What they really mean

[air]

Hey, I'm new to the game and I have a couple of questions concerning tactics. I only have the demo so maybe someone with a manual could help me out.

Pressing
How does this differ from forechecking? If I set this to high, will it make the player go deep into the offensive zone to put pressure, or is this just how actively a player defends?

Mentality
To make it short, is it any use to have different mentalities within a line, or will it mess everything up and make a confused unit? Obviously I want at least one top line defenceman to cover any breakaways while the forwards attack.

Backchecking
This is straightforward for forwards, but what about defencemen? If I set it to hard, will they go behind my goal or what?

Forechecking
Is this as straightforward as high = offensive and passive = defensive? Or are there skills that separate a good forechecker from a bad one?

Offensive system: Skating
Skating, that's the least I expect my players to do!! This sounds like made for three selfish individuals?

[archibalduk]

Hey air! Welcome to the site!

You might want to take a look at the EHM Guide that I wrote. My tactics section should provide definitions for all of the terms you list above. Here's the link.

If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to let us know :Thup:

[E5150_ca]

Archie's guide defines the terms quite well, but I think it lacks in detail in some places. So I'd just like to throw in my two cents on the tactics, as its what I think os what i'm best at in this game. I'm no professional but I recently won my division and made it to the Cup finals with the 05/06 Wash Caps, so I'd like to think I know a little here and there Also note, I don't claim everything in here is absoultly 100% right, if you find something doesn't work, tell me about it! This is how I determine what tactics I use on my teams and it really hasn't failed me yet.

Tactics: Forward Edition

Pressing: Basically means where your player is going to try and 'attack' the opposition when they have the puck. Are they going to keep lots of pressure on them and not let them out of the end? Let them skate and wait for a pass to intercept? Just skate along eside them untill they make a mistake? If your going to play hard pressing, your best bet is too have players with high anticipation and really good skating and workrate, so if they get beat in the offensive end, they'll still hustle back and help out.

Mentality: Attacking: Your players will do what they can to put the puck in the net, they will probably very close to the blue line in your own end and once you get possession they will be the first to break out. In the neutral zone, they will always play near the oppoents blue line, either waiting for a pass or for the puck to be onside. In the offensive zone will almost always be playing near the net, or deep in the slot, waiting for the puck. Attributes needed: Skating, Stickhandling, Deking, Wrist/slapshot

Defensive: Usually help in front of your own net in your own end and help make the break-out passes to forwards who playing higher up, in the offensive end, play in the high slot or inside the faceoff dots, but are quick to back-up if their team loses possession. Attributes needed: Anticipation, positioning, checking, pokecheck

Useing 3 players all with the same mentalities will definatly make the line work better at what they are told to do, but will leave alot of glaring weakness's.

Backchecking How fast will a player come back to help his team while the other tema is rushing up? If backchecking is set to easy, the player won't try very hard to come back but if his team manages a turn-over, he'll be in a great posistion for a possible breakaway. Hard backcheckers will always come back as hard as they ca to hlep their team, the downside is that if they manage a turnover they won't be in a very good posistion to bring the puck back to the offensive end. Hard backcheckers will need: high skating, work rate and checking.

Forechecking When your opponets have the puck, when are you going to press (see pressing) them. High-forcheck means you won't let them out of their end without a fight, you're constantly on their tails forceing them to move the puck quickly. Left-wing lock basiaclly means your RW and C will try and force the play to the left side of the ice, where the LW will try and stop the puck( The LW should have VERY good defensive skills if your going to play this tactic.) Passive forcheck means one or two of your players will try and steal the puck in the offensive end, while the other 4 kind of drift aorund the neutral zone waiting to intercept a pass. Neutral Zone Trap means that all your layers will basically line up across your own blue line and stop the otehr team from getting into your defensive end (think NJ Devils in the old NHL.) High-forcheck requires
VERY high anticipation and average or better work rate, for best results use in conjection with hard pressure.

Offensive system: Passing: Your players will spread out in the offensizve zone and pass the puck between them untill one of them gets a clear shot. Obviously needs very high passing attribute on all players, will also need players that are able to 'get open' and some flair, teamwork and creativity would be heplful as well. This is the hardest tactic to get to work, but if you have a line of high quality players it can be the most productive.

Skating: Your players will skate around the offensize zone 'hogging' the puck looking for a clear shot or an open man. Attribtes needed: Skating, Stickhandling, Deking, Flair, Creativity

Dump and Chase: Players will step across the blue line into the offensive end then immediating shoot the puck along the boards behind the net and let the opposite winger chase it and fight the defenseman for it behind the net. Use it on players that have alot of strength and are good at winning along the boards. Anticipation is helpful as well. Use in conjuction with behind the net (if you have a good centre) or crash the net for best results.

Offensive Zone: Posistional: Players basically play there position, centers will play in the slot, wingers along the baords or in the corner and defensemen on the points. This is the most basic strategy, and doesn't really require any particular skills.

Crash the Net: You will always have atleast one player right in front of the net, usually two, distracting the goalie and hopeing for a deflection from the point or any other reason to start wacking sticks at the goalie. Use only on big, strong, brave players. High deflection attribute is a plus.

Triangle: Your forwards will form a triangle in the offensive zone, with your center in the high slot and thw two wingers at the bottom of the circles. Like the passing system, you need very good players to get good production for this, but if it works wlel for your team it is one of the best. For best results use with passing system. Needs players with high flair, creativity, teamwork, passing, shooting and getting open.


Once again, I don't claim any of this is 100% right, but its what I use and what works for me.

Welcome to the site air, hope you stick around!

[I slacked off in school and took some notes for this, and when I get home what do I see, but someone asking for help with tactics. ]

[archibalduk]

I've only read the first part (I've done enough reading for today after studying lol ) but it looks really good.

[air]

Thanks!! This is a lot more than I expected! I did have a look at archibalduk's guide but I still had these questions left.

One thing I forgot was counter-tactics, or how to make your opponent less effective. I figured if they play skating or passing it's generally better to put pressure, if they just dump it in it's better to stand back so the players will be closer to the boards... am I on the right track?

[air]

I'm actually having more problems with penalties than countering opposition tactics. In my last two games with the Avs I had to kill 12 penalties in EACH game when the opposition had 3 and 4. It's insane, no wonder I'm not winning.

All my players just keep slashing the opponents. I have normal or even easy hitting, do I have to play easy backchecking so the players won't even get close to the opponents? If there's a tactical solution it must be simple, I doubt anyone would play this with continuous 3 on 5 situations...

[E5150_ca]

Check your coach's level of discipline attribute, if its really low, you should consider finding a new one with a higher attribute.


Edited to add: Are you useing the newest patch? I beilive it fixed most of the penalty problems.

[air]

I tried to install the patch but the demo tells me to put in a CD. I guess I have to go get the game then..

I've been short-handed 65 times in seven games for first in the league, Canadiens are second with 51 times short-handed. I'm playing with easy and normal hitting and my head coach's discipline rating is 15.