Challenge Questions & Feedback Thread

[bruins72]

That's good to know! Thanks!

I'm sure we'll be going back to our normal type of challenge for the next one but this is definitely something to keep in mind if we run another one of these "simmed forward" challenges.

[rocker-ma]

Why you won't try to sim from UUDB 6.1? I think nobody care about players names, we just want good challenges.

[Manimal]

Why you won't try to sim from UUDB 6.1? I think nobody care about players names, we just want good challenges.

That db is flawed with players on teams they are too young for and such

[rocker87]

Don't know what happen, I was login with my first/original account, strange. Ok, then why not simulate a bit more, let say 2030-35?

[jesterx7769]

That's good to know! Thanks!

I'm sure we'll be going back to our normal type of challenge for the next one but this is definitely something to keep in mind if we run another one of these "simmed forward" challenges.

I was actually suggesting removing the floor for all challenges, as this started in default 6.1 not your challenge 31 data. All the floor does is make challenges harder by restricting who you can trade with, but then we all end up trading for the same people and isn't realistic. I can more sims of course first.

For example I would like other rules to make it harder like a homegrown or something, and be able to trade with all teams.

Don't know what happen, I was login with my first/original account, strange. Ok, then why not simulate a bit more, let say 2030-35?

I did not do that because that is not what most challenges are. Most challenges only last 5 seasons tops so I did it 5 years out using the latest 6.1 DB. My primary reason for doing this was to see what happens when there is no floor (do teams reduce their spending to only 10 m). I expect if I simmed far out it would look the same as this challenge 31 one looks with many teams around the 30m mark for numerous reason primarily due to rookies/regens not asking for as much money and also that teams are not "required" to hit the floor. It's also important to note that a team wouldn't automatically be worse with a lower cap due to regens especially at that 10 year out sim point from TBL 6.1

[rocker87]

Yes, but what's the challenge when we have salaries around 60M and all AIs have 40M at most?

[Manimal]

I am not sure if I read the chart right.It looks to me like if we remove the floor, more teams will spend below the floor-amount. How is that useful to the trading?

[thunderbug]

So, at the time of my two trades for season 2 I thought I was reading the section correctly, but now I am not so certain. I now read it as each team can make two trades 1 must be 1 for 1 and the other must either be 1 veteran for pick (no higher than a 2nd) or pick for veteran. When I was reading it earlier I was thinking that the second trade could also be a 1 for 1. So I need a ruling as to what I should do. They took place within a week after the 15th of October, and I just finished the season. Should I revert to my last save from before the trades, or should I drop one or both of the assets acquired in said trades. If it makes any difference, I just looked the most recent save I have to it is the 60 game mark of season 1. I have all of the others from season 1 and each of the 4 marks of season 2.

[bruins72]

Yeah, you're only supposed to have one 1 for 1 trade and the other trade has to be either a vet for pick or pick for vet. Making a second 1 for 1 deal is a huge advantage. I'm not sure if it would really do much to make you drop one of them. Sure, you wouldn't have them moving forward but you've already benefited from having them for the season. Let me talk with the other mods and get some opinions on this.

As for the removal of the cap floor, is it as necessary for a normal challenge started from a new game with the DB? I don't know that trading is as difficult then. I think the trouble comes up 10 or 15 years down the line (like in our current challenge) where almost every team is under the cap.

[jesterx7769]

I am not sure if I read the chart right.It looks to me like if we remove the floor, more teams will spend below the floor-amount. How is that useful to the trading?

Because the floor is what prevents team from trading. Hence the whole point of this.

Team below the floor with a floor "I can't do this trade because I am below the floor"

Team below the floor with NO floor "Sure lets do this trade because a floor is not stopping me"

It is also important to note that while more teams are below without it, teams at/slightly above the floor with a floor are still not good trade partners as you need to give them someone with a higher contract.

[jesterx7769]

Yes, but what's the challenge when we have salaries around 60M and all AIs have 40M at most?

