just picked up the game, few questions

[Mike2001]

thanks for the heads up, i can't wait to finally play this game. do people still go online or has EA shut down the servers?

[Skarecrow]

I only go online to grab plays, which has been pretty spotty lately as well. A lot of them throw download errors without any explanation. Others I can get just fine.

The prima strategy guide (yes, i'm pimping it again) has a list of all playbooks and relative strength, although you can find this out in game yourself if you cycle through the teams when you pick.

I played my first franchise with the Patriot's Air Strike offensive playbook and the Tampa Cover 2 defensive playbook. Both were rated "Very Strong". I'm playing my second franchise with the Steeler's Smashmouth offense (rated "strong") and LeBeau Blitz defense(rated "very strong").

[edward_1385]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mike2001

I'd to know some myself i finally picked this game up, I just bought a ps3, what playbook is good to use? i like to run the ball so it can set up the pass. what glitches are still in the game after the patch?

It's real nice to always see new players and new people to the forum board... But, onto ur questions, first of yes the startgey guide is a great buy, but there are some errors inside it, especialy in the coaching skill section, not the right amount of points... Secondly on the playbook choices, it all really depends on what style of play u decide, first of in this game it is opposite, usally the pass sets up the run... U can run in this game, but basically the more big bodies (inculding TEs and FBs) u have packed in the better the running game... Stay paitent with the run game, because usally in the 4th it really starts to show results, also big power backs with high trucking and good ball carrying vision tend to do alot better than small scat backs... Also if u like to pass big tall receivers around 6'0 and up do real nice in this game, key stats on them would be catch in traffic and release... Usally u want a good center, left tackle and right guard in this game because the better defensive linemen will be lined up on them... Third on defense man blitzes and man coverage works really good over zone blitzes and zone coverages, also all ur secondary needs to be around at a minum of 80 overall to be real effective in the passing game... Left ends will be more dominate than right ends also... And last but not least don't be fooled by high overalls and potentials, because learning is really keyed in on those stats, as important as that is, some of those players will be very low in other areas, so dig into there progression cards and really look at their stats...

Hope any of that helps out, just let me know if u need anymore advice...

[Lieutenant Dan]

Holy crap, Edward...that was an AWESOME post!

That post really encapsulated a lot of the stuff I've noticed in the five or six seasons I've played this game, very well put.

[edward_1385]

Also in this forum Need Help by furniture20 on the last post I also posted some info, inculding some on the draft, I will help anyone as best as I can... I am a Head Coach junkie, my wife hates it when I get started talking about it, but I just can't help it...

This game is a great game even if it is a little buggy once in awhile, but have fun and enjoy this game, it is sadly and probably the last of it's kind...

[Lieutenant Dan]

Quote: Originally Posted by edward_1385

Also in this forum Need Help by furniture20 on the last post I also posted some info, inculding some on the draft, I will help anyone as best as I can... I am a Head Coach junkie, my wife hates it when I get started talking about it, but I just can't help it... This game is a great game even if it is a little buggy once in awhile, but have fun and enjoy this game, it is sadly and probably the last of it's kind...

Very probably true, but we can always

This is a really special game, and it's in the Hall of Fame for me along with NFL 2K5 for best NFL game experience ever...HC is in very rare air.

Guess I'm lucky, my wife actually liked when I'd play HC at night because the music would lull her to sleep, lol. Best late-night, ALL-night game I've ever played.

[Mike2001]

Quote: Originally Posted by edward_1385

It's real nice to always see new players and new people to the forum board... But, onto ur questions, first of yes the startgey guide is a great buy, but there are some errors inside it, especialy in the coaching skill section, not the right amount of points... Secondly on the playbook choices, it all really depends on what style of play u decide, first of in this game it is opposite, usally the pass sets up the run... U can run in this game, but basically the more big bodies (inculding TEs and FBs) u have packed in the better the running game... Stay paitent with the run game, because usally in the 4th it really starts to show results, also big power backs with high trucking and good ball carrying vision tend to do alot better than small scat backs... Also if u like to pass big tall receivers around 6'0 and up do real nice in this game, key stats on them would be catch in traffic and release... Usally u want a good center, left tackle and right guard in this game because the better defensive linemen will be lined up on them... Third on defense man blitzes and man coverage works really good over zone blitzes and zone coverages, also all ur secondary needs to be around at a minum of 80 overall to be real effective in the passing game... Left ends will be more dominate than right ends also... And last but not least don't be fooled by high overalls and potentials, because learning is really keyed in on those stats, as important as that is, some of those players will be very low in other areas, so dig into there progression cards and really look at their stats... Hope any of that helps out, just let me know if u need anymore advice...

thanks for the advice, how many minutes should i play on? i'm used to 5minute ones from madden and other sports games. also what skills should i get and which ones to avoid?

[Lieutenant Dan]

Mike, the game defaults to 15 min qtrs w/accelerated clock (that ticks off several seconds between plays). You wind up with games that are just under an hour in most cases, but feel right and flow right. Also, I play Madden 10 using 12 min qtrs w/accel clock.

For skills for your Head coach (especially if you create one), my suggestion is the same as the strategy guide; max our "performance" first, then allocate points after that to a couple of skills that need boosting to fill in gaping holes from your other coache's deficiencies. For example, if you have a crap DB coach, make yourself a DB specialist, you know?

I have a feeling Edward's got a better answer than me...he's a guru!