Slider recommendations

[woodjer]

Ok, so compared to most of you, I suck at Madden and I'm ok with that because I only play offline. That said, I'm having trouble finding a good level to play on. I did a season with Cleveland on Pro default and ended up going 13-3 and lost to Philly in the Super Bowl. Needless to say, not at all realistic. I had fun with it but some games just got downright boring. So recently I started playing on All-Pro and decided to use Indy (with Peyton) but I really feel like most games I don't stand a chance and not in the "man, this is a good challenge" way...it's more of the "Of course I just fumbled/missed that tackle, I was starting to do something good" way. So that got me thinking...are there any slider sets around here that might be somewhere in the middle?

Alternatively, I've recently started to enjoy Coach Mode in NCAA but have read that QBs won't scramble in Madden. Obviously not a big deal for me if I'm using Peyton but I don't know if I'll want to stick with Indy in that mode. Has anyone found any good coach sliders? If so, do they address the non-scrambling QB issue?

[mjhyankees]

Quote: Originally Posted by woodjer

Ok, so compared to most of you, I suck at Madden and I'm ok with that because I only play offline. That said, I'm having trouble finding a good level to play on. I did a season with Cleveland on Pro default and ended up going 13-3 and lost to Philly in the Super Bowl. Needless to say, not at all realistic. I had fun with it but some games just got downright boring. So recently I started playing on All-Pro and decided to use Indy (with Peyton) but I really feel like most games I don't stand a chance and not in the "man, this is a good challenge" way...it's more of the "Of course I just fumbled/missed that tackle, I was starting to do something good" way. So that got me thinking...are there any slider sets around here that might be somewhere in the middle? Alternatively, I've recently started to enjoy Coach Mode in NCAA but have read that QBs won't scramble in Madden. Obviously not a big deal for me if I'm using Peyton but I don't know if I'll want to stick with Indy in that mode. Has anyone found any good coach sliders? If so, do they address the non-scrambling QB issue?

There are various slider sets but most of them are all pro or higher...there maybe one out there...you have to search.
Practice mode: Practice covering the ball, not sprinting until you pass the LOS, finding receivers etc.

Typically what we all do is find a setting (all pro, all madden) that we are comfortable with and then adjust sliders down in those areas that we are "to good". I usually start with the user sliders and only alter the cpu when I feel I can't change the user sliders without losing realism. IE. The cpu is unable to run the ball at all? Lower your run reaction and tackling sliders. He can't complete passes? Lower you int. and pass reaction sliders and so on. When you can't go lower (some settings are too low...try QB acc on 2 and see how impossible it is to do anything) you start raising the cpu slider. Using the run game example. You've got your run reaction and tackling really low and to go lower means that your guys just don't react realistically (like all your lineman get pancakes together on one play). So raise the cpu run block or break tackle slider. It often becomes a balancing act. You can't go too low on the human side so you have to raise the cpu side.
Don't worry about levels, they take care of themselves. What I mean is this. You may start at pro and start adjusting down on the humans. If you get to a point where all the sliders in each category total 75 or less, you are actually playing on all madden at that point. I think all pro was 125 or 150 in total for each section. Jarrod has a nice explanation on the first page of his sliders (near bottom). Also if you need help, he's the acknowledged "guru of sliders" around here. I consider myself quite knowledgeable in this area but i still go to him for advice and ideas. I'm actually using a slightly modified version of his blue slider set because it just was better than what I had.
Good luck, hang in there and practice mode is the key. you'll get better. When i got Madden 10 (my first next gen madden) I hated it, couldn't do anything and thought it was broken. IMO it's just more realistic in that, as in real life: 1. If you don't cover the ball you fumble alot.
2. If you dont' aim your passes low on curls and such you get picked.
3. If you try to run with sprint button BEFORE you get through the whole you lose agility, bang into a defender and get tackled.

I could go on but you get the point. Good luck.

[woodjer]

Thanks for the reply. I will try messing around with some sliders myself. I tried messing with sliders a few years ago to get a good feel but ended up spending too much time on those and not enough time enjoying the game. A couple other questions for you...

1) Do you think a single quarter/half (using the same teams each time) is enough to get me started in the right direction? Anything that can save me time in my initial testing would be great. Obviously, the true test will come over several games.

2) Since you've obviously spent a lot of time adjusting sliders, do you find that you have to start over when you buy a new version of the game? Or can you confidently use your old sliders (even if it's just as a really close starting point)?

Also, I think I'll give some of the sliders around here a shot just to see if I'm really that bad (likely) or if All Pro default is just too arcadey for my play style.

[mjhyankees]

Quote: Originally Posted by woodjer

Thanks for the reply. I will try messing around with some sliders myself. I tried messing with sliders a few years ago to get a good feel but ended up spending too much time on those and not enough time enjoying the game. A couple other questions for you... 1) Do you think a single quarter/half (using the same teams each time) is enough to get me started in the right direction? Anything that can save me time in my initial testing would be great. Obviously, the true test will come over several games. 2) Since you've obviously spent a lot of time adjusting sliders, do you find that you have to start over when you buy a new version of the game? Or can you confidently use your old sliders (even if it's just as a really close starting point)? Also, I think I'll give some of the sliders around here a shot just to see if I'm really that bad (likely) or if All Pro default is just too arcadey for my play style.

