Challenge Questions/Feedback? Post Here!

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:51 pm

Ad far as I understand it only applies to challenges 7.1 and beyond. Some of us were already done with 6.2 by the time that rule was made up.

Post by **batdad** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:51 pm

The cap rule of $36 is only for LA KINGS Challenge, not CBJ Season 2. For it, you have to be at the league floor

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Nah...you just have to stay within team budget for CBJ season 2.

Post by **CatchUp** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:57 pm

awesome, thanks for the quick replies guys!

kuulapaa · Post by **kuulapaa** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:11 am

I know the rule is you can only trade draft picks of the next coming draft, but I would like to know, does it also mean that you have to reject trades, where the other team is offering you draft picks for later drafts? And if you can accept such offers, can you then trade those draft picks further? In other words, does the draft pick rule mean only that your own draft picks must stay untouched?

And I assure I don't want to be nosy - I just really

Post by **batdad** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 4:24 pm

Welcome back kuulapaa. No problem answering the question. I believe the rule was designed to keep from being able to add draft picks 10 years down the road to acquire better players for now. So my answer would be, that any draft picks you acquire for later seasons would not be able to be dealt until you reach the later seasons. Does that make sense?

kuulapaa · Post by **kuulapaa** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:33 pm

In a way it does, but on the other hand I wouldn't be so surprised if you could use the extra picks whenever you want as long as your original draft picks stays to be used as it is said in the rules.

And thank's for the warm welcoming. I have been reading the forum threads all the time but I haven't been able to play EHM for a long time until now. Now I'm playing the Toronto Challenge just for fun and to refresh my memory (haven't read Challenge threads so I don't get any extra information) and hoping that I can get along in the Challenge #9. Nearly can't wait it!

Post by **batdad** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:40 pm

Yeah, for the rules the way they are right now...prolly not an issue,

Cool on the Challenge 9 thing....Will be looking forward to "schooling" you too! Heh.

Saranis · Post by **Saranis** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 9:44 pm

I changed the Capitals colors to the new Red, white, and blue using the pre-game editor, am I allowed to use that Database for the callenge? I have made no other alterations to any teams using the editor.

Saranis · Post by **Saranis** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:32 pm

Saranis wrote:I changed the Capitals colors to the new Red, white, and blue using the pre-game editor, am I allowed to use that Database for the callenge? I have made no other alterations to any teams using the editor.

I'll just download the TBL:DB. Still would like to know though for sure challenges.

Post by **batdad** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 12:15 am

To be honest, I do not see an issue with the color change. sorry did not answer earlier was busy. The only concern would be if you edited anything else. We prefer for the challenges to stick to the mods that are downloadable from the site. I believe that the Caps colors are there as well, although not 100% sure.

Anyway, I see no issue and welcome. as long as it is the default or TBL:DB V1.1 no problem

Have fun in the challenge.

Saranis · Post by **Saranis** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 4:25 am

batdad wrote:To be honest, I do not see an issue with the color change. sorry did not answer earlier was busy. The only concern would be if you edited anything else. We prefer for the challenges to stick to the mods that are downloadable from the site. I believe that the Caps colors are there as well, although not 100% sure.

Anyway, I see no issue and welcome. as long as it is the default or TBL:DB V1.1 no problem

Have fun in the challenge.

Okay, I justed wanted to make sure before I got to starting the game itself, I think I read somewhere that it had to be the default database and since I changed the colors I really couldn't call it that.

Not that I'll be seeing much of my caps playing the challenge

Post by **batdad** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 4:36 am

Nah..the colors are not really the database..but If Denis Arkhipov gets 200 pts,,,,we will be checking up on you. Editing player attributes is the issue.

corinthian · Post by **corinthian** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 4:49 pm

Hi batdad!
What is a pre-editor?
Where do i get it?
Thanks!

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 4:56 pm

It's a utility made by the folks at Eastside UK. It allows you to edit player attributes and other aspects of the game. You've got to be careful using it though. It's easy to corrupt your database. Plus, you want to make sure you backup your database.

