Ice Q
So what happened with ice q? I don't really play many game modes. Yet I don't really see it being shown off at all. Did I miss something? What was it's point? I am just curious not hating. Just gene...
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I'm old enough to remember "Blast Processing" for Sega Genesis so I take Ice-Q with a grain of salt. It does seem that the AI is better at leading you on the rush and hitting you with a pass. I also see them in better spots to receive a back door pass. With regards to goalies, they do flop to a lesser degree than NHL 25 (admittedly very low bar). That said, it feels like defensive AI is untouched. They will still allow themselves to be raced around with no attempt at poke or hit.
They will still allow themselves to be raced around with no attempt at poke or hit.
I think this is by design, to be honest. In 1V1 modes like HUT and OVP, it was clear EA intended for people to learn that you need to control your D and you need to make the switch from controlling a forechecker to the D-man quicker than previous years.
However, in a mode like WoC, sometimes teams don't/can't find a human D and need to lean on the CPU. When you combine the muted nature of the defence with things like Wheels and people maxing SPD and ACC, CPU D is essentially useless.
That said, we can't have people relying on CPU-D. 'Skill-Zoning' was the entire reason for introducing muted CPU defenders. But EA needs to find a balance here. Allow the D to at least keep pace with incoming forwards and use their skill stick to slow the puck carrier and allow the human forwards to backcheck.
Of course, CPU-D don't fall victim to being burned if the team in front of them limits straight-line speed of the opponent, not allowing them a clear unobstructed path to generating the speed required but I digress
They need to make different AI slider sets for each mode. D men shouldn't be getting walked on WoC, it just rewards all the players who use the EA pre builds with red wheels and other x factors that go over the 100 AP limit.
D men shouldn't be getting walked on WoC,
Like I always say, you can mitigate your CPU D being walked in WoC by not allowing your opponent to generate straight-line speed through the neutral zone. Typically, clubs playing with CPU D think it's a bailout and are often 3-high in the o-zone, leaving the opponent free and clear to generate the speed through the neutral zone to burn by a CPU D.
I think the intention here by EA is to force the humans to play defensively if they don't want to/can't find humans to play D. The last thing EA wants is the CPU D to act as a bailout mechanic. That's been the trending theme in EA's games over the last few years for sure - a more active approach to defending yields the best results.
Exactly!
I play 6’s to play with humans not AI. I don’t want to play a team of 3 human forwards with AI D that bails them out. If the AI D is too good then the forwards basically let them do all the defensive work so they can purely focus on offence. Having only one AI D sucks but having two of them they can sometimes be a force back there.
For 6’s drop ins I’d like to see EA make the minimum amount of humans 5. If an individual or two/three buddies can’t find a couple more humans to make it at least 5 then that’s their problem. When I play with friends we’d rather not play those opponents of 2-3 humans. People want to play humans not AI. That’s the whole purpose of WOC!
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