. For example, in the original setup, if a user passed on a mid-80s quarterback for a low-90s offensive lineman (or whatever other position), there was no guarantee he'd see a QB again in the draft. The user thus had to factor that very real risk into his drafting decision. At the same time, however, going with the low 80s QB also had the risk of seeing a higher-rated QB in the draft pool later, which presented a different choice: draft over the low 80s QB and lose out on a player at a different position (especially harmful because the situation where two different QBs play in Madden is rare), or stick with the decent player you already have? That ever-present risk makes the draft in Draft Champions interesting, and it's still fortunately present at the other positions on the field. The addition of the QB Round reduces the risk a user faces, however. With a high-rated QB always guaranteed in Round 1, that draft pick tension I described above for unquestionably the most important position on the field no longer exists. It hurts the on-field experience as well, as every online opponent will always have a skilled quarterback, thus the variety of team configurations is reduced. So yeah - in my opinion, Draft Champions is tangibly less interesting on account of this change.

Definitely agree with this. Also, it changes the types of teams fielded through draft champions. Gone are the teams where you didn't get a great QB or decent WRs but built a great running team or elite defence instead.


Depending on who you listen too, if average QBs play almost the same as elite QBs on the field, was it necessary to guarantee a decent QB in a round that actually takes away the choice of another skilled player in another position? Some might have avoided a QB (unless they were a scrambler) in favour of the stock QB plus another great player elsewhere...

[jfsolo]

Quote: Originally Posted by Geodude

Was this the big final February update Rex was going on about?! Waiting to start my final roster CFM until all the updates are done.

No, a gameplay update is supposed to be coming out this week according to Rex.