EHM The Blue Line

Hi Guys,
With EA abandoning the PC next season we were thinking of switching our league to a management sim using EHM2007.
We are a keeper league that has been around for 11 years.

First of all.... are there enough people who like to play EHM multiplayer for an online league to work?

As a new commish what are things I should watch for when running a league and what (if any) loopholes need to be covered with outside rules?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike

Well the first thing I'm going to warn you about is that EHM 2007 only lets you have 16 teams controlled by players at a time. That means you will have 14 teams (assuming you choose to use the NHL) that will be computer controlled. That in mind you may want to take a look at our challenge rules which are meant to curb players taking advantage of the computer Gms.

thunderbug wrote:Well the first thing I'm going to warn you about is that EHM 2007 only lets you have 16 teams controlled by players at a time. That means you will have 14 teams (assuming you choose to use the NHL) that will be computer controlled. That in mind you may want to take a look at our challenge rules which are meant to curb players taking advantage of the computer Gms.

Hi,
Thanks for the fast reply!

I will take a look at that. Are there any rules you suggest that are mandatory to adopt?
aka gamebreakers?


Mike

Hey Commish, welcome to TBL.

In EHM 05, I believe it's possible to have 30 players in there, and it is considered to be a much better game when playing online. If you check out the challenge's that TBL has run in the past, there are many rules that have been put in place to make it (as the name says) challenging... They could help to improve your online EHM league...

http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/vi ... php?t=4461
http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/vi ... php?t=4462
http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/vi ... php?t=4463

getzlaf15 wrote:Hey Commish, welcome to TBL.

In EHM 05, I believe it's possible to have 30 players in there, and it is considered to be a much better game when playing online. If you check out the challenge's that TBL has run in the past, there are many rules that have been put in place to make it (as the name says) challenging... They could help to improve your online EHM league...

http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/vi ... php?t=4461
http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/vi ... php?t=4462
http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/vi ... php?t=4463

Hi,
Thanks for the info!

Will check it out.

First off, welcome to TBL!

NEHLcommish wrote: First of all.... are there enough people who like to play EHM multiplayer for an online league to work?

I've been around EHM from the beginning, and from what I have seen: no.

EHM Online has been brought up many times here at TBL and the SI boards, and the unanimous conclusion is that most people don't have an interest in it.

There are still a handful of people who love it and/or are asking about it with interest (I just got into it about a month ago with the DMNHL, and I've been enjoying it quite a bit), so it's not a completely hopeless effort to try and get a league going.

As a new commish what are things I should watch for when running a league and what (if any) loopholes need to be covered with outside rules?

Most important thing to know: EHM 2007's online capabilities were watered down significantly from EHM 2005. 2007 only allows 16 GM's, and from what I hear, is less stable overall. 2005 allows a full 30 GM's.

SI ran a poll a while back prior to EHM 2007, asking about the level of interest in online play, and it was a pretty solid "nay" - so that explains the step backwards from 2005.

Other than that, I'd recommend checking out DMNHL. They're one of the few EHM online leagues around, and I believe they're the most experienced league - so they have a pretty solid formula in place.

Lastly, we've been trying to build up our EHM online coverage here at TBL, and I think we're on an excellent path right now. So, you may want to stick around. Better coverage may really spark some new interest around the community for EHM online.

B. Stinson wrote:First off, welcome to TBL!

Thanks, seems like a pretty helpful bunch of people here!

The reason we thought of EHM2007 instead of EHM2005 is the 2d match play. I've watched a few games and was impressed with what I saw. Our league is coming from an arcade background and I thought it might make it an easier transition.

Other than that, I'd recommend checking out DMNHL. They're one of the few EHM online leagues around, and I believe they're the most experienced league - so they have a pretty solid formula in place.

Will definitely check it out but it sounds like you don't hold out much hope for a new online league succeeding.
I appreciate the honest feedback though. I don't want to see our league end like this after 11 years but we are running out of options. No other hockey management sims have impressed me (and are as polished) as EHM.
We have also explored other possibilities like Strat-o-Matic and APBA computer games.

