XP SEASON REWARD

There are 2 things that you are not taking into account:

1. It's true that you can only max out one player at a time with the tokens from the XP path, but when you max out a player, it's not like you are permanently locked with that player. You can downgrade that player and get all of the tokens back and upgrade another player. If you want, you can try out all 5 players at the maximum overall to see which one of them you like the most. You just can't have all of them maxed out at the same time.

2. You can trade in XP collectibles for XP tokens through sets. There are 140 collectibles in the XP path, which means that you can actually get enough tokens to max out 2 players and have a third player at one lower than the maximum overall.

But maybe instead of 5 choice packs at different tiers we could get all 5 players in a pack at the start of the XP path since those players are BND so we can't use them in sets and we can't upgrade them without progressing on the XP path anyway.

Generally speaking, I don't hate the XP path, but there is room for improvement for sure. I think the main positive thing about the XP path is that we get the rewards instantly upon reaching a new tier, whereas in the old system we needed to wait until a specific day of the week to get the rewards. I don't remember you mentioning this in any of your post.

What I would do is keep the XP path (it can be improved though) and bring back the old weekly reward system. I mean why couldn't we have both of those 2 things? If something should be removed, I think it's the weekly "win x games" objectives for SB and Rivals/HC. I believe those objectives were added to the game to make up for removing the old weekly reward system, and I think it would be nice to see the return of the old system in NHL 26 instead of those objectives.

You are missing my point. Yeah you can interchange those 5 players whenever you feel the need too. But why would you want too. The rating of the card is limited. And with each passing week, new sets of higher rated cards are thrust onto the market. Making these cards redundant. You have too almost complete the whole 50 level marathon to attain those 15 tokens. And then the next season comes up with....yeah 5 more 89 cards, and 15 tokens too use. These cards are now as useless as the 89 and 90 ones. Because their ratings have been surpassed. But let the perpetual happening of these same rated cards continue. Just like the acct bnd cards. Only good if you use them. Cant do anything with them if you don't. As for the rewards. You do realise that each season is a carbon copy of the previous XP One. Same rewards. 24s rewards were weekly, but they were a combination of players and coins. Also. There was an incentive to play for. 3 elite tiers. Or climbing up the top 100 board. With this XP format. Everyone arrives at the same destination. The goal. Too attain the 1 card they toss into the rewards. Wow. Bring back the 24 version. This reward version......sucks.

You have too almost complete the whole 50 level marathon to attain those 15 tokens.

Yes, but you are still not saying anything about trading in tokens for collectibles. With that method you can max out a player upon reaching tier 21, which means that you need to complete exactly one third of the way to tier 50 in XP points, so it's much earlier than if you only use the tokens from from the XP path. I'm not doing that myself, but it is technically possible.

Anyway, I agree with you that the XP path needs improvement. Even though I talked about interchanging the players and trading in collectibles for tokens, I didn't mean that everything is fine and nothing should be changed. Those are just things that I thought were worth mentioning in this discussion. And as I said, I think it would be nice to get all 5 players at the same time at the start of the XP path instead of getting a choice pack at 5 different tiers.

I don't think the cards are immediately redundant at the start of the next XP season though. And just because they are redundant for you doesn't mean they are redundant for everyone else as well. But I agree that we should be able to max out a player at an earlier point on the XP path than a few tiers before the ultimate reward even without trading in collectibles for tokens.

But what are your thoughts on having both the XP path (with some improvements) and the old weekly reward system? Would you rather have both of them or only the old system?

Personally. I do agree with you on a few points regarding this new XP format. But my biggest complaint is the lack of incentive it presents. If you take offline as the example here. What is the goal of this format. It gives you a repetitious XP season after XP season. The only goal in this is. The card that is attainable. Like I stated in my previous quip. At least in 24, you had a goal to try to achieve. A barometer so to speak of gauging how well your skill set was doing. Tiers to climb. Top 100. I don't see the relevancy in a format that rewards you with the same thing over and over again. I know you said you had a problem with having to wait a week to be rewarded for your efforts. Look at it from the other side. You finish this new format in less than tbe alloted time, and you are left with what? Nothing to play for, but to wait till the next season is installed. Yeah I think EA should have left the 24 reward format in place, and built around it, rather than replacing it. In closing. I would like to extend my appreciation for your feedback regarding this post. The interchanging of thoughts and ideas is what this forum should be about. 

I know you said you had a problem with having to wait a week to be rewarded for your efforts.

I didn't say it was a problem. I wanted to mention it as a positive thing about the XP path, not as a negative thing about the old weekly reward system. As i said, I would gladly take the old system back instead of the weekly "win x games" objectives.

Look at it from the other side. You finish this new format in less than tbe alloted time, and you are left with what? Nothing to play for, but to wait till the next season is installed.

Yes, I totally agree. And the fact that EA is letting us carry over unused XP from objectives to the next season makes it even worse. This is definitely one thing about the XP path that needs to be fixed/improved.

That being said, EA actually made some kind of an improvement as the current season has more bonus tiers than the previous ones. So at least EA did something about this issue. But I'm pretty sure it's not enough and there will still be people who end up with unused XP at the end of the season. I think the bonus tiers should be unlimited.

Anyway, I understand that you want the old weekly reward system back, but I'm not sure why you want the XP path to be removed when we could have both the XP path and the old system. I don't think it has to be only one or the other.

I did say. They should have left the 24 format in place and built around it. Whatever you think is a positive to this XP one. It could be introduced with minimal changes to the previous one. I'm not dead against deleting the whole concept. Its the element of no incentive that makes this XP path less enthusiastic to play. Besides just playing for the sake of playing. What drives you to want to continue. Knowing all the rewards are repeated. And no way of actually judging any meaningful progression. What else is there. My overall gripe about this format. Is just that. Nothing to actually set a goal to play for. In 24 I had the top 100 to try to elevate up on. Now......?

I did say. They should have left the 24 format in place and built around it.

Yeah you did say that, but it seems like I misunderstood it at first. But I think I understand it now, and I agree with you. Thanks for the clarification.

Good texting with you.

Wanted to add to this conversation.  I’ve played this game since the OG version where a Thomas sandstorm (#7 LA kings winger) could take a slapshot from the offensive circle and score nearly every time/ the high speed NHL Euro version with national teams but can’t recall which was released first and just tried HUT for the first time this year. With no other season of HUT for me to compare it to I gotta say I love it this year. You both make great points that would improve quality of life in game for me. I’m hoping that next year they will put more into HUT as I’m imagining this year the release of college football again was probably top priority. Also, bringing back the PC version of this game would make me very happy. I kinda think that the packs are way too expensive in relation to the coins you can earn without actual money. These ingame purchases are making me feel like they’re applying a mobile game structure to a 35 year and counting game just to get cash. Doing that just seems wrong as a supporter of this game since the sega genesis days. Sad thing is I’d probably preorder NHL26 after making this post if it was an option and now HUT (absolutely loving it) will steer me right at the more expensive version 100%. Not a spender at all either currently and still have my 500 green tokens from purchasing the game.

I do love the pack openings though. It’s a bit of a rush and I’d gladly pay $10 a month or so for the ability to get more packs and access to great players with the option of canceling it if I decide not to play. That would actually convince me to pay more. The exchange rate on cash per tokens is horrendous on random things that you hope appear in a pack, certain packs that without a YouTube video I wouldn’t know to buy.