50(ish) Threshold-based Slider Set for NCAA 14

[JoshC1977]

Re: 50(ish) Threshold-based Slider Set for NCAA 14

These have worked. Great for my CPU v CPU dynasty. I'm on year 4 at Cincy (been here from the start. We've averaged 10 wins a year... but there's still a distinct difference in quality when I play against power 5 teams. Except the one time we upset Ohio state, I've lost to Kansas st, Penn state, Michigan. Played Penn state in a bowl game... was embarrassed by like 30 lol.

Cool stuff. Averaging 10 wins with a solid mid-major like Cincy is quite realistic (Ohio is a good pipeline state for sure). But, glad to hear that those major schools still give you trouble...totally on-point.

You thinking of making a conference switch at some point?

[unctarheel19]

Re: 50(ish) Threshold-based Slider Set for NCAA 14

Hadn't really considered it. Thought about leaving cincy for the right power 5 job.

Update- so currently I thought this year would be a bit more of a struggle. Graduated a big core of my team... a lot of new starters. We started out with a 16-13 win vs Utah State and I thought to myself.... oh boy this could be a nightmare lol. But each week our offense has gotten a lot better. I've somehow managed to get to #2 in the nation at 4-0 (largely due to the fact I beat a semi Downs michigan team on the road, and destroyed the softer teams on my schedule). Surely I thought our current game at SMU would be relatively comfortable right? Wrong lol. We were down 30-8 at halftime! What!? Lmao. Currently it's 30-18 with 7 left in the 4th. But wow did I take a big L lol

[unctarheel19]

Re: 50(ish) Threshold-based Slider Set for NCAA 14

God I can't stop navy right now. End of 1, 7-0 Navy. Doesn't seem bad... look at the TOP, 7:42 for Navy, 1:18 for me (Cincy)... 9 minute qtr. lol

[UravenzownU]

Re: 50(ish) Threshold-based Slider Set for NCAA 14

Anyone still running with these?

[JoshC1977]

Re: 50(ish) Threshold-based Slider Set for NCAA 14

Oh..I'm sure some people are.

Guessing that most people are pretty set on sliders for this game...it tends to be the first forum to die for older games.

As for me, I still like these a lot. But, I have been looking at some very different approaches based on what I have learned about this game (including looking at All American as a very real option). Not sure any of it will pan-out, but who knows.

[VTHokie525]

Re: 50(ish) Threshold-based Slider Set for NCAA 14

I've been using these for a little while but I lowered the CPU running blocking because I was getting destroyed on the ground by mediocre teams. Will it affect anything if I turn off injuries in y dynasty?

[Sgt.Slaughter]

Re: 50(ish) Threshold-based Slider Set for NCAA 14

Everybody using the sliders from the 1st page? Want to make sure the most up-to-date version is not in the middle of these 95 pages.

[JoshC1977]

Re: 50(ish) Threshold-based Slider Set for NCAA 14

Everybody using the sliders from the 1st page? Want to make sure the most up-to-date version is not in the middle of these 95 pages.

Yes, the Opening Post is current.

[JoshC1977]

Re: 50(ish) Threshold-based Slider Set for NCAA 14

I've been using these for a little while but I lowered the CPU running blocking because I was getting destroyed on the ground by mediocre teams. Will it affect anything if I turn off injuries in y dynasty?

I've never played with injuries 'off' on NCAA...it might affect things (on Madden it makes the players super-aggressive)...I just don't know.

[VTPack919]

Re: 50(ish) Threshold-based Slider Set for NCAA 14

But, I have been looking at some very different approaches based on what I have learned about this game (including looking at All American as a very real option).

Cant wait to hear what comes of this!!



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[BlackRain37]

Re: 50(ish) Threshold-based Slider Set for NCAA 14

Josh, are you still on board that 55 is the best threshold for the game? I still have times where DE's and DT's will catch RBs from behind. Though its usually from an angle, but its still an angle that they realistically shouldn't catch them on. And I've lost count how many times I've seen either my guy or the CPU get tripped up by the famed shoestring tackle.

[JoshC1977]

Re: 50(ish) Threshold-based Slider Set for NCAA 14

Josh, are you still on board that 55 is the best threshold for the game? I still have times where DE's and DT's will catch RBs from behind. Though its usually from an angle, but its still an angle that they realistically shouldn't catch them on. And I've lost count how many times I've seen either my guy or the CPU get tripped up by the famed shoestring tackle.

For heisman difficulty I am....

I'm currently looking at 50 for some work I'm doing for an all American setup though.


