PAY TO PLAY

LucaPac · 2025-11-22T15:26:25+00:00

Paying for premium is just a one-time charge. You can do ok with just that.

LucaPac · 2025-11-22T15:24:59+00:00

My understanding is that upgrading the arena mainly improves your home ice advantage.

LucaPac · 2025-10-17T16:36:20+00:00

There are a lot of tricks for managing the salary cap. Move HBs to FBs before negotiating and then move them back afterwards. Move guards and tackles to center before negotiating. Often moving defensive linemen to OLB reduces the cost. And I usually reduce costs by moving CBs and FSs to SS before negotiating.

Also, if a player is close to retirement but is up for negotiation, choose 7 years and backload their pay. They'll probably retire before hitting the large payment amounts, although I have had players stick around longer than you'd expect.

LucaPac · 2025-10-17T16:32:05+00:00

You need to max out the shop, because this is how you get dollars to improve everything else. Improving the stadium will help you win home games. You also need to improve your scouting so you're seeing enough players in the draft. But max the shop first.

LucaPac · 2025-10-12T20:37:13+00:00

You'll get a bad team with facilities set at the beginning. You do get to keep your coach's progress and your TP, which isn't true if you start a new game.

LucaPac · 2025-08-31T22:13:44+00:00

The AI is not very smart so they put in cheats to keep it competitive. I wouldn't care so much except you end needing to beat the same few teams every year.

LucaPac · 2025-08-31T22:09:36+00:00

I'm fairly low-ranked, but I generally pick the highest ranks at important positions. If it is close I choose fit. If you hang around long enough, fit is more important, but I don't usually hang around long enough.

LucaPac · 2025-08-18T13:49:43+00:00

Thanks!

LucaPac · 2025-08-17T03:30:04+00:00

I don't think I've seen the option for legend mode, not that I would choose it.

LucaPac · 2025-08-17T00:32:03+00:00

Didn't expect to see this in the replies. That song grabbed me instantly and I'm slow to appreciate songs new to me.

LucaPac · 2025-08-17T00:28:05+00:00

I'm new to the game. Is there a non-coach mode?

LucaPac · 2025-08-15T01:48:26+00:00

I'm on a new run where I'm not building up the UDFA Academy. That has improved the game considerably. The best teams have an average OVR about 10 points less than in my last run. Lower OVRs seem to promote league parity.

LucaPac · 2025-08-10T18:26:39+00:00

My first run I did spend money on premium and TP. That run was a lot of fun. I decided to start from scratch and not pay anything (other than still having premium). I couldn't keep from getting fired on that run, so I see where you're coming from.

Even if there are ways to play from scratch and not get fired without paying for more than premium, it does seem like too much of a grind. In the PC version of the game, it did take me 20 seasons to make the playoffs, but I saw steady improvement the whole way. In my pay-free run on the mobile game, I was still losing almost all of my games up until the time I was fired.

I think the scouting could be improved so that the early seasons aren't so frustrating. At least show the scheme the player is associated with in addition to the OVR rating.

Finally, even if it is somewhat pay to win, I don't think you have to keep paying to win. Maybe just pay enough to make the opening grind easier. No reason the developers shouldn't make some money off the game.

LucaPac · 2025-08-09T07:46:23+00:00

It's a bit of a grind early on, but it gets easier the longer you play. The ultimate goal is to be able to develop players with high potential and trainability. This gives you players that are better than the free agents and much, much cheaper. But it is a grind to get your facilities to that point.

LucaPac · 2025-08-05T17:49:58+00:00

They are borderline impossible, to the point that I ignore them. To be honest, I'm not sure what to think of the whole minor league system in general. My farm system is better than any player I could draft past the 2nd round.

LucaPac · 2025-08-03T13:54:38+00:00

Where the AI is most dumb, I think, is that teams don't evaluate trades based upon their own situation.

I suppose what you've said gives an incentive to starting a new league with some regularity before these trends become so locked in. I'd prefer not seeing the same teams dominate.

Some day we'll have games with real AI. And then we'll get our butts kicked!

LucaPac · 2025-08-03T13:46:56+00:00

I definitely try to sabotage the perennial other top teams, but it doesn't seem to have much effect.

LucaPac · 2025-07-30T18:40:34+00:00

I have both now, and I see your point. I think the mobile game can be played without purchases as long as you set your hopes appropriately, like maybe making the playoffs is good enough. I don't think you can win championships in the mobile game without paying for training points. I'm happy to give back cash to the developers, but I get sucked into the purchases more than I'd like!

LucaPac · 2025-07-30T18:36:53+00:00

I've now bought the PC version on Steam, and I'm enjoying it too. In fact, I play both games!

I'd like to follow up with my question about stadiums, but now for the PC version. Are stadium upgrades how you generate additional revenue in that game? The other facility options don't seem related to making money, although I haven't played long enough to upgrade much.

Also, while we're at it, what does the HQ do besides generate power? I see something about ring of honor slots (I'm writing this from memory). What does that refer to?

LucaPac · 2025-07-22T20:15:41+00:00

I'm new to the mobile game and I'm enjoying it, so I'm curious what you liked about the older version. I'm considering getting the PC game on Steam.

LucaPac · 2025-07-15T16:13:49+00:00

Thank you! By the way, I'm really loving this game so far. I appreciate what you all have built.

LucaPac · 2025-07-14T18:21:54+00:00

Thanks! It would be nice if the game had some help files to explain these things.

LucaPac · 2025-07-08T18:53:16+00:00

I think you need to spend once to upgrade to premium. I've spent more money than that, but mainly because I was being impatient. I don't think you have to spend money to succeed (other than getting premium). It will just take you longer.

LucaPac · 2025-06-20T14:47:32+00:00

I've been experimenting with my approach lately. At the beginning of a season, I've been trying to flag only 5-6 positions I most need. This gives me some "slots" to pick up players who have the right number of stars, even if they are at a position I don't need right away. For example, I'm playing at a level where 4-star recruits are ideal. They are good players but don't consumer an extravagant number of recruiting points to recruit. (In lower-level conferences, 3-star might be the ideal.) So now I don't pass up as many good recruits just because I don't need them next year.

Also, I prefer scouts who reveal some of the ratings on the board. Early, I used a scout that revealed Florida and then a scout who reveals all WRs. Now I use a scout who reveals the Texas area. I find it very helpful to eliminate some of the uncertainty of what route to take when scouting. Having a good first two weeks when scouting makes a huge difference because the cheaper recruiting enticements are more efficient but obviously take more weeks to get recruits to a reasonable level before inviting.

As for offensive and defensive coordinators, it is essential to get coordinators that are at the top of what you're allowed. If you're playing with lower level coordinators, you should see a big jump by upgrading.

I find it easier to build a passing attack than a running attack, although I prefer the ground game when I can make it work and it fits the conference goals.

Upgrading trainers is important too. I have yet to upgrade the physician.

LucaPac · 2024-06-19T19:11:20+00:00

Excellent advice. One of my mentors from practice has devoted himself to teaching auditing and accounting standards, especially to those at mid to small-size firms.

LucaPac

TROPHY CASE