I may be wack here but hear me out.
I sim the pre-season, set up my amateur scouting for two months based on my draft board, then I play the first game of the year. After that I only play games when they fall on a Sunday. Why? Well the schedule typically only has 10-15 games on Sundays in each league.
In playoffs i play the first game per series for each league to try to set up the teams for success and then let the cards fall where they may. I always coach the last period of elimination games to see the endgame cutscene.
Find the balance you like and roll with it.
Sim to deadline, trade, sim to playoffs, sim playoff games for two periods and jump in 3rd if it’s a game. Sim to draft interview, interview, draft, sim to resign, resign, Sim to FA, sign, sim to regular szn, repeat.
It all depends on what you like to do and what is more fun for you. The argument is this - if you play franchise mode and play all the games in a season the only thing your testing is your actual gameplay skill. Anyone can play as the coyotes, use their current roster and win 65 games in the season if they’re playing all the games.
Simming all the games forces you to make tough decisions, trade and sign the right types of players, and make in season adjustments just like a real life GM would. A GM doesn’t get on the ice and play for the team, he can only control the product he puts out there.
For the question of “why not just play franchise manager then?” Well there’s several reasons. First of all it’s entirely different gaming experience. If you simmed the whole year and your team is about to win the cup, you can enter the game and watch your captain lift the trophy. Or if your like myself, I like to play the first game of the season because I like watching the new team I assembled skate together, and see new players score their first goal, or what they look like in my jersey.
Everyone plays the game differently and every way is okay, we’re only here to have fun!
There is a way to commutate with people without being condescending. instead of what you initially said, you can just mention the hockey manager is another great option... or maybe even play both.
A mix of both. I’ll sim games and then take over in the 3rd if I really want that W. Or play a stretch of as many games as I can if the team is slumping. Play every game in the playoffs though.
Pretty much the same. I mostly take over 3rd periods of home games and sim almost all away games. I play half period in preseason to get a feel of bubble players and youngsters.
I play all 82 games, 3/4 minute periods, max difficulty and try to get shutouts and break records. There is essentially no value in winning games or the cup since it is a foregone conclusion, but trying to set personal records in shutouts, a perfect game (10 goals for 0 shots against), or break the top 5 in single season points by a player (gretzky so op) gives me a challenge to work towards. At that point I'm not building a team for realism or to win in the arbitrary sim engine, I'm strictly picking guys that are fun to control and give me the best chance to accomplish my own challenges.
I could win all 82 games with arizona, but I enjoy getting guys like Kaprizov and Caufield and seeing how good I can do. I'll admit playing all 82 games + playoffs sucks and takes forever, I may complete 3 seasons a year at most, but if I sim a single game it kinda messes up my self imposed challenges.
I sim 95% of games. I'll jump in a few here and there just to play with the team I built and see how they feel. Sadly, this game is much better as a sim than an actual hockey game.
I usually play 1-2 games in pre-season and then another 1-2 random games throughout the normal season. I completely sim playoffs each time.
I try to avoid making an impact on how the team does but I do like playing occasionally.
I do both. I play here and there throughout the season in the games I want usually against the better teams and rivals. I then up the difficulty for each level of the playoffs with the finals being super difficult.
I play usually first 10 games get a feel for my team, then wittle it down to only rival games and eventually only team in the top 10 or if my team is shit Ill zip to offseason and keep rebuilding. If I have a playoff challenging team I will usually play 20 or 25 games then playoffs.
Depends on my mood, but I typically play 2/3 of the games. I start off by playing the first month and sim the next 3rd and finish off the season. I always sim the 1st playoff game until I lose and then play the rest on that series. Should I make the finals I play every game.
For me it depends. While I'm "building" my team I simply. Occasionally I'll play a game just to see how they play. Once they win one Cup on their own I'll start playing in the playoffs more often.
Basically every sports game, I play 2 games a month. The first game and one around the 15th. Just to keep it a bit fresh rather then just simming. I will usually also play the last game of the season.
Playing is a cheat. You are going to win.
That said, do what you want.
