Players Backing Out

MasterB89 wrote:

to them (new players to NHL games) they don't see the game offering more then that one single experience and EA NHL being fully okay with this fact, making them lose interest and seeing that its really the only way you should try to score in the game and not trying to learn how to score more ways. Its the perception that is given that is the real issue here. 

If players are only seeing one-timers scored against them - it's because they're playing defense in a way that allows their opponents to score that goal at will. That's not a fault of the game. 

Most 'new' players just frantically switch defenders they're controlling, mashing poke check and body check while trying to chase down a puck carrier. These players need to learn how to play actual defense. 

And if theses 'new' players are attempting to play a mode that's inhabited by users who've literally been playing this game for 30 years, then they have a very disillusioned perspective of their skill-level and it's no wonder they would be frustrated trying to learn how to play a game in its most competitive game modes. 

"Just like real hockey, there's more than one way to score." There is but 98% of games matched with max level or close to that level there was no other skill but one-tee being used (so you are defending the same and only play over and over). 

If they are still using the same play over and over again and you're constantly defending it so it's not successful, you've taken away their ability to score. Yes, this can get frustrating. Although, I take a certain amount of pleasure in shutting down someone using the same move repeatedly. You also see less of this as you climb the ranks as more skilled players know how to score with more than D to D one Ts.

Max level isn't really an indicator of skill. Besides the glitch that occurred causing everyone to gain more exp than they should have, all you need to do is play a lot to hi max level. You would think this would make someone higher skilled. That's not always the case though. There are tons of very skilled players that are not max level just like there are max level players that aren't as good as you'd think they'd be.

I have seem many players just hold LT down and skate side to side and back and forth and side slide through players - Yes, you can poke check but your likelihood to get the puck from this and not the LT player getting the puck back was less then 25%. 

25% seems like an arbitrary number. There are some that would have a much higher success rate against the LT exploit. You also can get your body in the way.

"Elite Edges was removed to make for a more even playing field. This was before the LT exploit was discovered." - What makes this one worse then the others? Please provide more details on this. 

Elite Edges was used by nearly everyone. Removing it means having more variety to builds. I'm not saying it's worst than others. Again, this was before the LT exploit. 

We played with club team off cause those games were even more non exciting and boring when we did go up against a club team.

You could always enable club games. I personally will only play club games when I'm doing drop-ins as the quality of teammates is normally a lot better.

I am usually a solely offline player and really enjoy the experience that is offered. I have played over 350 games in my offline franchise mode, but after playing 40+ games or so online in CHEL I can fully understand why the player base is slow low. I found the game in that mode more of a chore then fun and even found myself lost interest in wanting to playing NHL 25. 

I only play online. Offline play is fantastic for many people. Some of us like the level competition that comes from playing against human opponents. It's a very different game that relies more on skill than manipulating AI opponents.

I think the difference in our view of the gameplay is that you see it as a veteran player to CHEL - you understand and are willing to bend to how the game wants you to play and not just to play the game - whereas I saw it from new players or casual player who just wanted to get on and play some hockey... the issue is that to a degree CHEL doesn't offer that. 

My club doesn't bend to how the game wants us to play. None of us LT, none of us abuse D to D one Ts. We take advantage of what our opponents give us. We pay attention to how they play and build a strategy around it. We're vocal, we call out their tendencies, we set up plays. If you're leaving the points open all the time or you're letting us skate into the slot, you bet we're gonna go for those.  Just like a real team would.  The same goes for a good rebound or tip opportunity. Because, again, there's more than one way to score.

First off I want to state that this is CHEL only do the need to frantically change is irrelevant. Would be nice to stay at the topic at hand please. 

Secondly, I understand myself on how to defend it, I was teaching my nephew and his friends (new players to NHL) about the game and how it works. The fault of the game is that Green Tee mixed with One tee (as one example - LT spam is another) puts a premise on the game for High skill players to only exploit for wins, where they wanted to enjoy playing hockey (there was fun game they were matched up with lower tier players who played actual hockey). 

"And if theses 'new' players are attempting to play a mode that's inhabited by users who've literally been playing this game for 30 years, then they have a very disillusioned perspective of their skill-level and it's no wonder they would be frustrated trying to learn how to play a game in its most competitive game modes. "

Lastly, If you the mentality of the NHL community is based on then there is no wonder why the player counts are so slow. This negative mentality is harmful to any game let alone NHL. Whereas, I was trying to voice an option based on my experience of trying to help and grow the NHL 25/26 community and was directing their thoughts and options of a new player trying to play any game mode in CHEL. 

I understand what you are saying and get that its more a positional thing which I did try to teach them along with changing strategies. It was more me trying to relay the options of the new player experience when trying to play CHEL. 

When we enabled clubs we found more teams where it was only exploits. That was why we turned it off in the first place. Maybe your team plays more on skill but that is not a large part of the NHL community that we saw. 

I do agree that max level doesn't always determine skill cause we beat teams that had players like that. Its more the fact that the lack of variety for some teams/players you play against sucks the fun out of the game (not yours).  

I'm not the highest knowledge on the in's and out's but if the mindset of the community is what was stated in the above comment then how is EA NHL trying to bring in a younger audience? That was basically what I have meant from the start. Due to factors like no matchmaking and OP builds, One-tee + green Tee, the LT exploit it shows a new player that the experience you are offering is not worth it for them to play or buying the game. 

Honestly, this “younger audience” needs to grow up a bit. Use adversity to grow rather than constantly complaining it’s not fair. Veterans, like myself,  have earned our strips. Maybe try making friends with a few vets and putting your time in. Ive lost count of the number of level 1 noobs I’ve taken in and shown how to compete. As club regulars have moved on we’ve replaced them with new rookie players. It’s one of the things I love about this franchise. It’s not a spoon fed, laid back experience. Rather, it’s an extremely competitive game that rewards time investment and knowledge. If you really give it a try, take your lumps, & try to learn from each game…you’ll realize how rewarding of an experience it is. Adding SBMM would literally take away everything that makes this game special. You will never grow as a player without playing against advanced competition.