NCAA Football 14 News Post

NCAA Football 14: Breaking Down the Recruiting Skill Tree

10:58 AM - July 9, 2013 by RaychelSnr

This is a guest post from forum user JLoco11. Be sure to check him out on his arena page here on OS.

There is no true right or wrong way to fill out your coaching skills. Some of you will want game management if you have a high ranked coach. Some will start at the bottom of the skill tree and work your way up. This is a mini-guide on the Recruiting Tree only from level 1. This is not a Game Management guide.

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# 1 DetroitStyle @ 07/09/13 11:41 AM

Nice write up. I would want to choose slowest. I mean, there's only so many skills and it would feel dumb to max everything out after your third or fourth year. Also I don't think you lose skill points or unlocks so you basically reach max level and then are done.

# 2 Dogslax41 @ 07/09/13 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DetroitStyle


	Nice write up. I would want to choose slowest. I mean, there's only so many skills and it would feel dumb to max everything out after your third or fourth year. Also I don't think you lose skill points or unlocks so you basically reach max level and then are done.

I am playing slowest on my Hawaii dynasty and just hit level 2 in my fifth game of the season with a 3-2 record. Seems like the speed I want to progress, given if I stay just about 500 and play like I have I would expect to finish 10 years as an average to above average coach. If I can coach my way to better teams, stats and performance will go up and so will my levels per season. The skill tree has some major boots in it and I would like to make sure I feel like I earn them rathen than finish one season with 9 wins at Hawaii and have half my skills unlocked.

# 3 DetroitStyle @ 07/09/13 11:58 AM

That's exactly how I feel. It needs to feel organic kind of like CH2K8 where it would take years and tons of success to max out all the coach attributes. I really don't want it to feel like a gimmick where you max everything out within a couple years and then dominate.

# 4 jmik58 @ 07/09/13 11:59 AM

Great job on this Loco ... I think I want to go with the slowest setting. My goal is to build a juggernaut, but once I get there I get tired of it.

# 5 Nick_Wilhite @ 07/09/13 01:09 PM

Great guide, great write up, great everything. Helpful in countless ways. Thanks so much!

# 6 Executor @ 07/09/13 01:17 PM

When you set a skill tree progression to a certain level, will CPU coaches progress at the same rate too? E.g. when I set it on slow, do the CPU coaches progress on "slow" as well?

# 7 swimfunk @ 07/09/13 01:30 PM

Has anyone found a website for Online Dynasty? I can't find one.

# 8 BadAssHskr @ 07/09/13 01:40 PM

you guys choosing slowest, a fine idea i might add, how many dynasty games are you playing per week?

i'm just curious, my schedule is generally about 1, 8 min. quarter a night. may or may not play on the weekend due to recruiting which i like to do from my pc when we are slow at work.

anyhow, figure 5 games a week max. i'd love to choose slowest, but i may never get there at my game playing rate. i guess the new recruiting system may alter what i've become accustomed to, but just trying to feel it out.

# 9 JLoco11 @ 07/09/13 04:06 PM

You will notice that you get XP for a number of things in the game. Breaking school records, breaking NCAA records, win streaks, rival wins, etc.

Pretty much anything you do including recruiting, earns coach XP. Some as little as 10 points (kneel in the 4th quarter with less than a minute left) to winning the national championship (1,000 XP).

Out of curiosity, I set a coach at max level 54. The XP requirement to go from level 53 to 54 on normal was 17,000.

With each level, the XP requirement to advance increases. Low levels = less XP required. Highest levels = Much higher levels of XP required.

I honestly suggest simming a few dynasty seasons to see what you prefer. Then you will get an idea of the progression

# 10 DTucker06 @ 07/16/13 11:43 AM

Question on the Skill Tree Progression. Does the commissioner choose the speed or does each coach decide his own speed?

# 11 Timeetyo @ 07/16/13 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BadAssHskr


	you guys choosing slowest, a fine idea i might add, how many dynasty games are you playing per week? i'm just curious, my schedule is generally about 1, 8 min. quarter a night. may or may not play on the weekend due to recruiting which i like to do from my pc when we are slow at work. anyhow, figure 5 games a week max. i'd love to choose slowest, but i may never get there at my game playing rate. i guess the new recruiting system may alter what i've become accustomed to, but just trying to feel it out.

Here is some perspective for you.

I'm on slowest and have seen the following:
Year 1 ended at 3.75
Year 2 ended at 7ish
Year 3 ended at 9.5
Mid year 4 currently at lvl 10

I seem to be getting approximately 10K XP / season although this varies greatly on how well I play (well meaning hitting xp goals, not necessarily winning) and the recruits I sign. It seems to be going up slightly as my team gets better (was 1* GA State, now 3*).

Going from 10-11 was ~11k (from memory) so I am now into about a level a season and just into the 3rd tier of 1 tree but looking at being a LONG way off from the insta commits (I'm guessing 10-15 years).

Granted I haven't tested this, but based on others posts it is x2 for normal > slow and x4 for normal > slowest. 53-54 is 17k XP. That'd only be 1.5 seasons on normal, ~3 for slow, and ~68k or ~7 seasons for slowest. Yikes!

Needless to say, when I start up my OD in a bit it won't be on slowest. I am ok with my choice for slowest on my offline dynasty as I normally go deeeeep into it and this gives me some motivation to keep it going, but if you aren't planning on playing ~20+ seasons i'd stay away from slowest. Without knowing the increments it'd probably be 50+ seasons to max out on slowest. Although maybe if you are winning in the big leagues you'll be progressing faster (+100 sign 5*, +1000 win NCG, etc)

# 12 The JareBear @ 07/16/13 12:31 PM

I think slowest is best for offline, you have to work to be Bowden, it makes sense.