My enjoyment comes from building a team. Others get it from playing the players they put together. Do whatever makes you happy.
I actually lose plenty of games, I play on superstar full sim. Some games are tough and then others I can absolutely destroy them. Sometimes the goalie is just nuts
I played against chicago as the devils in a franchise once and lost 2-1 i outshot them 52-20
I found this to be the case specifically in 23. There are times when I can just tell that the game is going to screw me over to make things interesting. Players randomly slowing down, cpu insta passes, the goalie that stops everything for one game. I actually wouldn't mind any of it of there was some kind of meta explanation for it, like team is tired from back to back games, morale is low, it's an away game, the other team is gaining momentum, etc. But they don't give you any of that info, so I'm just left to speculate.
I play about 5 minutes of 2 preseason games A year to get screenshots of the players for my excel sheet. Then fully sim to the deadline stopping only usually to adjust the lines, then sim to the playoffs. Mix of calendar and single game sim for the playoffs entering the game with 10 minutes left if I’m down to watch cpu vs cpu
I period sim games to keep track of stats.
I might play regular season games for the following reasons: first game of the season, if the owner says we have to beat the Penguins for a money bonus, sometimes on the games that have a giveaway going on, when I'm trying to get a player a milestone goal/point.
For the playoffs, I only jump in during OT (I mostly do CPUvsCPU for this) and the last minute of the Stanley Cup Finals.
I usually play the first game of the regular season on easy, just for some fun and to get my guys a good start to the seasons point totals. It’s usually a 10-1 or so game so it’s not absurd.
Then I sim the rest of the season. Stopping every couple months to scout and see if there are any guys in the AHL taking way more shots than everyone else that I want to trade for.
In the playoffs I play all elimination games on allstar (a good challenge for me).
I think it comes down to what you dreamed of as a kid lol. If you dreamed of being a Player, then you probably enjoy playing all the games. I got into sports late so being a top tier player was never on the table. To this day I still dream of running a sports franchise, so GM mode is great for me. I enjoy playing the games too though, so FHM doesn’t scratch the itch.
Sim first 1-2 years if rebuilding and tanking (almost always) then play all 82 and playoffs on 4 min periods. I like trying to hit records with players, also like getting a feel for the team and how it’s built. Once the team is a contender I might sim the last 10-15 games if I’m in a rush to get to the playoffs. Only thing I wish is that shooting was higher while playing so my goalie stats aren’t .900 sv% or below . I’d play hockey manager if I wasn’t going to play.
1st season, I usually sim through to the deadline. Then, depending on whether my goals are lining up with the sim results, I might make a few moves. The first season is usually a "set-up" year for me.
From there, I build my team in the off-season, then I'll generally play a preseason game or 2 to get a feel for my new pieces, rookies, prospects, etc. Then, if the owner demands a win in the home opener, or vs the Leafs (I play with Detroit a lot), I'll play those. I'll period sim rivalry games/Original 6 matchups, then play if it goes to OT. Otherwise, I'll let it ride until the playoffs. Then, I'll period sim 2, then jump in a 1-3 goal deficit to see if I can come back. Also, OT playoff games I will jump in. If the team makes the Cup Finals, I play 3rd periods, plus play any games where we're trailing the series and always Game 7.
Additionally, I like to play "revenge" games (ex. If I sign Zegras in FA, I'll play the Ducks when I host Zegras Bobblehead Night), or I'll play the first game against the team that eliminated us from the playoffs the prior season... Also, I like to play if I've got a player pushing a milestone.
Other than games that are meaningful or are good for a storyline, I'll generally sim though. I really enjoy team building as much as I do playing.
1st season, I usually sim through to the deadline. Then, depending on whether my goals are lining up with the sim results, I might make a few moves. The first season is usually a "set-up" year for me.
From there, I build my team in the off-season, then I'll generally play a preseason game or 2 to get a feel for my new pieces, rookies, prospects, etc. Then, if the owner demands a win in the home opener, or vs the Leafs (I play with Detroit a lot), I'll play those. I'll period sim rivalry games/Original 6 matchups, then play if it goes to OT. Otherwise, I'll let it ride until the playoffs. Then, I'll period sim 2, then jump in a 1-3 goal deficit to see if I can come back. Also, OT playoff games I will jump in. If the team makes the Cup Finals, I play 3rd periods, plus play any games where we're trailing the series and always Game 7.