Do a forum search (the magnifying glass on the black bar at the top of the screen) for the word "editor" and you can probably find more information on it.

Hypnotist · Post by **Hypnotist** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 2:15 am

First, they are way too complicated for newer players. I DL'd the new spreadsheet and was lost. I started to figure it out and then realized that I was being asked to predict which players would be not only major parts of my team for the first season, but for several seasons out. Personally this gives a huge advantage to the players who have played several teams to 5-10 years or more and have players career progression in saved games. In effect, they have a time machine. I haven't been able to play a game for more than 2 1/2 seasons (due to non-backwards compatible patch in EHM 05 and then the switch to EHM 07), so I don't have the knowledge of who becomes a stud in 4-5 years. I applaud the initiative to correct some problems in the challenge set-up, but I think it went a little to far and just made it worse. I was trying to work it all out and decided that all of the work I was putting into it made it less than fun and more like number crunching. I played most of the first season in the Toronto challenge until unexpected work obligations made it impossible to continue and was really enjoying the sheer frustration of trying to make that team a winner and was looking forward to the next one where I would have the time to devote to it. But I'm going to sit this one out because a relatively minor mistake in choosing the "core" of the team will very likely shoot you in the foot for the rest of the challenge.

My suggestion for leveling the playing field? Choose minor league teams to play. Anyone ever really played an ECHL team as a career and not just a starting point to getting to the NHL? I have played 2 seasons with the Toledo Storm and it is much more challenging to a Virtual-GM than the NHL. The NHL can be broken down to a numbers game (i.e. get players A, B, & C to win the Cup) The lower leagues are incredibly tough in so far that if you have a player contracted to your team (not a parent club) that is tearing up the league, chances are he will get an AHL contract and be gone by mid-season. Frustrating, yes, but a lot more interesting in terms of trying to ice a contending team every night. I've never played one, but a Euro league could be a good challenge as well. Using lower leagues makes for fresh challenges and uses player pools that not many are intimately familiar with. JMO.

Post by **Shadd666** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 2:36 am

Hypnotist: Even players used to run teams on a long-term can't know for sure who's gonna be a star or a bust, as it can strongly change from a game to another, and also varies according to who are the coaches, the teammates, the tactics, and from what kind of injuries the players will have. So, for predicting the future, everyone is on the same field: having good scouts you can trust!

As for doing a "mistake" in the core roster, it won't shoot you out for the rest of the challenge! If you've read all the rules (and i guess you did

), you can see that every season there are less core players, meaning that you can get rid of some (3 after the first season, and 2 every other season, if my memory serves). So the player you might consider as a mistake should be gone after season 1, and then you gain more and more liberty about what to do with the team. This way, the mistake is just one player...out of 23...and for only one season...

As for playing in lower leagues... Personnally, i always loved the idea, for all the reasons you mentionned

(personnally never played in the ECHL, but spent many years in Denmark and Sweden, and a few in CHL and in Canadian juniors). Problem is that we may not have that much interest from players for such a challenge. And there's no use to make a challenge if only 5 people are involved in. We can't either run multiple challenges, as the players will more likely be splitted between the challenges rather than playing both, due to a lack of time and...the need to have a real life too

As for the spreadsheet, i think there are enough instructions, but even if people are lost, there's a thread to ask questions about it

So all in all, this new challenge is accessible to absolutely anyone, even to new players!

Sure, it's a bit more difficult. But heh, doesn't the purpose of a challenge is to be...challenging?

Post by **batdad** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 3:06 am

Hey hypnotist. We knew this would not be everybody's cup of tea. I really urge you just to try and play it. Even without thinking too far ahead. I know that is what I am doing. I am kind of thinking a bit..maybe 2 years, but that is about it. I am playing this more as a GM whose job is on the line. At least a little.

I know it ain't easy, but I never play very far ahead, and I know Bruins never has played more than 3 or 4 seasons either. I simmed a game to 20 years, but never actually played it, just stayed on vacation.

If we went to lower leagues we know we would get fewer players out period. Maybe this is something we do in the future, but right now...not yet.

