Armor & Swords Custom All-Pro Simulation Style Sliders (CFM Only) Madden 20
Hello Madden Nation! We are back for another great year of Madden NFL football!
Madden 20 completely builds off the RPM True Step system that was introduced on M19 and has drastically improved player movement and user responsiveness. After playing the Beta and now the retail EA Access Trial, I can confidently tell you this is a measured improvement overall to gameplay. Also the team at EA Tiburon has introduced the all new Franchise Scenario Engine. This will add a new layer of game planning strategy to your franchise. X-Factors and “In The Zone” modifiers are also brand new and welcome additions to have true player differentiation. In my limited time thus far with the game CPU AI QB’s are more aware of pressure and if they are a true scrambler (Newton, Lamar Jackson, Went) they will take off and gash you. No more Super LB’s!!! The new pass trajectories are fantastic and the passing game on Madden 20 feels so much better than ever before. QB’s are also throwing to spots far more often than feeling like the passing game is on the rails.
A little about myself. I have been playing Madden since the very first iteration on the console systems back with the Sega Genesis days. So I have been a part of (as a rabid and passionate sports gamer) the entire evolutionary process of this game from it's beginnings. And I can say this with confidence. You are either a Madden guy or not. And nothing IMO will change that as they have always had a particular style to their games. And quite frankly I always preferred Madden over other football games.....yeah even 2K5 (great game don't get me wrong). Over the last couple of decades (damn I am freaking old) I have figured out ways to make the game "fun" for myself and enjoy my little virtual NFL universe. I play a particular style, using particular settings, camera views, house rules etc that will aid in developing this slider set. I have never been in the school of one size fits all. Therefore I cannot assure anyone who plays a different way (and I will outline all my house rules and playing style, plus you are always welcome to watch my streams so you can see it for yourself) that these sliders are going to work for you.
So with that let's get some housecleaning items out of the way right here.
As always the core goals of the set will be:
1. Fun, first and foremost.
2. Realistic stats and gameplay
3. Great animations and every game feeling organic and unique
4. Dice roll results driven first and foremost by player ratings and a focus on team building via the draft and realistic XP development utilizing T-Dawgs XP Sliders
5. Penalties and QB inaccuracy is a focus of this set without disrupting the gameplay balance
A huge thank you to JoshC1977 for his valuable advice and friendship. He is a heck of guy everyone and a tireless slider freak!!! He finds things I would never even think of. To TDawg for his tireless XP slider effort. I love using his XP sliders and a link to those will be in the CFM House Rule spoiler section below once his set is ready and finalized. And to IteachPercussion whose classic Madden Rosters for PS4 are simply the best in the business, his tireless roster creations have kept Madden 16 and 19 in my rotation for years to come. My hope is he does another amazing classic roster set for Madden 20!
Armors Gameplay House Rules
1. On defense I utilize the defensive cam almost exclusively and also from time to time I will use the broadcast cam (because it looks so damn pretty!!). Playing from the defensive cam adds an incredible layer of realism, challenge and fun IMO. If you want a real challenge, play defense from this view. I am developing the sliders based on the exact settings I employ so it is niche type thing in that regard. Use the values as a base and adjust them to your skill level and playing style.
I also never switch. This is another key component of how I develop my slider set. If I play as the MLB on a given play I stay as the MLB all the way through to the whistle is blown. What that does is put a focus on player ratings, player awareness and you depending on your teammates to make a play you are not involved in or away from. This also at times will strengthen the CPU and make it more of a challenge to play against them. I can tell you it is very hard playing defense this way and can lead to some ugly games if your defense is tired or having an off day. Timely sub packages like bringing in a fresh DL is a big feature of this set. If your defense has been on the field alot, pay attention to their fatigue levels and sub accordingly!!
2. Use your playbook - mix up your plays. Use the entire playbook. Don't go for it every time on 4th and 1 with a FB dive or QB sneak. In other words don't cheese the CPU. Keep it real. On offense I make it a point to really dig deep and use every play at my disposal and limit my audibles. On defense I call all my own plays. If the CPU comes out in a 2 WR set but has a stretch TE like Gronk....by all means use the nickel so you can cover that TE. Defesinve hot routes...I use whatever my heart desires. run commit or pass commit I will also use in certain situations, not obvious ones. For example, 2nd and 6 I may run commit if I really feel it is coming. There is true risk and reward in that situation. Where as 3rd and 18.....come on. The CPU needs our help. Sad but true. So don't call a pass commit on obvious downs. Challenge yourself in tweener (for lack of a better term) situations.
3. When on defense I will user pick, swat and strip of course. I will use pass rush moves on the DL and with my OLB's. I will use my full arsenal and stick skills on the player I control without switching.
