Armor & Swords “Regular Joe” NHL 21 Pro Simulation Style Sliders

[Armor and Sword]

Hello Folks. So a little background. I have been a casual hockey fan my whole life. I am not hardcore. But I do follow the Florida Panthers, and really enjoy post season hockey. As far as video games.....I have always enjoyed the NHL Series. From it’s beginnings on the Sega Genesis, to the skill stick era that started on NHL 09. My favorite games in the series are NHL 94, NHL 11, NHL 13, NHL 16, and the last version I played was NHL 19.



The last time I actually finished an entire season was way back on NHL 16. So it has been a while. I went ahead and DL NHL 21 from EA Play and I was floored at how much fun I was having. I also really appreciated the effort that is put into the games Franchise/GM/Owner mode. Scouting is incredibly deep, the financial system very nice, and overall it is a really nice franchise mode.



My number one goal is to have fun. I am not a hockey expert. I am learning the various strategies (I am a quick learner and see the small differences between offensive and defensive strategies). I do like to get believable statistics but will not obsess over them.



This slider set I am sharing is simply for “Regular Joes” like myself who want to have a good time, get a smooth playing game and just enjoy it. No sweating the small stuff.



I want to acknowledge Al-Tito who has an All-Star Set. I used his set as a starting base and I have been tweaking from there. I am seeing a great mix of penalties (great variety indeed!) sloppy hockey, great and spirited board play and overall a nice looking game.





Settings are coming soon as we are in the final stages of releasing Version 1. Some minor settings are already posted. Also if there is one value it is the same for both the HUM/CPU. If there are different values I will notate that. Also you will notice some sliders slightly favoring the HUM. Why? Because I am not that good and I am a true "Regular Joe” on the NHL series and want to have fun, competitive games and not feel like the CPU can just score at will on me and I am helpless on offense. As always...use this as a base and tweak to your play style and skill ability.



I know I am very late to the party.....but for those who want to enjoy a really solid game of video game hockey I am happy to share this Pro level set. You can count on me looking to get NHL 22 for the PS5. I am really looking forward to a next gen version of this franchise.

Version 1.0 June 10th 2021

Game Settings

Game Style: 4/4 Full Sim

Rules: NHL

Period Length: 7 minutes

Difficulty: Pro

Camera: Dynamic Low

Goalie Camera: Low

Shootout Camera: Dynamic Medium

Away Line Changes: Manual

Away Shot Aim: Assisted

Home Line Changes: Manual

Home Shot Aim: Assisted





Gameplay Sliders



General

Gameplay Version: Latest

Game Style: Custom (Full Sim)

Attribute Effects: 5/10

Broken Stick Frequency:35/100

Game Speed: 0/6

Fatigue Effect: 80

Fatigue Recovery: 50

Injury Occurence: 65



Skating (CPU/HUM)

Back Skating: 80

Hustle Type: Authentic

Puck Carrier Agility: 40

Puck Carrier Skating: 40

Player Acceleration: 50

Skating Speed: 45

Skating Agility: 45



Shooting (CPU/HUM)

One Timer Accuracy: 40/50

Shot Accuracy: 40/50

Shot Power: 50

Slap Shot Accuracy: 40/50

Slap Shot Power: 55



Passing (CPU/HUM)

Manual Passing: On

Pass Assist: 30

Min Pass Speed: 30

Max Pass Speed: 55

Saucer Pass Speed: 45

Pass Accuracy: 0/45

Pass Interceptions: 65/80

Pass Reception Ease: 0/10

Reception Reaction Time: 30

Puck Control Rating Effect: 75

Puck Speed Reception Effect: 65

Pickup Type Effect: 70

Bouncing Puck Receptions: 35/45



Puck Control (CPU/HUM)

Incidental Contact Puck Loss: Stick, Legs & Body

Incidental Stick Contact Immunity: 0

Puck Control: 0

Deking Impact: 50/60

Spin Deke Impact: 50/60

Skating Impact: 15/10



Goalies (CPU/HUM)

