EHM The Blue Line

Yeah, as I have switched to trying out derivations of your tactics my lines are much more in sync for their playstyle naturally. Upping the aggressiveness has helped in general. I wonder what significance the aggressive attribute is in relation to the aggressive attribute.

I might try some personal tactics for more situational things like passing and shooting and so forth, but keep the stuff like Mentality and tempo the same for the line as a whole.

I stick to the aggressiveness settings as stated in that post. Sure, you'll end up in the sin bin more but sometimes you have to take penalties. In my current challenge game, I've got Boulton set on Berserk and he took over 1000 PIM in the season but I found my team performing better when he was causing trouble.

I don't mix Tempos on the same line anymore. Lately, I've been trying to keep the whole line on the same tempo. Now Mentality I can see mixing. You might decide to have 1 defenseman and 1 forward set to "Defensive" while the rest of the line is set to "Offensive".

Hello everyone.

First of all, please excuse me for my bad english. Second of all, i am new to this game. Although i am a big hockey fan i kinda believed there is no good up-to-date hockey manager around. I play ehm07 for only couple of weeks, but i've allready read a lots of posts at this forum and i think my view of hockey little bit developed.

That being said, straight to business. I decided to learn all aspects of game step by step. I believe i managed to learn micro-managment, trading and practice aspects of game, but until recently i left all my tactics to my head-coach. I have my Oilers team with which i was learning how to practice(its team in rebuild and i decided to rebuild it even more with trading for 1st round picks and then try to get best possible development for my prospects. I also took over Oklahoma City Barons to get more control). And for last two seasons i also set up my tactics. I have tons of offensive talent so naturally i was leaning towards offensive tactics and i quickly found out : It almost doesnt matter what my offensive settings are, it doesnt matter if i understand what change i just made in my tactics, as long as i played offense i was winning. I don't know if it its because of my players are offensively minded, or just because they are such great players now or because of the fact that its good to play offense in this game. Probably a mix of all of it. I swept last playoffs with 16-0-0 record and while its probably good result for rookie like me, i missed heartbreaking game 7 overtime series. I've read here that its more difficult to win with defensive tactic. And i've got tons of questions and need some clarification. I would appreciate any of your ideas.

Tempo - I believe that players with lower shift times and good stamina can play with higher tempo, but other than that i am lost. How exactly higher/lower tempo affects players performance in games? whats the difference that higher/lower tempo makes in offensive and defensive tactic? Does tempo have any effects to players conditions after game? Can players with higher ice time play with higher tempo? Even if they have good stamina and not big shift-time?

Aggression - I understand that aggression is good for enforcer kind of players, but in case of other checkers or hitters : Is better heavy hitter with lower aggression because he gets less PIM or with higher aggression because he hits more or harder? Same question for non-physical very mediocre hitter players(lets say hitting around 10) - Does low aggression (lets say 5) means that player shouldnt hit at all or he is same bad hitter as player with mediocre aggression?

Shooting - How do i get players to use slapshot often? I guess with defenseman its just let him shoot barrage(i also found slapshot tactic somewhere here), but i have seen some forwards with much higher slapshot attribute than wristshot(like 17 to 10 difference). Or they they just naturally prefer shoot slapshot over wristshot if they have option?

I've got 2 main ideas for defensive tactics. One with strong hard hitting hard checking players and lots of board play. Does a frequent puck dumping means that u get lots of board play or you need more fast skaters to get to the puck quickly? Any help how to set that tactic?
And second one. Throw few fast skaters with good acceleration and good stick technique into bunch of hard-working defenders with good pokechecks and try to get as many fast counter-attacks or breakaways as possible. Maybe even in PK. Any opinions how to set tactic so team gets into this opportunities and how differently set personal tactics for those offensive black sheeps?

Llaw

I've got 2 main ideas for defensive tactics. One with strong hard hitting hard checking players and lots of board play. Does a frequent puck dumping means that u get lots of board play or you need more fast skaters to get to the puck quickly? Any help how to set that tactic?
And second one. Throw few fast skaters with good acceleration and good stick technique into bunch of hard-working defenders with good pokechecks and try to get as many fast counter-attacks or breakaways as possible. Maybe even in PK. Any opinions how to set tactic so team gets into this opportunities and how differently set personal tactics for those offensive black sheeps?

Llaw

Llaw wrote:Tempo - I believe that players with lower shift times and good stamina can play with higher tempo, but other than that i am lost. How exactly higher/lower tempo affects players performance in games? whats the difference that higher/lower tempo makes in offensive and defensive tactic? Does tempo have any effects to players conditions after game? Can players with higher ice time play with higher tempo? Even if they have good stamina and not big shift-time?

With high tempo comes either much aggression and checking or highly skilled talented players. High tempo in you own games for me, would mean that you need players with skill to handle the pace and can handle moving the puck at that pace. A player with less skill, can't handle the pace, therefore make more mistakes. Yes, pace in games that gives tired players(some times, if you run a tough training schedule), but it's just to give them some light training for a couple of days and move them back to schedule again.