4. On offense I will control who ever has the ball. I will use moves, jukes etc. What I will not do however is take control of a potential receiver of the football. I do not user catch at all. I let the ratings determine the catch type always. Once the ball is caught I will take control of the ball carrier and do my thing.
5. I play with all visual aides turned off. The cleanest screen possible is what I employ for the best possible broadcast presentation and also challenge.
6. Absolutely use coaching adjustments. It's fun and the risk reward is also great to see play out.
That's basically it as far as approach and playing style. I truly look forward to providing a great base set of sliders at the "All-Pro level for you to play with. Please use it as a starting point to tweak to your hearts content. Everyone has different skill levels and there is no "one size fits all" slider set. People all play the game slightly differently or may have varying levels of skills and stick skills. So don’t think you can’t tweak values to find your sweet spot. Just use this as a guideline base set and if it works for you with the OP values......awesome. If not simply move a certain value up or down 1-2 clicks to start.
Sliders are very responsive and if you stray too far it will change the gameplay in unintended ways. So don’t go to crazy in one direction or the other.
A great suggestion from iMac here on allowing the CPU to pick your defensive play calls. I have tried this and it is a really good option IMO. Purely optional of course. I am actually picking one of the three coach suggested defenses now vs allowing the CPU to pick it and I am getting fantastic results. Again this is purely optional.
Armor,
I just wanted to share something with the community that I have been implementing recently. I would be interested to see if anyone see's the same as me....
I have always had an odd complex about defensive playcalling and how it must impact the CPU. The depth to it is massive when you consider the following:
• Base packages
• Sub packages
• Personnel
• Ratings
• User input based on who they control
• Skill of the user
• Accuracy of the defensive calls you make in relation to the scheme your team actually runs
• User scheme vs. CPU scheme
When it comes to the game you personally get in Madden, the CPU will of course be hugely influenced based on the team you use, the way you play and your skill level.
For example, if I personally rarely blitz, but then the next person does regularly blitz's, then we will get a very different gameplay experience. If you call man a lot, but I call zone a lot, then our impression of coverage will also be very different.
Even if I follow 'Coach Suggestions', the results still become skewed because you have a choice of calling zone, man or blitz, and you will naturally follow a similar pattern per game and team you play. I feel it creates a very lopsided defensive experience because no matter what team you use, you will always revert to your style.
When I consider this, I found myself really wondering how much am I helping or limiting the CPU's offense.
As a result, I began letting the D call their own play just to see what happens. What I mean by that is, on D, I allow the 15 second timer to run out, and the D will naturally pick a play based on the O's formation, down & distance.
After about 6 or 7 games, I'm really enjoying what I see. There's a great variety of calls, but most importantly, the calls being made are far more relevant to the way that defense would actually be called.
What I'm seeing as a result are my weaknesses being highlighted and my strengths prevailing where it makes sense. It's given me a new level of excitement when it comes to D because I know what I'm seeing is a more accurate representation of my teams defense in both calls and ability.
This absolutely isn't for everyone. The game does get slower and you're at the mercy of what is called for you. Personally, I really like this and gives me a nice sense of immersion when I'm waiting on the CPU to get to the line. Those big downs get that much more exciting.
Interestingly as well, the commentary becomes more bearable because they're not jumping between lines with the slower pace.
It's certainly the way forward for running my defense, and I figured it might be worth sharing should anybody want to give it a try.
Taking a page from my buddy JoshC1977:
My view of what sort of feedback is appropriate:
Broad statements like "It's too easy" or "It's too hard" or "the run game is too easy/hard" will be ignored unless you provide further support.
Provide full descriptions (or video) of WHY something is "too easy/hard". Broad generalizations based on tiny sample sizes (i.e. less than 8-10 full games in regular season CFM) will be ignored unless you have specific reaction/animation-based arguments to support the "why".
If you have video of full games available, please refer to specific time-frames where you see things that look "off".
I will not make adjustments based on stats alone.
I will not respond to queries based on stats alone. Video is nice, but even text descriptions of what you are seeing is helpful (oftentimes, one small detail may resonate as something I have seen myself...having secondary confirmation often helps me realize that something may be wrong). If you just post numbers, it is meaningless.
You're welcome to post box scores of games (lots of people enjoy seeing them) - just don't be miffed when I tell you that I usually ignore them (now, if you take the time to write specific details about how the game went and what you saw, I will totally read that). But box scores alone really don't tell me a whole lot. Stats lie all the time.
Take ownership of your gameplay style. If you like to go overboard and maybe exploit the CPU a bit, own it. If you're not 100% "sim", there is nothing wrong with that; but my approach may not work for you on All Pro.
Armors CFM House Rules
Spoiler
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