Community Manager
Community ManagerTLDR Ultimately if I feel I'm pretty unrestricted to create the guy I want... and that guy can compete with an EA build, it's a win despite probably having to pay money if I'm not active enough. Extra points if it's balanced well enough that >50% of people are running with the same 2-3 custom/ EA builds. If EA builds still reign supreme over custom builds then this entire post is pointless and everything we've tried to express in the forums was for nothing. Time will tell.
Regardless of spending or not, success primarily comes down to individual skill as well as team chemistry. The clubs I played with in 26 had no problem competing against teams using the paid builds. When we lost, it was because we got outplayed. It wasn't because they had less skill, but used pre-builds. With 27, team play is even more crucial since it's easier to intercept passes as well as poke checks and stick lifts are working better.
As always though, we'll have to give it some time and see what kind of feedback we get. Changes are always possible down the road.
You did mention that once or twice, ultimately that was YOUR experience, an individual experience.. most of the community had varying experiences competing with these builds.. I hope their grievances made it to the ears of the devs at least once or I'm not sure what this is for. No point in developing a custom build if an EA build is just gonna be better. Tbh I just quit playing the game altogether before I deployed as it just felt gross with how the builds were released. I get it.. money! It just seems like we are getting away from fun (making a build you want) and going corporate.. releasing builds every so often that are better than the previous (takes 0 work for devs) and asking for more money. At least just be AS predatory but make it fun so there is a balance.. 🤷♂️ I realize you have to defend the choices this company makes though, so we can pretend teamwork and stuff means attribute advantages mean almost nothing, of course it's litterally what makes HUT money.. of course that also means most of this post is pointless as we could just use teamwork instead of cap increases and stuff.. why bother with builds at all if we have teamwork and skill and teamwork and skill always decides a game? If we are STILL defending the EA builds.. I have a pretty bad feeling about the devs plans for this year. Hopefully Hegseth just keeps us out here so I don't have to worry about it anyway lmao..
Community ManagerNo point in developing a custom build if an EA build is just gonna be better.
Can you give me more details? In your experience, what exactly is happening when someone uses one of the pre-made builds? Are you consistently finding that you can't compete against teams using those builds? They don't guarantee wins by any means. They also don't instantly make someone OP. If a player was struggling to win using the available builds, that really isn't going to change if they switch to a pre-made build. There's so much more to being competitive than raw attribute numbers.
Frankly I'm worried about your mental health.. we have discussed this several times in the last year. Not once have i suggested it makes "you" OP (I believe the buikds themselves in the right hands are OP in comparison to customs) or guarantees wins, you suggest this. This is a strawman (exagerating, distorting, simplifying my stance) you seem to believe it's black and white and that skill and teamwork decide games. If this is the case can you provide any sort of data the backs this up? The builds do NOT guarantee wins. Teamwork and skill ARE more important, but for those of us that have actually played the game enough, we realize that if two teams are similar in skill then attributes can absolutely tilt the scales. Pretending they don't is just gaslighting.. something I've come to expect here unfourtunately.
Of course, based on this continued stance, I can only assume that they will still be the better route. Good to know. I hope people save their money.. unfourtunate.
Community ManagerI'm agreeing with you. There is an advantage when you have 2 teams evenly matched and one has faster players. The point of these builds is to give you an advantage. In my own personal experience, it's been more about how you play rather than higher attributes. The clubs I played with in 26 beat many teams using purchased builds due to team chemistry and skill. I get that it looks scary you'll potentially going up against teams with +2 speed. I'm not denying that at all. Good defense can still stop speedy players. Which goes back to team chemistry. You need to adapt to your opponent's strategies by recognizing threats and defending them.