They do this anyways, the floor doesn't prevent it from happening. Not every team drops down to 40m, about 4 more teams did yes, but not all.

edit so I don't triple post

Bruins, you are correct that it most certainly affects future challenges more. However by year 2/3/4/5 in normal challengers it starts to become old as well when a couple of teams are under the floor. As I mentioned above, just because a team is at say 41m doesn't mean you can trade with them. But yes, its really only game breaking in the future challenges.

I just think opening up the trade possibilities would help people since even in normal challenges we make a lot of the same trades/signings. Yes the competition level of the AI diminishes a bit but there isn't a big difference when the last place teams are at 35m in default db compared to 25m without a floor- we as users are still smoking them.

I understand this can be perceived as a radical change, but I think we can do some other things to make it harder as well since people seemed like this latest challenge more as it was harder than some other ones. I would be okay with doing a homegrown challenge now which I wasn't before as I think that would be harder.

[thunderbug]

Yeah, you're only supposed to have one 1 for 1 trade and the other trade has to be either a vet for pick or pick for vet. Making a second 1 for 1 deal is a huge advantage. I'm not sure if it would really do much to make you drop one of them. Sure, you wouldn't have them moving forward but you've already benefited from having them for the season. Let me talk with the other mods and get some opinions on this.

As for the removal of the cap floor, is it as necessary for a normal challenge started from a new game with the DB? I don't know that trading is as difficult then. I think the trouble comes up 10 or 15 years down the line (like in our current challenge) where almost every team is under the cap.

Right, I figured you would talk it over with the mods. I figured no matter what is decided there would be a penalty, whether I go back and replay etc, or what not.

[bruins72]

If you want to go back and replay, I don't think we'll need a penalty. If you don't want to replay, I guess it depends on who the player was, his stats since he joined and how many games he has played?

[thunderbug]

Ok so I will probably just replay from game 60 on of season 1 (it' happened October 17th of Season 2). I took screenshots in case you guys needed them.
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l218/ ... 3f0a1b.png Trade screen.
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l218/ ... 8aab4c.png Barbashev
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l218/ ... f4751a.png Niemenmaa

Neither one were super integral as you can tell somewhat by stats. Barbashev has a ton of assists because of his linemates.

[bruins72]

Okay. I'll ask Archi to reset your stats to the 60 game mark of season 1.

[Prowl]

It wasn't clear to me, but do we have to have a specific number of players per Tier? Thanks

[Asher413]

Keep in mind this was a long day at work- this questions may be obvious answers-

#1- Season 1- It lists 1 Tier C UFA can be signed, but above in 5.6.1 it says you can't sign people until the second season- I'm not clear which is the correct one or if I'm confusing myself.

#2- I'm assuming the trade chart is such that team 1 is always the challenge team and 2 is a CPU team, or can those be interchangeable.

#3- on the homegrown, I'm reading that if I drafted a player after the first season, I can use them immediately as a homegrown in the tier based on their draft round- or do I have to wait until they have the full season in the organization?

#4- (As a guy that thinks of unlikely scenarios)- is there a plan if more than one core player retires, or refuses to resign? (I'm seeing of the 8 core player in season 2, 2 decide they won't resign, or 2 retire, or some combo there that makes it impossible to keep 7 core players from the previous). Not that I'm seeking out that situation, but it could impact the core players you pick for a season.

Excited and ready to get this show on the road!

[jesterx7769]

Keep in mind this was a long day at work- this questions may be obvious answers-

#1- Season 1- It lists 1 Tier C UFA can be signed, but above in 5.6.1 it says you can't sign people until the second season- I'm not clear which is the correct one or if I'm confusing myself.

A: The sheet says year 1 not season 1. You can't sign anyone until July 1, so that would be the start of season 2 but still within your first year (although it could just say season 2)

#2- I'm assuming the trade chart is such that team 1 is always the challenge team and 2 is a CPU team, or can those be interchangeable.

A: I have not done a challenge with this restriction but I imagine they are interchangeable. Otherwise you couldn't trade away draft picks in one scenario and you couldn't trade for them to help rebuild in another.

#3- on the homegrown, I'm reading that if I drafted a player after the first season, I can use them immediately as a homegrown in the tier based on their draft round- or do I have to wait until they have the full season in the organization?