Llaw wrote:Aggression - I understand that aggression is good for enforcer kind of players, but in case of other checkers or hitters : Is better heavy hitter with lower aggression because he gets less PIM or with higher aggression because he hits more or harder? Same question for non-physical very mediocre hitter players(lets say hitting around 10) - Does low aggression (lets say 5) means that player shouldnt hit at all or he is same bad hitter as player with mediocre aggression?

I think that depends on positioning and pace. Bad positioning = more aggression, bad pace = less aggression. Aggression to me is more the style of play. Do you want them to be in their faces, with a little bit more risk for letting one in, or more laid back, but might be to passive at times. Non-physicals should have more pace I guess(and positioning would help too).

Llaw wrote:Shooting - How do i get players to use slapshot often? I guess with defenseman its just let him shoot barrage(i also found slapshot tactic somewhere here), but i have seen some forwards with much higher slapshot attribute than wristshot(like 17 to 10 difference). Or they they just naturally prefer shoot slapshot over wristshot if they have option?

1. Tactics ---> Unit Tactics ---> Tactical Systems ---> Offensice faceoffs: Point Shot
2. Personal Tactics ---> Press the number of any player ---> Additional options ---> Shoot/Pass Bias: Shoot

Llaw wrote:I've got 2 main ideas for defensive tactics. One with strong hard hitting hard checking players and lots of board play. Does a frequent puck dumping means that u get lots of board play or you need more fast skaters to get to the puck quickly? Any help how to set that tactic?

Dumping the puck gives you board battles. Tactical settings should have hitting, aggressiveness, mentality and tempo at a high rate of some sort. Whatever mix you find the best I suppose.

Llaw wrote:And second one. Throw few fast skaters with good acceleration and good stick technique into bunch of hard-working defenders with good pokechecks and try to get as many fast counter-attacks or breakaways as possible. Maybe even in PK. Any opinions how to set tactic so team gets into this opportunities and how differently set personal tactics for those offensive black sheeps?

Backchecking, Gap Control, tempo, puck pressure.

Thx for some explanation.

Hello, I would just have a quick question that I don't understand in the game. I started one with the Stars, made some good trades (or I believe its good ). I just started the season, done with exhibition games (won all of them) and I am struggling with the season. On home ice, it looks like I lose all the time, however, I have most of my wins away (for example, Kings beat me at home 4-3, then I beat them 3 days later in LA 6-1). So I started watching the games to understand what is happening, and I see that whenever there is a loose puck, my players are not going for it! They are just standing around and as soon as the opposition gets the puck they start to play defense. I do not know what to do with that as I lose the puck in the offensive soon whenever this happens from a cross pass or whatnot. It is pretty frustrating I hope you guys can help me out (I did not find a topic that deals with this, but my searching is not my best so far ) Thank you

Hi guys, I have a question that I will try to phrase as best as possible. So when I set personal settings I usually set-up tactics only for even strength. Now the problem is during the game if I see a weakness in the opposition and adjust a player or players personal tactics it shows the tactics are all situations. I try to untick the tactics under all situations, confirm and try again but it still comes up as all situations. So basically the personal tactics are ticked under all situations and even strength. If the personal tactics always comes up midgame as all situations does it in fact effect all situations even though I want them only as even strength? I apologize in advance if this question is confuzing.

I answered a similar question on the last page. Use the dropdown menu to select Even Strength and make your adjustments. When you exit/leave that screen, then come back to it, it will automatically show All Situations because that's the first item in the dropdown menu.

If you make changes to All Situations, it will override the setting you make for ES/PP/PK.

Thank you Richie Daggers Crime. I must of went right by it on the last page

To some of the more experienced guys(B72, Manimal, Batdad etc...)


Would you say the key to what you guys do in tactics is contained within this thread? I know I have a long boring reading week next week and I'd be willing to spend a few hours reading through here if it would be fruitful.

umwoz, this thread as well as the special units (power play and penalty kill) thread are perfect starting places. They will get your team to win(as it isn't the hardest in this game, especially if your team is stacked). A strong offense will always win in this game, so start with that.

However, I feel that all experienced players will say that the best way to get good at this game is to take what you learn here and master it in game. Keep playing, watch games (this is huge), try new things and find what works for you.

The best thing I ever did in this game is to not stack my team and play with below average players. Making a winning team when you are stacked is easy, winning with a bad team is what teaches you to play this game.

This site is one of the best run game sites and the information is really easy to find. Read through some threads, copy and paste some things you would like to try and play, play, play!

Also, participating in a challenge and follow the rules, they will force you to learn this game in order to succeed.

Best of luck and ask questions as needed.

What harmonica says is true. Read up on this thread and the special teams tactics thread and get some practice with it in-game. Also, read The EHM Guide. That's got some great info to build off of as well. Combine what you learn from reading these 3 things with some practical experience and you'll be in good shape.

Also, as harmonica said, take part in a challenge. It really is challenging and it will teach you to do more with less. Don't worry about not measuring up to others right away. It's just fun to be playing with the same team as several other people and to be able to share experiences.

By watch games, do you mean the entire game?

(under the Highlights section: All Game, Extended, Key?)

vissia wrote:I got a new question...