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[Gtl420]

Re: 50(ish) Threshold-based Slider Set for NCAA 14

For heisman difficulty I am....

I'm currently looking at 50 for some work I'm doing for an all American setup though.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

Looking forward to seeing that I've been using this set as a base. Was wondering why you have face mask 3 points lower on dynasty vs. the main menu? I recently did somethin similar on my dynasty and seems like the tackling animations improved. Thx


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[JoshC1977]

Re: 50(ish) Threshold-based Slider Set for NCAA 14

I've been working for the past several weeks off and on to create a setup for NCAA which provides a more balanced and ratings-based experience. The biggest issue with this game (as with all the EA football games) is that adjusting sliders affects CPU play-calling behavior and results in a number of imbalances in player performance that results in a skewed one-way outcome for the various matchups. As such, I determined that I was going to go all-in with default gameplay and penalty sliders and conducted a number of trials.

In these trials, I came to one inescapable conclusion, Heisman is not the way to go. Heisman difficulty results in a number of issues which start us down the "slider spiral"....in short, players are overly aggressive, which leads to a lot of weird things like

• "WWE tackles"
• Defenders constantly overrunning plays (opening-up the read option)
• O-linemen getting "the big push" where they can push a guy 5 yards downfield
• Over-aggression in coverage, leading poor overall coverage and animation issues.

All of these things are issues that necessitate slider adjustments in order for the game to play reasonably well. Heck, we even went down the road of coach aggression adjustments in a vain effort to massage the problem. But, as my friend Matt10 taught me, look at the animations and fix the problem as directly as possible. So...here we go....we have issues...we're going to fix the problem....bye bye Heisman; Hello All American....and hear come the cries of, "But All American is too easy...sniffle...sniffle.".

Before this new round of testing, I last played All American 3-4 years ago. What have we learned since then that can help us?

• HFA is a "keep games close" feature and is better when it is turned off.
• The game plays tougher with the Main Menu fatigue slider turned "off"
• The coach Sub Frequency is really a fatigue slider and directly impacts how well the CPU plays. We have found that a "default" value of 50 works best.
• Use of offsetting game speeds between Main Menu and Dynasty can yield better results. More on this below...
• Autosubs have a direct effect on gameplay. More on this below....

So, aside from the last two, this really is all pretty standard fare relative to my past work.

Game speeds: This worked really well on Madden and while I am not 100% on NCAA, the use of Main Menu speed at slow and Dynasty at normal works very well. I believe that when the two game speeds are identical, that the AI speed is "off" from the animation speed (so, you get QBs looking to throw to a receiver when he is only halfway through his route). By setting the main menu speed a notch slower, I believe that this tightens the gap and makes the CPU much more effective in targetting receivers.

Autosubs: I've said before that gameplay is most balanced when all of them are set to the same values. But here, let me throw a wrench into things. Default is not 60/80; but if you start with a brand new profile, it is actually 65/80! This was completely unexpected, but it got me going down the path of "which is default"? Well, I've played around with various settings for the last couple of months and frankly, I am still playing around with them a bit. I've played with 3 primary settings; 49/50, 60/80, and 65/80. I don't care much for 65/80; it feels a bit too "video-gamey" and I have ruled it out pretty quickly. Now 60/80 is very solid and if someone wanted to go down this direction, I wouldn't blame them.

But the autosub setting that has intrigued me is the 49/50 (which I pilfered from Madden's CFM setting). The most over-used word here is "organic"...but I am going to use it here...it feels organic. Tackling animations have variety, you see a good number of missed throws for the CPU (even though QBA is at 50), running backs have some "swerve", and because of the lower Autosub "In" value, the footplanting is much better overall.


Final Thoughts before I post the set....

• This set is designed to provide a ratings-based experience. That means, if you have a dominant team, you will probably dominate (as you probably do on Heisman anyways). But...I also think that if you play a truly "sim" style, that you will still have a lot of fun here. I'm playing without any house rules and I have won big, won close, lost close, and been blown out. Matchups matter, but you still get that variety.
• Also....this is the kind of set you need to play quite a few games to really appreciate. The difficulty here is deceptive. I tried the exact same setup on Heisman...and frankly, I thought it was easier because of the aforementioned issues on Heisman.
• I have not tested on CPUvCPU or Coach Mode nor will I...don't ask me about how it plays on those modes. Also, I primarily use the d-linemen at the start of the play and then switch, if needed, later on. If you solely user a LB or DB, I have no idea how this will work.
• Do not ask me about slider changes....the whole premise is to NOT adjust the sliders. I think if you play sim, give these a really long shot and just enjoy it without worrying about stats; I think many people will enjoy these.