Ok to answer question 1, one thing I would NOT do is test my sliders in practice mode. I've heard too many people state that they don't perform the same there as in games in franchse mode, and that even play now games react differently to sliders. I'm not sure myself but see no reason to test it as I've a method of using franchise games to test my sliders.
Here's what I do. Start a franchise and play every game on the schedule for week one. This should give you an idea of how the sliders are working overall. I'd say play at least 3 games, maybe more to determine how the sliders work. I suggest this because if you've got a team say with a great QB or a poor one, if your QB playing well is because he's just good, or if the sliders are good. Same with a poor one.
Keep in mind that withing the same slider set you can have wildly varying games. I had a 19-13 game one night and a 34-31, every team over 400 yard game the next.
Pay attention to the stats as they are the best determinate of the slider performance IMO. You will need to familiarize yourself with NFL stat averages. I have a post I'll try to link for you later. Start with 12 minute Quarters with a 25 second runoff to get the correct number of plays per game. (If this is too long you can change it AFTER you have your sliders the way you want them - without the correct number of plays per game your stats are meaningless for testing purposes).
Adjust sliders as needed. IE> The human QB after 4 games is averaging 80% completion and the CPU 40%, then you need to lower human pass acc and raise the cpu acc.

To answer question 2, it depends. From last year to this year it appeared most of us started with the same slider settings and had to make a few adjustments...nothing major that I could see. I would start with the same sliders and pay attention (again) to stats and adjust accordingly.

Hope this helps, let me know if you've any questions, and don't forget to check out other sets ( not necessarily to USE but to read about HOW they came to use their setups.

Maybe you should start on pro and adjust according to stats. Keep in mind also that if you're team has a higher ovr and/or is the home team you SHOULD win a majority of the time. However I'd be most concerned with stats. I only mention this because you need to adjust (IMO) if you are an 80 ovr team who regularly beats up 90 ovr teams.

[mjhyankees]

BTW post your stats here and I'll make suggestions after a few games (sometimes sooner if something is WAY off). Guys like Jarrod and bunch of others will also be very helpful if you ask them.

[mjhyankees]

Some NFL stats for real life stats with sliders.


Hit the link for NFL stats. You could wait until you play some games and then compare if you wish...or look now and know what you want to get in your games. Make sure to play complete games at 12 minute quarters (adjust immediately if you're getting way too few or too many plays). 115-130 is the range you want. A little over or under is ok IMO but change the time if you are getting 145 plays or 95 plays or such.
BTW the following count as PLAYS: Pass attempts, rushing attempts, int's, fumbles, QB kneel downs and sacks. Do not count special teams.

[juggalotusx]

I think if it was me I would start by looking at what I do best if its run or pass. if you have a easy time running put up the rush react if its pass put up the pass react or drop run blocking or broken tackles for the backs. drop numbers by small amounts till it feels right. I would do it in franchise mode though just will playing a game to tweak it.It takes awhile I had the same problem I am good but was getting killed with some of the slider sets and just came up with my own the game day sliders, tough but realistic. In my own opinion I dont want sliders that make it harder but that play out like a nfl game would play out stat wise and gameplay wise. If im the niners I shoud be able to kill the seahawks and if im playing Green Bay I want it to feel like Im playing green bay not being able to cover all the recievers.

[woodjer]

Quote: Originally Posted by mjhyankees

Ok to answer question 1, one thing I would NOT do is test my sliders in practice mode. I've heard too many people state that they don't perform the same there as in games in franchse mode, and that even play now games react differently to sliders. I'm not sure myself but see no reason to test it as I've a method of using franchise games to test my sliders. Here's what I do. Start a franchise and play every game on the schedule for week one. This should give you an idea of how the sliders are working overall. I'd say play at least 3 games, maybe more to determine how the sliders work. I suggest this because if you've got a team say with a great QB or a poor one, if your QB playing well is because he's just good, or if the sliders are good. Same with a poor one. Keep in mind that withing the same slider set you can have wildly varying games. I had a 19-13 game one night and a 34-31, every team over 400 yard game the next. Pay attention to the stats as they are the best determinate of the slider performance IMO. You will need to familiarize yourself with NFL stat averages. I have a post I'll try to link for you later. Start with 12 minute Quarters with a 25 second runoff to get the correct number of plays per game. (If this is too long you can change it AFTER you have your sliders the way you want them - without the correct number of plays per game your stats are meaningless for testing purposes). Adjust sliders as needed. IE> The human QB after 4 games is averaging 80% completion and the CPU 40%, then you need to lower human pass acc and raise the cpu acc. To answer question 2, it depends. From last year to this year it appeared most of us started with the same slider settings and had to make a few adjustments...nothing major that I could see. I would start with the same sliders and pay attention (again) to stats and adjust accordingly. Hope this helps, let me know if you've any questions, and don't forget to check out other sets ( not necessarily to USE but to read about HOW they came to use their setups. Maybe you should start on pro and adjust according to stats. Keep in mind also that if you're team has a higher ovr and/or is the home team you SHOULD win a majority of the time. However I'd be most concerned with stats. I only mention this because you need to adjust (IMO) if you are an 80 ovr team who regularly beats up 90 ovr teams.

Thanks for all of the replies, guys. I'm going to take the advice here and give it a shot. In the end, I want to enjoy this game and be challenged. I like winning and hate losing but I also want to feel like my choices have some impact on the game. If I can win running the same plays every game, I get bored easily but if I get creamed and feel hopeless, it's even worse. I'll let you know how things go once I get testing.

[Guru03]

100 user AI and CPU 0 AI.

[mjhyankees]

Quote: Originally Posted by woodjer

Thanks for all of the replies, guys. I'm going to take the advice here and give it a shot. In the end, I want to enjoy this game and be challenged. I like winning and hate losing but I also want to feel like my choices have some impact on the game. If I can win running the same plays every game, I get bored easily but if I get creamed and feel hopeless, it's even worse. I'll let you know how things go once I get testing.

Regarding play calling....I use ask madden to create some randomness (aka no money plays). I'll audible if the call seems dumb (bomb on 4th and inches, or a prevent D when he's in a goaline O, stuff like that) or if I just have a play I want (draw, screen etc.) that's not called.