Lastly, we've been trying to build up our EHM online coverage here at TBL, and I think we're on an excellent path right now. So, you may want to stick around. Better coverage may really spark some new interest around the community for EHM online

Will definitely stick around to see what happens. There are still a few months to go before we have to make a final decision.

Thanks again,
Mike

I've honestly never tried it, but would be interested.

NEHLcommish wrote:Hi Guys,
With EA abandoning the PC next season we were thinking of switching our league to a management sim using EHM2007.
We are a keeper league that has been around for 11 years.

First off welcome to TBL!!

Secondly... EA is abandoning the PC??? Where did you hear this??

Qikdraw wrote:

NEHLcommish wrote:Hi Guys,
With EA abandoning the PC next season we were thinking of switching our league to a management sim using EHM2007.
We are a keeper league that has been around for 11 years.

First off welcome to TBL!!

Secondly... EA is abandoning the PC??? Where did you hear this??

Thanks.

EA has stated they are out of the PC hockey business until they find a business model that works on the PC.
Blaming piracy etc. There will definitley not be a game in October and from what I hear the next game could be at least three years away.

Mike

NEHLcommish wrote: Thanks.

EA has stated they are out of the PC hockey business until they find a business model that works on the PC.
Blaming piracy etc. There will definitley not be a game in October and from what I hear the next game could be at least three years away.

Mike

Dayum! I hadn't heard that.

Another reason to hate EA. Ugh.

NEHLcommish wrote:
EA has stated they are out of the PC hockey business until they find a business model that works on the PC.
Blaming piracy etc...

Well, it certainly won't be the first time we in the EHM community have seen that happen...

B. Stinson wrote:

NEHLcommish wrote:
EA has stated they are out of the PC hockey business until they find a business model that works on the PC.
Blaming piracy etc...

Well, it certainly won't be the first time we in the EHM community have seen that happen...

Indeed, maybe that will mean more people will look to EHM for Hockey computer games. Then maybe SI would make a new one, just maybe!

getzlaf15 wrote:

B. Stinson wrote:

NEHLcommish wrote:
EA has stated they are out of the PC hockey business until they find a business model that works on the PC.
Blaming piracy etc...

Well, it certainly won't be the first time we in the EHM community have seen that happen...

Indeed, maybe that will mean more people will look to EHM for Hockey computer games. Then maybe SI would make a new one, just maybe!

Agreed, Thats why we came to check out EHM.
I started getting interested in EHM with the introduction of the 2d game engine.

Well, there is the NBHL that is doing pretty well as a new league. 05 is good. I'd say you have to enforce ice-time rules. I've seen teams try to roll 2 lines basically(with a third playing 5 mins a game). It works really well, but, it breaks the game. The game isn't very popular online mainly because nobody understands how it works and many seem afraid of it being a gigantic time sync, which it isn't imho, not once you have your team setup the way you want it. I suggest you'd need a remote desktop program (we use realvnc) to save the game and whatnot, because if you want to use a custom database it gets a bit more buggy.

Not that i would deter you from buying EHM as it is a great game, there are other games that would be better oriented for Sim leagues, games that have unlimited customization options.
From # of teams, to # of games played, ect.
Something like This would probably be better for what your doing.
Another option would be This One

The Benefit is only 1 person needs to buy the Simulation software the GM/Line editors are free.
EHM is a great game and is more then capable of doing what you want.
I would look into all of them if i were you.

RyanSmythe wrote: The Benefit is only 1 person needs to buy the Simulation software the GM/Line editors are free.

I don't know those games, but, the same can be said for EHM. Only the host needs the full version; everybody else can use the demo if they don't play offline.

Hey,
Thanks for all the help guys.

I will check out all these options.
I want to be sure we make the right decision.

The main problem is that we are coming from an arcade game background.
We are a keeper league that has been running for over a decade.
The 2d match option in EHM might be a good compromise as the guys are used to
playing each head to head online. (although EHM is strictly "coach only")

We had fairly indepth GM options but nothing like EHM.


Mike