Running Overpowered With Stick Skillz

[cdon2k]

This may fall on deaf ears due to Ian being gone, but here goes. It has become apparent to me that EA has gone overboard again this year. Last year running was too difficult, so what do they do? Make running overpowered. Now don't get me wrong, I am very happy with the stick moves actually being useful, but it seems to me that stick skills are too large of a factor in the running game.

Here are my examples. I was the Vikings vs. my opponent was Colts. A little background, I am an older gamer (30's)... Usually, when I use the Colts, running is tough because Addai isn't a dominant back (well, actually he is more successful than he should be lol). Well, I played a guy who had some great stick skills and he made Addai look like Adrian Peterson. On a few runs he broke 3 to 4 tackles lol. Conversely, I couldn't get Peterson to break much because he had some good tackling stick skills. So here's the dilemma, I admit that this guy was just better than me at the sticks, but does that mean Addai can be turned into Peterson? This is a case of players not playing like they should. IMO, no matter how good your stick skills, a player shouldn't be able to turn Addai into Peterson.

I have only had this happen a few times as I usually am not overwhelmed by people with stick skills as I like to scheme my way around this issue. I had a guy do his best Peterson impression with Felix Jones of all people last night and it's starting to get old. This situation is leading me to believe running should be nerfed. Passing is already difficult due to warping safeties and CB's so I think it's time. Additionally, if Ian ever sees this, can we get a record reset for patch 2?

[RaiderKtulu]

Re: Running Overpowered With Stick Skillz

So...you have trouble running. Someone else destroys you... so you want to make it even harder to run?

[cdon2k]

Re: Running Overpowered With Stick Skillz

No, what I was getting at is that running shouldn't be based on stick skills, it should be based more on the player involved, offensive formation vs. the defense formation and play call. Right now I just think the game still leans more toward stick skills in this area. I am just saying the players involved should matter more than how quickly the user can hit buttons.

[KBLover]

Re: Running Overpowered With Stick Skillz

I think this is a dilemma of all graphical sports games - how much to 'reward' the user for his own skills vs how much they should be limited by the player they are controlling.

Personally, I agree with you. I shouldn't be able to call a run up the middle vs a 6-man run blitz and make any kind of gain unless I have an awesome line or found the one gap that's open in time.

If Addai can look like Peterson but Peterson looks like a scrub, then I agree, that's too far.

What's the point of controlling elite players in this case?

[cdon2k]

Re: Running Overpowered With Stick Skillz

Thank you KB, that's exactly what I was getting at. I came up against this dilemma during Madden 09 as Addai could not get a yard when I needed it (which is true to life because the Colts suck on 3rd and 1). I am pretty sure that their close emulation of reality wasn't on purpose because this was Madden 09, but I was left with the question: do they make the game true to life and make some teams just bad or do they let the user overcome bad attributes like the addai situation? I was so happy when I got Madden 10 and I could run for 3 to 8 yards per carry with Addai thinking "running's fixed", but even at the time I realized that EA over corrected the running game giving the user too much power to make things happen.

Fast forward to now. We have very little power in the passing game (another EA overcorrection) and the running game is out of control. Sigh, another year of Madden not mirroring the NFL. I know a lot of people will say this is just bitching, but this year it is even more bittersweet because with Madden 10, we are MUCH closer than we have been sim wise. This debate needs to be taken to the highest level because I think something should be done by patch 2.

[Dimplenuts]

Re: Running Overpowered With Stick Skillz

While I agree with you guys a bit......I still think stick skills should have some effect. Otherwise we might as well not even play the game and just watch everyone run around according to there ratings...

[cdon2k]

Re: Running Overpowered With Stick Skillz

Well obviously stick skills should have an effect diplo, but what I was getting at is that playcalling and personel should have at least an equal impact (I would prefer greater, but that's me). It goes back to the old arguement, players not playing like themselves: speed rating and stick skills only mattering.

[dallasfan]

Re: Running Overpowered With Stick Skillz

I actually love the running game especially as my stick skills improve.

BTW, Felix Jones is an incredible runner (though often injured) that averages 9.4 ypc. I can see him giving your defense fits regardless of who is controlling him.

[cdon2k]

Re: Running Overpowered With Stick Skillz

To Dallas: I can't remeber the last time I saw Felix Jones break 4 tackles lol....

[KBLover]

Re: Running Overpowered With Stick Skillz

While I agree with you guys a bit......I still think stick skills should have some effect. Otherwise we might as well not even play the game and just watch everyone run around according to there ratings...

Actually, I could get behind a game that had everyone play to their ratings. As long as the ratings are done with reasonable accuracy, that would be a good game, imo.

As far as stick skills, I think they should add/subtract a modifier based to the controlled player's skills. That way, good stick skills can have some impact, but not so much that they blur the line between players.

If you can take a 75 OVR runner and make him as good as a 95 OVR runner - what's the point of having a 95 OVR runner?

I think playcalling and gameplanning should do more to separate players in hum v hum games than stick skills. (More than, as in sticks should still matter, but not as much as having the proper strategy/plan for the team/player you control).

[Rbk]

Re: Running Overpowered With Stick Skillz

Actually, I could get behind a game that had everyone play to their ratings. As long as the ratings are done with reasonable accuracy, that would be a good game, imo.

As far as stick skills, I think they should add/subtract a modifier based to the controlled player's skills. That way, good stick skills can have some impact, but not so much that they blur the line between players.

If you can take a 75 OVR runner and make him as good as a 95 OVR runner - what's the point of having a 95 OVR runner?

I think playcalling and gameplanning should do more to separate players in hum v hum games than stick skills. (More than, as in sticks should still matter, but not as much as having the proper strategy/plan for the team/player you control).

Yea but I guy that's rated 75 in the game can occasionally have better days then say Peterson in real life so it shouldn't be impossible.

[cdon2k]

Re: Running Overpowered With Stick Skillz

Very good poing KB, I think we are in the same boat on this one. To the Dallas guy who chimed in: when you play as Dallas do you immediately sub out Barber for the entire game lol?

Here's what I think the cheese was: Sub in Felix Jones for higher carry rating. As you get tackled, go crazy on the right stick with no penalty. Win.

[cdon2k]

Re: Running Overpowered With Stick Skillz

Yea but I guy that's rated 75 in the game can occasionally have better days then say Peterson in real life so it shouldn't be impossible.

It shouldn't be impossible, but it should be improbable, simple as that. But as it's currently set up, any player with great stick skills can make any RB look like peterson.

[Dmacho]

Re: Running Overpowered With Stick Skillz

Stick skills should only come in handy when controlling players that are agile. When playing with Jacobs, stick skill should be useless.

[capn_razzamataz]

Re: Running Overpowered With Stick Skillz

I agree with the OP. Having "Stick Skillz" should mean the user does a good job of making decisions with the player he's given. Currently right stick moves break 1-on-1 tackles most of the time regardless of who I'm controlling or who the defender is. I shouldn't be able to break a bunch of tackles/juke 3 people on 1 play with Willie Parker for example, but if I'm patient and wait for a seam to open up and make the right move(s) on the right defenders I should be able to get some decent yardage and occasionally break a big play.

Similarly, even though Brandon Jacobs is a bruiser, I shouldn't be able to simply bash my way to extra yards. He should need good blocking to get good yardage just like everyone else.