Post Patch AA Sliders that return game to out of box feel

[Bumble14]

Guys-

Fist off let me state that I do not like making slider tweaks. Since patch 2 and tuner set 2, default AA has become a mess. The cpu run game is non existent, user slants against cpu zones are unstoppable, and the general feel to me is that the game has lost much of it's challenge on AA that was presented pre patch.

After making the leap to Hesiman and noticing that no amount of slider tweaking ever gave me an experience that was close to default AA, I decided to do some experimentation with AA slider tweaks. I'm happy to say that after many hours of testing, I believe I have found a slider set that plays almost identical to the way the game did on AA out of the box.

I encourage you guys to play some games with this slider set and let me know your thoughts. Just a heads up, my primary reasons for the slider tweaks were to increase the cpu run game.effectiveness, and make the cpu play more aggressively in terms of pass defense. I did not touch any of the penalty, or kicking sliders as I largely do not have issues with those aspects of the game.

Here are the sliders that bring the game back to default AA settings in my experience. (HUM/CPU)

QB ACC (40/45) I've found that if you lower the cpu accuracy lower than 45, he won't take many shots downfield, instead relying on short dump offs- actually increasing his completion percentage.

PASS BLOCK (50/50)
WR CATCH (40/50) At 40 your WR's will drop the appropriate amount of passes- most when getting clocked by a defender over the middle or when a defender gets position.

RB ABILITY (50/55) cpu at 55 gives a realistic amount of blocked tackles. Guys like Ingram are monsters to take down at times, but that is realistic to me. Scruns will still play like scrubs.

RUN BLOCK (50/100) At 100 the cpu will break off some big runs. In a game against Wisconsin- where I was BYU, Clay tore off 134 yards on me on 19 carries, and had 3 TD's. There is really no cheesy feeling to the cpu run blocking on this setting on AA- unlike Heisman. Best part is that teams that run will run successfully on these settings while teams that are pass happy will still muster some solid run numbers to challenge the user.

PASS COV (45/50) I found that human D at 50 caused the cpu to avoid going deep again or even looking downfield for opportunites.

PASS RUSH (50/50)

INT (35/55)The INT slider seems to play a bigger role in the cpu playing defense than the cpu pass coverage slider. With the cpu at 55 you won't be able to cheese slant routes all day long, and the cpu will jump lazy routes/passes. The best part about this is that it keeps cpu coverage mirroring to a minimum while making passing against good cpu defenses (Florida) really challenging.

RUSH D (50/50)
TACKLING (50/50)
FG POWER (50/50)
FG ACC (50/50)
PUNT POWER (50/50)
PUNT ACC (50/50)
KICKOFF PWR (50/50)

Hope you all enjoy and please leave your results. No slider set makes everyone happy, but hopefully this can act as a base set for those who loved default AA until the next patch hits.[/B]

[minister]

Re: Post Patch AA Sliders that return game to out of box feel

What is your speed and threshhold set, all defult?

[Bumble14]

Re: Post Patch AA Sliders that return game to out of box feel

Speed and threshold are default.

[minister]

Re: Post Patch AA Sliders that return game to out of box feel

Thank you. The only problem I am still having is getting the cpu to be able to run.

I just played Cincinnati (A-off) as NC State )C+ Def) They only had 44 yards on 20 carries. It played a good game other than that (forgot to write down the stats)

I just don't ever feel like I'm going to lose. The cpu doesn't threaten me at all. I tried Heisman also and found it to me at least a challenge but just not realistic football. Heisman just felt cheap in every way.

Do you think it would mess up the play of the game to much if I lowered the hum rus def to 40? Just wanting to get the cpu to be able to move the ball against my c+ def.

Sorry I did win the game 30-24. The cpu scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to make it close.

[dalecooper]

Re: Post Patch AA Sliders that return game to out of box feel

I'm going to give these sliders a try, thanks for posting. I may tweak them a little further because at a glance they look a bit too easy. In particular I think human run block is probably going to need to be lower, and/or CPU run defense needs to be higher; also kick power for user could probably be lower.

I've been trying Heisman with the scrub team dynasty I'm trying to get going, and at least with the sliders I was using, that level seemed completely cheap - RBs breaking 3 or 4 tackles on a single run, and my QB occasionally "randomly" throwing a pass straight to a DB even though he was planted and the receiver was open 5 yards to the left of where I ended up throwing. I wish there was a setting between AA and Heisman, but AA feels a lot more honest and realistic to me, even though I have seldom lost on it. Maybe the right set of sliders will get the job done. Anyway, sorry for the rambling, and thanks again for posting - I'll return with feedback.