OD wise, when you're talking 12 seasons is a lot for even active leagues, I'd say slow or maybe normal to make everyone happy, but probably slow.

# 13 Timeetyo @ 07/16/13 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timeetyo


	Here is some perspective for you. I'm on slowest and have seen the following: Year 1 ended at 3.75 Year 2 ended at 7ish Year 3 ended at 9.5 Mid year 4 currently at lvl 10 I seem to be getting approximately 10K XP / season although this varies greatly on how well I play (well meaning hitting xp goals, not necessarily winning) and the recruits I sign. It seems to be going up slightly as my team gets better (was 1* GA State, now 3). Going from 10-11 was ~11k (from memory) so I am now into about a level a season and just into the 3rd tier of 1 tree but looking at being a LONG way off from the insta commits (I'm guessing 10-15 years). Granted I haven't tested this, but based on others posts it is x2 for normal > slow and x4 for normal > slowest. 53-54 is 17k XP. That'd only be 1.5 seasons on normal, ~3 for slow, and ~68k or ~7 seasons for slowest. Yikes! Needless to say, when I start up my OD in a bit it won't be on slowest. I am ok with my choice for slowest on my offline dynasty as I normally go deeeeep into it and this gives me some motivation to keep it going, but if you aren't planning on playing ~20+ seasons i'd stay away from slowest. Without knowing the increments it'd probably be 50+ seasons to max out on slowest. Although maybe if you are winning in the big leagues you'll be progressing faster (+100 sign 5, +1000 win NCG, etc)

I forgot to add - if you are playing as a coordinator expect this to be way slower. I am lvl 10 and the OC who started with me (and my offense does VERY well) just hit lvl 4.

# 14 gameface1324 @ 07/25/13 09:51 AM

Good guide, but the stat you stated on speed of progression isn't right. I dont think you considered later levels taking longer to level up. 15-20 levels a season on Normal? No. We are in week 5 of our current dynasty and no one is above level 4. Its only going to slow down. I figure everyone will be roughly level 8 by seasons end

# 15 WeFireThoseCannons @ 07/31/13 05:05 PM

Normal is like lvl 8. I have done about 3 different dynasties to see I start as oc or dc at 1 star schools didn't play but simmed. You can get to that level basically off recruiting and winning 6 games. Maybe 10-15 is if you go to a big school as a oc or dc they have more talent and win more games which can give more xp. I think i will just do slow, since normal can got fast once you are at a top school and slowest may take forever.

# 16 JLoco11 @ 07/31/13 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gameface1324


	Good guide, but the stat you stated on speed of progression isn't right. I dont think you considered later levels taking longer to level up. 15-20 levels a season on Normal? No. We are in week 5 of our current dynasty and no one is above level 4. Its only going to slow down. I figure everyone will be roughly level 8 by seasons end

For year 1, starting at level 1, you'll hit all the year end bonuses.

You get bonuses for recruiting classes, landing top recruits, mid level recruits. You get bonuses for winning streaks, bowl games, championship games, players getting drafted, records being broken etc.

By the end of the year just based on gameplay, you will have 9-10 levels. But when you add in all the random XP you earn for things you can't imagine earn XP, you will get those extra levels. Winning the BCS alone is 5,000XP, which would be a level or 2 on it's own.

# 17 Duggy @ 08/01/13 06:57 AM

I was locked out by a recruit but out of all the teams had the most bonus points from pipelines and such.

I figured if i could get back into battle for him i could win so i used a key on him after that i gained about
1000 points and only was 200 away from his 1st choice.

# 18 ecfivester @ 08/13/13 04:01 PM

Locksmith seems to give you a bonus not just unlock the recruit. It can quite literally catapult you into to top spot but more like the 2nd or third spot, and leave you in great position to win the recruit. It is very valuable, as it allows the user to focus on other recruits and use the locksmith after potentially securing other recruits. (albeit you must stay within 2,000 points anyways).

I reccomend using this if you are within 1,400 points. or just outside the lock off.

# 19 thelasthurtknee @ 08/13/13 04:18 PM

im on slowest, in my 5th season as a O coordinator and im level 7. been to a bowl each year but only won 1. have won atleast 10 games a year with 11 being the most. my job offers after year one at army were weak. but i left for the Utah State O coordinator job. fullfilled my 3 year contract and was offered the Texas OC job after 2nd year at USU (3rd overall) but after that it was pretty bad schools. after this last season i got offered a few HC jobs that werent sunbelt for once but only 1 BCS team and that was 2-10 Duke. Hawaii was the only HC job that wasnt mac or sunbelt that had a winning record and wanted me as headcoach. Im at Duke now and i need 10,000 to get to level 8 and im getting around 1500 a game.

# 20 shifty1 @ 02/04/14 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecfivester


	Locksmith seems to give you a bonus not just unlock the recruit. It can quite literally catapult you into to top spot but more like the 2nd or third spot, and leave you in great position to win the recruit. It is very valuable, as it allows the user to focus on other recruits and use the locksmith after potentially securing other recruits. (albeit you must stay within 2,000 points anyways). I reccomend using this if you are within 1,400 points. or just outside the lock off.

Whoa, glad I read this! I never thought unlocking a guy would ALSO trigger a bump up on his list and increased interest! And letting specs stay locked while you go after others and then unlock him before the 2K cut-off... That's some next level stuff, can't wait to test it out

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