Anybody playing EHM '07????

[RomaGoth]

Does anyone here play EHM 2007? I bought it last year but didn't really play it much. I recently started it up again and controlled my fav team, the Detroit Red Wings. After a few weeks into the season however, my record was only 4-4-1. Yes, it wasn't very far into the season. And yes, I don't expect to win every game. But c'mon, Detroit rocks in hockey right now, and even last year they were damn good. All of my games were really close, I was only scoring 2-3 goals a game, and I was being badly outshot every game. I am confused as to why this is happening. The Wings are just too good for this to happen. I expect to lose some games, but I should be dominating most teams I am playing against and that is not happening. I never saw this problem in the previous version of this game. Does anyone have any suggestions or advice in how to improve my team performance? Preferably from people who actually play the game and are offering serious comments, but smart-ass comments are always welcome!

Thanks in advance!!

[rkmsuf]

can't you just upgrade your armor and get some power ups?

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

can't you just upgrade your armor and get some power ups?

I wish.

[rkmsuf]

Time travel back to the 80s and get Gretzky? I'm assuming time travel is possible in that game.

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

Time travel back to the 80s and get Gretzky? I'm assuming time travel is possible in that game.

Unfortunately it is not. But if it was, I would not get crybaby Gretzky. Yzerman or Lemieux or Howe instead.

[Pumpy Tudors]

RomaGoth, are you coaching the team yourself, or are you letting the CPU do all the coaching?

[scooter]

I play the game, but I always play in the Canadian Major Juniors. (No salary cap to deal with and high turnover of players)

There are a number of things that could be causing your problems, but it sounds like scoring is the main one. Are you coaching the games yourself or are you letting the AI handle it? I always let the AI do it as I like to play GM only (I do set my lines though). Line combinations are important. Have you been tinkering with them constantly or are you just putting them out there and letting them go at it? If you need some scoring, you may try changing the lines a little (spread your top scorers over two lines) and leaving it that way for a handful of games. If you tinker too much though, your players will lose any chemistry they may have with one another and you're back to square one.

That's just one area. It could be team moral, your power play, too many new players, poor coaches, a goalie slump, etc. There's usually always something to fix. That's what makes this game so great

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

RomaGoth, are you coaching the team yourself, or are you letting the CPU do all the coaching?

I have been setting the lines and tactics but I sim the games.

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by scooter

I play the game, but I always play in the Canadian Major Juniors. (No salary cap to deal with and high turnover of players)

There are a number of things that could be causing your problems, but it sounds like scoring is the main one. Are you coaching the games yourself or are you letting the AI handle it? I always let the AI do it as I like to play GM only (I do set my lines though). Line combinations are important. Have you been tinkering with them constantly or are you just putting them out there and letting them go at it? If you need some scoring, you may try changing the lines a little (spread your top scorers over two lines) and leaving it that way for a handful of games. If you tinker too much though, your players will lose any chemistry they may have with one another and you're back to square one.

That's just one area. It could be team moral, your power play, too many new players, poor coaches, a goalie slump, etc. There's usually always something to fix. That's what makes this game so great

Scoring is a huge concern for me, and I am not sure why. I have at least 3 players that put up great offensive numbers (Zetterberg, Datsyuk, and Lidstrom), yet the output is horrible. For example, after 8 games, Zetterberg had NO points, and Datsyuk only had 1. Anybody who knows anything about hockey, especially the last couple of years, knows that Zetterberg is one of the top 5 players in the NHL. In EHM, he is not rated that great and it is frustrating. Besides the scoring problems, I am being horribly outshot nearly every game. I have kept Zetterberg and Datsyuk together on a line the entire time (just like in real life) but it hasn't helped offensively at all.

Like you, I enjoy being the GM more than the coach, as I don't have the free time to sit and actually coach a game for an hour or more. So, I set the lines, tactics, and general gameplans and then I sim the games. It is frustrating to watch a great team struggle like they are a bottom-feeder. I even fired the coach (Mike Babcock) and won the next game but lost 2 after that. It is a great game, but I never had this problem in EHM 2005 with the Wings. Maybe I just need to give it more time...?

[rkmsuf]

can you change the elasticity of the puck? that might help.

[Apathetic Lurker]

I dont have my real pc here with the game, but as far as I recall you need to tinker with tempo, lines and such to get a solid amount of goals. I usually use barrage for mine. sure i give up bunches but my Sabres or Blue Jacket dynasties score a ton. Don't know the ratings for Detroits defenders, but make sure you get the best ones in and make sure they are NOT playing the wrong side! That can kill you as the players need to "learn" their new sides. Tried it once putting all my players(not goalie) on the wrong side in preseason. Never seen the Blackhawks club any team so bad. Something like 9-0 by the end of the 2nd.

[Apathetic Lurker]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

can you change the elasticity of the puck? that might help.

Behave.... EHM has a real programmer, not Daivd

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by Apathetic Lurker

I dont have my real pc here with the game, but as far as I recall you need to tinker with tempo, lines and such to get a solid amount of goals. I usually use barrage for mine. sure i give up bunches but my Sabres or Blue Jacket dynasties score a ton. Don't know the ratings for Detroits defenders, but make sure you get the best ones in and make sure they are NOT playing the wrong side! That can kill you as the players need to "learn" their new sides. Tried it once putting all my players(not goalie) on the wrong side in preseason. Never seen the Blackhawks club any team so bad. Something like 9-0 by the end of the 2nd.

Thanks for the advice.

[sachmo71]

Try changing the lines and switching some guys around. Make sure each line has at least *some* toughness, otherwise you will get shut down. Also, make sure you have your faceoff and playmaker selected for each line. Try digging down into the personal tactics of each player and see if they are doing what you want. Make sure your playmakers are carrying the puck.

Here is a good site for some reference material...
http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/portal.php

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by sachmo71

Try changing the lines and switching some guys around. Make sure each line has at least *some* toughness, otherwise you will get shut down. Also, make sure you have your faceoff and playmaker selected for each line. Try digging down into the personal tactics of each player and see if they are doing what you want. Make sure your playmakers are carrying the puck.

Here is a good site for some reference material...
http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/portal.php

Thanx