Goalie Cover Frequency: 75

Goalie Passing: 45

Goalie Cross Crease Reaction Time: 45

Goalie Save Reaction Time: 50

Goalie Deflection Reaction Time: 50

Goalie Screen Effect: 75/60

Goalie Screen Persistence: 60/50



Checking (CPU/HUM)

Board Effect Non-Puck Carrier: 10

Board Effect Puck Carrier: 10

Hitting Assistance: 10

Stumble Threshold: 75

Fall And Stumble Fall Ease: 30

Aggression: 50

Hitting Power: 25/30

Size Effect:50/55

Speed Effect: 35/40

Checking/Balance Rating Effect: 85/90

Preparedness Effect: 55/60

Incidental Contact Effect: 75/70

Poke Checking Accuracy: 45/55

Poke Checking Power: 65/75

Stick Lift Effectiveness: 70/80



Penalties (CPU/HUM)

CPU Penalties: 70

CPU Teammate Penalties: 70

Tripping: 25

Slashing: 90

Elbowing: 100

High Sticking: 100

Cross Checking: 100

Boarding: 100

Charging: 100

Delay of Game: 65

Holding: 80

Hooking: 90

Interference:



AI

AI Learning: 2/6 (-1)

CPU Difficulty Adjustment: 0/6

CPU Faceoff Difficulty: 55

Fight Difficulty: 50

CPU Strategy Adjustment: 3/6

User Strategy Adjustment: 0/6





Rules

Game Style: Custom

Post Whistle Rules: Authentic

Rules: Custom

Fighting: 2/2

Icing: Hybrid Icing

Injuries: On

Offsides: Delayed

Penalties: 4/4

Trapezoid Rule: On

Period Length: 8 Minutes

Difficulty: Pro

Head Coach Edit Lines: No

NHL Injury Return Warning: Playable

Minor League head Coach: Yes

Minors Injury Return Warning: Playable

Auto Save: Off

Auto Rotate Goalies: Yes

Auto Sign Free Agents: Off

Auto Staff Management: Off

Auto Scouting: Pro Scouting Only

Auto-Owner Mode: Off

CPU Trades: On

Penalty Time Scaling: 6/6

Sim Engine Scoring: Medium

Draft Class Quality: Medium

Generated Prospect Quality: Medium

Sim Engine Shot Frequency: Medium

Trade Difficulty: Medium

Head Coach Firing Popup: On

Trade Offer Notification: On

Waiver Notifications: On

Waivers: On

Morale Meetings: On

Coincidental Penalty Time Scale: 6/6

Fog of War: On

Show Individual Attributes: Off

Show Overall: Off

Show Player Role: Off

Show Player Type: Off

Show Potential: Off

Blockbuster Trade Alert: On





Visual Settings

Auto Zoom: Auto

Camera: Dynamic Low

Camera Perspective: Home Up (On the road Alternate)

Player Indicator Size: Off

Off Screen Player Indicator: Off

Fighting Instructions: On (still learning)

Goalie Camera: Low

Puck Highlight: Small

Puck Size: Authentic

Score Clock Overlay: Authentic

Shootout Camera: Dynamic Medium



Sound Settings

Master Volume: 10/10

Coach Calls Volume: 10/10

Arena Announcer Volume: 10/10

Arena Music Volume: 8/10

Commentary Volume: 7/10

Crowd Volume: 10/10

Goal Horn Volume: 10/10

Menu Music Volume: 5/10

SFX Volume: 10/10

Menu Music Type: NHL 21 Soundtrack

Be A Pro Cut-Scene Volume: 10/10



On-Ice Trainer

On-Ice Trainer: Off

[Armor and Sword]

Version 1 is now updated. I hope you enjoy it as much as I am!!!

[Rocket32]

Nice surprise to see you make your way over to the NHL 21 section Armor. I actually picked this game up recently as well. I’m extremely casual with Hockey, to the point I can mostly only name teams and not players, so you’re quite a bit ahead of me. Definitely going to be using your set for this game.