[bravesfan1984]

Re: 50(ish) Threshold-based Slider Set for NCAA 14

I've been working for the past several weeks off and on to create a setup for NCAA which provides a more balanced and ratings-based experience. The biggest issue with this game (as with all the EA football games) is that adjusting sliders affects CPU play-calling behavior and results in a number of imbalances in player performance that results in a skewed one-way outcome for the various matchups. As such, I determined that I was going to go all-in with default gameplay and penalty sliders and conducted a number of trials.

In these trials, I came to one inescapable conclusion, Heisman is not the way to go. Heisman difficulty results in a number of issues which start us down the "slider spiral"....in short, players are overly aggressive, which leads to a lot of weird things like

• "WWE tackles"
• Defenders constantly overrunning plays (opening-up the read option)
• O-linemen getting "the big push" where they can push a guy 5 yards downfield
• Over-aggression in coverage, leading poor overall coverage and animation issues.

All of these things are issues that necessitate slider adjustments in order for the game to play reasonably well. Heck, we even went down the road of coach aggression adjustments in a vain effort to massage the problem. But, as my friend Matt10 taught me, look at the animations and fix the problem as directly as possible. So...here we go....we have issues...we're going to fix the problem....bye bye Heisman; Hello All American....and hear come the cries of, "But All American is too easy...sniffle...sniffle.".

Before this new round of testing, I last played All American 3-4 years ago. What have we learned since then that can help us?

• HFA is a "keep games close" feature and is better when it is turned off.
• The game plays tougher with the Main Menu fatigue slider turned "off"
• The coach Sub Frequency is really a fatigue slider and directly impacts how well the CPU plays. We have found that a "default" value of 50 works best.
• Use of offsetting game speeds between Main Menu and Dynasty can yield better results. More on this below...
• Autosubs have a direct effect on gameplay. More on this below....

So, aside from the last two, this really is all pretty standard fare relative to my past work.

Game speeds: This worked really well on Madden and while I am not 100% on NCAA, the use of Main Menu speed at slow and Dynasty at normal works very well. I believe that when the two game speeds are identical, that the AI speed is "off" from the animation speed (so, you get QBs looking to throw to a receiver when he is only halfway through his route). By setting the main menu speed a notch slower, I believe that this tightens the gap and makes the CPU much more effective in targetting receivers.

Autosubs: I've said before that gameplay is most balanced when all of them are set to the same values. But here, let me throw a wrench into things. Default is not 60/80; but if you start with a brand new profile, it is actually 65/80! This was completely unexpected, but it got me going down the path of "which is default"? Well, I've played around with various settings for the last couple of months and frankly, I am still playing around with them a bit. I've played with 3 primary settings; 49/50, 60/80, and 65/80. I don't care much for 65/80; it feels a bit too "video-gamey" and I have ruled it out pretty quickly. Now 60/80 is very solid and if someone wanted to go down this direction, I wouldn't blame them.

But the autosub setting that has intrigued me is the 49/50 (which I pilfered from Madden's CFM setting). The most over-used word here is "organic"...but I am going to use it here...it feels organic. Tackling animations have variety, you see a good number of missed throws for the CPU (even though QBA is at 50), running backs have some "swerve", and because of the lower Autosub "In" value, the footplanting is much better overall.


Final Thoughts before I post the set....

• This set is designed to provide a ratings-based experience. That means, if you have a dominant team, you will probably dominate (as you probably do on Heisman anyways). But...I also think that if you play a truly "sim" style, that you will still have a lot of fun here. I'm playing without any house rules and I have won big, won close, lost close, and been blown out. Matchups matter, but you still get that variety.
• Also....this is the kind of set you need to play quite a few games to really appreciate. The difficulty here is deceptive. I tried the exact same setup on Heisman...and frankly, I thought it was easier because of the aforementioned issues on Heisman.
• I have not tested on CPUvCPU or Coach Mode nor will I...don't ask me about how it plays on those modes. Also, I primarily use the d-linemen at the start of the play and then switch, if needed, later on. If you solely user a LB or DB, I have no idea how this will work.
• Do not ask me about slider changes....the whole premise is to NOT adjust the sliders. I think if you play sim, give these a really long shot and just enjoy it without worrying about stats; I think many people will enjoy these.

Josh, thank you so much for the continued testing here and with madden. You've saved my interest in both and just in time for the upcoming seasons. Can't wait to test these bad boys out!

Sent from my SM-G920P using Operation Sports mobile app