A: Your first homegrown player will be someone that is already on your team or in your prospects pool that your team has already acquired. The player you draft in your first draft will then be eligable for season 3 home grown (season 2 being their first full year in your system).

#4- (As a guy that thinks of unlikely scenarios)- is there a plan if more than one core player retires, or refuses to resign? (I'm seeing of the 8 core player in season 2, 2 decide they won't resign, or 2 retire, or some combo there that makes it impossible to keep 7 core players from the previous). Not that I'm seeking out that situation, but it could impact the core players you pick for a season.

A: No idea. Things can randomly happen in the game so I imagine it's flexible. However you do not ever get to sign/trade for more players if someone retires/leaves you. In the contract part, it basically comes down to you have to try tor resign those guys no matter what, as opposed to "oh I didn't want them anymore so I couldn't resign him whoops"

Excited and ready to get this show on the road!

[jesterx7769]

It wasn't clear to me, but do we have to have a specific number of players per Tier? Thanks

I don't think so, seems like something Bruins would be pretty clear about. It opens up more strategy this way and choice, if we were limited I imagine we would all have pretty much the same core players.

Bruins feel free to correct on these, just trying to help answer!

[bruins72]

It wasn't clear to me, but do we have to have a specific number of players per Tier? Thanks

Nope. Each tier just has different play requirements (games and ATOI).

[bruins72]

Keep in mind this was a long day at work- this questions may be obvious answers-

#1- Season 1- It lists 1 Tier C UFA can be signed, but above in 5.6.1 it says you can't sign people until the second season- I'm not clear which is the correct one or if I'm confusing myself.

That was my mistake. I was going back and forth in my head about that one and I changed it in one spot but not the other. I meant to have a waiver claim allowed in season 1 but not a UFA signing. That being said, it's up there on the chart so I think we'll allow it.

#2- I'm assuming the trade chart is such that team 1 is always the challenge team and 2 is a CPU team, or can those be interchangeable.

Nope. They're interchangeable. It just made sense to list them out that way rather than repeating the same transactions in reverse.

#3- on the homegrown, I'm reading that if I drafted a player after the first season, I can use them immediately as a homegrown in the tier based on their draft round- or do I have to wait until they have the full season in the organization?

The homegrown player has to be under contract with your team for a year before being declared your homegrown player. Once he's your homegrown player, he'll have to meet the homegrown player games played and ATOI requirements. The next two seasons he has to be on your roster and he'll have meet the games played and ATOI of the tier he falls into based upon his draft round.

#4- (As a guy that thinks of unlikely scenarios)- is there a plan if more than one core player retires, or refuses to resign? (I'm seeing of the 8 core player in season 2, 2 decide they won't resign, or 2 retire, or some combo there that makes it impossible to keep 7 core players from the previous). Not that I'm seeking out that situation, but it could impact the core players you pick for a season.

Excited and ready to get this show on the road!

[bruins72]

It wasn't clear to me, but do we have to have a specific number of players per Tier? Thanks

I don't think so, seems like something Bruins would be pretty clear about. It opens up more strategy this way and choice, if we were limited I imagine we would all have pretty much the same core players.

Bruins feel free to correct on these, just trying to help answer!

That's correct. I appreciate the help too. I checked the boards last night but with the worldwide time differences here, I missed these for a while.

I totally understand that these new rules are confusing and I may not have worded them as well as they could have been. I also haven't really had the chance to fully test these rules so there's bound to be some bumps in the road.

[batdad]

Well..somehow managed to get EHM installed with patch and license on my new Windows 8 computer. ANd have up and running and want to start the new challenge, as like to try new rules out.

But...I have one question for now and a zillion later I am sure. Been awhile since I have played

Start date for challenge game is still North American Start date..Aug 30 correct?


Thanks

[bruins72]

If you use the CSD Patch you have to go with the earliest possible date or it can crash when creating the game. I only enable the bare minimum leagues that the challenge requires and then start with the one for the Canadian Juniors.

[batdad]

I never use the CSD so do I still get to start earlier? Thinking that it would make a bit of a difference getting the extra summer under my practice regime...rather than Aug 30.