Nonexistent. Kinda getting ridiculous at this point. Poke Checks rarely work, stick-lifts are non existent.
maxed out d awareness with quick pick and force passes are going through two defensemen. Shouldn’t have to be right on the guy either to defend them.
Defense is almost unplayable. Shouldn’t have to run truculent to make an impact.
Shouldn’t have to run truculent to make an impact.
I think it works, just needs some major league fine tuning especially for EASHL. Right now it's too inconsistent, and certain x-factors shouldn't be a thing. Wheels, truculence, elite edges, for example should all be done away with and force people to actually rely on SP placement moreso than the OP'd X-Factors but it is what it is.
If they just took the time to tweak and work these things out, it would be so much better. Personally, I think both blue and red x-factors could be taken down by about 50% and they'd still be effective enough.
On that last picture, you running Wheels and/or Elite Edges? Cause those are VERY rare successful pokes against people running those builds.
Seems like majority of clips are vs play.
there are obvious problems with collision animation. It doesn't matter the number of clips you can show where it happens to work that it will deny the fact that most times it doesn't work. the offensive side of the game is more complete in animation, puck retention, and consistency of outcomes than the defensive side.
Stick lifts are obviously not working I would challenge anyone in private or public to show it EA_Aljo . in CHEL you can hear the interaction of sticks lifting each other, but the puck or stick is not affected, you can see +85 stick check players attempting them and miss the puck right Infront of them or outright again not having an effect on the puck. Hitting with warrior present or big rig and hitter with no truculence hitting them is almost irrelevant.
I'm in the camp that truculence should be automatic above 90 checks (I don't get why there is an xfactor), but this is another topic. Yet, the tools for defense are underpowered outside of truculence which is overpowered BUT if you don't use it then warrior, big rig and unstoppable are too potent. Also, with players +85 balance good luck pushing them without 90 check and above 83 strength.
ON another topic this is why I don't understand why add extra "boost" when the reliability of the attributes is not respected. this part is opinion. X-factors should be gated tier 1 85, tier 2 90, tier 3 (highest) 95+ to add variation to IRL players then make wheels for example a combo of Acc + speed average 85 of both is tier 1 for example, truculence checking and strength etc.
anyway, I digress, defense needs some level of buff either to stick checking/lift and or body ups dislodging the puck in open space
Seems like majority of clips are vs play.
Agreed, but the clips still apply. WoC players are also capable of executing these defensive skills.
On that last picture, you running Wheels and/or Elite Edges? Cause those are VERY rare successful pokes against people running those builds.
Sitck em Up, Quick Pick and Elite Edges yep
And he has stick em up, so it makes sense why he poked it, but if he wasn't using that X Factor, I'm willing to bet that doesn't happen, even though he's in perfect position. I've seen it a bunch already. Builds with Wheels/Elite Edges seem to be able to have their way with D-men no matter how good defense they play on them.
I mean, yeah, woc players are capable of executing these defensive skills. When pucks are going through you 80% of the time with max d awareness and quickpick, while you are in perfect position. That’s an issue.
you can even max out poke checking with elite stick em and still not get pokes. What is the purpose of that trait if it won’t even help you get more pokes. I get more pokes when my stick checking attributes and significantly lower.
I strongly recommend you playing defense against competent level players and report back with clips.
You can’t be saying “yup, defense is in a good spot.” Something is clearly off on the defensive side of the game, hence the multiple threats saying the same exact thing.
I’m confident that EA will solve this right away. Let’s make defense great again. Everything else I think is great.
When pucks are going through you 80% of the time with max d awareness and quickpick, while you are in perfect position. That’s an issue.
Can you show a video of this?
you can even max out poke checking with elite stick em and still not get pokes
Because poke checking is not entirely dependent on attribute rating. It's a skill-based mechanic.
I strongly recommend you playing defense against competent level players and report back with clips.
Oh get out of here with that nonsense. I'm a top 100 OVP player. I'd gladly take you to school if that's what you want.
You can’t be saying “yup, defense is in a good spot.” Something is clearly off on the defensive side of the game, hence the multiple threats saying the same exact thing.
Multiple people can be wrong about their own skill level.
Defense is a skill. Some people are good at it, others just need to adapt to what the game expects of you.
Defense is very, very unforgiving. The whole game is very unforgiving, honestly, for anybody trying to play something resembling actual hockey. You make your breakout pass and then get thugged five full seconds after you get rid of it by some 5'9 plug with truculence on. Wheels is so overtuned that the puck is already coming back your way while you're still getting up. Elite Edges has people just skating in tight circles in the corner waiting for the cross-crease pass that has become an inescapable, almost mental illness-level metagame in EANHL. It's boring, and it rewards chintzy exploit play over good positional hockey.
It's always been easier to play forward than defense, and I know they're appeasing backwards hats pajama pants kids just like they always do. I'm old now, but it seems like not much has changed in the decade-plus since I last logged into one of these boards.
Side note, KidShowtime1867 : were you at EA Community Day in Burnaby in 2012? Did we have some drinks at Joey Burrard?
Community Manager