When I've personal tactics for my players (set in unit tactics screen), I notice that sometimes they are gone if the player misses games yet sometimes they stay.

Does anyone know when and how the settings would get cleared? Can I make the personal tactics to stay even when the player is not playing?

The personal tactics settings can be saved in a tactic.tct file. Create your preferred lineups with desired tactics and save them. You can print the Set Lines screens, from the tactics menu, for each set of tactics to create a menu.

Eg. I have a main tactic I use for my preferred starting lineup. A player in that lineup is injured and is replaced therefore requiring a new tactic to be saved once that player's personal tactics have been set. Then, in future, depending on which starting lineup I have I load the appropriate team tactic.

Wow, I thought I was getting the hang of tactics. Untill I looked in the challenge screenshots thread.

You guys, in the first season, ALL seem to have Antropov up above an 8.5, Kane above an 8.

I'm playing with the St. Louis Blues. Not by challenge rules even, and I don't have a single player above an 8 in my first season(February).

Is this a matter of personal tactics? Team Tactics? Any help would be awesome.

I really don't want to play this game unrealistically in order to win.

PS. Still Curious about my previous question. Do you guys watch entire games? Just extended highlights?

umwoz wrote:Wow, I thought I was getting the hang of tactics. Untill I looked in the challenge screenshots thread.

You guys, in the first season, ALL seem to have Antropov up above an 8.5, Kane above an 8.

I'm playing with the St. Louis Blues. Not by challenge rules even, and I don't have a single player above an 8 in my first season(February).

Is this a matter of personal tactics? Team Tactics? Any help would be awesome.

A lot depends upon who his linemates are. Do some experimenting with different line combinations until you find something that works. I have good luck with putting a goal-scoring forward with a passing center, and I always have my forwards backcheck.

I need help with the goalie actually, im playing with a offensive tactic, puckcontroling, aggressive kinda play..

The thing is that i've Varlamov in the net who's a GREAT golie, but he's under 0.9 in saving %... And i need to do something about that, i mean.. he's better then that so i want the % to be like 0.91-92 maybe..

anything you can do about this? I dont want to change my tactic, but im willing to do some small changes.

Any tips for tactics for JVR? He's playing pretty well, but I haven't adjusted much for his personal tactics. He doesn't have a particularly outstanding skill(yet!) so I was just wondering if you guys had any tips?

Right now I'd just go with heavy shooting and creative passing for his personal tactics. Put his puck pressure to either normal or low but his back-checking to hard. Other than that, I'd let him develop for a bit before doing more.

This is sort of a 2 topic question, as it has to do with prospects as well.

But do you guys set tactics for your AHL affiliates? I have some prospects that I am assuring playing time, but could probably do better with unit/personal tactics set. And as I understand it, if he performs better he will develop better.

I've set tactics for my AHL affiliates in the past but most of the time I just set the lines for my AHL affiliate and let their coach handle the rest. I make sure my prospects are getting ice time but beyond that, I try not to interfere. I just don't usually have the time to micromanage them too.

Hey guys, new user here =)

I'm from Brazil, so I'm not very familiar to most of hockey tactics. I began to watch NHL last year, so please forgive me for any mistakes.

I'm playing EHM 07 with the Caps(Lidas Rosters 3.0) and I'm trying to implement a dump and chase tactic for my 3rd line (Erskine-Hannan-Chimera-Laich-Fedotenko).

How can I set these tactics? I would like to get advantage of Chimera/Fedotenko's speed, balance and hitting atributes to create plays safely and control the puck in the oposing zone while my top lines get some rest.

I was trying to do this:

Defensive / Agressive / Normal Backchecking / Tight Gap / Hard Puck Pressure / Hard Hitting / High Tempo / Safe Passing / Selective Shooting
In the the rest of the tactical settings, Positional / Positional / Positional / Forecheck 3-2 / Neutral Zone 1-1-3.

Is that right? I mean, a dump and chase tactic is built around defense? Would you change something in this set?

Thanks in advance.

Do you Guys set personal tactics to your goalies like defense, passing etc.? I've read something about it in the slap shot tactic and was kind of surprised? At the same time it maked sense.

Who do you set on join the rush and carry the puck?

have you noticed that if you play a agressive style in the season and don't get many PIMs in the season, when the playoffs starts you get more PIMs. Yep it killed me this spring.

I set 2 personal tactics for my goalies. Safest passing and most defensive. I have not read of any other personal goalie tactics to use so thats what I go with.

I set those same 2 personal tactics for goalies that CeeBee does. I also set their aggression. I don't know if that one really makes a difference. I also tell them to either play the puck or stay in the crease.

I don't have many players set to carry the puck, usually no more than a couple per team. The ones I set to carry the puck have to be strong (16+ Strength), decent skaters (14+ in both acceleration and speed), and have good puck skills (15+ in both deking and stickhandling). I also look for 15+ in Getting Open (Off The Puck to some) but I don't know if that really makes a difference.

I have most players "join the rush". Sometimes if I have some defensive defensemen I will set them to not join the rush, especially if they're not great skaters. I also like to take all 4 skaters off "join the rush" on the PK, just to make them purely focused on defense.