Sometimes it’s fun jumping into a sports game you’re not so familiar with. Not as easy to find little gameplay things to be annoyed about like the Show and Madden, that I’m sure hardcore Hockey fans notice. NHL’s soundtrack is definitely better then Madden’s haha.

[Armor and Sword]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rocket32

Nice surprise to see you make your way over to the NHL 21 section Armor. I actually picked this game up recently as well. I’m extremely casual with Hockey, to the point I can mostly only name teams and not players, so you’re quite a bit ahead of me. Definitely going to be using your set for this game. Sometimes it’s fun jumping into a sports game you’re not so familiar with. Not as easy to find little gameplay things to be annoyed about like the Show and Madden, that I’m sure hardcore Hockey fans notice. NHL’s soundtrack is definitely better then Madden’s haha.

Dude 100% on that. So I know my Panthers roster pretty well but that is about it. I know stars around the league but I am learning a lot about most of the leagues players and grinders.

I love the ignorance I have because I am having so much fun without sweating anything.

I think anyone who is a casual hockey fan but loves video game hockey will love NHL 21 and these sliders are pretty tight.

I have it set up that if I start to eventually get a tad too good vs the cpu all I I will do is up the CPU Learning a click at a time from where it is at now (3) and that will have a decent effect.

The speed, skating, passing and penalty sliders seem really locked in. The game plays at a great even pace. Not twitchy and too fast. Perfect for “Average Joe’s”. I had this same exact approach on NBA2K18 (last 2K I played). With sliders.


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[The EVHL]

Quote: Originally Posted by Armor and Sword

Dude 100% on that. So I know my Panthers roster pretty well but that is about it. I know stars around the league but I am learning a lot about most of the leagues players and grinders. I love the ignorance I have because I am having so much fun without sweating anything. I think anyone who is a casual hockey fan but loves video game hockey will love NHL 21 and these sliders are pretty tight. I have it set up that if I start to eventually get a tad too good vs the cpu all I I will do is up the CPU Learning a click at a time from where it is at now (3) and that will have a decent effect. The speed, skating, passing and penalty sliders seem really locked in. The game plays at a great even pace. Not twitchy and too fast. Perfect for “Average Joe’s”. I had this same exact approach on NBA2K18 (last 2K I played). With sliders. Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

I am definitely not an "average Joe" when it comes to NHL games so I get this feeling about the show, but I am interested in following this thread just to kind of see how the more casual fans take to this game and because you seem to approach games in the same way I do Realistic, but not to a fault. Gameplay reigns supreme.

I think the less you know, the better for all sports games. Just the nature of the beast.

[Armor and Sword]

We are taking our lumps. Currently sitting at 8-7.

Something I notice is whenever I score and have a lead the CPU just ramps up. I need to focus a lot harder with leads. Otherwise they evaporate quickly.


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[bcruise]

Quote: Originally Posted by Armor and Sword

We are taking our lumps. Currently sitting at 8-7. Something I notice is whenever I score and have a lead the CPU just ramps up. I need to focus a lot harder with leads. Otherwise they evaporate quickly. Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

From my experience with this series, that's due to the CPU adjusting its strategy when it falls behind by more than a goal, or when it trails late. I do like that it does that, but like you said it can snowball on you very quickly if you don't match its intensity.

It can be minimized/negated by putting CPU Strategy Adjustment on 0 or 1, but the issue with 0 is that it won't pull the goalie in late/trailing situations like it should. Has to be on at least 1 for that. Having it on 3 can definitely be played and enjoyable, though.

[Sportsfan28]

Quote: Originally Posted by bcruise

From my experience with this series, that's due to the CPU adjusting its strategy when it falls behind by more than a goal, or when it trails late. I do like that it does that, but like you said it can snowball on you very quickly if you don't match its intensity. It can be minimized/negated by putting CPU Strategy Adjustment on 0 or 1, but the issue with 0 is that it won't pull the goalie in late/trailing situations like it should. Has to be on at least 1 for that. Having it on 3 can definitely be played and enjoyable, though.

Putting the strategy adjustment on 2 could be a happy medium.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports