I understand why they made the changes, its to prevent people from "cheating" to create all players as Playmakers, Snipers, and Power Forwards to make their chemistry. While it makes the game more fun, it really limits your prospects. I can't tell you how many times I got an Elite Center Playmaker that had crap passing and horrible faceoffs, but unbelievable shot power and accuracy. In the old days, I'd change him to a Sniper Left Wing, so he might be worth while, but I can't now. Also, someone like Morgan Geekie (Go Seattle) who is turning out to be a playmaker not a TWF, can't be changed without resetting my save - which seems silly.
I think another really bad design is the Coaching Staff. I mean I know I am suppose to be the GM, but most of us (I assume) like playing as a coach - setting up lines and watching them flourish. Why don't players start to take on their coach's line preferences? I got a front line of Robertson (86 PLY), Tarasenko (87 SNP) and DuBois (89 PWF) yet they only get a +1 Chem because they don't fit the scheme. Don't players change how they play based on Coaches? Why can't we either see changes in players or be allowed to create our coaches?
Also, what's up with every defensive prospect (generated by the computer) being Pinch/Cycle - It makes Hold the Line a completely worthless, and why aren't my OFD's getting "Shoot" or at least "Balanced?"
In the same line of questioning, where is Carry? I've got a coach with Carry, Shoot, Balanced, Balanced - and I've NEVER gotten a prospect with Carry. Its always Balanced or Dump (and I've never seen a coach with Dump on the first or second line)
I love the game, I'm not going to lie, but there ae some weaknesses - and I know there is so many complaints. Can we just get an answer for some of them? Is hold the line just really super powerful? I'm not asking for ground breaking changes to the game, just an answer as to why things are/aren't done.
@IrishOwlThey seriously removed the option to edit players once you start a franchise mode? So all my prospects are stuck as big bearded/ silver hair clones who I can't tell to start passing more/ play more physically etc.? Who the hell are you cheating, yourself? They're better be an option to let us edit our franchise mode players or else I'm probably getting a refund now if so since all I use is the out of date create a modes/ franchise mode.
Yeah, they removed the ability to edit players within Franchise in NHL 21, I guess it was to make coaching harder...
It was a big request last year to allow us to be able to edit players and obviously a big request again, so hopefully we can see it in a patch this year. They at least allowed us to edit X factors, which seems to be the biggest impact on chemistry this year anyways.
@Beauts90So either I refund the game right now or wait for a patch that can count as a new feature in NHL 23 and lose my money. It feels like they just didn't bother and passed it off as "making it harder" instead of giving us the option to turn it on or off, hell you can't even use the nice big option of hairs on your prospects/ generic players. Glad to know opening virtual packs of cards look nice tho....
@all-Beef-chicken Question, would you rather have complete freedom or the security that EA is "taking care of us."
I mean clearly, they know better then we do.
I don’t understand why EA prevents us from fully customizing players in offline mode. I should be able to change my favorite player or even legends ages in the game. Every gamer has their own personality and preference. I don’t understand why EA ruins the enjoyment of customization. Back in the day it was easy and fun to do. Instead of advancing they strip it and here we are 2022 after a season the game becomes boring.