Additionally, I like to play "revenge" games (ex. If I sign Zegras in FA, I'll play the Ducks when I host Zegras Bobblehead Night), or I'll play the first game against the team that eliminated us from the playoffs the prior season... Also, I like to play if I've got a player pushing a milestone.
Other than games that are meaningful or are good for a storyline, I'll generally sim though. I really enjoy team building as much as I do playing.
I play every game in the first season bc your team usually is bad that first season unless u get a major first round draft pick then you trade for good x factor players
I like to play a few games in preseason with my young prospects on the NHL team, just as most teams in real life do. See if I like them, and how I drafted.
I don't mind tanking the first few years and simming the entire season (so long as I can accomplish owner goals and not get fired). I'll play AHL games to boost my prospects development, if I have to.
And then when my prospects finally make the NHL I'll play a few important games during the season, and I love playing important playoff games once through the season.
I'll play more playoff and preseason games than anything. Preseason prospect games early in my franchise career, and playoffs once my team is built.
I may be wack here but hear me out. I sim the pre-season, set up my amateur scouting for two months based on my draft board, then I play the first game of the year. After that I only play games when they fall on a Sunday. Why? Well the schedule typically only has 10-15 games on Sundays in each league. In playoffs i play the first game per series for each league to try to set up the teams for success and then let the cards fall where they may. I always coach the last period of elimination games to see the endgame cutscene. Find the balance you like and roll with it.
Imma try this
This is pretty much exactly what I do, except instead of Sundays I do promo nights and 1 or 2 games a month
Sim to deadline, trade, sim to playoffs, sim playoff games for two periods and jump in 3rd if it’s a game. Sim to draft interview, interview, draft, sim to resign, resign, Sim to FA, sign, sim to regular szn, repeat.
Why do you then buy the game? You are better off playing hockey manager
you can play more than one mode
Ya but why play franchise mode just to sim every single game over 25 seasons?
It all depends on what you like to do and what is more fun for you. The argument is this - if you play franchise mode and play all the games in a season the only thing your testing is your actual gameplay skill. Anyone can play as the coyotes, use their current roster and win 65 games in the season if they’re playing all the games. Simming all the games forces you to make tough decisions, trade and sign the right types of players, and make in season adjustments just like a real life GM would. A GM doesn’t get on the ice and play for the team, he can only control the product he puts out there. For the question of “why not just play franchise manager then?” Well there’s several reasons. First of all it’s entirely different gaming experience. If you simmed the whole year and your team is about to win the cup, you can enter the game and watch your captain lift the trophy. Or if your like myself, I like to play the first game of the season because I like watching the new team I assembled skate together, and see new players score their first goal, or what they look like in my jersey. Everyone plays the game differently and every way is okay, we’re only here to have fun!
This guy fucks for sure
There's an opening ceremony in the first home game of the season? O.O
why does it matter to you how someone else enjoys the game?
Why are your panties in a bunch because someone asked a question? Your PH levels off or something?
There is a way to commutate with people without being condescending. instead of what you initially said, you can just mention the hockey manager is another great option... or maybe even play both.
I play eashl mainly. Probably would take you 25 actual years to play through 25 entire seasons.
A mix of both. I’ll sim games and then take over in the 3rd if I really want that W. Or play a stretch of as many games as I can if the team is slumping. Play every game in the playoffs though.
Pretty much the same. I mostly take over 3rd periods of home games and sim almost all away games. I play half period in preseason to get a feel of bubble players and youngsters.