I urge you to ask any questions you have right here, or the ideas thread, and we can walk you through it. I would not plan too far ahead, cause if Barker gets hurt and retires...there goes the plan. No what I mean? Totally unpredictable to some extent anyway.

Right now I know I have made mistakes already...I am losing. I never lose!!!

Edit: And yeah, we knew this would not be everyone's cup'o tea. Just thought for now, it would be the best solution to a tough problem...challenge simplicity.

Also thanks for the feedback. We do want it for sure. We know it is hard to contemplate playing all 7 years. It is a lot of time. Again, hopefully you will give it a go. If not, we will take this feedback,and whatever else you have to give us to heart.

thunderbug · Post by **thunderbug** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 5:03 am

if we did lower leagues we would probably have to can the core thing for that challenge. The vet rules would most likely deal us fits if we don't. That and most of the teams change quite a few players from season to season.

Post by **batdad** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 5:31 am

Oh yeah...if we ever do lower leagues in the future there will be no "Core thing"...but for now it is the NHL and the core sticks.

Post by **Danny** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 9:01 am

I can understand your opinion Hypnotist, when I first saw it it seemed really comprehensive and complicated to me too. Well it is, in theory. Once you get into it it's really no big deal.

I think you're a bit too worried about the rules and planning years ahead, that's really not necessary, after just 2 seasons you're only required to keep 5 from the original roster, so unless you're one of those people who trade 90% of the team before even advancing one day not much changes really.
The only thing you've got to be aware of is that your homegrown needs to be signed in June the year before if you want to use him for the homegrown category.

Obviously no one can tell you how to feel about it, but give it another try, at least go through the offseason and see whether you like it or not

As far as other NA leagues or Euro low-tier leagues are concerned, personally I find it very hard...but in the wrong way...not so much challenging but rather kinda frustrating, and I don't really understand where the fun part is in that. You don't really build a team, it's in re-build mode all the time, I've played my fair share of seasons in lower divisions in Europe. I like to scout, discover talents, work with youngsters but it's pointless if I don't get the reward for doing it and another team steals my talent after a few months, again just my opinion.
Now a challenge in a top Euro league, like Russia or Sweden, that would certainly be interesting.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 2:24 pm

Yeah, I've NEVER played a game past 3 seasons. Over the past year or two I've really enjoyed playing this game most when it's part of a challenge. That's why I rarely play a game with my hometown Bruins. Even when I'm playing a game between challenges (I tend to play fast usually... not this time though) I might get a season or two in with a team and then a new challenge comes around. Once that challenge is done, I'm not connected to the game I was playing in the last break, so I start another. I have NO KNOWLEDGE of how players turn out 4 or 5 years down the line.

Like Danny, Shadd, and batdad said... you don't need to plan ever single move years in advance. You're also not stuck with your core forever. You keep 7 out the 10 in the second season. Then it's down to 5 the next. Then 3 after that. And finally, it's just 1 player for the last couple seasons. That's not that outrageous. It's just keep people from coming in and cleaning house. In the Toronto challenge I traded almost my whole roster in the first season. I want to say I had 3 players from the original roster by the end of the first season. By the second season, I only had Sundin, I think. All these new rules do is try to make you take things slow and develop your own prospects.

The rules look complicated but they're really not. They're just very thorough, to cover all the bases. We don't want any loopholes that people can exploit.

Post by **Lidas** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 3:03 pm

How to I put a title to a link when I present my screenshots?

As it is now, the entire link to the picture can be seen, but I want to put a title instead of a link, like everyone else does =P

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 3:09 pm

You have to hit "reply" instead of doing a "quick reply". Above the box where you type your reply, you'll see a bunch of buttons. One of them looks like a chain link. Click that one and it prompts you for the URL and then the words you want to show up.

Post by **Lidas** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 3:40 pm

Thanks mate, I think Ive got it now!

Hypnotist · Post by **Hypnotist** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 5:15 pm

The Core players in year 2 and beyond, they have to be on my year 1 list or a home-grown right? I can't add a FA or different roster player. Clarification appreciated.

Challenge Questions/Feedback? Post Here!

Trading draft picks in Challenges

The New Challenge Rules