[Bumble14]

Re: Post Patch AA Sliders that return game to out of box feel

Yeah, lowering human rush d could help out a bit. I'm noticing that a CPU teams rush success depends largely on their offensive style no post patch. For example, teams like Bama and Wisconsin will pound you regardless but spread teams will only manage 45 yards all game and get tackled in the backfield 10 times.

Pre patch the CPU rush game was smarter and seemed to react based on game situations vs what their offensive style dictates.

I'm feeling challenged at least, with my offense really sputtering with B type teams right now. I know all these changes will be worthless though oneatc 3 and the new tuner set drops.

In the future they need to make tuner sets like in NHL where you can play with any tuner patch that was released. I understand they can't do that this year because the tuner includes progression data, but we need the option to play with our preferred tuner. I liked this game a lot more pre patch and tuner set.

[acermina]

Re: Post Patch AA Sliders that return game to out of box feel

These are just too easy. Pass coverage and threshold at 50 is just not a challenge on AA.

I've finally been able to give myself a challenge by upping the threshold to 75, CPU pass coverage to 75, CPU pass block to 75, and CPU run ability to 75. QB acc is 25 for both me and CPU. Finally, kick power is at 25 for both, while kick and punt acc is at 25 for me only.

I've actually lost games with these. And if you play a team that is rated much higher than you, it will be very difficult to stay close enough to pull off an upset.

[Bumble14]

Re: Post Patch AA Sliders that return game to out of box feel

These are just too easy. Pass coverage and threshold at 50 is just not a challenge on AA.

I've finally been able to give myself a challenge by upping the threshold to 75, CPU pass coverage to 75, CPU pass block to 75, and CPU run ability to 75. QB acc is 25 for both me and CPU. Finally, kick power is at 25 for both, while kick and punt acc is at 25 for me only.

I've actually lost games with these. And if you play a team that is rated much higher than you, it will be very difficult to stay close enough to pull off an upset.

Interesting. Don't you find the threshold of 75 to be causing too many D lineman tracking players down, and backs/receivers that get into open space not breaking away?

[acermina]

Re: Post Patch AA Sliders that return game to out of box feel

Actually, no, I don't. I think a lot of people on these forums have overdone this whole idea of DE's chasing down WR's or whatever. It's just not true. Oreaeon did a ton of research on this and he showed me the light. Anything below 60 will result in a speed gap that is just not realistic. I started playing on SM's sliders, which have like 25 threshold. I returned 5 kickoffs for touchdowns in 2 games, I ran for over 400 yards in one game with John Clay (on like 20 carries, including a 99 yarder untouched), and basically felt like I could complete a pass over the middle whenever I wanted because the LB's were so slow. There is still separation at 75, it's just not as pronounced, and therefore the game seems tighter, smarter, and infinitely more challenging. The RB ability needs to be at 75 (along with 75 run block) IMO to get the CPU to have any sort of running game. And finally, the pass coverage has to be at 75 to take away the ease of throwing over the middle every time. This is still possible, just not 100% of the time like it is on default pass coverage. I think the QB accuracy at 25 allows for more overthrows and balls at the feet, which does happen in the game of football, especially at the college level. These settings have worked for me. I am actually one of those nut-jobs who enjoys going 5-7 with a team that will probably go 5-7 in real life.

[minister]

Re: Post Patch AA Sliders that return game to out of box feel

acermina could you post the exact sliders you are using? I am the same nut job as you. NC State should not be able to be the elite teams with a C+ def.

Before the patch came out I was losing the games I felt like State will lose in RL, since the patch or either because I have gotten use to this game, the computer simply can not score a td on me. The can march down the field at times, but when they get to my 35-40 yard line they get stupid and have to punt.

[Bumble14]

Re: Post Patch AA Sliders that return game to out of box feel

acermina could you post the exact sliders you are using? I am the same nut job as you. NC State should not be able to be the elite teams with a C+ def.

Before the patch came out I was losing the games I felt like State will lose in RL, since the patch or either because I have gotten use to this game, the computer simply can not score a td on me. The can march down the field at times, but when they get to my 35-40 yard line they get stupid and have to punt.