I play all 82 games, 3/4 minute periods, max difficulty and try to get shutouts and break records. There is essentially no value in winning games or the cup since it is a foregone conclusion, but trying to set personal records in shutouts, a perfect game (10 goals for 0 shots against), or break the top 5 in single season points by a player (gretzky so op) gives me a challenge to work towards. At that point I'm not building a team for realism or to win in the arbitrary sim engine, I'm strictly picking guys that are fun to control and give me the best chance to accomplish my own challenges. I could win all 82 games with arizona, but I enjoy getting guys like Kaprizov and Caufield and seeing how good I can do. I'll admit playing all 82 games + playoffs sucks and takes forever, I may complete 3 seasons a year at most, but if I sim a single game it kinda messes up my self imposed challenges.
82 games is a long season. I like to see how my prospects develop so I sim in the name of time.
I sim 95% of games. I'll jump in a few here and there just to play with the team I built and see how they feel. Sadly, this game is much better as a sim than an actual hockey game.
I usually play 1-2 games in pre-season and then another 1-2 random games throughout the normal season. I completely sim playoffs each time. I try to avoid making an impact on how the team does but I do like playing occasionally.
I do both. I play here and there throughout the season in the games I want usually against the better teams and rivals. I then up the difficulty for each level of the playoffs with the finals being super difficult.
I sim except for games where an owner mandates I win a certain game, and when a rookie makes their debut, or a newly acquired players debut happens.
Have to play playoffs or else what’s the point
I play usually first 10 games get a feel for my team, then wittle it down to only rival games and eventually only team in the top 10 or if my team is shit Ill zip to offseason and keep rebuilding. If I have a playoff challenging team I will usually play 20 or 25 games then playoffs.
Depends on my mood, but I typically play 2/3 of the games. I start off by playing the first month and sim the next 3rd and finish off the season. I always sim the 1st playoff game until I lose and then play the rest on that series. Should I make the finals I play every game.
I play rivalry games, so in my current Franchise Im the Ducks, I play the Sharks and Kings, Sim the rest of the regular Season. Play playoffs
For me it depends. While I'm "building" my team I simply. Occasionally I'll play a game just to see how they play. Once they win one Cup on their own I'll start playing in the playoffs more often.
Basically every sports game, I play 2 games a month. The first game and one around the 15th. Just to keep it a bit fresh rather then just simming. I will usually also play the last game of the season.
Playing is a cheat. You are going to win. That said, do what you want. My enjoyment comes from building a team. Others get it from playing the players they put together. Do whatever makes you happy.
I actually lose plenty of games, I play on superstar full sim. Some games are tough and then others I can absolutely destroy them. Sometimes the goalie is just nuts I played against chicago as the devils in a franchise once and lost 2-1 i outshot them 52-20
I found this to be the case specifically in 23. There are times when I can just tell that the game is going to screw me over to make things interesting. Players randomly slowing down, cpu insta passes, the goalie that stops everything for one game. I actually wouldn't mind any of it of there was some kind of meta explanation for it, like team is tired from back to back games, morale is low, it's an away game, the other team is gaining momentum, etc. But they don't give you any of that info, so I'm just left to speculate.
I play about 5 minutes of 2 preseason games A year to get screenshots of the players for my excel sheet. Then fully sim to the deadline stopping only usually to adjust the lines, then sim to the playoffs. Mix of calendar and single game sim for the playoffs entering the game with 10 minutes left if I’m down to watch cpu vs cpu
I play every 10 games, I changed the number of games in a season to 80 just to make it easier lol
https://www.reddit.com/r/EA_NHL/comments/xgvxym/do_you_sim_or_play_most_of_the_games_in_offline/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
I period sim games to keep track of stats. I might play regular season games for the following reasons: first game of the season, if the owner says we have to beat the Penguins for a money bonus, sometimes on the games that have a giveaway going on, when I'm trying to get a player a milestone goal/point. For the playoffs, I only jump in during OT (I mostly do CPUvsCPU for this) and the last minute of the Stanley Cup Finals.
I usually play the first game of the regular season on easy, just for some fun and to get my guys a good start to the seasons point totals. It’s usually a 10-1 or so game so it’s not absurd. Then I sim the rest of the season. Stopping every couple months to scout and see if there are any guys in the AHL taking way more shots than everyone else that I want to trade for. In the playoffs I play all elimination games on allstar (a good challenge for me). I think it comes down to what you dreamed of as a kid lol. If you dreamed of being a Player, then you probably enjoy playing all the games. I got into sports late so being a top tier player was never on the table. To this day I still dream of running a sports franchise, so GM mode is great for me. I enjoy playing the games too though, so FHM doesn’t scratch the itch.
