Perhaps Madden 20's best kept secret are the vast improvements made to both custom playbooks and game planning functions. While these features are not devoid of a few small issues, custom playbooks appear to be more stable. Also, it is finally possible to install a 30 play per-situation game plan. These plays will correctly appear according to the corresponding in-game situation beneath the "Run" and "Pass" play call windows.
If you have a little patience and are willing to put it some time, effort and creativity, you will have a playbook based on concepts that you like to run best. Also, by installing a situational game plan, you will no longer be relegated to "formation fumbling" through your playbook, trying to decide which play you want to call. I promise you that all of your hard work will pay off.
I will do my best to provide a clear and concise example of how I set up both my custom playbook and game plan. I've also attached a printed copy of both, to act as a guide for you to use while setting up your own files, based on your personal preferences. I have also recently uploaded my custom playbook, with game plan included. The file is called "Edge Offense" and my user name is "GridironGary88".
⦁ The easiest way I've found to build a custom playbook is to start with a base book that has the most formations that you want to use. That way, after you switch to this book in your CFM under coaching schemes, you will be able to best utilize the formation subs feature.
⦁ Select 1 play from a regular pro formation that you intend to keep and game plan it for all situations, except hail mary.
⦁ Delete all plays from formations you do not wish to keep, while leaving at least 1 play up from those that you plan on using. One play that is assigned to "safe situation" cannot be removed.
⦁ Build your playbook by selecting your pro formations first. From there, add your 3 and 4 receiver formations afterwards. That way, your custom playbook's formations will be organized by personnel groupings. See my attached file as an example. The first sub-formation you select will show up first under the main formation heading.
⦁ Set your audibles and save your book.
⦁ Go to practice mode and make sure everything is stable.
⦁ To install your game plan, head back to the custom playbook section and select your playbook for editing.
⦁ Make sure to select at least 30 plays per-situation or you will see some plays repeat themselves, while others may not show up at all. This isn't that daunting a task, since you will likely be copying situations together. Again, it might be helpful to look at the bottom of my attached game plan for an explanation as to how I set mine up. It is advisable to give the first 3 plays in each situation a 5 star rating and work downward a half star from there. That way, assuming you've written your gameplan down ahead of time, making future changes to your gameplan will be much easier, since you will be able to find the plays you want you change more quickly than if you'd simply left them all at the default 2 1/2 star rating given.
⦁ When you have finished, save your book.
⦁ Finally, re-open your playbook and go to the "My Playbook" section. Carefully delete all plays that you have not gameplanned and save that file as a new book. Obviously, do not overwrite your main playbook. In doing this, you will have a fully gameplanned playbook, along with a book that just contains only gameplanned plays. That way, you can go into practice mode and more easily find the plays you want to work on. Before playing a game, you can then decide whether or not you want your entire playbook or just your gameplanned plays along for the ride.
There are a few issues that I did run in to along the way with regards to custom playbooks, if you go back and add additional plays, audibles in those particular formations may scramble, even though it may show the correct audible at the custom playbook screen. I've found a fix. Go into practice mode and bring up your audibles. Write down the incorrect audibles showing and go back to the custom playbook screen and manually put the wrong ones in accordingly and save your book. Re-open your book and put back your audibles the way you want them, save your book again and you're all set.
Unfortunately, when calling plays from your game plan, the 4 minute play call bug still rears its ugly head at times during 2 minute situations. Sometimes, calling a timeout will remedy this. If not, you may have to briefly call your plays based on formations. Also, the last play you selected will sometimes not be available for the next down. Instead, you will see 1 play repeat itself in the last 3-row play call window and will be designated by "A" on XBox. I believe this is set up purposely in order to rotate plays so the CPU doesn't call the same play repeatedly.
I hope this guide was helpful to you and I will do my best to answer any questions you may have. Also, I would love to hear any suggestions and advice as to how you set up your own book.
If you have a little patience and are willing to put it some time, effort and creativity, you will have a playbook based on concepts that you like to run best. Also, by installing a situational game plan, you will no longer be relegated to "formation fumbling" through your playbook, trying to decide which play you want to call. I promise you that all of your hard work will pay off.
I will do my best to provide a clear and concise example of how I set up both my custom playbook and game plan. I've also attached a printed copy of both, to act as a guide for you to use while setting up your own files, based on your personal preferences. I have also recently uploaded my custom playbook, with game plan included. The file is called "Edge Offense" and my user name is "GridironGary88".
⦁ The easiest way I've found to build a custom playbook is to start with a base book that has the most formations that you want to use. That way, after you switch to this book in your CFM under coaching schemes, you will be able to best utilize the formation subs feature.
⦁ Select 1 play from a regular pro formation that you intend to keep and game plan it for all situations, except hail mary.
⦁ Delete all plays from formations you do not wish to keep, while leaving at least 1 play up from those that you plan on using. One play that is assigned to "safe situation" cannot be removed.
⦁ Build your playbook by selecting your pro formations first. From there, add your 3 and 4 receiver formations afterwards. That way, your custom playbook's formations will be organized by personnel groupings. See my attached file as an example. The first sub-formation you select will show up first under the main formation heading.
⦁ Set your audibles and save your book.
⦁ Go to practice mode and make sure everything is stable.
⦁ To install your game plan, head back to the custom playbook section and select your playbook for editing.
⦁ Make sure to select at least 30 plays per-situation or you will see some plays repeat themselves, while others may not show up at all. This isn't that daunting a task, since you will likely be copying situations together. Again, it might be helpful to look at the bottom of my attached game plan for an explanation as to how I set mine up. It is advisable to give the first 3 plays in each situation a 5 star rating and work downward a half star from there. That way, assuming you've written your gameplan down ahead of time, making future changes to your gameplan will be much easier, since you will be able to find the plays you want you change more quickly than if you'd simply left them all at the default 2 1/2 star rating given.
⦁ When you have finished, save your book.
⦁ Finally, re-open your playbook and go to the "My Playbook" section. Carefully delete all plays that you have not gameplanned and save that file as a new book. Obviously, do not overwrite your main playbook. In doing this, you will have a fully gameplanned playbook, along with a book that just contains only gameplanned plays. That way, you can go into practice mode and more easily find the plays you want to work on. Before playing a game, you can then decide whether or not you want your entire playbook or just your gameplanned plays along for the ride.
There are a few issues that I did run in to along the way with regards to custom playbooks, if you go back and add additional plays, audibles in those particular formations may scramble, even though it may show the correct audible at the custom playbook screen. I've found a fix. Go into practice mode and bring up your audibles. Write down the incorrect audibles showing and go back to the custom playbook screen and manually put the wrong ones in accordingly and save your book. Re-open your book and put back your audibles the way you want them, save your book again and you're all set.
Unfortunately, when calling plays from your game plan, the 4 minute play call bug still rears its ugly head at times during 2 minute situations. Sometimes, calling a timeout will remedy this. If not, you may have to briefly call your plays based on formations. Also, the last play you selected will sometimes not be available for the next down. Instead, you will see 1 play repeat itself in the last 3-row play call window and will be designated by "A" on XBox. I believe this is set up purposely in order to rotate plays so the CPU doesn't call the same play repeatedly.
I hope this guide was helpful to you and I will do my best to answer any questions you may have. Also, I would love to hear any suggestions and advice as to how you set up your own book.
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