I'd love to see your slider set as well. Sounds like you may be on to something. Does the game feel like it did pre patch is the question.

[acermina]

Re: Post Patch AA Sliders that return game to out of box feel

Difficulty: All-American
Game speed: Normal
Speed threshold: 75
Quarter length: 10 minutes

Sliders: Human/CPU
QB accuracy: 25/25
Pass blocking: 50/50
WR catching: 50/50
RB ability: 50/75
Run blocking: 50/75
Pass coverage: 50/75
Pass rushing: 50/50
Interceptions: 50/50
Rushing defense 50/75
Tackling: 50/50
FG power: 25/25
FG accuracy: 25/50
Punt power: 50/50
Punt accuracy: 25/50
Kickoff power: 50/50

Offsides: 100
False start: 100
Facemask: 55
Holding: 55
Clipping: 55
Roughing passer: 100
Roughing kicker: 100
Kick interference: 100
Off pass interference: 100
Def pass interference: 100

I've actually had quite a few pass interference penalties called.

Could you guys play a few games with these and provide feedback? I am only playing with one other buddy and we really like them. I'd like to see a larger sample size if possible, though.

[dalecooper]

Re: Post Patch AA Sliders that return game to out of box feel

I'm three games in with a variation of these sliders. Mostly the same, except I decreased my run block to 40, increased their run defense to 75, decreased CPU QB accuracy to 40, and adjusted the FG/kickoff/punt power for user down. I had three very fun games, although compared to where I was previously on Heisman it was a borderline cakewalk. Waiting to play a couple better teams before I really pass judgment though. I beat the snot out of FCS West - a 50 point blowout vs. the ten point game I squeaked out against them on fistofrage's Heistman sliders. I like the general feel of AA better - basically I don't feel like the computer just alters reality one out of every three plays to make things artificially harder - but on the other hand, AA seems way easy, even as I continually adjust the sliders to make it harder. I vote for a fifth difficulty level next year - call it Heisman Jr. or something.

Primary observation about these sliders and NCAA 11 in general: it's just way too easy to defend the run (except on Heisman with good sliders), and way too difficult to defend the pass. Any team except the very worst will put up 300 passing yards on any defense except the very best. Probably the best players on my team are the pass-rushing ends and the starting secondary, yet if the CPU goes into a 4 wide hurry-up offense, I find it really hard to get them off the field, or force more than a very rare bad play. I will say this though: I think you're on to something with that QB accuracy slider. I've been trying all kinds of slider sets at AA and Heisman that involve putting that as low as 10, and the CPU was still tearing me up with lots of short passes and screens. Now I have it at 40 which I would think would be way too high, and it's really not much different in terms of completion % (last QB went 20/25 on me) but at least they're throwing downfield and up for grabs a little more. That nickel-and-dime dump-off game was irritating me to death. My strong safety actually got a pick last game... haven't seen that in a while.

[minister]

Re: Post Patch AA Sliders that return game to out of box feel

using acermina sliders.

NC State(me) 20 Cin(cpu) 22

total off: 269 457
rushes 31-64 36-99
pass 13-26-1 28-40-2
pas yards 205 358

NC State R. Wilson 3-9 48yds
M. Glennon 10-17 157yds

Cin Z. Collaros 27-39 348yds
C. Anderson 1-1 6yds

NC State C. Underwood 20 50yds
B. Barnes 6 23Yds
M. Glennon 3 -8yds
T. Gentry 1 5yds
R. Wilson 1 -6yds

Cin I. Pead 16 28yds
Z. Collaros 9 -14yds
J. Goebel 6 42yds
B. Guidigli 3 19yds
M. Barnett 1 15yds
D. Woods 1 9yds

It played a pretty good game but still the cpu(cin) had two turnovers in the redzone. 1 a fumble at the one yard line and 2 interception at the five.

It seems like if the cpu gets a lead it starts cheating itself to allow me to comeback. The had the lead at halftime 19-3. They had a safety is how they got 19.

Second half they could not do anything until I took the lead 20-19 in the fourth quarter with 2:29 left. They then finally march back down the field to kick the winning field goal at time ran out.

[acermina]

Re: Post Patch AA Sliders that return game to out of box feel

Minister, I don't know if any sliders would be able to address the fact that the CPU seems to let up when they have a lead. It sounds like the game played pretty well though, considering you are a B- team playing at home against a B team. Any other feedback? Do you think more changes are in order?