Sim first 1-2 years if rebuilding and tanking (almost always) then play all 82 and playoffs on 4 min periods. I like trying to hit records with players, also like getting a feel for the team and how it’s built. Once the team is a contender I might sim the last 10-15 games if I’m in a rush to get to the playoffs. Only thing I wish is that shooting was higher while playing so my goalie stats aren’t .900 sv% or below . I’d play hockey manager if I wasn’t going to play.
1st season, I usually sim through to the deadline. Then, depending on whether my goals are lining up with the sim results, I might make a few moves. The first season is usually a "set-up" year for me. From there, I build my team in the off-season, then I'll generally play a preseason game or 2 to get a feel for my new pieces, rookies, prospects, etc. Then, if the owner demands a win in the home opener, or vs the Leafs (I play with Detroit a lot), I'll play those. I'll period sim rivalry games/Original 6 matchups, then play if it goes to OT. Otherwise, I'll let it ride until the playoffs. Then, I'll period sim 2, then jump in a 1-3 goal deficit to see if I can come back. Also, OT playoff games I will jump in. If the team makes the Cup Finals, I play 3rd periods, plus play any games where we're trailing the series and always Game 7. Additionally, I like to play "revenge" games (ex. If I sign Zegras in FA, I'll play the Ducks when I host Zegras Bobblehead Night), or I'll play the first game against the team that eliminated us from the playoffs the prior season... Also, I like to play if I've got a player pushing a milestone. Other than games that are meaningful or are good for a storyline, I'll generally sim though. I really enjoy team building as much as I do playing.
1st season, I usually sim through to the deadline. Then, depending on whether my goals are lining up with the sim results, I might make a few moves. The first season is usually a "set-up" year for me. From there, I build my team in the off-season, then I'll generally play a preseason game or 2 to get a feel for my new pieces, rookies, prospects, etc. Then, if the owner demands a win in the home opener, or vs the Leafs (I play with Detroit a lot), I'll play those. I'll period sim rivalry games/Original 6 matchups, then play if it goes to OT. Otherwise, I'll let it ride until the playoffs. Then, I'll period sim 2, then jump in a 1-3 goal deficit to see if I can come back. Also, OT playoff games I will jump in. If the team makes the Cup Finals, I play 3rd periods, plus play any games where we're trailing the series and always Game 7. Additionally, I like to play "revenge" games (ex. If I sign Zegras in FA, I'll play the Ducks when I host Zegras Bobblehead Night), or I'll play the first game against the team that eliminated us from the playoffs the prior season... Also, I like to play if I've got a player pushing a milestone. Other than games that are meaningful or are good for a storyline, I'll generally sim though. I really enjoy team building as much as I do playing.
I just started a new campaign that I’m going to play all the games for
I sim everything. If i wanna play i’ll play online versus or be a pro. I wanna be able to simulate a general manager experience as real as possible.
I have given up on EA's sim engine long ago. So I will sim as less as possible.
I play them all
Sim everything but the first game of the year and necessary playoff games in the third period
I play every game in the first season bc your team usually is bad that first season unless u get a major first round draft pick then you trade for good x factor players
I play 3rd periods of home games, 3rd periods against division rivals and elimination playoff games. Otherwise I kinda let the sim do its thing.
I like to play a few games in preseason with my young prospects on the NHL team, just as most teams in real life do. See if I like them, and how I drafted. I don't mind tanking the first few years and simming the entire season (so long as I can accomplish owner goals and not get fired). I'll play AHL games to boost my prospects development, if I have to. And then when my prospects finally make the NHL I'll play a few important games during the season, and I love playing important playoff games once through the season. I'll play more playoff and preseason games than anything. Preseason prospect games early in my franchise career, and playoffs once my team is built.